A lengthy manhunt in Oregon ended Tuesday evening after authorities arrested a suspect who they warned was “extremely dangerous,” officials said. He later died in the hospital.
Benjamin Foster, 36, a convicted felon who was wanted in the recent kidnapping, torture and attempted murder of a woman, is now dead following an hours-long standoff with police.
Foster was initially found Tuesday afternoon in a crawl space under a home and refused to surrender himself to officers of the Grants Pass Police Department and other departments for several hours. SWAT and a Crisis Negotiation team were on the scene.
He was placed into custody Tuesday evening after a self-inflicted gunshot wound, KTVL-TV reported.
Law enforcement officers aim their weapons at a home during a standoff in Grants Pass, Ore., on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. (Scott Stoddard/Grants Pass Daily Courier via AP)
Authorities said no officers were injured in the arrest.
In 2019, before moving to Oregon, Foster held his then-girlfriend captive inside her Las Vegas apartment for two weeks. A Las Vegas police report obtained by The Associated Press said she was choked to the point of unconsciousness, and suffered broken ribs, two black eyes, and injuries from being bound at the wrists and ankles.
He initially was charged with five felonies, including assault and battery, and faced decades in prison upon conviction.
In lieu of the lengthy sentence, Clark County prosecutors struck a deal with Foster where he would plead guilty to felony and misdemeanor battery. In September 2021, a judge sentenced him to up to 2 1/2 years in a Nevada prison.
But after the 729 days he had spent in jail awaiting trial were factored into his punishment, Foster was left to serve less than 200 additional days in state custody.
The Grants Pass Police Department released photos of Benjamin Foster ahead of his arrest in Grants Pass, Oregon, on Tuesday, Jan. 31, 2023. (Grants Pass Police Department)
Last week, on Jan. 24, Foster was again charged with attempted murder, kidnapping and assault after a victim was found in Grants Pass, Oregon. The victim, a female, was hospitalized in critical condition.
Prior to the arrest, police released a photo of Foster but said he may have altered his appearance since it was taken. Grants Pass Police Lt. Jeff Hattersley said Foster had cut his shoulder-length brown hair and grown a thicker beard.
“The Grants Pass Police Department asks the public to pay particular attention to Foster’s facial structure and eyes since those features are very difficult to change. Additional photos of Foster, as they become available, will be released to assist in his identification,” the Grants Pass Police said in a Jan. 29 update.
Grants Pass police issued a community warning that said Foster remained on the run Tuesday afternoon.
Grants Pass Police Department said suspect Benjamin Foster was spotted near the home of the Jan. 24 crime scene just days later. (Grants Pass Police Department)
Foster narrowly avoided being arrested after police conducted a raid on a family property in Wolf Creek, Oregon, on Thursday, Jan. 26.
Police also said Foster was using dating apps to lure people into assisting him to avoid police and potentially find new victims.
Billionaire Warren Buffett still lives in the house he bought in 1958 for $31,500.
Mega-star Keanu Reeves is worth over $350 million but says he’s happier living a modest lifestyle rather than in a Hollywood mansion. In fact, he didn’t own a home for many years after he became a famous, high-paid actor.
And Virgin Group mogul Richard Branson admits he doesn’t waste money on possessions and clothes.
“The idea of having a possession that is there just as pure luxury, and is not actually paying its bills, is something which I’d be embarrassed about.” Branson told the Guardian in a 2002 interview.
Being frugal and living below their means has helped some of the world’s wealthiest people build their wealth.
The Secret of Financial Security: Consider Living Below Your Means
Alliance Images / Shutterstock.com
Living a smaller lifestyle is a personal choice each of us makes (consciously or unconsciously) from the day we start living on our own and then throughout the rest of our lives.
What does it mean to live below your means? To put it simply, it’s continually spending less than you earn.
It becomes a habit or a behavior pattern that allows you to resist buying things you may want but don’t need and putting more of your income into your savings and retirement.
The Benefits of Living Below Your Means
Monkey Business Images / Shutterstock.com
There’s a payoff to living below your means. Most of all, you reduce stress over money issues. You’ve also put yourself in a position to not live paycheck to paycheck.
Living debt free gives you power because you always know if/when you do want to borrow money, you’ll be able to negotiate the best terms on a loan.
But there’s more to living frugally.
It provides financial security
Grusho Anna / Shutterstock.com
Living paycheck to paycheck can cause you to lose a lot of sleep worrying about your finances.
But if you are financially frugal about what you spend your money on, then you should have more money available to pay off your debts, save for emergencies, and build your nest egg for retirement.
You’ll get rid of much stress and worry if you are more financially secure.
It enables you to build an emergency fund
Ariya J / Shutterstock.com
If you cut back on unnecessary expenses like clothes or $5 lattes at the local coffee shop, you can allocate the money you save into an emergency fund.
Experts recommend that you sock away at least one to three months of expenses in an emergency fund in case something unexpected happens, like losing your job or having a major expense you hadn’t planned on.
It allows you to build your wealth
wk1003mike / Shutterstock.com
By spending less on eating out at restaurants or buying the latest and greatest cellphone, you can invest the money you save to grow your wealth.
One way to do this is by contributing more to your 401(k) or other retirement accounts. Seemingly small expenses add up. Being mindful of expenses also means you may become more vigilant about the fees you pay whenever you make an investment.
Learning to “audit” investment expenses such as management fees can save you literally tens of thousands of dollars over a lifetime of investing. When you switch your priorities from spending to saving, you’ll get more control over your future.
Strategies to Help You Live Frugally
YAKOBCHUK VIACHESLAV / Shutterstock.com
Living below your means is more about behavior than finance. Age and stage of life don’t really matter.
If this lifestyle appeals to you, there are strategies that you can take to get on the path of living a financially frugal life.
A monthly budget sets you free
aslysun / Shutterstock.com
One of the best things you can do to live frugally is to set a budget for your monthly expenses and stick to it. Ironically, placing limits on your spending and tracking your expenses allows you to free your mind of questions about whether you may be overspending.
There are several budgeting programs, apps, and models that you can use to follow where you’re spending your money and where you might be able to cut back.
For example, some budgeting experts recommend the 50/30/20 rule, where 50% of your income goes to necessities like rent and utilities, 30% goes to wants like dining out and clothes, and 20% goes into savings or paying off debts.
Financial guru Dave Ramsey has been promoting the You Need A Budget (YNAB) budgeting app, and I have personally test-driven (and endorsed this digital tool), which gives a purpose to every dollar you earn.
With zero-based budgeting, you should be left with zero after you pay all your expenses, including needs, wants, debts, savings, and retirement.
Cut unnecessary expenses
Stokkete / Shutterstock.com
Research shows that the average adult in the U.S. spends almost $1,500 a month on things considered “nonessentials.”
These unnecessary expenses can include dining out, expensive clothes, multiple streaming services or subscriptions, pricey gym memberships, and alcohol.
With current inflation rates still hovering around 7% annually, these everyday luxuries are taking an even bigger bite of your wallet.
You don’t have to deprive yourself of a vibrant social life, but you may be surprised by how much you can save just by cutting back on some of these costs.
Pay off debts
Doucefleur / Shutterstock.com
If you have a lot of credit card debt, much of your monthly payments go to pay the interest on those cards. With some credit cards charging as much as 26% interest, paying a credit card off can take years if you only make the minimum payments.
Make a plan to pay off your credit card debts, so you have more money to save and invest.
One strategy for paying off your cards is the avalanche method, where each month, you pay the most on your card with the highest interest rate and minimum payments on your other cards. Once you pay that card off, do the same with the card with the second-highest interest rate.
Downsize
Darren Baker / Shutterstock.com
If a large chunk of your income goes to housing or your car, you may consider downsizing. If you live in a five-bedroom home, but all your kids have grown and moved out, you can save money moving to a smaller home.
Living in an urban area may be nice because you’re close to everything, but you may get more for your money on housing if you move outside the city limits.
You can also save a lot by not having a car payment. Your vehicle is a form of transportation to get you to the places you need to go, not a symbol of your status. It’s silly to drive around in a brand-new car when you struggle to make ends meet.
Am I Becoming a Cheapskate?
Minerva Studio / Shutterstock.com
Just like anything else, living below your means involves finding the balance to feel more at ease about money.
Taking the frugal lifestyle to its extreme — counting every penny and living in fear of spending your own money isn’t necessarily healthy and probably won’t make you (and those around you) very happy.
There’s frugal, and then there’s cheap. And being too restrictive might rob you of the job of participating in group activities where you have to chip in or feel generous enough to donate to charitable causes.
Bottom Line
wavebreakmedia / Shutterstock.com
If you worry about your future financial security, the new year is a perfect time to reevaluate your spending and look at ways to cut back on unnecessary expenses.
If you’re a parent or grandparent who has life experience, it’s smart to sit down with your loved ones and talk about how they can find some peace of mind that they are prepared for any unknowns the future may bring.
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Keywords Studios, a big game outsourcing company, said that its Engage division has acquired Fortyseven Communications, an ubiquitous PR agency for gaming companies.
Keywords Studios said it has accelerated momentum on expanding its Engage line of services, dedicated to helping game companies with marketing, creative, player services, and now an increased commitment to communications.
The well-respected San Francisco agency will be an important part of Keywords’ Engage Service Line, with its incredible client relationships, industry network, and strategic location. Started by Sibel Sunar, the agency has 55 people and a 17-year legacy in the games business, and adjacent industries such as tech, entertainment, consumer electronics, and more.
“We were extremely impressed with Fortyseven’s quality of work, leadership, and talented team,” said Bertrand Bodson, CEO of Keywords Studios, in a statement. “We could not be happier to welcome them and work together, leveraging each other’s strengths.”
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The PR agency joins Engage’s growing roster of leading firms like Indigo Pearl and LabCom on the PR side, and agencies such as gnet, Maverick Media, and Waste Creative on the marketing and creative services side. The deal comes on the heels of the acquisition of AI tech-based customer support platform HelpShift.
Sibel Sunar is CEO of Fortyseven Communications.
“Our vision for Engage is to create the next generation of connected companies that surround the marketing, communications, and player-centered aspects of the games industry,” said Tony Grigg, managing director for Engage at Keywords Studios, in a statement. “The global opportunity to bring together the best businesses serving the industry under one roof is enormous. We welcome the exceptional team at 47 and are excited about working with Sibel and the team to build out our collective vision.”
“We were struck by the value Keywords leadership placed on empowering and supporting companies that have their own culture and voice, as well as how much they care about people and clients,” said Sunar, founder and CEO of Fortyseven communications, in a statement. “We are excited and energized to be joining Keywords.”
GamesBeat’s creed when covering the game industry is “where passion meets business.” What does this mean? We want to tell you how the news matters to you — not just as a decision-maker at a game studio, but also as a fan of games. Whether you read our articles, listen to our podcasts, or watch our videos, GamesBeat will help you learn about the industry and enjoy engaging with it. Discover our Briefings.
Despite these humble origins, Wordle quickly developed into a global sensation after being released to the public in October 2021, with players from across the English-speaking world sharing their scores on social media.
Speaking to Newsweek Joel C. Wallenberg, a senior lecturer in language change at the University of York in Britain, argued word games have long had an appeal.
A person plays “Wordle” on January 12, 2022 in New York City. Newsweek has some hints and tips to help you solve today’s Wordle puzzle. Alexi Rosenfeld/GETTY
He said: “Language always seems to be fascinating to people. This is perhaps because producing and understanding language is a fantastically complex process, and we are only aware of the tiniest bit of that process while it’s going on; most of what we do when we speak, we do unconsciously. But it may be that people have an inkling that they’re doing something very involved and impressive when they speak, even if they don’t know the details or why it should be that way.
“Language games poke at how conscious, or unconscious, we are of our own linguistic processes, and maybe give us a little more insight into them than we had before. That might be one reason why humans, maybe universally, have always invented and enjoyed language games.”
The answer to today’s puzzle will be revealed at the end of this article, so scroll down with caution if you want to work it out for yourself. To help you solve today’s Wordle, Newsweek has provided some tips.
‘Wordle’ #592 Tips and Clues for Wednesday, February 1
Wordle players can use these five hints to help solve puzzle #592.
Hint #1: There are no repeated letters.
Hint #2: The word only contains one vowel.
Hint #3: Synonyms for today’s answer include “berate,” “blame” and “admonish.”
Hint #4: The third letter is a vowel.
Hint #5: A parent might do this to a child, if they’ve done something wrong.
‘Wordle’ #592 Answer for Wednesday, February 1
The answer to Tuesday’s Wordle is “Scold.”
With just one vowel this was a real brainteaser that’s likely to have challenged even some experienced Wordle players. Congratulations if you got it, but don’t worry if not. Not all Wordle puzzles are so tough and, in any case, trying to improve your score is one of the best things about the game.
Either way, Newsweek will be back tomorrow with another round of Wordle hints and tips.
What Does ‘Scold’ Mean?
The Cambridge University Dictionary defines “scold” as “to speak to someone angrily because you disapprove of their behavior.”
For example: “His mother scolded him for breaking her favorite vase.”
The next Wordle puzzle will be available at 7 p.m. ET, when the daily update occurs.
“It saddens me to see things about me from people who don’t me!! This definitely feels like a form of bullying!!! Ladies, we are suppose to be rooting for one another not pulling one another down!!”
Make every Wordle (opens in new tab) a winner with our daily selection of hints and tips designed to give you as much or as little help as you want to see. Need the February 1 (592) answer in a flash? No problem. Just scroll down, or click the link to the side for the answer to today’s Wordle.
The instant the first letter of the first guess turned green, I was sure I was in for a quick win. What actually turned up in the guesses afterwards were more greys than I hope I ever see again, and I was only saved by a lucky yellow right at the end.
Wordle hint
A Wordle hint for Wednesday, February 1
Today’s answer means to tell someone off, to berate or criticise them for something they’ve done. A parent may _____ a child for drawing on the walls, for example. There’s just one vowel to find today.
Is there a double letter in today’s Wordle?
There are no repeat letters in today’s Wordle.
Wordle help: 3 tips for beating Wordle every day
Playing Wordle well is like achieving a small victory every day—who doesn’t like a well-earned winning streak in a game you enjoy? If you’re new to the daily word game, or just want a refresher, I’m going to share a few quick tips to help set you on the path to success:
You want a balanced mix of unique consonants and vowels in your opening word.
A solid second guess helps to narrow down the pool of letters quickly.
The answer could contain letters more than once.
There’s no time pressure beyond making sure it’s done by the end of the day. If you’re struggling to find the answer or a tactical word for your next guess, there’s no harm in coming back to it later on.
Today’s Wordle answer
(Image credit: Josh Wardle)
What is the Wordle 592 answer?
Need a win? The answer to the February 1 (592) Wordle is SCOLD.
Previous answers
The last 10 Wordle answers
Knowing previous Wordle solutions can be helpful in eliminating current possibilities. It’s unlikely a word will be repeated and you can find inspiration for guesses or starting words that may be eluding you.
Here are some recent Wordle answers:
January 31: CROSS
January 30: CRAVE
January 29: FISHY
January 28: FLIRT
January 27: WORRY
January 26: BEEFY
January 25: MAIZE
January 24: COUNT
January 23: ELUDE
January 22: MATEY
Learn more about Wordle
Wordle gives you six rows of five boxes each day, and it’s your job to work out which five-letter word is hiding by eliminating or confirming the letters it contains.
Starting with a strong word (opens in new tab) like LEASH—something containing multiple vowels, common consonants, and no repeat letters—is a good place to start. Once you hit Enter, the boxes will show you which letters you’ve got right or wrong. If a box turns ⬛️, it means that letter isn’t in the secret word at all. 🟨 means the letter is in the word, but not in that position. 🟩 means you’ve got the right letter in the right spot.
Your second go should compliment the starting word, using another “good” guess to cover any common letters you missed last time while also trying to avoid any letter you now know for a fact isn’t present in today’s answer. After that, it’s just a case of using what you’ve learned to narrow your guesses down to the right word. You have six tries in total and can only use real words (so no filling the boxes with EEEEE to see if there’s an E). Don’t forget letters can repeat too (ex: BOOKS).
If you need any further advice feel free to check out our Wordle tips (opens in new tab), and if you’d like to find out which words have already been used, you can scroll to the relevant section above.
Originally, Wordle was dreamed up by software engineer Josh Wardle (opens in new tab), as a surprise for his partner who loves word games. From there it spread to his family, and finally got released to the public. The word puzzle game has since inspired tons of games like Wordle (opens in new tab), refocusing the daily gimmick around music or math or geography. It wasn’t long before Wordle became so popular it was sold to the New York Times for seven figures (opens in new tab). Surely it’s only a matter of time before we all solely communicate in tricolor boxes.
SpongeBob SquarePants The Cosmic Shake Direct Download:
SpongeBob SquarePants: The Cosmic Shake is a multiplayer game based on the popular animated TV series. Players take on the role of SpongeBob, Patrick, Squidward, and other beloved characters as they embark on an intergalactic adventure. The game’s focus is on fast-paced, multiplayer action, allowing players to compete against each other in a variety of mini-games set in the colorful underwater world of Bikini Bottom. The Cosmic Shake offers a range of different multiplayer modes, including races, battles, and co-op challenges. Players can choose to play as their favorite characters, each with their own unique abilities and attributes, as they navigate through various levels filled with obstacles, enemies, and power-ups.
The game’s whimsical art style and sense of humor stay true to the original series, providing players with a fun and engaging experience. The game’s multiplayer modes allow players to compete against each other in various challenges, from races through the streets of Bikini Bottom to battles against enemy creatures. The multiplayer options are designed to be fun, accessible, and easy to pick up and play, making The Cosmic Shake the perfect game for players of all skill levels. Whether playing with friends or strangers, players will find plenty of opportunities to showcase their skills and have a blast in this exciting multiplayer game.
SpongeBob SquarePants The Cosmic Shake Direct Play:
In addition to its competitive multiplayer modes, The Cosmic Shake also features co-op challenges that allow players to team up and work together to overcome obstacles and enemies. These challenges are designed to be both challenging and fun, providing players with a sense of teamwork and accomplishment as they work together to save the day. Whether playing with friends or with random players, these co-op challenges offer a unique and exciting way to experience the world of Bikini Bottom. Players can customize their characters with a range of different accessories and upgrades, allowing them to create a unique and personalized avatar.
Features and System Requirements:
Co-op challenges
Fun experience
Different items and upgrades
1 :: Operating System :: Windows XP/7/8/8./10. 2 :: Processor: AMD Phenom II X4 925 / Intel Pentium Dual Core G3320 3 :: Ram :: 4 GB RAM 4 :: DirectX: Version 9.0 5 :: Graphics:: GeForce GTX 660 / Radeon HD 7870 6 :: Space Storage:: 10 GB space
Turn Off Your Antivirus Before Installing Any Game
1 :: Download Game 2 :: Extract Game 3 :: Launch The Game 4 :: Have Fun 🙂
Welcome to Best of Late Night, a rundown of the previous night’s highlights that lets you sleep — and lets us get paid to watch comedy. Here are the 50 best movies on Netflix right now.
The Man in the Machine
Mike Lindell, the MyPillow founder, who known for his elaborate conspiracy theories about the 2020 election, returned to “Jimmy Kimmel Live” on Tuesday, complying with Kimmel’s one condition: that he appear inside a claw machine at an arcade.
In his monologue, Kimmel joked that the mustachioed Lindell was “here to finally answer the question: ‘What if Ted Lasso was on the F.B.I. watch list?’”
Kimmel asked Lindell about his recent failed campaign for the chairmanship of the Republican National Committee. But Lindell kept bringing the conversation back to his insistence that machines had rigged the 2020 election.
“First question, Mike, is why do you think people don’t take you seriously?” — JIMMY KIMMEL
“Mike, I know that you’re distrustful of machines. Now that you’re inside one, do you feel differently?” — JIMMY KIMMEL
“Gloria Estefan and the Miami Sound Machine, they’re cool, right?” — JIMMY KIMMEL
“You know, one of the differences between you and the claw machine is claw machines let go. And you will not let go of this voting thing, will you?” — JIMMY KIMMEL
The Punchiest Punchlines (That’s a Wrap Edition)
“President Biden informed Congress yesterday that he will officially end the coronavirus pandemic emergency declaration in May, which means that everyone can finally stop wearing their mask a year ago.” — SETH MEYERS
“The timing makes sense. Might as well squeeze in one more spring break public health emergency for old time’s sake.” — JAMES CORDEN
“Take that, Covid, we beat you. Shove that up your nose and rotate it five times!” — STEPHEN COLBERT
“This has been a long time coming. I wish you could see the smiles on the faces in my audience. And I wish I could, too, because they’re still wearing masks.” — STEPHEN COLBERT
“I’m pretty sure the public ended the health emergency a while ago. Today, I saw a guy open a Starbucks bathroom with his tongue.” — JIMMY FALLON
The Bits Worth Watching
The “Daily Show” correspondent Jordan Klepper spoke with superfans of Donald Trump in South Carolina, some of whom insist he is still in office.
What We’re Excited About on Wednesday Night
The newly minted Oscar nominee Jenny Slate will appear on Wednesday’s “Late Late Show with James Corden.”
Exxon Mobil made $56 billion in profit last year, its largest annual haul ever. Chevron earned $36 billion, also a company record. But after a bountiful 2022, the outlook for those companies and other big oil and gas producers is cloudy.
They benefited for much of last year from higher prices for nearly all fuels as the continued recovery from the pandemic slowdown increased demand and the Russian invasion of Ukraine strained supplies. The landscape already looks different.
Exxon’s fourth-quarter profit of $12.75 billion, while strong, was down sharply from the $19.7 billion it earned in the third quarter. Oil prices have settled to a level more than a third lower than their peak shortly after the Ukraine war began last February, and natural gas prices have crashed by 70 percent from their highs in August, mostly because of an unseasonably warm winter in much of Europe and the United States.
“We don’t know what’s ahead in 2023,” Mike Wirth, Chevron’s chief executive, told analysts last week, adding that the uncertainty called for “operational discipline.”
The U.S. Energy Department has projected that prices for Brent crude oil, the global benchmark, will average $83 a barrel this year — historically high, but 18 percent below 2022 levels. Gasoline-refining margins will slide by nearly 30 percent this year, the department forecasts, leading to a national average price for regular gasoline of $3.30 a gallon, more than a dollar below prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in early 2022. The department also expects natural gas prices to average 25 percent below last year’s.
While lower prices are a comfort for consumers, they take a toll on companies’ bottom lines.
Oil and gas companies expect a profitable 2023, but revenues and profits should drop below those in 2022. And even while celebrating their profits, executives caution that the oil business is subject to abrupt swings in supply and demand.
So the companies have promised investors not to repeat the past mistake of drilling so much that prices crash. They have been hesitant to move aggressively to expand production — as President Biden urged them to do when supplies were pinched — or take meaningful steps to build profitability around cleaner fuels. That restraint could mean tighter markets and higher prices unless there is a serious recession.
Instead, executives said they were committed to returning surplus cash to shareholders by increasing dividends and buying back shares. Chevron announced a $75 billion buyback program last week. Exxon announced its own $50 billion repurchase plan in December.
While critics often accuse the oil industry of profiteering when prices are high, executives say their companies are prone to cycles. Their share prices have rocketed over the last year after a decade of underperforming almost every other industry. Only two years ago, Exxon reported an annual loss as demand collapsed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
The variables that will determine oil companies’ profitability this year are largely out of their control — in both supply and demand. The war in Ukraine could expand or not; a recession in the United States and Europe could be deep or averted entirely. Prices for fuels, and inflation generally, will largely depend on how events play out.
Despite the war, Europe’s economy in recent months has been stronger than expected, in large part because the mild winter has kept gas demand and prices in check.
The International Energy Agency has projected that oil demand this year will grow modestly, by nearly two million barrels a day, reaching 101.7 million barrels a day. That may support oil company profits.
As pandemic restrictions have eased, an increase in air travel has added to the demand on refineries for jet fuel. The ability of oil companies to provide fuel at reasonable prices could be stretched, especially since they have been cautious about increasing production.
And with lockdowns lifted in China, its economy should grow faster, and demand for oil and gas should increase, if the country can overcome a new virus surge. But the picture remains unfocused. Chinese oil imports remain low for the moment, and Chinese refineries are gearing up for a recovery by producing more fuels for domestic consumption and export.
Another wild card is Russia.
With Russia’s war in Ukraine, Russian oil and gas supplies might be constrained by lower production because of Western sanctions and a lack of foreign investment. Before the war, Russia produced one out of every 10 barrels of oil consumed worldwide. Its exports have declined, although more slowly than many analysts expected at the outset of the war.
Overall, many in the industry are betting that the balance will tip toward high demand, not a glut.
“Against tight supply, demand for oil and gas is strong, and we believe it will remain so,” Jeff Miller, chief executive of Halliburton, one of the largest oil-field service companies, told analysts last week. He said the only way to address the supply side of the equation would be “multiple years of increased investment.”
Even with last year’s bottom-line bonanza for the oil companies, executives have been wary of aggressively pursuing new investments that would yield production gains. But there are indications that they may be recalibrating that risk aversion.
“We are underinvesting as an industry,” Darren Woods, Exxon’s chief executive, told analysts Tuesday, noting that many oil fields were depleting. “We see the potential for continued tight markets.”
Exxon reported in December that it would spend $23 billion to $25 billion on exploration and production this year, which experts say could drive an increase of more than 10 percent in its production of oil and gas. That is a partial reversal from declines in activity during the pandemic.
Mr. Woods said Tuesday that Exxon’s capital spending relative to competitors’ would be an advantage as the company pushed forward with developing fields in the Permian Basin straddling Texas and New Mexico, and offshore Guyana and Brazil.
He was particularly upbeat about Exxon’s refining-business profits.
“With economies picking up, and China coming out of its Covid lockdown and economic growth there,” he said, “we’ll continue to see that tightness and high refining margins.”
Chevron plans to spend roughly $17 billion this year on exploration and production, over 25 percent more than it did last year but still less than the company had projected it would spend in 2020 before the pandemic slashed demand for energy during most of 2020 and 2021.
American oil companies have increasingly focused their investments in the Western Hemisphere. Last year, Chevron broke its record for oil and gas production in the United States even as its global output declined by more than 3 percent in 2022 from the year before. Exxon reported that it increased its combined production in Guyana and the Permian Basin, its principal growth drivers, by over 30 percent.
But the major oil companies, particularly Exxon, Chevron and ConocoPhillips, may be rethinking that strategy, and cautiously moving back to the Middle East, after decades in which they looked elsewhere to avoid the turbulence of political strife and expropriations.
Exxon recently announced that it had acquired two deepwater blocks for gas exploration off Egypt. That gives the company a large unbroken stretch of sea between Egypt and Cyprus to explore for gas that could eventually help Europe overcome the loss of Russian supplies.
Chevron, which operates two gas fields off Israel, recently announced a large discovery off Egypt. In his conference call with analysts, Mr. Wirth said Chevron was working on development plans in Israeli waters and elsewhere in the East Mediterranean.
“We’ve got seismic and we’re developing our exploration plans,” he said. “You’ll hear more about that as we go forward. So, it’s a high priority.”
Those decisions were not easy. “I made the choice not to have any biological children, which was hard,” she said. “And I am still at risk for breast cancer.” But, she added, “I am named after my grandmother, and I believe the surgery prevented me from having the same obituary as her.”
The practice of removing the fallopian tubes while a patient is already having another pelvic surgery, called opportunistic salpingectomy, is already standard care in British Columbia, said Dr. Dianne Miller, who, until recently, was the leader of gynecologic cancer services there.
“Fifteen years ago, it became apparent that the most lethal and most common kinds of high-grade cancers actually had their origin in the fallopian tube rather than the ovary, and then spread very quickly,” Dr. Miller said.
By the time women experience symptoms like bloating or abdominal pain, she said, it is too late to do anything to save lives.
“I remember the light-bulb-going-off moment that many of these cancers are likely preventable, because a lot of women have a surgery at some point for hysterectomy, or removal of fibroids, or tubal ligation,” Dr. Miller said.
For women at average risk for ovarian cancer, removing only the tubes is a “win-win” situation, she said, because there are benefits to retaining the ovaries, which even after menopause continue to make small amounts of hormones that help keep the brain and heart healthy.
“As oncologists, we have our eyes set on curing cancer,” she said. “But if there’s one thing that’s absolutely better than curing cancer, it’s not getting it in the first place.”
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How many times did you set a fitness goal that failed? If you’re like most people, probably more than once. The problem often lies with how we set our goals. A simple “get in shape” won’t do it.
There’s a much more efficient way to motivate yourself. The secret is in setting the correct type of goals: SMART goals. Fitness plans should work, and this innovative approach can help.
What Are SMART Goals?
SMART goals are process-oriented objectives that create a path to success. They detail the specifics about how you can achieve a fitness or other life goal. For example, “I want to get fit” is a typical outcome-oriented goal. Likewise, “I will run 5K on Saturday mornings, lower my carb intake, and do 15 minutes of HIIT exercises three times per week for the next month” is a process-oriented SMART goal.
SMART is an acronym that stands for “Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Here’s what each word represents:
S: Specific
Being specific about your fitness goals means you know exactly what it is you have to do. For example, “Run more” isn’t detailed enough. “Run in the park for thirty minutes each day for two weeks in a row” is a more specific plan. Your goal should answer the “Who?” “What?” “Where?” “When?” and “Why?” questions.
M: Measurable
Add time, amount, or any other unit that will make it easier to measure the goal. If we take the previous example, thirty minutes and two weeks are the time metrics for the plan. This could also be “5K,” “1500 calories,” or another type of measurement.
The point of measurable goals is to make it easier to track your goal progress.
A: Attainable
Attainable goals are essential in fitness. Unfortunately, people often set unreasonably lofty goals that include losing too much weight over too short a period or lifting a heavy set of weights too soon. Not only does failing these goals lead to frustration, but it can also cause injury and illness. Instead, you want to set goals that push you just a little bit over your current limits but that you can and will accomplish.
R: Relevant
When setting a goal, make it relevant to what you really want. For example, running a marathon is irrelevant if your goal is to build upper-body strength and vice versa.
Relevant goals go beyond the small milestones. They are in line with everything that matters in your life, from your career to personal well-being.
T: Time-Bound
Time-bound goals have deadlines. A time-bound fitness goal is much more exciting. For example, the difference between “running a marathon” and “running a marathon next year” is huge. The latter creates a sense of urgency and requires you to plan your goal in even more detail. As the deadline approaches, it will be evident whether or not you are on track to achieve your goal.
By setting a goal, we lay the foundation for success. However, not all goals are created equally. When it comes to fitness, most people’s goal lists are similar:
Get in shape
Lose weight
Lift more weight
Improve overall health
Walk more
These are common goals oriented towards the desired outcome. But SMART fitness goals are different. They remind you of your priorities, let you track your progress, motivate you throughout the process, and make sure you see the desired outcome.
SMART goals are process-oriented objectives that create a path to success.
Here’s an overview of how SMART goals benefit fitness enthusiasts:
They help achieve desired results faster
They outline what it takes to reach the desired fitness level
They keep motivation levels up
They support healthy choices
They reduce the element of disappointment and frustration from not achieving goals
Creating a SMART goal for fitness is easy. Just get a pen and a paper and come up with an outline for each SMART goal. You can also use these printable worksheets to help you begin. And if you’re not feeling inspired, here are some examples to get you started:
13 SMART Goal Examples for Fitness
1. Get Healthier
“To get healthy by next year, I will eat more balanced meals and start exercising. I will exercise three times per week for at least 30 minutes. I can choose between HIIT, running, and swimming. I will meal prep on Sundays to make sure I eat enough healthy foods throughout the week.”
S: Compare this goal to the “Get healthy” statement. The SMART goal clearly states what steps you have to follow to get healthy.
M: We’ve got plenty of milestones here: getting healthier by next year, getting three workouts in each week, and doing so for at least 30 minutes at a time. It’s easy to track progress when you know how much of something you need to do.
A: This goal is attainable. It is spread throughout the year, and the activities shouldn’t be too overwhelming.
R: The goal is relevant to you becoming a healthier person and raising your fitness level.
T: This goal has two deadlines – weekly milestones to reach and a big yearly deadline to push for.
2. Walk More
“To get more steps in over the next month, I will park two blocks away, walk for at least 30 minutes five times per week, and get off the bus three stops earlier. I will also take my dog for a walk for 10 minutes longer and take the stairs instead of the elevator.”
S: This goal is specific about how you can get more steps in throughout the week.
M: Most people already use step counting apps on their phones. In case you don’t, you can always download one from Google Play or the App Store. Just type in “Step counter” and install the app you like best.
A: This goal won’t make you feel overwhelmed about walking crazy distances or getting in 10,000 steps every day. The goal is to walk more overall, and it’s totally doable when you implement small lifestyle changes like the ones above. You can always adjust the plan, so it’s more suitable for your current habits.
R: This goal is relevant to raising your fitness levels and feeling better overall.
T: By the end of the month, you should have walked at least 30 minutes five times each week.
3. Run a 5K
“To run a 5K, I will come up with a personalized workout plan. I will start with interval runs with ten repetitions of a two-minute run and 30-second rest. Then, I will slowly increase the running time until I feel comfortable running a 5K without a break. I’ll do at least three runs per week. I will be able to run a 5K after 30 days.”
S: This goal describes how you can prepare yourself for a 5K run in one month. You can find plenty of 5K (or any distance you want to achieve) interval plans online, so use those to bolster the foundation of your plan.
M: This plan is all about measuring the time and distance you run. As you increase your running time, you’ll cover more distance.
A: Compare this goal to the “Run a 5K in two weeks” statement. Not only is it overwhelming (given the fact you’re not a professional runner), but it’s highly unrealistic unless you can dedicate hours to workouts each day.
R: This goal is relevant because it promotes your overall health and supports your goal of finishing a 5K.
T: The goal is to complete ten series of two-minute runs and 30-second rests, so you’ll be working with an interval timer app. This should lead to you running a full 5K after one month.
4. Lose Weight
“To lose ten pounds in four months, I will focus on strength exercises to boost my resting metabolism. I will do strength workouts twice per week and combine them with one HIIT workout once a week. I will reduce sugar and increase protein and fiber intake.”
S: This goal is specific about how you can lose weight in four months: strength and HIIT workouts, reduced sugar intake, and increased protein and fiber intake.
M: The weight loss can be measured, and the planned workouts each week are your milestones.
A: Losing ten pounds in four months is realistic. It’s also healthy. Don’t overwhelm yourself with unachievable goals like shedding a dozen pounds in one month – those plans always turn out badly.
R: The goal is relevant to you, increasing your fitness levels and being healthier, which is the ultimate aim.
T: The deadline is four months. There are also smaller deadlines for doing three workouts by the end of each week.
5. Lift More Weights
“To do ten reps with 30-pound weights, I will start with ten reps of 10-pound weights and slowly increase the weight for the last rep. Then, as I get stronger, I will add one rep of 30-pound weights and build my way to ten reps in two months.”
S: This goal outlines the plan in detail – slowly increase the weight until you reach the desired goal.
M: The ten and 30-pound weights (and anything in between) are the measurable part.
A: This goal won’t put too much pressure on you because you know you’ll get there gradually if you push yourself and you give yourself a reasonable deadline.
R: The goal is relevant to you to lift more weights, one part of fitness.
T: The deadline is two months, which gives you just enough room for gradual progress.
6. Go to the Gym More Often
“To make time to go to the gym three times per week, I will finish all my assignments on time, do meal prep to save time on cooking, and stop binge-watching Netflix. This will also help me spend less on food delivery and direct those funds toward my monthly gym budget.”
S: The goal is specific in how it can help you get to the gym three times per week. It lists three things that can distract you from going to the gym but can be adjusted to fit your lifestyle.
M: Each week you hit the gym three times is a milestone reached. Getting more from your gym membership is also a good quantifier.
A: Once you limit distractions, you’ll find more time for the gym, making this goal easily attainable. Plus, if your budget is a problem, you can simply cut out some luxuries to save enough for what matters.
R: This goal is relevant in a way that promotes you to visit the gym more often.
T: The weekly deadline of three gym visits will push you not to procrastinate and to get those workouts in.
7. Burn More Calories
“My calorie tracker says I currently burn 1,000 calories per week. So I will walk and exercise more to burn 300 extra calories weekly.”
S: Instead of “I will exercise more,” you specified the number of calories you’ll burn.
M: If your calorie app tracker says you burn 1,000 calories per week, you’ll already be able to track whether or not you succeed in your new goal.
A: Since you already burn 1,000 calories per week, it’s manageable to bump the number up a bit. You can even burn the extra 300 calories through a single extra workout.
R: If your main goal is to lose weight or improve your fitness levels, this goal is relevant to the desired outcome.
T: This is a weekly goal, so the count resets by the end of each week. You’re free to keep going with the same plan or come up with a new one afterward.
8. Stretch More Often
“To help reach my fitness goals for this year, I will incorporate more stretches into my regular routine throughout the week. Following the Mayo Clinic suggestion, I will stretch 3 times per week to achieve the most benefits.
I will stretch on Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays first thing in the morning for 5 to 10 minutes. Doing so will improve my range of motion, muscle blood flow, energy levels, and ability to do my daily activities within 2 to 4 weeks.”
S: This SMART goal clearly states the specific days, time of the day, and length of time stretches will be done to reach fitness goals. In addition, it also says what goals or benefits are gained out of stretching more often.
M: There is a goal here to incorporate stretching. This goal has measurable times and days that the stretching routine will be integrated to reach physical improvements.
A: This goal to stretch more often is attainable and doesn’t put a significant demand on time to achieve results.
R: This goal is relevant to achieving optimal fitness levels by increasing overall quality of life.
T: By the end of the month, flexibility and blood flow will be obtained from stretching up to 30 minutes each week.
9. Get Adequate Hydration
“Drinking 2 to 3 liters of water daily is vital to reach fitness goals this year. Dehydration will cause health issues that will work against my health goals.
So, I will drink 2 cups of water first thing in the morning to rehydrate my body, boost my energy levels, aid digestion, and increase my mental performance. I will also drink water before each daily meal to curb hunger pangs.
Then I’ll hydrate before, during, and after I am done working out to keep my body from overheating. As a result, I will see immediate benefits as water lubricates the joints, replaces lost water in the body, and aiding in weight loss.”
S: This goal specifies the who, what, where, when, and why getting adequate hydration is good for health and fitness goals.
M: Getting adequate hydration is measured by the times of day and amounts of water that need to be drunk to see a change in a person’s fitness.
A: Drinking water at the specific times of day mentioned is very attainable.
R: Staying hydrated is very relevant to achieving fitness goals. It cannot be obtained without it, period.
T: You will see the immediate benefits of proper hydration. It can be one of the most attainable goals due to seeing quick results and the plethora of benefits gained from it.
10. Get More Sleep
“It is nearly impossible to achieve one’s fitness goals when we fail to get enough sleep. Thus, I’m prioritizing going to bed at an acceptable hour to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep per night. As a result, I will see immediate improvements in my overall well-being.
In addition, getting the right amount of rest at night will help my body heal and recover, refresh my mind, lower stress and blood pressure, and prevent depression.”
S: This goal answers specific questions for anyone wanting to know the benefit of adequate rest. It also shows why sleep is needed and how it fits into the plan of being healthy and fit.
M: Adequate time can be planned each day to get adequate rest and achieve the benefits that come with it.
A: Although we cannot make ourselves sleep, we can still set a goal of being in bed at decent hours so that the optimal amount of sleep can be achieved each night.
R: Sleep is essential to any fitness goal. So, making it a focus on your fitness journey is a wise choice.
T: Benefits of a good night’s rest can be realized “overnight” when you follow this critical goal toward fitness.
11. Lower My A1C
“Lowering the A1C levels is essential to fitness goals because it reduces the risk of obesity, heart disease, kidney failure, and other health problems. To start, I will eat fewer carbohydrates to reduce my A1C (sugar concentration found in the blood over 3 months).
Then, I will add more whole grains, vegetables, fish, eggs, meat, and fruits to my daily diet. I will also incorporate a 30-minute workout each day, 5 days a week, to shed unwanted weight and lower A1c levels in 3-months’ time.
Lastly, I will manage my day-to-day stress. Doing so should help the A1C reach an adequate 6.5% or lower range.”
S: The plan to lower your A1C is specific as to who, why it is important to achieve, when it will be done, and how it will be accomplished over the set time. It answers all the questions to make it a SMART goal.
M: There is a set goal to determine what to eat and avoid. Plus, there is a set workout time frame to accomplish lowered A1C.
A: The plan is adequately laid out with doable steps to live the healthy, fit life one wishes to have.
R: Every step of the goal is working toward the end result of a better A1C and the desire to see overall fitness levels accomplished and maintained.
T: By following the steps toward a better A1C, you should see drastic changes in blood sugar concentration percentages in as little as 3 months.
12. Improve Balance and Flexibility
“Working on balance and flexibility is a significant part of any fitness goal, especially as I age. So first, I will make a workout calendar to keep me on track.
Then, I will incorporate walking, climbing stairs, or bike riding into my weekly exercise routine, 3 days a week for 30 minutes. I will do this organically within my neighborhood, weather permitting, or using equipment in my local gym. This will improve my core strength within 2 weeks and help me stay active and fit into my senior years.”
S: This goal specifies how you can achieve better flexibility and balance in 2 weeks through particular workouts in various places for a set amount of time.
M: There is a planned amount of time per day mentioned to help fitness goals be obtained in a couple weeks.
A: As Maya Angelou said, “Ain’t nothing to it, but to do it.” The plans for improved balance and flexibility are laid out to incorporate our daily and weekly routines. We have to get at it.
R: Each exercise is relevant to living a strong, healthy, and fit life.
T: In two weeks, vast improvement can be shown by incorporating a few activities into our day three times a week. Out of 168 hours a week, only 1.5 is needed to have better balance and flexibility, fitting into any busy schedule.
13. Mix it Up, Don’t Fall into a Comfort Zone
“Having a set routine is excellent. It is a great way to develop good habits over time. However, there is no harm in mixing things up so that I don’t get bored. Therefore, I will work out with a friend at least one day a week and share healthy recipes with them.
In addition, each week, I will alternate between indoor and outdoor workouts. I will also incorporate workout apps to help me keep things interesting.
Finally, I am going to add personal rewards to my fitness journey. Upon hitting a new milestone, I will gift myself a mental health weekend at the end of that month. It will boost my morale and continually incentivize me to keep pushing forward toward the vision I have set for myself.”
S: This goal shows the importance of changing routines to stay on track with health goals. Here you see specific examples to keep things interesting. It also demonstrates how to find joy in accomplishments to stay motivated.
M: When switching things up according to this fitness plan, you have set times to mix things up and time to reward yourself for the hard work you have put forth to be a healthier you.
A: These goals are not unattainable; they are sensible and reasonable steps that can even be duplicated and modified repeatedly as you continue your fitness journey.
R: These fitness plans help you overcome stagnation and burnout, so you don’t give up before reaching your goals.
T: This plan includes times to switch up types of workouts and workout locations. Then it incentivizes certain times for rewards when fitness milestones have been obtained.
Final Thoughts on SMART Fitness Goals That Will Motivate You
When creating fitness goals, you need to make sure they are sustainable. You can only get the most out of your plans when they genuinely motivate you to keep going forward. That’s why we have SMART goals. Fitness is a journey, not a destination, so you should plan your goals accordingly.
Stamford, Conn.: Gov. Hochul gets it right in opposing the renewed push to repeal qualified immunity (“Gov sez no, they say yes,” Jan. 26). The doctrine of qualified immunity is critically important because it allows certain government officials, including the police, to do their jobs in good faith without being second-guessed through endless litigation and financial exposure.
(Susan Watts/New York Daily News)
It seems that all cops are under fire these days because of the misdeeds of the few. But the vast majority of cops discharge their duties honorably and with good intentions. Yes, qualified immunity can work injustices in certain situations, but the harm that would be caused by abolishing it far outweighs the benefits. Ending qualified immunity would chill good policing. Police need to do their jobs without fear that every move on the street will be scrutinized in a sterile courtroom. Clever tort lawyers can manipulate jurors who might not appreciate the difficulties and split-second decisions that police officers face in doing their jobs.
The streets can be rough. If cops lose their immunity protections, they will perform law enforcement defensively rather than proactively. Quality law enforcement depends on the notion that if a cop acts in good faith in conformity with clearly established law, the public will have their back. And if a cop does depart from lawful police conduct, the criminal courts can still provide justice. The doctrine is sound public policy even if imperfect. Those who oppose it are misguided. Qualified immunity should remain intact. Peter Janoff
Jamaica: To the United States of America: Tyre Nichols, George Floyd, Eric Garner, Rodney King — this is why Colin Kaepernick knelt on one knee! Bringing attention during the national anthem that there is a national crisis of police brutality and unnecessary use of extreme force in this country! Go back and look it up! Carol Grant
Staten Island: To Voicer Susannah Bianchi: Your delusional letter to Voice of the People made me have to respond. You used the trigger word: resist. Maybe if the young person you are talking about had just complied and surrendered, there would have been no need for what you call getting rough with him. Maybe if all the people who have interactions with the police adhered to that policy, nobody would get hurt, either the police or the alleged perpetrators. “Be gentle with him.” Are you out of your mind? Now that the actions of some cops are in the public eye, new training and tactics will be looked into. Fine. Great. Maybe if the standards in hiring hadn’t been lowered so much, some of the bad cops wouldn’t have been cops in the first place. Alfred Lebrio
Denver: My 1992 Kentucky prison chaplain internship in seminary gave me an instinct to never ask an inmate, “What was your crime?” The video of the ruthless beating by police in Memphis affirms that heartfelt decision not to know, and they never told me. Mike Sawyer
Jamaica: If the American colonists had stood by Great Britain, the greatest country in the world in 1776, you’d be saying, “God save King Charles!” now. Vigilant dissent based on reason and logic is a key component of a healthy democracy. Francis Stephens
Bayonne: To Voicer Ed Houlihan: Regarding the migrants fleeing here from south of the border to escape the intolerable conditions in their homelands — crime, violence, corruption, unemployment, poverty, drugs and gangs — I guess when they get to the U.S.A., they will feel right at home. Mike Armstrong
Brooklyn: Readers currently using Reduced-Fare MTA MetroCards should beware of switching to the OMNY tap-and-go system, as they may be erroneously charged the full fare. This will not be evident until riders see their credit card statements to verify the successful transition of their reduced-fare rates. I was overcharged more than $100 for subway rides until I visited the Reduced-Fare office at 3 Stone St. in Manhattan. Richard Rabinowitz
Bayside: New York’s largest baseload gas plant is finally shutting down. The Ravenswood site in Queens will instead serve as a manufacturing and logistics hub for the growing offshore wind industry. Toxic emissions from burning gas turned the mostly low-income neighborhood of predominantly NYCHA buildings into an asthma alley. Gov. Hochul must strengthen her commitment to offshore wind. The Empire Wind, Sunrise Wind and Beacon Wind projects are in the wings. It is imperative that Rory Christian, chair and CEO of the state Public Service Commission, use his power to expedite them.New York’s Climate Leadership and Community Protection Act (CLCPA) mandates a 70% clean electric grid by 2030. We can only meet this goal with sustained investment in and support for offshore wind. Daniel Salamon
Cincinnati: As private jets of the great, near-great and great-adjacent flew in and out of the World Economic Forum in Switzerland the other week, there was one geopolitical constant that all observed — namely, without American power around the globe, nothing other than fiddling at the margins will last. The president of the U.S. and his Foggy Bottom boys and girls at the State Department are the real goal of much WEF palaver, whether downing oysters with chilled chardonnay at Davos or greasy fare here at home. Cut out the fancy pants next time and save the planet some fumes, jet and highfalutin. Paul Bloustein
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Manhattan: Remember the old adage that when you lay down with dogs, you wake up with fleas? Well, Mayor Adams should be worried that his expensive suits are infested from his association with close friends like accused conman “Bling Bishop” Lamor Whitehead and accused sexual harasser Robert Petrosyants. Let’s not forget that every time he appears on MSNBC, he is with his good old friend Rev. Al Sharpton, who many consider a con man after the Tawana Brawley scandal. Does the mayor have anyone in his inner circle with unimpeachable character? Doesn’t look that way. Patricia Clark
Howard Beach: Maybe it’s just me, but isn’t it strange that Rory McIlroy, the lead voice of the PGA Tour against the players who took the big money to play in the upstart LIV Tour, played in the European tour’s Dubai Desert Classic last weekend? I guess Arab royal money isn’t so bad after all. David Conlin
Keyport, N.J.: To Voicer Kevin Mallardi: My comments were targeted at how this war in Ukraine is being fought ridiculously in the press with these announcements. You choose to focus on a throwaway comment. I could care less (another thing people say that is totally wrong). Joe Napolitano
West New York, N.J.: Voicer Kevin Mallardi wants to know why doing the same thing and expecting different results is crazy. It’s not. It’s stupid. Imagine the prize is behind door A and you keep pressing door B expecting the prize. Ken Ludmer
Old Bridge, N.J.: Re “Bannon aims his sights at the RNC” (Jan. 31): Who in the world really gives a tiny rodent’s butt about anything that comes out of Steve Bannon’s mouth? This sad excuse for a man is a disheveled reprobate who should be shunned and ignored by everyone. Janet Cecin
Boca Raton, Fla.: Florida Republican state Rep. Mike Caruso introduced new legislation that would make putting a swastika on a building a third-degree felony. It would also cover maliciously defacing a religious cemetery and it could result in a five-year prison sentence. Considering the increase in antisemitic hate crimes, this is long overdue. Charles Winfield
Port Saint Lucie, Fla.: Not that I believe the FBI will be very forthcoming concerning the investigation and results of President Biden and the classified documents found in his garage, but it sure would be interesting to find whose fingerprints turned up on those pages! Edward C. Burke
A coke plant worker beside coke battery ovens at the ArcelorMittal steel plant in Kryvyi Rih, Ukraine, in March 2019.
Vincent Mundy | Bloomberg | Getty Images
Expect exports of iron ore out of India to remain low as the world’s fourth-largest producer reserves more of the commodity for its own use, said commodity intelligence service Kpler.
“Indian iron ore exports … have really come off in the last few months. And that is quite indicative that domestic consumption there is very strong,” said Reid I’Anson, Kpler’s senior commodity analyst, who added that this will continue throughout the year.
India’s exports of iron ore plunged by 90% year on year in October last year, and recorded an year-on-year decline as steep as 96% in September.
India produces 9.2% of the world’s iron ore. Australia is the largest producer, accounting for almost 35% of global supply, followed by Brazil and China.
“India is going to be a standout economy in terms of growth in 2023 … And I think exports out of India are going to remain pretty weak as well as they consume most of that domestic production.”
The dip in India’s exports of the commodity comes just as China’s Covid reopening sends commodity prices soaring, and I’Anson forecasts that an “upward movement of 20%” on iron ore prices is on the table.
The benchmark 62%-grade iron ore last traded at $123.37 per ton, up about 30% since December when China announced the rollback of its “zero-Covid” measures.
Iron ore is primarily used to make steel, an important material in construction and engineering projects — and both Asian nations are on track to consume more.
“You’ve got the return of the consumers in China, which is going to drive durables consumption, and you’re going to see an improvement in the property market there,” I’Anson said.
The plate mill of the Jindal Steel and Power Ltd. plant in Raigarh, Chhattisgargh, India, on Feb. 11, 2015.
Udit Kulshrestha | Bloomberg | Getty Images
According to Refinitiv, around 60% of global iron ore exports are destined for China.
“Downstream demand in China started to show some signs of optimism based on government support particularly for the construction sector, which is the largest steel using sector in the country,” Tamara Thorne, senior analyst at Refinitiv Metals Research, told CNBC.
A similar pace of demand is expected for its neighbor.
“We expect the steel consumption in India will grow much faster than what we have seen in the first nine months of the financial year (in 2022),” said Seshagiri Rao, joint managing director of JSW Steel.
The secretary general of the Federation of Indian Mineral Industries, B K Bhatia, said he believes the export of iron ores in 2023 will be much more than the exports during 2022. Iron ore exports from India were affected by a 50% tax on low-grade iron ore exports, which was reversed in late November.
But while India’s exports of iron ore have picked up from December because of that, the move may not be a sustainable one, according to Kpler’s I’Anson. He maintains that the exports are unlikely to return to the levels seen in 2020 and 2021.
“The extent to which loadings have picked up recently is likely not sustainable for very long,” he said.
India’s iron ore exports won’t be the biggest factor in price volatility, however.
A laborer working at a stainless steel utensil workshop in Chennai on April 30, 2022.
Arun Sankar | Afp | Getty Images
“The largest swing factor is the ability of Rio Tinto in Australia and Vale in Brazil to operate up to the limits of their supply chains,” said CLSA research analyst Robert Stein.
Both iron ore powerhouses expect production to be flat year-on-year on the low side, and a 5% increase in a bullish scenario.
“Working capital has stabilised but remains somewhat elevated with commodity price volatility, higher raw material prices and global supply chain pressures,” mining giant Rio Tinto recently stated in its fourth-quarter production results.
China is another big factor.
“Demand is still impacted by the Chinese property deleveraging program and whilst in any given week, positive sentiment may lead price higher, [but] to sustainably reach those levels we would need to see widespread property stimulus or support,” said Stein.
Novartis AG on Wednesday posted lower sales and profit as it took a hit from generic medicines competition and higher restructuring costs, but increased its dividend for 2022.
The Swiss pharma major posted net profit of $1.47 billion, down from $16.31 billion the year prior, when it benefited from the sale of its investment in Roche Holding AG. Sales declined to $12.69 billion from $13.23 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021 due to price erosion and negative impact from generic drug competition, the company said.
Operating income fell to $1.95 billion from $2.56 billion the previous year, due to higher restructuring costs. But core operating income rose to $4.03 billion from $3.82 billion in the fourth quarter of 2021, driven by savings, according to Novartis.
Earnings per share also slipped to $0.69 from $0.75 in 2021.
The company raised its dividend for 2022 to 3.20 Swiss francs ($3.49) from CHF3.10 in 2021.
Looking ahead, the company expects sales excluding Sandoz, which will soon be spun off, to grow low-to-mid single digits, while core operating income excluding Sandoz is expected to grow mid-to-high single digits. Sandoz, Novartis’s generic medicines business, is on track to be spun off in the second half of the year.
Rep. George Santos of New York said Tuesday he is recusing himself from serving on House committees until he clears his name. CBS News political correspondent Caitlin Huey-Burns discusses the latest.
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In this episode of Relationship Radio, we explore the common issue of feeling disconnected in a relationship. Despite being in the same room all the time, many couples live like roommates rather than lovers. But there is a solution! In this episode, we discuss how to reconnect with each other, the importance of being intentional about learning and being curious about your spouse, and how to disconnect from distractions in order to build a better relationship. Join Dr. Beam and Kimberly as they explore the key to unlocking meaningful conversations and reigniting the spark in your marriage.
Relationship Radio is hosted by CEO of Marriage Helper, Kimberly Beam Holmes, and founder of Marriage Helper, Dr. Joe Beam.
Regardless of your situation, what we teach will not only make your relationships better, but will also help you to become the best version of yourself along the way.
Relationship Radio is released every Wednesday and is an extension of Marriage Helper.
Be sure to subscribe to the podcast and leave a review. We love hearing from you!
For more resources about your specific situation, visit marriagehelper.com.
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Join us Wednesday, February 1, 2023 @ 3:30 PM CST to learn how to save your marriage right away. Visit marriagehelper.com/lost to sign up now
The fiddle-leaf fig (Ficus lyrata) is a wonderful plant well-known for its unique, fiddle-shaped foliage.
A popular plant for indoor enthusiasts, this particular Ficus often finds itself in communal portions of the house where its beauty can be shown off.
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But these plants may not be the best bet for homes with cats or dogs, as many houseplants can be toxic or even deadly to pets.
Do fiddle-leaf figs count among these plants, or is one of the plants safe for cats?
Are Fiddle Leaf Plants Toxic to Cats?
Sadly, fiddle-leaf figs aren’t safe for plants and contain calcium oxalate, a compound considered toxic to both humans and pets.
The good news is the plant won’t kill your cat, but the bad news is that nobbling on it can still lead to some major side effects.
Calcium Oxalate 101
We should be perfectly clear up front: scientists still don’t understand the purpose of calcium oxalate, so while the effects on humans and pets are well-known, there’s still a lot of mystery as to why it is created in the first place.
Created from oxalic acid, calcium oxalate is a form of calcium salt that can be found in over 1,000 genera of plants.
That’s right, genera of plants, meaning tens of thousands of individual species – including the majority of the Araceae family – contain these mysterious crystals!
While there are a few theories about the function of calcium oxalate, including a means of plant defense, the most popular theory is that the crystals are formed as a byproduct of detoxifying from excess calcium intake.
But whatever the reason for them, we do know that calcium oxalate comes in both soluble and insoluble forms.
One would think the soluble version would be safer, but it’s actually often the more dangerous of the two.
The Effects Of Calcium Oxalate Ingestion
Humans consume calcium oxalate daily in green foods such as broccoli, but the amount is still quite small.
However, a full-sized adult human can develop kidney stones from consuming too much calcium oxalate.
Now imagine being only a tiny fraction of that size, and you’ll find an acceptable amount for an adult human can be deadly for your cat.
Insoluble crystals are nasty businesses and produce visible immediate symptoms. This is because the crystals are grouped into raphides, broken apart when your cat begins chewing on the host plant.
These tiny shards are like microscopic needles, stabbing at the gums, tongue, and throat.
The results are edema, over-salivating, oral pain, pawing at the mouth, swelling, and vomiting as the cat tries desperately to quell the discomfort, much as you would after biting into a particularly hot pepper.
Even worse, if your poor cat gets some in its eyes, there could be swelling, photosensitivity, and pain due to the eye’s surface being scratched up by the crystals.
But wait, we said soluble calcium oxalate could be even worse, and the symptoms of ingestion do indeed make the insoluble crystals look like child’s play.
When digested, the oxalate is absorbed by the gastrointestinal tract. This is where scientists believe the crystals are related to detoxification because they can bond with the natural calcium in your cat’s body, resulting in a deficiency known as hypocalcemia.
Even worse, the symptoms can take up to 36 hours to manifest and require immediate medical intervention to avoid the risk of permanent damage to your cat’s body.
Visible symptoms can include diarrhea, malaise, tremors, weakness, and the entire list of symptoms caused by insoluble crystals.
Internally, meanwhile, the crystals can cause damage to the kidneys and also lead to the formation of oxalate bladder stones.
These stones can lead to painful urination accompanied by blood, more frequent peeing, or a sudden habit of peeing outside the litterbox. The cat may also seem to have difficulty urinating.
Purebred breeds such as Burmese, Siamese, Himalayan, and Persian cats, as well as older cats, have a higher risk of forming oxalate bladder stones.
Treating Accidental Ingestion
So let’s say your cat took a nibble of the fiddle-leaf fig.
The first thing you need to do is take a picture of the damage and call your vet.
Depending on how much was consumed, they may require you to come in or observe the cat. They may also require you to bring a sample of the plant in.
If you or your vet suspect oxalate bladder stones, you will need to provide a urine sample, and the vet may perform bloodwork to confirm the presence of oxalate stones.
If confirmed, the vet will surgically remove them. However, if the symptoms appear mild and little more than a nibble, your vet may prescribe an over-the-counter medication to ease the discomfort.
Likewise, you can give your cat a little lactose-free yogurt to soothe its throat. Just remember that cats are lactose intolerant, so giving them too much lactose can give them diarrhea.
Preventing Ingestion
In most cases, your cat probably won’t be interested in munching on the fiddle leaf, but super-chewers and overly curious cats can be more problematic.
In the worst cases, you’ll have to isolate the plant by putting it in a room the cat can’t access or a place it can’t climb to.
For some cats, you can group strong-scented plants around the fig, making them want to avoid the plants, although this won’t always help if the cat is determined.
One other measure that can help protect your cat from many of the side effects of calcium oxalate is giving them a proper diet.
Raw meat is by far the best for cats; they’ll be leaner and more active.
You’ll find they also stay hydrated without needing as much water because their bodies are adapted to processing the raw meat’s blood content.
But meat can be expensive, so the next best thing is canned food.
You should check the labels to ensure there aren’t a lot of additives, but canned food is otherwise a decent alternative to raw meat and sometimes far cheaper.
Both of these will actually help keep your cat properly hydrated and can reduce symptoms while making it harder for bladder stones to form.
As for dry doof… If you’ve ever watched videos of how they make Chicken McNuggets, the process for making dried cat food is nearly identical.
The resulting kibble has poor nutritional value and can actually dehydrate your cat, resulting in calcium oxalate ingestion having more pronounced symptoms.
Russian forces are ratcheting up pressure on the eastern Ukrainian city of Bakhmut, pouring in waves of fighters to break Ukraine’s resistance and targeting supply lines in a bloody campaign aimed at securing Moscow’s first significant battlefield victory in months.
Eleven months after Moscow launched its invasion, Bakhmut and the areas around it have become a center of intense fighting, with growing importance as both sides add forces to the battle. Russia intensified its effort to capture Bakhmut, which may be key to seizing the entire Donbas area, after months of bombardment beginning in the summer yielded few gains.
“The situation is very tough,” the Ukrainian president, Volodymyr Zelensky, said in a recent nightly address after meeting with military leaders. He said, “There are constant attempts to break through our defense.”
Over the course of the war, firepower has proved critical to Russian gains, but the battle for Bakhmut has been different.
Increasingly, Ukrainian fighters and analysts say, Moscow has been relying on a cruder tactic: trying to tip the city into its win column through the sheer weight of troop numbers. As a result, the Ukrainians say, Russian casualties in recent fighting in Bakhmut have been higher than in previous months.
Part of Russia’s evolving strategy appears to be to overwhelm Ukrainian defenses with waves of soldiers, many drawn from President Vladimir V. Putin’s call-up of 300,000 men in September. That would be a departure from Moscow’s summer campaigns elsewhere in the Donbas, when artillery pounded cities for weeks before Russia launched a sustained ground offensive.
In Bakhmut, Ukraine, too, has suffered heavy casualties. But the calculation for each side is not the same.
Michael Kofman, the director of Russian studies at CNA, a research institute in Arlington, Va., said the battle there has cost Russia more in human losses, because its fighters have often fought on foot, unsupported by armored vehicles. But while Ukraine’s losses may be fewer in number, he said on a recent episode of a military affairs podcast, War on the Rocks, they may be more painful.
Many of the troops fighting for Russia around Bakhmut have been recruited from prison, and are less well trained than many of the soldiers Russia began the war with. Ukraine has mostly relied on national guard and other forces to hold its main defensive line in Bakhmut, with better-trained infantry units rushing in if those fighters are attacked or retreat.
“Ukraine’s been forced to essentially trade higher-quality troops to hold Bakhmut against expendable Russian forces,” Mr. Kofman said on the podcast. That, he said, could “impede Ukrainian plans for an offensive down the line.”
Bakhmut’s strategic value, military analysts say, is as a crossroads for some of the region’s highways. Capturing the city, which is in Donetsk Province, would not guarantee that Moscow could make major advances in the east, but it would put Russian forces in better position to do so.
Despite suffering setbacks elsewhere in eastern Ukraine and in the south, since last fall, Russian troops edging toward Bakhmut from the east have gradually squeezed the city. This month, they took the salt mining town of Soledar, six miles to the northeast.
To the south, Ukrainian soldiers who recently left the front line said that a paved road that had been their main supply route into Bakhmut was now within range of Russian artillery and tanks, though still in Ukrainian hands. This leaves Ukraine relying on a road west to the town of Chasiv Yar, itself the target of frequent Russian attacks and harder to traverse.
In past battles in the Donbas, Russian forces have often aimed to encircle a city first, leaving Ukraine to decide whether to expend costly resources to defend it. The pitched battle over Bakhmut suggests that Ukraine has overcome its qualms about engaging directly in a drawn-out fight for a city and is prepared to sustain losses in the hope that it can deplete its enemy’s strength still further.
On Tuesday, fighting was also ranging elsewhere in Donetsk, in the town of Vuhledar.
Moscow has moved from small-scale probing attacks around the town to a more concentrated assault, Britain’s Ministry of Defense said on Tuesday, two days after Mr. Zelensky described Vuhledar as among the areas “under constant Russian attack.”
The town, which had a prewar population of around 14,000, has been almost destroyed, but a Ukrainian military official emphasized on Tuesday that it was still under Kyiv’s control.
Military analysts say that Ukrainian forces have been using their positions in and around Vuhledar to launch attacks on the region’s main railway hub in the occupied town of Volnovakha, less than 10 miles away, in a bid to weaken Russia’s resupply efforts. The head of Ukraine’s regional military administration, Pavlo Kyrylenko, said on Tuesday that there had been “intense fire” in the area.
In the coming weeks and months, as both sides prepare for the offensives expected in the spring, Ukraine will be strengthened by new weaponry, including tanks and rocket systems supplied by the United States and other allies.
On Tuesday, the French defense minister announced that his country would deliver 12 more Caesar howitzers to Ukraine and step up efforts to train Ukrainian soldiers, a significant increase in military aid from a country that had recently shown reluctance to part with more of its advanced artillery.
And last week, the United States and Germany agreed, after a prolonged Ukrainian campaign, to provide battle tanks to Ukraine, among other military aid. Ukraine is also pressing its allies for jet fighters, although President Biden has resisted sending Ukraine F-16s.
But for now, the many new troops drafted in the fall are giving Moscow an advantage.
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