WORLD NEWS
U.N. Watchdog Warns Iran Is Still Enriching Uranium Beyond Commercial Needs
Rafael Grossi, head of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), told European Union (EU) foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday that Iran continues enriching uranium to much higher levels than needed for any commercial application.
According to Grossi, Iran’s uranium enrichment has slowed down slightly since the end of 2023, but Iranian centrifuges are still producing about seven kilograms of 60 percent pure uranium per month.
Sixty percent purity is far higher than required for any peaceful application but is just below the threshold of “weapons grade.” No other country on Earth has produced 60 percent pure uranium for any purpose other than developing nuclear weapons.
The IAEA said Iran produced about three kilograms of 60 percent uranium between June and November 2023 but then surged to nine kilograms for the last few months of 2023 — right about the time Iran kicked out a third of the IAEA’s inspectors.
Grossi was furious when Iranians “de-designated” his agency’s most experienced inspectors. He described it as an unprecedented and poorly explained action that dealt a “very serious blow” to the IAEA’s ability to conduct meaningful inspections.
No Farmers No Food: Greek Tractor Protests Head to Parliament
Scores of bright-colored tractors were parked outside Greece’s parliament Tuesday, horns blaring, as thousands of farmers angry at high production costs shifted their protests to Athens.
“Without us, you don’t eat,” one banner said. Some farmers carried mock coffins and funeral garlands as symbols of their plight.
The farmers – whose demands are similar to those at farmer protests elsewhere in Europe – have spent weeks staging sporadic blockades along highways and in rural towns. Farmers in central Greece are also still reeling from major floods last year.
The center-right government has expressed sympathy with the farmers but said budgetary constraints prevent it from meeting all their demands, beyond substantial electricity cost reductions.
Protesters say that’s not enough. They want tax-free fuel, debt forgiveness, measures against foreign competition and speedier compensation for damage from natural disasters. Farmers also criticize the substantial markup in shelf prices compared to what wholesalers pay them for their produce.
The former head of the European Union’s Frontex border enforcement agency has announced that he will run for the EU Parliament on behalf of the anti-mass migration National Rally of French populist Marine Le Pen.
In a major political coup for the National Rally (RN), former Frontex director Fabrice Leggeri, who served in the role from 2015 to 2022 before resigning over outrage from open borders advocates over reported attempts to push back boat migrants from attempting to illegally enter the EU through Greece, announced on Sunday that he would be joining the populist party.
The decision by the former Frontex director to join the National Rally for the European Parliament elections will likely serve to undercut the arguments from figures such as French President Emmanuel Macron, who has attempted to brand the populist party as “far-right” and outside the bounds of acceptable politics.
The Le Figaro French newspaper of record even declared that having a senior civil servant will serve as a “guarantee of credibility and a demonstration that the [National Rally] has become – finally – reputable.”
Barely 10% of Europeans believe Ukraine can still defeat Russia, finds poll
Support for Ukraine among Europeans remains broad, but nearly two years after the full-scale invasion barely 10% now believe it can defeat Russia, according to an EU-wide survey – with some form of “compromise settlement” seen as the most likely end point.
The shift in sentiment – this time last year, more Europeans than not said Ukraine must regain all its lost territory – will demand that politicians take a more “realistic” approach that focuses on defining what an acceptable peace must actually mean, the report’s authors argue.
“In order to make the case for continued European support for Ukraine, EU leaders will need to change how they talk about the war,” said co-author Mark Leonard of the European Council on Foreign Relations (ECFR), which commissioned the polling.
Most Europeans “are desperate to prevent a Russian victory” but do not believe Kyiv can win militarily, Leonard said, meaning that the most convincing argument for an increasingly sceptical public was that continuing aid “could lead to a sustainable, negotiated peace that favours Kyiv – rather than a victory for Putin”.
The January polling in 12 EU member states – including France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, the Netherlands, Poland, Spain and Sweden – found that Ukraine’s stalled counteroffensive, growing fears of a US policy shift and the prospect of a second US presidential term for Donald Trump were fuelling pessimism about the war’s outcome.
US to impose ‘major sanctions’ on Russia over Navalny death, Ukraine war
The United States is set to announce new sanctions against Russia over the death of opposition leader Alexey Navalny and the two-year war in Ukraine.
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, US President Joe Biden did not give details but said he would provide more information about the package of measures on Friday, ahead of the second anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
Police fire tear gas at protesting Indian farmers marching to New Delhi
Police have fired tear gas at thousands of Indian farmers who resumed their protest march to the capital, New Delhi, after talks with the government failed to end an impasse over their demands for guaranteed crop prices.
The protests come at a crucial time for India, where national elections are due in the coming months and Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s party is widely expected to secure a third successive term in office.
The farmers began their protest last week but were stopped some 200km (125 miles) from the capital. The authorities are determined to contain the protests, which have renewed the movement from more than two years ago when tens of thousands of farmers had camped out on the outskirts of the city for more than a year.
At the time, the farmers pitched tents, bought food supplies and held out in the sit-in until they forced Modi to repeal new agriculture laws in a major reversal for his government.
This time around, the authorities have barricaded the highways into New Delhi with cement blocks, metal containers, barbed wire and iron spikes to prevent the farmers from entering.
U.S. NEWS, POLITICS & GOVERNMENT
Two Adults Charged in Connection to Kansas City Chiefs Shooting
Two adults were charged Tuesday in connection to the February 15, 2024, shooting that killed one and wounded more than 20 others at the Kansas City Chiefs celebratory parade.
The Associated Press reported the two individuals — Dominic Miller and Lyndell Mays — were allegedly among “several others” who pulled guns following a dispute.
Jackson County prosecutor Jean Peters Baker said that Mays allegedly “pulled his handgun first almost immediately,” followed by others.
Peters Baker indicated that the bullet that killed radio host Lisa Lopez-Galvan allegedly came from Miller’s gun.
The charges against Miller and Mays include second-degree murder.
On Friday, Breitbart News noted that two juveniles were charged in connection with the shooting. They face firearm-related charges and charges for resisting arrest, but the AP pointed to a news release from the Jackson County Family Court indicating “additional charges are expected in the future as the investigation by the Kansas City Police Department continues.”
Trump Lawyer Says He’s ‘Prepared’ to Pay Nearly $400 Million Bond to Appeal Fraud Judgment
A lawyer for Donald Trump said that the former president will pay the nearly $400 million bond required to appeal a fraud ruling in New York City.
“I can tell you what the rules are. Within 30 days, even if we choose to appeal this, and we will, we have to post the bond, which is the full amount and then some,” said Alina Habba during a Fox News interview on Feb. 19.
“We will be prepared to do that,” she said, adding that it’s “close to $400 million for something [where] he did nothing wrong.”
Analysts have said that the appeal bond equals President Trump’s $355 million judgment, handed down by New York Supreme Court Judge Arthur Engoron, and includes 9 percent post-judgment interest.
If the former president loses the appeal, the state of New York would collect the 9 percent, or roughly $30 million.
On Feb. 16, the judge found President Trump liable for fraud, saying he had inflated the value of Trump Organization properties, including his Mar-a-Lago residence in Florida, to obtain insurance and loans.
“What they’re trying to do between this case and my last case is put [Trump] out of business,” Ms. Habba said during the Fox interview. “It’s not gonna work, number one. Number two, what they’re doing is a scare tactic.
“Unfortunately, they picked the wrong guy to pick on, in my opinion, because he’s strong, he’s resilient and he happens to have a lot of cash.”
The attorney asserted again that the case is politically motivated against President Trump, “because they can’t beat him in November.”
The U.S. Supreme Court has refused to undo sanctions against a handful of pro-Trump lawyers—including Sidney Powell and Lin Wood—who filed a lawsuit challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election in Michigan.
In a Feb. 20 order list, the Supreme Court denied certiorari without comment, leaving in place sanctions against seven lawyers who were part of the Michigan lawsuit, which was filed on behalf of six Republican voters.
The failed suit, brought as part of a string of “Kraken” lawsuits that Ms. Powell championed, sought emergency relief in the form of eliminating all mail ballots from being counted in the 2020 election, or disqualifying Michigan’s electoral college votes from being counted in the final tally. It also called for Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to transmit certified election results that declared “President Donald Trump is the winner of the election.”
In August 2021, U.S. District Judge Linda Parker ordered Ms. Powell and the other lawyers to pay a $175,000 penalty in a 110-page order that called their Michigan election challenge lawsuit “frivolous” and a “historic and profound abuse of the judicial process.”
Ms. Powell has argued in court filings that her conduct was reasonable and that she had vetted her election fraud claims before filing the lawsuit.
The Supreme Court has turned down other requests from attorneys opposing court sanctions for lawsuits they filed challenging the results of the 2020 presidential election.
Supreme Court Declines Challenge of Virginia School’s Allegedly Discriminatory Admission Policy
Over the objections of two conservative justices, the Supreme Court refused on Feb. 20 to hear a challenge to the admissions policy of a top-rated high school in Virginia that critics say engages in illegal racial discrimination against Asian American students.
The decision not to hear the petition in Coalition for TJ v. Fairfax County School Board came after the Supreme Court struck down as unconstitutional the use of racially discriminatory admissions policies at U.S. colleges in June 2023. That ruling in Students for Fair Admissions Inc. v. Harvard College ended the use of so-called affirmative action in higher education, a longtime goal of conservatives.
Thomas Jefferson High School for Science and Technology (TJ) is rated the fifth-best public high school in the United States by U.S. News and World Report. The school, which ranked best in the nation last year, offers 9th through 12th grades. Its total enrollment is 1,902, and it has a student-to-teacher ratio of 18–1.
The petitioning group, Coalition for TJ, with more than 200 members, was founded in August 2020 to oppose changes in the admissions policy, which its members say discriminates against Asian American students.
The group claimed in its petition that the board “overhauled its admissions” to TJ in 2020 “to racially balance the freshman class by excluding Asian Americans.” The new policy came around the time that George Floyd died in Minneapolis police custody, an event that sparked widespread, sometimes violent protests in the United States and abroad, along with race-conscious policy changes at various institutions, the renaming of professional sports teams, and the pulling down of public statues.
A federal district court agreed with the Coalition for TJ and granted summary judgment to the group. But later, a divided panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 4th Circuit reversed the decision.
Court Asked to Compel Identification of FBI Agents at Capitol on Jan. 6
The FBI could be compelled to identify all special agents who were present on U.S. Capitol grounds on Jan. 6, 2021, if a federal judge grants a motion from Jan. 6 defendant William Pope of Topeka, Kansas.
In a recent court filing before U.S. District Judge Rudolph Contreras, Mr. Pope cited three unidentified FBI special agents who were present on the east side of the U.S. Capitol when a large crowd surged up the steps to the Columbus Doors just after 2 p.m.
The agents stood together and one enthusiastically clapped and cheered as protesters took to the east steps, according to the motion.
“From the clapping and celebratory expression we can conclude that these FBI agents were in favor of people accessing the building and that they believed the people had a First Amendment right to be there,” Mr. Pope alleged.
The U.S. Department of Justice on Feb. 20 asked Judge Contreras for extra time to respond to Mr. Pope’s motion, a request the judge quickly granted over Mr. Pope’s objections. The DOJ now has until March 14 to respond.
“We have only five months until trial is scheduled to begin and there is still a lot that needs to be resolved before then,” Mr. Pope wrote. “Furthermore, the government currently has three attorneys assigned to my case … while I am only a single pro se defendant, so I don’t understand why you need a full month to properly respond.”
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem Sending National Guard to Border ‘Warzone’
South Dakota Gov. Kristi Noem has ordered the state’s National Guard troops to deploy to the southern border to help Texas deal with record-shattering waves of illegal immigration.
Ms. Noem, a Republican, said that 60 South Dakota National Guard soldiers will deploy to the U.S.-Mexico border later this spring, on a rolling basis over a period of three months.
“The border is a warzone, so we’re sending soldiers,” Ms. Noem said yesterday.
South Dakota was the first state to deploy National Guard troops in response to Texas Gov. Greg Abbott’s call two-and-a-half years ago for help securing the border.
Ms. Noem said the National Guard troops will assist with construction of a border wall.
US parenting ‘influencer’ sentenced for child abuse
Ruby Franke was arrested last year after her malnourished and injured son asked a neighbor for food and water
An American mother of six whose parenting advice online drew in more than two million subscribers on YouTube, was sentenced on Tuesday to at least four years in prison on charges of aggravated child abuse.
Franke, 42, who operated the now-deleted ‘8 Passengers’ video network online, was arrested last August in the US state of Utah when her malnourished 12-year-old son escaped from the home of another woman – Jodi Hildebrandt, 54 – to ask a neighbor for food and water.
The child had been bound with duct tape and had visible open wounds as a result of being tied with rope, police records said. Hildebrandt, with whom Franke collaborated on a separate business venture, was handed an identical prison sentence of four terms of between one and 15 years each. Both had pleaded guilty in December to charges of second-degree aggravated child abuse.
Apologizing to her children following her sentencing, Franke said that she had “believed dark was light and right was wrong. I would do anything in the world for you. I took from you all that was soft, and safe and good.”
In her own statement, Hildebrandt said that she hoped the children could “heal physically and emotionally.”
During the trial last year, prosecutor Eric Clarke told the court that two of Franke’s children had been forced to live in a “concentration camp-like setting” and were “regularly denied food, water, beds to sleep in, and virtually all forms of entertainment.”
Franke set up her ‘8 Passengers’ YouTube channel in 2015 and by last summer it had amassed 2.3 million subscribers – many of whom were drawn in by videos of Franke’s suburban family life.
However, some viewers became concerned in 2020 when one of her sons said in a video that he had been sleeping on a bean bag for seven months. Other videos detailed Franke withholding food from her children and “canceling” Christmas as a punishment.
The ‘8 Passengers’ YouTube channel was deleted in 2022 – the same year that Franke separated from her husband, Kevin.
As part of a plea agreement, Hildebrandt – who collaborated with Franke in a series ‘life coaching’ videos – admitted that she was aware of the child abuse, and that she had forced one of Franke’s children to “jump into a cactus multiple times.”
She added that Franke had told her children that they were “evil and possessed” and had to “repent.”
ECONOMY & BUSINESS
Super Bowl Sunday Bud Light Sales See Major Decline
While Super Bowl Sunday beer sales jumped overall, Bud Light saw sales drop by about half, according to an analytics firm.
Beer drinkers apparently still are boycotting the brand months after it became embroiled in a controversy involving a transgender social media influencer.
A report issued by hospitality engagement platform Union found that bar and other on-premise sales of beer jumped by 16 percent on Sunday, Feb. 11, compared to a typical day’s worth of sales. Beer also saw a 10 percent increase from 2023’s Super Bowl Sunday sales, reported Fox News and other news outlets.
Earlier this month, meanwhile, former President Donald Trump wrote on Truth Social to give Bud Light “a second chance,” while calling the transgender influencer posts a “mistake of epic proportions.”
Despite the advertising blitz, last month’s data suggest that the brand has seen a nearly 30 percent year-over-year sales decline, according to Bump Williams Consulting, which analyzed NielsenIQ data.
Anson Frericks, a former Anheuser-Busch executive and public critic of the company, told Fox Business that the brand will continue to struggle if it doesn’t apologize for the Mulvaney promotion.
U.S. Sports Betting Pulled $10.9 Billion in Revenue Last Year
The U.S. sports betting industry pulled in revenues of $10.9 billion last year, a nearly 45 percent increase from the previous year.
The American Gaming Association (AGA) annual report showed that $120 billion was wagered last year, a 30 percent increase from 2022. Per USA Today Sports:
In 2022, the American sports betting industry took in $7.5 billion in revenue and slightly more than $93 billion was wagered, according to the AGA.
The AGA reported the overall growth in sports betting revenue was “largely fueled by continued maturation across most existing markets as well as several new markets, particularly in Massachusetts and Ohio.’’
Last year, Ohio made almost $937 million and Massachusetts took in $483 million, according to the AGA.
The top state for sports betting remains New York, pulling in $1.7 billion in revenue last year, followed by New Jersey and Illinois, which both pulled in $1 billion. The state of Nevada ranked 10th with $480 million from sports betting.
“For overall gaming, Nevada is still the largest market. For sports betting, states with broader mobile options come in higher,” said Cait DeBaun, the AGA’s Vice President of Strategic Communications & Responsibility.
Walmart buying TV-brand Vizio for its ad-fueling customer data
Walmart announced an agreement to buy Vizio today. Irvine, California-based Vizio is best known for lower-priced TVs, but its real value to Walmart is its advertising business and access to user data.
Walmart said it’s buying Vizio for approximately $2.3 billion, pending regulatory clearance and additional closing conditions. Vizio can also terminate the transaction over the next 45 days if it accepts a better offer, per the announcement.
Walmart will keep selling non-Vizio TVs should the merger close, Seth Dallaire, Walmart US’s EVP and CRO who would manage Vizio post-acquisition, told The Wall Street Journal (WSJ).
Walmart expects the acquisition to be finalized as soon as this summer, it told WSJ.
Walmart, including Sam’s Club, is typically Vizio’s biggest customer by sales, per a WSJ report last week on the potential merger. But Walmart’s acquisition isn’t about getting a bigger piece of the budget-TV market (Walmart notably already sells its own “onn.” budget TVs). Instead, Walmart is looking to boost its Walmart Connect advertising business.
Vizio makes money by selling ads, including those shown on the Vizio SmartCast OS and on free content available on its TVs with ads. Walmart said buying Vizio will give it new ways to appeal to advertisers and that those ad efforts would be further fueled by Walmart’s high-volume sales of TVs.
HEALTH
12 Survival Uses for Bentonite Clay
When it comes to stocking preparedness items, it’s best to look for those with multiple purposes. Household items, such as vinegar, baking soda, and duct tape, have a variety of uses and can prove to be lifesavers in survival situations.
However, there is another item that you may not have in your pantry just yet, but you are going to want to keep on hand. This product is bentonite clay.
Not only does it work as an electromagnetic charge, but bentonite clay can also be highly absorptive, taking in 40 to 50 times its weight.
The popularity of this special clay means it is easy to find and stock. You can purchase 24/7 @ www.thepowermall.com or by calling 877-817-9829
Here are 12 Reasons to Add Bentonite Clay to Your Emergency Supply
#1 Soothes burns fast
Bentonite clay soothes burns almost instantaneously. Simply make a thick, cold paste with water and the clay, and apply it to the burned area. Wrap the area with plastic wrap for 15 minutes to keep it moist. After 15 minutes, remove the clay using cold water. Make sure the clay does not dry on the burned skin. Renew the poultice application day and night, and change it every hour until new tissue appears. Then, reduce the frequency to 3 to 4 times a day.
#2 Treats skin
One of the most common uses for bentonite clay is to treat skin issues. The reason bentonite clay is so popular in face masks is because of its absorbency. WebMD explains, “Bentonite clay works like a sponge on your skin. It absorbs dirt and oil, like sebum. Too much sebum can lead to acne. The antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties may help your skin heal.”
When mixed with water, it can be applied to the skin and worn as a face (or skin) mask until it dries to help with acne breakouts, skin infections, eczema, psoriasis, and rashes (e.g., allergic reactions to poison ivy).
#3 Soothes bug bites and insect stings
Bentonite clay is one of the few home remedies for bug bite pain that really works! Make a paste with bentonite clay and water and apply it to the bug bite or sting for quick pain relief. Make sure you cover 1 inch all around the area, and then leave to dry or cover with a loose bandage or plastic wrap for relief. Repeat 3 to 10 times until the swelling and pain subside.
#4 Cleans veggies and fruits
If you are unsure if your vegetables are clean, wash them with bentonite clay. Since it’s been shown to neutralize bacteria and remove toxins, add it to the water before washing your veggies and fruits. Use a ratio of 1 part clay to 8 parts water (or ¼ liquid clay and one quart of water). Place produce in the clay mixture and let it sit for 10 minutes. Then, rinse and dry the produce.
#5 Aids with digestion
People claim that bentonite works wonders for their digestive systems. It’s been said to help with constipation, diarrhea, irritable bowel syndrome, and food poisoning.
If you suspect food poisoning, take 1 ounce of liquid clay every 2 hours as long as needed. Make sure to drink plenty of water to help the clay purge the toxins.
When attempting to use bentonite clay for digestive issues, you must make sure you are using a clay that is safe to consume. Some bentonite clays are for external use only.
#6 Absorbs liquids and moisture
Bentonite clay is used in many different cat litter brands because of its absorbency. But it doesn’t stop there. It also works to remove oil and grease spills.
#7 Works as a supplement or multivitamin
If you don’t have a plan for procuring vitamins in an emergency, bentonite clay is a great resource. It has antibacterial and anti-inflammatory properties and contains minerals such as iron, copper, calcium, and zinc.
You can mix a small amount of safe-to-consume bentonite clay (1/2 to 1 teaspoon) with food or water.
#8 Prevents chafing
Bentonite clay also works to prevent chafing. During hot summer days, you can dab a clay poultice to skin folds that tend to get irritated. Then, wait until the clay dries. It will absorb moisture and protect the skin from inflammation.
#9 Controls pests
If you need to stop pests from bothering you or your garden, you can use a mixture of bentonite clay, water, and liquid soap to keep the bugs away.
#10 Reduces odors
One reason bentonite clay is used for kitty litter is that, in addition to absorbing messes, it also reduced odors. In your own home, you can make drying agent bags (like the little silica gel bags you find in packaging) by placing bentonite clay inside a coffee filter and sealing it. You can also purchase cotton drawstring packs used for making DIY tea bags. These little bags of clay will absorb moisture, which will also help reduce odors. When filling your bag with clay, make sure you only fill it about halfway because it will expand as it absorbs moisture.
#11 Assists in purifying water
In disasters, water is essential, but it is not always safe to drink. Bentonite clay is one way to make the water you find safer to drink. Studies show that when combined with magnesium, bentonite clay improves the purity of tap water. Scientists are working on developing a bentonite-based water filtration system. While it doesn’t eliminate the need for a water filter or boiling, it does remove some of the bacteria and toxins.
#12 Used for detoxifying the body
Bentonite clay is known for its ability to remove certain toxins from the body and skin. People choose to ingest it, apply it directly to their bodies, or take a clay bath as a means of detoxifying.
RECALL WARNING:
FDA Notice: Baby Vitamin Recalled Due to Overdose Fears
Nordic Naturals, a California-based supplement manufacturer, confirmed that it is voluntarily recalling a vitamin D3 liquid product meant for babies due to elevated levels of the vitamin, which could lead to serious health problems, according to a company announcement reposted by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA).
The company is recalling one lot of Nordic Naturals Baby’s Vitamin D3 Liquid in 0.76 fluid ounce bottles, blaming the issue on a “manufacturing error” which caused “an elevated level of Vitamin D3 dosage or super potent dose.”
Over time, prolonged use of elevated or super dosages of vitamin D3 can lead to high vitamin D levels, which health officials say can lead to nausea, vomiting, weakness, frequent urination, and a buildup of calcium in the blood. Prolonged high dosages can also lead to kidney problems, kidney stones, and bone pain.
Normally, the body naturally produces vitamin D by receiving sunlight, although it can be too low during the winter months and in areas located well above or below the equator. Other than sunlight, the vitamin can be found in certain types of fish, red meat, cheese, mushrooms, and eggs.
Low vitamin D levels can cause problems with the bones, muscles, teeth, and increased pain sensitivity, according to Yale Medicine.
Nordic Naturals said it took action by telling retailers, customers, and distributors about the issue via email and by seeking the recall of the products. Anyone with the product should stop using it immediately, the company added, and return it to the place of purchase for a replacement or refund.
Too Much Niacin May Increase Risk of Heart Disease: Study
High levels of niacin, also known as vitamin B3, have been shown to contribute to cardiovascular disease in a recent study.
The new study out of the Cleveland Clinic, published in Nature Medicine, determined there is a delicate balance between too much niacin and just enough—a sort of Goldilocks effect.
Niacin used to be a first choice for lowering LDL, or “bad,” cholesterol. However, as observed by the Cleveland Clinic team, too much niacin creates a byproduct known as 4PY. This product circulates within the bloodstream and is associated with a higher risk of heart attack, stroke, and other cardiac events. Additionally, 4PY was shown in preclinical studies to trigger vascular inflammation, damaging blood vessels and eventually leading to atherosclerosis.
For years, niacin was a go-to supplement for preventing cardiovascular disease due to its ability to lower cholesterol. The body uses it to turn food into energy and maintain the health of the nervous and digestive systems and the skin. Most people get enough niacin through diet, especially if they follow a well-balanced one. Foods high in niacin include yeast, milk, meat, oats, and flour.
The Essential Guide to Cataracts: Symptoms, Causes, Treatments, and Natural Approaches
A cataract is a painless clouding of the eye’s lens, obstructing the passage of light to the retina. The retina’s nerve cells detect light and transmit signals to the brain, enabling vision. Cataracts, by impeding light transmission, can lead to vision issues. They are the primary cause of blindness globally and the foremost cause of vision impairment in the United States.
Around 20.5 million Americans, accounting for 17.2 percent of those aged 40 years and older, are estimated to have cataracts in one or both eyes. Additionally, 6.1 million people, constituting 5.1 percent, have undergone surgical removal of their lenses. By the age of 75, around half of Americans develop cataracts.
Power Mall Product of Interest: Eye Complex CS (120CT)
Taking it several steps beyond other products on the market, Advanced Eye Complex CS also contains nutrients to stabilize retinal ganglion cells via blocking glutamate, and 3 additional Chinese herbs used for centuries to improve vision
SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
FDA Approves 1st T-Cell Therapy for Melanoma
Melanoma cancer patients with solid tumors can turn to a new treatment thanks to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) approval of a new class of immunotherapy. The new treatment may offer hope to those facing an otherwise deadly stage of disease.
Amtagvi (lifileucel) is the first tumor-infiltrating lymphocyte (TIL) therapy to hit the market. The FDA granted accelerated approval to manufacturer Iovance Biotherapeutics on Friday for the drug’s use to treat patients with advanced melanoma that is unable to be removed with surgery, or that has spread to other parts of the body.
“The approval of AMTAGVI offers hope to those with advanced melanoma who have progressed following initial standard of care therapies, as the current treatment options are not effective for many patients,” said Samantha R. Guild, president of the AIM at Melanoma Foundation, in a press release. “This one-time cell therapy represents a promising innovation for the melanoma community, and we are excited by its potential to transform care for patients who are in dire need of additional therapeutic options.”
While it starts with the skin, the cancer can spread to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body. According to the American Cancer Society, about one in 33 white people will develop it, while one in 1,000 black people and one in 200 Hispanic people will.
The treatment is suitable for patients who have tried other forms of therapy, such as PD-1 blocking inhibitors or drugs that target the BRAF gene. PD-1 blocking inhibitors use antibodies to target specific proteins in the body to help the immune system fight off cancer cells. Drugs that target the BRAF gene help manage the growth and function of particular cells associated with skin cancer. According to the FDA, these therapies have some success with melanoma patients, but for those whose cancers have progressed, there has been a “high unmet medical need” until the approval of Amtagvi.
Leftists Become Training Data: Reddit Sells User Content to AI Company for $60 Million
Reddit, which bills itself as “the front page of the internet” is reportedly selling access to user-generated content to an unnamed AI company for $60 million annually, fueling ethical concerns as the social media platform prepares for its potential $5 billion IPO.
Ars Technica reports that Reddit has signed a major deal allowing an unnamed artificial intelligence company to access and utilize user-generated content from the platform for AI training purposes, according to a recent report. This development comes as Reddit prepares for an expected initial public offering (IPO) that may happen as soon as next month.
The deal is said to be worth $60 million per year. While the AI firm was not named, this agreement could set a precedent for similar deals between Reddit and major AI players like OpenAI, the Microsoft- backed creator of ChatGPT.
If the deal goes through as reported, Reddit user content may be used to train the next generation of AI models that can generate text, images and video.
Reddit’s leadership had revealed plans last year to charge AI companies for using decades of user contributions available on the platform. Selling access to user data aligns with a trend of tech firms licensing content rather than scraping data without permission.
While the ethics may be debatable, Reddit stands to gain financially from this AI deal. The contract could boost the valuation of Reddit’s upcoming IPO, reportedly worth up to $5 billion.
SURVEILLANCE STATE
Wave To The Satellite That Is Taking Your Picture From Space
For decades, privacy experts have been wary of snooping from space. They feared satellites powerful enough to zoom in on individuals, capturing close-ups that might differentiate adults from children or suited sunbathers from those in a state of nature.
Now, quite suddenly, analysts say, a startup is building a new class of satellite whose cameras would, for the first time, do just that.
“We’re acutely aware of the privacy implications,” Topher Haddad, head of Albedo Space, the company making the new satellites, said in an interview. His company’s technology will image people but not be able to identify them, he said. Albedo, Mr. Haddad added, was nonetheless taking administrative steps to address a wide range of privacy concerns.
Anyone living in the modern world has grown familiar with diminishing privacy amid a surge security cameras, trackers built into smartphones, facial recognition systems, drones and other forms of digital monitoring. But what makes the overhead surveillance potentially scary, experts say, is its ability to invade areas once seen as intrinsically off limits.
“This is a giant camera in the sky for any government to use at any time without our knowledge,” said Jennifer Lynch, general counsel of the Electronic Frontier Foundation, who in 2019 urged civil satellite regulators to address this issue. “We should definitely be worried.”
Ms. Lynch further stated that her discouraging experience with satellite regulators a half decade ago suggested to her that little would be done to mandate a protection of privacy from the eyes in the sky.
ENERGY & ENVIRONMENT
EPA to Spend $5.8 Billion to Clean Up Drinking Water
Nearly $6 billion in funding will soon be spread through every U.S. state and territory as part of a massive, ongoing effort to clean up the nation’s water supply, the Biden Administration announced Tuesday.
EPA Adminstrator Michael Regan and Vice President Kamala Harris will travel to Pittsburgh on Tuesday to announce the latest infusion of funding, the White House said in a news release.
Projects underway in that city — including efforts to remove lead water pipes — are among several across the country that are being funded through bipartisan legislation passed in 2021 that devoted $50 billion to improving the nation’s water supply.
“With $50 billion in total, the largest investment in water infrastructure in our nation’s history, EPA will enable communities across the nation to ensure safer drinking water for their residents and rebuild vital clean water infrastructure to protect public health for decades to come,” Regan said in an agency news release.
Instead of choosing which projects to fund, the federal government will deliver the money to states, territories and tribes through the Clean Water and Drinking Water State Revolving Fund programs, the EPA said.
Many of the country’s water infrastructure problems stem from a general lack of investment, according to the EPA.
Local governments typically can’t afford to update water systems on their own. Even when changes are made, that can still prompt crises like the one in Flint, Mich., where scientists learned residents had high blood lead levels due to corroded pipes from a new drinking water source.
New lead pipes have been banned in the United States since the 1980s, but the EPA estimates there are still at least 9.2 million lead service lines carrying water to American homes.
The funding announced Tuesday will be used to clean drinking water, improve wastewater and sanitation and remove contaminants, and it will also be used to replace lead pipes, the EPA said.
Over $1 billion from the latest round of funding will help cities and states clean up another another toxin in Americans’ drinking water: PFAS, “forever” chemicals that are considered dangerous to human health, CNN reported.
Almost half of the tap water in the United States is contaminated with PFAS, according to a study published in 2023.
PFAS exposure is linked to problems like cancer, obesity, thyroid disease, high cholesterol, decreased fertility, liver damage and hormone suppression, according to the EPA.
In June 2022, the EPA issued health advisories that said the chemicals are much more hazardous to human health than scientists first thought.
This month, the EPA proposed labeling nine of the PFAS chemicals as hazardous. If the agency officially makes the change, it will be easier for the government to address PFAS as a part of its cleanup program, CNN reported.
Cummins Fined $1.6 Billion Over Allegations It Outfitted Dodge Rams With Software To Cheat Emission
Engine manufacturer Cummins is facing $1.6 billion in fines after allegations that “it outfitted hundreds of thousands of trucks with software to defeat pollution controls,” according to The Cooldown.
The DOJ took time off from prosecuting J6ers and President Trump to allege that Cummins’ actions were in violation of the Clean Air Act.
The agency says that “about 1 million Ram pickups” were rigged to cheat emissions tests so they could look “cleaner than they actually are,” the report says.
The DOJ says that “630,000 model year 2013-2019 Ram engines and 330,000 model year 2019-2023 Ram engines” have been “secretly releasing” nitrogen oxide as a result.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency, nitrogen oxide can cause irritation to the human respiratory system, leading to asthma attacks and other respiratory issues that may require hospitalization. Additionally, this pollutant contributes to the formation of ozone smog and intense tropical downpours.
Cummins paid a $1.6 billion fine to California to settle the claims.
The company pledges ongoing cooperation with investigators to address environmental concerns, while its partner Stellantis begins recalling non-compliant Ram models for software adjustments. This significant penalty should prompt the automotive industry to prioritize decisive climate action.
Decades of research have already determined that exposure to Electromagnetic Fields (EMF) from cell towers, and other wireless “Wi-Fi” radiation emitting sources (including 5G) is biologically and environmentally harmful. In some parts of the world, government agencies are taking steps to better protect people as well as wildlife from it.
From Environmental Health Trust:
The Indian Environment Ministry has issued strict guidelines regarding cell towers in tiger critical habitat across the country. While providing connectivity to the people residing within or near wildlife-rich areas, “the protection and conservation of wildlife habitats should not be affected” by such installations.
This decision comes in the wake of a growing number of proposals for cell towers in wildlife areas such as national parks, sanctuaries, tiger reserves, and corridors. However cell towers emit RF radiation well associated with a broad range of harmful health effects in animals.
The Ministry stated that core critical tiger habitat should be avoided for the installation of cell towers. The order was issued to the chief wildlife wardens of all states and union territories and the Ministry of communications.
The guidelines also mandate that new towers should not be installed within one kilometer of existing towers to avoid overlapping radiation and stringent measures must be put in place to ensure that tower installations do not disrupt the flight paths of birds or cause an increase in radiation levels.
The ministry has also recommended public disclosure of the locations and frequencies of cell tower transmissions, and monitoring the impact on wildlife, particularly birds and bees.
“We applaud the recent conservation efforts of the Environment Ministry to restrict cell towers in ecologically sensitive areas. It is critical that countries enact policies to reduce wireless radiation to as low as possible. Safeguards are urgently needed to protect biodiversity,” stated Theodora Scarato, Executive Director of the Environmental Health Trust who highlighted the scientific evidence on wireless impacts to wildlife compiled at wildlifeandwireless.org. Environmental Health Trust has a campaign to contact local officials well as the United Nations Environment Program in addressing the environmental impacts of wireless radiation.
GARDENING, FARMING & HOMESTEADING
40 Easy Tips for Gardening on a Budget
A limited budget often motivates starting a new garden to grow your own vegetables. However, gardening can be expensive. Fortunately, there are many ways to garden without breaking the bank. These budget garden ideas can be used for both vegetable and flower gardens. A vegetable garden can be a great way to feed a family on a budget. Our own garden has many perennial flowers, annual vegetables, herbs, berries, and fruit trees. Here are 40 easy tips for gardening on a budget that are proven to work and give you great results, organized into categories for easy use.
10 Spring Lilac Care Tips to Make Your Bushes Bloom Like Never Before!
Dreaming of the most stunning lilac blooms this year? It’s time to give your bushes some springtime TLC for peak health and a season of spectacular growth!
As spring approaches, we all wait with trepidation for the impressive blooms that our bushy lilacs will soon give us, taking up the star role in our gardens! Generous, sturdy and cold hardy, this shrub never disappoints, unless you make mistakes, but Syringa’s blossoms can literally wow you if you know how to treat it, and you give it some tender loving care as the new season starts!
To make sure your lilac shrubs display some seriously impressive blooms this spring, there are dome dos and don’ts you need to follow, and I also have a few tips, a few, but easy steps to take in late winter or spring, so that their amazing flowers will light up your garden with their vibrant colors and light-filled energy! Just follow me…
2ND AMENDMENT
Remington CEO Cites ‘Legislative Environment’ in New York as Company Moves to Georgia
Remington is leaving New York, and CEO Ken D’Arcy noted that the direction legislation
took in the Empire State was a cause for concern.
The Associated Press (AP) noted that D’Arcy used a news release to indicate that New York’s “legislative environment” is concerning to the firearm industry as a whole.
The pending closure of Remington’s Ilion, New York, plant — launched in 1828 — marks the end of generations of New Yorkers working for the American gun maker.
Jim Conover began working at the Ilion plant in 1964 and continued to work for Remington for four decades. He commented on the pending closure, saying, “When Remington leaves, it’s not going to be like a facility leaving, it’s going to be like part of your family has moved off.”
Remington’s reported decision to close its Ilion plant next year is concerning and unfortunate. This facility, which received investment from the state, employs many local residents. Unfortunately, like we have seen all too often in New York, burdensome regulations, crippling taxes and problematic energy and other policies continue to force businesses and companies to flee the state, taking jobs and livelihoods with them. We will continue to communicate with state and federal officials and work to help and assist the company’s employees and their families during this difficult time.
In addition to all the regulations and taxes in New York, the state has so much gun control that Mike Bloomberg-affiliated Everytown for Gun Safety ranks it the No. 2 state in the Union for gun control laws.
Those gun controls include an “assault weapons” ban, a “high-capacity” magazine ban, universal background checks, a red flag law, gun storage requirements, “ghost gun” regulations, a microstamping requirement for new handguns, a ban on being armed on colllege or on K-12 campuses for self-defense or classroom defense, and stringent open carry regulations.
COVID RELATED NEWS
Those skeptical of the assertion that COVID-19 vaccines were altogether safe and effective — a claim long advanced by once-trusted government agencies, pharmaceutical companies, and the media amidst a historic censorship campaign targeting dissenters and critics — appear to have had their doubts once again validated.
A damning new peer-reviewed multinational study examining data from nearly 100 million people has not only affirmed the well-documented link between the COVID-19 vaccines and increased risk of heart conditions but has also highlighted troubling links between the AstraZeneca, Moderna, and Pfizer vaccines and medical conditions such as Guillain-Barré syndrome, brain and spinal cord inflammation, Bell’s palsy, and convulsions.
The study was conducted by the Global COVID Vaccine Safety Project — a Global Vaccine Data Network initiative supported by both the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Health and Human Services — and published last week in the esteemed journal Vaccine, the official journal of the Japanese Society for Vaccinology.
The University of Auckland, which hosts the Global Vaccine Data Network, noted that the researchers found possible “safety signals for transverse myelitis (inflammation of part of the spinal cord) after viral vector vaccines and acute disseminated encephalomyelitis (inflammation and swelling in the brain and spinal cord) after viral vector and mRNA vaccines.”
US Vaccine Injury Compensation Program Has 10-Year Backlog of Claims
It may take more than 10 years for someone injured by a COVID-19 vaccine to receive a decision on whether their claim is eligible for compensation by the government’s vaccine compensation program—if they receive a response at all.
U.S. health officials responded to questions on America’s failing vaccine injury compensation system in a hearing that left the vaccine-injured feeling like addressing the system’s shortcomings is not a priority on Capitol Hill.
As of Jan. 1, there were 12,854 claims filed for injuries caused by COVID-19 countermeasures with the government’s Countermeasures Injury Compensation Program (CICP), including 9,600 related to injuries caused by COVID-19 vaccines. Of the 12,854 claims, 2,214 have been processed, but only 40 claims have been found eligible for compensation.
According to CICP data, as of Jan. 1, only 11 people have received compensation for their injuries out of 40 COVID-19 claims found eligible for compensation. The average award was a mere $3,700, whereas the average payout under the National Vaccine Injury Compensation Program (VICP) that handles injuries caused by routine vaccines is $490,000.
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