TORRANCE, Calif., Dec. 20, 2024 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Robinson Helicopter Company (RHC), the world’s leading manufacturer of civil helicopters, secured approval from EASA authority, Argentina, Japan, and India for its improved empennage on select Robinson helicopter models. This follows the Federal Aviation Administration’s (FAA) prior approval of the same configuration for the R66 in 2023 and R44 and R22 in 2024. The new empennage includes a symmetrical horizontal stabilizer and tailcone. In addition to previously announced approvals, the new empennage is now standard on: Since securing approval from the FAA, the company has delivered nearly 700 retrofit kits, in addition to about 250 new production aircraft with the new empennage. Robinson Helicopter is currently offering a retrofit kit for existing R44 and R66 aircraft at a discounted rate of $3,600 USD and R22 aircraft at $4,850 USD through the end of December 2025. Horizontal stabilizers can be purchased through authorized dealers, service centers, or by calling Robinson Helicopter customer service. The symmetrical horizontal stabilizer is a key improvement that enhances the safety and performance of Robinson helicopters. By improving roll stability, particularly during high-speed flights, it contributes to a smoother and safer flight experience. Additionally, the symmetrical stabilizer helps reduce the right-rolling tendency when the aircraft is operated outside of the approved flight envelope. “This is a significant milestone in our commitment to continuous safety, reliability, and customer satisfaction around the world,” said David Smith, president and CEO of Robinson Helicopter Company. “This certification is a testament to our team’s tireless pursuit in enhancing the Robinson flying experience and setting new standards for safety and performance in the industry.” About Robinson Helicopter Company For more than 50 years, Robinson Helicopter Company has been at the forefront of the helicopter industry by delivering safety-enhancing technologies, including OEM-designed crash-resistant fuel cells, 4K cockpit video cameras, autopilot systems, and NVG-compatible cockpits. Robinson is committed to developing, manufacturing, and supporting the most reliable and efficient helicopters in the industry. For additional information, visit www.robinsonheli.com . Contact: Robyn E. Eagles Robyn.eagles@robinsonheli.com 323-547-5102 Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/97e6f39f-6622-4025-bce0-525932cca657 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/03fc0ff4-fd26-4c7b-a23d-41f34c25d5a0 https://www.globenewswire.com/NewsRoom/AttachmentNg/be56e968-42b5-41df-b62a-a17690dc55f0
Report: Leadership needed to address quantum threat mitigationThe UN's marathon climate summit neared the finish line early Sunday, with nations due to approve or reject a hotly-disputed deal for wealthy historic emitters to provide at least $300 billion to poorer countries that had demanded much more. After an exhausting two weeks of negotiations in Azerbaijan's Caspian Sea capital of Baku, COP29 president Mukhtar Babayev declared open the final summit plenary after midnight, two days after the conference was officially scheduled to end. A final text was released following several sleepless nights for negotiators, with tensions boiling over as small islands states and the world's poorest countries walked out of one meeting. "This package is an affront to us. We are the countries that have the most at stake," said Tina Stege, climate envoy of the Marshall Islands, an atoll nation threatened by rising seas. Top German negotiator Jennifer Morgan told AFP that countries would be presented a "take it or leave it" deal. Before the closing session, delegates huddled in small groups on the floor of the main conference room inside Baku's sports stadium to pore over copies of the latest draft deal line by line. "I know that none of us want to leave Baku without a good outcome," Babayev said. A number of countries have accused Azerbaijan, an authoritarian oil and gas exporter, of lacking the experience and will to meet the moment, as the planet again sets temperature records and faces rising deadly disasters. Small island nations and impoverished African states on Saturday angrily stormed out of a meeting with Azerbaijan, saying their concerns had been ignored. "I think it caught a lot of people by surprise," said Brazil's climate envoy, Ana Toni. "It all happened very quickly." The walkout triggered an emergency meeting between those nations and top negotiators from the European Union, United States and Britain with the COP29 presidency in which new proposals were made. Wealthy countries and small island nations have also been concerned by efforts led by Saudi Arabia to water down calls from last year's summit to phase out fossil fuels. The final text proposes that rich nations raise to at least $300 billion a year by 2035 their commitment to poorer countries to fight climate change. It is up from $100 billion now provided by wealthy nations under a commitment set to expire -- and from $250 billion proposed in a draft Friday. That offer was slammed as offensively low by developing countries, which have demanded at least $500 billion to build resilience against climate change and cut emissions. Sierra Leone's climate minister Jiwoh Abdulai, whose country is among the world's poorest, called the draft "effectively a suicide pact for the rest of the world". Developing power Brazil pleaded for at least some progress and said it would seek to build on it when it leads COP30 next year in the Amazon gateway of Belem. "After the difficult experience that we're having here in Baku, we need to reach some outcome that is minimally acceptable in line with the emergency we're facing," Brazil's environment minister Marina Silva told delegates. As staff at the cavernous and windowless stadium began packing up, diplomats rushed between meetings, some armed with food and water in anticipation of another late night. Panama's outspoken negotiator, Juan Carlos Monterrey Gomez, warned not to repeat the failure of COP15 in Copenhagen in 2009. "I'm sad, I'm tired, I'm disheartened, I'm hungry, I'm sleep-deprived, but there is a tiny ray of optimism within me because this cannot become a new Copenhagen," he told reporters. Climate activists shouted "shame" as US climate envoy John Podesta walked the halls. "Hopefully this is the storm before the calm," he said. Wealthy nations say it is politically unrealistic to expect more in direct government funding. Donald Trump, a sceptic of both climate change and foreign assistance, returns to the White House in January and a number of other Western countries have seen right-wing backlashes against the green agenda. The draft deal posits a larger overall target of $1.3 trillion per year to cope with rising temperatures and disasters, but most would come from private sources. South African Environment Minister Dion George, however, said: "I think being ambitious at this point is not going to be very useful." The United States and EU have wanted newly wealthy emerging economies like China -- the world's largest emitter -- to chip in. The final draft encouraged developing countries to make contributions on a voluntary basis, reflecting no change for China which already pays climate finance on its own terms. The EU and other countries have also tussled with Saudi Arabia over including strong language on moving away from fossil fuels, which negotiators say the oil-producing country has resisted. "We will not allow the most vulnerable, especially the small island states, to be ripped off by the new, few rich fossil fuel emitters," said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock. bur-np-sct-lth/jm
ST. JOHNS, Mich. , Dec. 11, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- AgroLiquid , a leader in high-efficiency crop liquid fertilizer solutions, today announced the acquisition of Monty's Plant Food Company , a Louisville -based specialist in soil health and plant nutrition technology. The acquisition, effective Jan. 1, 2025 , brings together two family-founded businesses that excel in agricultural innovation and share a commitment to farmer success. "This strategic combination allows us to bring crop nutrition technologies to growers that wouldnʼt otherwise be available to them," said Nick Bancroft , CEO of AgroLiquid. "While both companies share the same goals in advancing agricultural innovation, our different approaches to achieving them will create new opportunities to optimize nutrient efficiency and productivity for growers." The acquisition unites AgroLiquidʼs expertise in liquid fertilizer solutions with Monty's specialized knowledge in soil health and humic technology . Both companies will maintain their distinct brands and continue operating independently through the 2025 growing season. "Joining forces with AgroLiquid marks an exciting new chapter for Monty's Plant Food," said Jeff Sangalli , CEO of Montyʼs Plant Food Company. "Our shared farmer-first philosophy and commitment to innovation made this a natural fit. By combining our complementary strengths, we're positioned to deliver even greater value to the agricultural industry." The integration will focus on leveraging operational capabilities, including manufacturing, warehousing and storage infrastructure. Following the acquisition, Monty's Plant Food will continue operating under its current name as a privately owned company, with Jeff Sangalli continuing to lead the business. About AgroLiquid AgroLiquid , headquartered in St. Johns, Mich. , manufactures and distributes high-efficiency liquid fertilizer formulated to protect nutrients from loss to the environment. AgroLiquid's products work with, instead of against, the biology of the soil, which makes them more usable by the crop. Continuous research and product improvement, coupled with an ethical business model, keep AgroLiquid focused on its mission: "To Prosper the Farmer." About Monty's Plant Food Company Monty's Plant Food Company , headquartered in Louisville, Ky. , manufactures plant and soil enhancement products for agriculture, lawn and garden, turf, hemp and wildlife markets. Founded in 1997, Monty's combines proprietary humic technology with traditional nutrients to develop innovative, environmentally responsible solutions that maximize crop yields. For 27 years, the company has served as a trusted advisor in soil health and plant nutrition, delivering proven solutions to agricultural communities worldwide. SOURCE AgroLiquidJoe Burrow threw three touchdown passes to Tee Higgins, including a game-winning scoring strike with 1:07 left in overtime, to give the host Cincinnati Bengals an electrifying 30-24 win over the Denver Broncos on Saturday. Cade York could have given Cincinnati (8-8) the win with 2:43 to go in the extra session, but his 33-yard field-goal attempt hit the left upright. The Bengals' defense buckled down, though, forcing Denver to go three-and-out to get Burrow, Higgins and the rest of the offense back out on the field. Cincinnati proceeded to go 63 yards in five plays, with Higgins' 3-yard TD catch giving the Bengals their fourth straight victory. Higgins finished with 11 catches for 131 yards. Marvin Mims Jr. forced overtime by hauling in a 25-yard score on fourth-and-1 to draw the Broncos (9-7) even at 24 with eight seconds left in regulation. Burrow had put Cincinnati in front by plunging into the end zone from 1 yard out just 1:21 earlier. Burrow completed 39 of 49 passes for 412 yards and the three touchdowns while Ja'Marr Chase had nine catches for 102 yards and set a single-season franchise record for receptions. He now has 117. Tight end Mike Gesicki played a key role in the Cincinnati passing game, grabbing a season-high 10 catches for 86 yards. Rams 13, Cardinals 9 Cornerback Ahkello Witherspoon intercepted a pass in the end zone with 37 seconds left to preserve Los Angeles' win over Arizona in Inglewood, Calif. Witherspoon made a diving catch after the ball bounced high off the helmet of Arizona tight end Trey McBride on the pass attempt by Kyler Murray. The Rams (10-6), who lead the NFC West by one game, have won five straight, while the Cardinals (7-9) have lost five of their last six. Los Angeles could clinch a playoff berth on Sunday depending on the outcome of other games. Matthew Stafford threw for 189 yards while completing 17 of 32 pass attempts without a touchdown or interception. Puka Nacua finished with 10 receptions for 129 yards. Murray was 33 of 48 for 321 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. McBride made 12 catches for 123 yards to surpass 1,000 yards for the first time in his three NFL seasons. Chargers 40, Patriots 7 Justin Herbert passed for 281 yards and a season-high three touchdowns and Los Angeles clinched an AFC playoff berth with a dominating victory over New England in Foxborough, Mass. Ladd McConkey caught eight passes for 94 yards and two touchdowns and Derwin James had two sacks and a fumble recovery for the Chargers (10-6), who are playoff-bound in Jim Harbaugh's first season as coach. Derius Davis also had a scoring catch, J.K. Dobbins rushed for 76 yards and a touchdown on 19 carries and Cameron Dicker booted four field goals.Herbert completed 26 of 38 passes as the Chargers improved to 3-12 all-time in Foxborough, including playoffs. Drake Maye completed 12 of 22 passes for 117 yards and one touchdown for New England (3-13), which lost its sixth consecutive game. DeMario Douglas caught a scoring pass for the Patriots. -Field Level MediaOTTAWA — The Atlantic Liberal caucus is calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to resign as party leader in a letter. The letter dated Dec. 23 was shared publicly today by New Brunswick MP Wayne Long, who has been saying since the fall that Trudeau should step down. Atlantic caucus chair and Nova Scotia MP Kody Blois penned the letter, saying the events following Chrystia Freeland's cabinet resignation, signals from the opposition parties to declare non-confidence at the first opportunity, and U.S. president-elect Donald Trump's tariff threats make it no longer "tenable" for Trudeau to continue to lead the party. Conservative MP John Williamson said Friday he plans to introduce a non-confidence motion at the next public accounts committee meeting on Jan. 7. If that motion is successful at committee, it would be forwarded to the House of Commons and could be voted on as soon as Jan. 30, triggering an election if it passes. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 29, 2024. David Baxter, The Canadian Press
The military's tradition of tracking Santa Claus on his gravity-defying sweep across the globe will carry on this Christmas Eve, even if the U.S. government shuts down , officials said Friday. Each year, at least 100,000 kids call into the North American Aerospace Defense Command to inquire about Santa’s location. Millions more follow online . “We fully expect for Santa to take flight on Dec. 24 and NORAD will track him," the U.S.-Canadian agency said in a statement. On any other night, NORAD is scanning the heavens for potential threats , such as last year's Chinese spy balloon . But on Christmas Eve, volunteers in Colorado Springs, Colorado, are fielding questions like, “When is Santa coming to my house?” and, “Am I on the naughty or nice list?” The endeavor is supported by local and corporate sponsors, who also help shield the tradition from Washington dysfunction. Bob Sommers, 63, a civilian contractor and NORAD volunteer, told The Associated Press that there are "screams and giggles and laughter” when families call in, usually on speakerphone. Sommers often says on the call that everyone must be asleep before Santa arrives, prompting parents to say, "Do you hear what he said? We got to go to bed early." NORAD's annual tracking of Santa has endured since the Cold War , predating ugly sweater parties and Mariah Carey classics . Here's how it began and why the phones keep ringing. The origin story is Hollywood-esque It started with a child's accidental phone call in 1955. The Colorado Springs newspaper printed a Sears advertisement that encouraged children to call Santa, listing a phone number. A boy called. But he reached the Continental Air Defense Command, now NORAD, a joint U.S. and Canadian effort to spot potential enemy attacks. Tensions were growing with the Soviet Union, along with anxieties about nuclear war. Air Force Col. Harry W. Shoup picked up an emergency-only “red phone” and was greeted by a tiny voice that began to recite a Christmas wish list. “He went on a little bit, and he takes a breath, then says, ‘Hey, you’re not Santa,’” Shoup told The Associated Press in 1999. Realizing an explanation would be lost on the youngster, Shoup summoned a deep, jolly voice and replied, “Ho, ho, ho! Yes, I am Santa Claus. Have you been a good boy?” Shoup said he learned from the boy's mother that Sears mistakenly printed the top-secret number. He hung up, but the phone soon rang again with a young girl reciting her Christmas list. Fifty calls a day followed, he said. In the pre-digital age, the agency used a 60-by-80-foot (18-by-24-meter) plexiglass map of North America to track unidentified objects. A staff member jokingly drew Santa and his sleigh over the North Pole. The tradition was born. “Note to the kiddies,” began an AP story from Colorado Springs on Dec. 23, 1955. “Santa Claus Friday was assured safe passage into the United States by the Continental Air Defense Command.” In a likely reference to the Soviets, the article noted that Santa was guarded against possible attack from "those who do not believe in Christmas.” Is the origin story humbug? Some grinchy journalists have nitpicked Shoup's story, questioning whether a misprint or a misdial prompted the boy's call. In 2014, tech news site Gizmodo cited an International News Service story from Dec. 1, 1955, about a child's call to Shoup. Published in the Pasadena Independent, the article said the child reversed two digits in the Sears number. "When a childish voice asked COC commander Col. Harry Shoup, if there was a Santa Claus at the North Pole, he answered much more roughly than he should — considering the season: ‘There may be a guy called Santa Claus at the North Pole, but he’s not the one I worry about coming from that direction,'" Shoup said in the brief piece. In 2015, The Atlantic magazine doubted the flood of calls to the secret line, while noting that Shoup had a flair for public relations. Phone calls aside, Shoup was indeed media savvy. In 1986, he told the Scripps Howard News Service that he recognized an opportunity when a staff member drew Santa on the glass map in 1955. A lieutenant colonel promised to have it erased. But Shoup said, “You leave it right there,” and summoned public affairs. Shoup wanted to boost morale for the troops and public alike. “Why, it made the military look good — like we’re not all a bunch of snobs who don’t care about Santa Claus,” he said. Shoup died in 2009. His children told the StoryCorps podcast in 2014 that it was a misprinted Sears ad that prompted the phone calls. “And later in life he got letters from all over the world,” said Terri Van Keuren, a daughter. "People saying ‘Thank you, Colonel, for having, you know, this sense of humor.’” A rare addition to Santa's story NORAD's tradition is one of the few modern additions to the centuries-old Santa story that have endured, according to Gerry Bowler, a Canadian historian who spoke to the AP in 2010. Ad campaigns or movies try to “kidnap” Santa for commercial purposes, said Bowler, who wrote “Santa Claus: A Biography.” NORAD, by contrast, takes an essential element of Santa's story and views it through a technological lens. In a recent interview with the AP, Air Force Lt. Gen. Case Cunningham explained that NORAD radars in Alaska and Canada — known as the northern warning system — are the first to detect Santa. He leaves the North Pole and typically heads for the international dateline in the Pacific Ocean. From there he moves west, following the night. “That's when the satellite systems we use to track and identify targets of interest every single day start to kick in,” Cunningham said. “A probably little-known fact is that Rudolph’s nose that glows red emanates a lot of heat. And so those satellites track (Santa) through that heat source.” NORAD has an app and website, www.noradsanta.org , that will track Santa on Christmas Eve from 4 a.m. to midnight, mountain standard time. People can call 1-877-HI-NORAD to ask live operators about Santa’s location from 6 a.m. to midnight, mountain time.After Iranian arrest tied to U.S. military murders, town advances sanctuary policies
Randy Fine was sitting shiva for his mother when the Truth Social post went up. A special election was approaching in the Florida politician’s House district after its congressman, Mike Waltz, was tapped by President-elect Donald Trump to be his national security advisor. Trump wanted Fine, the Jewish legislator who had just won his own race for the Florida state Senate, to run for the spot, calling him an “America First Patriot” and adding, “RUN, RANDY, RUN!” Fine himself actually lives several miles south of the district, but that wasn’t the source of his initial confusion. “I woke up from my nap and I saw 1,000 text messages,” Fine recalled to the Jewish Telegraphic Agency. “My first thought was, who else died?” The day after shiva ended, Fine formally jumped into the race. He had been fully prepared to move his family to Israel in the event Kamala Harris had won the presidential election, he says. But now, he’s getting ready for a different move — into Waltz’s congressional district: “I’m going to be, on day one, the most pro-Israel, anti-antisemitism member that’s ever served in Congress,” he said. Fine’s announcement came with what has, for him, become a bit of characteristic bombast. “The ‘Hebrew Hammer’ is coming,” he wrote on the social network X, promoting an endorsement from the Republican Jewish Coalition by likening himself to a Jewish movie character who takes violent revenge on antisemites. Pro-Palestinian Democratic Reps. Rashida Tlaib and Ilhan Omar, he wrote, “might consider leaving before I get there.” He added, “#BombsAway.” A range of voices condemned the post. That included the Anti-Defamation League, which called his comments “reprehensible.” Muslim civil rights groups have called for a criminal probe into Fine, who today insists his use of the phrase was “a term of art” not meant to be interpreted as a violent threat. Yet the blowback has barely scratched the 50-year-old politician. In fact, it fits into the larger brand the politician has been building for himself in Florida, where he has a years-long history of making combative remarks that many have said cross the line into bigotry and personal attacks — often in the name of defending Jews. And it’s not just talk: He also has a long list of legislation passed in Florida intended to protect the state’s Jews, including efforts to tackle antisemitism on both the far-left and far-right and other measures aimed at targeting Israel boycotts and similar progressive causes. He’s also not shy to call other Republicans antisemites, when he believes the label fits. “It takes courage to actually call out people on your team. And Randy has that in spades,” Sam Markstein, the RJC’s national political director, told JTA. For Jewish Democrats, both in Florida and beyond, Fine’s ascension is a mixed bag. “He would probably consider it a compliment if I said that in some ways he is reminiscent of [Israel’s Benjamin] Netanyahu. I mean it as less of a compliment than he would take it,” Joe Geller, a Jewish former state representative and current Miami-Dade County school board member, said about Fine. The two served together in the state House, where they were both in the Jewish caucus, and accompanied Florida Governor Ron DeSantis on a trade mission to Israel. “In all of his zeal, he has done things that have hurt Israel,” Geller said of the Israeli prime minister. “And Randy is a figure in some measure in that same line... His very strong and sometimes inappropriate tactics reflect badly on other people who share some of his strong views on things like antisemitism.” Amy Spitalnick, head of the liberal-leaning Jewish Council for Public Affairs, a national group, was more blunt in her assessment of Fine. “Islamophobia, threats against members of Congress, and other incendiary actions do nothing to keep Jews safe and counter antisemitism,” she told JTA. “In fact, it only makes it harder.” Most would-be challengers for Fine’s House seat dropped out following the Trump endorsement, which itself was a reward for a key bit of loyalty; Fine publicly denounced DeSantis after the Oct. 7, 2023, terror attack on Israel and endorsed the once and future president’s reelection campaign. But he won’t be able to totally coast to the nomination: On Friday, one day before the filing deadline, Republican entrepreneur Ehsan Joarder threw his hat into the race — primarily, he said, because he despises Fine. “To me Randy Fine is the epitome of the establishment and who the Deep State is,” Joarder told the Daytona Beach News-Journal. “I think he’s a terrible human being and he’s anti-American, and everything he says and does doesn’t line up with American values and who we are as a country.” Joarder said he particularly objected to Fine’s support from political action committees. Fine nabbed the endorsement of AIPAC, the pro-Israel lobby. “I am Jewish. I am an American. And I am a Republican. And I’ll never apologize for any of it,” Fine tweeted. I am proud to receive one of the fastest endorsements ever by @AIPAC. Because when it comes to standing with Israel and protecting America’s Jews, I will never compromise.” If Fine can best Joarder in the Jan. 28 GOP primary, he should easily coast to a victory in the April 1 general election in the state’s 6th, and very red, district — a coastal region of few Jews that broke heavily for Trump, and has also experienced a growing white nationalist and neo-Nazi presence in recent years. As long as he moves to the region before the election, he is eligible to run for the seat. Fine represents a new profile for Jewish politicians in Trumpworld 2.0, where the GOP has claimed to dominate the fight against antisemitism, and where bullish, uncompromising personalities are rewarded. For his conservative Jewish backers, that’s a good thing. “I think that there’s been a real thirst in the Jewish American community for fighters, for people who will say what’s right, what’s wrong, what’s good, what’s evil,” Markstein said. “And I think people like Randy Fine are going to fill that void really well.” The RJC hosted a fundraiser for Fine in Boca Raton, an area hours outside of his district with considerably more Jews. They pulled in more than $100,000; Fine referred to its organizer, RJC board member Barbara Feingold, on social media as “my honorary Jewish Mother.” But Fine doesn’t claim to be much of a politician at all and says he has no sights on any higher office. “I didn’t have my sights set on this office,” he said. “This job has real costs to me and my family. I don’t need the money. I don’t need the title.” He’s only running, he said, because Trump — whom he believes God saved from his assassination attempt in Butler, Pennsylvania, this summer — asked him to. He’s used to being one of the only Jews around. Born in Tucson, Arizona, Fine spent most of his childhood in Lexington, Kentucky, where his father was a professor. He recalled his mother Helen fighting with the district when Yom Kippur caused him to miss an exam. The algebra teacher, Fine recalled, “told my parents, ‘If that was a real holiday, everyone would have it off.’ ” Soon, he said, his mother became “my strongest advocate.” When she visited him at school, “they put out an announcement so everyone could hide: ‘Mrs. Fine is in the building.’” When, in high school, Randy became a House page, his mother moved the whole family to Washington so he wouldn’t be alone. A Harvard University graduate and former gambling industry executive, Fine moved his family to Brevard County, Florida, in 2006 to be close to his parents — who had been drawn to property that was relatively inexpensive compared to South Florida, where his grandparents lived. He first won a state House seat in 2016, out of what he said was anger over education issues. Quickly, though, he became an advocate for the state’s religious Jews in Tallahassee. “I was not the only Jew, but I was the only Republican Jew, and I’m certainly willing to fight,” he reflected, adding that his status as “a member of the majority party” was crucial. Currently Fine affiliates with his local Chabad-Lubavitch center, whose rabbi officiated his mother’s funeral; although he grew up Reform and celebrated his son’s bar mitzvah at the local Conservative synagogue, he said the family since had a falling-out with them over political differences. Not every community Jewish official considers themselves close with Fine. The director of his local Jewish federation, which covers the region around Daytona Beach, told JTA, “I really don’t know him at all.” Other local officials, though, are in the fight with him. “I think I have a kindred spirit with him,” Michael Chitwood, the sheriff of Volusia County, said. The two of them, he says, are frequently sued by local hate groups for infringing on their free speech rights. Chitwood has made a name for himself by loudly and publicly waging war against various neo-Nazi and white nationalist entities in the region, which has become a hotbed for such activity in recent years as the leader of the antisemitic Goyim Defense League has decamped to the area. Antisemitic banners hung above major speedways; flyers targeting private properties; and neo-Nazi marches are just some of the activity that Chitwood has contended with. Some of Fine’s legislation at the Florida statehouse, including laws that made targeted religion-based harassment a felony, have aided Chitwood’s ability to respond to white nationalists. They’ve also prompted the ire of those groups. For that reason the sheriff has endorsed Fine, despite what he says are some serious personality differences between the two. “I don’t think anybody would accuse him of being warm and fuzzy,” Chitwood said, adding that Fine’s comment about Tlaib and Omar “doesn’t do us any good.” But, the sheriff added, Fine’s stated commitment to fighting white nationalism — and the chance some of his Florida legislation could be introduced nationally — “are where I find my common ground with him. And I try to look at things from that perspective.” (Fine, for his part, declined to comment on his legislative priorities in Congress, saying, “I’m still figuring that out.” His campaign page lists standard conservative policies not specifically related to Jewish concerns, including “Secure our borders,” “Protect our elections from fraud,” “Defend life” and “Protect the Second Amendment at all costs.”) If Fine wins his seat, the number of Jewish Republicans in the House will also double from last term, from two to four, with Texas’s Craig Goldman also joining. He would also add to the vitriolic rhetoric in Congress. “If you’re not an Islamophobe, you’re a fool,” the legislator told Jewish Currents magazine earlier this year, adding that he didn’t “personally feel bad” about the tens of thousands of deaths in Gaza, whom he called “human shields,” since the start of the year-plus Israel-Hamas war. When Israeli troops killed the Turkish-American activist Aysenur Ezgi Eygi in the West Bank in September, Fine’s response went even further: “Throw rocks, get shot. One less #MuslimTerrorist,” he tweeted at the time. He was a mudslinger way before the attacks of Oct. 7, 2023, too. In 2019, while serving in the state House, Fine took to Facebook to call a local Jewish progressive a “Judenrat,” the term for the councils Nazis set up in Jewish ghettos, because he had supported a progressive group’s event that brought together Israelis and Palestinians for a shared dialogue. A request for comment to that progressive group was not returned, but Fine says he has no regrets about such rhetoric today. “Anyone who wishes to give terrorists a platform, who’s Jewish, is a Judenrat,” he said, claiming the Palestinians present at the event were Hamas supporters. “I stand by it.” Outside of Jewish issues, he’s also been engaged in a years-long, public feud with a Democratic school board member that has escalated to Fine slinging personal insults at her. (The board member, who today runs a progressive education advocacy group, did not respond to a request for comment.) He’s been the target of a state ethics commission, and, last year, video emerged of Fine appearing to avoid a subpoena by hiding behind his desk (he claimed he had been following safety protocols related to antisemitic threats he had received for his support for Israel). A month before the general election, Fine was found in contempt of court for giving the middle finger to a judge. His record on transgender issues is also of deep concern to many in the LGBTQ community, though Fine insists he has “a lot of friends who are L, G or B” and adds, in reference to the nationwide controversy around gender therapy treatments, “You don’t need to take drugs to be gay.” In 2023, after pushing a state law that would heavily restrict drag shows, Fine called drag queen story time events “the gateway propaganda to this evil” and remarked, “If it means erasing a community because you have to target children, then damn right we ought to do it.” The South Florida Sun-Sentinel has deemed him “the bully of Brevard.” Speaking to JTA last year during the height of a statewide controversy over a school in his district pulling an illustrated version of “The Diary of Anne Frank” from shelves, due to objections to a panel depicting Frank’s same-sex attraction, Fine called the book “antisemitic” and an “Anne Frank pornography book.” Halie Soifer, CEO of the Jewish Democratic Council of America, offered a blistering take on such behavior. “Randy Fine epitomizes Trump-era politics — he vilifies political opponents, espouses extremist views, and attacks our democracy. He does not represent or align with the values of the vast majority of Jewish Americans,” she told JTA. Fine reserves much of his ire for the left. “Charlottesville was a pimple on a gnat’s ass, compared to what’s happened to Jews on our college campuses in this country,” he said, regarding the 2017 far-right rally that ended with the death of a counter-protester. Yet he’s also been sharp against fellow Republicans whom he accuses of peddling antisemitism, most notably DeSantis, a one-time ally of Fine’s who signed huge chunks of his legislation intended to benefit Jews. Since their fallout, Fine and DeSantis staffers have sniped at each other online (among his critiques of the governor was over a recent visit to Ireland, a nation that sympathizes heavily with Palestinians over Israel). Would Fine ever similarly turn against Trump, who himself has associated with antisemitic figures and who was widely seen as declining to unequivocally condemn the Charlottesville rally while he was in office? “That’s a hypothetical I don’t even have to entertain,” he insisted, citing some of Trump’s administration picks (Mike Huckabee, Marco Rubio, Elise Stefanik and Mike Waltz, the man he’s running to replace) as “people who were as hardcore on these issues as I am. ... You couldn’t pick anybody more pro-Israel than these four.” As for Matt Gaetz and Pete Hegseth, two other initial Trump cabinet picks who themselves have had associations with Christian nationalism and, in the case of Gaetz, hosted a Holocaust denier at the State of the Union: “I’m not involved in those, so I don’t know. I don’t know what’s going on there.” (Gaetz withdrew his nomination over mounting objections to his character and record, while Hegseth’s bid for secretary of defense appears to be in jeopardy as of this writing. One of Trump’s rumored replacements: DeSantis.) As he looks ahead to Washington, Fine’s thoughts again turn to his mother, whose death came after a long battle with Alzheimer’s. “I’m going to get sad here, but my mom would be really happy I’m doing this,” he said. “I’m grateful because it gives me something to throw myself into.” For more content, go to jta.org.Trump taps Rollins as agriculture chief, completing proposed slate of Cabinet secretaries
Daily Post Nigeria School principal suspended in Akwa Ibom over poor feeding of students Home News Politics Metro Entertainment Sport Metro School principal suspended in Akwa Ibom over poor feeding of students Published on November 23, 2024 By Lovina Anthony The principal of Presbyterian Senior Science College, Ididep, Akwa Ibom State, Dr NSE Sunday Umoh, has been suspended following an alleged poor feeding of students of the school. The Commissioner for Education, Mrs Idongesit Etiebet, who announced this in a statement in Uyo on Saturday, said the suspension was in the wake of a viral video where the students were seen eating unpalatable and non-nutritious meals. Etiebet, while condemning the act, ordered a full investigation into the incident as well as the state of boarding facilities in the school and the other 25 boarding secondary schools across the state. She said the review, which will focus on hostels, dining halls, recreation areas, menus, kitchens, and sanitary facilities, will be jointly overseen by the permanent secretaries of the Ministry of Education and the State Secondary Education Board. She said: “Following the very disturbing video where students were fed with unpalatable and innutrious meals at Presbyterian Senior Science College, Ididep, I paid an unscheduled visit to the school. I have directed a comprehensive investigation into the state of boarding facilities in the school and the other 25 boarding secondary schools across the state. “Consequently, I have also directed the immediate suspension of the principal of the school, Dr NSE Sunday Umoh, pending the outcome of the investigation. “The Ministry is committed to ensuring that all public school facilities meet irreducible minimum standards that uphold the well-being of both learners and staff.” The commissioner said though the free education policy of the state government covers tuition fees only and not boarding fees, the welfare and dignity of all students, especially those in public schools, remain a priority to government, appealing to parents to support their children. Related Topics: Akwa Ibom Don't Miss Notorious motorcycle snatcher Hassan Abdul finally arrested in Kogi You may like Akwa-Ibom: Navy nabs suspected petrol-smuggling syndicate Akwa Ibom: Eno approves N955bn budget estimate for 2025 Akwa Ibom: CSOs seek collaboration among HCDTs in implementation of PIA Ibom power, Accugas trade blame over power outage in Akwa Ibom Akwa Ibom plans digitalization of tax collection system in 2025 Communal Crisis: Hoodlums invade Akwa Ibom oil community, destroy property worth millions Advertise About Us Contact Us Privacy-Policy Terms Copyright © Daily Post Media Ltd
Tulsi Gabbard, Trump's pick for intel chief, faces questions on Capitol Hill amid Syria fallout
WASHINGTON , Dec. 20, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- It is with deep sadness that Universities Space Research Association (USRA) announces the passing of Dr. Berrien Moore III , an internationally recognized leader in Earth Science and an invaluable member of the USRA Board of Trustees. Dr. Moore passed away on December 17, 2024 , in Norman, Oklahoma . He was the Dean of the College of Atmospheric and Geographic Sciences and Director of the National Weather Center at the University of Oklahoma . Dr. Moore was elected to the USRA Board of Trustees in 2019 and re-elected for a second term in 2022. He served in multiple leadership capacities on the Board, including Chair of the Compensation Committee, inaugural Chair of the University Engagement Committee, and, since 2021, Vice Chair of the Board. Gen Lester Lyles , Chair of the USRA Board of Trustees said, "We are profoundly grieved by the loss of Berrien Moore , a treasured member of our Board. Berrien was a strong leader and a dedicated advocate for Earth Science. With his wit and charm, Berrien was more than just a colleague, he was a true friend to everyone. On behalf of the entire Board, I extend our heartfelt condolences to Berrien's family and loved ones during this challenging time." Dr. Jeffrey Isaacson , President and CEO of USRA commented, "At USRA, we are deeply saddened by this news. This is a terrific loss for our Association, but we are grateful to have had the privilege of working with Berrien and are indebted by his many contributions. All of us at USRA extend our heartfelt condolences, prayers, and support to his family." Dr. Moore served in several capacities with NASA including as Principal Investigator of NASA's Geostationary Carbon Cycle Observatory (GeoCarb) mission that placed University of Oklahoma at the forefront of climate research. He also served as chair of NASA's Space and Earth Science Advisory Council, as a member of the NASA Advisory Council, and was on several other committees. As a Coordinating Lead Author for the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, he contributed to the body of work that garnered the 2007 Nobel Peace Prize. His honors include NASA's highest civilian honor, the Distinguished Public Service Medal for outstanding service, the NOAA Administrator's Recognition Award, and the 2007 Dryden Lectureship in Research medal by the American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics. Dr. Moore is survived by his wife Lucia and his daughter Leila. About USRA Founded in 1969, under the auspices of the National Academy of Sciences at the request of the U.S. Government, the Universities Space Research Association (USRA) is a nonprofit corporation chartered to advance space-related science, technology, and engineering. USRA operates scientific institutes and facilities and conducts other major research and educational programs. It is an association with 121 university members. It engages the broader university community, employs in-house scientific talent, and offers innovative research, development, and project management expertise. More information about USRA is available at www.usra.edu . PR Contact: Suraiya Farukhi [email protected] 443-812-6945 SOURCE Universities Space Research Association