1630: Potty Mouth Parrot

As the Center for Immigration Studies recently reported, a United Nations-led “Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP)” calls for more than 200 nonprofit groups to dole out $1.6 billion in cash debit cards, food, clothing, medical treatment, shelter, and even “humanitarian transportation” during 2024 to millions of U.S.-bound immigrants in 17 Latin American nations and Mexico.

But suspicions that the administration of President Joe Biden is directly footing the bill for at least part of facilitating the most voluminous mass migration crisis in U.S. history, now in its fourth straight year, can now be confirmed.

A follow-up CIS examination of the more than 30 faith-based nonprofits among those UN NGO partners — representing Jewish, Lutheran, Seventh Day Adventist, Catholic, and nondenominational evangelical organizations — shows that the U.S. State Department’s Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have been mainlining taxpayer funds to these groups, which then distribute them to keep hundreds of thousands of migrants comfortably moving toward illegal U.S. southern border crossings.

Link

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) relies on voluntary contributions to carry out its global activities. In recent years, the demand for IOM support has increased exponentially in areas such as providing life-saving assistance to displaced populations, essential services to migrants and cooperation programmes with governments.

In 2024, IOM's Global Appeal total requirement is USD 7.9 billion to assist 139 million people worldwide. The Global Appeal provides information about IOM's plans for 2024 and the funding it needs to deliver on the Strategic Plan's three objectives: (1) Saving and protecting people on the move; (2) Driving solutions to displacement; and (3) Facilitating pathways for regular migration.

A full response to this Appeal would allow IOM to prepare in advance, to anticipate challenges, and to engage strategically on a systematic and multi-year basis when needed.

Link

I am writing today knowing this will not be read on air, but wanted to share some “boots on the ground” observations for the gang. After hearing mention of McAllen, TX a couple times on the show recently, I knew I had to break my douchebag status and donate.

I was blessed with a new job last year along with some work travel opportunities. One recent trip included McAllen, Tx! This is not somewhere I had heard of, but saw right away it is a border town when planning my travels. With the recent news about the border drama, I was very curious what this place would be like! As soon as I began walking off the plane in McAllen, I started to notice some interesting things. First, I noticed many, many people with small children who were with someone who appeared to be paired with them, carrying a colorful transparent envelope stuffed with papers. Seemed like this was a social worker type guiding migrants to their destination. I also noticed many people walking alone with a colorful envelope, and they had a paper on the backside for them to display that read “PLEASE HELP ME I DO NOT SPEAK ENGLISH”… along with some other writing I couldn’t make out. I didn’t want to stare too hard but I was pretty sure these papers said USAID on them too. I noticed some, but not all of these people also had a paper wristband - like the kind you’d get at an event. This was an all around odd experience, can’t say I’ve seen anything like this at an airport except this one.

I have also flown through Chicago recently (and several times in the past) and did not notice anything out of the norm. That was only one trip but thought I’d mention it since ORD has also been discussed on the show lately. One hilarious thing is the “cannabis amnesty boxes” they have at TSA since Illinois has gone recreational.

Thank you for your courage and keep up the amazing work!

It's a dog tag that reminds everyone of the hostages. The Hebrew at the top says "our hearts are held captive in Gaza".

Many Israelis wear these now, and you'll see them on Americans who want to make sure that we don't forget that there are American Jewish hostages, too.

Just FYI.

Erin the Concerned Therapist

Hi Adam and John,

In Episode 1630: "Sunflower Kids", John asks why South Africa of all countries brought the "genocide" case against Israel at the ICJ. Not sure how deeply you want to go into this question, but as your Anonymous South African, I can try to answer it. First, Adam is correct that the African National Congress (ANC) ruling party is no longer bankrupt and this can only be explained by an injection of cash by Qatar or Iran. Another important detail is that there is a national election coming up in April/May and the ANC desperately needs this money for their election campaign, as this could be the first one they lose since coming to power in 1994 after the end of white minority rule. The ANC have historically been aligned with the Palestinian Liberation Organization (PLO) and now with its successor Hamas, so this goes way back for them. Not to mention that the "Minister of International Relations" Naledi Pandor is a Muslim convert and traveled to Iran shortly after the October 7th attack. Nothing gets South African Muslims going like a flare-up in Israel/Palestine. Some think the ANC is trying to court the Muslim vote but this is only 2% of the country's population. There is a real risk this could backfire as South Africa has its own Christian Zionists who make up a much larger proportion of the country's black African majority. Adam mentioned the guy who said "Kill the white people". He's in opposition at the moment but his political party is an extreme left breakaway from the ANC and so must be seen as "more ANC than the ANC" in order to gain electorally. Incidentally, South Africa, despite pretending to be neutral in the Ukraine conflict, is also aligned with Russia for similar reasons. What you need to understand about the ANC is that in ideological terms it is a Marxist movement stuck in the 1980s, when the Soviet Union still existed and was backing the party's efforts to overthrow the apartheid government. It's as though they haven't noticed that Russia is no longer Communist. And in their eyes the Palestinians (being a fellow oppressed group) can do no wrong.

Regards,

Alex

This is Nick; douchebag of Dutch descent, from the infamous Indy tribe.

What's up with these sunflowers man? Let's just dive in.

Ukraine and Sunflower Symbols

https://time.com/6154400/sunflowers-ukraine-history/

https://www.salon.com/2022/03/04/sunflower-ukraine-symbol-resistance/

Cuz they grow a lot of sunflowers in Ukraine or something, national flower, Russia bad...

"That's strange", I thought ....And then I remembered this.

George Floyd and Sunflowers (Plus a blue and yellow motif. I remember you said something about blue and yellow and mind control.)

https://www.wbtv.com/2020/06/04/longevity-loyalty-artists-honor-george-floyd-with-mural-minneapolis/

https://www.kpbs.org/news/midday-edition/2021/05/25/police-reform-san-diego-year-after-george-floyd

A lady with a sunflower George Floyd memorial

https://losgatan.com/community-memorial-held-three-years-after-death-of-george-floyd/

A kid named George who likes BLM and sunflowers in Idaho. IDAHO.

https://www.idahope.com/post/meet-george-the-teen-behind-the-sunflower

Available Now!

https://teepital.com/product/sunflower-george-floyd-mural-say-their-names-unisex-tshirt/

Cuz they have a sh*t ton of Sunflowers in Minnesota and sunflowers = black identity or something.. Also alot of George Floyd art depict his face as blue

And now we have the Sunflower Kids.

Honorable Mentions;

This was back in June. Trigger Warning: SHARK!!

https://www.csulb.edu/no-barriers/article/csulb-introduces-elbee-sunflower-to-shed-light-hidden-disabilities

Yikes..

https://www.fox9.com/news/minnesota-sunflower-field-offers-solace-to-families-experiencing-infant-loss

What does it all mean? Comply? Don't worry; be happy?

Hi,

I was listening to you and John talking about millennials and Gen Z and work ethic. I wanted to share a little bit of my experiences, as I was born in 1992. I'm a software engineer with a Bachelor's degree and no debt.

First, I went to a brand new freshly built high school in Texas. Even though I was a "Gifted and Talented" student, I was very excited to do something like a wood shop class or a welding class. They didn't even build the facilities for something like that in the brand new school! Everything was college oriented; calculus, AP World History, etc. But not everyone is meant for college.... what is there for them when all classes are college prep?

I have a friend who wanted to be a storm chaser, and when she met with school counselors on how to meet those goals, she was pushed to take something like meteorology. News flash: you don't need a degree to video tornados. And she was awful at school, so she flunked college after like a semester and ended up having a $20,000 loan to pay off or nothing.

I have friends who wanted to be things like Physical Therapists, and the schooling requirements changed from being a typical 4 year degree to being a 5-6 year degree while I was in college. Why? We have an issue with lack of health care workers so we're making them fork over more money and more time before they can start?

My mom, who had me at 19 and was a stay at home mom, ended up graduating from college at the same time I did because she couldn't enter the workforce without the degree. Even though I would think event planning 5 VBS events with 200+ children, running a race event with 100+ participants and a dozen local sponsors, organizing the calendar for a family of 5 and having 0/3 kids end up in jail or pregnant under her care would make her more than qualified for her current role of a salesperson at Frito Lay, she needed that degree to get in the door. Why?

Colleges also started turning into essentially resorts for young adults. The price tag is going up due to services, fancy new gyms, and meal plans. I think this does a huge disservice because the standard of living while in school is so much higher than many entry level jobs. And it comes with a price tag that many don't understand. The interest rates for colleges are something like 8% and the cost of college is continuously going up. Many people do not understand how interest works, so many end up paying minimum payments and the principal never goes away so they end up stuck in a huge debt trap and they really don't understand how it happened.

Finally, everyone in my schooling experience was told to go to school for something they were "passionate" in while also sharing that "on average" people with college degrees made more money. While the college degree factoid may have been true, they never really shared the breakdown, so people thought they could get away with things like a music or an english degree and end up with a solid salary right away. The media geared towards high schoolers at the time heavily pushed this message. The counselors and the teachers pushed this. I got an offer for a full ride to study music and my band director was really pushing for it, but I had the great fortune to have a father and clarinet private lesson teacher who both were willing to give my ego a reality check about likelihood of acquiring employment with a clarinet degree vs a software degree. For the record, my life has been much better with the software degree than it would have been with the music degree. And while music was a big portion of my life at one point, my passions have changed and I'm quite happy with building a traditional English garden in my free time instead of practicing music.

I think we really need to get a handle on the propaganda around working and education and what exactly the purpose is supposed to be for these things. College wasn't supposed to be job training, but it's turned into that. This has made American society basically require indentured servitude from its youth to pay off loans for job training that used to be done on the job. So many entry level positions really shouldn't require a degree but do. So many school administrators in high school are just interested in pushing college entry rates, like that's the end goal rather than a means to an end. And so many resume readers won't even pass your resume along without having a college there, even though the experience of life can be better training than what happens in a classroom. Work is important for your joy in life, and we need to help teach people how to find joy in doing what needs to be done.

And granted, this is a 1% problem, but I've been looking around at Christian private schools so my children can have a faith based education, and even they push metrics like how many were accepted into college and what schools, rather than the metrics I really care about like how many are married, still attending church, and starting on their families 5 years after graduating. We, society, have lost sight of what's really important to the detriment of our youth. The fertility rates reflect it, the lack of pride in a good day's work reflects it, and the lack of jobs being filled reflects it. And maybe "society" can't make promises and you know this at over 50, but when you are 15 and you still have trust and naivety, you don't know "society" can't make promises.

Your Sister in Christ,

I think the marketing of higher education is a huge thing.

To get a little political/conspiratorial, I've noticed that college is basically 4 years away from the supervision of your trusted community you grew up in where you are taught liberal propaganda. To get my computer engineering degree, I was required to take classes about how education is slated against the Black and Brown members of the US (US Public Education 101 for Humanities credit), how abortion and gay marriage are moral actually (Ethics and Morality 101 for Writing credit), and how the patriarchy is holding me down (Young Adult Fiction, for Writing Credit). I went from joyful and healthy in high school, to morose, angry, and sick during college, to joyful and healthy only a few years out after the Lord pulled me from that ideology. There's not enough time in the day to reconnect with everyone you grew up with and get a reality check while you are busy writing papers and reading the content required for the class. It's a unique sort of controlled environment with your food, sleeping spaces, and schedules are well defined, but also you have an illusion of choice. So from a controller perspective, this is a golden opportunity to get the kids indoctrinated. And to be honest, you didn't have to show up to every class, but you could still get credit for the "work". Probably not a great way to set expectations for the real work environment for anything but a big tech company, so college really sucks as a job training program.

Your Sister in Christ,

Hey Adam.

Thought you might like to hear some boots on the ground about how bad the job market actually is for us youths.

I worked construction for several years but had to leave that job because my boss violently attacked my mother.

I then got a job as a cashier. Then my boss ghosted me after I was hospitalized with a bone infection.

I also had to leave my next job as an Amazon delivery driver because Jeff Bezos demanded I wear glitter to work.

I recently got hired into a sales position in November. It’s the first job I’ve had where my boss has shown me the tiniest bit of respect. I started closing sales on day 1. I just found out today that I won’t be getting paid until March.

There is a culture among American business men that make 99% of them not worth working for. The contract between employer and employee used to be and should be one where you exchange your time and efforts for money. That’s not enough anymore, they demand your dignity and as much of your soul as they can get.

Sincerely,

Not-having-a-good-time

Hello,

After listening to last show, I get the sentiment from boomers, and older Gen x, and I agree with a lot of it. There is a sense of entitlement, among younger generations.

Part of that is the older generations fault, because they sold us a bill of goods.

Wages are stagnant, prices are up, and most degrees are worthless. I was told by college administrators, and admissions counselors, and academic advisors, that my music technology degree would earn me over $50,000 a year. So when I was doing the 12k in student debt each year, for 4 years, it seemed worth it. Obviously I got wise, and realized that was not going to be a marketable degree, and was likely something that I didn't need to go to school for (all too late). So, in an effort to be a higher income earner, I took on more debt, and went to law school. Many colleges admins encourage kids to go to grad school. At the time I thought the $50k in debt each year for 3 years was well worth it, because I was told I was going to be making $150,000 to $200,000 a year. That's not the reality for most attorneys. I have seen entry-level attorney positions in Kansas City, offering $60,000 a year. That's fine for some people, who went to school on scholarships, or had parental coverage of their tuition, but for me that's just not a livable wage. And many of my partners at the firm, have the same mentality as the traditional Boomer. We aren't working hard enough, we don't deserve what we're getting paid, and we are all just simply lazy. But many of them, graduated law school with under 100K in debt, 30 years ago, and we're making the same wages I'm making now. It really is unreasonable to offer a newly graduated law student under 80k, but you would be surprised how many lawyers are working 50 plus hours a week not making a decent wage for the profession. For full transparency, I did start my associate attorney position with $80,000, and they gave us an inflation raise of $5,000. Many of the older folks that I work with, have a very negative, nihilistic, scarcity mindset, and have very toxic ways of dealing with us underlings. It creates such a high turnover, and a feeling of despair for many people working with me, and so why would they put in that extra effort? They don't see a future Worth Fighting for.

Part of the fault lies with lack of guidance. Not having a collegiate background, being at first generation college student, with a single mother, who has no way of guiding me to make good decisions. Growing up in a fundamentalist Christian upbringing, where college is actually discouraged, and having every highschool teacher make you feel like if you don't go to college you are a loser really pushed me to attend, and (probably for my long term edification) I attended a private Christian college. The administrators, the teachers, the people that are supposed to be guiding you, the people that tell you not to trust your parents, or sound advice from podcasters like you and John, they are part of the pill pushing style cartel that is college. They all gain a financial benefit by more people attending their schools, more people attending their grad schools. They encourage it all the time, and just like your high school teacher making you feel dumb for not going to college, make you feel like if you want to be a real success you got to go to grad school. What's further irritating, is that they do this, without any recognition of the academic success of the student, or their long-term financial outlook.

Part of that is the individual's fault, because they don't know how to market themselves to be hireable, or to negotiate wages, or to be good with money. The federal government basically gives you money to live off of, and so I see a lot of college students spending their evenings and weekends buying junk, going out to eat, go into bars, and doing fun activities, all on the taxpayer dime, with no intention to pay any of it back. They do feel like they're entitled to something more than they probably deserve, and many of them don't work to get the necessary skills to stand out in the job. I have seen coworkers who are supposed to be well of developed mature adults, throw little baby fits, over the dumbest things, like a difficult case, or the printer not working. A lot of the kids that I went to school with did not take the opportunity to embrace the humanities and the arts and the philosophy that we were being taught, to become well-rounded useful individuals. There really is a big sense of entitlement within the generation, but I will say that the other aspects don't help.

I think all of this creates a caustic combination of entitlement and nihilism. I try to live in abundance, and a place of peace, and ultimately my job, is only a piece of that. I try to spend most of my energy on family, and growing my own personal traits. Learning valuable skills, about business, entrepreneurship, investment, are the ways that I know I can get myself out of the debt hole I created. But it would help if I could not have to live paycheck to paycheck lol

Best,

Billy

I began working in restaurant, washing dishes, in 1974 when I was 14. I worked my way up and eventually started managing restaurants at 20 in 1980 after college.

I opened my first place, Clary’s in 1989. I had two other restaurants and I have helped others open another 6 and consulted with dozens. In other words, I’ve had a LOT of experience hiring. My over-riding HR philosophy can be summed up with “Hire for attitude, train for skill.” It has served me incredibly well.

The problem with the job market today in my business is that yes, Adam, there ARE some great kids out there. But they are truly diamonds in the rough. It is harder and harder to find someone who has a strong work ethic and a cheerful, “can do” attitude.

As you said, it starts in the home. So many children are coddled. Their parents do everything for them. So when they get a job, they’re shocked that someone wants them to mop a floor or work a 10 hour day. Best thing my parents did was cut me off when I was fucking off in college.

As with most things, i believe there is hope. Things will change for the better. The success of Jordan PETERSON’s 12 Rules for Life tells me that there are plenty of young people who are looking for structure and discipline.

My restaurants were fine dining which meant my servers received intensive service training which boils down to proper ETIQUETTE! Something that is sorely lacking among the youth of today.

I’m seriously considering starting a finishing school of sorts that provides and etiquette and social skill training to youngsters. You and John can be partners. We’ll make a fortune! 🤣

Regards;

Adam,

I'm almost 42. I have watched over and over as coworkers have put in the time with the grind - going over and above without compensation. The pay-off is that they are passed over for promotions, raises, and advancement in favor of DEI hires or due to favoritism, politics, or nepotism. I left my last job because this happened to me. I had tenure in my department when a director position became available, I applied. I was the candidate recommended by the hiring committee, but the hiring manager refused to place me in the job and hired a woman who used to be her personal assistant. The person hired was a few months short of the minimum time in grade to even qualify to apply for the position. I chose to leave rather than do the director job for her without the pay - I would have had to carry this new director's water because she didn't have enough experience to do it herself.

I am at a point where I won't volunteer to do anything above the bare minimum of professional expectations because the old pact of "put in the time - get the reward" seems gone. I could have sued, but now, many employers run backgrounds on perspective employees that include checks to see if they have a litigious background. Because of this. suing could have negatively affected my future employment potential. A successful suit would not be sufficient to replace my earning potential.

I'm not saying it's this way everywhere, but my new organization is pretty similar (run by women that care about DEI and hire their friends). I have learned that you have to read the room at an organization to determine what sort of culture exists and be realistic about how the organization works in this regard. I live in an area where there are not loads of opportunities, and social connections make relocation difficult to justify. I'm a 42yo white hetero Christian conservative male veteran with three home-schooled kids and a stay-at-home wife. I am working on an exit plan to get out of this sort of crony corporate world, but for the moment, it is the best option for me.

Dear Adam and John,

After listening to episode 1630, I have input. John stated the plight of the zoomers was "systemic". I agree, but I think I can add some color. The zoomers don't have a hope in the workforce, and it's because of their education. We are all DOOMED.

You have both covered quite well the noodle boy phenomena, bullying, and the "everyone's a winner" culture, over the years. You've been on the topic so long, another generation has come into the fore (congrats on 17 years!). The before mentioned, are artifacts of the millennials. Being an "older" millennial, I have some standing. The zoomers are different.

I'm sure you're aware of Yuri Bezmenov's interview with G. Edward Griffin (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yErKTVdETpw) about the Soviet's plan to overthrow the US. I believe the zoomers are the end product of this plan. The result of almost 5 decades of socialist propaganda in our public schools is a generation of US citizens that know not what it means to be a citizen, have a perverted understanding of history, and can barely understand science or basic arithmetic. The end product of trans-maoism.

I would like to point out, that there may be light at the end of the tunnel of 40 years of US communism.

I have written to the show before with my travels, but briefly, I attended Evergreen State College, became a molecular Biologist at a lab in Seattle, WA, was fired for not taking the vax, and now live in North Idaho as a maintenance person for an old folks home. I have 30 chickens and 2 pigs in my backyard, homeschool my 4 wonderful children, and work as a janitor for a Christian school.

I have met many people in my journey, and many zoomers. A trend I have noticed is, the further from the cities you get, the harder everyone works, zoomers included. I do have to admit, many of them have some sort of "Sunflower" condition, autism, aspergers, neuro-diversion, etc. But they work just as hard as the rest of the people out here in flyover country, maybe harder.

It is notable how hard all people work here, versus those on "the coast". Pay sucks, there's rarely benefits, but having 3 jobs is a badge of honor in the community. I've never worked so hard in my life, but I've also never felt so fulfilled.

As a 9-5 in the big city, I had lot of the same feelings as those people spotlighted on the last episode. Working for a dumbass gen Xer, for too little pay, after commuting to and fro, dodging poop on the sidewalk and bullets on the buss, even with some semblance of a "steady paycheck" and "benefits", was incredibly unsatisfying. Especially when they pulled the rug out from under one's feet for being unvaccinated. Which I doubt the young people featured have ever experienced.

"Anyways", my point is, there are plenty of people here in the middle, willing to work hard to keep the lights on. The people on TikTok are not wrong, even if they're lazy. They're a product of society, and society these days is trans-maoist. What do you expect?!? I know I live in a pocket, I chose it. It's great, if you don't mind 3 or 4 jobs and no benefits. It's the American dream! Or so it seems.

I'm not old enough to know the good times, but I sure do miss when things were better. I don't think asking Daddy Gummint for money is the way to get there. I don't think my neighbors do either. I just wish it wasn't so dang hard for us to try to make it better. That's why I'm voting for Andrew Yang! J/K

This is out of control.

I turn 33 in May, I make 110k a year my wife Torrie makes 90-100k. We wanted to buy a house and I prioritized that over having a nice car. So I drive a 03 ugly blue Honda Civic with paint peeling off and the door dented. My wife's car is a bit nicer but it's still only an 06 Rav4.

Most of my peers keep a brand new or year or two old car. This is insane, I will not drive any car that I have to finance ever again. I did it with a used car once, never again. Young people shouldn't be either.

That being said even with our incomes the economic state of things is out of control. I fully empathize with my generation up to a point. I read Nextdoor and my peers are whinging about filling out applications online and getting no response. I always ask them are you going to place dressed to impress with resume in hand asking to speak to a manager. I'll also add, I started my career change 8 years ago into IT from restaurant. I focused on selling myself as where I want to go at the time it was Net/Sys Engineer. I bargained with the statement "I know I'm not worth that now but am I worth making that investment and giving a chance as an intern at the bottom for less than starting salary of that bottom position."

I think this lazy half assed effort and belief that I am worthy of value X because I am a human being. That is nonsense but we can humanize ourselves to a prospective employer and work to increase our on the market.

In the morning Adam,

You don’t have to read on the show but if you do please keep me anonymous. My name is XXXX weaver and I have a boots on the ground report about gen z. I am a gen z producer I was born in 2001 which makes me an older gen z. There are a lot of problems with my generation and I think most of them start with parents, schooling and social media. Most of the kids that you have played on the show haven’t actually worked for anything there parents would get them the best iPhones, nice cars which has instilled a sense of entitlement where they think they deserve the new iPhone, a new Tesla, and a job that pays $100,000 a year. With schooling I never actually learned any skills besides how to memorize something for a test. The year I went to high school they got rid of the auto shop and metal shop. I was lucky because my school did offer to send us to a trade school for half the day. That lead me to get an apprenticeship to learn machining. I am lucky without that I won’t know what to do. Then social media influencers have also hurt my generation. They are constantly seeing people with expensive cars, expensive homes, and there constantly going on vacation which makes it seem easy to get ahead make make lots of money. When they can’t do that it must be the systems fault because they think they did everything right by going to college getting a bull crap degree and they think that entitles them in to a $100,000 job. They really don’t want to work from the bottom up.

Im 38, starting in Middle School, various classes had material that listed job descriptions and the low and high salaries.

I remember wanting to be a camera man, because the sheet said tje average salary was $50,000. This was 8th grade in the mid 90's.

From there various job aptitude tests, job placement tests done in high school all incorporated some sort of salary projection.

Some chose vocational school rather than college because they were told they could make money faster and avoid high loans etc.

Linkedin, Glassdoor and mainly college tell you what the expected salary is for almost any job. They all have job assistance and job fairs with literature that speaks to earnings.

None of them say you'll graduate, and will be competing with 40, 50 and 60 year olds for the same jobs.

You can't beat out someone in theirs 30's if you are 20 and so on, unless the company knows they can get the same work out of the younger person for less.

I've always worked, starting with a $5 and hour under the table job, ro summer camp making at the peak $9.45/hour, to reatil, peaking at $14/hour, a lot of temp stuff, then my 1st "real job" as an admin assistant 38,000/year in NYC. No salary increase for 7 years.

Brutal with rent, student loans, etc

Left the city and made the most working for Spectrum, Premium Retail Services, and Scribners Catskill Lodge, all of these got me to the low $40,000 all of the before tax.

Now I work in Digital Marketing making 67995/year, its a grind. Lucky we stayed remote.

My truck payment is 859/month with 1003 every 6 months for insurance.

This gen Z basically see's that it takes decades to get where you want to be and even then, unless you start you own business, or get lucky, you are doomed to a life of working to death like your parents.

There was a kind of hope that these kids experienced under Obama, because they were kids then, and told by teachers etc, that you can be whatever you want to be just work hard.

They don't tell you that peoplw are basically nice, but a large chuck of the population is dog eat dog and does not give a shit about you or how you feel.

They set people up for failure. Most of the US is not trans, and black, and asian, or gay. The US has been the same for quite a while, the messaging has changed and left a lot of people longing for this American dream

When you look at what ia take out of your paycheck for example in NY, it makes you question reality. Add ideas like simulation theory, the matrix, madella effect, people especially gen z's minds are warping.

Non of what we do on a day to day basis 8s logical.

Most of gen z ia on the spectrum and they think like Spock.

Example

It is highly illogical to work for a person who does not like or respect me.

It doesn't make sense that I only take home $15,000 per year after tax when I have nothing to show and work 40 hours per week in a part-time job.

Gen z are like the hippies of the 60's, the disco crowd of the 70's, punks and rappers from the 80's and surfers and slackers of the 90's.

Same shit different offspring.

GOD DAMN this episode was a stinker. Must be nice being a boomer. No one wants to hear this crap from someone who grew up during a period of unprecedented economic prosperity. I understand the youths are retarded but so are you for playing their tiktoks for your hour long boomer sesh

“Debt repayment in non-monetary form”

Klitschko hasn’t spent any money on the luxury real estate. The former world boxing champion received the property as a debt settlement from the company Maximum I LLC, which belonged to Klitschko’s brother Wladimir until May 2023. Vitali Klitschko then took over the management company. The villa was then transferred as part of a “debt repayment in non-monetary form”. Ukrainian media found out about this due to changes in ownership status in the local population register.

Villa is now owned by Klitschko’s ex-wife

But he could not enjoy his new property for long – because the mayor transferred the property in Hamburg to his ex-wife Natalia Yegorowa shortly afterwards, according to the online medium “Ukrainskaya Pravda”. In return, his ex-wife gave him a house in Lyutish, Ukraine – a suburb of Kiev – and a Land Rover Discovery 3.0.

The transactions were all legal, but still caused a stir. Some people criticized that “Klitschko enriches himself while soldiers die at the front.” The mayor himself has not yet commented on the matter.

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Hello again!

I just heard your favorite fellow podcaster Tim Pool claim that Sweden has told it's citizens that they will be conscripted in case of war and that that's a terrible thing.

So in case this makes the rounds in the media and it's something you guys want to touch on in an upcoming episode, I thought I'd give some additional information on what's actually going on here.

Basically, a minister put out a speech encouraging people to be more prepared for war **and other potential disruptive events.** Meaning people should make sure to have enough water and food at home at all times in order to manage on their own for about a week. Get an FM radio that's not dependent on the electrical grid in order to be able to stay informed about what's going on. This is so that they don't become a burden on already strained societal functions in the case of a disaster or even a large power outage. Additional recommendations were to make sure you keep your car tank topped up and have some way to boil water without electricity as well as instructions on how to stay warm in your home in case of a prolonged power outage during winter. Super basic stuff.

The opposition of course took the opportunity to call him a warmonger and accused him of scaring the children with his rhetoric. Never mind that they sent out the exact same information in the form of pamphlets six years ago when they were in power.

Now we do have mandatory military training and have had that for the last 100 years, with the exception of a short break of about 5-10 years during the 2010s. The way it works is that when you're 18 you're called in to do some physical and mental tests and if you're deemed suitable for any military role you do 7-20 months of training depending on the role you're selected for. Optionally you can then choose to enlist afterwards to be a member of the military service and be deployed wherever we have troops on peace keeping missions.

However, in case of war no one with a Swedish citizenship will be allowed to leave the country and everyone is expected to be at the military's disposal and the government can commander private companies and mandate that people keep working if it's deemed vital to the war effort. Again, this is how we've done it for the last 100 or so years, it's nothing new.

The oppositions "you're scaring the children!" didn't go anywhere, so now they've moved on to the fact that our military is 95% blond and blue eyed dudes and depending on which side of the isle you're on it's either a problem that immigrants are not willing to defend the country and are ungrateful or the military is not diverse enough.

Have a lovely day!

Mike the Swede

People in Germany hate the current government of Olaf Scholz.

His readings are at an all time low including his party of the SPD and the other parties including the Grünen(Green Party)

Die Linke (the left) party fell apart after a very popular politician left the party and took others with her to start a new people. Also left but focus will be on Germany.

Die Linke is and was a direct connection to the East-German SED party.

Because the very popular politician left the Die Linke(left party) decided to disband the party and maybe start a new one.

So as you can see it’s chaos in Germany.

It was not only people demonstrating against AFD.

In a lot of cities protests against Israel were planned and that coincided with afd protest.

In the press photo’s were altered to make it look like a mass demonstration in Hamburg.

The person who was interviewed and who showed up in all the mainstream press worked for the mainstream media

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Archived Version

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 18:04

Gardasil exposure: Who's affected? (Photo Credit: Image Point Fr/Shutterstock)Did you or a loved one develop serious health conditions after being vaccinated with Gardasil?

Gardasil has been marketed as a safe and effective vaccination to guard against the human papilloma virus (HPV). But some people believe that they or their loved ones fell ill after being vaccinated. While nothing can undo the trauma you are facing, there may be a way to seek justice and prevent this from happening to others.

Gardasil was developed to prevent HPV, a viral infection that the Mayo Clinic and others say may be defeated by your own immune system before you know you have it.

Some say the Gardasil vaccine is not a wonder drug. In late 2021, the National Cancer Institute of the US government issued a statement:

''Despite more than 15 years of consistent evidence that HPV vaccines are safe and effective, a new study has found that more parents are citing concerns about the vaccines' safety in recent years. The findings highlight an urgent need for doctors and public health leaders to address these concerns with parents, according to the scientists who led the study.''

Do you qualify?If you or a loved one developed what you believe to be Gardasil-related health problems after being vaccinated, you may qualify to participate in a Gardasil lawsuit investigation.

Please fill out the form on this page for more information.

HPV: overviewHPV viruses infect skin cells and mucous membranes through skin-to-skin contact. It is classified as a sexually transmitted disease, although the National Institutes of Health (NIH) say studies indicate it is not necessarily transmitted by sexual contact.

In a study about the sexually transmitted HPV diseases, it was found that nearly 27% of women aged 14-59 tested positive for one or more strains of HPV. Rates for men are likely to be similar. About 90% of HPV infections clear spontaneously within 24 months after first detection.

Cancer often takes years, even decades, to develop after a person gets HPV, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).

The main concern is that HPV often results in cervical cancer, which is why PAP tests are performed regularly in women. Each year, nearly 200,000 women are diagnosed with cervical pre-cancer caused by an STD, and more than 11,000 are diagnosed with the actual disease. Some 4,000 die annually from the disease. In rare cases mothers transmit HPV to their babies during birth. Resulting warts in a child's throat and airway may cause breathing, swallowing and speaking problems. Public health officials have long recommended the PAP test (also known as PAP Smear), which detects abnormalities in cervical tissue, as the most effective frontline public health response to the disease. Since its introduction, cervical cancer screening through PAP tests has reduced rates of cervical cancer in developed countries by up to 80 percent. Incidences of cervical cancer have been declining dramatically worldwide as countries have implemented PAP screening programs.

Gardasil on the marketThe U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Gardasil (HPV4), a Merck vaccine for four types of HPV, in 2006. It approved Gardasil 9 in 2014, which covered 9 types of HPV. Gardasil 9 in now the only Gardasil vaccine available in the US.

All HPV vaccines use a protein from the shell of certain HPV types. Because they contain no viral RNA or DNA, they cannot cause the disease, according to the CDC.

Help or harm?Some side-effects of the Gardasil vaccine include:

Pain, redness or swelling at the injection siteDizzinessFaintingNauseaHeadacheAdults, and parents of children who received the shots, added an alarming number of serious conditions and diseases that presented after the vaccines were administered, among them:

DeathPostural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS)Premature Ovarian FailureObjections to HPV VaccinesIn April 2013, the health ministry of Japan added two different HPV vaccines to the national immunization program and started to recommend them. Just 10 weeks later, that recommendation was pulled after ever-mounting complaints of chronic pain, headaches, motor impairment and other symptoms reported in the press and at seminars. Japanese officials employed more studies, but it was not until 2021 that the health ministry overturned its decision and again recommended the vaccines. Japan's health ministry had previously discovered adverse events reported after Gardasil were many times higher than other vaccines on the recommended schedule. Japanese researchers found that the adverse events rate of the HPV vaccine was as high as 9 percent.

Similar objections happened in other countries where the drugs were more quickly reinstated, but a significant number of complaints continue to be reported in the US and elsewhere.

For people who feel their lives were ruined by Gardasil and other HPV vaccinations, the fight goes on.

Join a Gardasil exposure lawsuit investigationWhile advocates fight to remove Gardasil and other HPV vaccinations from the lists of recommended drugs for children and others, doctors and drug companies continue to say side effects from the vaccines are virtually inconsequential.

Adults and parents of children who have suffered from health problems after receiving Gardasil may be eligible to join a lawsuit demanding that the vaccine be recognized as dangerous, and be compensated for medical expenses, permanent disability and other damages. Bereaved family members of people who died of diseases that are alleged to be caused by Gardasil may also take action.

Please fill out the form on this page to see if you qualify for a FREE case evaluation.

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Archived Version

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 17:55

A little over a year after the public launch of ChatGPT, we're starting to see one prediction come true of how it could affect the internet: AI spam is flooding the web.

Just last week, there were three examples of how this played out.

First, 404 Media, a new tech blog, wrote that it had to modify its website because of artificial-intelligence spam.

Recently, it has noticed that AI-written versions of its scoops have shown up on spam sites that are friendly to search-engine optimization '-- sometimes even showing up above the real 404 Media articles on Google search results. The scammers, of course, are making money by running ads on the AI-generated pages.

From 404 Media's look into the article-theft cottage industry:

Over the last few weeks Jason has been researching and experimenting with a series of AI tools that promise to "spin" articles for their users. One, called SpinRewriter, lets users create 1,000 slightly different versions of the same article with a single click and to automatically publish them to as many WordPress sites as you want using a paid plugin. It also offers a tool that lets users manage as many websites as they want from a single dashboard.A company called Byword gleefully advertises the "SEO heist" that "stole 3.6M total traffic from a competitor" with this One Weird Trick (exporting the competitor's sitemap and creating AI generated versions of 1,800 of their articles).

These AI-generated versions of articles hurt the news business, effectively stealing away clicks (and revenue) from the outlets that spend real time and money doing the reporting.

Secondly, Wired wrote that The Hairpin, a popular indie blog from the 2010s, had been taken over by an AI click farmer who left up some of the popular articles but replaced the names of the women who wrote them with men's names '-- ick.

Lastly, at the most toxic end of the AI-spam spectrum, there are AI-generated obituaries, full of errors, that cause real pain to grieving families. In 2021, long before ChatGPT, Wired reported that "obituary pirates" were scraping and copying funeral-home websites. Now they're using AI for a new and lucrative tactic of creating YouTube videos and spammy websites out of the obits, capturing search traffic for people looking for information about the recently deceased.

The New York Times recently reported on the pain these AI-generated YouTube videos caused a real grieving family. After a college student died by accidentally falling onto New York subway tracks, YouTube videos and AI-generated articles quickly appeared.

These obits were in response to the scammers noticing a spike of search interest around the young man's name and the word "subway." The scammers quickly plugged in those key terms, told AI to write an obit in a conversational tone, and then slapped it up on a website, the Times reported. (Most of the details were wrong, but that didn't stop the site from appearing in Google searches.)

All three examples '-- 404 Media's copycats, The Hairpin's squatter, and the obituary pirates '-- differ in the details. But they have one thing in common: Bad actors, scammers, and spammers are trying to make money by using AI to pump out massive quantities of content to reach the top of Google search results.

Ultimately, this isn't a problem just for journalists getting their content stolen or grieving families rightfully upset by the digital grave robbery. This is a huge problem for Google. It ends up serving up garbage results to users, who increasingly have other attractive options '-- also thanks to AI '-- for search.

Google told The New York Times that it's aware of these spammy obits and was working to address them (and took some down since they violated its policies).

But bad actors are often a step ahead of the platforms '-- as with the AI-generated lewd images of Taylor Swift that proliferated on X last week.

AI is going to radically change the internet, for better or worse. It's on Google and the companies making these AI tools to minimize the actual harm.

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Archived Version

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 17:53

This is a query over all vaccines in VAERS for the last 30 years. It took me about 10 seconds to do this query:

VAERS query over the entire history of VAERS. Only one vaccine causes dementia.The results are self-explanatory: the COVID vaccines cause dementia.

Anyone who tells you ''correlation isn't causation'' should explain the actual cause of this if it wasn't the COVID vaccine.

I can't get a debate on this with anyone. They just don't want to talk about it.

The mainstream media is just never going to cover it.

All five Bradford Hill criteria are satisfied here. If you disagree, point out which criteria is not in the comments.

If you think VAERS can't provide evidence of causality, read this article: '' If you think VAERS can't be used to determine causality... ''

The 1,000X is calculated relative to the average vaccine, not against all vaccines in history combined. Note that many of these vaccines have FAR more doses than the COVID vaccine. If we took that into account, the difference would be more extreme.

The community notes on X will claim anyone can report to VAERS. That's right.

I t's a FEDERAL CRIME to make a false VAERS report . So why would anyone do that?

Also, the claim that everything is elevated because so many people got these shots is BS as well since billions of people got the flu shots.

Here's an example of something that the COVID vaccines do NOT cause and as you can see, the COVID vaccine counts are NOT elevated:

COVID vaccines do NOT cause metal poisoning, but do cause dementia And, by the way, if you want to get an immigration visa to the US, you are required to get the COVID vaccine so you can get dementia too!

Here are the links:

COVID vaccine requirements for immigration visa

Unlike for other vaccines, there are no medical conditions that allow you to opt out of the COVID vaccine because the COVID vaccine is safe for everyone! This is stunning.

And the COVID vaccine is recommended especially if you are pregnant even though it can increase the rate of fetal demise by 50X or more as we learned from nurse Michelle Gershman (at 2:53:00) in a stunning revelation . So if you want to lose your baby, taking the COVID shot is an excellent approach. We reached out to Michelle's hospital, but they don't want to talk about it (I can't figure out why).

You can still apply for a religious exemption.

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Archived Version

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 17:48

Peering into the jungle of microbes that live within us, researchers have stumbled across what seem to be an entire new class of virus-like objects.

"It's insane," says University of North Carolina cell biologist Mark Peifer, who was not involved in the study, told Elizabeth Pennisi at Science Magazine. "The more we look, the more crazy things we see."

These mysterious bits of genetic material have no detectable sequences or even structural similarities known to any other biological agents.

So Stanford University biologist Ivan Zheludev and colleagues argue their strange discovery may not be viruses at all, but instead an entirely new group of entities that may help bridge the ancient gap between the simplest genetic molecules and more complex viruses.

"Obelisks comprise a class of diverse RNAs that have colonized, and gone unnoticed in, human, and global microbiomes," the researchers write in a preprint paper.

Named after the highly-symmetrical, rod-like structures formed by its twisted lengths of RNA, the Obelisks' genetic sequences are only around 1,000 characters (nucleotides) in size. In fact, this brevity is likely one of the reasons we've failed to notice them previously.

In a study that has yet to be peer reviewed, Zheludev and team searched 5.4 million datasets of published genetic sequences and identified almost 30,000 different Obelisks. They appeared in about 10 percent of the human microbiomes the team examined.

In one set of data, Obelisks turned up in 50 percent of the patients' oral samples. What's more, different types of Obelisks appear to be present in different areas of our bodies.

"[This] supports the notion that Obelisks might include colonists of said human microbiomes," the researchers explain.

They managed to isolate one type of host cell from our microbiome, the bacterium Streptococcus sanguinis '' a common human mouth microbe. The Obelisk in these microbes had a loop 1,137 nucleotides long.

"While we don't know the 'hosts' of other Obelisks," write Zheludev and colleagues. "it is reasonable to assume that at least a fraction may be present in bacteria."

The question of the Obelisks' source aside, all seem to include codes for a new class of protein the researchers have named Oblins.

Instructions for building these proteins seem to take up at least half of the Obelisks' genetic material. As these proteins are so similar across all the Obelisks, researchers suspect they may be involved in the entity's replication process.

This ability to code for proteins makes them different from other known RNA loops called viroids, but they also don't seem to have the genes to make protein shells that RNA viruses (including COVID-19) live within when they're outside of cells.

They're also significantly larger than other genetic molecules that coexist inside cells, from plants to bacteria, called plasmids, which are more commonly composed of DNA.

However, Zheludev and team couldn't identify any impact of the Obelisks on their bacterial hosts, or a means by which they could spread between cells.

"These elements might not even be 'viral' in nature and might more closely resemble 'RNA plasmids,'" they conclude.

This research has been uploaded to the preprint serve, bioRxiv.

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Archived Version

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 17:37

Actor William Shatner scolded members of parliament in the European Union over reports that they planned to address the ''gendered language'' in the iconic introduction to his science fiction fan-favorite television series: ''Star Trek.''

GB News reported on the initiative, which was apparently inspired by a 61-page document '-- titled ''Toolkit on Gender-sensitive Communication'' '-- which was published by the European Institute for Gender Equality.

In addition to advising against the use of phrases like ''no-man's land'' '-- suggesting ''unclaimed territory'' as an alternative '-- the document addressed the problematic goals of the Galactic Federation, namely ''to boldly go where no man has gone before.''

According to the group's findings, statements such as that one created an environment where ''women may be subject to invisibility or omission.''

Shatner, who delivered the line as part of the introduction of each ''Star Trek'' episode, was not convinced.

''Presentism at work yet again,'' Shatner began by registering his complaint about the attempt to apply today's values to a show that was created in a very different time and culture.

''Why start at Trek?'' the actor asked in his X post, suggesting that there were certainly more important historically significant documents that should be addressed first.

''Isn't it better to start at the beginning and redo foundation material such as the Magna Carta, religious writings, works of Shakespeare before worrying about a silly TV show opening that reflects social commentary of the time?'' he asked. ''If people are offended by 6 seconds of dialogue recorded in 1966 without a modicum of understanding of the social issues at the time there's bigger issues that they need to deal with first '-- like educating themselves.''

ðŸ"👇ðŸ>>Presentism at work yet again. Why start at Trek? 🤨Isn't it better to start at the beginning and redo foundation material such as the Magna Carta, religious writings, works of Shakespeare before worrying about a silly TV show opening that reflects social commentary of the'... pic.twitter.com/P0okn5rYca

'-- William Shatner (@WilliamShatner) January 29, 2024

One person responded to Shatner by asking is the EU planned to ban the words of American astronaut Neil Armstrong next.

''Neil Armstrong must be spinning in his grave '... 'One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.' Will he be canceled for leaving out an 'a'? Is the word 'mankind' misogynous? We live in foolish times.''

Neil Armstrong must be spinning in his grave'...''One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind''.Will he be canceled for leaving out an ''a''? Is the word ''mankind'' misogynous? We live in foolish times.

'-- Ry Brooks (@RyBrooks) January 29, 2024

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Archived Version

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 17:32

د . Ø¥AEDSRر . Ø"

In response to the escalating farmer protests ongoing in Europe, the European Parliament fortified the building's perimeter with barbed wire as a safety measure.

This step is a powerful symbol by the European Parliament as it serves as a precaution to the ongoing protests and potential disruptions by the farmers who have been holding demonstrations since the beginning of January.

Following weeks of protests, farmers are redirecting their grievances towards the European Parliament for the challenges they are facing in their working conditions due to the new regulations implemented.

Farmers across Europe have blocked large stretches of motorways with the aim to put more pressure on the government to meet their demands which include higher wages, lower taxes and protection from cheap imports.

Meanwhile in France, tens of thousands of farmers have taken to the streets to protest the latest European Union's sustainability policies promising to lay ''siege on Paris'' if their conditions are not met.

What do you make of these security measures?

READ NEXT: Malta's UN Ambassador Urges Israel To 'Uphold International Law Responsibilities' In Their War With HamasCharlene is a social media executive from Gozo with a passion for reading, travelling and food. She adores all animals especially cats. Follow her on her Instagram @onlyforthebooks and send her your stories on

[email protected]

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Archived Version

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 17:31

Earlier today, the Biden Administration announced an emergency data collection initiative targeted at bitcoin mining operations in the US via the US Energy Information Administration, an "independent" sub-agency of the Department of Energy. It seems that the Biden Administration is identifying the electricity usage of the bitcoin mining industry as an emergency that is threatening grid stability throughout the US, as is evidenced by the name of the survey; "Proposed Emergency Survey - Cryptocurrency Mining Facilities". Here is the press release and the official filing from the EIA.

via the EIA When I read the press release and the filing my initial thought was, "Interesting. Maybe this will turn out to be a net positive for the industry. The EIA has made some pretty naive assumptions and the surveys should conclude that bitcoin miners have provided clear benefits to the grid systems they operate within. Especially those who participate in demand response programs that ensure reliable electricity is available to residential consumers during times of peak demand." But after some thought that initial inclination felt a bit naive. Data from bitcoin miners participating in demand response programs and others taking care of escape methane emissions by mining off-grid using natural gas that would otherwise be flared or stranded and unmaintained has been public for years. There is no need for a forced survey on the industry out of nowhere.

That's when I decided to take a look at the actual survey. Upon review, it proves to be one of the more Orwellian things I've seen come out of this Administration. And that's saying a lot. If you dig into the information that the EIA is requesting, it looks as if the EIA is setting out to create a hyper-detailed registry of mining operations in the United States. Getting as granular as to request specific information about mining fleets and hashrate data. And as with any Dystopian edict put forth by a government gone mad with perceived power, the survey starts out with an overt threat.

Not only does it start with a threat, but it requires that "ALL commercial cryptocurrency mining facilities in the United States" respond. This is utterly insane. Before we opine on the insanity, let's dive into the information the government is expecting the mining industry to fork over.

Miners will be expected to provide information about their companies, where their domiciled, and the addresses of where their operations are located. As well as a point of contact for the EIA.

The companies will also be required to identify whether they are running operations that involve Proof of Stake or Proof of Work consensus mechanisms.

They will then need to tell daddy government how many mining facilities they operate.

After that, they will be expected to disclose the location of their individual operations, including GEOGRAPHIC COORDINATES, and the amount of electricity that was consumed at the facility all together, regardless of whether or not the miner has any control of the electricity that it is not using.

From there they will have to disclose the percentage of the facility's electricity consumption that was used specifically for mining and doxx their electric service provider.

Next up, they will have to somehow come up with the average percentage of all the electricity dedicated to bitcoin mining at different energy suppliers and, again, doxx them.

And last, but certainly not least, miners will be expected to give detailed information about their mining fleets. The EIA wants to know the number of ASICs miners are running at individual facilities, the models of the miners (which will be determined by cross referencing the age of the miner with different model releases), the amount of energy needed to power those mining machines, and the maximum amount of hashrate they produced during the reporting period.

This is one of the most egregious encroachments on privacy and free markets that I have ever seen. It is so egregious that it is hard not to believe that this survey is anything less than a first step that leads down a path toward an all out attack on the mining industry in the United States. This survey serves as a way for the federal government to tag each individual operation within the country. They are going as far as to demand geographic coordinates from companies.

Funnily enough, the only other country to request information like this from the bitcoin mining industry operating in their borders is Venezuela, and they quickly confiscated operations and began mining for themselves once they knew where all of the miners were located. It would be naive to think that a federal government drunk on debt, losing control of the narrative, desperate for a scapegoat, and cognizant of the threat to its power over the money printer posed by bitcoin's success would not resort to similar tactics.

If you are an operator in the bitcoin mining industry in the US it is imperative that you ignore this survey and tell the EIA, the Department of Energy, and the current administration to fuck off. Bitcoin miners are law abiding electricity purchasers who are engaging in mutually beneficial economic contracts with power providers who are trying to optimize their revenue streams so that they can profit more and invest in providing more reliable services to their end customers. The continued attempts to discriminate against the bitcoin mining industry should be seen as nothing less than harassment and unconstitutional.

With that being said, this should be and has been expected for many years. What was once a hypothetical "what happens when the government begins creating a registry of miners?" is now a reality and the reaction from the industry will dictate the fate of bitcoin mining in America. Companies can either succumb to the run-of-the-mill fear tactics employed by the government or stand in solidarity to fight for our inalienable right to not be discriminated against and engage in economic activity with other consenting, supposedly free, companies.

The industry set a good precedent of solidarity last week when a number of companies cosigned many letters in response to FinCEN's proposed rules around the usage of bitcoin privacy tools.

Our Response to FinCEN on Proposed Surveillance Rules for Bitcoin

We submitted a legal response to the U.S. Department of the Treasury and FinCEN's proposed rules that would seriously harm privacy by effectively prohibiting basic bitcoin best practices such as not reusing addresses and collaborative bitcoin transactions.

The government only gave us a week's worth of rest before dropping this survey. Well, freaks, it's time to get back on the horse and let the government know that this act of egregious aggression that singles out a particular electricity consumer will not stand. The bitcoin mining industry is doing nothing wrong and it should not have to respond to a survey that is attempting to paint us as bad actors. As I stated earlier, the data is already out there and it is abundantly clear; bitcoin miners are a massive boon to the energy systems of this country both on and off-grid. Entrepreneurial spirit and a drive to make the world a better place while making some money has begun to fix systemic problems that government policy created in the first place.

If the government is truly worried about the robustness of the energy systems in the United States they should get out of the way. All of the subsidies thrown at "renewable energy" have created perverse economic incentives that favor unreliable energy generation over reliable base load. They have actively hindered the proliferation of nuclear energy for decades with layers of red tape that make it almost impossible to build new nuclear reactors. They have prevented us from drilling for oil and gas on federal lands and shut down the construction of pipelines that would increase the accessibility and decrease prices mid-construction. Just last week they issued a mandate to stop the construction of LNG facilities that have allowed the United States to become a net-exporter of energy over the course of the last decade. LNG saved Europe two winters ago after we blew up the Nord Stream 2 pipeline.

The United States federal government is objectively the biggest threat to energy security in America. It isn't bitcoin miners. Don't show them any respect by responding to this survey. They do not deserve it.

Final thought...

I haven't had adrenaline coursing through my vains like this while writing in a long time. It's a great feeling.

Use the code "TFTC" for 15% off

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Archived Version

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 17:29

By Jake Lapham, Anna O'Neill and Ellie Price BBC News

Watch: CCTV, courtesy of Sky News, appears to show Clapham attackWitnesses have described a "horrific" scene after a mother and her two girls were doused in their car with a "corrosive substance" in south London.

One witness told the BBC the mother cried: "I can't see, I can't see" as he tried to help. "It was quite horrific," he added.

The Metropolitan Police said injuries to the mother and the younger girl, three, could be "life-changing".

The attack is believed to be targeted.

Police said an alkaline substance was used in the attack, which happened on Lessar Avenue, near Clapham Common on Wednesday evening.

Shannon, who lives on the street, said she ran outside after hearing "a lot of shouting" then a "bang" and "someone saying 'help'".

"As I run outside, I've seen this guy throwing a child on the floor, he picked her up and threw her again."

Shannon said she ran over and grabbed the child, carrying her to safety in her block of flats.

"I've then seen her mum walking up the road saying 'I can't see I can't see'."

Live updates: Police name suspect as Abdul Ezedi, 35At that point her partner set off after the suspect.

"I chased him halfway down the road, but I was in slippers so didn't get very far," her partner told the BBC.

"As I came back, that's when I saw the woman who had been attacked ... so I ran inside to get some water and just sprayed her down with water."

He described seeing what looked to be serious burns to her face.

Shannon, who suffered less serious burns to her face, arm and lips after caring for one of the children involved, was taken to hospital but later discharged.

"My skin started tingling as well, my face started tingling," she said.

A man was seen fleeing the scene and a police helicopter was used on Wednesday night to search for him.A resident named Abdul said he saw baby's shoes on the street as he was returning home from a dentist appointment.

"People were just screaming everywhere, there were fifteen police cars and fire brigades, it was quite a stressful moment."

"It was so shocking that it would happen right next to my house."

He said police often patrol the street.

Another resident, who told the BBC his name was David, witnessed the aftermath of the incident.

"The people on the street [are] fearful. This is a safe neighbourhood, so this is shocking," he said.

As the search for the attacker began, residents said they heard the whir of helicopters through the night.

The nature of the attack has left residents distressed. "How can people do this sort of thing?" one neighbour asked.

The attack happened close to Clapham CommonDid you witness the attack? Please share your experiences by emailing haveyoursay@bbc.co.uk.

Please include a contact number if you are willing to speak to a BBC journalist. You can also get in touch in the following ways:

WhatsApp: +44 7756 165803Tweet: @BBC_HaveYourSayUpload pictures or videoPlease read our terms & conditions and privacy policyIf you are reading this page and can't see the form you will need to visit the mobile version of the BBC website to submit your question or comment or you can email us at HaveYourSay@bbc.co.uk. Please include your name, age and location with any submission.

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Thu, 01 Feb 2024 17:26

Journal List PLoS One PMC10441795 As a library, NLM provides access to scientific literature. Inclusion in an NLM database does not imply endorsement of, or agreement with, the contents by NLM or the National Institutes of Health.

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PMC Copyright Notice PLoS One. 2023; 18(8): e0288138.

Raphael Josef Eberle,

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1,2,* M´nika Aparecida Coronado,

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1 Ian Gering,

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1 Simon Sommerhage,

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1 Anja Stefanski,

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3 Kai St¼hler,

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3 Victoria Kraemer-Schulien,

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1 Lara Bl¶meke,

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Dieter Willbold,

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1,2,5Raphael Josef Eberle1Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum J¼lich, J¼lich, Germany

2Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich-Heine-University D¼sseldorf, D¼sseldorf, Germany

M´nika Aparecida Coronado1Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum J¼lich, J¼lich, Germany

Ian Gering1Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum J¼lich, J¼lich, Germany

Simon Sommerhage1Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum J¼lich, J¼lich, Germany

Karolina Korostov1Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum J¼lich, J¼lich, Germany

Anja Stefanski3Molecular Proteomics Laboratory (MPL), BMFZ, Heinrich-Heine-University D¼sseldorf, D¼sseldorf, Germany

Kai St¼hler3Molecular Proteomics Laboratory (MPL), BMFZ, Heinrich-Heine-University D¼sseldorf, D¼sseldorf, Germany

Victoria Kraemer-Schulien1Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum J¼lich, J¼lich, Germany

Lara Bl¶meke1Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum J¼lich, J¼lich, Germany

2Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich-Heine-University D¼sseldorf, D¼sseldorf, Germany

Oliver Bannach1Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum J¼lich, J¼lich, Germany

2Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich-Heine-University D¼sseldorf, D¼sseldorf, Germany

4attyloid GmbH, D¼sseldorf, Germany

Dieter Willbold1Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum J¼lich, J¼lich, Germany

2Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich-Heine-University D¼sseldorf, D¼sseldorf, Germany

5JuStruct: J¼lich Centre for Structural Biology, Forschungszentrum J¼lich, J¼lich, Germany

Maria Gasset, Editor

1Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7: Structural Biochemistry), Forschungszentrum J¼lich, J¼lich, Germany

2Institute of Physical Biology, Heinrich-Heine-University D¼sseldorf, D¼sseldorf, Germany

3Molecular Proteomics Laboratory (MPL), BMFZ, Heinrich-Heine-University D¼sseldorf, D¼sseldorf, Germany

4attyloid GmbH, D¼sseldorf, Germany

5JuStruct: J¼lich Centre for Structural Biology, Forschungszentrum J¼lich, J¼lich, Germany

Consejo Superior de Investigaciones Cientificas, SPAIN

Corresponding author.

Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.

Received 2023 Mar 16; Accepted 2023 Jun 20.

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the

Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

Supplementary MaterialsS1 Fig: SDS PAGE of 2N4R tau purification. M: Protein marker; 1: Supernatant after cell disruption; 2: Supernatant after ammonium sulfate precipitation; 3: Pellet after ammonium sulfate precipitation solved in buffer 2; 4: SN after centrifugation pellet solved in buffer 2; 5: Pellet solved in ddH

2O and 2 mM TCEP; 6: Pellet was solved in buffer 3; 7: SN after centrifugation pellet solved in buffer 3; 8: Sample after dialysis against buffer 4.

(TIF)

GUID: 6097DEB1-FC12-49D4-AEF3-8EFA8082FC6D

S2 Fig: Characterization of 2N4R tau.

A: SDS PAGE 15% of 2N4R tau. M: protein marker, 1: pure 2N4R tau after precipitation purification, 2: western blot with CF633 labeled tau13.

B: CD spectrum of 2N4R tau monomer and filament.

C: ThT assay of 2N4R tau (10 μM), aggregation was induced with 2.5 μM heparin. Data shown are the mean ± SD from three independent measurements (

n = 3).

(TIF)

GUID: 3F4A50B0-7B31-474A-B479-C80F88AAA438

S3 Fig: Comparison of 2N4R tau and heparin CD spectrum.

A: CD spectrum of 2N4R tau monomer and filament.

B: CD spectrum of 2.5 μM and 25 μM heparin.

(TIF)

GUID: E4E8A927-C1E2-4CF5-850F-8D9098A5D9B3

S4 Fig: SDS PAGE of alpha-synuclein and TDP-43 purification. M: Protein marker; 1: Supernatant after affinity chromatography; 2: Elution steps after size exclusion chromatography.

A: SDS PAGE of alpha-synuclein purification.

B: SDS PAGE of TDP-43 purification.

(TIF)

GUID: 9C4BD9E4-57F0-4D07-A55E-E421367C6C75

S5 Fig: Effect of SARS-CoV-2 3CL

pro and tau doses on 2N4R tau aggregation. The endpoint of the relative fluorescence during a ThT assay is shown.

A: Effect of different 3CLpro concentration (0, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 μM) on tau aggregation (Tau concentration was 10 μM).

B: Effect of different tau concentration (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 μM) on tau aggregation. (3CL

pro concentration was 10 μM). As Control experiments tau at each concentration without protease is shown.

(TIF)

GUID: 7A7437BF-1605-41E0-882C-F3180E9EEBBC

S6 Fig: Negative stain electron microscopy of 3CL

pro induced tau fibrilles.

A-F: Representative micrographs at high (73kx) magnification, showing 3CL

pro induced tau fibrilles.

(TIF)

GUID: 114E2B31-2394-468D-A71B-C5FE8A57F09A

S7 Fig: Effect of 3CL

pro inactivation on tau metabolisation. The protease was inactivated by 10 μM DSF.

A: Analytical HPLC analysis of 2N4R tau incubated with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 3CL

pro for 0, 24, 48 and 72h. The corresponding chromatogram regions of the tau monomer and related metabolites generated by active 3CL

pro are highlighted (I-III).

B: Stability of 2N4R tau monomer after treatment with inactivated 3CL

pro over 72h. The tau monomer amount remains at 95%, compared with a control were tau was treated with active 3CL

pro. In the control experiment the tau monomer amount reduce to around 40%.

C: Chromatogram of peak I (Tau) shown enlarged,

D: Chromatogram of peak region II shown and

E: Chromatogram of peak region III shown enlarged. Data shown are the mean ± SD from three independent measurements (

n = 3).

(TIF)

GUID: 5966FF7F-3890-4924-9584-8D0441E1751E

S8 Fig: Mass spectrometry analysis of tau metabolites (

GDTPSLEDEAAGHVTQAR). Example of a MS spectrum corresponding to a tryptic peptide derived from 2N4R tau (

GDTPSLEDEAAGHVTQAR), b- and y-ions are labelled.

(TIF)

GUID: 096EE5FA-E908-4044-863D-32963A8AB178

S9 Fig: Mass spectrometry analysis of tau metabolites (

SPQLATLADEVSASLAK). Example of a MS spectrum corresponding to a tryptic peptide derived from 2N4R tau (

SPQLATLADEVSASLAK), b- and y-ions are labelled.

(TIF)

GUID: BA269867-4946-4C12-A7BC-B2962BA64941

S10 Fig: Preferred cleavage sequence pattern of SARS-CoV-2 3CL

pro and possible cleavage sites in the tau sequence. 3CL

pro substrate binding site and preferred amino acids are shown and sequence homology of possible cleavage sites. The identical amino acid pattern was checked in the Merops database, if there exist identities to known viral protease cleavage sequences. The following virus proteases were identified: C49.001 (Strawberry mottle virus 3C-like peptidase); C30.001 (Coronavirus picornain 3C-like peptidase-1); C30.003 (Human coronavirus 229E main peptidase); C30.005 (SARS coronavirus picornain 3C-like peptidase) and C30.007 (Coronavirus COVID-19 3C-like peptidase).

(TIF)

GUID: A9132FD7-FDB1-4765-BE95-E66C10C05C7D

S1 Table: Tryptic peptides of 2N4R tau. (PDF)

GUID: BA9C973F-E0FC-4C2F-B1FE-2DA9CD871388

S2 Table: Tryptic peptides of 2N4R tau detected in peak I. (PDF)

GUID: 1E548650-F173-41A2-A35B-F9FF1F6910EE

S3 Table: Tryptic peptides of 2N4R tau detected in peak region II. (PDF)

GUID: 81EB4176-8FC9-401A-BF37-B687FA51EB07

S4 Table: Tryptic peptides of 2N4R tau detected in peak region III. (PDF)

GUID: E666723D-9910-4DEC-8ED6-8552CE9BA998

Data Availability StatementAll relevant data are within the paper and its Supporting information files.

AbstractThe primary function of virus proteases is the proteolytic processing of the viral polyprotein. These enzymes can also cleave host cell proteins, which is important for viral pathogenicity, modulation of cellular processes, viral replication, the defeat of antiviral responses and modulation of the immune response. It is known that COVID-19 can influence multiple tissues or organs and that infection can damage the functionality of the brain in multiple ways. After COVID-19 infections, amyloid-β, neurogranin, tau and phosphorylated tau were detected extracellularly, implicating possible neurodegenerative processes. The present study describes the possible induction of tau aggregation by the SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease (3CLpro) possibly relevant in neuropathology. Further investigations demonstrated that tau was proteolytically cleaved by the viral protease 3CL and, consequently, generated aggregates. However, more evidence is needed to confirm that COVID-19 is able to trigger neurodegenerative diseases.

IntroductionViral pathogens encode their protease(s) or use host proteases for their replication cycle. In the case of acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), proteolytic cleavage of the two virus polyproteins generates the various viral proteins needed to form a replication complex required for transcription and replication of the viral genome and subgenomic mRNAs. The key viral enzymes responsible are the papain-like (PLP, nsp3) and 3-chymotrypsin-like proteases (3CLpro) [1''3]. In addition, host cell protein cleavage is a critical component of viral pathogenicity [4], including diverting cellular processes to viral replication, defeating antiviral responses and immune response modulation. Many large-scale analyses of the SARS-CoV-2 infected-cell transcriptome, proteome, phosphoproteome and interactomes are described [5''7]. Regarding the 3CLpro human substrate repertoire, also known as the degradome [8], Pablos et al., 2021 identified over 100 substrates and 58 additional high confidence candidate substrates out of SARS-CoV-2 infected human lung and kidney cells [9].

SARS-CoV-2 was identified in December 2019 as the causative agent of coronavirus disease-19 (COVID-19) first occurring in Wuhan, Hubei province, China [10]. According to the data that were reported to the World Health Organization (WHO) up to the 3rd of January 2023, the global SARS-CoV-2 pandemic was associated with >655 million confirmed cases of infections and >6.6 million virus-related deaths worldwide [11].

It is well known that SARS-CoV-2 infection can influence multiple tissues or organs [12''16]. Post-COVID syndrome (also known as Long-COVID) has also been described as a syndrome that encompasses a prolonged course of various physical and neuropsychiatric symptoms that persist for more than 12 weeks [17, 18]. It has also been reported that COVID-19 can damage the brain in different ways ( Table 1 ).

Table 1Some neurological symptoms caused by COVID-19.

Neurological symptomReferenceLoss of smell (anosmia) and altered taste (ageusia)[19]Myoclonus, cerebellar ataxia, seizure and tremor[20, 21]Headache[22]Cardiorespiratory failure[23]Encephalopathy[24]Acute Disseminated Encephalomyelitis[25]Stroke[26]Guillain-Barre syndrome[27]Douaud et al. 2022 described the dramatic effects of SARS-CoV-2 infections on the brain structure, including a reduction in grey matter thickness, tissue damage in regions that are functionally connected to the primary olfactory cortex and a significant reduction in global brain size [28]. However, so far, there exists no direct link with the generation of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), frontotemporal dementia (FTD), Huntington's disease (HD), spinocerebellar ataxias, corticobasal degeneration, progressive supranuclear palsy, chronic traumatic encephalopathy, or multiple system atrophy. These diseases have many common features, including their chronic and progressive nature, the increased prevalence with age, destruction of neurons in specific areas of the brain, damage to the network of synaptic connections, and selective brain mass loss [29]. Another event is the progressive accumulation of misfolded protein aggregates with well-ordered structures. The proteins most commonly implicated in the accumulation of cerebral misfolded aggregates include amyloid-beta (Aβ), tau, alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) and TAR DNA-binding protein 43 (TDP-43) [29].

After COVID-19 infections in the brain, amyloid-β, neurogranin, tau and phosphorylated tau can be detected extracellularly, implicating possible neurodegenerative processes [30]. Another study demonstrated that the spike protein receptor binding domain binds to heparin and heparin-binding proteins, including amyloid-β, α-synuclein, tau, prion and TDP-43, which may initiate the pathological aggregation of these proteins resulting in neurodegeneration [31, 32]. Ramani et al. 2020 showed that SARS-CoV-2 targets neurons of 3D human brain organoids and neurons invaded with SARS-CoV-2 at the cortical area display altered tau, tau hyperphosphorylation distribution and apparent neuronal death [33].

Tau phosphorylation and tau proteolysis are likely key factors in disease-associated tau aggregation and accumulation. Tau proteolysis can destabilise its primary structure, preventing correct folding and can lead to the formation of aggregated tau species due to a disordered quaternary structure. Tau can be cleaved by various proteolytic enzymes, including caspases, calpains, thrombin, cathepsins, metalloprotease 10, asparagine endopeptidase and puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase [34].

Here, we report the cleavage and aggregation of tau after SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro treatment in vitro using a combination of ThT assays, negative staining TEM, analytical HPLC and mass spectrometry.

Material and methodsPreparation of alpha-synuclein, TDP-43 and 2N4R tauAlpha-synuclein was cloned, expressed and purified, as described previously [35]. TDP-43 sample was kindly provided by Dr Jeanine Kutzsche (IBI-7, Forschungszentrum J¼lich). The gene for human tau (2N4R isoform, uniprot ID: P10636-8) encodes a protein of 441 amino acids. The respective gene was commercially synthesised and cloned into the pET28A(+) vector (Genentech, San Francisco, USA), without His-tag. Protein expression was performed as described previously [36].

Protein extraction began by dissolving the cell pellet of 1 L expression in 30 ml buffer 1 (50 mM HEPES pH 7.5, 500 mM KCL, 5 mM β-ME and 1 mM EDTA). The dissolved cell pellets were heated for 30 min at 85°C followed by 10 min on ice, and samples were sonicated 3 x 40 seconds at a power setting of 5 in an ultrasonic cell disruptor Modell 250 (Branson Ultrasonic, Brookfield, USA). Bacterial debris was pelleted for 50 min at 10,000 x g. Soluble tau protein was precipitated from the supernatant by adding 40 ml of a saturated ammonium sulfate solution and incubated for 30 minutes at room temperature. Afterwards, the samples were centrifuged for 30 min at 10,000 x g, and the pellet was resuspended in buffer 2 (50 mM HEPES pH 7.5, 50 mM KCL, 1.5 M ammonium sulfate, 2 mM TCEP and 1 mM EDTA). The solution was centrifuged for 30 minutes at 10,000 x g, and the pellet was resolved in 10 mL ddH2O and 2 mM TCEP. The sample was centrifuged again for 30 minutes at 10,000 x g, and the appearing pellet was resuspended in buffer 3 (20 mM HEPES pH 6.7, 150 mM NaCl, 2 mM TCEP and 1 mM EDTA). The sample was centrifuged for 1h at 12,000 x g, and the supernatant was dialysed overnight at 6°C against buffer 4 (50 mM ammonium acetate pH 7.4, 1 mM TCEP). The protein purity was assessed by SDS/PAGE (15%).

Western blot analysesFor western blots, a fluorescent anti-tau antibody was used. Therefore tau13 (Biolegend, San Diego, USA) was labelled with CF633 (Biotium, Freemont, USA), and the labelling process was performed as described previously [37]. 2N4R tau recombinant protein samples were prepared in Laemmli buffer (final 1— composition: 20 mM Tris, pH 6.8, 2% SDS, 6% glycerol, 1% β-ME, 0.002% Bromophenol Blue). All samples were heated at 95°C for 5 min and separated using SDS PAGE (15%). Proteins were then transferred to a polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF) membrane (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, USA) at 500 mA for 40 min. After a washing step for 15 min in Tris-buffered saline tween buffer (TBS-T) (20 mM Tris, 150 mM NaCl, 0.1% Tween 20), the membrane was blocked for 1 h with 2.5% milk powder/TBS-T. Next, the membrane was washed with TBS-T, 2 — 5 min and in the last step for 15 min. Tau13 stocks were 1 mg/ml and were diluted in TBS-T (1:5000). The membrane was incubated with the antibody for 1.5 h. at RT. After a final wash step (2 — 5 min and 1 — 10 min), TBS-T was performed. Detection based on the CF633 fluorescence of the labelled tau13 antibody. Bio-Rad universal hood II and Chemidoc XRS camera and Quantity One 4.6.5 software enabled the visualisation and quantification of the protein bands.

Thioflavin T aggregation (ThT) assayThT aggregation assays were conducted in Corning half area 96-well plates with the non-binding surface (Corning No. 3881, Glendale, AZ, USA). As a control, polymerisation of 2N4R tau was initiated in the presence of the aggregation inducer heparin (Sigma-Aldrich, USA) with a molar ratio of 4:1 (Tau:heparin). 10 μM tau was incubated with 2.5 μM heparin (the final volume of the reaction mixture was 150 μl). The experiment buffer contained 20 mM Tris pH 7.2, 200 mM NaCl, 1 mM TCEP and 10 μM ThT. Fluorescence intensities were measured at 6 minutes intervals over 30 hours at 350 rpm and 37°C using an Infinite 200 PRO plate reader (Tecan, M¤nnedorf, Switzerland). The excitation and emission wavelengths were 440 and 490 nm, respectively. All measurements were performed in triplicate, and data are presented as mean ± SD.

ThT assay using SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro as tau aggregation inducerThT assays were performed as described before. Instead of heparin, 10 μM SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro was used as an aggregation inducer. In a preliminary test, the effect of 3CLpro against 10 μM 2N4R tau, α synuclein and TDP-43 was tested over 24h. As a control, the same experiment was performed with the single proteins.

A further experiment was performed with inactivated 3CLpro, the protease was incubated with an equimolar concentration of Disulfiram (DSF) (10μM) for 30 minutes at RT, after 10 μM 2N4R tau and ThT was added, and the experiment was running for 24h. As a control, 2N4R tau was incubated with DSF and monitored for the same experimental time.

Furthermore, a ThT assay of 10 μM tau and 3CLpro were stopped after 24h, and the protease was inactivated through DSF addition (10 μM) and incubated for 30 minutes at RT. Afterwards, a new tau sample (10μM) was added. The same procedure without inactivating the protease was followed as a control. All measurements were performed in triplicate, and data are presented as mean ± SD.

Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopyCD measurements were carried out with a Jasco J-1100 Spectropolarimeter (Jasco, Germany). Far-UV spectra were measured in 190 to 250 nm using a 2N4R tau (monomer and filament) concentration of 10 μM in 20 mM K2HPO4/KH2PO4 pH 7.0.

2N4R tau aggregates were generated in the presence of heparin (Sigma-Aldrich, USA) with a molar ratio of 4:1 (Tau:heparin). 10 μM tau was incubated with 2.5 μM heparin. 2.5 μM heparin was measured as blank sample and the signal was subtracted from the tau signal. As an additional control the CD spectrum of 25 μM heparin was collected.

A 1 mm path length cell was used for the measurements; 10 repeat scans were obtained for each sample, and five scans were conducted to establish the respective baselines. The averaged baseline spectrum was subtracted from the averaged sample spectrum. The results are presented as molar ellipticity [θ], according to the Eq (1):

where θ is the ellipticity measured at the wavelength Î>> (deg), c is the protein concentration (mol/L), 0.001 is the cell path length (cm), and n is the number of amino acids.

Investigation of tau and 3CLpro doses dependency on the aggregation processDifferent concentrations were titrated to investigate tau, and 3CLpro doses dependency on the 2N4R tau fibril formation and a ThT assay was performed as described before. The effect of 0, 2.5, 5, 10, 25 and 50 μM 3CLpro was tested against 10 μM tau over 24h. We also tested the opposite effect, where 0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80, and 100 μM of tau were tested against 10 μM 3CLpro. All experiments were performed in triplicate, and data are presented as mean ± SD.

Stability of tau in the presence of Sars-CoV-2 3CLpro investigated by High-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)To explore the proteolytic degradation of tau by 3CLpro samples after 0, 24, 48 and 72 h incubation were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). After incubation the samples were centrifuged for 60 minutes at 10,000 x g, to separate aggregated and soluble tau fragments.

Agilent 1260 Infinity II system (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA), equipped with a quaternary pump, autosampler, heated column compartment, multi-wavelength detector (MWD) and an analytical fraction collector, was used. 20 μL of sample solution was injected into an Agilent Zorbax 300-SB C8 4.6*250 mm, 5 μm reversed-phase liquid chromatography column (Agilent Technologies, Santa Clara, CA, USA), which was heated to 80°C. Mobile phases consisted of A: Water + 0.1% Trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and B: Acetonitrile + 0.1% TFA. Analyte elution was accomplished by a linear gradient from 10% to 80% buffer B in 20 min. Chromatograms were acquired at 214 nm and 280 nm. Furthermore, data acquisition and evaluation were performed with the Agilent OpenLab software (Version 2.6). The mean peak area of each triplicate was plotted against incubation time. Chromatograms of tau with 3CLpro and chromatograms with a single protein were investigated for metabolite formation after an incubation period of up to 72 h. The peaks related to the sample in which both proteins were present (max incubation 72 h) were considered potential metabolites of the tau protein produced by Sars-CoV-2 3CLpro.

Purification of tau metabolites after proteolytic degradation by Sars-CoV-2 3CLproTo further investigate tau metabolites produced by incubation with Sars-CoV-2 3CLpro, we used HPLC and further mass spectrometry (MS) analysis. Tau was incubated with the protease for 72h at 37°C and 500 rpm. HPLC conditions were the same as described above. 100 μL of the sample was applied to the column per each chromatography run, and fractions were collected every minute. Fractions containing the same peak were pooled and lyophilised; subsequently, the samples were submitted for MS analysis.

Sample processing and mass spectrometryLyophilised samples were resuspended in 500 μL 0.1% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) and digested with trypsin (Serva, Heidelberg, Germany) in 50 mM NH4HCO3 overnight at 37°C. Tryptic peptides were extracted with 0.1% TFA and subjected to MS-coupled liquid chromatography. Briefly, for peptide separation over a 55-minute LC-gradient with 300 nL/min in an Ultimate 3000 Rapid Separation liquid chromatography system (Thermo Scientific, Bremen, Germany) equipped with an Acclaim PepMap 100 C18 column (75 μm inner diameter, 25 cm length, 2 mm particle size from Thermo Scientific, Bremen, Germany) was used. MS analysis was carried out on a Q-Exactive plus mass spectrometer (Thermo Scientific, Bremen, Germany) operating in positive mode and equipped with a nanoelectrospray ionisation source. The capillary temperature was set to 250°C and the source voltage to 1.5 kV. Survey scans were carried out over a mass range from 200''2,000 m/z at a resolution of 70,000 (at 200 m/z). The target value for the automatic gain control was 3,000,000, and the maximum fills time was 50 ms. The 20 most intense peptide ions (excluding singly charged ions) were selected for fragmentation. Peptide fragments were analysed using a maximal fill time of 50 ms, automatic gain control target value of 100,000 and a resolution of 17,500 (at 200 m/z). Already fragmented ions were excluded for fragmentation for 10 seconds.

Acquired spectra were searched using Sequest HT within Proteome Discoverer version 2.4.1.15 against the SwissProt Homo sapiens proteome dataset (UP000005640, 75777 sequences) with the inserted sequence of the human tau protein and an E.coli BL21 (DE3) database (UP000002032, 4156 sequences). Methionine oxidation was considered a variable modification and tryptic cleavage specificity with a maximum of two missed cleavage sites. For the main search, a precursor mass tolerance of 10 ppm and a mass tolerance of 0.02 Da were applied for fragment spectra. For the semi-specific tryptic search of peptides, PEAKS Studio 10.6 Build 220201221 was used, and the above human database was searched with an error tolerance of 20 ppm for parent masses and an error tolerance of 0.2 Da for fragment masses.

Surface-based fluorescence intensity distribution analysisTo quantify tau aggregation due to 3CLpro activity, surface-based fluorescence intensity distribution analysis (sFIDA) was performed according to the biochemical principle of Kravchenko et al. 2017, and Herrmann et al. 2017 [39, 40]. Therefore, we used 384-Well plates (Greiner, Kremsm¼nster, Austria) to incubate the capture-antibody tau12 in 0.1 M carbonate at a 2.5 μg/ml concentration. After a fivefold washing step with TBS-T and TBS, 80 μl of blocking solution (Candor Bioscience, Wangen, Germany) was added and incubated for 1.5 h. Afterwards, the plate was washed like previously described, and 20 μl of tau conjugated silica-nanoparticles (SiNaPs) and tau aggregates diluted in low cross buffer strong (Candor Bioscience GmbH, Wangen in Allg¤u, Germany) were added. In Addition, 20 μl of 10 nM and 100 nM tau monomer were applied.

To investigate the formation of tau oligomers or aggregates induced by 3CLpro, 5 μM tau monomer was incubated with 5 μM 3CLpro for 72 h. The negative control was established equivalently; however, the protease was previously inactivated with 10 μM Disulfiram (DSF).

The samples, buffer control (BC) and capture control (CC), were incubated for 2 h and washed five times with TBS. For capture control, the capture antibody was omitted. As a detection probe, 20 μl of 0.078 μg/ml tau13 CF633 in TBS was used. After 1 h of incubation, the wells were washed five times with TBS, and the buffer was changed against TBS-ProClin. The SiNaPs and antibodies used were synthesised and labelled according to the previously described principle [37, 41].

Negative staining transmission electron microscopy (TEM)Tau samples were prepared as follows, 20 μM tau and 10 μM 3CLpro were incubated for 72 h at 37°C. To prepare specimens for negative staining TEM, a total volume of 3 μL from the corresponding sample was pipetted onto carbon coated 300 Mesh copper EM grids, which were operated by anti-capillary tweezers and glow discharged in advance for 90 seconds using a PELCO easiGlow' (Ted Pella, Inc., Redding, California, USA) at 0.39 mbar and 15 mA. After an incubation time of 1 min excess liquid was blotted away by touching the edge of the grid with filter paper. Subsequently the grids were stained with two 4 μL droplets of a 2% Uranyl acetate solution. While the first droplet's excess liquid was immediately blotted after application, the second droplet stayed on the grid for an incubation time of 1 min before blotting. Finally, the grids were left to dry at room temperature for approximately 1 min. These negatively stained samples were examined on a Talos L120C G2 transmission electron microscope (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA) which was operated at 120 kV (LaB6 (Lanthanum hexaboride)/Denka). Micrographs were collected in medium magnification (6700x) and high magnification (73kx) on a 4k x 4k Ceta 16M CEMOS camera using the Velox' software (Thermo Fisher Scientific, Waltham, Massachusetts, USA).

Results and discussionPurification of 2N4R tau with a precipitation approach and characterisation of the protein2N4R tau was expressed in BL21 (DE3) (T1) E. coli and purified by a precipitation approach. 2N4R tau consists of 441 amino acids with an approximated molecular weight of 46 kDa. The purity was assessed by SDS PAGE (S1 Fig). However, the protein presented a single band on a denaturing SDS-PAGE gel with an apparent molecular mass of around 67 kDa, this behavior was described previously [42, 43]. A western blot with the specific antibody (Tau13, Biolegend) confirmed the target protein (S2A Fig). Following successful purification, 2N4R tau was characterised to compare the properties to those previously reported [44''47]. It is well known that tau, in the monomeric state, is inherently unfolded, with predominantly random-coil conformation. Our CD analysis confirmed this observation for the purified protein, with minimum peaks around 200 nm (S2B Fig). Tau aggregation was investigated using ThT assay and heparin as an inducer [48]. The results of the ThT assay indicated that heparin promoted the induction and acceleration of tau aggregation within 24h (S2C Fig). The structural changes of tau in the presence of heparin were followed by CD spectroscopy, demonstrating a shift of the absorbance spectrum from 202 (random-coil conformation) to 213 (beta-sheet conformation) nm (S2B Fig). As a control, the CD spectrum of 2.5 μM heparin was measured, the spectra showed no specific minimum at 213 nm (S3B Fig). At a heparin concentration of 25 μM, the CD spectrum showed a minimum at around 220 nm (S3B Fig). However this heparin concentration was not reached during the experiment. Those results demonstrated that tau had been successfully aggregated by heparin because of the characteristic transition from a random coil to beta-sheet conformation in the tau secondary structure [45].

Identification and characterisation of tau aggregation events induced by SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro using ThT assayTo identify a possible aggregation effect caused by SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro on tau, alpha-synuclein and TDP-43 proteins, a ThT fibrillation assay was performed. The purity of alpha-synuclein and TDP-43 was assessed by SDS PAGE (S4 Fig). The preliminary test showed that tau aggregates increased over time after the addition of 10 μM of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro, which was not observed for alpha-synuclein and TDP-43 ( Fig 1A ). To confirm our preliminary results, control experiments using the single proteins was performed, which indicated no signal of aggregation over the time ( Fig 1B ).

Effect of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro on 2N4R tau aggregation and effect of 3CLpro inactivation on tau aggregation.A: ThT assay of 2N4R tau, α-Synuclein and TDP-43, 3CLpro used as aggregation inducer. The experiment was performed for 24 h, 37°C and 600 rpm. B: Control ThT assay of single 3CLpro, α-Synuclein, TDP-43 and tau. C: ThT assay of inactivated 3CLpro, tau aggregation was not observed. D: ThT assay of 2N4R tau, aggregation was induced by 3CLpro. After 24h DSF inactivated the protease and after 30 minutes of incubation, 10 μM fresh tau was added. Data shown are the mean ± SD from three independent measurements (n = 3).

Additional ThT experiments were performed to evaluate the dose dependency of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro and 2N4R tau concentration on the aggregation behaviour of tau. A higher concentration of the protease (0, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 μM) caused a higher amount of the tau aggregates in a given time of 24h (S5A Fig). Similarly, the titration of tau at different concentrations (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 μM) resulted in a dose-dependent manner to a higher amount of aggregates (S5B Fig).

To extend our analysis of the tau aggregation process induced by 3CLpro, negative staining transmission electron microscopy (TEM) was performed on solutions containing tau aggregates after treatment with the protease. The analysis demonstrated that the solutions contain amorphous aggregates and fibrils ( Fig 2A and 2B and S6 Fig). The tau fibrils morphology is similar to those described in previous studies [44''47].

Negative stain TEM of 3CLpro induced tau fibrils.A: Representative micrograph at medium (6700x) magnification. B: Representative micrographs at high (73kx) magnification. Asterisks label vesicle structures.

Besides the tau fibrils, micelle or vesicle-like structures were observed ( Fig 2B ). As described before, anionic micelles or vesicles can serve to nucleate tau fibrillation [49, 50], which may explain the observation of the vesicle-like structures in the negative stain TEM micrographs.

Effect of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro inactivation on tau aggregationThere exist two possibilities for how SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro induced tau aggregation: (1) both proteins interact and form aggregates; (2) the protease cleaves tau and thus produces insoluble fragments that will initiate the aggregation process. To discover the possible forms of the aggregation endured by tau protein, we performed ThT assays using inactivated 3CLpro by disulfiram (DSF), a known 3CLpro inhibitor [51]. The results demonstrated that inactivation of the protease prevents tau aggregation ( Fig 1C ), which allows us to suggest that the proteolysis role of the 3CLpro initiates the aggregation process. The addition of DSF in a running ThT assay stopped the tau aggregation immediately ( Fig 1D ).

Stability of tau under SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro influenceThe stability of 2N4R tau under the influence of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro was investigated using analytical HPLC experiments. Interestingly, the results demonstrated an evident cleavage of tau protein by the virus protease ( Fig 3 ). As described before, the protein mix was analysed over 0, 24, 48 and 72 h of incubation. The corresponding tau monomer peak (I) (retention time: 10.6 minutes) in the chromatogram decreased over 72h ( Fig 3A ), which can also be observed in a silver-stained SDS PAGE ( Fig 3C ). Beside the reduction of the monomer form of tau the presence of a new protein band around 25 kDa was observed, which allow us to suggest that it represents the tau fragments after the 3CLpro proteolytic effect. Additionally, two additional peaks were observed on the analytical HPLC chromatogram (II, III) ( Fig 3A, 3D and 3E ). SDS PAGE analysis of the related fractions (regions II and III) also validated the increasing protein bands over experimental time.

Effect of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro on 2N4R tau degradation.A: Analytical HPLC analysis of 2N4R tau incubated with SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro for 0, 24, 48 and 72h. The corresponding chromatogram regions of the tau monomer and related metabolites are labelled (I-III). B: Stability of 2N4R tau monomer after treatment with 3CLpro over 72h. Single tau and 3CLpro are shown as control. After 3CLpro treatment, the tau monomer amount decreases by about 60%. C: Chromatogram of peak I (Tau) shown enlarged, a silver stained SDS PAGE demonstrated that the 2N4R tau amount decreased over 72h treatment with 3CLpro and a protein band increases at 25 kDa. D: Chromatogram of peak region II shows enlarged three protein bands appearing over 72h experimental time. E: Chromatogram of peak region III shown enlarged, two protein bands appear over the 72h experimental time.

Based on our results, we assumed that SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro cleaves tau possibly in different sites, resulting in truncated tau species. After 72 h experimental time, the 2N4R tau amount was reduced by about 60% related to the start point. Interestingly, in the first 24 h, the degradation process declines substantially to about 50% of the monomer amount; however, during the remaining 48 h, the monomer amount reduced by just around 10% ( Fig 3B ). This observation can be attributed to the diminished amount of the monomer itself.

Analytical HPLC with 2N4R tau and inactivated 3CLpro demonstrated that after 72 h, tau is slightly degradated (~5%) (S7 Fig).

Identification of tau fragments using mass spectrometryWe have used mass spectrometry (MS) experiments to confirm tau fragments in the HPLC peaks I, II and III. Untreated 2N4R tau was used as control; in all tested samples, tau could be detected ( Fig 4 ). The determination of tryptic tau peptides AEPRQEFEVMEDHAGTYGGLGDR, GDTPSLEDEAAGHVTQAR and SPQLATLADEVSASLAK are shown in Fig 4A (S8 and S9 Figs). All identified tryptic tau peptides are listed in S1''S4 Tables (Tryptic peptides that occurred less than three times are not shown).

Mass spectrometry analysis of tau metabolites.A: Example of an MS spectrum corresponding to a tryptic peptide derived from 2N4R tau (AEPRQEFEVMEDHAGTYGGLGDR), b- and y-ions are labelled. B: 2N4R tau sequences and tryptic peptides, which could be identified in the corresponding samples, are highlighted. Asterisks label tryptic 2N4R tau peptides, which could not be identified in the three peak samples.

In the tau control, 111 tryptic peptides could be determined, and AEPRQEFEVMEDHAGTYGGLGDR had the highest appearance (eight times). Interestingly, we could not identify, in fractions II and III, the N-terminal tryptic peptides detected in the control and peak I (AEPRQEFEVMEDHAGTYGGLGDR and AGLKESPLQTPTEDGSEEPGSETSDAKSTPTAEDVTAPLVDEGAPGKQ) ( Fig 4B ). Additionally, tryptic peptides in the mid-region and C-terminus of the control sequence could not be detected in fractions related to peak I, II and III (TPPSSGEPPKSGDRSGYSSPGSPGTPGSR, QTAPVPMPDLK and TDHGAEIVYKSPVVSGD). Likewise, in the control sample, the peptide (GSLGNIHHKPGGGQVEVK) was not detected (peak I) ( Fig 4B ).

Under the experimental conditions (Tau degradation by 3CLpro), no fragments are generated that, after tryptic digestion, are amenable of identification, which may influence the composition and number of tryptic tau peptides in the four tested samples, as shown in Table 2 .

Table 2The number of tryptic tau peptides in control and the tested HPLC samples.

SampleNumber tryptic peptidesPeptides with the highest appearance2N4R tau111AEPRQEFEVMEDHAGTYGGLGDR (8x)I66SPQLATLADEVSASLAK (8x)II46GDTPSLEDEAAGHVTQAR (6x)II63SPQLATLADEVSASLAK (15x)2N4R tau contains a sequence 241SRLQTAPV248 (QTAPVPMPDLK tryptic peptide absent in peak I) which shows similarities to the preferred 3CLpro cleavage pattern (S10 Fig). A tau cleavage at this site could generate two fragments with sizes of 25 and 20 kDa, shown on the SDS page for peak I ( Fig 3C and 3E ). Furthermore, at the N-terminus of tau, there are several potential cleavage sites for 3CLpro, which can generate fragments with molecular weights between 45 and 27 kDa. Possible 3CLpro cleavage sites relating to the tau protein sequence are shown in S10 Fig; this analysis is based on the amino acid preference in the SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro substrate binding site (Information conceived from the Merops database) [52] and similar amino acid sequences in the tau sequence. Four sequences showed similarities with the 3C-like protease from coronavirus-2 and one with a 3C-like peptidase from strawberry mottle virus (S10 Fig).

The results described in this study indicated that 2N4R tau is proteolytically cleaved by 3CLpro, and the cleavage is related to tau aggregation events. It has previously been described that tau proteolysis is associated with aggregation and that the tau protein has cleavage sites for different proteolytic enzymes [34] ( Table 3 ).

Table 3Examples of proteases with proteolytic activity against tau.

ProteaseCleavage siteReferenceCaspase-6D13-H14[53]Caspase-3D25-Q26; K44-E45[54]Calpain-1 and -2R230-T231[55, 56]Caspase-2D314-L315[57]Calpain-1K44-E45, R242-L243[58, 59]ADAM10A152-T153[60]ThrombinR155-G156; R209-S210[61]ChymotrypsinY197-S198[62]Asparagine endopeptidaseN255-V256; N368-K369[63]Caspase-1, -3, -6, -7 and -8D421-S422[64]Tau Cleavage sites of Caspase-3 (D25-Q26) and Calpain-1 (R242-L243) are located near possible 3CLpro cleavage sites of tau (Q26-G27 and Q244-T245) (S10 Fig).

Surface-based fluorescence intensity distribution analysisSurface-based fluorescence intensity distribution analysis (sFIDA) was performed to quantify the tau oligomers and aggregates after treatment with 3CLpro. The technique employs a similar biochemical setup as ELISA-like techniques. However, sFIDA uses the same epitope to capture and detect antibodies and features single-particle sensitivity through a microscopy-based readout (Herrmann et al., 2017). Recently, sFIDA was applied to quantify tau aggregates in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) and demonstrated its applicability in clinical settings [37]. Initial sFIDA experiments include analysis of tau monomers, tau aggregates and tau SiNaPs ( Fig 5A''5C ). To quantify tau aggregates formed by 3CLpro proteolysis, two approaches were tested: tau plus active 3CLpro and tau plus inactivated 3CLpro (with the addition of disulfiram). As shown in Fig 5D , tau samples containing active 3CLpro yielded a similar aggregate-specific readout compared with tau samples in the presence of inactivated protease. Compared to the tau aggregate control, however, only a small fraction of the employed tau substrate was converted into aggregates.

sFIDA experiments.Samples, buffer control (BC) and capture control (CC) were tested. Pixel counts per concentration are shown for A: Tau monomer control, B: Tau aggregate control, C: Tau SiNaPs and D: Influence of active 3CLpro on tau aggregation.

It is well known that the structural diversity of tau aggregates can make their detection technically challenging [65].

For the sFIDA experiments anti-tau12 and anti-tau13 (Biolegend) were used, and both antibodies interact with the N-terminal region of tau (Tau 6''18 and 15''25) [66]. According to the mass spec results described before, tau epitope regions for anti-tau12 and anti-tau13 are cleaved and therefore cannot react with the respective antibodies in the sFIDA assays. Additionally, remaining epitopes might be masked by aggregate core formation and can therefore not any more detected by the employed antibody system.

Conclusion and future workThe proportion of older adults in the population is increasing in almost all countries. Worldwide, around 55 million people have dementia, which is expected to increase to 78 million in 2030 and 139 million in 2050 [67]. Different dementias show a conformationally altered tau, the protein detaches from microtubules and aggregates into oligomers and neurofibrillary tangles, which can be secreted from neurons, and spread through the brain during disease progression.

The COVID-19 pandemic has increasingly moved virus infections into the scientific spotlight and has shown that this infection can damage the brain in many ways. The molecular underpinnings of neurodegenerative processes need to be investigated to develop appropriate therapies. Proteolysis of tau protein may be a crucial factor in forming toxic aggregates. Our results demonstrated that the SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro can cleave 2N4R tau into fragments and thus induce protein aggregation in vitro. TEM revealed amorphous aggregates and fibrils; in addition to tau fibrils, structures similar to micelles or vesicles were also observed, serving to nucleate tau fibrillation. However, further experiments such as adjustment and optimisation of sFIDA assay (e.g. antibodies); cleavage and accessibility of tau binding regions for specific antibodies; cell toxicity of tau peptides and related aggregates; in vivo experiments to observe the role of the 3CLpro on tau aggregation are needed, to get a closer assessment of the tau cleavage by SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro and if this process plays a pivotal role in vivo.

Supporting informationS1 FigSDS PAGE of 2N4R tau purification. M: Protein marker; 1: Supernatant after cell disruption; 2: Supernatant after ammonium sulfate precipitation; 3: Pellet after ammonium sulfate precipitation solved in buffer 2; 4: SN after centrifugation pellet solved in buffer 2; 5: Pellet solved in ddH2O and 2 mM TCEP; 6: Pellet was solved in buffer 3; 7: SN after centrifugation pellet solved in buffer 3; 8: Sample after dialysis against buffer 4.

(TIF)

S2 FigCharacterization of 2N4R tau.A: SDS PAGE 15% of 2N4R tau. M: protein marker, 1: pure 2N4R tau after precipitation purification, 2: western blot with CF633 labeled tau13. B: CD spectrum of 2N4R tau monomer and filament. C: ThT assay of 2N4R tau (10 μM), aggregation was induced with 2.5 μM heparin. Data shown are the mean ± SD from three independent measurements (n = 3).

(TIF)

S3 FigComparison of 2N4R tau and heparin CD spectrum.A: CD spectrum of 2N4R tau monomer and filament. B: CD spectrum of 2.5 μM and 25 μM heparin.

(TIF)

S4 FigSDS PAGE of alpha-synuclein and TDP-43 purification. M: Protein marker; 1: Supernatant after affinity chromatography; 2: Elution steps after size exclusion chromatography. A: SDS PAGE of alpha-synuclein purification. B: SDS PAGE of TDP-43 purification.

(TIF)

S5 FigEffect of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro and tau doses on 2N4R tau aggregation. The endpoint of the relative fluorescence during a ThT assay is shown. A: Effect of different 3CLpro concentration (0, 0.5, 1, 2.5, 5 and 10 μM) on tau aggregation (Tau concentration was 10 μM). B: Effect of different tau concentration (0, 5, 10, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100 μM) on tau aggregation. (3CLpro concentration was 10 μM). As Control experiments tau at each concentration without protease is shown.

(TIF)

S6 FigNegative stain electron microscopy of 3CLpro induced tau fibrilles.A-F: Representative micrographs at high (73kx) magnification, showing 3CLpro induced tau fibrilles.

(TIF)

S7 FigEffect of 3CLpro inactivation on tau metabolisation. The protease was inactivated by 10 μM DSF. A: Analytical HPLC analysis of 2N4R tau incubated with inactivated SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro for 0, 24, 48 and 72h. The corresponding chromatogram regions of the tau monomer and related metabolites generated by active 3CLpro are highlighted (I-III). B: Stability of 2N4R tau monomer after treatment with inactivated 3CLpro over 72h. The tau monomer amount remains at 95%, compared with a control were tau was treated with active 3CLpro. In the control experiment the tau monomer amount reduce to around 40%. C: Chromatogram of peak I (Tau) shown enlarged, D: Chromatogram of peak region II shown and E: Chromatogram of peak region III shown enlarged. Data shown are the mean ± SD from three independent measurements (n = 3).

(TIF)

S8 FigMass spectrometry analysis of tau metabolites (GDTPSLEDEAAGHVTQAR). Example of a MS spectrum corresponding to a tryptic peptide derived from 2N4R tau (GDTPSLEDEAAGHVTQAR), b- and y-ions are labelled.

(TIF)

S9 FigMass spectrometry analysis of tau metabolites (SPQLATLADEVSASLAK). Example of a MS spectrum corresponding to a tryptic peptide derived from 2N4R tau (SPQLATLADEVSASLAK), b- and y-ions are labelled.

(TIF)

S10 FigPreferred cleavage sequence pattern of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro and possible cleavage sites in the tau sequence. 3CLpro substrate binding site and preferred amino acids are shown and sequence homology of possible cleavage sites. The identical amino acid pattern was checked in the Merops database, if there exist identities to known viral protease cleavage sequences. The following virus proteases were identified: C49.001 (Strawberry mottle virus 3C-like peptidase); C30.001 (Coronavirus picornain 3C-like peptidase-1); C30.003 (Human coronavirus 229E main peptidase); C30.005 (SARS coronavirus picornain 3C-like peptidase) and C30.007 (Coronavirus COVID-19 3C-like peptidase).

(TIF)

S1 TableTryptic peptides of 2N4R tau. (PDF)

S2 TableTryptic peptides of 2N4R tau detected in peak I. (PDF)

S3 TableTryptic peptides of 2N4R tau detected in peak region II. (PDF)

S4 TableTryptic peptides of 2N4R tau detected in peak region III. (PDF)

AcknowledgmentsThe authors gratefully acknowledge the electron microscopy training, imaging and access time granted by the life science EM facility of the Ernst-Ruska Centre at Forschungszentrum J¼lich. We want to thank the support of the Institute of Biological Information Processing (IBI-7) Forschungszentrum J¼lich, Germany.

Funding StatementD.W. is supported by Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG, German Research Foundation), Project-ID 267205415, SFB 1208. sFIDA was supported by the programs ''Biomarkers Across Neurodegenerative Diseases I + II'' of The Alzheimer's Association, Alzheimer's Research UK and the Weston Brain Institute (11084 and BAND-19-614337). We are also grateful for support from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (14977, 009889), from the ALS Association and from the Packard Center (19-SI-476). We received further funding from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (INST 208/616-1 FUGG, INST 208/794-1 FUGG) and the Helmholtz Association (HVF0079).

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19 Apr 2023

PONE-D-23-07828Tau protein aggregation associated with SARS-CoV-2 main proteasePLOS ONE

Dear Dr. Raphael J. Eberle,

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #2: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

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Reviewer #1: Yes

Reviewer #2: No

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Reviewer #1: The work presented by Eberle et al. presents novel discoveries of interest to the field of SARS-CoV-2-host interaction, as well as broader implications to the field of neurodegeneration due to the generation of an aggregation-prone truncation of tau by one of the virus proteases.

The authors provide in vitro evidence for a possible triggering mechanism for tau aggregation induced by the SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease (3CLpro), which would cleave full-length tau to generate a pool of fragments, one or more of which would efficiently aggregate. Despite the lack of a more detailed study on the exact cleaving site, the identification of the aggregation-prone fragment, and cell-based studies to better understand the findings, their main claim is justified and supported by the biophysical analysis in the paper. Specifically, Eberle et al. used ThT assays, analytical HPLC and mass spectrometry to report the effect of 3CLpro on tau cleavage and subsequent aggregation. Despite the abovementioned missed points that could improve its appeal to a broader audience, this study provides informative results and interpretations suitable for publication in PLOS ONE, subject to the suggested revisions mentioned below:

Major concerns:

1. The abstract may be misleading as it suggests that the study involves all three proteins (tau, TDP-43, and alpha-synuclein) when, in fact, its focus is only on tau. It would be clearer to specify that this study investigates the effects of 3CLpro on tau aggregation, rather than mentioning TDP-43 and alpha-synuclein which were not affected.

2. The results of this study indicate that 3CLpro proteolytically cleaves 2N4R tau and the cleavage is associated with tau aggregation events. However, it would be beneficial to get a more detailed picture, such as which fragment (or at least which peak observed in HPLC analysis) aggregates, by performing ThT assays on the different fractions obtained upon digestion and HPLC analysis.

Minor concerns:

1. On page 8, line 237, it states that "2N4R tau consists of 266 amino acids with an approximated molecular weight of 46 kDa." However, 2N4R tau is the largest size human brain tau and is composed of 441 amino acids in length; this should be corrected/clarified.

2. Although the analysis of alpha-syn and TDP43 is limited, an SDS-PAGE should be included to assess their sample quality and purity, as done for 2N4R tau in Figure S1.

3. The Western Blotting with CF633 labeled tau13 in Figure S2A (lane 2) should be improved as it shows almost no reactivity.

4. In Figure S2B, a control should be included to show whether heparin on its own contributes to the CD spectrum. Furthermore, the specific method section for CD is missing and should be added, explaining how heparin signal is subtracted from the experimental data during the data processing and analysis.

5. In Figure S2B, the light gray CD spectrum is claimed to correspond to "2N4R tau filament". Imaging analysis (AFM or TEM) should be performed to support this claim.

6. In the legend of Figure 1B (page 9, lines 263-264), it is claimed that "The inactivation of the protease was treated with 10 µM DSF". However, the inactivation condition is reported in Figure 1C, so this should be corrected.

7. On page 9, lines 271-272, it is claimed that "the monomer concentration and its cleavage are accompanied by the amount of aggregate formation (S3B Fig)". However, this observation could be due to the increased concentration of monomer which, even without being cleaved, could aggregate efficiently. In order to support this assertion, the same assay should be performed in the presence of DSF-inactivated protease.

8. In Figure 1D, it is unclear why the fluorescence intensity decreases upon protease deactivation. If aggregates were already formed, the fluorescence intensity should remain unaltered. The decrease could suggest that the formed aggregates can be disassembled or degraded upon inhibitor addition. To clarify this point, a control consisting of aggregated tau (i.e., induced by heparin) + DSF (without protease) should be included to control the potential effect of the inhibitor itself.

9. The two gels shown in Figure 2C should not be cropped and should ideally be shown in a single gel to observe the concomitant decrease of the full-length tau associated with the increase of the 25kDa fragment.

10. As stated in Fig. 4D, "tau samples containing active 3CLpro yielded higher aggregate-specific readouts than tau samples in presence of inactivated protease". However, the readout appears to be quite similar, and a statistical test should be included to support the conclusions.

Reviewer #2: This manuscript describes studies aimed at evaluating the possible induction of protein aggregation by the SARS-CoV-2 3CL protease (3CLpro), which might be relevant in explaining the long term neuropathology induced by infection by this virus.

The Authors performed a series of simple, classic, clear-cut in vitro biochemistry studies based on mixing recombinant tau and 3CLpro and following their interaction using SDS-PAGE and HPLC (to detect fragmentation), or thioflavin fluorescence (to follow aggregation), under different concentration-dependence and kinetic regimens. Mass spectrometry was used to further identify the fragments of tau produced by 3CLpro. Lack of effect of 3CLpro on other proteins relevant to neuropathology, such as synuclein, was also established by similar approaches.

All these experiments were carefully executed, and adequate controls included. Of course, given the high prevalence of neurological ailments within "persistent Covid-19", this line of research is of potential interest.

Having stated this, I find two shortcomings in the manuscript:

1) The ratio of substrate to protease used in these experiments was very high, with a maximum effect when equimolar (10 uM) concentrations were used. Increasing this ratio, to 5, or even 2...resulted in a very substantial decrease of the effect. This casts doubts on the physiological relevance of the results, something that is not acknowledged or discussed by the Authors. Do they envision a set of physiological conditions in which the intracellular or extracellular concentration of 3CLpro are sufficient to cleave tau and cause its aggregation during SARS-Cov-2 infection? Furthermore, the majority of neurological complications of Covid-19 are relatively acute, whereas tau aggregation is involved in neurodegenerative processes (for example, Alzheimer´s disease) which take many years to develop. How do the Authors link a putative 3CLpro-induced aggregation of tau with specific SARS-Cov-2-linked neurological pathology?

2) The manuscript is written in an amateurish fashion (I apologize if the term seems too negative, it is meant to be merely descriptive). A few examples: bullets in the Conclusion section; "Different dementias show a conformationally altered concentration of tau" (a concentration can be high or low, but not "conformationally altered" (line 384); Table 3 in the Discussion, rather than a narrative description of its contents; "...tryptic tau peptides are no longer detectable by 3CLpro into different fragments..." (I understand the Authors mean that 3CLPro, under these experimental conditions, does not generate fragments that, after tryptic digestion, are amenable of identification...)(line 335); Analysis of the tau digestion underwent 3CLpro using mass spectrometrY (????) (line 313); "HPLC experiments with 2N4R tau and inactivated 3CLpro showed that the corresponding tau peak and the peak regions I, II and III are unaffected" (the Authors mean kinetic experiments, HPLC is just an analytical tool, not an experimental approach or design...) (line 310). And many other examples.

Finally, I would suggest analyzing peak I and peak ensembles (they are not "individual peaks") II, and III also directly, withouth prior tryptic digestion. That might allow establishing the size of the different 3CLpro fragments generated, and by combining that information with the sequence of their tryptic fragments (combined, in the case of II and III) their complete characterization.

**********

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Reviewer #1: No

Reviewer #2: No

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8 Jun 2023

Journal Requirements

Comment 1. Please ensure that your manuscript meets PLOS ONE's style requirements, including those for file naming.

Response 1. We checked all submitted files and corrected them accordingly.

Comment 2. We note that the grant information you provided in the 'Funding Information' and 'Financial Disclosure' sections do not match. When you resubmit, please ensure that you provide the correct grant numbers for the awards you received for your study in the 'Funding Information' section.

Response 2. We corrected accordingly.

Changes by the authors

' We included negative staining Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM) pictures of the Tau filaments after treatment of 3CLpro. Accordingly we included material and methods, results, new Fig2 and S6 Fig.

' We added one Co-author, Simon Sommerhage, who's performed the TEM experiments.

Reviewer 1

Comment 1. The abstract may be misleading as it suggests that the study involves all three proteins (tau, TDP-43, and alpha-synuclein) when, in fact, its focus is only on tau. It would be clearer to specify that this study investigates the effects of 3CLpro on tau aggregation, rather than mentioning TDP-43 and alpha-synuclein which were not affected.

Response 1. We changed accordingly

Comment 2. The results of this study indicate that 3CLpro proteolytically cleaves 2N4R tau and the cleavage is associated with tau aggregation events. However, it would be beneficial to get a more detailed picture, such as which fragment (or at least which peak observed in HPLC analysis) aggregates, by performing ThT assays on the different fractions obtained upon digestion and HPLC analysis.

Response 2. We agree with the reviewer's comment. However, preparing the samples for the HPLC analyses includes incubation of tau by 3CLpro, at 37°C for 24h to 72h. After the incubation, we observed significant protein aggregates in the solution, and before applying it to HPLC, we centrifuged the sample to separate aggregates from soluble tau fractions. Consequently, the peak fractions after the HPLC contain soluble tau fragments that are not aggregated. We added a statement in the related material and method section to describe the procedure (lines 181 to 182).

Minor concerns:

Comment 1. On page 8, line 237, it states that "2N4R tau consists of 266 amino acids with an approximated molecular weight of 46 kDa." However, 2N4R tau is the largest size human brain tau and is composed of 441 amino acids in length; this should be corrected/clarified.

Response 1. We corrected accordingly, 266 to 241 amino acids.

Comment 2. Although the analysis of alpha-syn and TDP43 is limited, an SDS-PAGE should be included to assess their sample quality and purity, as done for 2N4R tau in Figure S1.

Response 2. We added SDS pages for TDP43 and alpha-synuclein purification to demonstrate the purity and quality of the proteins. The SDS pages are shown in S4 Fig.

Comment 3. The Western Blotting with CF633 labeled tau13 in Figure S2A (lane 2) should be improved as it shows almost no reactivity.

Response 3. We added a new western blot in Figure S2A (lane 2).

Comment 4. In Figure S2B, a control should be included to show whether heparin on its own contributes to the CD spectrum. Furthermore, the specific method section for CD is missing and should be added, explaining how heparin signal is subtracted from the experimental data during the data processing and analysis.

Response 4. We added the CD spectrum of 2.5 µM heparin, which showed no signal in the measured wavelength range (190-240 nm). As described in the material and methods section, this heparin concentration was used to induce tau aggregation. We also added a CD spectrum of a tenfold higher heparin concentration (25 µM), which demonstrated a minimum in the CD spectra at 220 nm. However, the heparin concentration used for tau aggregation (2.5 µM) showed no signal on the CD-spectrum, demonstrated in the new S3 Figure and a statement in the results lines 284 to 287. Additionally, we added the missing CD method section.

Comment 5. In Figure S2B, the light gray CD spectrum is claimed to correspond to "2N4R tau filament". Imaging analysis (AFM or TEM) should be performed to support this claim.

Response 5. It is well established that CD can be used to follow tau aggregation as the process accompanies a transition from an unfolded structure to a partially folded structure with approximately 36% of β-sheet. The CD spectra show this typical shift from an unfolded structure (around 200 nm) to a structure containing β-sheet (around 220).

This observation is described in various publications, and a few examples is mentioned in the reference list:

' https://doi.org/10.1021/bi0357006

' https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbadis.2004.09.010

' https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pep.2016.09.009

Comment 6. In the legend of Figure 1B (page 9, lines 263-264), it is claimed that "The inactivation of the protease was treated with 10 µM DSF". However, the inactivation condition is reported in Figure 1C, so this should be corrected.

Response 6. We corrected accordingly

Comment 7. On page 9, lines 271-272, it is claimed that "the monomer concentration and its cleavage are accompanied by the amount of aggregate formation (S3B Fig)". However, this observation could be due to the increased concentration of monomer which, even without being cleaved, could aggregate efficiently. In order to support this assertion, the same assay should be performed in the presence of DSF-inactivated protease.

Response 7. Control experiments were performed with different tau concentrations in the absence of the protease to demonstrate that there is no concentration-dependent in the aggregation process. We added the control experiments to Figure S5B.

Comment 8. In Figure 1D, it is unclear why the fluorescence intensity decreases upon protease deactivation. If aggregates were already formed, the fluorescence intensity should remain unaltered. The decrease could suggest that the formed aggregates can be disassembled or degraded upon inhibitor addition. To clarify this point, a control consisting of aggregated tau (i.e., induced by heparin) + DSF (without protease) should be included to control the potential effect of the inhibitor itself.

Response 8. Thanks for this comment. We corrected it accordngly.

Comment 9. The two gels shown in Figure 2C should not be cropped and should ideally be shown in a single gel to observe the concomitant decrease of the full-length tau associated with the increase of the 25kDa fragment.

Response 9. Fig 2C was changed accordingly.

Comment 10. As stated in Fig. 4D, "tau samples containing active 3CLpro yielded higher aggregate-specific readouts than tau samples in presence of inactivated protease". However, the readout appears to be quite similar, and a statistical test should be included to support the conclusions.

Response 10.

We changed the sentence accordingly. New statements were written in the results section, ''Compared to the tau aggregate control, however, only a small fraction of the employed tau substrate was converted into aggregates''. We also mentioned in conclusion, ''Adjustment and optimisation of sFIDA assay need to be performed to get meaningful results using this technique.

We changed the questionable sentence to ''tau samples containing active 3CLpro yielded a similar aggregate-specific readout compared with tau samples in the presence of inactivated protease''.

Reviewer 2

Comment 1. The ratio of substrate to protease used in these experiments was very high, with a maximum effect when equimolar (10 uM) concentrations were used. Increasing this ratio, to 5, or even 2...resulted in a very substantial decrease of the effect. This casts doubts on the physiological relevance of the results, something that is not acknowledged or discussed by the Authors. Do they envision a set of physiological conditions in which the intracellular or extracellular concentration of 3CLpro are sufficient to cleave tau and cause its aggregation during SARS-Cov-2 infection? Furthermore, the majority of neurological complications of Covid-19 are relatively acute, whereas tau aggregation is involved in neurodegenerative processes (for example, Alzheimer´s disease) which take many years to develop. How do the Authors link a putative 3CLpro-induced aggregation of tau with specific SARS-Cov-2-linked neurological pathology?

Response 1. We agree with the reviewer. However, this manuscript intended to demonstrate the potential of SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro to cleave tau in vitro and that this cleavage can induce aggregation of tau under the tested conditions. We need more experiments to get information about the physiological relevance and involvement in neurodegeneration. We are not claiming that SARS-CoV-2 3CLpro can induce neurodegenerative processes in vivo after a SARS-CoV-2 infection. For such a statement, we need specific experiments not conducted so far. We changed the conclusion accordingly to state that more experiments are necessary under physiological conditions and for an extended period.

However, two studies could connect COVID-19 infections with neurodegenerative processes:

' https://doi.org/10.3390/cells10020386

' https://doi.org/10.15252/embj.2020106230

We mentioned both studies in the introduction (References 30 and 33).

Comment 2. The manuscript is written in an amateurish fashion (I apologise if the term seems too negative, it is meant to be merely descriptive). A few examples: bullets in the Conclusion section; "Different dementias show a conformationally altered concentration of tau" (a concentration can be high or low, but not "conformationally altered" (line 384); Table 3 in the Discussion, rather than a narrative description of its contents; "...tryptic tau peptides are no longer detectable by 3CLpro into different fragments..." (I understand the Authors mean that 3CLPro, under these experimental conditions, does not generate fragments that, after tryptic digestion, are amenable of identification...)(line 335); Analysis of the tau digestion underwent 3CLpro using mass spectrometrY (????) (line 313); "HPLC experiments with 2N4R tau and inactivated 3CLpro showed that the corresponding tau peak and the peak regions I, II and III are unaffected" (the Authors mean kinetic experiments, HPLC is just an analytical tool, not an experimental approach or design...) (line 310). And many other examples.

Response 2. Several changes were made in the manuscript accordingly to reviwers suggestions.

Comment 3. Finally, I would suggest analysing peak I and peak ensembles (they are not "individual peaks") II, and III also directly, without prior tryptic digestion. That might allow establishing the size of the different 3CLpro fragments generated, and by combining that information with the sequence of their tryptic fragments (combined, in the case of II and III) their complete characterisation.

Response 3. The mass spectrometric experiments of the peaks aimed to confirm that they contain different tau species (Fragments) generated by the 3CLpro activity. As mentioned, it is the first finding on the role of the main protease in tau cleavage and aggregation. We will undoubtedly perform new experiments to obtain a detailed view of the tau fragments.

This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the

Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.

20 Jun 2023

Tau protein aggregation associated with SARS-CoV-2 main protease

PONE-D-23-07828R1

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11 Aug 2023

PONE-D-23-07828R1

Tau protein aggregation associated with SARS-CoV-2 main protease

Dear Dr. Eberle:

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Thu, 01 Feb 2024 17:07

The International Organization for Migration (IOM) relies on voluntary contributions to carry out its global activities. In recent years, the demand for IOM support has increased exponentially in areas such as providing life-saving assistance to displaced populations, essential services to migrants and cooperation programmes with governments.

In 2024, IOM's Global Appeal total requirement is USD 7.9 billion to assist 139 million people worldwide. The Global Appeal provides information about IOM's plans for 2024 and the funding it needs to deliver on the Strategic Plan's three objectives: (1) Saving and protecting people on the move; (2) Driving solutions to displacement; and (3) Facilitating pathways for regular migration.

A full response to this Appeal would allow IOM to prepare in advance, to anticipate challenges, and to engage strategically on a systematic and multi-year basis when needed.

IOM's diverse and capable people are our most valued asset. Through investing in better workforce planning and people management, we will facilitate their professional development and improve their daily workplace experience. IOM will have flexible systems and procedures in place to ensure it can adapt to the future of work while ensuring the well-being of its staff. We are committed to enhancing our security posture and promoting an inclusive and supportive work environment. Our leadership will have the ability to connect, motivate and inspire a sense of our shared vision and values.

Read More

Long-term partnerships built on trust mean that we will have the right networks and entry points in place to deliver multidimensional, whole-of-society, whole-of-government solutions. We are committed to developing more equitable partnerships with national and local actors and advocating that they play a more central role in developing and delivering migration-related policy and programming.

Read More

IOM's vision will only be realized with significant financial investment and increased quality funding. While the organization continues to receive high volumes of project funding, a strong value proposition based on a clear strategic direction, proven impact and efficient use of resources will attract more flexible multi-year funding.

Read More

IOM will be the pre-eminent source of migration and displacement data for action, which help save lives and deliver solutions; data for insight, which help facilitate regular migration pathways; and data for foresight, which help drive anticipatory action. IOM will have the systems and data fluency to collect, safely store, analyse, share and apply disaggregated data and evidence across the mobility spectrum. Our extensive data and research repositories will underpin evidence-based policies and practices. Data will be central to the internal decision-making and management of the organization.

Read More

As an innovator within the migration space, solution-focused thinking will be evident throughout our global operations and programmes. Our comprehensive knowledge management practices will allow IOM to conceive and scale solutions to some of the most significant challenges facing the world. We will use existing and emerging technologies, such as artificial intelligence and big data, to anticipate and respond to changes, while being alive to their potential misuse. Our capacity to learn and innovate will be underpinned by strong collaboration with the private sector and academic partners.

Read More

We will take a data-driven and co-designed approach to developing communication interventions that shape a balanced and objective narrative on migration and provide a platform for migrant voices to be heard. Our communications will position IOM as the leading authority on matters relating to migration, build awareness of our work and inspire people to support our vision. Improved internal communication will ensure that employees stay connected with their workplace, identify with IOM's values and vision, and develop a sense of belonging.

Read More

As IOM evolves, so must its organizational infrastructure and ways of working. The increased use of secure digital technologies and digitized information and data will improve and streamline processes and efficiency across the Organization. We will strike a balance between high compliance standards and robust risk management practices, while ensuring that our internal systems and processes are as accessible and user-friendly as possible. Enhanced strategies to manage security risks will be implemented to enable IOM's programming without exposing staff and assets to unnecessary risk. Our internal systems prevent fraud, corruption, and misuse of resources and other forms of misconduct.

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Our leadership will oversee an organizational culture and internal systems that promote integrity, accountability and transparency. We will measure our progress against clearly defined goals and objectives, which will improve the visibility of our results for Member States and the people we serve. IOM will facilitate transparent discussions about our results and take corrective actions where necessary. We continue to strengthen our response to ethical challenges faced by our workforce, and by the individuals and communities with which we work.

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IOM strives to uphold the dignity and human rights of all persons throughout their migration journey. We will address unequal opportunities and outcomes experienced by migrants and our staff based on sex, gender, age, race, ethnicity or disability. We will systematically dismantle the attitudinal, environmental and institutional barriers preventing us from achieving our targets. These efforts will be underpinned by meaningful consultations with, active participation of, and representation by all sectors of society, including youth, indigenous communities and women.

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IOM is committed to placing the human rights and well-being of all migrants at the centre of our operations and decision-making. IOM will support the efforts of States to fulfil their responsibilities to reduce protection risks and address the needs of the most vulnerable. We will be guided by rights-based approaches across our migration programming, demonstrate commitment to child safeguarding, involve the individuals and communities we serve in decision-making, and protect them from sexual exploitation and abuse.

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IOM will lead environmental sustainability innovation for impact and scale in the humanitarian and migration management sector. Caring for people and the planet is one of our core values, and we are committed to mainstreaming environmental sustainability into our projects and programmes, and facilities management and operations. IOM will have an ambitious environmental governance and environmental management system, drawing from United Nations system-wide commitments.

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Archived Version

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:55

The U.S. Capitol police announced Thursday that they will not be bringing charges against the two men who recorded themselves having anal sex in the Hart Senate hearing room.

''For now, we are closing the investigation into the facts and circumstances surrounding a sex video that was recorded inside the Hart Senate Office Building on the morning of Wednesday, December 13. After consulting with federal and local prosecutors, as well as doing a comprehensive investigation and review of possible charges, it was determined that '' despite a likely violation of Congressional policy '' there is currently no evidence that a crime was committed,'' U.S. Capitol Police said in a statement.

''Although the hearing room was not open to the public at the time, the Congressional staffer involved had access to the room. The two people of interest were not cooperative, nor were the elements of any of the possible crimes met. The Congressional staffer, who has since resigned from his job, exercised his Fifth Amendment right to remain silent and refused to talk to us. Our investigators are willing to review new evidence should any come to light,'' the police continued.

The Daily Caller first obtained leaked amateur pornography showing a congressional staffer having anal sex with an unknown man in the Senate hearing room. The alleged staffer can also be seen in a photo, naked on all fours, looking back at the camera on the table where senators often sit to ask questions during a hearing. (RELATED: EXCLUSIVE: Senate Staffer Caught Filming Gay Sex Tape In Senate Hearing Room (GRAPHIC))

A source identified the room to the Daily Caller as Senate room Hart 216, the Judiciary Room.

The Daily Caller reviewed the chat where the video leaked and confirmed it was shared in a private group for gay men in politics.

Link to Article

Archived Version

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 16:24

When Gianna Cabo began experiencing memory lapses and withdrawing from family and friends, her mom thought it was long COVID '-- certainly not dementia.

''I felt like someone had just punched me in my heart. I sat there stunned,'' Cabo's mother, Rebecca Robertson, 50, told SWNS. ''I thought this can't be true, she's only 19. I never thought it could be dementia '-- not in my wildest dreams.''

Robertson, from McKinney, Texas, noticed something was wrong with her bright and bubbly daughter in September 2020, when she went from head of the class to unable to keep up.

Cabo had had a rough year. In 2019, she and her mother were involved in a car crash that left Robertson with a severe concussion and compressed discs in her neck.

Then, in June 2020, Cabo was stricken with the coronavirus.

''I never thought it could be dementia '-- not in my wildest dreams,'' admitted her mom, Rebecca Robertson. Rebecca Ancira Robertson / SWNSMonths later, she struggled with memory loss and the ability to perform simple tasks, like operating a can opener.

When Cabo started to withdraw from her friends, stopped completing her homework, and began falling asleep as soon as she got home, Robertson decided to seek medical help.

''As the weeks went by, she started having more problems in school. The answer to any question started to be, 'I don't remember,''' the distraught Robertson recalled. ''If she was asked why she hadn't done her homework, she would say she didn't remember.''

The mom thought her daughter could be suffering from mental stress due to the pandemic, and she was prescribed antidepressants in June 2021.

Cabo also started seeing a counselor, but her condition continued to nosedive.

''Suddenly I started getting calls from her teachers saying, 'She's one of our star students [but] now when she's in class, she's in la-la-land and just stares blankly out the window,''' Robertson remembered. ''She was becoming more and more detached and apathetic. She said, 'I just feel lost.'''

Robertson confesses she feels like her daughter is ''slipping away'' '-- and nobody knows what to do. Rebecca Ancira Robertson / SWNSRobertson said the severity of Cabo's memory loss presented itself during her high school graduation. Other students excitedly discussed their futures while her daughter struggled to keep up.

''She just had eyes full of tears,'' she said sadly. ''She asked me, 'Aren't I supposed to be excited?' But she felt nothing.''

Robertson took the teen to see a neurologist in November 2022, and after running a series of medical tests, doctors discovered no electrical activity in Cabo's right central lobe.

She was diagnosed with dementia.

Cabo can't remember childhood memories. Rebecca Ancira Robertson / SWNSNow Cabo, 20, can't remember her happy childhood memories, Robertson said.

''I asked her what was the happiest moment of your life, and she just looked confused and said, 'I don't remember,''' she recounted.

At one point, during Cabo's deterioration, she took down all of her childhood photos in her room. When her mom asked why, she explained ''she couldn't remember them being taken.''

Robertson admits she feels like her daughter is ''slipping away'' '-- and nobody knows what to do.

''I just pray there is a treatment out there that can give me some hope,'' the anguished mom said. ''She doesn't laugh anymore. She doesn't get out of bed. Whatever you ask her, any time of the day or night, she just says, 'I don't remember.'''

The mom says her daughter barely shows any emotion now. Rebecca Ancira Robertson / SWNS''The saddest part is it doesn't bother Gianna,'' she continued. ''There's no emotion there. None. She's 100% apathetic.''

According to the Childhood Dementia Initiative, childhood dementia results from progressive brain damage and has been linked to over 70 rare genetic disorders.

There is no cure, but treatment options include medication, therapy, and nutrition services.

Link to Article

Archived Version

Thu, 01 Feb 2024 15:33

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Military intervention against the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant

Operation Inherent ResolvePart of the international military intervention against the Islamic State and the War on terror U.S. Navy F/A-18F Super Hornets of VFA-22 take off from USS Carl Vinson to support U.S. efforts for Operation Inherent Resolve in October 2014.Date15 June 2014 '' present(9 years, 7 months, 2 weeks and 3 days)Iraq: 15 June 2014 '' 9 December 2021Syria: 22 September 2014 '' presentLibya: 13 November 2015 '' 30 October 2019LocationStatusOngoing

Territorial defeat of ISIL in Iraq on 9 December 2017Territorial defeat of ISIL in Syria on 23 March 2019ISIL defeated in Libya110,000 square kilometers containing 7.7 million people captured from the Islamic State by U.S.-allied ground forcesBelligerents United States

U.S. Armed Forces Islamic State[1][2][3]

al-Qaeda

Turkistan Islamic Party[8]

Islamic Front (2013-2015)

Ahrar ash-Sham (2014''18)[9] Syrian Salvation Government (2017-present)

Tahrir al-Sham (2017''present)Commanders and leaders Joe Biden (President, 2021-present) Donald Trump (President, 2017''2021) Barack Obama (President, 2009''2017) General Lloyd Austin (CENTCOM Commander, 2014''2016) (Secretary of Defense, 2021''present)

Mark Esper (Secretary of Defense, 2019 ''2020) James Mattis (Secretary of Defense, 2017 '' 2018) Ashton Carter (Secretary of Defense, 2015''2017) Chuck Hagel (Secretary of Defense, 2014''2015) General Kenneth F. McKenzie Jr. (CENTCOM Commander, 2019 '' present) General Joseph Votel (CENTCOM Commander, 2016 '' 2019) Lieutenant General Robert P. WhiteCommanding General Combined Joint Task Force - Operation Inherent Resolve Major General Kevin M. Copsey[10](Deputy Commander-Stability CJTF-OIR) Major General Alexus G. Grynkewich (Deputy Commander-Operations and Intelligence CJTF-OIR) Major General Matthew McFarlane (Commander of CJTF-OIR, 2022 '' 2023) Major General Joel 'JB' Vowell (Commander of CJTF-OIR, 2023 '' present) Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Qurashi ' (Former leader of IS)[11][12] Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi ' [13] (Former leader of IS) Abu Alaa Afri ' (Deputy Leader of IS)[14] Abu Mohammad al-Adnani ' (Spokesperson) Abu Ayman al-Iraqi ' (Head of Military Shura)[15] Abu Muslim al-Turkmani ' (Deputy Leader, Iraq)[16] Abu Ali al-Anbari ' (Deputy Leader, Syria) Abu Omar al-Shishani ' (Field commander in Syria)[17][18]

Abu Khayr al-Masri ' (al-Qaeda deputy leader)[19] Abu Mohammad al-Julani (Leader of the al-Nusra Front)) Abu Humam al-Shami ' (al-Nusra Military Chief and Leader of Hurras al-Din)[20] Mohammed Islambouli (Leader of Khorasan)[21] Muhsin al-Fadhli ' (Leader of Khorasan)[22] David Drugeon ' (chief bombmaker)[23]

Abu Yahia al-Hamawi (Emir of Ahrar al-Sham (2015''2017))[24] Abu Jaber Shaykh (Emir of Ahrar al-Sham (2014-2015); Emir of Tahrir al-Sham (2017))[25][26]

Abu Mohammad al-Julani (Emir of Tahrir al-Sham (2017''present))Units involvedElements of:

Military of IS

Wilayat al-IraqWilayat al-ShamStrengthIslamic State of Iraq and the Levant:

9,000 to 18,000 (January 2015)[55]20,000 to 200,000 (peak, late 2014)[56][57]3 MiG-21 or MiG-23 aircraft[58]At least 600 tanks[59][60]At least 5 drones[61][62][63][64]al-Qaeda:

Khorasan: 50[65]Jund al-Aqsa: 2,100[6]Islamic Front

Ahrar al-Sham: 26,000''30,000+[66][67]Syrian Salvation Government

Tahrir al-Sham: 50,000+[68][69]Casualties and losses United States

23 hostile deaths[70][71][72]89 non-hostile Deaths364 (WIA)[70]18 civilians killed(5 executed and 1 unknown)[73][74][75][76]1 F-16 crashed[77] and 1 F-15 damaged[78]2 helicopters lost (Ch 53 Sea Stallion)[79][80]4 MQ-1 Predator drones shot down[81][82] Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant:

80,000+ killed by American and allied airstrikes[83]32,000+ targets destroyed or damaged (as of 30 September 2016)[84]164 tanks388 HMMWVs2,638 pieces of oil infrastructure1,000+ fuel tanker trucks[85]2,000+ pick-up trucks, VBIEDs, and other vehicles(per coalition)

al-Qaeda:

298+ killed[86][87] Islamic Front

Ahrar ash-Sham:3 killed[86][88][89] Syrian Salvation Government:

Tahrir al-Sham: 6 killed[90]Tens of thousands of civilians killed by IS (per Iraqi Body Count and SOHR)[91][92] Between 8,214 and 13,125 civilians killed by Coalition airstrikes in Syria and Iraq (per Airwars)[93]1,335 civilians killed by Coalition Operations (per Coalition)[93]

Over 970,000 civilians in Iraq and Syria displaced, or fled to Turkey and other countries[94][95][96][97]U.S. soldiers from Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment, 2nd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division in Syria during Operation Inherent Resolve, 23 November 2020Operation Inherent Resolve (OIR) is the United States military's operational name for the international war against the Islamic State (IS),[98] including both a campaign in Iraq and a campaign in Syria, with a closely related campaign in Libya. Through 18 September 2018, the U.S. Army's III Armored Corps was responsible for Combined Joint Task Force '' Operation Inherent Resolve (CJTF'--OIR) and were replaced by the XVIII Airborne Corps.[99] The campaign is primarily waged by American and British forces in support of local allies, most prominently the Iraqi security forces and Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). Combat ground troops, mostly special forces, infantry, and artillery have also been deployed, especially in Iraq. Of the airstrikes, 70% have been conducted by the military of the United States, 20% by the United Kingdom and the remaining 10% being carried out by France, Turkey, Canada, the Netherlands, Denmark, Belgium, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Australia and Jordan.[100]

According to the Pentagon, by March 2019, the day of the territorial defeat in Syria of IS, CJTF-OIR and its partner forces had liberated nearly 110,000 square kilometers (42,471 square miles) of land and 7.7 million people from IS, the vast majority of the self-proclaimed caliphate's territory and subjects.[101] By October 2017, around the time of IS's territorial defeat in Iraq, CJTF-OIR claimed that around 80,000 IS militants had been killed by it and its allies (excluding those targeted by Russian and Syrian Air Force strikes). By the end of August 2019, it had conducted 34,573 strikes.[83][102][103] Tens of thousands more were killed by partner forces on the ground (the SDF alone claimed to have killed 25,336 IS fighters by the end of 2017).[104]

History [ edit ] 2014 [ edit ] Unlike their coalition partners, and unlike previous combat operations, no name was initially given to the conflict against IS by the U.S. government.[105] The decision to keep the conflict nameless drew considerable media criticism.[106][107][108][109][110]

The U.S. decided in October 2014 to name its military efforts against IS as "Operation Inherent Resolve"; the U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) news release announcing the name noted that:

According to CENTCOM officials, the name INHERENT RESOLVE is intended to reflect the unwavering resolve and deep commitment of the U.S. and partner nations in the region and around the globe to eliminate the terrorist group ISIL and the threat they pose to Iraq, the region and the wider international community. It also symbolizes the willingness and dedication of coalition members to work closely with our friends in the region and apply all available dimensions of national power necessary'--diplomatic, informational, military, economic'--to degrade and ultimately destroy ISIL.[111]

The US Defense Department announced at the end of October 2014 that troops operating in support of Operation Inherent Resolve after 15 June were eligible for the Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal.[112][113]

By 4 December 2014, three U.S. service members had died from accidents or non-combat injuries.[114]

2015 [ edit ] On 22 October 2015, a U.S. Master Sergeant, Joshua Wheeler, was killed in action when he, with about 30 other U.S. special operations soldiers and a Peshmerga unit, conducted a prison break near Hawija in the disputed territories of Northern Iraq, in which about 70 hostages were rescued, five IS members were captured and "a number" were killed or wounded.[115] Sergeant First Class Thomas Payne was awarded the Medal of Honor for his actions during the operation. The Kurdistan Regional Government said after the raid that none of the 15 prisoners it was intended to rescue were found.[116][117]

From May, North American Rockwell OV-10 Broncos joined the operation, flying more than 120 combat sorties over 82 days. It is speculated they provided close air support for special forces missions. The experiment ended satisfactorily, but a US Air Force spokesman stated it remains unlikely they will invest in reactivating the OV-10 on a regular basis because of the overhead cost of operating an additional aircraft type.[118][119]

2016 [ edit ] By 9 March 2016, nearly 11,000 airstrikes had been launched on IS (and occasionally Al-Nusra), killing over 27,000 fighters[120] and striking over 22,000 targets, including 139 tanks, 371 Humvees, and 1,216 pieces of oil infrastructure. Approximately 80% of these airstrikes have been conducted by American forces, with the remaining 20% being launched by other members of the coalition, such as the United Kingdom and Australia. 7,268 strikes hit targets in Iraq, while 3,602 hit targets in Syria.[84] On 12 June 2016, it was reported that 120 IS leaders, commanders, propagandists, recruiters and other high-value individuals were killed so far this year.[121]

Until March 2016, U.S. military members were ineligible for Campaign Medals and other service decorations due to the continuing ambiguous nature of the continuing U.S. involvement in Iraq.[122] However, on 30 March 2016, U.S. Secretary of Defense Ash Carter announced the creation of a new medal, named "Inherent Resolve Campaign Medal".[123]

On 3 June 2016, aircraft flying from the USS Harry S. Truman in the Mediterranean Sea began airstrikes on IS.[124] On 16 June 2016, AV-8B II+ Harriers of the 13th MEU flying from the USS Boxer in the Persian Gulf also began airstrikes on IS, marking the first time the U.S. Navy used ship-based aircraft from both the Mediterranean and the Persian Gulf at the same time during Operation Inherent Resolve.[125]

By 27 July 2016, U.S. and coalition partners had conducted more than 14,000 airstrikes in Iraq and Syria: Nearly 11,000 of those strikes were from U.S. aircraft and the majority of the strikes (more than 9,000) were in Iraq. Of the 26,374 targets hit, nearly 8,000 were against IS fighting positions, while approximately 6,500 hit buildings; IS staging areas and oil infrastructure were each hit around 1,600 times.[126] On 15 December 2016, the U.K. Defense Secretary Michael Fallon said that "more than 25,000 Daesh fighters have now been killed," a number that was half of the United States' estimate.[127] When asked about this discrepancy, the UK's Ministry of Defense said that it stood by his estimate.[127]

Since the first U.S. airstrikes on IS targets in Iraq on 8 August 2014, over two years, the U.S. military has spent over $8.4 billion fighting IS.[128]

BBC News reported in 2017 that according to the American think tank Council on Foreign Relations, in 2016 alone, the U.S. dropped 12,192 bombs in Syria and 12,095 in Iraq.[129]

Operation Odyssey Lightning [ edit ] From August to December 2016, the U.S. conducted another similar operation in Libya, code-named Operation Odyssey Lightning, during the battle to capture Sirte, which was the local capital of IS's Libyan branch.[130][131] In September 2017, the US Africa Command announced that 495 precision airstrikes were carried out and 800 to 900 IS fighters were killed during the operation in Sirte between 1 August and 19 December 2016.[132] On 18 January 2017, US B-2 bombers bombed two IS camps to the south of Sirte, killing ninety IS militants.

2017 [ edit ] According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, Coalition airstrikes have killed 7,043 people across Syria, of which: 5,768 dead were IS fighters, 304 Al-Nusra Front militants and other rebels, 90 government soldiers and 881 civilians. The air strikes occurred in the period between 22 September 2014 and 23 January 2017.[133]

In March 2017, various media outlets reported that conventional forces from the 11th MEU, as well as special operations forces in the form of the 75th Ranger Regiment[134] deployed to Syria to support U.S.-backed forces in liberating Raqqa from IS occupation. The deployment marked an escalation in the U.S. intervention in Syria.[135]

By 28 February, the Coalition had conducted 3,271 sorties in 2017, 2,129 of which resulted in at least one weapon released. In total, the coalition released 7,040 weapons in Iraq and Syria in this same time period in an effort to destroy IS.[136]

As of 9 August 2017, coalition aircraft flew a total of 167,912 sorties, and conducted 13,331 strikes in Iraq and 11,235 strikes in Syria, for a total of 24,566 strikes.[137]

2018 [ edit ] In February 2018, the 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division was awarded a campaign streamer following its deployment to Iraq. In May 2016, the brigade deployed to advise and assist, train and equip Iraqi security forces to fight the Islamic State of Iraq. The 2nd Brigade also conducted precision surface-to-surface fires and supported a multitude of intelligence and logistical operations for coalition and Iraqi forces. They also provided base security throughout more than twelve areas of operations. The Brigade also aided in the clearance of IS from Fallujah, the near elimination of suicide attacks in Baghdad, and the introduction of improved tactics that liberated more than 100 towns and villages. The 2nd Brigade, 101st Airborne Division also played a significant role in the liberation of Mosul.[138]

2019 [ edit ] In early 2019, the US-led coalition focused on the final assault on ISIS in the Euphrates pocket, including the Battle of Baghuz Fawqani in the first quarter of the year. Civilian human shields held by ISIS were among the victims, including in one reported massacre on 19 March in which up to 300 civilians, including 45 children, were alleged to have been killed by Coalition forces.[139]

From 8 August 2014, to 29 August 2019, coalition aircraft conducted a total of 34,573 strikes.[103]

On 27 October 2019, Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi was killed during the Barisha raid in Idlib Governorate.[140]

On 31 December 2019, the CJTF-OIR reported its forces were "closely monitoring the current situation of the protests at the US Embassy in Baghdad", adding that they were "taking the appropriate force protection measures to ensure [US Embassy personnel] safety".[141]

2020 [ edit ] CJTF-OIR paused all training and anti-ISIS operations on 5 January 2020, to focus on protecting Iraqi bases hosting Coalition troops in the wake of several rocket attacks.[142] This action was also linked to the anticipated response against Coalition forces in the wake of the killing of Iranian General Qasem Soleimani.[143] In March 2020, the U.S. military started to withdraw from various bases in Iraq.[144]

2021 [ edit ] This section needs to be updated. Please help update this article to reflect recent events or newly available information. ( July 2021 )

On 31 March 2021, Carrier Air Wing Three launched naval flight operations in support of Operation Inherent Resolve. The USS Dwight D. Eisenhower and its carrier strike group were expected to lead Task Force 50, which oversees Operation Inherent Resolve's naval strike operations.[145]

2022 [ edit ] 2023 [ edit ] On 3 April, U.S. forces killed senior Islamic State leader Khalid 'Aydd Ahmad al-Jabouri, who was allegedly planning attacks in Europe during Easter, in an overnight drone strike on the outskirts of rebel-held town of Killi, Idlib in northwest Syria.[146]

On 9 July, US Central Command announced that a U.S. MQ-9 drone which had been harassed by Russian aircraft for almost two hours had on 7 July killed an ISIS leader called Usamah al-Muhajir,[147] who had been riding his motorcycle on the road linking al-Bab with Bizaah.[148]

On 24 August, the U.S. Military stated that Major General Joel 'JB' Vowell had assumed command of anti-ISIS operation also known as Operation Inherent Resolve, from Major General Matthew McFarlane.[149]

On 20 November, the United States Central Command has announced that, in the months of September and October, it has conducted, along with coalition and other partners, a total of 79 operations in Iraq and Syria resulting in 13 ISIS operatives killed and 78 detained.[150][151]

Breakdown by month[151]MonthOperationsISIS operativesCountKilledDetainedSeptember31819October48559Total791378Assets [ edit ] United States Air Force, United States Navy & United States Marine Corps units that are participating in this operations can be found in the aerial and ground order of battle.

United States Army

U.S. and coalition forces are training Iraqi forces at four sites: in al-Asad in Anbar province, Erbil in the north, and Taji and Besmayah in the Baghdad area.

Combined Joint Forces Land Component Command-Iraq[31]

1st Infantry Division[27] 1st Cavalry divisionDivision Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion

3rd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division (January '' September 2015).[152]2nd Battalion, 505th Infantry Regiment[27] 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division[27] 1st Brigade Combat Team, 10th Mountain Division (September 2015 '' June 2016).[152] 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 101st Airborne Division (Air Assault) (June 2016 '' January 2017).[153]1st Battalion, 502nd Infantry Regiment[154] 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 82nd Airborne Division (January 2017 '' October 2017)2nd Battalion, 325th Airborne Infantry Regiment 2nd Battalion, 82nd Field Artillery Regiment (January 2017 '' October 2017)[155]28th Expeditionary Combat Aviation Brigade, 28th Infantry Division35th Combat Aviation Brigade, 35th Infantry Division (Summer 2018- Summer 2019)[156]3rd Cavalry Regiment (Spring 2018 '' Spring 2019)[citation needed ] United States Marine Corps

Marine Air-Ground Task Force (MAGTF)[157]Special Purpose Marine Air-Ground Task Force '' Crisis Response '' Central Command[158]Military bases [ edit ] An SDF-U.S. military base in northeastern Syria, near Rmelan, in 2021.[159]During the operation in Syria, there were several bases mostly in the north:[160]

However, following the 2019 Turkish offensive into north-eastern Syria, most U.S. soldiers withdrew from northern Syria to western Iraq in October 2019,[171] while even bombing their own Lafarge basement near Harab Isk.[172]

Meanwhile, The New York Times reported that the Pentagon was planning to "leave 150 Special Operations forces at a base called al-Tanf".[173] In addition, 200 U.S. soldiers would remain in eastern Syria near the oil fields, to prevent the Islamic State, Syrian government and Russian forces from advancing in the region.[174] However, at least 600''900 U.S. Troops are expected to stay in Syria,[175] in Al-Hasakah and Deir ez-Zor Governorates.[176] In July 2020, the U.S. military built a new base including an airport, located between Um Kahif village and Tal Alu silos near Al-Yaarubiyah.[177]

Casualties [ edit ] Command Sergeant Major Walter C. Puckett greets coalition personnel in Al-Hasakah, Syria on 18 August 2021According to Airwars, in 2014 there were 63 incidents involving the US-led coalition in Iraq and Syria in which there were civilian casualties, causing at least 160 civilian deaths. In 2015, there were 268 incidents and 708 deaths. In 2016, there were 483 incidents and 1,372 deaths. Civilian casualties peaked in 2017, with 1,841 incidents and at least 4,677 civilian deaths.[139]

According to Airwars, 1,472 civilians were killed by the U.S. air campaign in Iraq and Syria in March 2017 alone.[178] On 17 March, a U.S.-led coalition airstrike in Mosul killed more than 200 civilians.[179] Data compiled by Airwars shows that 229 strikes in Iraq and 878 strikes in Syria were carried out by Coalition forces in June 2017, killing an alleged total of 1,483 people. The reporting of 875 of those total alleged deaths is contested. In July 2017, Airwars recorded reports of an alleged 1,342 people were killed in Iraq and Syria by Coalition airstrikes. Of the allegations 812 were contested, and two were disproved.[180]

Casualty figures fell after the 2017 peak. According to Airwars, 2018 saw 192 incidents and 846 deaths; 2019 saw 72 incidents and 467 deaths.[139] In 2019, the casualties were concentrated in the first quarter during the Battle of Baghuz Fawqani including an alleged massacre of civilian human shields on 19 March.[139]

By 2020, Airwars had recorded a five-year total of 14,771 US-led Coalition strikes in Iraq and 19,829 in Syria and investigated 2,921 alleged civilian casualty incidents, estimating 8,259''13,135 civilian deaths, of whom around 2,000 were children, although the Coalition itself estimated just 1,377 or 1,417 civilian deaths.[181][182][183]

The New York Times reported that efforts to minimize and count civilian deaths fell far short of the approach promised by the US military for its use of airstrikes in the war against IS. The newspaper reported that airstrikes against IS, as well as in the war in Afghanistan, was marked by "flawed intelligence, poor targeting and thousands of civilian deaths." It also reported that efforts to minimize civilian casualties diminished after President Trump assumed office in 2017, stating "... the authority to approve strikes was pushed further down the chain of command, even as an overwhelming majority of strikes were carried out in the heat of war, and not planned far in advance." Finally, the paper reported that the US military systematically under-reported casualties, providing a total death count of 1,417, when the actual count was significantly higher. The report states that the military made little effort to accurately determine civilian casualties after the airstrikes. The military was also reluctant to divulge information about the casualties, in spite of promises of transparency, and news media were required to make numerous requests under the Freedom of Information Act, and had to repeatedly sue the US military to produce data.[184][185][186]

Talon Anvil [ edit ] During the years 2014 to 2019, an Air Force special operations group named Talon Anvil killed a significant number of non-combatant civilians, and often failed to follow US military protocols designed to minimize civilian casualties.[187] In one particular strike, the March 2019 Baghuz airstrike, approximately 50 women and children were killed, and the Air Force subsequently covered the deaths up.[188] The Talon Anvil group operated under the auspices of Task Force 9, which was the US military unit responsible for ground operations in the war against IS in Syria. The group consisted of about twenty plainclothes military personnel that operated out of anonymous office buildings in Iraq and Syria.[187] In December 2021, the US Secretary of Defense ordered an investigation into the civilian deaths caused by Talon Anvil's bombing strikes.[187]

See also [ edit ] Combined Joint Task Force '' Operation Inherent Resolve, commander headquarters of ongoing operationsMilitary intervention against the Islamic State aerial order of battleGerman intervention against the Islamic State, also named Operation Counter Daesh, related German operationsOp(C)ration Chammal, name for similar French operationsOperation Impact, name for similar Canadian operationsOperation Martyr Yal§Ä±n, name for similar Turkish operation against ISOperation Okra, name for similar Australian operationsOperation Shader, name for similar British operationsOperation Tidal Wave II, name of a suboperation against IS oil infrastructureReferences [ edit ] ^ "Islamic State, rival Al Nusra Front each strengthen grip on Syria". Los Angeles Times. 28 November 2014 . Retrieved 6 December 2014 . ^ Master. "Negotiations failed between the IS, Jabhat al-Nusra and Islamic battalions". Syrian Observatory For Human Rights. 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According to information obtained by Anadolu Agency on March 30 from local sources, more than 70 French special forces under the international coalition against Daesh are stationed at the Lafarge Cement factory near the strategic Mistanur Hill and Harab-Isk village in southern Ayn al-Arab province (Kobani). ^ @obretix (10 July 2018). "US Army Apache helicopter at the Lafarge cement plant in northern Syria" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 10 July 2018 '' via Twitter. ^ "US Changes Plan of Building Air Base in Syrian Kurdistan". basnews. 9 April 2016. ^ Cenciotti, David (27 June 2018). "Here Are The First Photographs Of U.S. Air Force C-17 and Marine Corps KC-130J Operating From New U.S. Airfield in Northern Syria". The Aviationist. Another U.S. airfield is located in northern Syria: Sarrin. The base was built in 2016 and the first aircraft appeared to operate from there in July 2017. ^ Szoldra, Paul (8 August 2018). "Exclusive: The Insider Attack In Syria That The Pentagon Denies Ever Happened". Task & Purpose. Archived from the original on 9 August 2018. ^ Samir [@obretix] (8 August 2018). "picture of "some of the Marines of Weapons Co., 2/7, in Syria" from https://taskandpurpose.com/syria-insider-attack/ '... geolocated to administrative and housing complex at Omar oil field" (Tweet). Archived from the original on 9 August 2018 '' via Twitter. ^ a b "Inside U.S. troops' stronghold in Syria, a question of how long Biden will keep them there". LA Times. 12 March 2021 . Retrieved 11 December 2021 . ^ "US troops leaving Syria will go to Iraq, says Pentagon chief". BBC News. 20 October 2019. ^ "Satellite Photos Call Into Question Impact Of U.S. Bombing Its Own Syrian Base After Retreat". The Drive. 22 October 2019. ^ "Assad Forces Surge Forward in Syria as U.S. Pulls Back". The New York Times. 14 October 2019. ^ "Trump Said to Favor Leaving a Few Hundred Troops in Eastern Syria". The New York Times. 20 October 2019. ^ "Hundreds of U.S. Troops Leaving, and Also Arriving in, Syria". The New York Times. 30 October 2019. ^ "U.S. Special Ops Soldier Talks To Reporter In Syrian Oil Fields As Mission Remains In Flux". The Drive. 4 November 2019. ^ "American Entrenchment: US Builds New Military Air Base in Syria's Hasakah". albawaba.com. 2 July 2020. ^ "US-led coalition killed more Syrian civilians than Isis or Russia in March, figures show". The Independent. 28 March 2017. ^ "US admits it conducted Mosul air strike 'at location' where '200' civilians died". The Independent. 26 March 2017. ^ "Data". Airwars. 6 August 2017. ^ "US-led Coalition in Iraq & Syria". Airwars. 20 January 2020 . Retrieved 5 August 2020 . ^ Levenson, Michael (18 December 2021). "What to Know About the Civilian Casualty Files". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 20 January 2023 . ^ Airwars states that coalition counts 1,377 civilian deaths, and New York Times states that US military counts 1,417 civilian deaths. ^ Levenson, Michael (18 December 2021). "What to Know About the Civilian Casualty Files". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 20 January 2023 . ^ Khan, Azmat (18 December 2021). "Hidden Pentagon Records Reveal Patterns of Failure in Deadly Airstrikes". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 20 January 2023 . ^ Khan, Azmat; Hassan, Lila; Almukhtar, Sarah; Shorey, Rachel (18 December 2021). "The Civilian Casualty Files". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 20 January 2023 . ^ a b c "Civilian Deaths Mounted as Secret U.S. Unit Pounded Islamic State", Dave Philipps , Eric Schmitt and Mark Mazzetti, 12 December 2021, New York Times, https://www.nytimes.com/2021/12/12/us/civilian-deaths-war-isis.html ^ "How the U.S. Hid an Airstrike That Killed Dozens of Civilians in Syria", Dave Philipps and Eric Schmitt, 13 Nov. 2021, New York Times https://www.nytimes.com/2021/11/13/us/us-airstrikes-civilian-deaths.html Further reading [ edit ] Books

Gordon, Michael R. (2022). Degrade and Destroy: The Inside Story of the War Against the Islamic State, from Barack Obama to Donald Trump. New York: Farrar, Straus and Giroux. ISBN 978-0374279899. Stein, Aaron (2022). The US War Against ISIS: How America and its Allies Defeated the Caliphate. London: I.B. Tauris & Company, Limited. ISBN 9780755634828. Wasser, Becca; Pettyjohn, Stacie L.; Martini, Jeffrey; Evans, Alexandra T.; Mueller, Karl P.; Edenfield, Nathaniel; Tarini, Gabrielle; Haberman, Ryan; Zeman, Jalen (2021). The Air War Against the Islamic State: The Role of Airpower in Operation Inherent Resolve. Project Air Force. Santa Monica, Calif.: RAND Corporation. ISBN 978-1-9774-0605-7. Watson, Mason W. (2021). The Conflict with ISIS: Operation Inherent Resolve, June 2014-January 2020. U.S. Army Campaigns in Iraq. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Army Center of Military History. External links [ edit ] Operation Inherent Resolve '' Official WebsiteGlobal Coalition '' Official WebsiteAir Superiority Under 2000 Feet: Lessons From Waging Drone Warfare Against ISIL

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Thu, 01 Feb 2024 15:32

Our nation needs God. Now. Our Founding Fathers understood that our strength and unity were found in our commitment to Him and to His righteousness. We think America is strong, yet a long train of events reveals weakness on every front and historic level of division. We assume America will always be. It will not. 'Under God' must become more than a part of our Pledge of Allegiance. 'In God we trust' must be more than our national motto on our currency. America needs God. While some may refuse to accept that reality, we readily acknowledge that America truly does need God. It is for that reason that we come together at the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance to repent of sin. We invite you to join us on January 31 in the spirit of humility, brokenness, contriteness, and repentance.

Tony Perkins, Family Research Council, co-founder of the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance

In November of 2022, I called Tony Perkins, and Congressman Mike Johnson, so see what their thoughts were about calling government and faith leaders together to pray for repentance. They both agreed that this was needed. The National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance is not a prayer breakfast. This is a ''no-breakfast prayer.'' The prayers are about repentance. For personal sins. For sin in the church. For America's sins. We focus on the vertical, that is, God. We don't applaud for people. We only applaud for God'...at the end. We don't have speeches or sermons, except designated persons, who take seven or eight minutes, to call us to serious repentance. We don't even introduce people. The spotlight is on God. People lead in prayer. To Him. For one minute. Sincere heartfelt prayer. Intense prayer. As if the nation depends on it. Because it does.

Dr. Jim Garlow, Well Versed, co-founder of the National Gathering for Prayer and Repentance

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Thu, 01 Feb 2024 15:20

UN-provided debit cards issued to immigrants in Reynosa, Mexico, in late 2021. Photo by Todd Bensman.By Todd Bensman

AUSTIN, Texas '-- As the Center for Immigration Studies recently reported, a United Nations-led ''Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP)'' calls for more than 200 nonprofit groups to dole out $1.6 billion in cash debit cards, food, clothing, medical treatment, shelter, and even ''humanitarian transportation'' during 2024 to millions of U.S.-bound immigrants in 17 Latin American nations and Mexico.

But suspicions that the administration of President Joe Biden is directly footing the bill for at least part of facilitating the most voluminous mass migration crisis in U.S. history, now in its fourth straight year, can now be confirmed.

A follow-up CIS examination of the more than 30 faith-based nonprofits among those UN NGO partners '-- representing Jewish, Lutheran, Seventh Day Adventist, Catholic, and nondenominational evangelical organizations '-- shows that the U.S. State Department's Bureau of Population, Refugees, and Migration (PRM) and the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have been mainlining taxpayer funds to these groups, which then distribute them to keep hundreds of thousands of migrants comfortably moving toward illegal U.S. southern border crossings.

HIAS. A prime example is the self-described ''Jewish American'' nonprofit organization HIAS of Silver Spring, Md. (incorporated in 1903 as the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society), which has pledged $17.1 million in aid to immigrants in at least seven Latin American nations during 2024, the UN's RMRP planning documents show. It turns out that in FY 2022, 47 percent of revenue reported by HIAS came as grants from government agencies, the majority from the State Department, but some also from the Department of Homeland Security, according to the group's tax filings and other sources, with the balance coming from a mix of major corporate sponsors and other sources.

But there can be little question about the origins and purpose of at least some of HIAS's $17 million pledge to the UN's Latin America migrant trails project. Last year, the State Department's PRM gave HIAS a $6 million grant for it, according to USAspending.gov, a database that tracks federal spending.

The first infusions of another $5.2 million State Department PRM grant to HIAS this year '-- explicitly for the UN endeavor in Latin America '-- started arriving in September 2023 with the last of it to come in September of this year, according to USAspending.gov.

All $11 million was earmarked to HIAS by the State Department's overseas refugee assistance programs for the Western Hemisphere, which the UN plan aims to support through ''direct emergency humanitarian assistance such as food, non-food items, shelter, health, psychosocial support'' in major migration transit countries like Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.

A UN ''activity explorer'' database of the participating NGOs shows that some $6.1 million of 2024's HIAS commitment will go out as cash cards, cash vouchers, and cash in-kind services while most of the rest goes to humanitarian transportation, food, shelter, and various services.

Record Taxpayer Support of UN Spearheading AgenciesUN budget documents, federal grant-tracking databases, and other public sources show that the State Department's PRM and USAID also have poured taxpayer money into at least the other religion-oriented NGOs that CIS selected for examination, including Catholic, Lutheran, and Seventh Day Adventist groups. The list of participating NGOs comes from the UN's 2023-2024 Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan (RMRP), which lists more than 200 of the groups on p. 268.

The Center for Immigration Studies has exported that list here to make it available for further public study. Another 20 new NGO groups signed on for the coming year, although they are not readily identified.

But the State Department and USAID also sent historic volumes of cash to the Latin America project's main United Nations overseers, which also pass that aid straight to migrants: the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) and the International Organization of Migration (IOM).

The State Department's PRM and USAID have given IOM $1.4 billion in just the last 12 months, by far the most on record, according to USAspending.gov, a database that tracks federal spending. PRM is also the biggest donor to UNHCR, which is among 15 different UN agencies that will spread money and aid all along the migrant trails of Latin America. This is part and parcel of a State Department agreement to a ''2023-2025 Framework for Cooperation'' with the UNHCR to pay into the effort and to politically support its goals. The State Department openly acknowledges issuing guidance to field staff on budget and planning coordination for the Latin American effort, and it has turned over operation of major U.S. government policy initiatives in Latin America, such as an expansion of ''refugee'' centers and management of a no-interest ''international travel loan'' programs.

The State Department's PRM, USAID, and UN agencies all see this straight-line pass-through of American taxpayer assistance with ''multilateral organizations'' as ''social and economic protection and risk reduction'' for vulnerable stateless people ''forced'' to flee home countries, as the 2023 PRM grant to HIAS put it.

''PRM promotes U.S. interests by providing protection, easing suffering, and resolving the plight of persecuted and forcibly displaced people around the world,'' the State Department's PRM website explains.

But a more critical interpretation of such direct Biden government infusions of taxpayer money '-- and operational closeness with the UN agency recipients '-- is that it hurts the country by easing the northward path for mainly economic immigrants who voluntarily make the journey knowing in advance that all of their basic needs will be provided for and that border policies virtually guarantee their entry and long-term stay.

The funding intervention raises the specter that Biden administration appointees in these government agencies, many hailing from NGOs like HIAS, engineered the catch-and-release policies that initially triggered the mass migration crisis in 2021, then arranged for taxpayer money to support the flows. (HIAS publicly lauded the 2021 nomination of DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, who served as a HIAS board member.)

Some Republicans have proposed legislation to halt U.S. funding of the UN agencies and their NGO partners, but short of illumination about how it all works, the legislation has gained no traction.

''This is a slap in the face to American taxpayers who foot the bill for this corrupt globalist institution,'' Texas Rep. Lance Gooden said last year. ''Republicans must condition UN funding and stop this taxpayer funded invasion immediately.''

In God They Really TrustThe UN has entrusted faith-based establishment NGOs with handling a lot of the $372 million in ''Cash and Voucher Assistance'' and ''Multipurpose Cash Assistance'' the broader endeavor will hand out to an estimated 624,000 migrants ''in-transit'' to the United States during 2024. That money is most often handed out, other UN documents show, as pre-paid, rechargeable debit cards, but also hard ''cash in envelopes'', bank transfers, and mobile transfers that the U.S. border-bound travelers can use for whatever they want.

The Jewish group is hardly alone among faith-based NGOs essentially passing through U.S. taxpayer money to immigrants in just these ways.

Adventists. The Seventh-day Adventist Church's ''global humanitarian arm'', the Silver Spring, Md., Adventist Development and Relief Agency (ADRA), plans to distribute more than $10 million, nearly 38 percent of it as cash and cash vouchers and the rest as food, shelter, and hygiene needs in Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Argentina, and Peru.

ADRA received significant funding from USAID and the State Department from 2021-2023, nearly $51 million in 2021, $32 million in 2022, and more than $9 million in 2023 and two unspecified grants so far for 2024, according to USAspending. It's unclear how much of that is earmarked for U.S.-bound immigrants in Latin America, but clearly some of it will be in 2024. Brazil and Honduras were among the top countries where ADRA spent money.

Organizations associated with the Catholic Church, collectively, move among the largest volumes of cash and other aid into the hands of U.S.-bound foreign nationals, more than $26 million. Three Jesuit-associated groups are to move some $5.3 million into immigrant hands, while the Catholic Commission for Social Justice sends out nearly $2 million.

Catholics. The highly visible Catholic Charities USA is not on the list of those working south of the border with this UN project, although the NGO and its many affiliate components receive tens of millions of dollars in federal awards to manage illegal immigrant transportation north from the border and resettlement activity in the United States interior.

But some 13 franchises of the nonprofit Caritas, whose website states that it is ''inspired by the Catholic faith'' and is ''the helping hand of the Church'', will dole out $12.3 million to immigrants south of the border, much of it as cash and cash vouchers, the activity explorer search tool shows.

USAID and the State Department's PRM have given more than $11 million to one of them, Caritas Brazil, since the mass migration began in 2021, including $3 million pledged through December 2024 ''overseas refugee assistance programs for the Western Hemisphere'' that include ''food, non-food items, shelter, health, [and] psychosocial support'', USAspending shows here and also here.

By way of explaining its views on this aid, Caritas Switzerland, one of the most giving of the 13 franchises, says on its website that migration ''globally across international borders in non-regulated forms ... represents a legitimate strategy of people to improve their lives''.

No matter that UN-member nations along the way don't want this traffic coursing through their territories. Caritas is going to ''cover basic needs, such as food, personal hygiene products, clean clothes, safe decent accommodation and subsidized transport''.

Other faith-based NGOs representing Christian denominations are well represented and also funded, in part, directly by the U.S. treasury.

Lutherans and More. In FY 2023, USAID awarded Lutheran World Relief a million-dollar grant for this year. The group would hand off about $181,000 supporting immigrants in Latin America.

USAID in recent years has given the nondenominational Boone, N.C., Samaritan's Purse $29 million ''for programs overseas'', albeit much of it for activities in Africa. But Samaritan's Purse has pledged $718,513 to the UN project in Latin America.

About the RestThe 200-plus NGOs are listed for their activities south of the U.S. border, although some, like HIAS, also support immigrants inside the United States whom they have already helped cross. The list of these groups do not include a burgeoning number of large and small NGOs that work mainly inside the United States providing, for instance, transportation into the interior as well as shelter, food, housing, and many other resettlement needs and wants.

This examination of some of the religion-oriented NGOs indicates probable Biden government taxpayer support for many more of the others. But pending further research, the extent of tax money diversion to them is not publicly known.

The UN plan lists 57 as ''international NGOs'' like HIAS and ADRA, but also 132 ''national NGOs'', probably indigenous to foreign countries. Further investigation would need to determine whether the State Department and USAID send pass-through money to these. The plan also names a mysterious category of ''Others'' such as the Red Cross Movement and ''academia''.

Language in the UN plan for Latin America in 2024 leaves no doubt that its architects in both the UN and U.S. agencies are in lockstep about one thing: aggressively expanding the ranks of NGOs working on the migration trails, which if logic follows, would portend even greater diversions of U.S. taxpayer money to support them.

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Thu, 01 Feb 2024 15:13

White House adviser John Podesta will be the top U.S. climate diplomat when high flying John Kerry steps down this spring and ceases his endless global tours warning the world of impending doom.

''We need to keep meeting the gravity of this moment, and there is no one better than John Podesta to make sure we do,'' White House Chief of Staff Jeff Zients said in a written statement, shared Wednesday with The Washington Post, CNN and The Hill.

''John has '-- and will continue to be '-- at the helm of driving the implementation of the most significant climate law in history,'' Zients added.

Kerry was instrumental in delivering the 2015 Paris Climate Agreement as Secretary of State under then-President Barack Obama, dedicating his life since to flying around the globe telling world powers, including China, they need to cut emissions.

China Joe reiterated that John Kerry is "leading" the country's upcoming global warming effort despite his private jet usage. https://t.co/IGhD0f0PmE

'-- Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) September 10, 2021

Kerry, who has served as U.S. climate diplomat for three years under the Biden administration, is now destined for a role on the 2024 campaign.

The 80-year-old told his staff back in January he is now putting all his efforts into getting Biden, 81, back into the White House.

Even MORE private jet flights now! https://t.co/I8KnmJ0WYY

'-- Breitbart News (@BreitbartNews) January 14, 2024

The former presidential nominee and secretary of state will remain in his post until the end of winter or early spring, according to two people familiar with his message.

He congratulated Podesta on Wednesday in a post on X.

''We've made historic progress these last three years and I know that, in his new role as Biden's senior adviser for international climate policy, John Podesta will continue to grow the momentum from Glasgow, Sharm el-Sheikh and Dubai.''

We've made historic progress these last three years and I know that, in his new role as @POTUS Biden's Senior Advisor for International Climate Policy, John Podesta will continue to grow the momentum from Glasgow, Sharm el-Sheikh, and Dubai.https://t.co/TCPRSlmgQK

'-- Special Presidential Envoy John Kerry (@ClimateEnvoy) January 31, 2024

UPI reports Podesta, who joined the Biden administration in September 2022, currently oversees Biden's Inflation Reduction Act, which has devoted billions of dollars to speed the nation's shift to clean energy, including wind and solar.

Before that, Podesta served as a top climate adviser to former President Barack Obama and was involved in negotiations that resulted in the Paris Climate accord.

Podesta chaired Hillary Clinton's 2016 presidential campaign and also served as White House chief of staff under former President Bill Clinton.

UPI contributed to this story

Follow Simon Kent on Twitter: Follow @SunSimonKent or e-mail to: skent@breitbart.com

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Thu, 01 Feb 2024 14:57

BEIRUT (AP) '-- The prospect of a full-scale war between Israel and Lebanon's Hezbollah militia terrifies people on both sides of the border, but some see it as an inevitable fallout from Israel's ongoing war against Hamas in Gaza.

Such a war could be the most destructive either side has ever experienced.

Israel and Hezbollah each have lessons from their last war, in 2006 , a monthlong conflict that ended in a draw. They've also had four months to prepare for another war, even as the United States tries to prevent a widening of the conflict.

Here's a look at each side's preparedness, how war might unfold and what's being done to prevent it.

WHAT HAPPENED IN 2006?The 2006 war, six years after Israeli forces withdrew from south Lebanon , erupted after Hezbollah captured two Israeli soldiers and killed several others in a cross-border raid.

Israel launched a full-scale air and ground offensive and imposed a blockade that aimed to free the hostages and destroy Hezbollah's military capabilities '-- a mission that ultimately failed.

Israeli bombing leveled large swaths of south Lebanon and Beirut's southern suburbs. Hezbollah fired thousands of unguided rockets into northern Israel communities.

The conflict killed some 1,200 Lebanese, mostly civilians, and 160 Israelis, mostly soldiers.

A United Nations resolution ending the war called for withdrawal of Israeli forces from Lebanon and a demilitarized zone on Lebanon's side of the border.

Despite the deployment of U.N. peacekeepers, Hezbollah continues to operate in the border area, while Lebanon says Israel regularly violates its airspace and continues to occupy pockets of Lebanese land.

HOW PROBABLE IS WAR?An Israel-Hezbollah war ''would be a total disaster,'' U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned last month, amid a flurry of shuttle diplomacy by the U.S. and Europe.

Iran-backed Hezbollah seemed caught off-guard by Hamas' Oct. 7 attack on Israel, a regional ally. Since then, Hezbollah and Israel have exchanged daily cross-border strikes, escalating gradually. Israel also carried out targeted killings of Hezbollah and Hamas figures in Lebanon.

Israeli soldiers fix tracks near the border with Lebanon, in northern Israel, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

More than 200 people, mostly Hezbollah fighters but also more than 20 civilians, have been killed on Lebanon's side, and 18 on Israel's.

Tens of thousands have been displaced on both sides. There are no immediate prospects for their return.

Israeli political and military leaders have warned Hezbollah that war is increasingly probable unless the militants withdraw from the border.

Hezbollah leader Hassan Nasrallah hasn't threatened to initiate war but warned of a fight ''without limits'' if Israel does. Hezbollah says it won't agree to a ceasefire on the Israel-Lebanon border before there's one in Gaza and has rebuffed a U.S. proposal to move its forces several kilometers (miles) back from the border, according to Lebanese officials.

Despite the rhetoric, neither side appears to want war, said Andrea Tenenti, spokesperson for the U.N. peacekeeping mission in south Lebanon. However, ''a miscalculation could potentially trigger a wider conflict that would be very difficult to control,'' he said.

HOW PREPARED ARE THEY?Both Hezbollah and the Israeli military have expanded capabilities since 2006 '-- yet both countries also are more fragile.

In Lebanon, four years of economic crisis have crippled public institutions, including its army and electrical grid, and eroded its health system. The country hosts more than 1 million Syrian refugees.

Lebanon adopted an emergency plan for a war scenario in late October. It projected the forcible displacement of 1 million Lebanese for 45 days.

About 87,000 Lebanese are displaced from the border area . While the government is relying on international organizations to fund the response, many groups working in Lebanon can't maintain existing programs.

The U.N. refugee agency has provided supplies to collective shelters and given emergency cash to some 400 families in south Lebanon, spokesperson Lisa Abou Khaled said. The agency doesn't have funds to support large numbers of displaced in the event of war, she said.

Medical personnel work in a department transferred to underground parking at Rambam Hospital in the northern Israeli city of Haifa, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

An Israeli soldier carries a howitzer shell near the border with Lebanon, in northern Israel, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Aid group Doctors Without Borders said it has stockpiled some 10 tons of medical supplies and backup fuel for hospital generators in areas most likely to be affected by a widening conflict, in anticipation of a blockade.

Israel is feeling economic and social strain from the war in Gaza, which is expected to cost over $50 billion, or about 10 percent of national economic activity through the end of 2024, according to the Bank of Israel. Costs would rise sharply if there's war with Lebanon.

''No one wants this war, or wishes it on anyone,'' said Tal Beeri of the Alma Research and Education Center, a think tank focusing on northern Israel security. But he said he believes an armed conflict between Israel and Hezbollah is inevitable, arguing that diplomatic solutions appear unlikely and would only allow Hezbollah's strategic threats to increase.

Israel has evacuated 60,000 residents from towns nearest the border, where there's no warning time for rocket launches because of the proximity of Hezbollah squads.

In a war, there would be no point in additional evacuations since the militia's rockets and missiles can reach all of Israel.

Spanish U.N. peacekeepers prepare for patrol in Abbassiyeh, a Lebanese border village with Israel, on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

After the Oct. 7 attack, the war in Gaza had broad domestic support , even if there's now a growing debate over its direction. Around half of Israelis would support war with Hezbollah as a last resort for restoring border security, according to recent polling by the think tank Israel Democracy Institute.

In Lebanon, some have criticized Hezbollah for exposing the country to another potentially devastating war. Others support the group's limited entry into the conflict and believe Hezbollah's arsenal will deter Israel from escalating.

HOW WOULD WAR PLAY OUT?A full-scale war would likely spread to multiple fronts, escalating the involvement of Iranian proxies in Syria, Iraq and Yemen '-- and perhaps even draw in Iran itself.

It could also drag the U.S., Israel's closest ally, deeper into the conflict. The U.S. already has dispatched additional warships to the region.

Hezbollah has 150,000 to 200,000 rockets and missiles of various ranges, said Orna Mizrahi of the Israeli think tank Institute for National Security Studies. This arsenal is at least five times larger than that of Hamas and far more accurate, she said.

The militia's guided projectiles could reach water, electricity or communications facilities, and densely populated residential areas.

Spanish U.N. peacekeepers stand on a hill overlooking the Lebanese border villages with Israel in Marjayoun town on Wednesday, Jan. 10, 2024. (AP Photo/Hussein Malla)

In Lebanon, airstrikes would likely wreak havoc on infrastructure and potentially kill thousands. Netanyahu has threatened to ''turn Beirut into Gaza,'' where Israel's air and ground incursion has caused widespread destruction and killed more than 26,000 people, according to Hamas-controlled Gaza's Health Ministry.

Israel is far more protected, with several air defense systems, including the Iron Dome, which intercepts rockets with a roughly 90% success rate . But it can get overwhelmed if a mass barrage of rockets is fired.

Some 40% of Israel's population live in newer homes with private safe rooms fortified with blast protection to withstand rocket attacks. Israel also has a network of bomb shelters, but a 2020 government report says about one-third of Israelis lack easy access to them.

An Israeli mobile howitzer gets into position near the border with Lebanon in northern Israel, Thursday, Jan. 11, 2024. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Lebanon has no such network, and shelters would be of little use against massive ''bunker buster'' bombs Israel has dropped in Gaza.

Hezbollah has limited air defenses, while those of the Lebanese army are outdated and insufficient because of budget shortfalls, said Dina Arakji, with the UK-based risk consultancy firm Control Risks.

The Lebanese army has remained on the sidelines over the past four months. In 2006, it entered fighting in a limited capacity, but it's unclear how it would react in the event of a new Israel-Hezbollah war.

___Lidman reported from Tel Aviv, Israel.

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Tue, 30 Jan 2024 19:54

Republican presidential candidate Nikki Haley called for the United States to conduct targeted strikes to ''take out'' Iranian leaders responsible for attacks against U.S. service members in the Middle East.

Haley in an interview Monday on Fox News outlined how she thinks President Biden should respond to the latest attack, which killed three U.S. troops, saying, ''This is not about hitting Iran hard. This is about hitting Iran smart.''

''He needs to go after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps, the IRGC, he needs to go after the leadership there, those that are making the decisions. That's what leaves them flat-footed,'' the former U.S. ambassador to the United Nations said on Fox News' ''America Reports.''

''They don't necessarily care if you take out all of their equipment and their weapons, they don't care if you take out any of the proxy fighters because they'll just add new ones to it. What they do care about is when you touch their money or you touch their leadership. That's what gets Iran's attention,'' Haley added.

President Biden has vowed to respond to the latest attack on U.S. troops, which killed three Army soldiers in Jordan over the weekend. The suicide drone attack was the latest escalation in the Middle East, where tension has been rising since the start of the Israel-Hamas war in October.

All three soldiers killed on Sunday served in the Army Reserve and were assigned to Fort Moore in Georgia. U.S. officials said they were killed after Iranian-back militia groups attacked Tower 22, a U.S. base in Jordan. Dozens more were injured in the attack, according to the Pentagon.

Biden praised the fallen U.S. troops in a statement Sunday, saying they ''embodied the very best of our nation'' and ''were patriots in the highest sense.''

As of Monday, Iranian-backed groups have targeted U.S. troops more than 160 times in Iraq, Syria and Jordan, and the Houthis '-- Iranian-backed rebels in Yemen '-- have launched more than 30 attacks on commercial vessels and U.S. naval ships in the Red Sea.

Haley, who is challenging former President Trump for the GOP nomination, outlined on Fox News a three-pronged approach for responding to Iran: strengthen sanctions, target production sites and take out decisionmakers.

''You've got to take away the money from Iran because that takes away the money from the proxies. That's the first thing they need to do,'' Haley said.

''The second thing they need to do is to go and take out any of the production sites that are allowing them to do this in Iraq and Syria that they're coming from. And then the third thing is you have to figure out which Iranian leaders are making the decisions and you take them out,'' she said.

Pressed on whether that would lead to an escalation in the region, Haley emphasized the need for a targeted strike while also focusing on money sources.

''Well, if you just randomly hit Iran, that would lead to dramatic escalation,'' she said. ''If you smartly hit Iran. That's when you go '... after their capabilities to hurt you further.''

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Tue, 30 Jan 2024 14:48

While the war rages in his home country, Kiev Mayor Vitali Klitschko has bought a luxury villa in Hamburg for several million euros. This report causes a lot of controversy in Ukraine.

The house is located in the affluent Hamburg-Othmarschen district. The value of the building: almost 5.5 million euros. The building has a total area of '‹'‹about 750 square meters, German media report. This angered many compatriots in the war-torn country: many social media users demanded that Klitschko donate his surplus money to the Ukrainian army.

''Debt repayment in non-monetary form'' Klitschko hasn't spent any money on the luxury real estate. The former world boxing champion received the property as a debt settlement from the company Maximum I LLC, which belonged to Klitschko's brother Wladimir until May 2023. Vitali Klitschko then took over the management company. The villa was then transferred as part of a ''debt repayment in non-monetary form''. Ukrainian media found out about this due to changes in ownership status in the local population register.

Villa is now owned by Klitschko's ex-wifeBut he could not enjoy his new property for long '' because the mayor transferred the property in Hamburg to his ex-wife Natalia Yegorowa shortly afterwards, according to the online medium ''Ukrainskaya Pravda''. In return, his ex-wife gave him a house in Lyutish, Ukraine '' a suburb of Kiev '' and a Land Rover Discovery 3.0.

The transactions were all legal, but still caused a stir. Some people criticized that ''Klitschko enriches himself while soldiers die at the front.'' The mayor himself has not yet commented on the matter.

Opening registration registers to fight corruptionAbout a month ago, access to the population register was opened to combat corruption in Ukraine. The proposal came from President Volodymyr Zelensky and parliament subsequently adopted amendments to the law on disclosure of information. This means that all citizens can track whether there have been any changes in asset status.

Source: Krone

I am Wallace Jones, an experienced journalist. I specialize in writing for the world section of Today Times Live. With over a decade of experience, I have developed an eye for detail when it comes to reporting on local and global stories. My passion lies in uncovering the truth through my investigative skills and creating thought-provoking content that resonates with readers worldwide.

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Tue, 30 Jan 2024 05:38

I've probably watched (actively and passively) on average, hours of YouTube every day for a decade. In all that time, RSS is exclusively how I've consumed those videos, aside from sometimes clicking on videos in the sidebar of the video I arrived at via RSS.If RSS goes away and no 3rd party is able to restore it, I really don't know what I'd do. I can't imagine stopping watching all of the channels I follow, but I also can't imagine using email or app notifications. Those vectors are simply unacceptable for the nature of this particular information stream.

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There are multiple ways to solve your case:- set up an account with email notifications and use something like KillTheNewsletter to deliver them via RSS- set up your own alternative YouTube frontend (or register for a public one like kavin.rocks) that supports RSS feeds. Things like Piped or Invidious support it iirc.- get an actual YouTube account and work with subscriptions. You support the channel you like with it and have everything in a handy overview.I am a big time RSS user but never took the time to move it all over there, been using the subscriptions page as my YouTube ''homepage'' for a decade now and it works for me.

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- KillTheNewsletterLooks like I'd have to make a YouTube account for every channel to get separate feeds, or else combine every channel into one big feed.

- subscriptions

Similarly, it looks like this is just one big list of videos from every channel, with only a handful fitting on screen at once, and they don't go away once I've watched/clicked on the video, so there's no concept of read/unread. It also means I would have yet another aggregation webpage I periodically visit, as opposed to having most of my information feed in two places (one tab for email and one tab for RSS).

- set up your own alternative

This is currently outside my skillset, but it may ultimately be the direction I go in (if the outage isn't just a bug). Thanks for these nouns - I can use them to get started.

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I'm pretty much in the same boat as you-- all my YouTube consumption has been thru my self-hosted RSS reader. I really like read/unread for all my "media" (blogs, YouTube, etc) in a single place.All those alternatives sound bad to me.

I suppose in the short term I will cobble something together w/ yt-dlp to download JSON from YouTube and ETL that into the tt-rss database. That'll work until Google decides it doesn't, too.

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I'm not sure how much programming experience you have, but I'd imagine it'd be a fairly quick Python script to scrape all of your subscriptions and put things together in RSS form. You could probably build a quick Flask app which serves the RSS feed from some custom query string representing a YouTube video id. With ChatGPT you could probably build this out in a day. reply

Both the OP's URL and the one linked by @xnx work for me, could it have been temporary? Or maybe a caching issue? (And my region's YouTube CDN servers aren't affected?) Could be Google are actually removing this but A/B testing it first? reply

I use Youtube's RSS feeds in one of my programs and this happens once every couple of months. They'll 404 or 503 for half a day and then come back.Not looking forward to the day they don't come back, of course!

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Confirmed working for me again, too. My feed reader is updating again.I think I'm still going to look at building a yt-dlp/JSON to RSS alternative, though. I don't trust that this isn't foreshadowing and not a bug.

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RSS feeds are resolving for me again, and the embedded YouTube crash I mentioned in this thread seems to have simultaneously stopped. Hopefully whatever this was has been reverted. reply

That's a bummer if true and not a temporary issue. The RSS is my workflow for creating a newsletter and if RSS does not work then I'm way less likely to include any yt content because I simply won't come across this. It's not like Google would care about this either. reply

I hope this is a bug and gets fixed.The site never worked for me. "Watch later" a list of dead videos of which I can't even find out the names.Since I found the feeds I use only RSS with Feedbro.Well.. I will properly save a lot of time not watching youtube anymore. reply

I clicked on one of the ones I follow and it showed a 500 error, then after refreshing it showed a 404 error, so hopefully temporary, but this being Google, these feeds were clearly going to disappear one day. reply

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Tue, 30 Jan 2024 05:01

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Mon, 29 Jan 2024 22:32

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net.

An urgent appeal has been relayed to ministers across the European Union by a consortium of tech companies, exacting a grave warning against backing a proposed regulation focusing on child sexual abuse as a pretense to jeopardize the security integrity of internet services relying on end-to-end encryption and end privacy for all citizens.

A total of 18 organizations '' predominantly comprising providers of encrypted email and messaging services '' have voiced concerns about the potential experimental regulation by the European Commission (EC), singling out the ''detrimental'' effects on children's privacy and security and the possible dire repercussions for cyber security.

Made public on January 22, 2024, this shared open letter argues that the EC's draft provision known as ''Chat Control,'' mandating the comprehensive scanning of encrypted communications, may create cyber vulnerabilities that expose citizens and businesses to increased risk. Further inflating the issue, the letter also addresses a stalemate amongst member states, the EC, and the European Parliament, who haven't yet reconciled differing views on the proportionality and feasibility of the EC's mass-scanning strategy in addressing child safety concerns.

Among the signatories are Proton, an encrypted email service from Switzerland; Tuta Mail and NextCloud, specializing in email and cloud storage respectively; as well as Element, a provider of encrypted communications and collaboration services. Together, they implore EU leaders to consider a more balanced version of the mandate, as suggested by the European Parliament, which experts argue to be more potent and efficient than mass scanning of encrypted services.

The proposed version of the regulation by the EC pushes tech companies to inject ''backdoors'' or leverage ''client-side scanning'', to scrutinize the content of all encrypted communications for evidence of child sexual abuse. However, these companies are forceful in their conviction that despite its purpose to combat cybercrime, the mechanism could be swiftly utilized by offenders, ''compromising security for everyone.''

The application of client-side scanning '' juxtaposing ''hash values'' of encrypted messages with a ''hash value'' database of unlawful content residing on personal devices '' has met stiff critique from the security community.

In defiance of the EU's strong standpoint towards data protection, which paved the way for ethical, privacy-centric tech companies to flourish in the European market, these tech firms believe the EC's proposal could contradict other EU regulations like the Cyber Resilience Act (CSA) and the Cybersecurity Act, which encourage the application of end-to-end encryption to counter cyber risks.

The tech firms propose alternatives to mandatory scanning they believe are more effective and prioritize data protection and security. They argue an approach aligned with the European Parliament's proposals provides a robust framework for child protection. Moreover, they discuss the danger of such scanning technology being potentially misused by oppressive regimes to squash political dissidents.

They conclude that while they are not solely resistant to solutions, they stress the importance of devising strategies closely aligned to the European Parliament's proposals. In a statment to Reclaim The Net Matthias Pfau, founder of Tuta, adds that such legislation ''to scan every chat message and every email would create a backdoor '' one that could and will be abused by criminals.''

If you're tired of censorship and dystopian threats against civil liberties, subscribe to Reclaim The Net.

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Mon, 29 Jan 2024 21:23

The new CEO for National Public Radio (NPR) has become instant news over social media postings that she deleted before the recent announcement of her selection. Katherine Maher is the former CEO of Wikipedia and sought to remove controversial postings on subjects ranging from looters to Trump.

Shannon Thaler at the New York Post reassembled Maher's deleted postings including a 2018 declaration that ''Donald Trump is a racist'' and a variety of race-based commentary. That included a statement that appeared to excuse looting:

She is also quoted for saying that ''white silence is complicity.'' She has described her own ''hysteric white woman voice.'' She further stated: ''I was taught to do it. I've done it. It's a disturbing recognition. While I don't recall ever using it to deliberately expose another person to immediate physical harm on my own cognizance, it's not impossible. That is whiteness.''

She further stated ''I grew up feeling superior (hah, how white of me) because I was from New England and my part of the country didn't have slaves, or so I'd been taught.''

The concern is that Maher will further the advocacy journalism at NPR in framing the news to advance social and political agendas. NPR employees have already objected to efforts to maintain a neutral tone in reporting and declared ''civility is a weapon wielded by the powerful.'' The most interesting question is how NPR will implement its controversial policy on allowing journalists to join in protests.

NPR declared that it would allow employees to participate in political protests when the editors believe the causes advance the ''freedom and dignity of human beings.''

The rule itself shows how impressionistic and unprofessional media has become in the woke era. NPR does not try to define what causes constitute advocacy for the ''freedom and dignity of human beings.'' How about climate change and environmental protection? Would it be prohibited to protest for a forest but okay if it is framed as ''environmental justice''?

NPR seems to intentionally keep such questions vague while only citing such good causes as Black Lives Matter and gay rights:

''Is it OK to march in a demonstration and say, 'Black lives matter'? What about a Pride parade? In theory, the answer today is, ''Yes.'' But in practice, NPR journalists will have to discuss specific decisions with their bosses, who in turn will have to ask a lot of questions.''

So the editors will have the power to choose between acceptable and unacceptable causes.

Maher will now play a role in determining what causes advance ''human dignity'' that justifies reporters crossing the line to join the protests. Given her own past advocacy, NPR may have found the perfect adjudicator for advocacy journalists.

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Mon, 29 Jan 2024 21:22

The $130 billion sent to Ukraine so far for its war against Russia is apparently not actually going to Ukraine, but is really ''benefiting American interests,'' a spokesperson for Ukraine told Breitbart News.

The shock claim was in response to a request for information by Breitbart News on whether or not any American tax dollars had gone specifically to Uman, a city in the war-torn Eastern European nation that is currently seeing a condo built on a Jewish mass grave, as previously reported, in violation of a bilateral agreement with the U.S., and in violation of international law.

RELATED VIDEO '-- Van Hollen: Tying Border Security Biden ''Pushed for, for a Long Time'' to Ukraine Aid Will Jeopardize Timely Ukraine Aid:

Breitbart reported on January 10 that a city in Ukraine is proceeding with building a condo on a Jewish mass grave, despite three letters from members of Congress from both parties to the Ukrainian government demanding the cemetery be protected.

Replying to an inquiry about whether or not U.S. dollars are going to the city where this is taking place, a spokesperson for the Ukrainian Embassy told Breitbart that ''funds authorized by American lawmakers to support Ukraine's armament are not directly allocated to Ukraine'' '-- after claiming the Ukrainian Embassy ''did not receive'' a request sent by Breitbart News eight months ago for information on the construction project, which requires desecrating the remains of victims of the 1768 Haidamacks massacre.

The spokesperson explained that, instead, a ''significant portion'' of the billions of dollars to Ukraine is ''utilized in the United States for the construction of new weapons or to replenish those dispatched to Kyiv from U.S. reserves,'' adding that ''an analysis'' (not specifically cited) found that ''nearly 90 percent'' of aid granted by Congress ''is benefiting American interests.'' The email continues, ''The allocation of funds doesn't imply immediate expenditure.''

''American interests'' in this context presumably means weapons manufacturers.

WATCH: Demonstration of the Devastating Cluster Bombs Biden Is Sending to Ukraine:

Nellis Air Force Base via Storyful

The Associated Press reported Sunday that employees from a Ukrainian arms firm ''conspired with defense ministry officials to embezzle almost $40 million'' allocated for weapons purchases.

The news comes months after the New York Times reported on the sacking of Ukraine's minister of defense due to ''graft'' and ''financial mismanagement'' in the department, amid an avalanche of cash coming from the United States to fund the beleaguered war effort, and as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky asks for more.

The Times report said some prepayments for weapons had ''vanished'' in the bank accounts of weapons dealers, among ''about $980 million in weapons contracts'' that ''missed their delivery dates,'' in 2023.

As Breitbart previously reported, in October 2021 a letter was sent to Zelensky personally by Reps. Gregory Meeks (D-NY) and Jerry Nadler (D-NY), expressing ''concern'' about ''desecration'' of a Jewish cemetery in Uman, ''in violation of existing cultural heritage protection agreements,'' emphasizing that ''[the] cemetery and other important historical and culturally significant sites are provided with legal protection under the 1994 bilateral agreement between the United States and Ukraine on Protecting and Preserving Cultural Heritage.''

WATCH '-- It's a Shakedown! Biden, Zelensky Demand More Ukraine Money from Americans:

The White House / YouTube

Later that same month, another letter addressed to Zelensky personally was sent by Reps. Ritchie Torres (D-NY), Marcy Kaptur (D-OH), Susan Wild (D-PA), Mike Quigley (D-IL), Doug Lamborn (R-CO), and Brian Fitzpatrick (R-PA), raising alarm about the cemetery's ''destruction'' and ''desecration,'' again reiterating that the action is in ''violation of the 1994 bilateral agreement between the U.S. and Ukraine on 'Protecting and Preserving Cultural Heritage,''' and President Obama's ''Protect Cemeteries Act of 2014,'' ensuring that the ''International Religious Freedom Act of 1998 accounts for the desecration of cemeteries as 'an assault on the fundamental right to freedom of religious,' '... 'especially egregious when'... tolerated by the local or national governments in the countries in which such offenses occur.'''

The next year, in September 2022, a letter signed by 23 members of Congress was sent to Ukrainian Minister of Foreign Affairs Dmytro Kuleba to raise the issue of ''several illegal construction projects '... continuing unabated within the protected zones of the burial place of Tzadik Nachman of Breslov '... despite stop work orders.'' The letter stated the lawmakers ''look forward to hearing from you on steps to stop the illegal construction in Uman.''

However, according to photos obtained by Breitbart of the project location this month, construction of the condo is moving forward, using ''Doosan'' equipment from South Korea.

When reached for comment, the Ukrainian Embassy insisted this was a ''city council'' issue, despite the bilateral agreement regarding the preservation of cemeteries signed by the Ukrainian president and the 3 letters from U.S. Congress addressed to the president and foreign affairs minister.

The annual Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI), published by non-profit Transparency International, scored Ukraine 33 out of 100 in 2022, which put the country near the bottom third of 180 countries scored.

The Biden administration is now seeking an additional $64 billion for Ukraine aid '-- or, ''American interests'' '-- but is facing resistance from Congress.

Emma-Jo Morris is the Politics Editor at Breitbart News. Email her at ejmorris@breitbart.com or follow her on Twitter.

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Mon, 29 Jan 2024 19:19

The North Carolina State Health Plan will phase out coverage of existing prescriptions for popular weight-loss drugs, including Wegovy, as of April 1.

That was the 4-3 decision of the plan's governing board at its quarterly meeting Thursday.

The State Health Plan covers more than 700,000 state employees, retirees and their family members. Over the past year, Wegovy became the drug it spends the most on '-- about 10 cents on every dollar it pays for prescriptions.

Demand for weight-loss drugs, also called GLP-1 drugs, has surged in recent years due in part to a surge in advertising and celebrity testimonials.

The state health plan covered 5,000 prescriptions for the drugs at the beginning of 2023. By the end of the year, that number had quintupled, and plan administrator Sam Watts said the exponential growth in usage was predicted to continue in 2024 unless the plan took steps to limit it.

The board voted in October to drop coverage for new prescriptions of Wegovy, Saxenda and Zepbound starting this year, but to continue to cover prescriptions written before Jan .1. Nearly 25,000 members were allowed to keep coverage.

But the decision to cut coverage for future prescriptions caused the state to lose a 40% rebate offered by Wegovy and Saxenda's manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, through its contract with the plan's pharmacy benefits manager, CVS/Caremark. That contract says the plan is ineligible for the rebate if it limits utilization in any way.

The loss of the rebate means that, instead of paying $85 million for the grandfathered prescriptions, the state health plan would have to pay full price '-- $139 million '-- in 2024. That's a difference of $54 million.

''But that is less than the $170 million that we would have spent otherwise'' if they continued to cover new prescriptions, state health plan administrator Sam Watts said.

Watts predicted that cost would have necessitated a hefty monthly surcharge of about $48.50 on every plan member, whether they used the drugs or not.

During the public comment period, one state employee asked the board not to phase out coverage. Maghae Ray said she has two chronic conditions that will become worse if she gains weight, and Wegovy is the only thing that's worked to help her keep it off.

Watts blames Novo Nordisk. He said they had tried to negotiate to limit coverage only to those who needed it most, or tighten requirements for prior authorization of the drugs, but Novo Nordisk refused to allow the plan to keep its rebate if it imposes any limitations.

With the rebate, the state was paying $800 for a month of Wegovy. Without the rebate, it costs $1,350.

''We either have to cover it for everyone with no restrictions or we simply cannot afford it,'' Watts said.

Board member Wayne Fish likened it to extortion. "'If you won't do this, we won't give you the rebate for your existing prescriptions,'" he said. "That's like getting held up at gunpoint in a back alleyway."

"These are hard decisions," Fish added. "I've never liked the idea of cutting someone off cold turkey, but again, if we don't do something, where will this plan be in a couple of years?"

The state health plan is one of Novo Nordisk's larger North American customers. The company on Thursday said politics and bureaucracy shouldn't get in the way of helath care.

''Denying patients insurance coverage for important and effective FDA approved treatments for obesity is irresponsible," a Novo Nordisk spokeswoman said in an emailed statement. "... We support access to appropriate treatments for chronic diseases '-- as determined by the patient and their doctor. We do not support insurers or bureaucrats inserting their judgment in these medically driven decisions, which can have a detrimental impact on the health and wellness of patients.

"We urge Treasurer Dale R. Folwell and the [North Carolina State Health Plan] to reconsider this decision and put patients first."

Board member Pete Robie pointed out that the cost of Wegovy in the U.S. is nearly four times its cost in Europe. "What are we really paying for?" Robie said. "Stock options? Dividends?"

"I agree that what Novo Nordisk is doing and what CVS/Caremark is doing is unconscionable," said board member Melanie Bush, "but I don't feel like state employees should have to pay the price."

Bush argued that the plan should maintain coverage of the existing prescriptions while negotiations continue. "This is a life-saving drug, and we're talking about denying it."

Board member Rusty Dukes moved to end all coverage April 1, even previously covered prescriptions. "This will let [Novo Nordisk] know we're serious," Duke said. "Has anything changed since October? Nothing."

Board members agreed the vote could be reconsidered if Novo Nordisk and CVS/Caremark come to a compromise.

Caremark spokesman Phil Blando said CVS Caremark's main priority was negotiating the lowest cost for weight-loss drugs, based on the State Health Plan's coverage choices.

"Our negotiations with the drug manufacturers, including Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, have been underway for several months," he said in the statement. "Drug manufacturers need to stop dragging their feet and agree to offer their medicines at a fair price to North Carolina's public servants."

Blando said he believes drug manufacturers can chose to lower the cost of weight-loss drugs and offer relief to the state health plan .

"We pass through 100% of any rebates the manufacturer offers to the North Carolina State Health Plan," Blando said. "Our clients receive manufacturer rebates when coverage for a drug meets certain terms and conditions, including inclusion on the formulary.

"If the terms and conditions are not met, CVS Caremark is not able to collect a rebate for its client,'' he said.

Watts said negotiations with Novo Nordisk and the pharmacy benefit manager continue.

"We have seen movement, but not enough movement to say, 'Yes we have a solution,'" he said.

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Mon, 29 Jan 2024 19:09

Carolina Shiino has lived in Japan since she was five, but her crowning triggered a debate over whether she should represent Japan

Author of the article:

The Associated Press

Mari Yamaguchi

Published Jan 26, 2024 ' Last updated 3 days ago ' 2 minute read

Contestants including Carolina Shiino, who won the Miss Nippon Grand Prix, centre, pose for a photo after the contest in Tokyo, Monday, Jan. 22, 2024. Photo by Kazuya Furaku / THE ASSOCIATED PRESSCrowned Miss Japan this week, Ukrainian-born Carolina Shiino cried with joy, thankful for the recognition of her identity as Japanese. But her Caucasian look rekindled an old question in a country where many people value homogeneity and conformity: What does it mean to be Japanese?

Shiino has lived in Japan since moving here at age 5 and became a naturalized citizen in 2022. Now 26, she works as a model and says she has as strong a sense of Japanese identity as anyone else, despite her non-Japanese look.

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''It really is like a dream,'' Shiino said in fluent Japanese in her tearful acceptance speech Monday. ''I've faced a racial barrier. Even though I'm Japanese, there have been times when I was not accepted. I'm full of gratitude today that I have been accepted as Japanese.''

''I hope to contribute to building a society that respects diversity and is not judgmental about how people look,'' Shiino said.

But her crowning triggered a debate over whether she should represent Japan.

Some people said on social media that it was wrong to pick a Miss Japan who doesn't have even a drop of Japanese blood even if she grew up in Japan. Others said there was no problem with Shiino's crowning because her Japanese citizenship makes her Japanese.

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But tolerance of diversity has lagged.

Chiaki Horan, a biracial television personality, said on a news program Thursday that she was born in Japan and has Japanese nationality, yet has often faced questions of whether she is really Japanese or why she is commenting on Japan.

''I've learned that there are some people who require purity of blood as part of Japanese-ness,'' she said. ''I wonder if there is a lack of an understanding that there may be people of diverse roots from different places if you just go back a few generations.''

Shiino is only the latest to face the repercussions of questions over what constitutes Japanese.

Ariana Miyamoto, a native of Nagasaki who has a Japanese mother and an African American father, also faced fierce criticism when she was chosen to represent Japan in the Miss Universe pageant in 2015.

When tennis star Naomi Osaka lit the Olympic cauldron at the opening ceremony of the Tokyo Games in 2021, she was lashed by nationalists on social media for not being ''pure Japanese,'' though she was also warmly welcomed by many.

Growing up, Shiino said she had difficulty because of the gap between how she is treated because of her foreign appearance and her self-identity as Japanese. But she said working as a model has given her confidence. ''I may look different, but I have unwavering confidence that I am Japanese,'' she said.

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AP video journalist Ayaka McGill contributed to this report.

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Mon, 29 Jan 2024 18:58

The US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has prohibited Outlogic, the massive US data broker formerly known as X-Mode Social, from selling or sharing sensitive information that can be used to track people's locations as part of the regulator's first data tracking settlement. The settlement is intended to resolve accusations made by the FTC that Outlogic ''did not implement reasonable or appropriate safeguards'' to prevent the location information it sold from being mishandled by third parties and potentially endangering consumers.

According to the FTC, the data associated with mobile advertising that Outlogic sold to hundreds of clients wasn't anonymized and was capable of tracking specific individuals to sensitive locations like domestic abuse shelters, places of worship, and reproductive health clinics. For at least one of its contracts, the FTC said that Outlogic sold information about consumers who had visited specific medical facilities and pharmacies within a certain region of Columbus, Ohio to an unnamed private clinical research company.

In its complaint, the regulator claimed that Outlogic had violated consumer privacy by failing to implement policies for removing sensitive location information from the raw location data it sold until ''at least May 2023.'' Outlogic gathered detailed location data by purchasing it from other brokers, collecting it with its own Drunk Mode and Walk Against Humanity apps, and relying on third-party apps that integrated its location tracking software. The FTC criticized the company for allegedly failing to fully inform customers regarding how the location data it was collecting would be used and to honor requests from Android users to not be tracked.

Under the settlement, Outlogic is additionally required to delete or otherwise destroy all the location data it unlawfully collected from mobile apps, alongside any products produced from it '-- unless the broker renders the data non-sensitive or obtains consent from customers. The decision marks the first time that a settlement has been struck between the commission and a data broker regarding misuse of individual users' geolocation data, but experts believe more still needs to be done.

''While the FTC's action is encouraging, the agency should not have to play data broker whack-a-mole''

In September 2020, Oregon Senator Ron Wyden discovered that Outlogic (then X-Mode Social) had sold location data to US military contractors, prompting Google and Apple to ban the broker's tracking software from their app stores. ''I commend the FTC for taking tough action to hold this shady location data broker responsible for its sale of Americans' location data,'' Wyden said in a statement responding to the settlement. ''While the FTC's action is encouraging, the agency should not have to play data broker whack-a-mole. Congress needs to pass tough privacy legislation to protect Americans' personal information and prevent government agencies from going around the courts by buying our data from data brokers.''

Cody Venzke, senior policy counsel at ACLU, echoed similar sentiments. ''This settlement underscores that tech companies can and must honor our right to privacy and shines a light on why it's essential for Congress to pass meaningful privacy legislation. We deserve to know who is collecting our information and how they are using it, and we need effective tools to stop companies from using our data against our wishes '-- or using it to harm us.''

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Mon, 29 Jan 2024 17:25

Authored by Tom Ozimek via The Epoch Times (emphasis ours),

A recently disclosed report by an alliance of retired and active duty FBI agents and analysts claims a concerning decline in FBI recruitment standards due to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) priorities, posing a potential threat to national security.

FBI Director Christopher Wray looks over notes as he arrives for a hearing on Capitol Hill in Washington, on May 10, 2023. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images)The report, handed over to the House Judiciary Committee, alleges that these DEI requirements have compromised standards in areas such as physical fitness, drug use, financial and personal integrity, mental health, and work experience.

The alliance, which includes senior former executives and agents from counterintelligence and counterterrorism branches, alleges that the FBI's recruitment focus has shifted from selecting the ''best and brightest'' to emphasizing candidates based on race, gender, and sexual orientation.

The report cites instances of new agents failing to meet even relaxed fitness standards, displaying literacy issues requiring remedial English lessons, showing reluctance to work overtime, and even having serious disabilities or mental health concerns.

The authors, who indicated in the report they chose to remain anonymous owing to fear of reprisal, express concern that the current trajectory of FBI special agent recruitment, primarily driven by DEI measures, may significantly impede homeland security efforts.

The report suggests a series of corrective actions, including performing a 90-day audit of FBI recruitment practices, legislation to strengthen the oath of office for FBI special agents, and congressional testimony by FBI Director Christopher Wray to address potential concealment of deficiencies or misinformation by subordinates.

''These findings are alarming, require immediate action, and corrective measures must begin without delay,'' the report's authors wrote.

An FBI spokesperson strongly refuted claims that their standards in selection and hiring have been compromised.

''The FBI continues to maintain the very highest standards in selection and hiring,'' the spokesperson told The Epoch Times in an emailed statement. ''Any notion that standards have been lowered is both inaccurate and an affront to the talented and patriotic men and women who dedicate their lives to serving others.''

''Random and anonymous allegations devoid of any supporting data or other evidence cannot change the facts: the FBI continues to recruit the best and brightest candidates from all walks of life, and year over year only a small percentage of applicants ultimately make it through our difficult process to become a special agent,'' the spokesperson continued, adding that ''the suggestion that we are lowering standards to increase diversity is both offensive and not true.''

Neither the the House Oversight Committee nor the Judiciary Committee replied to a request for comment. However, a spokesperson for House Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan told the New York Post'--which broke the story'--that the committee has received the report and is reviewing it.

The House Judiciary Committee account on X shared the New York Post's story, which cites the spokesperson, giving further confirmation that the committee is looking into the matter.

'Bread Crumbs'The report's authors note that the sources and sub-sources on which the findings are based are either currently employed by the FBI or are retired.

All have been given code names such as SIERRA 51, said to be a 20-plus year veteran of the FBI, which a sub-source (identified as ROMEO PAPA 14) has known for 10 years and knows them to be ''honest and trustworthy'' with a ''great, unblemished'' reputation at the agency.

Many of the sources and sub-sources had direct access to and firsthand knowledge of the information they provided, according to the report's authors.

The current and former agents and analysts say that an increasing number of lower-quality candidates, which one source described as ''bread crumbs'' because they were rejected from other law enforcement agencies, have been submitting applications to become FBI agents.

''And the FBI is selecting these candidates to become FBI Special Agents because they satisfy the FBI's priority to meet Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) mandates,'' they wrote.

These ''bread crumbs'' candidates are being selected instead of more qualified candidates based on DEI priorities.

Not only that but assessors who are responsible for evaluating candidates for agents are also themselves being selected based on DEI criteria rather than competence.

Even worse, when some FBI Special Agent applicant coordinators at the agency's field offices tried to intervene to block the applications of unqualified candidates, they were reportedly overruled by headquarters.

In one case described in the report, SIERRA 72 disqualified a black female candidate for being more than 50 pounds overweight and unable to pass the agency's physical requirement test. The candidate even reportedly told the evaluating agent that she ''hates working out and was never active.'' But despite the agent's attempt to disqualify the candidate, headquarters reportedly ordered them to continue with the application process.

The current and former agents and analysts say that the DEI policies affecting the FBI's hiring practices mean that the ''law enforcement and intelligence capabilities of the FBI are degrading.''

The FBI spokesperson pushed back on these claims in a statement to The Epoch Times.

''Our agents continue to meet the highest standards of personal and professional conduct and rigorous physical fitness requirements,'' the spokesperson said, while providing some recruitment statistics that suggest hiring practices have, at least in some regards, remained constant.

''The average age of new agents has remained steady at about 31 years old, which means they bring a wealth of experience and well-developed skills to the Bureau,'' the spokesperson said.

''The number of agents with prior military and law enforcement experience has remained steady at around 20-30 percent of each new class, while the number of new agents with advanced degrees has swelled to nearly 40 percent of each new agent class,'' the spokesperson added.

'Liberal and Racial Bias'Despite Mr. Wray's previous claims of soaring recruitment numbers, the report contends that Special Agent hiring has, in fact, decreased, while retirements have increased.

One of the authors who spoke to the New York Post attributed this decline to a diminished public trust in the FBI following controversies during the Trump era, attracting recruits more interested in being ''agents of social change'' than in protecting the country.

A source cited in the report (SIERRA 23) notes that not only is today's FBI ''concerned more about diversity over competence,'' the agency has also been infected with a liberal and racial bias.

''SIERRA 23 believes that if you are conservative and/or white male or female, the FBI will treat you harshly for the same offense committed by a minority, gay, or transsexual employee,'' the report states.

FBI field agents who want to investigate ''self-generated cases'' often face hurdles in the form of being forced to pursue ''politically driven cases such as January 6th and anti-abortion protestors,'' per the source.

SIERRA 23 also said that FBI headquarters seems to be driving more investigations than field offices, which are ''investigating legitimate crimes and threats impacting its regions.''

Another source, SIERRA 17, said that the reason the FBI is lowering its standards ''to attract a larger pool of candidates with more politically 'left of center' views'' and these candidates are only employable thanks to reduced standards in terms of physical, academic, or professional accomplishment.

The FBI is the latest federal entity to face criticism for DEI priorities in hiring.

'Woke Warfighters'Last year, the Department of Defense (DoD) sparked criticism for a program that pushed diversity in the military as a ''strategic imperative.''

''Diversity is a strategic imperative critical to mission readiness and accomplishment. We were on site for the 2023 inaugural @DoD_ODEI Summit as DEIA experts led forums to advance the DEIA and DoD mission'--because our people matter,'' the DoD said in a post on X on Feb. 18, 2023. (ODEI refers to the Office of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, while DEIA refers to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility.)

The DoD's promotion of DEI attracted criticism, both online and off.

''Your strategic imperative is defending the United States,'' Tesla CEO Elon Musk replied to the DoD post.

Some lawmakers also shared critical takes.

''As Chairman of the Military Personnel Subcommittee, ensuring our military is focused on lethality and readiness, NOT wokeness and DEI, is my top priority,'' Rep. Jim Banks (R-Ind.) said in a post on X replying to the DoD's message.

Congressional Republicans flagged the Pentagon's DEI push as a major vulnerability. A GOP report from November 2022 called ''Woke Warfighters'' blamed the Biden administration for ''weakening warfighters through a sustained assault fuelled by woke virtue signaling.''

The report cited a number of DEI measures in the military, including critical race theory (CRT) being taught at military academies or plans to implement DEI into the training curriculum for U.S. Special Forces.

''The only goal of our Special Forces should be effectiveness,'' the report states. ''Every other consideration must be subordinate to and in service of that end.''

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1. Donanemab and Alzheimer's diseaseWhat is donanemab?Donanemab is the most recent of the immunotherapy drugs to make headlines with the release of the full results from the large final stage trial (called TRAILBLAZER-ALZ2). The trial included 1,182 people who have amyloid in their brains and symptoms of memory and thinking problems.

Donanemab was developed by the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and is given to patients by an intravenous drip, which uses a liquid medicine in a bag and enters a person's bloodstream through a canula

What's the latest development with donanemab?The first results showed that donanemab successfully leads to the removal of amyloid from the brain and can slow down quickly memory and thinking skills get worse.

In July, the full results of the trial were released at the Alzheimer's Association International Conference 2023, in Amsterdam.

Now we have heard that donanemab worked better the earlier it is given.

Donanemab slowed how fast memory and thinking get worse by more than 20%. The evidence from the trial suggests that the earlier in the disease the treatment was given, the greater the benefit. This means that there was more slowing in memory and thinking decline in people with fewer changes in their brains associated with Alzheimer's disease.

Promisingly, the trial also showed a 40% slowing in decline of everyday activities such as driving, doing hobbies and managing finances.

Following the positive results, the company that makes donanemab are likely to apply to the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) for the approval of donanemab in the UK. If approved it will then be reviewed by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE). Donanemab would need to be approved by both the MHRA and NICE before becoming available in the UK through the NHS.

Several other trials are being conducted with donanemab. A trial called TRAILBLAZER-ALZ 3 is exploring whether donanemab treatment can delay or prevent the development of Alzheimer's disease. Another trial called TRAILBLAZER-ALZ4 has compared donanemab treatment to that of another anti-amyloid drug called aducanumab, which is currently only approved for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease in the United States.

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AUSTIN (Nexstar) '' As a group of unaccompanied minors turned themselves in to federal authorities near the border wall in McAllen, U.S. Border Patrol agent Chris Cabrera sighed in frustration. He grows weary seeing yet another set of migrant children making the dangerous journey on their own.

''We've pulled bodies out of the river. Young kids, men, women, and children,'' Cabrera said. ''It's terrible to see. But we see it all too much. And it's becoming a normal thing. People putting themselves and their kids' lives at risk should not be a normal thing.''

Cabrera has been a border patrol agent for 22 years and currently serves as the vice president of the National Border Patrol Council. Giving a tour to reporters on behalf of the union, Cabrera told Nexstar that his job has never been more challenging than it is today.

''We care about what goes on,'' he said. ''The reason we're so adamant that it needs to stop is the amount of suffering that we see.''

Over the course of two days, Cabrera showed reporters spots where U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agents catch smugglers helping people enter the country illegally via holes in fences or gaps in the border wall.

At the site of the wall, a pile of 20-foot makeshift and metal ladders sat by a dumpster on the Texas side. Cabrera said at one point in time their federal office was filled to the brim with ladders agents would find and remove from the wall.

Makeshift wooden ladders sit outside a dumpster steps away from the border wall in McAllen, Texas. Chris Cabrera with the National Border Patrol Council said agents regularly find 20-foot ladders on the Mexico side of the border, where some migrants will try to climb the barrier. (Nexstar Photo/Monica Madden)Along with the four unaccompanied minors, 18 other migrants turned themselves in to CBP agents around 11 p.m. on January 19. The youngest among the group was with its parents, a baby around 16 months old. The entire group loaded a bus to presumably go to one of the federal processing centers.

''People know that if they come in, they say a few magic keywords, that we're going to release them into the country with a court date five years away, and nobody's really going to look for if they don't show up,'' Cabrera said. ''It's easier to get into this country illegally than it is to get in here legally. So, of course, they're gonna take advantage of that.''

Cabrera has several ideas for policy changes that he thinks will improve the situation: he wants the end of so-called ''catch and release,'' where asylum-seekers are processed and then released into the country while they wait oftentimes years for a court date. He also thinks the requirements for seeking asylum should be higher, as Cabrera says just about everyone he encounters claims to be seeking asylum.

Nexstar went to the border to follow a group of bipartisan Texas delegates who toured the border on before heading to Mexico City to meet with Mexican officials.

The congressional delegation was led by House Foreign Affairs Chair Michael McCaul, R-Austin. He was joined by three other Texas delegates: Reps. Randy Weber, R-Friendswood; Monica De La Cruz, R-Edinburg; and Henry Cuellar, D-Laredo.

On Jan. 21, the group set off to Mexico City to meet with Mexican President Andr(C)s Manuel L"pez Obrador and his political challengers. There, they were scheduled to tour a fentanyl crime lab, and with the goal of reaching agreements with Mexican officials as to how to stop the flow of illegal drugs into the United States, as well as curb the number of migrants crossing illegally.

''We are witnessing a human tragedy at this border,'' McCaul told reporters after the lawmakers went on a boat tour in the Rio Grande River with Texas law enforcement officials.

''We're gonna work very hard in the next month to get as strong border security measures as we can on the emergency supplemental that will be tied to Ukraine and Israel funding and also to protect Taiwan from an aggressive China,'' he said.

Immigration legislation has been, historically, a Herculean task for Congress '-- let alone in a session that has been marred by chaos. But the delegates remained hopeful that their showing of bipartisanship would be a signal to their colleagues that agreement and compromise are possible.

Although McCaul doesn't entirely agree that aid to the nation's international allies should be held hostage at a time of global conflict, he does think it gives the GOP leverage at the moment. Last week, McCaul and other top leaders met with President Joe Biden to discuss the stalemate on foreign aid and border security.

''Ukraine is very important to [President Biden]. So is Israel funding; that's very important to me, as is funding to protect Taiwan and the Pacific from an aggressive China,'' McCaul told Nexstar. ''They're all critically important. But we have the best leverage now to get something meaningful done. And that's our goal.''

Like many of her Republican colleagues, De La Cruz is challenging the Senate to either adopt House Resolution 2 (HR 2), a border deal that the House passed last May, or to propose an alternative solution that would still appease the GOP. But when asked what she would compromise on, the freshman Republican seemed unwilling to fold on the four main pillars of Republicans' border package, saying she likes HR 2 ''as it is.''

Although Democrats like Cuellar voted against the proposal in the House, he agreed with certain Republican-led proposals, like toughening the process for claiming asylum. However, the likelihood of the Senate accepting the House border deal at face value is unlikely.

''HR 2 is not gonna pass in the Senate. The Senate bill, if it's done bipartisan, will have a chance '... I think a compromise, depending on what the Senate does, could have a possibility on the House,'' Cuellar said.

'The silent issue': Texas' water problem and the path to solutionsAfter a week of rain that brought floods to parts of Central and East Texas, it can be easy to forget Texas has a serious water problem. As hundreds of thousands of new Texans flow into the state every year, state leaders warn the ''Texas miracle'' is only sustainable as long as the water keeps flowing.

Texas's population is expected to gain over 22 million people by 2070, according to the 2022 Texas State Water Plan. Over the same period, the water supply is projected to decrease by 18%.

The National Wildlife Federation found Texas loses 572,000 acre-feet of water per year '-- enough to fill almost 240 AT&T Stadiums and supply Austin, Fort Worth, El Paso, Laredo, and Lubbock combined for an entire year. As Texas regularly faces drought periods, some lawmakers are urging the state to proactively protect the most valuable resource.

''It's the silent issue, with the least urgency, with the biggest impact,'' said State Sen. Charles Perry, R-Lubbock. ''We've been, for far too long, treating water like a commodity that has no meaning. And it's truly not. It's not a commodity. It's a necessity.''

Last legislative session, Perry led the way in expanding financial resources for water conservation projects.

Texas voters approved funding for the The Texas Water Fund by passing Proposition 6 in November. Perry's legislation provided $1 billion to fund water projects as part of the plan.

The proposition requires the Texas Water Development Board (TWDB) to set aside at least $250 million for the New Water Supply for Texas Fund. The fund allows municipalities to apply for grants and loans to finance projects intended to produce new water sources for the state.

These projects include desalination technology, aquifer recovery and preservation, new treatment facilities and development of water transportation infrastructure. TWDB says the New Water Supply fund will provide seven million acre-feet of new water supply by the end of 2033.

For perspective, Lake Travis near Austin holds just over 1.9 million acre-feet of water.

''Water is the only problem that we face as a state that can literally be fixed with more money,'' Perry said. ''It's just a commitment to a vision to provide water and a commitment of resources to get there. So that's been my frustration '-- it's not one of those problems that we can't solve. The lack of urgency to deal with it is frustrating.''

Additionally, the Texas Water Fund provides capital for the State Water Implementation Fund for Texas (SWIFT), Rural Water Assistance Fund, Texas Water Development Fund II and Clean Water or Drinking Water revolving funds. Senate Bill 28 also created an account for statewide water education and mandated a new public technical assistance program.

The Texas Water Development Board is seeking public input to inform rulemaking and other implementation efforts for the Texas Water Fund. The board is accepting feedback via email until April 30.

The Texas Water Fund is intended to help cultivate a ''secure water future'' for the state throughout the next few decades. TWDB will release a draft of their intended use plan in the summer and allow 30 days for public comment, a timeline similar to the Flood Infrastructure Fund and other comparable programs. The plan is to be approved sometime in the fall, with chosen entities receiving funding soon after.

But, Perry says Texas must also lower demand while increasing supply.

''We've got to change the mindset on how water is. It's not infinite source. It is valuable,'' he said. ''One gallon of water a day saved by 30 million Texans is 30 million gallons. How hard is it for you to get out of the shower 30 seconds early?''

'A new set of facts:' Senator calls on lawmakers to reopen Paxton impeachmentState Senator Drew Springer, R-Muenster, is calling on the legislature to reopen Attorney General Ken Paxton's impeachment inquiry.

In a statement released Thursday evening, Springer said Paxton's Jan. 18 court filing is ''an admission of guilt'' since the document lays out that Paxton would not dispute a lawsuit claiming he wrongfully fired four whistleblowers.

However, the first 12 points of Paxton's filing repeatedly state the attorney general did nothing wrong. His lawyers cite evidence used to acquit Paxton during his Senate impeachment trial in September.

Before Paxton opts not to contest the lawsuit, his filing explicitly states: ''There should be no doubt, however, that nothing stated herein should be construed as an admission that OAG, its employees, or the Attorney General violated any state or federal law '-- because none of them have violated any law as has been adequately and thoroughly shown elsewhere.''

Springer argues the filing is contradictory and should not stand.

''He can't accept the whistleblower's claims against him while touting that he's innocent against those very claims,'' Springer's statement reads. ''Accordingly, AG Paxton completely changed his position in less than four months.''

The Senator claims Paxton admits to violating Article 6 of impeachment, which pertains to the Texas Whistleblower Act. He also expressed concerns about the state owing an even larger settlement amount to Paxton's former employees who sued him.

''I am asking the Senate whether there is a legal mechanism to reopen the impeachment proceedings,'' Springer wrote. ''Failure to at least consider this possibility runs the risk of AG Paxton making a mockery of the Texas Senate.''

Springer announced last year that he would not run for reelection. He said that did not influence his decision to raise concerns now about Paxton.

''I would have done it either way, if I was running or not running,'' Springer said. ''I've talked to scores of fellow legislators that feel the same way that once you made this admission, you were basically saying, you were guilty of what the whistleblowers were accusing you of, which was what Article 6 and some of the other articles in the impeachment were about.''

Paxton released a statement rejecting Springer's assertions and ridiculing the outgoing senator. He wrote, ''Springer has to leave the senate because he was such a bad senator, wasn't going to get re-elected, and needed a job.'' He later added, ''Why should anyone listen to his sour grapes?''

Springer pointed to his record when we asked him to respond to Paxton's statement.

''Look, I was one of the top rated conservatives, both in the House and the Senate, all six terms that I served, I would have easily won reelection,'' Springer said. He went on to address Paxton's comment about needing a job.

''Yeah, I didn't get rich being in politics. I need to go back and work. We get paid $600 a month,'' ''I don't think there's anything wrong with serving your state and then go back and making a living with that,'' said Springer, before turning his focus to Paxton. ''He's figured out how to get rich in office and actually refuses to show his personal financial disclosures showing where he has made all these big investments over working for a paltry state employee salary.''

Travis County Judge Jan Soifer has ordered Paxton to answer questions under oath on February 1. Paxton is fighting the order, filing an appeal Thursday night requesting the Third Court of Appeals stop the depositions for him and others in his office.

Paxton's office issued a statement claiming the order to testify is about politics, not justice.

''With this decision, this Travis County court has escalated its troubling pattern of behaving as a political actor instead of an impartial arbiter of disputed cases,'' the statement read.

The statement went on to claim the judge is an activist motivated by politics.

Nexstar reached out to the court to ask if the judge had a response to the comments about her. A spokesman told us she would not comment on pending litigation.

Equality Texas pens letter to United Nations over LGBTQ+ 'human rights crisis'Political advocacy organization Equality Texas announced Monday it had submitted a joint allegation letter to the United Nations surrounding the ''human rights crisis'' impacting LGBTQ+ Texans. Equality Texas jointly filed the letter alongside the Human Rights Campaign, the American Civil Liberties Union of Texas and the nonprofit LGBTQ+ advocacy organization GLAAD.

The letter alleges violations to LGBTQ+ Texans on the grounds of their privacy, health, freedom of expression and education, Equality Texas leadership said on social media Monday. The organization addressed the letter to 17 independent experts, working groups and special rapporteurs, the social media post added.

Equality Texas CEO Ricardo Martinez told KXAN on Monday that the letter had been in development for months. He said the decision to file the letter came after extensive work advocating at the Texas Legislature, filing litigation and awaiting federal intervention.

''We explore all avenues when it comes to advocacy, and we are committed to doing that for our community,'' Martinez said. ''And this is just yet another formal way for us to really ring the alarm on what is happening here in Texas.''

In 2023, Equality Texas tracked a historic 141 bills filed in the Texas Legislature that pertained to the LGBTQ+ community, up from only 12 filed in 2015. In total, Martinez said seven bills from 2023 advanced and became law, which he said elevated the need to file this letter with the UN.

Those seven pieces of legislation included:

Senate Bill 14: Banning health care for trans youthSenate Bill 17: Restricting public universities from operating diversity, equity and inclusion programsSenate Bill 15: Prohibiting trans athletes from competing at the collegiate levelSenate Bill 763: Permitting chaplains to offer counseling to school childrenSenate Bill 12: Outlawing public drag performances, which the legislation deemed as ''sexually oriented'' House Bill 900: Allowing schools to restrict LGBTQ+ books through definitions of ''sexual explicit'' contentHouse Bill 2127: Implications to local non-discrimination ordinancesBeyond lawmaking at the Texas Capitol, Martinez pointed to the rise of LGBTQ+ policies within Texas school districts and at state agencies.

''When you take all of that together, I think for us, it's important to continue to take every single opportunity to educate folks on the realities of what's happening here in Texas,'' he said. ''And we're happy to do so along with our coalition partners.''

Now that the letter is filed, Equality Texas is awaiting a response from the U.N. If a response is received, Martinez said that will kickstart a formal process that involves the U.N. reaching out to the U.S. Department of State.

He added his hope is for the U.N. to take the allegations seriously and intervene.

''We hope that this will encourage the federal government to put more resources towards protecting LGBTQIA+ Texans and LGBTQIA+ people across the entire country, because this is not only happening here in Texas,'' he said.

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SAN MATEO COUNTY, Calif. (KGO) -- With a unanimous vote by the Board of Supervisors, San Mateo County has become the first county in America to recognize loneliness as a public health emergency.

"We have 45% of the people who find themselves being lonely. Who suffer from loneliness," said Supervisor David Canepa.

Canepa introduced the resolution he hopes will spur further action.

He says since the pandemic, county statistics have shown loneliness explode among the local population.

A trend the country's surgeon general, says is also being seen nationwide.

MORE: US surgeon general highlights importance of human connections during SF visit

"This is a problem that has been building for decades in our country. COVID certainly worsened it and poured fuel on the fire. But that fire was burning before," said Dr. Vivek Murthy.

In addition to the county-wide resolution, Canepa is also sending a letter to Gov. Gavin Newsom.

In it, he asks the governor create a new minister of loneliness position for the state.

Canepa says while San Mateo County is taking the charge to tackle loneliness here in the U.S., other places like Japan and the U.K. have already taken steps to address the epidemic in their own countries.

If approved, the minister of loneliness would work to enact policies to help improve not just loneliness, but also mental health in general among the public at large.

MORE: Seniors using AI robots to combat loneliness

Creating resources for those most in need.

It's an idea supported by clinical psychologist Dr. Andrea Zorbas, who says poor mental health can often lead to poor physical health too.

"If we're feeling depressed we often have stomach pains, or body aches, muscle aches, headaches, migraines, I mean you name it," Dr. Zorbas said.

Even though the county's resolution is revolutionary in many ways, Canepa says he thinks its just the first step in a long journey ahead.

"What we want to do is build on that. But we can't build on it if we don't make the investments," he said.

If you're on the ABC7 News app, click here to watch live

Copyright (C) 2024 KGO-TV. All Rights Reserved.

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The House passed a $78 billion tax bill on Wednesday that boosts the child tax credit and reinstates business deductions that were rescinded during the Trump administration, sending the bipartisan, bicameral legislation to the Senate for consideration.

The chamber cleared the measure, dubbed the Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act, in an overwhelmingly bipartisan 357-70 vote.

Passage of the legislation '-- which was crafted by House Ways and Means Committee Chair Jason Smith (R-Mo.) and Senate Finance Committee Chair Ron Wyden (D-Ore.) '-- marks a rare show of bipartisanship in this Congress, which has been defined by bitter partisan clashes and labeled as highly unproductive.

''The numbers speak for itself, it shows that when you're trying to deliver for the American people, people will join together and that's what we saw today,'' Smith told reporters after the vote, walking into an office with cheering staffers.

It is also one of the few instances this session when a nonessential bill '-- legislation that is not required to keep the government running '-- has a chance of being enacted. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) on Wednesday said he is supportive of the tax bill and is working with Wyden ''to figure out the best way forward.''

But approval was not unanimous: Conservative Republicans, progressive Democrats and some moderate New York Republicans expressed opposition to the bill, racking up some ''no'' votes. The resistance from the Empire State lawmakers '-- furious that the legislation did not include an increase in the state and local tax (SALT) deduction '-- sparked a near-revolt on the House floor Tuesday, a sign of the anger among the group.

Hard-line GOP lawmakers, for starters, took aim at the expanded child tax credit, arguing that the provision would grow the ''welfare state.'' They also claimed that the legislation would allow families with immigrants in the country illegally to continue receiving the benefits '-- even though the provision is in line with the 2017 tax bill enacted during the Trump administration that requires children to have Social Security numbers in order for their parents to receive the benefits.

''Unfortunately, as happens in this town, this legislation comes with provisions that, frankly, the people I represent are tired of,'' Rep. Chip Roy (R-Texas), a member of the conservative House Freedom Caucus, said on the House floor Wednesday.

''And it's provisions that would continue to expand the welfare state, as 'The Wall Street Journal' editorialized about, by expanding the child tax credit in ways that will continue to fund people directly through refundable credits which we find to be problematic, and we think undermines the kind of economic activity and incentive to work and incentive to, you know, produce value that we think is critically important for economic growth,'' he added.

They were also frustrated that GOP leadership brought the bill to the floor under suspension of the rules, a fast-track process that requires two-thirds support for passage but also avoids having to first pass a rule, which Republican opponents of the bill may have tanked.

Progressive Democrats, meanwhile, argued that the legislation favored corporations over those eligible for a child tax credit. Rep. Rosa DeLauro (D-Conn.), the ranking member of the House Appropriations Committee, bemoaned the ''inequity'' between the corporate benefits and those delivered to families under the child tax credit.

Corporations, she said, will get the benefits ''immediately,'' while ''we have to phase in on the child tax credit.''

''There is inequity. They have moved in the direction of saying to the biggest corporations, 'You get everything you want and more,''' she told reporters in the Capitol on Tuesday. ''The child tax credit is a proven entity. Normally what [corporations] have done is to purchase stock options, they buy back.''

The bipartisan, bicameral tax bill would beef up the child tax credit by increasing the maximum credit per child from $1,600 to $2,000 through 2025, adjusting for inflation in 2024 and 2025.

Additionally, it calls for raising the ceiling for the low-income housing tax credit by 12.5 percent through 2025, lowering the threshold for bond-financed buildings to receive the low-income housing tax credit.

The measure also reinstates three business deductions that were nixed in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act '-- which was the most significant legislative achievement of the Trump administration '-- including allowing businesses to deduct research and development costs every year instead of over a five-year period.

It would also create a carve-out for Taiwanese companies to prevent double taxation for businesses that have workers in the U.S. and Taiwan, and it would give tax relief to victims of wildfires and those affected by the Norfolk Southern train derailment in East Palestine, Ohio, allowing for any disaster relief payments to not count toward their taxable income.

Moderate New York Republicans had been critical of the bill in the lead-up to the vote, but most of them came around to voting for it Wednesday evening. Reps. Anthony D'Esposito (R-N.Y.) and Nick Lalota (R-N.Y.), both of whom represent districts on Long Island, voted ''no.''

The Empire State lawmakers were furious that the tax legislation did not include an increase in the SALT deduction, which has been their central issue all Congress. They sent a warning shot to Speaker Mike Johnson (R-La.) and GOP leadership on Tuesday, opposing an unrelated procedural vote that was enough to shut down legislative action in the chamber before switching their votes and allowing business to proceed as conversations on the matter continued.

Those New Yorkers huddled with Johnson into the late hours on Tuesday. On Wednesday morning, two sources told The Hill that lawmakers and leadership struck an agreement to move on a SALT-related bill within the next week. An aide to Johnson, however, later pushed back, saying that there was a commitment to continue discussions on the matter but no firm timeline or specifics for legislation, which would need buy-in from other parts of the conference.

''There was a commitment to work in good faith,'' Rep. Andrew Garbarino (R-N.Y.) said Wednesday.

Mike Lillis contributed.

Updated at 8:59 p.m.

Copyright 2023 Nexstar Media Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

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Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg apologized to families Wednesday as Republican Missouri Sen. Josh Hawley berated him over his alleged failure to address the harm and exploitation children were purportedly suffering on his social media platforms.

Attorneys general in 33 states filed a federal lawsuit in November accusing Meta of using manipulative algorithms and tools to addict young users, CBS News reported. According to the lawsuit, compulsive use of platforms like Instagram has negatively impacted the physical and mental health of pre-teens and teenagers. Hawley also cited testimony from Meta whistleblower Arturo Bejar, who found that young Instagram users were frequently exposed to unwanted sexual advances and to explicit content they did not seek out.

''My question is, who did you fire for this?'' Hawley asked. ''Who got fired because of that?''

''Senator, we studied all of this because it's important and we want to improve our services,'' Zuckerberg replied.

''Well, you just told me a second ago that you studied it, but that there's no linkage. Who did you fire?'' the senator pressed.

''Senator, I said you mischaracterized'--'' Zuckerberg began before Hawley cut him off.

''Thirty-seven percent of teenage girls between 13 and 15 were exposed to unwanted nudity in a week on Instagram. You knew about it. Who did you fire?'' Hawley asked. (RELATED: Maryland School District Sues Social Media Companies, Alleges Their Platforms Are Contributing To Mental Health Crisis)

''I'm not gonna answer that,'' Zuckerberg finally answered.

''Because you didn't fire anybody, right?'' Hawley said. ''You didn't take any significant action.''

''Senator, I don't think it's appropriate to talk about, like, any kind of HR decisions,'' he said.

''It's not appropriate? Do you know who's sitting behind you?'' Hawley shot back. ''You've got families from across the nation whose children are either severely harmed or gone, and you don't think it's appropriate to talk about steps that you took? The fact that you didn't fire a single person? Let me ask you this, let me ask you this: Have you compensated any of the victims?''

Zuckerberg said he does not believe he has compensated the girls Hawley referred to, arguing that his company's responsibility is to create tools to ''keep people safe.''

Hawley then asked the Meta CEO if he would ''like to apologize for what you've done to these good people,'' to which Zuckerberg responded by turning around to face them.

Zuckerberg then stood up to face the families sitting behind him and apologized for the ''things that your families have suffered.'' He also vowed to continue developing tools to prevent other users from having the same experiences.

Hawley then asked Zuckerberg why Meta ''should not be sued'' for the alleged harm users suffered and whether he would take ''personal responsibility.''

''Senator, I view my job and the job of our company as building the best tools that we can to keep our communities safe'--'' Zuckerberg said.

''Well, you're failing at that,'' Hawley interjected.

''Well, Senator, we're doing an industry leading effort'--'' he continued.

''Oh, nonsense,'' Hawley interjected. ''Your product is killing people. Will you personally commit to compensating the victims? You're a billionaire. Will you commit to compensating the victims? Will you set up a compensation fund with your money?''

Zuckerberg replied that ''these are complicated issues'' and reiterated his commitment to building tools to protect users.

Hawley wrapped up his questioning of Zuckerberg by accusing him of having done ''nothing'' to protect or compensate those harmed by his platforms.

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Tue, 30 Jan 2024 19:53

WASHINGTON (AP) '-- U.S. forces may have mistaken an enemy drone for an American one and let it pass unchallenged into a desert base in Jordan where it killed three U.S. troops and wounded dozens more, officials said Monday.

Details of the Sunday attack emerged as President Joe Biden faced a difficult balancing act, blaming Iran and looking to strike back in a forceful way without causing any further escalation of the Gaza conflict.

As the enemy drone was flying in at a low altitude, a U.S. drone was returning to the small installation known as Tower 22, according to a preliminary report cited by two officials, who were not authorized to comment and insisted on anonymity,

As a result, there was no effort to shoot down the enemy drone that hit the outpost. One of the trailers where troops sleep sustained the brunt of the strike, while surrounding trailers got limited damage from the blast and flying debris. While there are no large air defense systems at Tower 22, the base does have counter-drone systems, such as Coyote drone interceptors.

Aside from the soldiers killed, the Pentagon said more than 40 troops were wounded in the attack, most with cuts, bruises, brain injuries and similar wounds. Eight were medically evacuated, including three who were going to Landstuhl Regional Medical Center in Germany. The other five, who suffered ''minor traumatic brain injuries,'' were expected to return to duty.

Asked if the failure to shoot down the enemy drone was ''human error,'' Pentagon spokeswoman Sabrina Singh responded that the U.S. Central Command was still assessing the matter.

The Pentagon identified those killed in the attack as Sgt. William Jerome Rivers, 46, of Carrollton, Georgia; Spc. Kennedy Ladon Sanders, 24, of Waycross, Georgia; and Spc. Breonna Alexsondria Moffett, 23, of Savannah, Georgia.

The three U.S. Army Reserve soldiers were assigned to the 718th Engineer Company, 926th Engineer Battalion, 926th Engineer Brigade in Fort Moore, Georgia.

The explanation for how the enemy drone evaded U.S. air defenses came as the White House said Monday it's not looking for war with Iran even as Biden vows retaliatory action. The Democratic administration believes Tehran was behind the strike.

AP Washington correspondent Sagar Meghani reports.

Biden met with national security advisers in the White House Situation Room to discuss the latest developments and potential retaliation.

''There's no easy answer here,'' said National Security Council spokesman John Kirby. ''And that's why the president is meeting with his national security team weighing the options before him.''

The brazen attack, which the Biden administration blames on Iranian-based proxies, adds another layer of complexity to an already tense Mideast situation as the Biden administration tries to keep the Israel-Hamas war from expanding into a broader regional conflict.

''The president and I will not tolerate attacks on U.S. forces, and we will take all necessary actions to defend the U.S. and our troops,'' Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin said as he met at the Pentagon with NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg.

The drone attack was one of dozens on U.S. troops in the Middle East since Hamas launched attacks on Israel on Oct. 7, igniting the war in Gaza. But it's the first in which American service members have been killed.

Biden promised on Sunday to ''hold all those responsible to account at a time and in a manner (of) our choosing'' but said the U.S. wasn't seeking to get into another conflict in the Middle East.

Kirby also made clear that American patience has worn thin after more than two months of attacks by Iranian proxies on U.S. troops in Iraq, Syria and Jordan and on U.S. Navy and commercial vessels in the Red Sea. The proxy groups '-- including Yemen's Houthi rebels and Iraq based Kataeb Hezbollah '-- say the attacks are in response to Israel's ongoing military operations in Gaza.

''We are not looking for a war with Iran,'' Kirby told reporters. ''That said, this was a very serious attack. It had lethal consequences. We will respond, and we respond appropriately.''

Iran on Monday denied it was behind the Jordan strike.

''These claims are made with specific political goals to reverse the realities of the region,'' Iran's state-run IRNA news agency quoted foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kanaani as saying. Iran regularly denies involvement in attacks linked back to it through the militias it arms across the wider Mideast.

Kirby said that U.S. officials are still working through determining which militant group was behind the attack. He noted that Iran has longed equipped and trained the militias.

Republicans have laid blame on Biden for doing too little to deter Iranian militias, which have carried out approximately 165 attacks on U.S. troops in the region since the start of the war.

Republican presidential front-runner Donald Trump on Sunday called the attack ''yet another horrific and tragic consequence of Joe Biden's weakness and surrender.''

The attack hit a U.S. military desert outpost in the far reaches of northeastern Jordan known as Tower 22. The installation sits near the demilitarized zone on the border between Jordan and Syria along a sandy, bulldozed berm marking the DMZ's southern edge. The Iraqi border is only 10 kilometers (6 miles) away.

The base began as a Jordanian outpost watching the border, then saw an increased U.S. presence after American forces entered Syria in late 2015. The small installation includes U.S. engineering, aviation, logistics and security troops, with about 350 U.S. Army and Air Force personnel deployed.

Iraq's government condemned the drone strike. Spokesman Bassem al-Awadi said in a statement that Iraq was ''monitoring with a great concern the alarming security developments in the region'' and called for ''an end to the cycle of violence.'' The statement said that Iraq is ready to participate in diplomatic efforts to prevent further escalation.

An umbrella group for Iran-backed factions known as the Islamic Resistance in Iraq has claimed dozens of attacks against bases housing U.S. troops in Iraq and Syria since the Israel-Hamas war began. On Sunday, the group claimed three drone attacks against sites in Syria, including near the border with Jordan, and one inside of ''occupied Palestine'' but so far hasn't claimed the attack in Jordan.

John Bolton, who served as national security adviser to Trump, said Iran hasn't paid a price for the havoc that its proxies have unleashed in the region. He suggested the Biden administration could send a strong message to Tehran with strikes on Iranian vessels in the Red Sea, Iranian air defenses along the Iraqi border, and bases that have been used to train and supply militant groups for years.

''So until Iran bears a cost, you're not going to reestablish deterrence, you're not going to put the belligerence on a downward slope.''

The attack came as U.S. officials were seeing signs of progress in negotiations to broker a deal between Israel and Hamas to release the more than 100 remaining hostages being held in Gaza in exchange for an extended pause in fighting. While contours of a deal under consideration would not end the war, Americans believed that it could lay the groundwork for a durable resolution to the conflict.

Qatar's prime minister said Monday that senior U.S. and Mideast mediators had achieved a framework proposal to present to Hamas for freeing hostages and pausing fighting in Gaza.

Prime Minister Mohammed al-Thani's comments at the Atlantic Council in Washington came after talks Sunday in Paris among U.S., Israeli, Qatari and Egyptian officials seeking a new round of hostage releases and a cease-fire in Gaza.

___Associated Press writers Qassim Abdul-Zahra in Baghdad, Jon Gambrell in Jerusalem and Geir Moulson in Berlin contributed reporting.

Zeke is AP's chief White House correspondent

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Tue, 30 Jan 2024 05:19

A hybrid derived from the Greek words meaning ''well'' and ''born,'' the term eugenics was coined in 1883 by Sir Francis Galton, a British cousin to Charles Darwin, to name a new ''science'' through which human beings might take charge of their own evolution. The Eugenics Crusade tells the story of the unlikely '''' and largely unknown '''' movement that turned the fledgling scientific theory of heredity into a powerful instrument of social control. Perhaps more surprising still, American eugenics was neither the work of fanatics, nor the product of fringe science. The goal of the movement was simple and, to its disciples, laudable: to eradicate social ills by limiting the number of those considered to be genetically ''unfit'' '''' a group that would expand to include many immigrant groups, the poor, Jews, the mentally and physically disabled, and the ''morally delinquent.'' At its peak in the 1920s, the movement was in every way mainstream, packaged as a progressive quest for ''healthy babies.'' Its doctrines were not only popular and practiced, but codified by laws that severely restricted immigration and ultimately led to the institutionalization and sterilization of tens of thousands of American citizens. Populated by figures both celebrated and obscure, The Eugenics Crusade is an often revelatory portrait of an America at once strange and eerily familiar.

Addeddate 2021-04-19 09:18:25 Color color Identifier american-experience-the-eugenics-crusade-3017296487 Scanner Internet Archive HTML5 Uploader 1.6.4 Sound sound

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Mon, 29 Jan 2024 19:53

On Friday, in an Atlanta federal court, election expert and Professor J. Alex Halderman gave a live demonstration to the court and District Judge Amy Totenberg on just how easy it is for vote counts to be tampered with.

Using ONLY A PEN, Halderman hacked into a Dominion voting system and changed vote counts, right then and there.

Halderman's performance was part of a lawsuit brought on by election integrity activists, who want vulnerable voting machines removed in Georgia and replaced with paper ballots.

BREAKING: In A Federal Court In Atlanta Georgia On Friday J. Alex Halderman (@jhalderm) Was Able To HACK A DOMINION VOTING TABULATOR In Front Of U.S. District Judge Amy Totenberg USING ONLY A PEN TO CHANGE VOTE TOTALS! This Is Part Of A Long Running Lawsuit By Election Integrity'... pic.twitter.com/nCSgmINTet

'-- John Basham (@JohnBasham) January 20, 2024

NEW: During a Federal Court trial in Atlanta, Georgia, computer science expert J. Alex Halderman, reportedly hacked a Dominion voting machine IN REAL-TIME.

Figures, doesn't it? Trump was right, the 2020 election was RIGGED!

According to eyewitness Amber Connor, Halderman used'... pic.twitter.com/HdVgHYv5vB

'-- Hank (@GCapital_LLC) January 21, 2024

Back in June, Halderman released a 96-page report that confirmed that Dominion voting machine software is vulnerable to hacking and that it is not hard for votes to be altered.

You can read the full Halderman Report here:

Halderman's findings were astonishing, but Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger and Judge Amy Totenberg did their best to hide the report from the public until just this week.

Per The Gateway Pundit:

In June 2023, the Federal District Court for the Northern District of Georgia unsealed the 96-page Halderman Report '' the Security Analysis of Georgia's ImageCast X Ballot Marking Devices.

Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger had been hiding this report from the public for two years.

University of Michigan Professor of Computer Science and Engineering J. Alex Halderman and Security Researcher and Assistant Professor at Auburn University Drew Sringall collaborated on the report where they discovered many exploitable vulnerabilities in the Dominion Voting Systems' ImageCast X system.

Far-left Judge Amy Totenberg sealed and covered up the results of the investigation of Dominion voting machines in Georgia and sat on the report until this week.

The report confirmed that votes can be altered in the Dominion voting machines. In fact, the report revealed that the Dominion software is vulnerable and can be hacked.

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President Biden vetoed a bipartisan resolution Wednesday that would have reversed his administration's decision to waive "Buy America" requirements for taxpayer-funded electric vehicle (EV) charging stations.

The resolution, which was authored by Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., and introduced in July, would have specifically overturned the Department of Transportation's (DOT) Waiver of Buy America Requirements for Electric Vehicle Chargers. Rubio, the vice chairman of the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence, and other Republican lawmakers argued DOT's waiver benefits Chinese manufacturers who dominate the EV charger supply chain.

"If enacted, this resolution would harm my Administration's efforts to encourage investment in critical industries and bring high-quality jobs back to the United States," Biden said in a statement Wednesday. "It would not only thwart the collective goal of the Congress and the Administration to establish a domestic EV charger manufacturing industry, but it would also delay the significant progress being made by my Administration and the States in establishing the EV charging network."

"Establishing resilient supply chains is critical to our national economic and energy security, and my Administration will not support policies that would undermine efforts to bring this critical manufacturing back to the United States," the president continued.

120 REPUBLICANS JOIN EFFORT OPPOSING BIDEN'S 'DE FACTO EV MANDATE'

A driver charges his electric vehicle at a charging station in Monterey Park, California, on August 31, 2022. (FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Images)

Biden further argued that his administration's actions in effect promote domestic manufacturing while the Senate resolution would do the opposite. But he acknowledged the DOT waiver allows newly announced manufacturing capacity for EV charger components "the necessary time to ramp up production."

17 RETIRED MILITARY OFFICIALS RAISE ALARM ON BIDEN'S ELECTRIC VEHICLE PUSH

DOT unveiled the final Made in America EV charger waiver rule in February 2023 which axed more stringent requirements and pushed certain deadlines back months what was considered a victory for green energy industry groups. The waiver governs manufacturing and assembly requirements for EV charging companies to be eligible for millions of dollars in federal subsidies.

The waiver rules revised a stricter proposal put forth by DOT in August 2022. The four-phase proposed waiver would have immediately scrapped all requirements; then required EV charger companies to assemble all products in the U.S. beginning Jan. 1, 2023; manufacture chargers with no less than 25% American-made components by cost beginning July 1, 2023; and manufacture chargers with no less than 55% American-made components by cost beginning Jan. 1, 2024.

President Biden previously set a goal of ensuring 50% of car purchases are electric by 2030. (Anna Moneymaker/Pool/Getty Images | Sean Gallup/Getty Images)

The finalized waiver finalized in 2023 knocked it down to a two-phase process and pushed key deadlines back. It requires EV charger companies to ensure final assembly of chargers is in the U.S. and that the cost of American-made components in chargers represents 55% of total product costs beginning on July 1, 2024. The waiver notably scrapped the 25% domestic component requirement.

MORE THAN 3,000 AUTO DEALERS SIGN LETTER OPPOSING BIDEN'S ELECTRIC VEHICLE MANDATE

"The bottom line is this: if we're going to spend $5 billion of taxpayer money to build electric vehicle charging stations for the United States, it should be made by Americans in America using American products," Rubio said in a floor speech in November.

"Joe Biden and his America Last agenda would sooner invest taxpayer money into Communist Chinese EV chargers than American-made products," House Republican Chair Elise Stefanik, R-N.Y., added this month. "The Buy America provision is meant to support American businesses and bolster U.S. manufacturers, neither of which this pro-Communist China Administration is interested in."

"The bottom line is this: if we're going to spend $5 billion of taxpayer money to build electric vehicle charging stations for the United States, it should be made by Americans in America using American products," Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., said late last year. (Bill Clark/CQ-Roll Call, Inc via Getty Images)

The Senate passed the resolution in November by a 50-48 vote with Sens. Sherrod Brown, D-Ohio; Joe Manchin, D-W.Va.; Jon Tester, D-Mont.; and Kyrsten Sinema, I-Ariz., joining Republicans. Then, on Jan. 11, the House passed the bill in a 209-198 vote with two House Democrats, Reps. Jared Golden of Maine and Donald Davis of North Carolina, joining 207 Republicans who voted in favor.

DOT's waiver was finalized as part of Biden administration's push to both expand EV manufacturing and the network of chargers nationwide needed to fuel zero-emissions vehicles. Biden has set goals of constructing an EV charging network of 500,000 chargers along U.S. highways and ensuring 50% of all new car sales are electric by 2030.

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The Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, the massive infrastructure package Biden signed in 2021, earmarks $7.5 billion for EV charging programs while the 2022 Inflation Reduction Act expands tax credits for EVs and charger installations.

Thomas Catenacci is a politics writer for Fox News Digital.

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