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Economy, drug gangs and migration top agenda at North American leaders summit

2023-01-09T17:28:51Z

U.S. President Joe Biden walks with Mexico’s President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador as he arrives at the Felipe Angeles International Airport, to attend the North American Leaders’ Summit, in Santa Lucia, Mexico January 8, 2023. REUTERS/Henry Romero

U.S. President Joe Biden and his Mexican counterpart aim to make progress on strengthening economic integration, combating drug cartels and managing immigration on Monday, even as tensions over Mexico’s energy policy weigh on joint cooperation.

Led by President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard, Mexican officials set out the U.S.-Mexico bilateral agenda after Biden’s arrival in Mexico City on Sunday evening for a North American leaders’ summit.

Lopez Obrador accompanied Biden from the airport to his hotel, and said the two broached issues they would discuss on Monday, including regional economic cooperation and migration.

“Integration needs to be strengthened,” Lopez Obrador told a news conference, saying he expected to reach “good agreements” with Biden.

Lopez Obrador is hosting Biden and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau between Monday and Wednesday for the first summit between the three since late 2021. Trudeau is arriving on Monday afternoon, with trilateral leaders’ talks due on Tuesday.

U.S. National security adviser Jake Sullivan said Biden believed he would have “commitments for stronger cooperation” to tackle fentanyl, a synthetic opioid blamed for thousands of U.S. deaths.

Mexican security forces last week arrested a top drug smuggler, Ovidio Guzman, who is sought in the United States.

The three leaders are expected to talk about deepening economic ties, even as disagreements persist over Lopez Obrador’s nationalist energy policies which led to Washington and Ottawa launching a formal trade complaint in July.

Since the COVID-19 pandemic battered supply chains, policymakers have stepped up calls for firms to relocate business from Asia to beef up the economy covered by the United States-Mexico-Canada (USMCA) regional trade agreement.

Lopez Obrador has also alarmed the United States with a plan to prohibit imports of genetically-modified corn. Mexico agreed to delay the ban until 2025, but the issue is likely to surface.The three trading partners have also been at loggerheads over auto rules of origin.

“Trade tensions over automobiles, customs rules, genetically-modified corn and Mexico’s energy policies are already high and could sharpen,” said Jake Colvin, President of the Washington-based National Foreign Trade Council.

“To create a North American corridor to outcompete China, the United States, Canada and Mexico need to be on the same economic page,” he added.

Lopez Obrador, a combative leftist, says his energy policy is a matter of national sovereignty, arguing that past governments skewed the market to favor private interests.

The United States and Canada say their firms have been disadvantaged by Lopez Obrador’s campaign to give control of the market to his cash-strapped state energy companies, and the row has taken the shine off the outlook for investment.

Trudeau told Reuters on Friday he would make the case that resolving the energy dispute would help bring more foreign capital to Mexico, and was confident of making progress.

As part of that drive, Lopez Obrador, who in June snubbed Biden’s invitation to the Summit of the Americas in Los Angeles in protest at his exclusion of the leaders of Cuba, Venezuela and Nicaragua, wants to discuss his plan to boost solar power in northern Mexico and secure U.S. financial support for it.

That plan to generate solar power in the northern border state of Sonora would be discussed on Monday, Mexico said.

Mexico has also urged the United States to commit funds to Central America and southern Mexico to boost development and stem migration from what has long been a poor region, and to make it easier for migrants to get U.S. jobs.

Christopher Landau, U.S. ambassador to Mexico under former President Donald Trump, said domestic politics meant finding compromises on energy and migration would be difficult.

“There’s no obvious deal that satisfies all of their domestic interests,” he said, “but I think it’s in all their domestic interest to say they get along.”


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Russia-Ukraine War an outlook for 2023: more bloodshed to come with no end in sight

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As we have welcome the New Year, many on both sides of the Atlantic are wondering whether the Russia-Ukraine conflict, the biggest war in Europe since World War II, will come to an end this year. The largest country on the continent, Ukraine, is being depopulated, having lost more than 100,000 of its citizens to death or injury. Europe itself is being destabilized by financial woes and influx of refugees from war-torn areas. 

Contrary to the hopes of many, not only will 2023 not bring peace, it will likely see the most bloodshed yet, as the key warring parties – Moscow, Kyiv, and Washington, D.C. – are all postured for decisive escalation. Here’s why we are probably entering the “hottest” phase of this war.

Putin signals escalation to “defend Motherland”

In his New Year address, Vladimir Putin signaled resolve to take the fight to the finish, portraying the conflict as existential for the future of Russia. 

Dressed in a dark suit and tie and surrounded by what was meant to be perceived as his troops, Putin delivered a stern nine-minute message, likely intended to galvanize support among Russians, put fear into his detractors, and show to the West that he has placed the entire Russian nation on a wartime footing. 

The Russian president reminded his citizens that “defending our Motherland” is the “sacred duty we owe to our ancestors and descendants.” He contrasted those who display “courage and heroism” and “with those who show “betrayal and cowardice.” Putin blamed the West for using Ukraine to “weaken and fracture” Russia and noted that in “every challenging period in Russian history” the Russians united behind their “comrades-in-arms.”  

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, during his regular address to the nation in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 11, 2022. The head of state said that Ukraine had already reached a strategic turning point and were moving toward victory.

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, left, during his regular address to the nation in Kyiv, Ukraine, March 11, 2022. The head of state said that Ukraine had already reached a strategic turning point and were moving toward victory.

(UKRINFORM/ Ukrinform/Future Publishing via Getty Images | Getty)

ZELENSKYY’S PLEA FOR MORE AMERICAN AID TO ‘SPEED UP VICTORY’ IN UNWINNABLE WAR

Meanwhile, the Russian military unleashed yet another massive bombardment of Ukraine, using missile and drone attacks that came in waves over several days and targeting vital infrastructure. 

Last Wednesday, Putin deployed a frigate, Admiral of the Fleet of the Soviet Union Gorshkov, armed with hypersonic Zircon cruise missiles to the Atlantic Ocean, having remarked during a video teleconference with his Defense Minister that Zircon “has no analogues in any country in the world.” 

In another attempt to signal Moscow’s readiness for escalation, Putin said, “I am sure that such powerful weapons will reliably protect Russia from potential external threats.” 

The Kremlin’s biggest fear is the deployment of U.S. and NATO troops into the theater in Ukraine. Moscow military planners have previously concluded that war between Russia and the United States is inevitable, given that the two Cold War adversaries have been in a confrontation for geopolitical control over post-Soviet states since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. So, escalation is not an unthinkable option for Putin.

Firefighters help a local woman evacuate from a residential building destroyed by a Russian drone strike, which local authorities consider to be Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles Shahed-136, amid Russia's attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine Oct. 17, 2022. 

Firefighters help a local woman evacuate from a residential building destroyed by a Russian drone strike, which local authorities consider to be Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicles Shahed-136, amid Russia’s attack on Ukraine, in Kyiv, Ukraine Oct. 17, 2022. 

(REUTERS/Vladyslav Musiienko)

Zelenskyy emboldened to out-escalate Russia

In a New Year’s message of his own, Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy promised victory to his countrymen. In a 17-minute, emotional video, like his Russian counterpart, Zelenskyy stressed unity and pride and ruled out any other option but to win. 

One week ago, Ukrainian forces launched a deadly counterattack of their own, hitting a facility in Russia-occupied city of Makiivka in Donbas, killing scores of newly mobilized Russian troops and injuring many more. 

Last Wednesday, Ukraine’s military intelligence head Kyrylo Budanov, in an interview to ABC News, vowed more strikes “deeper and deeper” into Russia, including into Crimea, which Moscow annexed and has fully controlled since 2014. Kyiv’s spy chief warned about the “hottest” fighting coming in March and promised a Ukrainian victory in 2023. 

Kyiv’s confidence can be attributed to Zelenskyy’s recent stellar performance before Congress, during his surprise visit to Washington four days before Christmas and the subsequent congressional approval of an additional $45 billion in military aid to Ukraine, showing Zelenskyy is still in Washington’s ear.  

FIVE REASONS WHY BIDEN MUST MOVE TO DE-ESCALATE THE RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR NOW

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy poses for a photo with soldiers after attending a national flag-raising ceremony in the freed Izium, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. Zelenskyy visited the recently liberated city on Wednesday, greeting soldiers and thanking them for their efforts in retaking the area, as the Ukrainian flag was raised in front of the burned-out city hall building.

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy poses for a photo with soldiers after attending a national flag-raising ceremony in the freed Izium, Ukraine, Wednesday, Sept. 14, 2022. Zelenskyy visited the recently liberated city on Wednesday, greeting soldiers and thanking them for their efforts in retaking the area, as the Ukrainian flag was raised in front of the burned-out city hall building.

(AP Photo/Leo Correa)

Washington grows and invests in Russia’s defeat

Having poured $100 billion in security assistance into Ukraine, Washington has been steadily expanding the scale and scope of matériel it’s providing. What started off as blankets and non-lethal aid has grown into a steady stream of top-of-the-line military hardware. A partial list includes 8,500-plus Javelin anti-armor systems, 32,000-plus other anti-armor systems; 1,400-plus Stinger anti-aircraft systems; hundreds of armored Humvee vehicles and 440 mine resistant vehicles; and 200 M113 armored personnel carriers. Among the most sophisticated pieces provided are 20 High Mobility Artillery Rocket Systems. 

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What seemed impossible just a few weeks ago is now on the way – a Patriot missile system and precision-guided bomb technology. There are even talks within the European combatant command whether to fulfill Ukraine’s request for F-16s, the world’s most advanced 4th generation multi-role fighter aircraft. Such discussions were viewed by some officials as a step too far, out of concern of escalation. 

Members of the Washington officialdom now openly acknowledge that arming Ukraine is a low-cost way of bleeding Russia of manpower and matériel, arguing that it would prevent a larger European conflict. This justification contradicts the results of several years worth of wargaming conducted by the U.S. government to simulate a direct Russia-NATO kinetic conflict. These table-top military exercises revealed that continued escalation of hostilities in a contested post-Soviet territory eventually drags the U.S. into a broader war, spiraling out of control.

President Biden and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at the White House in Washington, D.C.

President Biden and President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy meet at the White House in Washington, D.C.

(Ukrainian Presidency/Handout/Anadolu Agency via Getty Images)

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Ukrainians are not shy about asking for more and more. Budanov is expecting U.S. Bradley Fighting Vehicles, which “will significantly improve the combat ability of our units.” No wonder he is confident that the “hottest” yet fight is coming. “I promise it will not take too long now … We will change this world together,” Budanov told ABC. On New Year’s Day, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg urged the allies to stockpile weapons for Ukraine. 

Realizing that the conflict is firmly on an escalatory path, Moscow is laying the justification for whatever dramatic action it may decide to take by portraying the West as coming for Putin’s head. In a bizarre statement, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov warned the U.S. on December 28th against carrying out a “decapitation blow” targeting the Russian strongman. He called it a “threat to physically eliminate the head of the Russian state.” 

That sounds a lot like a pretext for something very violent. 

 CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM REBEKAH KOFFLER

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Lawyer urges jurors to acquit ex-NY doctor in sex abuse case

NEW YORK (AP) — Jurors hearing evidence Monday against a former New York gynecologist accused of sexually abusing nearly 150 patients can “cancel” and “condemn him,” but they should acquit him of federal charges that he enticed women to cross state lines to be abused because he didn’t know where they were coming from, his lawyer said in an opening statement.

Defense attorney Deirdre Von Dornum told jurors as the Manhattan trial of Robert Hadden, 64, got underway that her client pleaded guilty to state charges seven years ago, admitting that he had sexually abused patients. She said he has not treated patients in the last decade.

“The allegations are awful and shocking,” she said, warning jurors that she was not encouraging them to feel sorry for Hadden and telling them that they should listen carefully to the women who will testify about being abused and hear what they say.

She said the “question is not whether inappropriate activity or sexual abuse happened.”

Instead, she said jurors should focus on the “specific, technical crime” he is charged with: whether he knowingly induced, persuaded or coerced patients to cross state lines to be sexually abused. The four women highlighted by trial evidence had traveled from New Jersey, Las Vegas and from Rockland County, New York, just north of the city, through New Jersey.

Von Dornum said there would be no evidence that he knew in advance which patient he was scheduled to see on which days.

“Cancel, condemn him,” the lawyer urged, before adding: “Do not convict him for a crime he did not commit.”

Von Dornum addressed jurors after Assistant U.S. Attorney Paul Monteleoni told them they would hear how Hadden sexually abused the four women.

The indictment said the abuse took place at medical offices and Manhattan hospitals while Hadden worked as a physician at Columbia University and at New York Presbyterian Hospital. The two institutions have agreed to pay more than $165 million to 147 former patients abused by Hadden.

Monteleoni also described the guilty plea in state court by Hadden, saying he admitted during his plea that his abuse was not accidental and had no valid medical purpose.

The Englewood, New Jersey, resident was arrested on the federal charges in 2020 after prosecutors accused him of sexually abusing young and unsuspecting patients for over two decades. He has remained free on $1 million bail.

Prosecutors have described Hadden as a “predator in a white coat,” accusing him of singling out young and unsuspecting victims, including a young girl he had delivered at birth.

Monteleoni told jurors that several of Hadden’s victims will testify during the trial, along with nurses who said they witnessed Hadden touching patients inappropriately.

The prosecutor said the victims had undergone “experiences, in some cases, they couldn’t talk about for years; experiences that scarred them.”

He added: “These victims would give anything for this not to have happened.”

“Objection!” Von Dornum shouted.

“Overruled,” Judge Richard M. Berman responded.

Monteleoni urged a conviction of a doctor he said had assaulted “patient after patient, year after year.”

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Israel’s democratic future looks grim. Here’s a rational case for staying optimistic

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“What’s going to happen?” friends ask me. “You deal with Israeli society. Tell us — is there any hope?”

On the surface, there are not many reasons to be optimistic. Our most recent election has put Prime Minister Bibi Netanyahu — and a hard right-wing coalition — into power. They have promised to roll back freedoms and advance far-right positions. About half of Israelis recently surveyed believe our country’s democracy is in grave danger.

But a clear-eyed analysis of reality, after the shock and grief have dissipated, reveals more than a sliver of hope.

First of all, Israel’s political past shows that governments have less impact on everyday life than we think, even when they actually govern and implement policies.

In the area of issues of religion and state, the previous Netanyahu government, in the end, did almost nothing to strike a more optimal balance. A review of past coalition agreements of the 36 governments that preceded the newly seated one shows that the fulfillment of the commitments made in them was very limited.

Coalition agreements are declarations, not plans of action. But even more importantly, at a deep level, Israeli society differs in several respects from the picture painted by the country’s political system — in its values and in its cohesiveness.

Since the elections, and with the swearing in of the new government and the publication of its basic principles and coalition agreements, half the nation has been in mourning. Even some of those who supported the coalition parties are not happy with its policies.

The future, as reflected in the provocative statements and papers, doesn’t look bright. If all that has been said and written comes to pass, Israel will be facing radical constitutional change, aggressive ultra-Orthodox demands that will burden the economy and erode equality, Religious Zionist pressure that will result in greater discrimination against the Arab minority and de facto or de jure annexation of Judea and Samaria.

But the more significant hope, and the one with depth and the potential for future change, lies in Israeli society.

The new government does indeed represent very conservative positions and promotes an ultra-Orthodox Jewish worldview. However, a large majority of Israelis hold much more liberal views, precisely on those banner issues expected to be high on the government’s agenda.

According to a survey conducted by the Israeli daily Haaretz and the Israeli Congress, the majority of Israelis (61%) are concerned about the stated intention to limit LGBTQ pride parades, while only a minority (23%) support such a move. Most Israelis (61%) also support equal rights for same-sex couples.

On other values-related issues as well, there is a clear majority for the liberal standpoint. The Jewish People Policy Institute in its 2021 Israeli Pluralism Index found that most Israeli Jews (63%) are in favor of public transportation on Shabbat, a certain degree of commerce on Shabbat (56%), and the introduction of civil marriage in Israel (66%). Israeli attitudes toward the institutions that manage the country’s religious services, and toward the religious establishment, are highly negative (56%).

Even in regard to democratic values, the situation is not lost. The Israel Democracy Institute’s 2021 Democracy Index shows that many Israelis (48%) feel that the Jewish component in Israel is too strong and that the democratic component should be strengthened. And with respect to the Supreme Court’s power of judicial review, which is now in the limelight, the opinions of many Israelis (47%) differ from the prevailing views within the new government; they feel that the court is too weak, or that its power is appropriately balanced — compared with 40% of Israelis who think it is too powerful.

Other barometers of Israeli society register the deep divisions — between secular and religious, right and left, Arabs and Jews. The political system, the traditional media and the social networks evince a bitterness threatening to overwhelm us at any moment.

But everyday Israeli life gives much reason to be hopeful. It generally moves along harmoniously, with all the different segments of society sharing a common public sphere, conducting their businesses, living together and, for the most part, calling each other “brother” out of a sense of kinship and shared destiny, despite everything.

I’m not suggesting that we play the ostrich and stick our heads in the sand, or that we simply brush off the current situation. The challenges are real and significant.

But as the tumult of the elections and the government-formation process subsides, beyond the major challenges that the new government may pose for Israel’s prosperity and future, there is still hope for another possibility — greater unity.

Outside of the government and the digital media bubble, there are many people who think differently, who conduct their affairs within a shared, vibrant social fabric — and they inspire hope for different future prospects that can be built upon to bring about change.

To contact the author, email opinion@forward.com

The post Israel’s democratic future looks grim. Here’s a rational case for staying optimistic appeared first on The Forward.

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Apple iPad Pro (2022) review: A small upgrade over its predecessor, but still the best tablet

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Apple 2022 iPad Pro running Photoshop with Apple Pencil on the side.Apple’s 2022 iPad Pro has one major upgrade from last year: a new M2 processor.

Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider

  • The 2022 Apple iPad Pro offers the same external hardware and design as the 2021 model.
  • The biggest upgrades are the latest M2 processor and a new feature for the Apple Pencil. 
  • The 2022 iPad Pro remains the best and most powerful tablet if you’re willing to pay for it.

While Apple took the opportunity to completely redesign the basic iPad in 2022, the company chose not to rock the boat with the iPad Pro series. Instead, Apple upgraded both iPad Pro’s internal specs, with the 11-inch iPad Pro starting at $799 and the 12.9-inch version selling for $1099.

What the new iPad Pro lacks in any major design upgrades (it looks identical to the 2021 iPad Pro), it makes up for in more power. Apple swapped the M1 processor for the M2, making it the most powerful and responsive iPad in the entire lineup. 

The 2022 iPad Pro offers a familiar pro-level experience with premium features, including the new Hover mode for the second-gen Apple Pencil. For professionals who want the most capable iPad to date, it could be worth jumping on. But if you’re a casual user, you and your wallet might be better off looking at the 2021 Pro model.

What works

  • M2 chip is next-level powerful
  • Best-in-class display
  • Hover Mode for second-gen Apple Pencil

What needs work

  • Same design, cameras, and battery life
  • Front-facing camera still in an awkward location
  • iPadOS still falls short as a laptop alternative

More for the same, but still top of the line

Apple 2022 iPad Pro showing the home screen with app icons.The 2022 iPad Pro is a level up above other iPad on almost all fronts.

Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider

The big storyline of the 2022 iPad Pro is more of the same hardware. It’s still available in two sizes, 11 and 12.9 inches, with the same display, cameras, storage options (128GB to 2TB), speakers, battery life, and colorways. 

But even as Apple adopts a modern design language across all iPad models, including rounded display corners, uniform borders around the screen, flat edges, and a flat back, the iPad Pro still stands out for its incredibly thin design.

The iPad Pro’s uniform borders are slimmer than the iPad Air and 10th-gen iPad’s, which lends to a more premium look. The 11-inch model is lightweight at 1.03 pounds, whereas the 12.9-inch model sits quite heavily at 1.5 pounds, but that’s to be expected on such a large iPad. 

Both iPad Pro models have the same displays as the 2021 Pro models. The 12.9-inch version still has a better screen than the 11-inch because it uses Apple’s Liquid Retina XDR display based on Mini-LED backlighting, which results in a more accurate, bright, and crisp visual experience. Each model includes Apple’s 120Hz high-refresh-rate ProMotion display, which produces smooth animations while swiping around iPadOS.

Apple 2022 iPad Pro Face ID sensors.The 2022 iPad Pro’s front camera supports Face ID unlocking.

Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider

In terms of cameras, the 2022 iPad Pro has the same hardware as the 2021 and 2020 models: 12-megapixel wide and 10-megapixel ultra-wide cameras on the rear, and an ultra-wide 12-megapixel front-facing camera that supports Face ID.

Unfortunately, the iPad Pro still has its front-facing camera on the top edge of the screen, which means you’ll be awkwardly positioned on video calls if you’re using the tablet in landscape mode, which is highly likely, given the Pro works wonderfully with Apple’s Magic Keyboard.

While Center Stage — the feature that keeps you centered in the frame — can help with the bumbling side placement in landscape mode, we’re looking forward to the day when all iPads get a landscape-oriented camera, just like the basic iPad.

As for battery life, the iPad Pro’s is typical for an iPad — it can stream a video at full brightness for around 5.5 hours.

The biggest upgrade is the M2 chip, but it’s pros who will mostly benefit

Apple 2022 iPad Pro side profile in silver color option.The 2022 iPad Pro brings computer-grade performance with its M2 processor, which is impressive for such a thin and light device.

Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider

The 2022 iPad Pro runs on Apple’s M2 chip, the same processor that powers the 2022 MacBook Air and 13-inch MacBook Pro. Save for a few minor details, the iPad Pro brings computer-grade power in a slimmer and lighter package.

The biggest question for professionals isn’t whether the 2022 iPad Pro is powerful enough — it’s the most powerful tablet you can buy. Instead, it’s whether the iPadOS versions of the apps they use are as comprehensive as the desktop versions.

Even though Apple claims the upgrade from M1 to M2 provides a 15-percent increase in speed and up to 35 percent faster graphics performance, the difference in casual day-to-day use is minimal. For those who stream videos and run basic apps like social media, games, web browsing, and so on, the iPad Pro’s power is excessive.

Professionals could justify the upgrade, but it’s a harder sell for most people. It could be worth it if you want to extend the lifespan of your purchase — the iPad Pro will likely outlive the 10th-gen iPad by a few years, and even the M1 iPad Air by a year or so.

The second-gen Apple Pencil, now even more useful

Apple 2022 iPad Pro with the second-generation Apple Pencil held by a hand drawing a flower.Apple’s new Hover feature for the second-generation Apple Pencil is powered by the M2 processor.

Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider

The iPad Pro’s M2 processor doesn’t just deliver power. It enables the new Hover feature with the second-gen Apple Pencil, making it the ultimate tool for note-takers, artists, or simply those who need more precision than a finger can offer. 

Hover lets the iPad Pro detect the Pencil’s tip from 12mm above the screen, which gives you a preview of exactly where the tip will land. In the preview, you can see the size of marking you want to make, and even preview the blend of different colors.

It enhances the accuracy and precision that the Apple Pencil is already known for. If you’ve ever felt the Apple Pencil didn’t always land exactly where you wanted it to on an iPad’s screen, or whether you’ve picked the right brush size or the right color, Hover will help with that. 

Third-party app developers can integrate Hover into their apps, too. Hovering above a project thumbnail in ProCreate, for example, will play a timeline of your process. You can also combine finger gestures on the screen with Hover to make adjustments, like changing the size of your brush. 

In its current iteration, Hover is already useful, and it has the real potential to become utterly indispensable for digital professionals who use the Apple Pencil as more Hover features are added over time. 

Impressive as it is, the 2022 iPad Pro is still not a laptop replacement

Apple 2022 iPad Pro resting near the 2022 MacBook Air.Despite the M2 processor, the 2022 iPad Pro isn’t a replacement for a laptop.

Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider

Even when used with Apple’s Magic Keyboard, which includes a trackpad and keyboard, the 2022 iPad Pro doesn’t offer the best of both the tablet and laptop worlds, nor is it a substitute for a laptop. It’s decidedly a tablet.

Before even considering iPadOS compared to macOS, using an iPad Pro as a laptop doesn’t make economic sense. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro is only $100 less than the M2 MacBook Air, and cases with keyboards and trackpads will bring the price even higher.

Not to mention that Apple’s Magic Keyboard combo with the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is much heavier and thicker than the M2 MacBook Air or 14-inch MacBook Pro. To top it off, Apple’s laptops have significantly better keyboards and trackpads than the Magic Keyboard. 

As for iPadOS, it’s still very much a mobile operating system that simply doesn’t match the versatility of a full desktop operating system like macOS. Apple has three different features to help with multitasking, including Stage Manager, Slide View, and Split View — it desperately wants to be your laptop. Yet, multitasking on an iPad still isn’t as fluid or intuitive as it is on a laptop, and I find myself painfully yearning for my laptop while working.

Your camera and editing workstation in one device, maybe

Apple 2022 iPad Pro cameras.The 2022 iPad Pro has the best cameras out of any iPad model.

Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider

The iPad Pro differentiates itself from the rest of the iPad lineup with a dual-lens camera setup that includes a 10-megapixel ultra-wide and 12-megapixel main lens. 

They take better photos and videos than any iPad, and you can edit them from the iPad Pro. They are also the only iPads to support Lidar sensors, a scanning technology that adds depth to photos — useful for applications like 3D and augmented reality.

However, a recent iPhone will still be a better option for taking photos and videos — the iPhone 14 Pro has superior video recording capabilities with Dolby Vision support, a 3x zoom lens, and Apple’s Cinematic Mode for focus transitions. And, you can easily transfer photos and videos taken with an iPhone to the iPad Pro with AirDrop.

With 4K resolution video recording at 60 fps, ProRes support, and video stabilization, the 2022 iPad Pro’s cameras might suffice for video hobbyists and some professionals for their video projects. The iPad Pro features stereo audio recording, too, but you’ll likely get better sound with a wireless microphone setup.

But video pros and photographers are more likely to use the iPad Pro as a mobile workstation to complement their external cameras, rather than the ones built into the tablet. While it may not be a suitable laptop replacement, the iPad Pro is ideal for these professionals who need something lightweight — their camera equipment will be plenty heavy — yet powerful enough to edit photos and video quickly.

Should you buy the 2022 iPad Pro?

Apple 2022 iPad Pro rear in silver color option.The 2022 iPad Pro is the best choice if you use an Apple Pencil, but the 2022 iPad Air costs $200 less and is also an excellent choice.

Antonio Villas-Boas/Insider

If you like working with power-hungry, pro-grade apps with the Apple Pencil, the iPad Pro is unbeatable. And if you’re looking for the biggest screen for the Apple Pencil, the 12.9-inch iPad Pro is your best option. It’s also ideal for some pros who need a powerful workstation but shed as much weight as possible, like videographers and photographers.

For Apple Pencil lovers who don’t need that much power, consider the 2022 iPad Air with an 11-inch screen. It runs on Apple’s M1 processor, but its performance isn’t far behind the iPad Pro’s M2 processor. Just note that while the 2022 iPad Air supports the second-generation Apple Pencil, it doesn’t support the new Hover feature, which is an M2 processor exclusive. 

But the iPad Pro is no laptop replacement because iPad OS is limited in this area, even if you add a keyboard case and trackpad or mouse. If you need a thin and light workstation that offers a true computing experience, buy the M2 MacBook Air or 14-inch MacBook Pro. 

As for casual video streamers who use basic apps, the iPad Pro will give you a few extra years of smooth and fast performance than the entry-level 10th-generation iPad — how many years exactly is hard to tell. And the ProMotion display sure is nice to have.

However, the 11-inch iPad Pro costs twice as much as the 10th-generation iPad; it is also $200 more than the iPad Air. I’d recommend either of those two models for more casual users before recommending the iPad Pro.

Read the original article on Business Insider
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Ukraine says a team of military surgeons removed an unexploded grenade from inside the body of a Ukrainian soldier

A side-by-side of a Ukrainian surgeon holding the grenade, and an X-ray of the grenade in a man’s chestA Ukrainian military surgeon removed the grenade from the soldier’s chest.

General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine

  • A Ukrainian surgeon successfully removed a live grenade from inside a soldier’s chest. 
  • The Armed Forces of Ukraine tweeted that the grenade could have detonated “at any moment.”
  • The surgery went well and the wounded soldier has been sent to recovery, Ukraine’s military said.

A team of Ukrainian military surgeons has successfully removed an unexploded grenade from inside the body of a Ukrainian soldier, according to the country’s armed forces.

According to Ukraine’s Office of the Chief of Defence, Major General Andrii Verba performed the operation without using electrocoagulation — a common method to control bleeding during surgery — because “the grenade could detonate at any moment.”

Two sappers were on hand to handle the live grenade after it was removed from the soldier’s chest, according to Ukraine’s armed forces. X-rays shared by the defense chief showed the apparent grenade — which appeared to be an explosive round that would have been fired from a grenade launder.

Another image showed a doctor holding up the metallic shell in his bloodied gloves. 

The Armed Forces of Ukraine tweeted that “everything went well — the wounded man has already been sent for rehabilitation and recovery.”

Translations by Oleksandr Vynogradov.

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Helping renters build assets and move out of poverty by scaling HUD’s best kept secret

By Markita Morris-Louis

It’s been well documented that assets such as cash savings or real estate are essential to economic mobility. They provide a cushion in emergencies and allow people to become homeowners, start businesses, and pursue advanced education. Yet one in four families with low-incomes do not have the assets needed to cover even three months of basic living expenses without income. 

For these families, the opportunity to build assets is out of reach, as anti-poverty programs often discourage or penalize savings—a symptom of the systemic and historic barriers that have long prevented Black, Latino or Hispanic, and multi-racial families from building wealth.  

However, there’s an underutilized federal program with tremendous potential to change this for millions of families: the Department of Housing and Urban Development’s (HUD) Family Self-Sufficiency (FSS) program. FSS is a savings incentive program for families living in HUD-assisted housing that enables participants to save a portion of their rent payment when they earn more money at work.  

How affordable housing can prevent families from building savings 

In some types of HUD-assisted housing, a household’s rent is based on income. Therefore, if a household earns more money, their rent increases proportionately. Although designed to keep housing affordable, this structure can discourage families from increasing their income, since they would pay more in rent and potentially lose other benefits with income limits, such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP). 

This rent calculation effectively functions as a marginal tax on increased earnings, which also makes it difficult to build savings. But when households enroll in FSS, if their rent increases because they earn more money at work, the non-utilized portion of their previous housing subsidy goes into a savings account. These savings build over time, and once participants “graduate” from the program, they can put the money to use for financial goals such as buying a home, going to college, or improving their credit. To graduate from FSS, participants must demonstrate progress toward those goals, participants must be working, and no adults in the household can be receiving cash welfare assistance at the time of graduation.  

Figure 1: How FSS helps families save

Although FSS was established in 1990, only 3% of the estimated 2.2 million eligible households currently participate. In other words, there is a large, untapped pool of federal funds that could help close the asset gap for lower-income Americans. Barriers to enrollment include limited resources for marketing and program administration as well as residents’ concern that the program seems “too good to be true.”  

An asset-building model proven to help families save thousands of dollars 

But it’s not too good to be true. My organization, Compass Working Capital, has spent over a decade proving just that. Since 2010, our financial services nonprofit has partnered with housing providers to run the FSS program for residents.  

To date, Compass has helped nearly 4,500 families build over $12.5 million in savings through FSS. These are families that have gone on to start businesses, buy homes, and save for their children’s future. A 2021 study of our FSS programs by Abt Associates found that participants earned more and received less public assistance than comparable households not enrolled in FSS. On average, participants graduate with over $8,000 in savings—proving that well-run FSS programs can set families on the pathway to financial stability.  

Expanding access to FSS through an opt-out model 

HUD has recently implemented new rules for FSS to improve families’ abilities to build savings by easing some graduation requirements and increasing the length of the program. But we need more creative policy measures to make meaningful strides toward closing the participation gap.  

Compass advocates for an opt-out model for FSS, which would enable households to automatically build rent-based savings without navigating time-intensive and potentially discouraging upfront enrollment requirements. An opt-out model could also decrease administrative costs related to marketing, enrollment, program management, and service provision. Compass partnered with the Cambridge, Mass. Housing Authority to pilot an opt-out model called Rent-to-Save in two public housing properties. Both properties saw significantly higher FSS participation rates (51.4% and 82.3%), indicating that opt-out models are successful in expanding program access.  

An opt-out model holds promise for scaling the FSS program to reach the more than 2 million households nationally that could participate. And, because about half of all HUD-assisted households are headed by Black, Latino or Hispanic, and multi-racial women, FSS is a tool could help narrow racial and gender wealth divides. 

The next step: securing permission from HUD to build more expansive opt-out pilots that demonstrate the model’s potential at a greater scale. This would be a step toward a broader vision—when the opportunity to build assets is the norm, and not the exception, in our nation’s anti-poverty work.  

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Nasdaq leads gains on Wall Street as interest rate worries ease

2023-01-09T17:16:05Z

Traders work on the trading floor at the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in New York City, U.S., January 5, 2023. REUTERS/Andrew Kelly

The Nasdaq rose more than 2% on Monday with Big Tech and growth stocks spearheading gains as recent signs of a cooling labor market supported bets of a slower pace of interest rate hikes by the Federal Reserve.

Megacap growth stocks Apple Inc (AAPL.O), Alphabet Inc (GOOGL.O) and Microsoft Corp (MSFT.O) gained over 2% each as U.S. Treasury yields declined.

Amazon.com Inc (AMZN.O) rose 3.4% after Jefferies said it saw cost pressures easing for the e-commerce giant in the second half of the year.

Tesla Inc (TSLA.O) climbed 7% after the electric-vehicle maker indicated longer waiting times for some versions of the Model Y in China, signaling the recent price cuts could be stoking demand.

The gains pushed technology (.SPLRCT) to the top of the major S&P 500 sector indexes list, while consumer discretionary stocks (.SPLRCD) also rose with a near 2% gain.

The benchmark S&P 500 (.SPX) and the Nasdaq (.IXIC) closed the week higher on Friday after a moderation in wage increases and a decline in U.S. services activity in December buoyed hopes of a less hawkish stance from the Fed as well as a soft landing for the U.S. economy.

“The number of jobs created is working its way down slowly and wages are starting to calm down. Both of those are important for inflation coming under control, without necessarily careening the U.S economy to a recession,” said Art Hogan, chief market strategist at B. Riley Financial.

The highly awaited U.S. Labor Department’s inflation report on Thursday is expected to show some moderation in year-on-year consumer prices in December.

Money market bets show 79% odds of a 25-basis point hike in the Fed’s February policy meeting, with the terminal rate expected at 4.92% by June.

The CPI report would be crucial in shaping expectations for when the Fed is close to the end of its tightening cycle and is likely to show inflation is starting to move down, Jon Maier, chief investment officer at Global X ETFs, said.

Other economic data such as weekly jobless claims and the University of Michigan’s consumer sentiment report will also be in focus this week, as big U.S. banks kick off the quarterly earnings season on Friday.

A slew of Fed officials including Chair Jerome Powell are due to speak this week, with investors ready to parse their commentary for more clues on the rate-hike trajectory.

U.S.-listed shares of Alibaba Group Holding Ltd rose 3.7% on news that Ant Group’s founder Jack Ma will give up control of the Chinese fintech giant in an overhaul.

At 11:41 a.m. ET, the Dow Jones Industrial Average (.DJI) was up 229.32 points, or 0.68%, at 33,859.93, the S&P 500 (.SPX) was up 48.49 points, or 1.24%, at 3,943.57, and the Nasdaq Composite (.IXIC) was up 214.41 points, or 2.03%, at 10,783.70.

Macy’s Inc (M.N) and Lululemon Athletica Inc (LULU.O) fell 7.7% and 7.9%, respectively, following dour holiday-quarter forecasts from both the retailers.

Advancing issues outnumbered decliners for a 4.45-to-1 ratio on the NYSE and a 2.54-to-1 ratio on the Nasdaq.

The S&P index recorded 12 new 52-week highs and two new lows, while the Nasdaq recorded 107 new highs and 18 new lows.

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Brazil“s Bolsonaro hospitalized in the U.S. with abdominal pain – report

2023-01-09T17:11:35Z

Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro speaks in Brasilia, Brazil, December 30, 2022 in this screen grab taken from social media. Presidency of Brazil/Handout via REUTERS

Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro was admitted to a hospital in Orlando, Florida, with “abdominal pain,” newspaper O Globo reported on Monday, a day after some of his hardcore supporters stormed the capital city of Brasilia.

Bolsonaro has been hospitalized multiple times in recent years with gut blockages after being stabbed while campaigning for the presidency in 2018. He traveled to the United States two days before Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva took the office of president.


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White House: US has received no requests from Brazil on Bolsonaro

2023-01-09T17:20:24Z

White House National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan speaks during a daily press briefing at the White House in Washington, D.C., U.S., November 10, 2022. REUTERS/Tom Brenner/File Photo

The United States has not received any official requests from the Brazilian government regarding the status of former President Jair Bolsonaro after his supporters stormed Brazil’s Congress, the White House said on Monday.

National security adviser Jake Sullivan, with President Joe Biden for a U.S.-Mexico-Canada summit in Mexico City, told reporters it appeared that democratic institutions in Brazil were holding. He said U.S. officials are not in direct contact with Bolsonaro, who is believed to be in suburban Orlando, Florida.

Sullivan said he expected Biden would speak to new Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva about the events in Brasilia in recent days but did not know when that would be.

The United States believes Brazil’s democracy is “strong, resilient and will come through this,” he said.

“We have expressed confidence, because we believe it, that democratic institutions of Brazil will hold, that the will of the people of Brazil will be respected, that freely elected leaders of Brazil will govern Brazil and will not be deterred or knocked off course by the actions of these people who have assaulted the instruments of government in Brasilia,” he said.

Newspaper O Globo reported on Monday that Bolsonaro has been admitted to a hospital in Orlando, Florida, with abdominal pain.

Sullivan had no information about Bolsonaro himself and said Washington had received no official requests regarding the ex-leader’s status in the United States.

“Of course if we did receive such requests, we’d treat them the way we always do, we’d treat them seriously,’ he said.