Putin will only trigger World War Three if he feels Nato are unprepared, ex-commander of US forces in Europe warns – LBC

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16 January 2024, 06:59 | Updated: 16 January 2024, 07:04

Vladimir Putin will do the unthinkable if he feels Nato are unprepared, a former commander of US forces in Europe has warned.

Ben Hodges, who was commander of the US army in Europe between 2014 and 2018, said another world war would only happen if Russia felt Nato was not prepared or united.

He said plans leaked from the German Ministry of Defence may seem "scary" but it shows the threat is being taken "seriously".

The documents, which emerged on Monday, show how Nato could respond to World War Three, with a step-by-step plan showing how the West would resist aggression launched by Putin.

"[Russia] only respect strength. If they sense any weakness then they will continue to move forward," Mr Hodges said, according to the Mail.

"If they did it, it would be because they made the assessment that we were not ready or unified inside the alliance or that we did not have adequate ammunition or the ability to move fast enough.

"But if we are prepared, they still have a long way to go."

Read more: Cyber attacks, riots and lies: Leaked documents show step-by-step plan for how Putin could trigger World War Three

Read more: UK to send hundreds of air defence missiles to Ukraine as Sunak condemns Putin's revenge attack

Mr Hodges went on to say the best way to prevent a war is to "be prepared for it".

"The UK has always been aware of the threat from Russia but now Germany are realising that this is something thats only going to get worse if theyre not prepared," he said.

"So readiness - with all the right equipment and capabilities - is exactly what nations should be doing. And Germany is doing that."

The ex-commander added: "If the civilian leadership doesnt think theres a threat, they wont be able to move quickly enough. Our leaders should talk to us like adults.

"It doesnt mean you're a scaremongerer, it means you're taking precaution, which is exactly what we should be doing."

The "Alliance Defence 2025" plans are not an early warning of how events will go - but a hypothetical scenario for decision-makers to consider.

The scenario looks at Russia mobilising 200,000 more men as its forces are bogged down in Ukraine.

Putin uses them to launch a spring offensive, winning the war in June in a nightmare scenario for Europe.

Hybrid attacks are then launched on the West, before Russia builds up forces on the border with Nato countries Poland and Lithuania.

After stirring up tensions in the Baltics, Nato deploys 300,000 soldiers east on "Day X" as they stare down Russian forces over the Suwalki gap, the region between Moscow's satellite Belarus and its Kaliningrad enclave.

A spokesperson for the ministry said: "Basically, I can tell you that considering different scenarios, even if they are extremely unlikely, is part of everyday military business, especially in training."

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Putin will only trigger World War Three if he feels Nato are unprepared, ex-commander of US forces in Europe warns - LBC

Grant Shapps heralds ‘biggest deployment of troops to Nato for 40 years’ – Grand Junction Daily Sentinel

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Grant Shapps discusses the biggest deployment of troops to Nato for 40 years.The Defence Secretary spoke to GB News as the UK prepares to send 20,000 troops in one of Natos largest military exercises since the Cold War.The alliance is practicing repelling an invasion by Russian President Vladimir Putins forces.This is a an operation which is designed to essentially allow NATO to test our approach in what is a much more dangerous world given the conflicts in Europe, the conflicts in the Middle East, but also the sort of intent of people like Putin to really disrupt the world order on our way of life, Shapps told Eamonn Holmes and Isabel Webster.Some 16,000 troops with tanks, artillery and helicopters will be deployed from the British Army across eastern Europe starting next month as part of the exercise.The Royal Navy will deploy more than 2,000 sailors across eight warships and submarines, while more than 400 Royal Marines Commandos will be sent to the Arctic Circle.

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Grant Shapps heralds 'biggest deployment of troops to Nato for 40 years' - Grand Junction Daily Sentinel

Proviso Suburbs Are Regulating Unscheduled Buses As Migrant Crisis Enters Harsh Winter – Village Free Press |

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Migrants in tents outside of the 15th District Chicago Police station in the citys Austin community in October 2023. The city has since relocated the migrants, but now suburban officials are taking measures to regulate unscheduled buses that may be unsafely dropping the asylum-seekers off in municipalities. | File

Monday, January 15, 2024 || By Michael Romain || michael@wearejohnwilk.com

Suburbs across Proviso Township have recently enacted legislation to address the wave of buses carrying migrants to various points across the Chicago area and burdening resource-strapped municipalities.

The villages of Bellwood, Broadview, Hillside and Westchester are among the municipalities whose boards have voted on ordinances or whose mayors have issued executive orders since December designed to introduce fines, penalties and restrictions for buses illegally dropping off passengers.

The primary aim is to safeguard the health and safety of both residents and bus occupants, Hillside village officials explained in a statement posted to the villages website on Dec. 29.

The Village lacks the resources to adequately support these migrants, Hillside officials added. Collaborative efforts with Local, State, County, and regional authorities are underway to address these concerns.

CNN reported in December that since April 2022, Texas Republican Gov. Greg Abbott has sent more than 90,000 asylum-seeking migrants from Latin America to various Democratic-run sanctuary cities, including Chicago.

Border authorities encountered more than 225,000 migrants along the US-Mexico border in December alone, marking the highest monthly total recorded since 2000, according to preliminary Homeland Security statistics shared with CNN, the outlet reported.

In their various ordinances and executive orders, Proviso-area village officials explained that the legislation regulating unscheduled buses is time-sensitive due to the onset of the frigid winter weather.

Entities sending such charter buses know, or should know, that the passengers on such buses are likely to seek emergency shelter and other immediate services from the municipality upon or soon after arrival in the municipality, reads the ordinance the Westchester village board unanimously passed on Jan. 9.

Local police departments have been tasked with enforcing the new regulations. In a statement shared with WGN 9, Broadview Mayor Katrina Thompson said that any violation of her executive order by any bus company or bus driver, regardless of origin or destination, authorizes the seizure and impoundment of the bus by the Broadview Police Department as well as criminal charges to be filed against the company and driver.

Broadview Police Chief Thomas Mills said his department is requesting bus companies notify us five days in advance, adding that they need to know how many people are coming under the age of 18 (and) how many adults so we know how many are arriving in the Village of Broadview, WGN reported.

Mayor Thompson issued her executive order in December. The Broadview village board is poised to vote on a series of ordinances regulating unscheduled buses at a regular meeting on Jan. 16.

State opens migrant shelter

Earlier this month, Capitol News Illinois reported that another migrant shelter opened in Chicago on Jan. 10, the states latest step in dealing with an influx of more than 30,000 asylum seekers sent to Illinois from states on the southern U.S. Border since summer 2022.

The recently opened shelter is located in a former CVS in Chicagos Little Village neighborhood and is expected to host about 220 migrants. The shelter is part of a $160 million state spending plan for migrant assistance that Gov. JB Pritzker announced in November, Capitol News Illinois reported.

The new site is one of several that houses migrants, mostly from Venezuela, that have arrived in Chicago over the past year. Roughly 250 migrants are currently staying at OHare International Airport and another 280 people slept in city buses at a so-called landing zone facility in the South Loop.

Possible causes of the Venezuelan migrant crisis

Most of the migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border into the United States come from Venezuela. According to data from the Inter-Agency Coordination Platform for Refugees and Migrants from Venezuela, roughly 8 million Venezuelans have fled their homes since the countrys economy collapsed in 2014. Most of those refugees have settled in about two dozen Caribbean and Latin America countries.

Critics of Venezuelas left-wing government have argued that the countrys economic collapse was due to corruption and economic mismanagement.

According to the nonpartisan Council on Foreign Relations, a Washington, D.C. think tank, Venezuela is an example of a petrostate, where the government is highly dependent on fossil fuel income, power is concentrated, and corruption is widespread.

Petrostates are vulnerable to what economists call Dutch disease, in which a government develops an unhealthy dependence on natural resource exports to the detriment of other sectors.

When the price of oil plunged from more than $100 per barrel in 2014 to under $30 per barrel in early 2016, Venezuela entered an economic and political spiral, and despite rising prices since then, conditions remain bleak, the Council argued.

But other experts argue that the United States foreign policy also plays a critical role in the Latin American countrys collapse.

Last year, Juan Gonzlez, a reporter and senior fellow at the Great Cities Institute at the University of Illinois at Chicago, told WBEZ that the influx of Venezuelan migrants to the United States is a relatively new phenomenon. Its only really happened in the last three or four years. But now Venezuelans have become the fastest growing group of the Latino community in the United States.

Gonzlez said that economic sanctions lodged by the United States against Venezuela constituted an economic war against the country. The sanctions have been under Presidents Obama, Trump and Biden, he said.

The result has been an almost complete economic collapse of the country. Besides perhaps war, it is difficult to think of a tool of foreign policy that today causes more economic and humanitarian destruction than economic sanctions, Gonzlez told WBEZ.

For instance, Citgo petroleum, a major petroleum company in this country, is a Venezuelan-owned company, he added. The Trump administration froze all the assets of Citgo. The company takes in about $24 billion in oil revenues in the United States. None of that money, though, can go to Venezuela, which is its owner.

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Proviso Suburbs Are Regulating Unscheduled Buses As Migrant Crisis Enters Harsh Winter - Village Free Press |

The Migrant Crisis On The Border And The Hill : The NPR Politics Podcast – NPR

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The Migrant Crisis On The Border And The Hill : The NPR Politics Podcast The stream of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border hit record numbers at the end of 2023. The stream of illegal border crossing has slowed, but could a lack of agreement on immigration policy issues be a factor in a partial government shutdown next week?

This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and immigration correspondent Jasmine Garsd.

Our producers are Casey Morell & Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Erica Morrison. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Unlock access to this and other bonus content by supporting The NPR Politics Podcast+. Sign up via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Connect: Email the show at nprpolitics@npr.org Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group. Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter.

The stream of migrants crossing the U.S.-Mexico border hit record numbers at the end of 2023. The stream of illegal border crossing has slowed, but could a lack of agreement on immigration policy issues be a factor in a partial government shutdown next week?

This episode: political correspondent Ashley Lopez, congressional correspondent Deirdre Walsh, and immigration correspondent Jasmine Garsd.

Our producers are Casey Morell & Kelli Wessinger. Our editor is Erica Morrison. Our executive producer is Muthoni Muturi.

Unlock access to this and other bonus content by supporting The NPR Politics Podcast+. Sign up via Apple Podcasts or at plus.npr.org.

Connect: Email the show at nprpolitics@npr.org Join the NPR Politics Podcast Facebook Group. Subscribe to the NPR Politics Newsletter.

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The Migrant Crisis On The Border And The Hill : The NPR Politics Podcast - NPR

Many Older Immigrants in New York Are Struggling: ‘I Have No Future’ – The New York Times

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Francisco Palacios, who grew up poor in Ecuador, came to New York City in 1986 so that he could earn enough to someday retire back home.

But after getting stuck in low-paying jobs at restaurants, construction sites and a laundromat, Mr. Palacios, now 70, has no savings and is just trying to survive. Most weekdays, he waits on a street corner in Queens with other day laborers in hopes that someone will hire him to paint homes. I still feel I have the energy and the strength to work, he said in Spanish, through a translator, though he believes, I have no future.

Older immigrants like Mr. Palacios now make up just over half of New York Citys 65-and-over population. Their numbers have increased at more than twice the rate of U.S.-born seniors since 2010, mainly because of the graying of immigrants who came decades ago as young adults and workers.

Many of these immigrants said they never expected to grow old in the city and, after years of saying Im leaving tomorrow, are simply not prepared for that reality when it comes. Some are still chasing the American dream long after their prime working years. Others have stayed because they cannot bring themselves to leave the children and grandchildren they have here, or the life they have carved out for themselves.

Older immigrants have largely propelled the rapid growth of the citys 65-and-up population to 1.4 million, according to a census analysis by Social Explorer, a data research company. In 2022, there were 713,000 older immigrants, a 57 percent increase from 2010. During that same period, the number of U.S.-born older residents rose 25 percent to 678,000.

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Many Older Immigrants in New York Are Struggling: 'I Have No Future' - The New York Times

Gov. Pritzker wants state lawmakers to backfill $160 million that went toward migrant crisis – NBC Chicago

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L.L. Bean has just added a third shift at its factory in Brunswick, Maine, in an attempt to keep up with demand for its iconic boot.

Orders have quadrupled in the past few years as the boots have become more popular among a younger, more urban crowd.

The company says it saw the trend coming and tried to prepare, but orders outpaced projections. They expect to sell 450,000 pairs of boots in 2014.

People hoping to have the boots in time for Christmas are likely going to be disappointed. The bootsare back ordered through February and even March.

"I've been told it's a good problem to have but I"m disappointed that customers not getting what they want as quickly as they want," said Senior Manufacturing Manager Royce Haines.

Customers like, Mary Clifford, tried to order boots on line, but they were back ordered until January.

"I was very surprised this is what they are known for and at Christmas time you can't get them when you need them," said Clifford.

People who do have boots are trying to capitalize on the shortage and are selling them on Ebay at a much higher cost.

L.L. Bean says it has hired dozens of new boot makers, but it takes up to six months to train someone to make a boot.

The company has also spent a million dollars on new equipment to try and keep pace with demand.

Some customers are having luck at the retail stores. They have a separate inventory, and while sizes are limited, those stores have boots on the shelves.

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Gov. Pritzker wants state lawmakers to backfill $160 million that went toward migrant crisis - NBC Chicago

OTR: Mayor Wu weighs in on migrant shelter crisis in Mass. – WCVB Boston

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OTR: Mayor Wu weighs in on migrant shelter crisis in Massachusetts

Updated: 12:29 PM EST Jan 14, 2024

BOSTONS MAYOR MICHELLE WU. WE WILL HEAR MORE FROM GOVERNOR HEALEY ABOUT THIS A LITTLE LATER THIS WEEK. BUT THE COST OF EMERGENCY SHELTERS IS BECOMING A BUDGET BUSTER FOR THE STATE. IT IS DRIVEN BY A SURGE IN MIGRANT FAMILIES. THE GOVERNOR IS NOW CUTTING SPENDING. SEVERAL PROGRAMS BOSTON, A SANCTUARY CITY, IS IN A DIFFICULT POSITION. WHERE IS THIS GOING? THE STATE SAYS THIS IS NOT SUSTAINABLE IN THE LONG TERME. THIS IS AN ISSUE THAT I HEAR FROM EVERY MAYOR I TALK TO ACROSS THE COUNTRY IS A TREMENDOUS STRESS. WE KNOW THAT NATIONALLY, PEOPLE NEED SERVICES, NEED SUPPORTS, AND WE HAVE A SYSTEM WHERE FOLKS ARE FALLING THROUGH THE CRACKS BECAUSE THE BUREAUCRACY IS IS TAKING SO LONG. SOME OF THIS IS IT IN BOSTON, SOME OF THE INTERVENTIONS THAT THE GOVERNOR AND OUR TEAMS HAVE BEEN WORKING ON TOGETHER HAVE BEEN WORKING. WEVE HAD SEVERAL VERY SUCCESSFUL WORK AUTHORIZATION CLINICS TO HELP PEOPLE APPLY FOR THEIR THEIR AUTHORIZATIONS FASTER AND THEN BE ABLE TO GET TO WORK. BUT THIS IS A LARGER CHALLENGE AROUND HOUSING WHERE WE STARTED BECAUSE HOUSING IS SO EXPENSIVE TO BEGIN WITH. WHEN WE HAVE NEW FAMILIES ARRIVING WHO NEED SERVICES, IT IT ALL CONTINUES TO PILE ON. AND SO WE HAVE TO DO MORE TO MAKE SURE OUR SCHOOL SYSTEMS ARE WELCOMING AND HAVE MULTI LINGUAL, UH SERVICES AND SUPPORTS, BUT ALSO ON THE HOUSING FRONT TO MAKE SURE WERE DOING EVERYTHING WE CAN TO BUILD MORE HOUSING. NEXT. NEXT TOPIC I WANT TO TALK TO YOU ABOUT WAS HARVARD. YOU HAVE YOU HAVE TWO DEGREES FROM HARVARD. YOU YOU ARE THE MAYOR OF OF THE LARGEST CITY IN IN NEW ENGLAND. YOU ARE THE MAYOR OF ONE OF THE LARGEST CITIES IN THE UNITED STATES. YOUR NAME HAS COME UP IN CONVERSATION ABOUT WHO THE NEXT PRESIDENT OF THE ALMA MATER MIGHT BE. WHATS YOUR RESPONSE TO THAT? IS THAT WHAT THE QUESTION IS? I, I THOUGHT WE WERE GOING SOMEWHERE ELSE WITH THAT QUESTION. OKAY, OKAY. I HAVE ABSOLUTELY NO PLANS TO LEAVE THIS AMAZING JOB THAT I HAVE. I THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT DECISION, THOUGH, THAT THE UNIVERSITY IS GOING TO MAKE IN A TIME OF TREMENDOUS STRESS AND CHALLENGE FOR ACADEMIA. OVERALL, THERE ARE MANY, MANY WAYS IN WHICH THE THE CONVERSATIONS NATIONALLY ARE, UM, YOU KNOW, ABOUT WHO BELONGS AND WHAT THE ROLE OF AFFIRMATIVE ACTION IS AND DIVERSITY AND EQUITY AND INCLUSION IN IS BEING DIRECTED AT PARTNERS IN HIGHER EDUCATION. AND SO, UM, YOU KNOW, WE WE KNOW THAT MASSACHUSETTS AND BOSTON IS HOME TO THE, THE BEST OF THE BEST. ITS WHERE THE WORLD LOOKS TO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT MEANS TO LEAD AND TO TEACH, TO EDUCATE AND THEY HAVE A BIG TASK AHEAD OF THEM. AND WELL CONTINUE TO TRY TO SUPPORT WHEREVER WE CAN WHAT DO YOU THINK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED TO CLAUDINE GAY? I THINK IT IS. UM, I, IM VERY SADDENED. I THINK IT WAS A, A VERY QUICK AND RAPID, UM, SERIES OF MISSTEPS AND MISTAKES THAT SHE TOOK ACCOUNTABILITY FOR THAT GOT WRAPPED INTO A MUCH LARGER CONVERSATION ABOUT ISSUES THAT THAT WERE BEYOND WHAT SHE COULD CONTROL AND BEYOND, UM, THE WHAT YOU NORMALLY THINK OF AS WITHIN THE PURVIEW OF A UNIVERSITY. AND SO THERE ARE, UM, DECISION POINTS ALL ACROSS THE COUNTRY AS WE HEAD INTO THIS NEXT YEAR AND THIS NEXT ELECTION CYCLE, ABOUT HOW WE INTERACT WITH EACH OTHER, HOW WE COME TOGETHER AND UNITE CITIES ARE DEFINITELY IN THE CROSSHAIRS. WAS SHE WRONGED CLAUDINE GAY, IN YOUR OPINION, WRONGED. I MEAN, SHE SHE HAS MADE HER DECISION AT THIS POINT AND SHE HAS SPOKEN PUBLICLY ABOUT THE, UM, STATEMENTS THAT SHE WISHES HAD GONE DIFFERENTLY. SHE I DO BELIEVE, THOUGH, THAT THERE WAS VERY MUCH A TARGETED EFFORT HERE BECAUSE OF WHO SHE WAS. THE INSTITUTION SHE REPRESENTED, AND A MOMENT WHERE THERE ARE PEOPLE TRYING TO DISMANTLE THE PROGRESS TO INCLUDE MORE PEOPLE AND TO INCLUDE ALL OF US IN HIGHER EDUCATION IN LEADERSHIP. THIS WAS A THIS WAS VERY MUCH CONNECTED TO THE SAME, UH, SOURCE OF TRYING TO DISMANTLE DEI AND AFFIRMATIVE ACTION AND RESHAPE WHO HAS ACCESS AND WHO BELONGS HERE. WE CANT LET YOU LEAVE WITHOUT ASKING IF YOU ARE PLANNING TO RUN FOR A SECOND TIME. I HAVE, WHICH IS WHY WE KIND OF TRIED TO ASK ABOUT THE HARVARD PRISON. RIGHT? RIGHT, RIGHT, RIGHT. I KNOW, HAPPY BIRTHDAY. ARE YOU RUNNING RIGHT? UM. I LOVE MY JOB. I HAVE A LOT TO DO. AS AS YOU HEARD EARLIER IN THE WEEK, MANY OF OUR PLANS THAT IVE LAID OUT WILL REQUIRE SOME TIME TO UNFOLD. AND TO REALLY IMPLEMENT AND GET GOING. THERE WILL BE PLENTY OF TIME LATER FOR POLITICAL FRUITION. IS THAT. OH, I WOULD LOVE TO. I WOULD LOVE TO. UM, BUT, YOU KNOW, THERES A LOT OF WORK AHEAD OF US AND IM FOCUSED ON GETTING THAT WORK DONE. AND WHEN THERES TIME FOR POLITICS, WELL GET TO THAT IN THE FUTURE. BUT RIGHT

OTR: Mayor Wu weighs in on migrant shelter crisis in Massachusetts

Updated: 12:29 PM EST Jan 14, 2024

The mayor of Boston also addresses speculation that she will step down and become president of her alma mater, Harvard University.

The mayor of Boston also addresses speculation that she will step down and become president of her alma mater, Harvard University.

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OTR: Mayor Wu weighs in on migrant shelter crisis in Mass. - WCVB Boston

New York Begins Evicting Migrant Families Who Hit a Shelter Time Limit – The New York Times

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Since arriving from Venezuela four months ago, Joana Rivas has slowly found some semblance of stability in New York City, picking up occasional cleaning jobs and enrolling her 9-year-old daughter at a public school in Manhattan.

As she navigates her new city, a crucial anchor for Ms. Rivas has been the free housing she was given at a hotel-turned-shelter near Times Square. On Tuesday, however, her time at the shelter ran out. Ms. Rivas had to keep her daughter home from school and pack their belongings to go and apply for new housing.

Tonight, I dont know where well go, Ms. Rivas, 39, said outside a welcoming center for migrants in Midtown Manhattan. I came here just to see what they would tell me, with the hope that my daughter has somewhere to stay tonight.

New York City has begun to evict dozens of migrant families that had reached their 60-day limits on stays in the homeless shelter system, the latest effort by the city to urge more of them to leave and find permanent housing. Nearly 70,000 migrants are living in a patchwork of hotels, homeless shelters and giant, winterized tents set up by the city.

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Mayor Adams scores wins with Hochul policy rollouts, but more migrant aid still unclear – New York Daily News

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Gov. Hochuls State of the State address on Tuesday and the policies she embedded in it include several new measures that are sure to be music to Mayor Adams ears but one noticeable omission was how to manage the migrant crisis in 2024.

Hochul floated plans to give local governments more power to combat unlicensed cannabis sellers and retail theft, and she aims to counter the harms of social media on teenagers through penalizing companies that rely on addictive algorithms all issues Adams has spoken about frequently.

Those measures are contained in a 180-page policy book Hochul put out as part of her State of the State address a book that also neglected to make mention of New York Citys migrant crisis, which had been included in last years policy book. Adams has struggled mightily to manage the migrant surge for nearly two years, and it ranks as one of his top priorities.

And while the words migrant and asylum seeker do not appear once in Hochuls policy book, the governor did raise the situation, however glancingly, during her Albany address, saying that she plans to focus more attention on the issue next week when she presents her budget plan.

Adams said he wasnt disappointed about the scant attention on migrants Tuesday, though.

We met a few weeks ago, and she clearly understands. We both agree this is a national problem, he told reporters in Albany after Hochuls speech. National government must deal with this issue, but its in our lap right now. We both understand that, and she did acknowledge that she will be talking about that in her budget.

Adams wouldnt say how much money in state aid hed like to see from Hochul for migrants in the upcoming budget, but said his budget honcho is working on it with the governors team.

Were going to work together to come to a real number to deal with the financial cost of this, Adams said.

Despite avoiding the migrant issue in large part on Tuesday, Hochul had other goodies to offer Adams.

The mayor has for weeks been calling for the ability to better enforce rules against unlicensed weed shops, which have proliferated in the city since the recreational use of cannabis was legalized in 2021 under a law that allows licensed shops to sell marijuana.

In the administrations policy book, Hochul vows to strengthen enforcement authority to expedite the closure of unlicensed businesses and deter this illicit activity through legislation that will beef up state and local governments ability to shut down unlicensed sellers.

Hochul also unveiled a plan to crack down on shoplifting, citing stats that show larcenies have risen 58% in the city since 2017. To do that, shell task a dedicated team of state police to build cases against organized theft rings and a new joint task force to coordinate efforts with local law enforcement district attorneys. In addition, Hochul plans to increase funding for state Crime Analysis Centers and direct money to cities that partner with them though it is not clear exactly how much money, if any, the city will receive as part of that initiative.

Social media companies which Adams has railed against for months will feel the heat from the state if Hochul has her way as well.

Shes floating a bill that would prohibit social media companies from using addictive feeds with kids under 18 unless a parent consents to them. Instead, it would allow for feeds that have a default chronology from users they already follow. Under her proposal, the state attorney general would be empowered to bring cases against companies with civil penalties of up to $5,000 per violation.

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Mayor Adams scores wins with Hochul policy rollouts, but more migrant aid still unclear - New York Daily News

The Darin Gap migration crisis in six graphs, and one map – The New Humanitarian

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A record 520,000 migrants crossed the treacherous jungle corridor connecting Colombia and Panam known as the Darin Gap in 2023. Less than a decade ago, that figure was only a few thousand, but the number has been doubling annually in recent years, and a further surge is expected in 2024.

2023 has broken all records. It has been a huge, terrible maelstrom, Elas Cornejo, who runs Fe y Alegra, an NGO promoting education and social advancement for migrants in Panam, told The New Humanitarian. And we expect a new increase [in 2024].

Services like Fe y Alegra on both sides of the Colombia-Panama border are becoming engulfed as the needs of vast numbers of vulnerable people traversing dangerous territory overwhelm local communities and aid groups trying to help.

The migrants take the 97-kilometre jungle trek over steep and muddy terrain and along fast-flowing rivers because it is the only overland route from South America into Central America. Once in Panam, where government reception centres are overrun, most hope to head northwards through Mexico to the southern US border, but these journeys are also full of risks.

Read more: The challenges facing the humanitarian response

The few humanitarian agencies and organisations operating on the ground in and around the Darin Gap are struggling to meet the soaring needs of those crossing, not least because of the insecurity in the region.

The Colombian side of the jungle is mostly controlled by the Gulf Clan a criminal organisation involved in drug and human trafficking that made an estimated $57 million from extortion along the migration route in just 10 months last year. The cartel controls most aspects of the route, determining who can assist and therefore heavily restricting the humanitarian response. In Panam, several international organisations help the migrants who reach the Indigenous communities of Bajo Chiquito and Canan Membrillo, and in government-run reception centres at the edge of the jungle, in San Vicente and Lajas Blancas. Those facilities, however, are meant to host less than 1,000 people per day. Instead, in 2023, they were receiving up to 5,500.

Diana Romero, emergency specialist at UNICEF Panam, told The New Humanitarian that coming up with the right emergency response hasn't been easy in a high-income country that was unprepared to deal with such needs. Panama had not faced situations of disasters or crises, so they didnt have the implementation partners needed, she said. In 2019, there were no local humanitarian teams, because there never was a demand for that. There were no specialists in WASH, gender, or nutrition.

As they cross the Darin Gap and beyond, migrants face unchecked abuses by criminal groups, rampant sexual violence, a cascade of physical and mental health impacts, and worse: Between January 2021 and March 2023, Panamanian authorities found a reported 124 bodies on the route, mostly through drowning, but thats thought to be a fraction of the real number of deaths, as many go unreported.

Many making these difficult journeys are escaping regional violence and economic crises in countries like Venezuela, Haiti, and Cuba, but increasing numbers have also been coming from countries in the Middle East, Africa, and Asia, including China.

With no sign of a let-up in 2024, here are six graphs (and one map) that show the scale and evolving nature of the crisis, with analysis to unpack those trends.

A number of factors caused the dramatic 2023 uptick in Darin Gap crossings. Changes in migration policies across the region have made it more difficult for those trying to reach the United States from South America to cross borders legally. Several countries imposed visa restrictions on Venezuelans and Haitians, even as countries such as Chile and Peru militarised their borders, pushing migrants to leave northward. In 2023, US President Joe Bidens administration ended Title 42 a pandemic-era border restriction which motivated more people to head to the United States even though Biden soon adopted measures making it extremely difficult for them to seek asylum, and ramped up deportations. The lack of adequate integration policies has also been a driver. Among Haitians and Venezuelans in the Darin, many are migrating for the second time, from countries such as Brazil and Chile where they faced xenophobia, obstacles to regularise their status, and poor job opportunities. In April, Panam, Colombia and the United States agreed on a tripartite plan to open up new regular migration routes to stem the flow, but so far no progress has been made.

From 2019 to 2022, most migrants crossing the Darin were Haitian and Cuban, but in the past two years Venezuelans have taken the lead, and the number of Ecuadorians seeking to escape from violence and poverty has also significantly increased. However, far from all the migrants crossing the Darin are Latin American, and the growing presence of migrants from other continents is garnering the attention of humanitarians, who must now cater their responses to those who dont speak Spanish and are foreigners to the region. Chinese, Afghans, Indians, and nationals of different African countries have to confront language and cultural barriers, as well as the other dangers.

The journey through the Darin Gap usually starts in the Colombian ports of Necocl or Turbo, where local communities offer maritime transportation to the towns of Acand or Capurgan. Migrants are charged high amounts of money for every section of the trip. After crossing by boat, they must pay again to be allowed to continue through the jungle to the Panamanian side. There are three main paths leading to the government-run reception centres of Lajas Blancas and San Vicente, through the communities of Bajo Chiquito or Canan Membrillo. The crossing lasts from 5 to 15 days and total costs range from $435 to more than $1,000 per person. There is also a more expensive VIP route, mostly used by Chinese. Migrants and asylum seekers then continue their trip to the Temporary Attention Center for Migrants (CATEM) in Costa Rica, from where, since October, they are directly transferred by bus to the Costa Rica-Nicaragua border. Many, however, run out of money before starting the trek and remain stranded in Turbo and Necocl, where they are vulnerable to extortion, violence, and human trafficking.

According to Diana Romero, emergency specialist at UNICEF Panam, one in five migrants crossing the Darin is a child half of them under the age of five. Although there are no accurate figures, there are many reports of children dying during the trek. The number of unaccompanied children is of particular concern. In 2022, UNICEF assisted about 1,000 unaccompanied minors, but in 2023 that figure reached 3,300. Of those, 67% were teenagers, 21% children aged between 6 and 12, and of the rest, 10% are babies, Romero said. Often, younger children get separated from their relatives during the trek only managing to reunite later on. According to Francisco Pulido, Plan Internationals director of humanitarian action and stabilisation in Colombia, teenagers tend to travel in friend groups often motivated by misinformation shared on social media. In other cases, the entire family cannot afford to continue the trek so parents leave their children in camps, hoping to send them money to follow on later.

Most of the medical cases that aid organisations come across and treat are related to the dangers of the jungle itself, or due to the lack of access to clean water and food en route. Theres no data available, but humanitarian groups say there has also been a rising number of migrants travelling with pre-existing chronic conditions psychiatric disorders, diabetes, hypertension, or asthma. These people often require emergency assistance because their medications get lost or stolen.

The traumatic experience of those crossing the Darin is also causing high numbers of mental health consultations. According to a recent Action Against Hunger report, women bear the brunt, and are often carrying children with no support. While survivors of sexual violence may suffer from depression, suicidal thoughts, and sleep disorders, others feel the emotional burdens and stress of caring for the family in such extreme conditions.

During 2022, Mdecins Sans Frontires (MSF) treated 232 survivors of sexual violence in the Darin Gap. Between January and November 2023, that number had soared to 462. According to what patients tell us, the modus operandi is getting crueller, Cristina Zugasti, MSF representative in Panam, told The New Humanitarian. Large groups are being kidnapped, forced to lay down face to the ground, and then robbed, physically attacked, and sexually abused. MSF figures, she added, are much lower than the reality. Many cases remain unreported because survivors don't see sexual attacks as a medical emergency, and they also don't want to delay the arrivals to their destinations. Threats from the perpetrators are another reason for survivors not to seek assistance.

Reported from Santiago, Chile by Daniela Mohor, with data visualisation from Zurich, Switzerland by Sofa Kuan.

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The Darin Gap migration crisis in six graphs, and one map - The New Humanitarian

Idaho White Nationalism: Inside a New Class of Republican Power – The Daily Dot

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So this place is Satans temple, Dan Gookin said ironically. The cozy confines of the pub in downtown Coeur dAlene, Idaho dont bear any resemblance to a place for worshiping anything but a cold pint or bangers and mash.

Gookin explained that they used to have a poster for Menstruatin with Satan, a fundraiser for menstrual supplies organized by the Satanic Temple of Idaho. The Satanic Temple is a non-theistic organization that encourages benevolence and empathy, rejects tyranny, and advocates for bodily autonomy. In recent years, its become best known for fighting for reproductive freedom. Members dont worship or even believe in Satan.

Nevertheless, it drives conservative Christians wild.

Gookin has a frank manner and strong, clear voice. He tends to speak quickly with a serious delivery belied by the occasional flash of a dry wit. On an evening in late November, he said the poster convinced some local right-wingers that the pub is affiliated with the dark lord, a ridiculous, inaccurate assumption thats also convenient for his purposes. They wont step foot in the place.

We had campaign meetings here because we knew that there would be no spies, Gookin said. See, we can talk freely in here because we know there will never be a wacko anywhere near us.

The whackos are the Kootenai County Republican Central Committee (KCRCC) and their allies. Gookin, a conservative best known nationally for creating the For Dummies books, is a longtime city councilman and KCRCC member. These days hes persona non grata with the committee, not that he seems to mind.

They didnt count on me calling them out, Gookin said on a recent episode of his YouTube show, Kootenai Rants.

Idaho Republicans are in the midst of a civil war between the far-right wing and relative moderates like Gookin. In recent years, far-right extremists have moved to the heavily white and conservative state as part of an ideological migration that accelerated during the pandemic. Far-right comedian Owen Benjamin now lives about an hour-and-a-half north of Coeur dAlene.

Rather than reject the extremists, some powerful Republicans have embraced the Holocaust deniers and white nationalists whove made Idaho their home. This outrages many longtime locals of the county that famously defeated the neo-Nazi Aryan Nations decades ago. Gookin and other conservatives are fighting back in the press, election booth, and courts.

Its an uphill battle; the opposition is well-funded, organized, and willing to get its hands dirty. It even has a network of print and online publications steadily pumping propaganda into the information ecosystem.

This story is part of a series exploring far-right figures and groups impact on communities theyve relocated to in Idaho, West Virginia, Florida, and Maine; and what, if anything, those communities are doing about it. The Daily Dot spent the last several months visiting these communities, talking to locals, consulting historic and public records, and interviewing experts on extremism.

As the 2024 election approaches, the far-right will become more visible and vocal.

Former President Donald Trumps 2016 victory emboldened the neo-Nazis and white supremacists who coalesced at the deadly Unite the Right rally. His 2020 defeat inspired militias, conspiracy theorists, and hate groups to attack democracy. Both corresponded with increases in hate, antisemitism, and white supremacy that came screaming from the internet into the real world.

They may have failed on Jan. 6, 2021, but theyre back, mobilized, and ready to fight. Seizing control of places like Coeur dAlene is one of the ways theyre plotting their comeback.

Gookin isnt cowed. We need to fight this.

The week after Thanksgiving, Coeur dAlene was decked out in 1.5 million holiday lights sparkling off the lake and into the darkness beyond. Business was in full swing in the town of 55,000. Each night sold-out boats took excited children to see Santa Claus while adults packed into warm bars and restaurants for a bite and a bit to take the edge off.

Washington is less than an hour west and in another political world compared to Idaho, one of the most consistently Republican states in America. More Idahoans voted for Trump in 2020 than 2016. The state hasnt voted for a Democratic presidential candidate since Lyndon Johnson, and it chose Richard Nixon (R) over John F. Kennedy (D) in the election before that.

Its also a longtime harbor for racists.

From the mid-1970s to the turn of the century, the white supremacist Aryan Nations had a 20-acre compound in Kootenai County, which encompasses Coeur dAlene. Aryan Nations declared bankruptcy following a $6.3 million verdict against it in a case brought by a mother and son who were shot at and beaten by its security guards.

Fluffy white snow blanketed Coeur dAlene as Kate Bitz, 38, recalled hearing stories about all-ages punk shows turning into brawls when skinheads showed up and seeing news coverage of white supremacists marching down Sherman Avenue when she was growing up just across the border in Washington. On outings to Farragut State Park, theyd sometimes have to make a snap decision if the guys with the white power tattoos are showing up, do we leave and give them the whole beach, or stay.

Growing up in a hotbed of extremism led Bitz to a career opposing it. She works for the advocacy nonprofit Western States Center.

Bitz isnt surprised that the far-right is resurging. Idaho is the longtime home of a variety of extremists, ranging from evangelicals to neo-Nazis. People forget how multifaceted it was, she said, adding, This has all happened before in a different form.

Extremist groups have been active in Idaho for decades, Bitz said. For example, Northwest Front was described by Politico as Americas worst racists in 2015; racist mass murderer Dylann Roof highlighted the group in his manifesto. Northwest Front has been encouraging people to move to the Pacific Northwest to create a white ethno-state for years. American Redoubt, which has been described as white Christian nationalist (it identifies as a non-racist preparedness movement for Christian patriots), has been recruiting people to move to the area for over a decade. Idaho GOP Chair Dorothy Moon is a member of the far-right John Birch Society.

Now theres a new crop of extremists.

David Reilly and Vincent James Foxx are two of the most notorious newcomers in Idaho politics. Theyre part of far-right efforts to take control from the bottom up via the precinct strategy championed by Steve Bannon. Both are affiliated with white nationalist Nick Fuentes. Reilly has professed being a fan of Fuentes and reportedly attended his CPAC alternative, America First Political Action Conference. Foxx is the national treasurer of Fuentes America First organization.

Reilly became the focus of a scandal about his attendance of Unite the Right in 2017. He subsequently resigned from his fathers radio station where he was a host. InvestigateWest reports he sported a pin with the logo of the neo-Nazi Identity Evropa to the rally. In his resignation letter, Reilly denied being racist, white supremacist, or a neo-Nazi. A judge later threw out his lawsuit against a Pennsylvania-based news outlet and individuals he claimed had defamed him by calling him racist.

In recent years, Reilly called himself a Fuentes stan. Reilly is also purportedly an ally of the Unite the Right marcher best known for the catchphrase Hitler did nothing wrong. He has a lengthy history of antisemitic posts on X, formerly known as Twitter. Reilly did not respond to interview requests.

Reilly made his way to Idaho a few years ago.

In 2021, Reilly sought a seat on an Idaho school board, which he lost with 47% of the vote. (KCRCC endorsed him.) During the campaign, a group from his Pennsylvania hometown urged people to vote against him because of his involvement in Unite the Right.

When Reilly left our community, he acknowledged himself, not even McDonalds would hire [him]. Please consider if you, the voter, would want to hire Reilly to create policy for your schools, Bloomsburg Stand Against Hate wrote.

He didnt have as much trouble finding employment in Idaho.

During his failed 2022 gubernatorial campaign, anti-government militant Ammon Bundy paid $30,000 to a firm the Inlander reports was linked to Reilly. KCRCC also paid Reillys company $11,000 for videos.

Bitz said of KCRCC Chair Brent Regans association with the men, I think he sees Reilly and Vincent James as his pet white nationalists who he can push consulting money to during elections.

Regan did not respond to interview requests.

In December, InvestigateWest reported that Idaho Freedom Foundation (IFF), which Regan also chairs, employs Reilly to help with its communications strategy. The piece noted that Reilly has claimed Jews invented terrorism and control the media.

In response to the story, Regan penned an op-ed claiming he has no authority over IFFs hiring decisions and claiming its Jewish president, Wayne Hoffman, interviewed Reilly. I believe it is fair to say that Wayne Hoffmans sensitivity to anti-Semitism is greater than mine so that if he is okay with Reilly, so am I and so should you, Regan wrote. He also denied that Reilly is antisemitic or a white supremacist.

Regans editorial made no mention of Unite the Right.

Last week, amid rising criticism, IFF announced that Hoffman had been replaced with a far-right former lawmaker. It did not say if Hoffman quit or was fired.

Holocaust denier Foxx is another white nationalist who found more welcoming pastures in Idaho in recent years. In 2017, ProPublica described Foxx as a 31-year-old video blogger and livestreamer with a fondness for white supremacists and radical right-wing politics. It reported that Foxx was essentially an unofficial propagandist for Rise Above Movement (RAM), a violent, racist group at the center of much of the violence at Unite the Right. Three members were convicted for violence they committed at Unite the Right.

He didnt merely document RAMs violence, per ProPublica. The outlet reports that Foxx could be heard screaming, Get that f*cking cuck! in a YouTube video he posted of a RAM member and several others pummeling a man in California. Identity Evropa founder Nathan Damigo fought alongside RAM that day.

In 2021, Foxx moved from California to Idaho.

He was photographed with then-Lt. Gov. Janice McGeachin (R); Media Matters for America reported he said he had deep connections to her. Last January, he gave a speech to a group of north Idaho Republicans in which the Southern Poverty Law Center reports he echoed the racist great replacement conspiracy theory that whites are being intentionally displaced by nonwhite immigrants. In September, a former school board member who was once a KCRCC committeewoman claimed he said political leaders convinced him to move there.

Since becoming an Idahoan, Foxx has continued to espouse white nationalist talking points. He did not respond to interview requests.

Foxx is the national treasurer of Fuentes America First organization. In 2022, Foxx gushed great clip!! of a video of Ye (formerly Kanye West) praising Hitler. After Fuentes infamously had dinner with Trump, Foxx bragged, We have in fact infiltrated the mainstream flank of the GOP. Just look at what Tucker Carlson is talking about lately. We have parts of the nation talking about secession, talking about banning gay marriage. Last month, Foxx posted a video of actor Michael Rapaport claiming people would be thrown off a building for asking where to find an LGBTQ business in Gaza. Foxx captioned it, Wait a minute. Do I love Gaza now??!

Right Wing Watch unearthed a video of him saying, We are the Christian Taliban and we will not stop until The Handmaids Tale is a reality and even worse than that.

Last year, Foxx ran for chair of the Idaho Young Republicans. In his pitch for votes, he advocated using the precinct strategy to install extremists in positions throughout the state.

He lost.

People agree that Foxx and Reilly are just the tip of the spear.

Sarah Lynch is the executive director of North Idaho Pride Alliance (NIPA). Over coffee at Evans Brothers Coffee, a cheerful space on the same street where white supremacists used to march during Aryan Nations heyday, Lynch said after she and her wife moved to the area, she noticed it was a weird mix of like Nazis and granola hippies.

The darker side of the picturesque town was front and center in June 2022 when 31 members of the white nationalist Patriot Front were arrested en route to Pride in the Park in Coeur dAlene.

The incident stunned the nation. Patriot Front is one of the most active white supremacist groups in America and it often posts photos of its activities in Idaho. But a few dozen men in riot gear in the back of a U-Haul is a significant escalation from sneaking around at night to spray paint stencils and hang banners, which the hate group usually sticks to.

All the men were charged with conspiracy to riot; many have been convicted or pled guilty since then. Charges were dismissed against Patriot Front leader Thomas Rousseau last fall.

Police officers were doxed and received death threats after the arrests. Police Chief Lee White told media that they got 100 calls afterwardhalf from supporters and half from critics.

While Patriot Front generated headlines and fear, Lynch said it couldve been much worse.

Despite all the hateful rhetoric that was going on last year, and despite the events that occurred, we still had our largest ever Pride in the Park. It was our first one back since COVID, there were over 2,500 people there, Lynch said.

Lynch, a retired veteran with a Ph.D. in public safety, said that theyd established a communication line with law enforcement before the event, which has strengthened with time. The arrests also spurred some local and state officials to publicly support LGBTQ equality. Mayor Jim Hammond (R) declared June as Pride Month. Weeks before Lynch sat down for coffee, Hammond was named a Pillar of Idaho for his public stance against extremism.

These developments may have some feeling optimistic, but it isnt all sunshine and rainbows in Kootenai County.

Lynch said some families with queer children have moved away; others have said their queer adult relatives wont even come home for Thanksgiving because they dont feel safe there.

She described the homophobic and transphobic segment of the extreme far-right as a very loud minority.

As long as nobody else stands up and says anything, then thats the only narrative thats heard, she said.

Several years ago, Army veteran Sam Rowland moved back to the area where he was born. Rowland, a musician, has a thick red beard and eyes that seem older than his 39 years. He did a couple tours in Iraq; he said Coeur dAlene reminded him of the small town in Saudi Arabia where he grew up.

Then 2020 happened and it exposed itself. He paused. It re-exposed itself.

During the civil rights protests inspired by George Floyds murder, people took to the streets of Coeur dAlene to protect the community from antifa. Photos from the publication that Reilly purportedly runs show heavily armed men, most of whom appear to be white, gathered on the sidewalk downtown.

Rowland said some wore insignias identifying themselves as members of militia-type groups like the III Percenters. Prominent white supremacists were out there, he said. I was followed home.

He and others said that churches in the area have become breeding grounds for extremism, with pastors making little to no effort to separate politics from theology.

Rowland sees whats happening in Coeur dAlene as part of a larger strategy. You have to take the little towns first, he said.

It appears that they would like to have it turned into a very conservative quasi-religious institution that still has the benefit of public funding.

A large Coeur dAlene rejects hate sign hangs in the window of Crown & Thistle Pub. Jennifer and Ben Drake spent years making plans for the British-style pub, which served its first half-pint in 2019. Every detail, from the cask ales to the 120-year-old bar and the menu, which includes bangers made by Ben and a delectable Guinness short rib pie, is designed to make you feel like youre steps away from London Bridge, albeit in a snug in northern Idaho. (A snug is an enclosed booth from when it was faux pas for women to be seen drinking alcohol in public.)

Jennifers family has been in Coeur dAlene for five generations. Running the Crown & Thistle in her hometown is the fulfillment of a dream first glimpsed attending the University of St. Andrews in Scotland. Its come with nightmares that have nothing to do with Scotch eggs or ales.

Shes the type of person who stands up for what she thinks is right. Rejecting hate aligns with those values.

Over the din of the suppertime crowd on a snowy Friday night in December, Ben said they originally put up an 8 x 11 sign. Then, he said, We started getting hate mail.

They brushed it off, deciding to increase the size of the sign each time they received another hateful missive.

When she was a kid, Jen said the town was united against the Aryan Nations. Now theyre divided between people who fall in line and those who take a stand.

Both Drakes are Republicans. Yet theyve ended up on the opposite side of Regan and the partys radical flank.

Theyve infiltrated the community to the point that they say they are the community, Jen said.

The incidents, Jen said, escalated gradually. People call them liberals online. They dogpile the pub with one-star reviews. Insane misinformation floats from the internet to the streets.

They honestly think Im a Satan-worshiping communist witch, Jen said in a pained voice. And its too much for me. Im Lutheran. Im tired.

As chair of both IFF and KCRCC, Brent Regan is a powerful force in Idaho politics. IFF rates politicians based on their voting records; the more conservative, the higher the rating. KCRCC recruits and endorses candidates. These efforts have been effective. Various positions of power in Kootenai County are now held by people who score high on IFFs ideological purity tests and have the KCRCC stamp of approval.

Several people said that the candidates might check the right boxes, but they can struggle to govern effectively. They pointed to North Idaho College (NIC), whose board is under far-right control.

NIC has been hemorrhaging money since they took over. Worse, the 90-year-old community colleges accreditation is hanging by a thread.

A bust of Patrick Stewart circa Star Trek gazed down from the shelf in Dan Englishs office at Healing Hearts, the mental healthcare clinic he runs with his wife. A quilt hangs on the wall by his desk; English mentioned with endearing husbandly pride that his wife made it. Bagpipes softly played holiday music as English shared memories of the town where he was born and raised.

English, the lone Democrat on the city council, has been an elected official in Coeur dAlene for 30 years. He previously served on the school board and as clerk-auditor. He describes himself as an election geek who enjoys crunching data. The numbers from 2020 were extremely illuminating to him.

Eighty-five-plus [percent] had been a registered voter here less than like, you know, two years or four years or something. So its no wonder they have a hard time passing bonds for schools, he said.

English said that some of the transplants are from the extreme right and others are more traditional conservatives. The newcomers include a lot of retired police, so many from Los Angeles, in fact, that the area is sometimes called LAPD North. Theres also a contingent of liberals. The combination creates what he calls a weird melting pot.

It pains him to see his hometown torn apart by politics.

The sad part is how much time, energy, and financial resources is wasted over these ideology battles, or just peoples inflated ego, like the college, English said.

After the far-right took over NICs board, it fired the college president, who sued for wrongful termination and received a $500,000 settlement. NIC later put his replacement on leave; a court in a separate lawsuit determined this was without cause and ordered it to reinstate him and for the school to pay his attorneys fees.

Between litigation with the president it was deemed to have placed on leave without cause and a separate case the local newspaper brought over public records (NIC lost that too), attorneys fees, travel costs for officials from the accreditation agency, and training for the board itself, the Coeur dAlene Press reports that its spent $1.2 million. An Idaho Statesman columnist recently referred to this as an incompetence tax.

Now English says NIC cant afford the light bill to keep the library open a few extra hours on Sundays.

Its ironic that people get elected are a lot of those, anti-education, anti-science, and yet they want to be in positions of monitoring educators, he said. It appears that they would like to have it turned into a very conservative quasi-religious institution that still has the benefit of public funding.

Education has been thrust into the forefront of the conservative culture wars across the country.

KCRCC candidates won control of the library board last year by campaigning on reducing childrens access to sexually explicit books. During the campaign, KCRCC reportedly circulated a letter falsely accusing the incumbents of giving kids access to graphic books with text and pictures describing every imaginable sex act, books so explicit that if you were to give them to a child, you would be committing a crime.

They may have gone too far. The two women who allege they were smeareda lawyer and a longtime member of the library boardare suing Regan and KCRCC for defamation.

City councilman Gookin is also wrapped up in a defamation suit with KCRCC. Its suing him over what he characterizes as mean tweets. KCRCC claims that Regan has demonstrated profound ill will and malice toward many KCRCC officers and affiliated candidatesin particular, KCRCCs chairman, Brent Regan on his YouTube show, Kootenai Rants, and posts on X.

The KCRCC appreciates that Gookin is entitled to engage in speech that is protected by the First Amendment, the complaint states. However, his recent statements have crossed the line from protected speech into unprotected defamation because they accuse KCRCC of rigging its 2023 candidate rating and vetting process, perpetrating a fraud on its members, and violating campaign finance lawsthings which simply have not happened.

Gookin views their case as an attack on his free speech right to criticize them. He seems eager to have his day in court.

Its ping-pong time, he said in an email earlier this month.

Gookin describes the political migrants who are pushing Idaho further to the right as people who were p*ssed off living in more liberal areas. He said this migratory pattern accelerated during the pandemic because they thought theyd have more freedom there. (The libertarian Cato Institute actually ranks Idaho 49th in personal freedom.)

But it didnt absolve their anger.

They hate our governor. They hate our legislators. They hate elected officials like me, they hate people whove made it a conservative state, Gookin said. And they want to replace them with their own people who, like we see in Washington, D.C., are incompetent and incapable of governing.

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Idaho White Nationalism: Inside a New Class of Republican Power - The Daily Dot

Scientists tested 10 meals to find the perfect food for space travel – Livescience.com

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Maintaining a balanced diet can be hard enough on Earth, but it's even more difficult in space especially when you're talking about long-haul missions. Although space-based agriculture has made strides in recent years, growing fresh crops in space is no easy feat, and each bit of food or water stored in a spacecraft adds mass, thus weighing down the vessel during its journey out of orbit.

Scientists recently studied possible nutrient-dense meals fit for long-term space travel, such as potential Mars missions, that both satisfy astronauts' nutritional needs and taste better than existing alternatives. They tested 10 dishes to see which would be the optimal meal for male astronauts; they plan to specifically study meals for female astronauts in the future. The best meal would help space travelers get the calories and variety of nutrients they need during their odysseys and use crops that could be grown in space with minimal water.

Ultimately, the best space meal turned out to be a hearty kale salad, according to their study, published Dec. 13 in the journal ACS Food Science & Technology.

"These assessments are essential steps toward feasibility in long-term human space missions, for example, to Mars," the authors wrote.

Space travelers have different nutritional requirements than people on Earth do. That's because astronauts face unique stressors, including the vibration, noise, weightlessness, cosmic radiation and drastic temperature changes inherent to spaceflight. Research suggests that a male astronaut needs to consume around 2.6 pounds (1.2 kilograms) of food per day to maintain their body weight and energy levels. That diet should include more than double the carbohydrates and proteins than a typical person on Earth would require.

Related: NASA reveals first image of 'space tomatoes' that went missing on the ISS for 8 months, and they're gross

With this in mind, the team assessed a variety of nutrient-dense ingredients using a statistical model, which also measured the foods' capability of being grown in space or stored for a long time in a spacecraft. This model yielded 10 "space dishes"; four were vegetarian, and six were made with plants and meat.

Compared with plants, meat options typically provide a higher concentration of certain key nutrients, such as protein and vitamin B12. However, the storage of animal products "requires a large space for long-term space missions," making them tough ingredients to regularly include in an astronaut's diet, the study's authors wrote. (In addition, there aren't yet efficient methods for growing lab-grown meat, although the field is advancing.)

The team couldn't include baked goods like bread, because crumbs can float around in microgravity and damage equipment in the spacecraft.

Crops, on the other hand, could be grown during space travel. Considering all of these factors, the researchers' models determined that the optimal dish to meet astronauts' nutritional needs while being feasible for space travel is a vegetarian salad made with soybeans, poppy seeds, barley, kale, peanuts, sweet potato and sunflower seeds but notably, no salad dressing.

"I think their choice was very well done," Kathleen Carter, a nutritional researcher at Central State University in Ohio who was not involved in the study, told Live Science. "I think that as we start extending our time in space, we're going to have to go to more plant-based. We're going to have to be able to grow our own resources."

Beyond nutritional value, the researchers studied another factor in the ideal astronaut meal: taste. They fed four volunteers the optimized space salad and recorded their feedback on its palatability. Overall, the results were positive, with one volunteer saying they "enjoyed the sweet taste of the potatoes and freshness crunch."

However, the researchers flagged some key limitations with this meal option.

While some plants, including Chinese cabbage and tomatoes, have been cultivated in space in recent decades, there still isn't a reliable and efficient cultivation system to maximize output in this environment, they noted in the study. Additionally, the optimized salad is still missing some of the vitamins and minerals an astronaut would need each day, though these could be provided through supplements, the authors wrote.

Future studies should also consider the cultural and individual dietary requirements of each astronaut, Carter said. Their space menu would need to accomodate any allergies, personal preferences or dietary restrictions, she added.

"Different cultures are going to want different types of foods," Carter said. "Making sure that food looks good, that it tastes good [and] that it's something that they really want to eat, in addition to being very nutrient dense, is going to be very important."

The researchers plan to use their models to design meals for female astronauts and to incorporate more crops into its algorithm, according to a statement.

Ever wonder why some people build muscle more easily than others or why freckles come out in the sun? Send us your questions about how the human body works to community@livescience.com with the subject line "Health Desk Q," and you may see your question answered on the website!

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Scientists tested 10 meals to find the perfect food for space travel - Livescience.com

Starfield Fan Discovers Early Starmap, Hints At Harder Space Travel – TheGamer

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Starfield's space travel is pretty simple. You open a map, select a dot, and zoom off. There's no fuel and you won't stumble into any obstacles, aside from the odd raider, but originally it was much more gruelling.

Todd Howard said in 2022 that, during development, "Your ship would run out of fuel and the game would just stop", pointing to more realistic intergalactic travel. The concept was scrapped, with the grav drive being used to limit how far you can go instead. But now we know a little bit more about that old system.

As reported by GamesRadar, a dataminer uncovered a pre-launch starmap with UI elements pointing to fuel consumption and potential hazards. You can see it in the Reddit post embedded below.

On the right-hand side of the starmap we can see the "Jump Data" tab which details how long it will take to travel the distance you've selected. Underneath, it lists how much fuel a jump will consume, with a handy little bar displaying how much you currently have and what will be left after.

Underneath all of these stats are the problems you can encounter on your journey. In this case, we see solar radiation which will result in "light hull damage" and micrometeoroids that "can cause catastrophic stop". It's unclear how you would counter these problems, but upgrading your ship would likely have increased your odds, making it more difficult to reach higher-level areas from the start as you'd be stuck with a scrappy little vessel.

We were playing that and it became very punitive to the player. Your ship would run out of fuel and the game would just stop. You just want to get back to what you're doing. So we recently changed it where the fuel in your ship and the grav drive limits how far you can go at once, but it doesn't run out of fuel.

Interestingly, Bethesda didn't just cut features that made travel tougher, but quality-of-life elements too. In the starmap, we can see a filter system that dataminer redsaltyborger says "appears to be an overlay for economy/trade". It would have also highlighted potential hazards, which is likely why it was cut, but fans are calling on Bethesda to return the feature so that they can see where star yards and trade authority vendors are.

As for whether Starfield will ever see such arduous space travel return as an optional difficulty mode, Howard did say that it could surface in a future update, perhaps akin to Fallout 4 and Skyrim's survival mode. He also said that a mod might bring it back, so it could be up to the community to restore these scrapped ideas.

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Starfield Fan Discovers Early Starmap, Hints At Harder Space Travel - TheGamer

Faster Space Travel with Advanced Technologies – BNN Breaking

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Revolutionising Space Travel: Faster Times and Advanced Technology

In a significant stride towards expedited interplanetary travel, a new online calculator for Lamberts Targeting Problem (LTP) is allowing for the generation of launch and arrival v-infinity pork-chop plots for space missions between solar system targets. This development was discussed by Scott Manley, who highlighted the potential for faster travel times from Earth to Mars.

The SpaceX Starship, with its facility for orbital refueling, has the potential to carry additional fuel, thereby augmenting its speed and minimizing travel time to Mars. A spreadsheet elucidating the Delta-V calculations for the SpaceX Starship demonstrates the potential for increased velocity, primarily due to the performance of SpaceXs Raptor engines and the anticipated improvements with the new LEET 1337 engines.

These engines are postulated to be simpler, lighter, and more cost-effective, with a higher production volume. SpaceX is also contemplating the possibility of larger fuel tanks for the Starship. The travel time and fuel estimates are premised on a low earth orbit refueling scenario, but could see significant enhancement with the introduction of a reusable tug, which would propel the Mars-bound Starship to near Earth escape velocity, conserving onboard fuel for deceleration and landing phases.

Affordability in space travel is a critical factor, and SpaceX aims to reduce costs by manufacturing cheaper, fully reusable ships and engines, and by producing methane fuel from natural gas or by utilizing solar power on Earth and Mars. The key innovations include reducing the cost of ships and engines by factors of 100 to 1000 and achieving full reusability. Aerobraking in the Martian atmosphere is also being explored as a fuel-free method for landing on Mars, although it has a maximum effective speed.

The discussion also references academic papers providing an approximate analytical solution to the LTP, noting that the solar system bodies are assumed to move in Keplerian orbits and that the calculations can have errors of up to 15-20% when considering very inefficient transfer arcs.

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Faster Space Travel with Advanced Technologies - BNN Breaking

James Shapiro, MD: Insulin Production In T1D Patients After Stem Cell Therapy – MD Magazine

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Recently, data from studies developing novel cell replacement therapies to address significant unmet needs in severe disease, including type 1 diabetes (T1D).

The study in question is an ongoing, first-in-human Phase study that reported that its stem-cell therapy produced insulin in people with severe T1D. A total of 17 patients were implanted with the ViaCyte PEC-Direct device at 6 different centers, with the device comprising pancreatic cells (PEC-01) contained within pouches for subcutaneous placement.

In an interview with HCPLive, James Shapiro MD PhD, Canada Research Chair and Director of the Islet Transplant Program at the University of Alberta and lead author of the Cell Reports Medicine report, discussed the findings of the study and what they ultimately represent.

It was a very successful trial in terms of demonstrating the safety, it was absolutely safe for patients, while they were, you know, many different potential side effects on the anti rejection drugs and the minor surgeries that the patients went through, they tolerated the placement and the removal of the devices exceedingly well, Shapiro said.

The trial results indicated 34% of patients had evidence of C-peptide production, while 63% of patients had evidence of surviving insulin producing cells at different time points when the devices were taken out and examined under a microscope.

Shapiro went on to describe the next wave of trials using gene-edited products that will not require anti-rejection drugs, called PEC-QT. He noted the difference between a treatment and a cure is the limitless source of cells and lack of need for rejection drugs.

I think if that happened, then we really would have a therapy that could be given to children just diagnosed with diabetes, they could be given to patients with all forms of diabetes, not just patients with T1D, he said. So, I think this does herald a big step forward for for stem cell based therapists in the cure potential curative treatment for all forms of diabetes.

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James Shapiro, MD: Insulin Production In T1D Patients After Stem Cell Therapy - MD Magazine

ROR2 expression predicts human induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation into neural stem/progenitor cells and … – Nature.com

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Cell culture

Commercially available hiPSC lines were used in this study (Supplementary Table 1). HiPSC lines were obtained from RIKEN Cell Bank (201B7, 253G1, 409B2, HiPS-RIKEN-1A, HiPS-RIKEN-2A, and HiPS-RIKEN-12A), American Type Culture Collection (ATCC-DYR0110 hiPSC and ATCC-HYR01103 hiPSC), JCRB Cell Bank (Tic), and System Biosciences (human mc-iPS). HiPSCs were screened for mycoplasma contamination and hiPSCs used in this study were mycoplasma-free. Undifferentiated hiPSCs were maintained on an iMatrix-511 (Nippi) in StemFit AK02 medium (Ajinomoto). All cells were cultured at 37C in a humidified atmosphere containing 5% CO2 and 95% air.

Differentiation of hiPSCs into NS/PCs was induced, as previously reported, with a few modifications. For adhesive differentiation, hiPSCs were detached through incubation with StemPro Accutase (Thermo Fisher Scientific) containing 10M Y-27632 for 10min and seeded onto 24-well cell culture plates (BD Biosciences) coated with iMatrix at a density of 25,000 cells/cm2 for 23days before NS/PC induction. Confluent hiPSCs were treated with 10M of the ALK inhibitor SB431542 (Stemgent) and 500ng/mL of Noggin (R&D systems) in DMEM/F12 medium containing 20% KSR. The medium was replaced on days 1 and 2. On day 6 of differentiation, SB431542 was withdrawn, and increasing amounts of N2 media (25%, 50%, and 75%) were added to the knockout serum replacement medium every 2days while maintaining 500ng/mL of Noggin. For suspension differentiation, hiPSCs were treated with 10M Y-27632 for 1h at 37C and dissociated with StemPro Accutase (Thermo Fisher Scientific) containing 10M Y-27632 for 10min to generate single-cell suspensions and suspended in B27N2-based medium [DMEM/F12 with 15mM HEPES, 5% B27, and 5% N2 supplements (Life Technologies), 10M SB431542, 2M Dorsomorphin (Fujifilm), and 10ng/mL bFGF (R&D systems)]. The completely dissociated cells were seeded into ultralow attachment 96-well plates (PrimeSurface 96-well, Sumitomo Bakelite) at 9,000 cells/well, centrifuged at 700g for 3min (quick aggregation). The medium was changed daily for up to 10days; for the first 3days, 10M of Y-27632 was added. Total RNA was obtained from 40 wells of neuro spheres per sample. For microarray analysis, hiPSCs were differentiated into NS/PCs using a STEMdiff SMADi Neural Induction Kit (Stem Cell Technologies) according to the manufacturers instructions. Briefly, hiPSCs were maintained on an iMatrix-coated plate in StemFitAK02 media (Ajinomoto) before NS/PC induction. Cells were harvested using Accutase (Thermo Fisher Scientific); 2106 cells were transferred to a Matrigel-coated 6-well plate in STEMdiff Neural Induction Medium+SMADi (Stem Cell Technologies) supplemented with 10M Y-27632. The medium was replenished daily with warmed (37C) STEMdiff Neural Induction Medium+SMADi until the culture was terminated. Cells were passaged every 7days, and RNA was extracted from cells harvested at passages (days 7, 14, and 21).

Total RNA was isolated from hiPSCs or differentiated cells using the RNeasy Mini Kit (Qiagen) and treated with DNase I according to the manufacturers instructions. qRT-PCR was performed using a QuantiTect Probe One-Step RT-PCR Kit (Qiagen) on a STEPONEPLUS Real-Time PCR System (Applied Biosystems). The expression levels of target genes were normalized to those of the GAPDH transcript or 18S rRNA, which were quantified using TaqMan human Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) control reagents (Applied Biosystems) or eukaryotic 18S rRNA endogenous controls (Applied Biosystems), respectively. The probes and primers were obtained from Sigma-Aldrich. The used primer and probe sequences are listed in Supplementary Table 2. PCA was performed using SYSTAT 13 software (Systat Software Inc.) after data standardization (z-scoring) for each NS/PC marker gene.

To identify microarray probe sets related to the differentiation of hiPSCs into NS/PC, correlations between the intensity value rank of the filtered probe sets and the PC1 rank in the 10 hiPSC lines were determined by calculating Spearmans rank correlation coefficients (rs), as described in a previous study26. Probe sets exhibiting statistically significant correlations (P<0.01) were selected. When n=10 data points, the observed value of rs should exceed 0.794 (positively correlated) or less than 0.794 (negatively correlated) to be considered statistically significant (P<0.01).

ROR2 KD cells were generated by infecting R-2A cells with MISSION Lentiviral Transduction Particle expressing ROR2-targeted shRNAs (#1: TRCN0000199888, #2: TRCN0000001492) or MISSIONpLKO.1-puro Control Non-Mammalian shRNA Control Transduction Articles (Sigma, SHC002V), according to the manufacturers instructions. Media containing viruses were collected 48h after transfection, and the cells were transduced with the viruses using 8g/mL polybrene (Sigma-Aldrich) for 24h. The cells were selected using 2g/mL puromycin (Gibco) for 48h.

The cell lysates were used for western blotting analysis. Proteins were separated using sodium dodecyl sulfatepolyacrylamide gel electrophoresis, transferred to PVDF membranes (Bio-Rad), and blocked for 60min in Blocking One (Nacalai tesque). Primary antibody dilutions were prepared in Can Get Signal immunoreaction enhancer solution (TOYOBO) as follows: anti-ROR2 antibody (AF2064; R&D Systems) 1:1000, anti--actin antibody (A5441; Sigma-Aldrich) 1:2000. Membranes were incubated with HRP-conjugated anti-mouse IgG (Invitrogen) or anti-goat IgG (Invitrogen). Proteins were visualized using ECL Prime Western Blotting Detection Reagent (GE Healthcare) and the ChemiDoc Touch Imaging System (Bio-Rad).

HiPSC-derived NS/PC or forebrain neuron was fixed in 4% paraformaldehyde in PBS (Nacalai) for 20min at 25C. After washing with PBS, the cells were permeabilized with 0.2% Triton-X100 (Merk) in PBS for 15min and blocked with Blocking One (Nacalai) for 30min. The samples were incubated for 1h with primary antibodies (anti-PAX6 antibody [PRB-278P-100, BioLegend], anti-MAP2 antibody [MAB8304, R&D systems], and anti-GAD1 antibody [AF2086, BioLegend]). Indirect immunostaining was performed with the secondary antibody (anti-rabbit IgG/Alexa Fluor 555 [A27039, Thermo Fisher Scientific], anti-goat IgG/Alexa Fluor 488 [A32814, Thermo Fisher Scientific], and anti-mouse IgG/Alexa Fluor 488 [A28175, Thermo Fisher Scientific]) for 1h and examined under a BZ-X810 fluorescence microscope (Keyence).

ROR2 overexpression cells were generated by infecting 253G1 cells with lentiviral particles expressing ROR2. Briefly, the nucleotide sequence of the human ROR2 open reading frame (NM_004560) was de novo synthesized (Eurofins Genomics) and cloned into the pLVSIN-EF1 puromycin vector (Takara Clontech). Lentivirus packaging and virus infection were performed as described above.

Total RNA was extracted from hiPSC-derived NS/PC cells using an RNeasy Mini Kit (QIAGEN) according to the manufacturers instructions. Total RNA (100ng per sample) was used as the input for the Clariom D Assay (Thermo Fisher Scientific). Target preparation was performed using a Gene Chip WT PLUS Reagent Kit (Thermo Fisher Scientific) according to the manufacturers instructions. Hybridization was performed in a Gene Chip Hybridization Oven 645 for 16h at 45C. Gene chips were scanned using a GeneChip Scanner 3000. Array quality control was performed using Transcriptome Analysis Console software (version 4.0.2.15). The National Center for Biotechnology Information Gene Expression Omnibus (NCBI GEO) accession number for the microarray data is GSE233228.

Differentiation of hiPSCs into mature nerves was performed according to the manufacturers instructions using the STEMdiff Forebrain Neuron Differentiation Kit (#08600, STEMCELL Technologies) for forebrain-type nerves and the STEMdiff Midbrain Neuron Differentiation Kit (#100-0038, STEMCELL Technologies) for midbrain nerves. Using the STEMdiff SMADi Neural Induction Kit (Stem Cell Technologies) monolayer culture protocol described above, hiPSCs were differentiated into NS/PC, and mature neural differentiation was induced.

For midbrain neuron differentiation, hiPSC-derived NS/PCs (day21, passage 3) were detached using Accutase and seeded into PLO (Sigma)-and laminin (Sigma)-coated 12-well plate at a density of 1.25105 cells/cm2 culture in STEMdiff Neural Induction Medium+SMADi medium for 24h. The complete medium was replaced daily for 6days with STEMdiff Midbrain Neuron Differentiation Medium. The midbrain neural precursors (day 7) were detached using ACCUTASE and seeded into PLO-and Laminin-coated 12-well plate at a density of 5104 cells/cm2 in STEMdiff Midbrain Neuron Maturation medium with a half-medium change every 23days for 14days.

For forebrain-type neuron differentiation, hiPSC-derived NS/PCs (day21, passage 3) were detached using Accutase and then seeded into PLO-and Laminin-coated 12-well plate at a density of 1.25105 cells/cm2 culture in STEMdiff Neural Induction Medium+SMADi medium for 24h. The full medium was replaced daily for 6days with STEMdiff Forebrain Neuron Differentiation medium. The forebrain neural precursors (day7) were detached using Accutase and seeded into PLO- and Laminin-coated 12-well plate at a density of 5104 cells/cm2 in STEMdiff Forebrain Neuron Maturation media with a half-medium change every 23days for 14days.

Statistical analyses were performed using Prism 9 software (version 9.5.1; GraphPad Software Inc.). Data are presented as meanstandard deviation (SD). For comparison between two groups the t-test was applied; in cases where another statistic test was applied, it is mentioned accordingly. Statistical significance was set at P<0.05.

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ROR2 expression predicts human induced pluripotent stem cell differentiation into neural stem/progenitor cells and ... - Nature.com

Global Stem Cell Therapy Market to Reach Value of USD 26.15 Billion by 2030 | Skyquest Technology – GlobeNewswire

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Westford,USA, Jan. 02, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to SkyQuest report, the global stem cell therapy market is experiencing substantial growth, primarily propelled by the increasing burden of chronic diseases such as cardiovascular disorders, neurodegenerative conditions, and orthopedic injuries. These debilitating ailments have placed a significant strain on healthcare systems worldwide.

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Browse in-depth TOC on the "Stem Cell Therapy Market"

The field of stem cell research has undergone a remarkable transformation driven by significant advances in technology and scientific understanding. These breakthroughs have broadened our knowledge of stem cells and expanded their potential applications in the global stem cell therapy market. Innovative methods for isolating, growing, and differentiating stem cells have been developed, facilitating their use in various therapeutic environments.

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Prominent Players in Global Stem Cell Therapy Market

Allogeneic Therapy Segment is Expected to Rise Significantly due to Increasing Popularity of Stem Cell Banking

Allogeneic therapy segment has emerged as the dominant force in the stem cell therapy market, commanding a substantial market share of 59.14% in 2022. This remarkable growth can be attributed to several key factors. Firstly, allogeneic therapies often come with higher pricing, contributing significantly to revenue generation. Moreover, the increasing popularity of stem cell banking, which involves collecting and storing allogeneic stem cells for potential future use, has driven demand for these therapies.

The market in North America has firmly established its dominance in the stem cell therapy market, commanding the largest revenue share at 44.56% in 2022. One key driver is the presence of innovative companies and major regional market players. North America is home to a robust and dynamic biotechnology and pharmaceutical industry, fostering stem cell therapy product development, production, and commercialization.

Autologous Therapy Segment is Expected to Dominate Market Due to Lower Risk of Complications

Autologous therapy segment is poised to experience significant growth over the forecast period, and several key factors contribute to this trajectory in the stem cell therapy market. One primary driver is the lower risk of complications associated with autologous treatments, as these therapies utilize a patient's stem cells, minimizing the chances of immune rejection or adverse reactions. Additionally, autologous therapies are often more affordable and accessible for patients, making them attractive.

Regional market in the Asia Pacific region is poised to become a significant growth driver in the stem cell therapy market, with a projected CAGR of 16.09% expected from 2023 to 2030. The region boasts a robust product pipeline of stem cell-based therapies, with ongoing research and development initiatives driving innovation.

A comprehensive analysis of the major players in the stem cell therapy market has been recently conducted. The report encompasses various aspects of the market, including collaborations, mergers, innovative business policies, and strategies, providing valuable insights into key trends and breakthroughs in the market. Furthermore, the report scrutinizes the market share of the top segments and presents a detailed geographic analysis. Lastly, the report highlights the major players in the industry and their endeavors to develop innovative solutions to cater to the growing demand.

Key Developments in Stem Cell Therapy Market

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Global Protein Therapeutics Market

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Global Stem Cell Therapy Market to Reach Value of USD 26.15 Billion by 2030 | Skyquest Technology - GlobeNewswire

NASAs new Dream Chaser sci-fi space plane ready for final tests as supersonic mini space shuttle wil… – The Sun

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A GROUNDBREAKING new sci-fi space plane is gearing up for orbit as it undergoes final tests.

NASA and Sierra Space's Dream Chaser - the world's only commercial spacecraft - is slated to head to the International Space Station in the first half of 2024.

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It will take to the skies with a cargo module known as Shooting Star.

Tenacity - the first in the new fleet of Dream Chaser spaceplanes - has been dubbed the "uncrewed spiritual successor to the Space Shuttle".

Unlike traditional ocean landings, the first-ever winged commercial spacecraft will be able to land on runways - just like the Space Shuttle did.

At 30ft long,its roughly a quarter of the length of the space shuttle orbiters - and can be reused up to 15 times.

It was picked by NASA to deliver, return and dispose of cargo for the International Space Station - carrying critical supplies like food, water, and science experiments.

Commercial space firm Sierra Space said it is "ushering in the next era of space exploration with its revolutionary fleet of Dream Chaser spaceplanes".

Tenacity - the firstof the Dream Chaserspaceplanes - will provide a minimum of seven cargo missions to and from the space station.

It was delivered to NASA's Neil Armstrong Test Facility in Sandusky, Ohio for final testing in mid-December.

The space plane will be stacked on top of the Shooting Star cargo module and undergo rigorous environmental testing.

The test will recreate the extreme vibrations and conditions similar to those experienced during both launch and re-entry into Earth's atmosphere, NASA said.

The spacecraft will be carried by a ULA Vulcan Centaur rocket and is scheduled to launch from the Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in Florida.

The Dream Chaser spacecrafts will be engineered to be reused - and compatible with a variety of launch vehicles.

Sierra Space CEO Tom Vice said: "At Sierra Space, we are ushering in the next industrial revolution with a business and technology platform that provides our customers with a complete turn-key solution offering space as a service.

"Our platform includes Dream Chaser, a revolutionary, highly reusable commercial spaceplane with global runway access, and the first business-ready commercial space station."

He said the design "will exponentially decrease the cost of product development and manufacturing in space".

Dream Chaser can be customised for both domestic and international customers for global operation.

NASA said the Shooting Star cargo module is specifically designed to "support delivery and disposal of pressurised and unpressurised cargo to and from the space station".

"The cargo module can be used only once and is disposed of prior to re-entry," the space agency said.

The 15ft Shooting Star cargo attachment can deliver up to 5,000kg of cargo into orbit.

The spacecraft is scheduled to spend around 45 days at the space station on its first trip.

In readiness for Dream Chaser missions to the space station, multiple NASA astronaut crews have visited Sierra Space facilities for training, Sierra Space said.

A second Dream Chaser is already in production at the companys manufacturing base in Colorado.

It comes after NASA successfully tested a new type of rocket engine that could one day get us to Mars quicker.

The engine - called the Rotating Detonation Rocket Engine (RDRE) - uses a new way of burning fuel to produce thrust.

Instead of burning fuel in a continuous stream, the RDRE detonates it in a series of explosions, as shown in a newvideo.

This is meant to create a more efficient and powerful burn - which could propel spacecraft toMarsin as little as four months.

Typically, it takes current engines around six months to reach theRed Planet.

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NASAs new Dream Chaser sci-fi space plane ready for final tests as supersonic mini space shuttle wil... - The Sun

Gravity-Defying Research: Cosmic Coatings and Light-Speed Fibers on the Space Station – SciTechDaily

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A set of the International Space Stations main solar arrays, slightly obscuring the smaller roll-out solar arrays, and the Kibo laboratory module with its exposed facility, a research platform that hosts external experiments, are pictured 261 miles above the Pacific Ocean. Credit: NASA

A week of science and station upkeep continued on Friday aboard the International Space Station (ISS). Ahead of their off-duty weekend, the seven Expedition 70 crew members completed an array of tasks to wrap up maintenance activities and resume microgravity research investigations.

On Tuesday, NASA Flight Engineer Jasmin Moghbeli kicked off a multi-day-long study investigating the efficiency of an antimicrobial coating in space. JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency) Flight Engineer Satoshi Furukawa took over this work on Friday, continuing the investigation to help researchers better understand how the coating holds up over time.

Four Expedition 70 crewmates join each other inside the International Space Stations Unity module for Christmas Eve festivities. From left are, NASA Flight Engineers Jasmin Moghbeli and Loral OHara; Flight Engineer Koichi Wakata from JAXA (Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency); and Commander Andreas Mogensen from ESA (European Space Agency). Credit: NASA

Furukawa and Moghbeli then teamed up to inspect and change out cartridges in masks that are used in the unlikely event an emergency were to occur on station. Later on, Furukawa transferred data collected earlier this week during his and NASA Flight Engineer Loral OHaras acoustic monitoring sessions. At the end of the day, OHara configured the Microgravity Science Glovebox (MSG) for an ongoing fiber optics investigation.

Station Commander Andreas Mogensen of ESA (European Space Agency) spent Friday wrapping up tasks conducted earlier this weekstowing spacesuit hardware and charging the VR Mental Care battery. In the evening, Mogensen performed a VR for Exercise session, which focuses on the use of a virtual reality environment for biking aboard the orbiting laboratory. Not only does this mitigate bone and muscle loss that occurs in low-Earth orbit, but can increase motivation for daily exercise and boost morale.

Australias Norman River leads into the Gulf of Carpentaria in this photograph from the International Space Station as it orbited 262 miles above the province of Queensland. Credit: NASA

The Roscosmos trio split up their duties Friday, carrying out ongoing tasks from the week. Flight Engineer Oleg Kononenko removed and replaced hardware in the Zvezda service module, while Flight Engineer Nikolai Chub completed some orbital plumbing. Meanwhile, Flight Engineer Konstantin Borisov performed an experiment that studies the glow of Earths nighttime atmosphere in near-ultraviolet.

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Gravity-Defying Research: Cosmic Coatings and Light-Speed Fibers on the Space Station - SciTechDaily

Man captures moment he speaks to astronaut after making contact with space station using homemade device – UNILAD

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A man managed to contact the International Space Station (ISS) using his own radio equipment at home.

Ham radio enthusiast Doug managed to actually speak to the astronauts on the ISS as it passed overhead in July 2023.

Of all the ham radio contacts you could make, it doesn't get much cooler than that.

Doug revealed that he had wanted to talk to an astronaut for some time, and had previously attempted it.

And now he has finally got his wish, speaking to NASA astronaut Woody Hoburg.

In the video, shared to his YouTube page, Doug can be seen saying his call sign: Kilo Bravo 8 Mike, a number of times before he was finally successful.

Hoburg then replies: Kilo Bravo 8 Mike, NA1SS got you loud and clear aboard the Space Station, welcome aboard.

Underneath his video, Doug wrote: "I've made numerous voice and APRS [Automatic Packet Reporting System] contacts over the FM satellites and the ISS repeater.

"But I've always wanted to talk to an astronaut. Over the Memorial Day weekend I finally made that contact. I made contact with the ISS and talked to Woody Hoburg. What a thrill."

Many astronauts on the ISS also have ham radio licences, and often host scheduled contact sessions with people back on Earth.

NASA, ESA, CSA, and Roscosmos all participate in Amateur Radio on the International Space Station, a program which encourages children to reach out to the station to encourage interest in science.

But occasionally amateur operators do manage to make it through and speak to the astronauts using their own equipment.

If you hadn't already guessed, this is no easy feat to carry out. You can't just start spinning the dials on any old radio and hope for the best.

In fact, it's only really possible when the ISS is in certain positions, so even if you have equipment capable of reaching it you'll have to wait for it to pass overhead.

It's no use trying to contact from the US when the ISS is over Australia.

Ham radio operator Matt Payne and his daughter Isabella also managed to contact the ISS, chatting to astronaut Kjell Lindgren in August 2022.

Matt told IFLScience: It's pretty rare to speak to an astronaut outside of a scheduled educational contact. There are several factors that need to align for it to happen.

He added: The ISS must be passing within LOS [Line Of Sight]... at a time that coincides with an astronauts down time, as in they must not be working doing an official scheduled task.

"There must be an astronaut who is actively using the Amateur Radio equipment to make unscheduled contacts."

That's a pretty long shot, but clearly it does sometimes work out!

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Man captures moment he speaks to astronaut after making contact with space station using homemade device - UNILAD