Daily Archives: February 15, 2022

PHARR, Texas (ValleyCentral) Pharr Police arrested four people on Saturday for being in possession of stolen credit cards. Police tell ValleyCentral the suspects has 81 stolen credit cards. Just a few days before the arrests police also found multiple card skimmers at local gas pumps.

They were actually gift cards and what they do is that they take these blank gift cards, and theyll get the information from the skimmer which is the credit card numbers and theyll put them on to the gift cards and utilize them as a credit card, said Pharr Deputy Police Chief William Edmundson.

Edmundson says local gas stations are targets for credit card thieves. Police say the thefts can happen anywhere. McAllen Police also reported card skimmers being found at four different gas stations last week.

Sometimes we would get an influx of two or three popping up at one time and sometimes we will go a few months without receiving any calls, Edmundson said. From what Ive seen from experience is that they go from city to city. So, Pharr might get a few of them McAllen will get a few than another city will get targeted.

When paying at the pump, police add there are ways to make sure your pump is safe before swiping your debit or credit card.

Most gas pumps will have a seal and if that seal is broken that is put on there by the state, thats a red flag that the pump has been tampered with, Edmundson said. If you see that just go to another pump or report it to the clerk so they can do an inspection on it.

Police are still searching for two other suspects involved with last weekends stolen credit card operation. Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers at 956-787-8477

Excerpt from:

Credit card skimmers found at local gas stations - KGBT-TV

A seniorIranian official commenting on nuclear talks has said, "some 30% of difficult issues remain to be resolved but it is possible to reach a deal by early March".

A Western diplomat also said, "reaching a deal is possible around early March, if all goes well," Reuters has reported. US officials have implied an unofficial deadline to reach agreement by the end of February.

After eight rounds of talks, key bones of contention includeIrans demand for a US guarantee of no more sanctions or other punitive steps in future, and how and when to restore verifiable restrictions onIrans nuclear activity.

A secondIranian official said Tehran was also insisting on being able to seal and store its advanced centrifuges insideIran, rather than dismantling and sending them abroad, as Western powers have called for.

He saidIranfurther wants the removal of some 300 extra sanctions onIranian entities and individuals not related to the nuclear deal.

US President Joe Biden's administration has said it will remove curbs inconsistent with the 2015 pact ifIranresumes compliance with it, implying Washington would leave in place sanctions imposed under terrorism or human rights measures.

US officials have said the Biden administration cannot guarantee that a US government would never renege on the agreement because it is classified as a non-binding political understanding, not a legally binding treaty.

Reporting by Reuters

Originally posted here:

Iran Reportedly Insisting On More US Concessions In Nuclear Talks - Iran International

James Jim Meligan, known to friends as Julio, of Juda, died at 60 year old, Feb. 6, 2022 at SSM Health Hospital in Monroe.

He was born March 16, 1961 in Shawno, to the late Seal and Marjorie (Whippler) Meligan. He graduated from Brodhead High School in 1979.

He married Sheri Peters on Sept. 1, 2015 in Minocqua. He was a member of the Menominee Indian Tribe.

He enjoyed dart league, fishing, camping, woodworking, and time with his grandchildren.

He is survived by his wife Sheri Meligan of Juda; children, Tiffany (Ryan) Moore of Beloit, and AJ (Alyssa) Meligan of Monroe; six grandchildren, Simon, Malcolm, Lili, Violet, Ryerson, and Calvin; sister, Adeline (Mike) Fulton, Brodhead; and two nieces, Amanda (Jared) Condon and Sarah (Austin) Hawk.

He was further preceded in death by his brother, Randy Meligan.

A visitation was held on Saturday, Feb. 12.

In lieu of flowers, memorials would be deeply appreciated and can be sent to shriner111.com.

Shriner Hager Gohlke Funeral Home in Monroe is assisting the family.

Read more:

The Independent Register / The Clinton Topper JAMES MELIGAN - Brodhead Independent Register

For his first romantic trip away without the kids, Steve Backshall knew where to take wife Helen Glover Scotland.

The 48-year-old explorer and naturalist and his two-time Olympic champion rower wife will leave their three kids for the first time this week for a Valentine's break in Fort William.

It will be a chance to return to the country where he met a friendly seal and swam with glowing sharks, and the big softy is treating Helen to a trip on the Caledonian Sleeper.

While couples may dream of cosy nights by the fire, this pair will enjoy their break from kids Logan, three, and two-year old twins Kit and Willow by hitting the mountains.

He said: For me the Caledonian Sleeper is one of the great romantic journeys in the world.

Helen has never done it before. Its our first trip leaving all three babies behind. Im super-excited.

Theres going to be a big dump of snow this week and then its going to be really cold. Our goal was to do some mountaineering around Fort William. But who knows if that will be possible.

Its been an amazing rollercoaster for the Deadly 60 presenter who explores the unknown corners of the world for his TV shows swimming with crocodiles or nearly dying while kayaking in Bhutan, or attempting to be the first to climb a mountain face in Venezuela.

Since meeting Helen, 35, at a Sport Relief event in 2014 and marrying her two years later theyve had Logan, three, whose twin didnt survive, and Willow and Kit, two, who were born during the January 2020 lockdown.

The family live by the Thames in Berkshire but get away as often as they can to Cornwall, where Helen is from.

This summer Steve hopes to bring the family to Scotland for their first holiday in a country he thinks is among the very best on Earth. High praise from a man who has seen more of the world than most.

Steve said: Id really like to take them to the Inner Hebrides. I love that whole area coming through the Small Isles to Skye, Rum and Knoydart.

The Inner Hebrides is one of my favourite places in the world and I cant wait to introduce my youngsters to it.

Steve has been on TV for 24 years in the likes of The Really Wild Show, Deadly 60 and the Lost Land series.

While hes shown us some amazing animals and views, hes also put himself in real danger to do so.

In 2008, Steve broke his back in a 25ft rock climbing fall and perforated his ear drums on a dive last October with whale sharks in the Indo-Pacific.

He insisted what scares him the most these days is not spending as much time with the children as he can.

He said: The most important thing to me is my family. This stage of their childhood is so precious because its over in a heartbeat and if I was to be away loads now in the first years of their lives, Id always regret it.

Im less worried about danger because this is what I do for a living and diving with sharks or crocodiles and climbing mountains is what I do and thats what Im comfortable with.

But Im worried if someone offers me a two-month expedition to the middle of nowhere with no contact to the outside world.

The Bafta-winning naturalist filmed Sky series Shark last year. It included an episode solely shot in British waters including those around Scotland.

And Steve, who took part in 2015s Strictly Come Dancing, will hit the road for a UK tour of new theatre show, Ocean, including stops in April at Edinburgh Usher Hall, Theatre Royal Glasgow and Aberdeen Music Hall.

Steve, who grew up in Bagshot, Surrey, fell in love with the sea thanks to his parents, from looking for crabs in rock pools to snorkelling and free diving as a child. Hes had his kids out on sea kayaking trips already.

But over the years doing his shows hes seen the damage humans are doing to the environment and like David Attenborough and Chris Packham wants to inform as well as entertain.

He said: Places I might have dived 20 years ago that were spectacular and now there is nothing, its gone. But the ocean will bounce back given half a chance in marine protected areas.

His stage show Ocean will bring the seas of the world to us. It will include stunts, experiments and big-screen footage.

Scotland is surrounded by sea but for most of us its about the beach and maybe a bit of paddling. However, Steve reveals an extraordinary world below.

He said: When its calm in the North Sea theres nowhere else in the world Id rather be diving. Our kelp and seagrass forest are teeming with life.

Right there off the Scottish coast I swam with glow-in-the-dark sharks at night and had a grey seal playing alongside me like a puppy off Coll.

I was in my sea kayak off the coast of Cornwall and had a leatherback turtle swim right into me.

Steve hopes that Ocean will entertain and galvanise people young and old into doing their bit to save our seas.

He wants us to reduce the use of plastic bags and single-use plastics and think about what we are eating, adding that often shark is in our fish and chip shops but labelled as other things.

While Packham has become an ardent campaigner and had a car blown up outside his home by thugs and dead animals left at his gate, Steve looks for other ways to change minds.

He said: There are ways where you dont get peoples backs up and dont rub people up the wrong way.

We are constantly feeling our way through it.

You need to tread a very fine line between being entertaining, interesting, positive and empowering and putting the tools for change into peoples hands.

While also making sure youre truthful and you are bringing across the real challenges that all of our natural environments are facing now because of us and the way that we live our lives.

Steve Backshalls Ocean is coming to the Edinburgh Usher Hall on April 2, Glasgow Theatre Royal on April 3 and Aberdeen Music Hall on April 5. For tickets, visit stevebackshall.com

See more here:

Explorer Steve Backshall is taking his wife Helen Glover on a romantic trip to Scotland - climbing hills - Daily Record

The winners for each party in the March primaries will be on the ballot in the November general election. (Courtesy Adobe Stock)

Candidate responses have been edited for length and clarity.

Jameson Ellis (candidate did not provide a photo)

Candidate did not provide responses before press time

Dan Crenshaw

Occupation: U.S. Congressman for Texas Second Congressional District

Relevant experience: Retired Lt. Commander, U.S. Navy SEALs; earned two Bronze Stars (one with valor), the Purple Heart, and the Navy Commendation Medal with Valor, among others

Campaign phone: 281-888-4016

Campaign website: https://crenshawforcongress.com/contact

Martin Etwop

Occupation: law student (final semester) and Christian missionary

Relevant experience: church-planter, missions team lead, father of three, event coordinator,

automotive manufacturing and director or after-school program

Campaign phone: 936-283-2188

Campaign website: http://www.martinetwop.com

Milam Langella (candidate did not provide a photo)

Occupation: commercial airline pilot

Relevant experience: I worked on military staffs and developed operational war planning for national strategy.

Campaign phone: 832-510-9901

Campaign website: http://www.milam4congress.com

What inspired you to run for this office, and what qualifications do you possess?

Ellis: Candidate did not provide a response before press time

Crenshaw: Ive committed my life to the service of others, first as a Navy SEAL and now as the congressman for [District 2]. I was first inspired to run for Congress after Hurricane Harvey. I saw the devastation firsthand and knew we needed improvements at the federal level to respond to and prevent future flooding. Thats why I advocated and secured [Federal Emergency Management Agency] funding for key flood mitigation projects in our community during my first term.

Etwop: The Trump presidency inspired a lot of conservatives like me, and the 2020 election showed how broken our election system is. The debt ceiling is rising without people seeming to care about our childrens futures. People advocating for [critical race theory]. ... First Amendment rights trampled upon, and Americans denied their due process. ... Criminals destroying peoples businesses not held accountable. ... I have been in this same place before and know how the story ends having grown up in Uganda.

Langella: I'm running because our current representative has failed in his constitutional duty to the district and has increased the size of the government and reduced civil liberties. Every rank that I held in the Marine Corps I was given increased responsibility from commanding units in combat to commanding staffs for the development of operation war plans.

What would your top priorities be if elected?

Ellis: Candidate did not provide a response before press time

Crenshaw: I pride myself on being one of the most effective Republican lawmakers, passing legislation into law under President Trump to protect Texas energy jobs and introducing bipartisan legislation to combat illegal immigration and stop President Bidens border crisis. I also have introduced legislation to stop Joe Bidens unconstitutional vaccine mandate, which should be a top priority for Republicans when we take back the majority. These issues will continue to be my priorities if re-elected.

Etwop: My top priorities [will be] defending and protecting our borders, responsible fiscal spending and balanced budget amendment, defending our individual rights and liberties, stopping socialism, Marxism and the [critical race theory] indoctrination and protecting the unborn.

Langella: Repealing the Immunization Infrastructure Modernization Act, repealing the Patriot Act and repealing [the Threat Assessment, Prevention and Safety] Act.

What do you believe the federal governments role should be in COVID-19 response?

Ellis: Candidate did not provide a response before press time

Crenshaw: The government can only do so much to prevent the spread of a pandemic. Even draconian measures have proven to have little effect, but with great cost to society and our economy. The government should have a limited role in all of this: provide accurate health guidance and invest in resources that people can take advantage of voluntarily. I am completely opposed to [President Joe] Bidens unconstitutional vaccine mandate and have introduced legislation to stop it.

Etwop: The federal government should get out of the way and let individuals decide if they want to take the jab or not. There is no place for mandates in a free society that cherishes individual liberties. Medical issues should be between the individual and his or her doctor, not the government.

Langella: The government should be taking sound medical and scientific advice from credible sources and avoid knee-jerk reaction. States should be allowed to handle their own COVID-19 response.

What needs do you see for Precinct 2?

Ellis: Candidate did not provide a response before press time

Crenshaw: I believe the interests of people in this district, as with most Texans, are the same. Texans want their representatives to be an authentic, strong voice for themselves and their families in Congress. Right now, they want a representative who will provide a check on Joe Bidens assault on Texas oil and gas jobs, unconstitutional vaccine mandate, unprecedented border crisis and socialist spending that is driving up everyday costs for families.

Etwop: Texas [District] 2 needs include getting back our liberties, abolition of income tax and property tax, which takes away instead of helping in wealth creation. We also need to have actual representation in Congress. Our representative should speak for us, not go to news cycles and make Hollywood-style videos; the leaders should come back to the district and listen to the people and only vote on what the people support.

Langella: Election integrity, border security and the enforcement of child trafficking laws.

What do you think the role of the federal government is supposed to be?

Ellis: Candidate did not provide a response before press time

Crenshaw: Protect your inalienable rights, defend the homeland and perform basic functions well. Otherwise, leave Americans alone to live their lives and make a living to provide for their families.

Etwop: The role of the federal government is to guarantee a federal system, protect the states from invasions, including military and illegal immigration invasions. And finally, the federal government is tasked with protecting and guaranteeing the rights of the people as stipulated in the Constitution, and not oppressing the citizens of this great nation.

Langella: Provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare and strictly adhere to the 10th Amendment.

Read this article:

Meet the Republican candidates for U.S. Rep. District 2 - Community Impact Newspaper

Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Crown Prince of Abu Dhabi, and Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan oversaw the exchange of several co-operation agreements between the UAE and Turkey on Monday.

The Turkish president is in the UAE on his first state visit to the Emirates in almost a decade.

Sheikh Mohamed, who is also Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, revealed plans to double trade between the countries, as the two leaders reviewed ties between the nations during a meeting at Qasr Al Watan, the Presidential Palace.

Representatives of several state departments in the Emirates, along with their Turkish counterparts, also signed co-operation agreements, memoranda of understanding and protocols in the fields of: health and medical sciences; sea, land and transport; advanced industries and technologies; climate action; culture; and economic partnerships.

Agreements also covered crisis and disaster management, meteorology, and youth.

A letter of intent on defence co-operation was also signed.

The agreements between the two countries are:

1 - A memorandum in the fields of health and medical sciences. The agreement was exchanged by Abdul Rahman Al Owais, Minister of State for Federal National Council Affairs, and Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs.

2 - A memorandum in the fields of land and sea transport. It was exchanged by Dr Thani bin Ahmed Al Zeyoudi, Minister of State for Foreign Trade, and Adil Karaismailolu, Minister of Transport and Infrastructure.

3 - A memorandum in advanced industries and technologies. It was exchanged by Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber, Minister of Industry and Advanced Technology, and Mustafa Varank, Turkish Minister of Industry and Technology.

4 - A memorandum on climate action. It was exchanged by Dr Sultan bin Ahmed Al Jaber and Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs.

5 - A memorandum in cultural fields. It was exchanged by Noura bint Mohammed Al Kaabi, Minister of Culture and Youth, and Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism, Mehmet Nuri Ersoy.

6- A joint statement of intent on initiating a comprehensive economic partnership. It was exchanged by Abdullah bin Touq Al Marri, Minister of Economy, and Mehmet Mu, Turkish Minister of Commerce.

7- A memorandum in agricultural fields. It was exchanged by Mariam bint Mohammed Almheiri, Minister of Climate Change and the Environment, and Bekir Pakdemirli, Turkish Minister of Agriculture and Forestry.

8 - A memorandum in the field of youth. It was exchanged by Shamma bint Suhail Al Mazrouei, Minister of State for Youth Affairs, and Mehmet Nuri Ersoy, Turkish Minister of Culture and Tourism.

9 - A memorandum on crisis and disaster management. It was exchanged by Ali Saeed Al Neyadi, chairman of the National Emergency Crisis and Disasters Management Authority, and Turkish Interior Minister Sleyman Soylu.

10 - A memorandum in the field of meteorology. It was exchanged by Faris Muhammad Al Mazrouei, chairman of the board of trustees at the National Meteorological Centre, and Mevlut Cavusoglu, Turkish Minister of Foreign Affairs.

11 - A media co-operation protocol. It was exchanged by Saeed Al Eter, head of the UAE government media office, and Farhan Altan, head of communications - Turkish president's office.

12 - A letter of intent on defence co-operation. It was exchanged by Tareq Abdul Raheem Al Hosani, CEO of Tawazun Economic Council, and president of Turkish Defence Industries, smail Demir.

13 - A protocol of co-operation between the UAE's National Library and Archives and the General Directorate of State Archives, affiliated to the Turkish Presidency. It was exchanged by Abdullah Majid Al Ali, acting director general of the National Library and Archives, and Dr Uur nal, director of State Archives of the Presidency of the Republic of Turkey.

Updated: February 15th 2022, 6:41 AM

See original here:

UAE and Turkey agree to co-operate in 13 fields and industries - The National