Atomic Pulse Sep 24, 2021
NTI at 20: Lynn Rusten on New Opportunities to Reduce Global Nuclear Threats and NTI's Ability to Foster Progress
The scope of the Global Nuclear Policy Program (GNPP) at NTI is vast: Reducing reliance on nuclear weapons, preventing their use and their spread, and ultimately ending them as a threat to the world. Lynn Rusten isn't daunted. She brings deep expertise in nuclear arms control, nonproliferation, and national security policy from a host of senior government positions, including high-level posts in the White House, at the State Department, and in Congress. Prior to joining NTI in 2017, Rusten served during the Obama administration as a senior director on the White House National Security Council staff and also at the Department of State leading the interagency backstopping process in support of the negotiation and ratification of the New START Treaty between the United States and Russia. Rose Gottemoeller, chief negotiator for the treaty, at a recent NTI webinar called working with Rusten "absolutely fantastic."
Over the course of this year, as NTI marks its 20th anniversary, our experts will share some reflections on two decades of working to build a safer world—accomplishments and challenges, lessons learned along the way, visions for the future, and more. Today, we hear from GNPP Vice President Rusten, who also was a consultant to NTI in 2009 after serving as a senior professional staff member on the Senate Armed Services Committee.
Before NTI, much of your career was spent in senior government posts, working on many of the same issues we address. Why did you make the jump to NTI?
I have spent a lot of my career in government, and I had a few stints outside, too, and also on the Hill, which is government of course, but different from working in the executive branch. At the end of the Obama administration, I was ready to leave government and do the kind of work that we do from the outside. It's an opportunity to advance the issues in a different way and also a way to recharge your intellectual batteries and have the time to think about more than the four corners of your desk and today's or tomorrow's crisis. It offers a chance to do some really creative work. And it's been exciting to think about the opportunities that we have now to make significant progress on our issues given the new administration. I think it's not a secret that some of the approaches of the Trump administration really weren't conducive to advancing nuclear risk reduction and arms control. And of course, there are other factors in the world beyond just the policies of that administration. Obviously, there are challenges with other countries that have nuclear weapons, including Russia and China. But it was an environment in which some of the traditional arms control tools were continuing to erode, and at the same time tensions were rising between states with nuclear weapons.
And in general, there was a sense that we were going backward globally, not making progress toward reducing nuclear weapons and reducing the risks of their use. And so I think now with a change of administration, and a president who has spent a lot of time on these issues, and made some campaign commitments, in terms of this issue set, it's an exciting opportunity to see if we can help generate some ideas from the outside that might get picked up and used inside. So, that's one of the things that's exciting about the moment we're in right now.
Has it surprised you to find that a small NGO can make a big impact?
I've been familiar with NTI really since its inception, and I did do a short stint here for about six months, in 2009 after I had left the Hill and before I went to work for the Obama administration, and so I certainly was familiar with NTI and the great things it does. But I have to say that being here has given me an even greater appreciation for what it does across the board, in the biosecurity space and in some of the other nuclear and technology areas that I'm interested in, but not personally responsible for. And of course, the organization continues to change and grow over time as the people who are here change, our leadership has changed, and the issues that the world is confronting change. It is impressive that NTI is so impactful. It's really like the little engine that could with a relatively small staff and, although we have a significant budget for an NGO, in the scheme of things, it's still a small budget. We are able to leverage ideas and relationships and partnerships to get big things done.
Your team's mission is huge! Where do you see the greatest opportunities for progress?
I think of our mission as being in two baskets. One is the more near-term basket, addressing the world as it is today and exploring how we can make progress towards reducing nuclear weapons and the risk that they could be used. So, we consider questions like: what should a next arms control agreement with Russia look like? What policies should the U.S. government pursue to advance the goal of nuclear non-proliferation? How do we deal with the impact of new technology on nuclear risks, including cyber risks to nuclear weapons and command and control systems? And specifically, how do you address those risks which don't lend themselves to traditional arms-control agreements, for instance, cyber threats and activities in space? And, of course, an increasingly important issue is how do we move beyond a bilateral arms reduction and arms control process with Russia to a multilateral one, to include China, which is a growing concern in terms of its nuclear weapons programs. So, these are the near-term questions we work to answer to impact policy over the next five, 10, 15 years to make progress down the road on reducing and eliminating nuclear risks.
The second basket is even longer-term as we think about how to advance the goal of ultimately eliminating nuclear weapons? And what does that mean, in a concrete sense? What are the structures that you need in place for verification and for monitoring the use of nuclear power for civilian use, for nuclear energy, so that the nuclear know-how isn't transferred to a military or covert program aimed at building a nuclear weapon. This is what we called "the vision and the steps"—we promote the vision of a world without nuclear weapons, but we understand that we have to build the practical steps to get there. So, we really work at both ends of the problem.
Where do you think NTI has had the greatest impact?
NTI has had a big impact in so many ways. Sometimes it's about developing ideas and then seeding those ideas so others can take them up, because at the end of the day nuclear policy, in particular, is the province of governments. I'll give you an example. A few years ago, Senator Nunn co-wrote an op-ed with Senator Lugar, both former senators at the time, about applying the concept of Cooperative Threat Reduction (CTR) to the denuclearization of North Korea. CTR was a concept they developed when the Soviet Union collapsed and nuclear weapons and materials, along with other weapons of mass destruction, were scattered across the former Soviet states—a huge area of the world. The idea manifested in the United States, and later other countries as well, giving assistance to Russia and the former Soviet states to prevent the weapons and materials from falling into the hands of terrorists, non-state actors, other countries.
Fast-forward 30 years later, and they wrote an op-ed suggesting that the CTR concept could have application in the case of denuclearization negotiations with North Korea, and they recommended that policymakers consider it. It was an original idea and it took hold. At NTI, we formed a high-level expert working group and came out with a substantial study of the idea about a year and a half later. But that was just the beginning—and by the way, the Trump administration and other countries in the Asia Pacific and Europe were very interested in this idea. Other think tanks in Washington and in the Asia Pacific, and experts and organizations began to further explore this idea and develop it in more depth—that work continues to this day. Of course, the most important step will be if negotiations get going with North Korea, between our country and North Korea and involving other countries in the region, to the point where they could consider this concept and see if they can use it. That hasn't happened yet, but this is just one example of how we have a powerful ability to get an idea out there and get traction with it.
I can give you 10 more examples from across NTI, including the development of the international low-enriched uranium bank that we helped seed and fund at the International Atomic Energy Agency, the verification work that we've been doing with the international community. There are just so many examples of where we have worked with partners, both in governments and outside experts, as an incubator to generate ideas and have them get traction with those who can implement them.
You're also responsible for Congressional outreach at NTI. This is another big task, given the lack of institutional knowledge on our issues and the increase in partisanship on Capitol Hill.
This is hugely important. NTI has been focused in recent years on how important it is to increase what we call "nuclear literacy" on Capitol Hill. Back in the 1990s, many senators, including Senator Nunn, of course, were really very knowledgeable and current about nuclear risks and nuclear arms control. And frankly, there also was much more of bipartisan understanding of arms control as a tool that can advance national security alongside diplomacy and defense. Today, we see a real loss of knowledge about nuclear risks and appreciation for the diplomatic tools including arms control that can help mitigate them, so we spend a fair amount of time working to educate members of Congress and staff about the issues and what they can do to advance both public understanding and congressional oversight of the executive branch, to encourage approaching these issues in a bipartisan way, and to promote congressional-executive cooperation on reducing nuclear risks. Just like it shouldn't be a partisan issue to prevent or prepare for the next pandemic, there should be a bipartisan interest in making sure that nuclear weapons aren't used.
More on Atomic Pulse
NTI Seminar: Dr. Tong Zhao on Reducing U.S.-China Nuclear Risk and the Prospects for Arms Control
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NTI hosted Dr. Tong Zhao for a virtual seminar to discuss the future of U.S.-China nuclear relations and opportunities for reducing nuclear risks between both countries.
Blundering into a nuclear war in Ukraine: a hypothetical scenario
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Vladimir Putin's invasion of Ukraine is a prime example of a regional conflict that could inadvertently escalate beyond any of the protagonists' expectations. History is replete with similar instances of humanity stumbling into devastating conflict.
NTI Seminar: Susan Eisenhower on "How Ike Led: The Principles Behind Eisenhower's Biggest Decisions"
From D-Day to Little Rock, from the Korean War to Cold War crises, from the Red Scare to the Missile Gap controversies, few people have made decisions as momentous as Dwight D. Eisenhower.


Oil prices rise slightly ahead of OPEC+ meeting next week
By MongiIG,
December 31, 2021 in Commodities
MongiIG
CommoditiesDec 30, 2021
© Reuters. FILE PHOTO: An aerial view shows Shibushi National Petroleum Stockpiling Base in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan January 18, 2019, in this photo taken by Kyodo. Mandatory credit Kyodo/via REUTERS
By Jessica Resnick-Ault
NEW YORK (Reuters) -Oil prices rose slightly on Thursday on expectations that fuel demand held up despite soaring Omicron coronavirus infections and that OPEC and its allies would continue to increase imports only incrementally.
Gains eased as the world's top importer China cut the first batch of crude import allocations for 2022.
Brent crude futures settled at $79.32 a barrel, up 9 cents, or 0.11%. U.S. crude futures rose 43 cents, or 0.56%, to settle at $76.9 a barrel, the seventh straight session of gains.
"We've had incredibly strong demand numbers through December, so now the question is what OPEC will do," said John Kilduff, a partner at Again Capital Management in New York. Kilduff expects the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, known as OPEC+, to continue to add incrementally to production.
China, the world's top crude importer, lowered the first batch of 2022 import quotas to mostly independent refiners by 11%.
"Market sentiment weakened on worries that the Chinese government could take stricter actions against the teapots," a Singapore-based analyst said, referring to the independent refiners.
Still, global oil prices have rebounded by between 50% and 60% in 2021 as fuel demand roared back to near pre-pandemic levels and deep production cuts by OPEC+ for most of the year erased a supply glut.
U.S. Energy Information Administration data on Wednesday showed crude oil inventories fell by 3.6 million barrels in the week to Dec. 24, which was more than analysts polled by Reuters had expected. [EIA/S]
Gasoline and distillate inventories also fell, versus analysts' forecasts for builds, indicating demand remained strong despite record COVID-19 cases in the United States.
Oil prices also drew support from steps taken by governments to limit the impact of record high COVID-19 cases on economic growth, such as easing testing rules.
OPEC+ will meet on Jan. 4 to decide whether to continue increasing output in February.
Saudi Arabia's King Salman said on Wednesday the OPEC+ production agreement was needed for oil market stability and that producers must comply with the pact.
Iraq said it would support sticking to existing OPEC+ policies to raise output by a combined 400,000 bpd in February.
Shell (LON:RDSa) said it had resumed exports of Forcados oil in Nigeria, easing one of three major global outages which also include Ecuador and Libya.
Oil Up, In Line for Greatest Yearly Gains Since 2009
By Gina Lee
Investing.com - Oil prices slipped on the last day of 2021 but is set to post its biggest annual gains in 12 years. This is driven by a mix of global economic recovery and producer restraint, even as COVID-19 infections reached record highs around the world.
Brent oil futures slipped by 0.54% to $78.58 by 9:35 PM ET (2:35 AM GMT) and crude oil WTI futures fell 1.17% to $76.09.
In addition, Brent crude futures is on track to end the year up 53%, while U.S. crude futures is on for a 57% gain. It marks the strongest performance for these two benchmark contracts since 2009, when prices soared more than 70%.
"We've had Delta and Omicron and all manner of lockdowns and travel restrictions, but demand for oil has remained relatively firm. You can attribute that to the effects of stimulus supporting demand and restrictions on supply," said CommSec Chief Economist Craig James.
Today's slip in prices comes after a rise that went on for several straight days. Soaring COVID-19 cases on new year's eve reached new highs across the world, from Australia to the U.S., caused by the highly infectious Omicron coronavirus variant.
U.S. health experts have told Americans to brace for severe disruptions in the near future, as infection rates are likely to worsen amid increased holiday travel, New Year celebrations and school reopenings.
James expects the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries, Russia and allies (OPEC+) to stick to its plan to add 400,000 barrels per day of supply each month. The alliance will meet on Jan. 4, as they continue to wind back sharp production cuts implemented in 2020.
"I think we will see a lot of pressure on OPEC+ to make sure there's enough oil being supplied to market," James said.
By MongiIG · Posted 9 hours ago
Intel earnings preview: Revenues expected to collapse as demand takes a hit
Intel earnings are expected to collapse, but could the dire market forecasts provide the basis for outperformance? Source: Bloomberg Indices Shares Intel Market trend Revenue Technical analysis Joshua Mahony | Senior Market Analyst, London | Publication date: Thursday 26 January 2023 When will Intel report their latest earnings? Intel are expected to report their fourth quarter 2022 earnings (Q4) after market close on Thursday 26 January, 2023. What should traders look out for? Tech stocks have been in the firing line of late, with concerns over a spending slowdown bringing questions over elevated pricing multiples. This tech giant is no different, with both revenues and earnings expected to come in sharply lower than a year ago. There have been significant concerns over demand for Intel computers as the economic crunch brings a high likeliness that individuals and businesses hold off on upgrading their models for now. Notably, research from IDC highlighted a 28.1% collapse in global PC shipments in Q4, with an additional 5.6% decline expected over the course of 2023. The cost-cutting theme seen throughout the sector will likely come into play for Intel too, with the firm already pledging to cut $10 billion through to 2025. How quickly they can make those savings will be important for investors as it will improve the bottom line as demand heads lower. With 72% of the S&P 500 tech stocks that have reported thus far having beat earnings, and 78% beating on revenues, there is an argument that Wall Street has provided a low bar this quarter. Will that be the case this time around for Intel? Intel earnings – what to expect Revenue – $14.45 billion vs $15.34 billion (Q3 2022), and $19.53 billion (Q4 2021). Earnings per share (EPS) – $0.20 vs $0.59 (Q3 2022) and $1.09 (Q4 2021). Intel earnings – valuation and broker ratings Analysts are very mixed and cautious for Intel stock, with just four 'buy' or 'strong buy' recommendations out of 41. Of the remaining analysts, there are a whopping 25 'hold' recommendations, and 12 'sell' or 'strong sell' ratings. Source: Eikon Intel shares – technical analysis The weekly Intel chart highlights the collapse we have seen since the March 2021 peak, with price down 53% since that high. However, we have seen some stabilization for the stock of late, with price regaining ground from the $24.21 lows seen in October. A push up through the recent $31.33 peak would bring expectations of a wider rebound for the stock, confirming the creation of a higher low and fresh higher high. This upcoming earnings report should provide us with greater knowledge of whether that is possible or whether we are on the cusp of another bearish turn. The hope for the bulls will be that market predictions of a collapse in earnings and revenues will be overdone, allowing for outperformance despite declining numbers. Source: ProRealTime The daily chart highlights how price has managed to push up through all the Fibonacci levels, raising the likeliness that we are set for an upside break. Nonetheless, until resistance breaks, the risk of another turn lower remains. A move back through the $28.24 low would bring about greater confidence in a bearish continuation for the stock. Source: ProRealTime


Home Berhane Andeberhan Eritrea Ethiopia Herman Cohen Opinion Surely Mr. Cohen!
Surely Mr. Cohen!
Admin 10:56 AM Berhane Andeberhan, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Herman Cohen, Opinion
Ambassador Herman Cohen
By: Berhane Andeberhan
Surely Mr. Cohen would like to see a quick end to the famine in Ethiopia! Surely he would love to see the peoples of Eritrea and Ethiopia live in harmony as good neighbors peacefully interacting with each other and even helping each other and sharing their natural resources. Eritrea, and the whole world should come to the aid of Ethiopia and rally to forestall famine and hopefully prevent its recurrence.
Mr. Cohen states that the "Ethiopian famine that is just over the horizon will require the use of Eritrean ports". The seemingly condescending tone of his "recommendations" appears to go beyond a humanitarian concern and exhibits glaring omissions and glosses over some significant issues. His suggestions raise many questions that one cannot easily overlook when considering what he must clearly be aware of; namely, the unfortunately complicated situation between the two countries.
Granted, this would be one of the ways of getting relief supplies to Ethiopia.Why is it a requirement that Eritrean ports be used, given that one can think of other options? Obviously other avenues were used during the previous Ethiopian famine when the Ethiopian government rejected Eritrea's willingness to allow the use of its ports on humanitarian grounds. Using Eritrean ports might conceivably be the most ideal method, in which case Eritrea should be consulted. Surely Mr. Cohen must have other thoughts that he is not sharing!Has he already consulted with the Eritrean government?
As noted above, Mr. Cohen must be aware of Eritrea's willingness to allow its ports to be used during the previous major famine in Ethiopia. He must recall that the offer was rejected by the Government of Ethiopia. Why should one expect things to be different now? Has he obtained assurances that the Ethiopian government will accept the offer this time if it is given? Is he planning to request or has he already obtained Eritrean cooperation? And why does he assume that the Eritrean government would not have misgivings about this matter given the past experience?
It would make sense that Eritrean cooperation would be requested before such declarations are made.Mr. Cohen's motivation is no doubt a humanitarian one. Does his humanitarian concern extend to the displaced Eritrean peasants whose land and homes are still occupied by Ethiopia more than a decade after the border dispute was supposedly resolved? The plight of the internally displaced Eritrean peasants is not outright famine, thanks to the efforts of the Eritrean government, but it is still a disaster.
Where is the balance?
Surely Mr. Cohen is aware of the often repeated and loudly disseminated bluster by the Ethiopian regime against Eritrea. He must know of the repeated threats to "Invade, Attack, Change the Regime, Capture Assab etc." ad nauseam.The Ethiopian government has recently been amassing its troops in the Eritrean border seemingly to distract its own people by claiming that the protests in Oromia are directed by Eritrea. It seems there need to be some steps to dampen the hostility before Mr.Cohen's suggestion can warrant serious consideration.
So when suggesting that Eritrean ports be available to Ethiopia, some steps must be taken to create assurances to guard against Ethiopia's admitted hostile goals against Eritrea.That is still problematic because, were assurances to be made to Eritrea, who would be willing to guarantee those assurances? Not the same entities that were the guarantors of the Algiers Binding Resolution and have abdicated their responsibilities?
Most Eritreans dream of the day when they will live in harmony and cooperation with their Ethiopian neighbors! This will require resolution of existing differences between the two countries and respect for each other's sovereignty and territorial integrity. From there should follow cooperation that will hopefully benefit both countries through mutually agreed upon principles and practical steps. However,
Mr. Cohen's suggestions, which seem to indicate that Eritrea forget its security interests and give access to Eritrean ports without even mentioning some of the obvious obstacles, strike a discordant chord and threaten to insult our collective intelligence!
Apparently Eritrea is to blindly enter into some discussions after allowing its ports to be used without any guarantees of security. Mr. Cohen needs to be reminded that the suggestion to "engage in discussions" is a refrain straight out of the Woyane's hymnal. It is the excuse they continue to use to avoid implementing the Final and Binding Algiers Agreement even though they signed it. Surely Mr. Cohen does not want Eritrea to risk compromising its security in the hope of subsequently engaging in "discussions" with an adversary that has used the ruse of asking for "dialogue" to impose on it the current state of "no peace no war."
Discussions are indispensable, but the conditions under which they should be conducted require serious consideration of the existing realities and, hopefully, the involvement of unbiased mediators.
The writer is an ERITREAN-AMERICAN who attended UCLA on an academic scholarship where he earned his BA degree in Zoology and was a member of the first ever Bruin varsity team and he served as captain of the team in 1971 when the team was an NCAA finalist. He holds an MS in Microbiology from Loma Linda University and got his Ph. D. in Food Science at Cornell University. In addition to coaching college soccer he has taught collegiate Microbiology at Cal State Los Angeles and was a Research Specialist at Cornell University.
Surely Mr. Cohen! Reviewed by Admin on 10:56 AM Rating: 5
Berhane Andeberhan Eritrea Ethiopia Herman Cohen Opinion


Sen. Marco Rubio's new book sparks 2024 rumors after DeSantis reveals details of autobiography
From WWW.FOXNEWS.COM
Sen. Marco Rubio reportedly plans to release a book in June 2023, sparking rumors the Florida Senator will make a second bid for the presidency in 2024.
Rubio's 272-page book, titled "Decades of Decadence," according to a publisher's announcement, is his third while serving as senator of Florida since 2011. He wrote "American Dreams" in 2015 shortly before running for president in 2016.
The new book will be released June 13, 2023 by HarperCollins' conservative imprint Broadside Books around the time presidential campaigns will begin to kick off.
Rubio did not respond to Fox News Digital's request for comment on the new book.
Though Rubio ran for the GOP nomination in 2016, he doesn't appear on many lists of possible 2024 GOP presidential contenders.... (Read more)


Fostering an interfaith voice for peace and social justice on The University of Tulsa campus.
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Kristi Williams Bio
Kristi Williams a.k.a. Orisabiyi is the great great granddaughter of Creek Freedmen, 1874 Supreme Court Justice Jesse Franklin (Dawes #1567) and also the great-granddaughter of Cherokee citizens Lillie Vann (Dawes #2736) and Abraham "Abe" Mayberry, a World War 1 Veteran. She is also a descendant from the 1921 Tulsa Race Massacre. Her Great Aunt Janie Edwards was in the Dreamland Theater when the massacre occurred.
She is a community Activist/Greenwood Advocate/Organizer, Political Consultant and Campaign Manager for Tulsa's District 1 Councilor Vanessa Hall Harper, Tulsa's first Black woman to serve as Tulsa City Council Chair. Kristi is also an Author of the book, "Healing Me for Me," published in 2015.
She serves as Chairperson of the Greater Tulsa African American Affairs Commission and is a member and organizer of the 1921 Tulsa Mass Graves Investigation Committee. Her previous affiliations as the Chair to Tulsa's Coalition for Social Justice spearheaded the efforts to rename the Brady District in Tulsa, Oklahoma and prevailed.
In 2014, she was awarded, "Community Activist of The Year," from the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. She has been a featured speaker for YWCA's Stand Against Racism Campaign, Embrace Yourself Foundation as well as a panelist for race relations and activism/advocacy.
She has worked with Lebron James Spring Hill Company and CNN Films documentary, "Dreamland: The Rise and Fall of Black Wall Street." Kristi has appeared on ABC's Soul of A Nation, The Who We Are Project: A Chronicle of Racism in America and was recently selected as a WayFinder with National Geographic. It is her goal to stand with her Ancestors in order to leave this world better than she found it.


Sight test sees Specsavers Milton Keynes employee receive shock diagnosis
A mum of four is encouraging others to have regular sight checks after a career change led to the shock diagnosis of the sight-threatening eye condition, glaucoma.
Sharon Margery, who joined Specsavers in Milton Keynes five months ago as a clinical assistant, volunteered to act as a patient during staff training.
The 44-year-old, who had not had a sight test for 10 years, had been prescribed migraine medication by her GP. She says: 'For about three years I thought I'd been suffering from migraines and after I visited my GP I just accepted that headaches were something I'd have to deal with.
'It wasn't until I volunteered at a work training session that I found out I couldn't have been more wrong. During the training we were required to sit at various stations in store to be tested by students who were being assessed on the skills required to test glaucoma.
'After the findings at the training evening showed the drainage canals in my eyes were quite narrow, my boss said it would be a good idea to have my eyes tested fully. A couple of days later I was booked in with my colleague Natasha. I thought I was there for a routine eye test, but she confirmed there was a build-up of pressure in my right eye, higher than it should be. She referred me to Milton Keynes Hospital where I had repeat tests and was diagnosed with glaucoma.'
Natasha Dodhia-Shah, senior optometrist at Specsavers Milton Keynes, says: 'Staff in store have been undertaking professional development training to allow us to offer more optical services to patients. During the training Sharon was examined using a slit lamp to look at the eye's drainage system to analyse how easy it is for fluid to drain from the eye.
'During the test we use a method called the Van Herick technique which involves shining a light beam into the eye to look at the space between the cornea and iris. This allows us to determine if the drain is narrow or wide, and therefore whether fluid can pass through easily. Sharon was on the narrow end of the scale, which means the patient is at a greater risk of developing high pressure. In Sharon's case the pressure in her right eye had increased.'
Sharon, who is back at work, adds: 'Everything happened so quickly. I had laser eye surgery in hospital to create a little hole in my eye to allow the fluid to pass through more easily, and since then I've only had a couple of headaches so it's made a massive improvement.
'I can't believe that there were barely any symptoms and I'm so lucky that I changed jobs otherwise I probably still wouldn't have realised that anything was wrong with me today. It's made me realise just how important regular eye examinations are, and I hate to think what could have happened if I hadn't had a test.'
Natasha, who encourages everyone to have an eye test every two years, says: 'Sharon was very lucky. If this had been left untreated it could have caused an acute attacked which can result in a sudden loss of vision which may be irreversible.'
Specsavers has been working with the International Glaucoma Association (IGA) to raise awareness of the condition - the leading cause of irreversible blindness globally. A current training programme is underway to upskill its optometrists, reinforcing their skills in detecting glaucoma and monitoring the signs of its progression.
Massive music festival for Leah Croucher's birthday in Milton Keynes


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Secrets and Lies by Sola Grey
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Getting Up Can HURT.
by Sola Grey
It hurt far too much to care. I sat at the round table, my elbows folded neatly on the glass and my back ramrod straight. I looked at the lawyer, barely grasping what he had to say.
"Miss Leilani, you are the sole heir of your mother's estate. When you turn seventeen, all her earthly possessions will be passed on to you. Now, even though she did not live ostentatiously, Emily Leilani was not a woman who lacked wealth." His sharp brown eyes roamed down his notes. "You will inherit about fifty thousand galleons, and a large manor house in Cheshire County as well as a smaller dwelling in Salem, Massachusetts. The total sum of these items is estimated to value at one hundred and fifty thousand galleons. While that may not sound flashy, it comes out to a good amount of money, enough for you to live on interest for the time being, although you'd be surprised at how quickly the amount dwindles with your higher schooling costs."
Normally, my eyes would have widened at the hefty amounts of money before me. Normally, I would have been surprised. Normally, I might even have decided to go on a shopping trip.
But this wasn't "normally," so instead I simply stared at him expressionlessly like he'd told me he'd give me a piece of licorice if I was a good little girl.
He wasn't discomforted by my lack of response in the least and coughed into an embroidered silk handkerchief. "Until you become of age, however, your mother has appointed a guardian for you, who will give you an allowance out of his own savings. You are to visit him this weekend, having been given special allowances by the school in light of the circumstances. Your guardian wishes to know you better, so he requests your presence every non-Hogsmeade weekend from here forth until Christmas. He sends his regards in this letter."
From the pocket of his neatly tailored, obviously expensive robes, Mr. Whatever-His-Name-Was-Utterly-Stereotypical-Lawyer handed me a heavy envelope made of creamy paper that just about screamed old money. I didn't even look at it before stuffing it into my fake Prada purse.
The man stared at me.
It was about a minute before I understood he was waiting for me to say something.
"Is there anything else I need to know?" I asked dispassionately. I was inwardly amazed that my voice box still worked.
"No, that'll be all. Good day, Miss Leilani," he said formally before getting up and giving me a brief nod as he left, slowly and deliberately left the room. I watched in silence. I had no more tears to cry.
I trudged back to the Great Hall. It was alive and buzzing with excitement, as everyone whooped and yelled and hollered over the whole 'Champions' nonsense. Honestly. It wasn't even until tomorrow. Besides, the whole Tournament was just some stupid gladiator style fighting thing for the students and media to partake in.
"What happened?" Delilah, Jen, and Yelena chorused.
"I – "
"Trouble in paradise, loser?" sneered Sabrina Taylor, tossing her long blonde hair over her shoulder. "Gotten in trouble? Eating a last feast?"
At that, something in me snapped. I'd taken her insults for almost a month, let her belittle me and gossip about me and steal from me. It was enough. I had had enough.
"Fuck off, Taylor," I snarled, my fingers spreading into claws underneath the table. If she didn't leave...
She gaped at me for a moment, then evidently decided it wasn't worth getting into a fight with me at the moment and retreated. Delilah raised her eyebrows at me, looking surprised. I sank down further into my chair.
"That bad?"
I didn't respond. Yelena looked really concerned, scooting in closer. "What did McGonagall say?"
"My mother was murdered," I said dully, and my friends were stunned into silence.
Delilah's POV
Damn it, but Lizzi was a mess.
It'd been nearly a week, and she was still either catatonic or nearly catatonic. Her eyes had lost their characteristic luster, she looked pallid and crappy, and her hair was greasy. Her clothes were all rumpled, and she didn't seem to care about anything anymore. Her spellwork was terrible, and her grades were slipping, but she maintained that it didn't matter.
Something had to be done, we all agreed, me, Jen, and Yelena. It was understandable, after such a terrible thing, yet she was our friend. We had to help her move on.
It was time for drastic measures.
Albus's POV
The minute I saw Delilah, I knew something was wrong.
First of all, we hadn't spoken in about six years, since that awful incident at the end of first year. Second of all, we'd had a mutual dislike going on since third year, when I'd...well, I'm not going to go into that. And finally, after Jen and I had our spat, she'd downright hated me. So it wasn't likely that she was going to talk to me about the weather.
She looked at me hesitantly and tucked her hair behind her ear in a nervous gesture. "Potter..."
"Patil," I said, careful to be neither cold or friendly. She nodded, reassured by my lack of antagonism.
"Potter, we need your help," she said, a faint edge of desperation in her voice. "Lizzi's been practically dead for the last week."
I frowned, my heart doing a strange dance. Alyssa had been avoiding me ever since that night. She'd barely spoken two words to me.
I shouldn't have cared, but I did. A strange kind of anger, fueled by something akin to raw despair, rushed through me yet again: How could she forget everything? How could she forget...us?
It was amazing, the way his face softened and the way his eyes took on a sort of deep glow the minute he heard Lizzi's name. The sharp planes of his cheekbones and his strong jaw blurred a little, and he seemed to be all warm and fuzzy tenderness. I stared at him. He was head over heels for her, I realized. That in itself was odd, since they barely knew each other, but this was Albus Potter. Dark, handsome, brooding, mysterious Albus Potter, whom nothing could touch and nothing could wound. I'd learned that lesson the hard way.
"She's really upset," I said in a voice soft enough to be a whisper. "Her – well, I wouldn't tell you this, except I don't know what to do – mother died. I think someone murdered her." My voice broke slightly, faltering for my poor friend. "I don't know what to do."
And I didn't. Lizzi was our rock, the one we leaned on, the dependable one who reassured us and stood up for us every time. Jen, Yelena and I had never been so close until she showed up. If she left, our friendship would be torn into pieces.
Albus watched me, looking almost concerned. His aloofness was almost gone. "Why me?"
"Because..." I hesitated, knowing that this part would make him angry. He'd always seen through deception with ease. "Because you're the only who's able to get a rise out of her – "
"Or might be willing to?" he bit back, suddenly sarcastic, his face cold again. "You want me to act as her punchbag for a day or two while she vents, and she'll probably end up hating me, but it doesn't matter if it saves your relationship. Have I got it right?"
His sharp, acute words ripped through my insides. They passed through my armor because I knew, deep down, that he was right. He was spot on. Like always.
"Somewhat," I admitted haplessly. He snorted, a sound both derisive and belittling.
"You expect me to agree to that?"
"No," I said, my heart falling as I prepared to slink away in defeat. "No."
But just as I was about to turn around, he place a firm, reassuring hand on my shoulder, and I looked up to find a grim and somber and hopeful, all at the same time, expression on his face.
"I'll do it."
"There she is," I said, leading him to the girls' dormitory in Ravenclaw tower. It was in the middle of the day, meaning most people were in their classes. I was skipping Herbology, but it was well worth it to be able to slip a Gryffindor – and not just a Gryffindor, but the Gryffindor – into the common room and beyond.
Alyssa was curled up in bed, reading through some enormous tome that looked it weighed at least twenty pounds and smelled worse than my little brother's gym socks. Her eyes barely flickered from the book.
"Hey, Delilah," she said in a flat, tired kind of way, not seeming to notice Potter. "'Sup?"
Potter took a sharp intake of breath behind me, but I didn't look at him. I shrugged, and said simply, "Someone's here to see you."
Alyssa's POV
"Albus?" I asked in horrified surprise, a surprisingly potent electric shock arcing through my body. Magical Maladies dropped onto my lap with a loud thud, hitting my thighs hard enough to make me sore for the next two or three days. "What are you doing here?"
"Thanks for sounding happy to see me," he said dryly. It was strange. He had to have heard by now, from Delilah or someone, or he wouldn't be here, but there wasn't a trace of pity or sympathy in his eyes. He nodded at Delilah, who slightly unwillingly scurried off. I knew that she'd probably be listening anyways.
"I'm sorry about that," I said, imitating his dry tone. "I just thought that when the most important person in your life dies, you sorta get a little down."
"Really, now," he said, taking in my unkempt appearance with calm disapproval. God, he was beginning to annoy me, with his nonchalance. He settled against the wall, seemingly relaxed. I, on the other hand, was sitting straight up for the first time in days.
"What do you want, Potter?"
He lounged backgrounds, unruffled by my demand. "Just wanted to know why you were wasting your life away in bed," he said, a slight note of contempt dripping into his voice.
"Shut up," I said quietly. My dead heart began to move a millimeter, and I felt some color flush into my cheeks.
"Why should I? You're not the boss of me, Leilani." His preschool level choice of words, ingeniously reiterating what I had said to him only days ago, would have made me laugh if I wasn't so angry. He was treating me and my mourning as if it was unjustified! A strange feeling grew within me, and cracks formed in the glass wall that was protecting me from the world. I shifted, feeling vulnerable and prone to attack.
"Listen," I snarled, "you don't have any idea what I've been through – "
He jerked suddenly, and the first trace of true emotion shone through his sea green eyes. He moved abruptly, closing in with predatory grace, and I knew I'd said something wrong.
"Don't I?" he hissed, only inches away from my face.
"If you did, you would understand!" I screamed, pushing him away from me, beating against his chest. He stumbled backwards only a step before regaining his balance. I wasn't a weight lifter, but I wasn't exactly weak either, so a small part of me found time to admire his coordination.
"I understand that your mother wouldn't want you to waste your entire life like this."
It was a direct blow, a knife through my heart, and I couldn't breathe. I gasped for air, floundering, my boundaries ripped away. No, she wouldn't have wanted this. He was right. And I despised him for it, for forcibly pulling me out of self misery, for making me get up and do something.
"I hate you," I said softly, cold rage finding its way into my tone. But he wasn't moved by my harsh words in the least, and that hurt me more.
"Get dressed," he said emotionlessly, stone hard against my flurry of insults as I yelled at him about what a bastard he was. "The Inter-Gala Event's in ten minutes, and you should be there."
"I won't go," I said, standing up in childish defiance. I wobbled a little, which ruined the dramatic effect. "I WON'T FUCKING GO!"
He stared at me, and I got the strange idea he was disappointed, and even more oddly, shame gathered at the pit of my stomach. I stomped off to grab another dress I'd bought – I'd bought three at Lavender Brown's that time.
"Wow," I said softly to Potter, watching Lizzi go into her closet.
He didn't say anything. When I looked at him, what I saw stopped me in my tracks.
His face was pale, and his eyes were unfathomable. His eyes were tight and his jaw hard, like he was suffering from stress of some sort. Hard and closed off.
And I felt bad. Really, really bad, for using him as a tool, a hammer to get Lizzi to wake up, for making him look like he was burning in hell or something like that. So bad, that, for the first time in six years, I reached out and hugged him in thanks.
He stiffened slightly, and an expression of complete disbelief was etched across his handsome face before he slowly lifted his arms and awkwardly wrapped them around me.
"Thanks," I whispered in his ear.
And I heard something at the corner of the room drop with a smattering sound, the sound of glass smashing.
What. The. Hell.
Albus and Delilah were wrapped in a tight embrace, her mouth near his ear, whispering a secret. Albus's mouth was turned up at the corners, a small smile stretching across a strangely peaceful face.
I stared at them, unable to comprehend what I was seeing. They – they –
C'mon, Alyssa, I told myself bitterly, it isn't as if they were doing anything wrong. I'd never even told Delilah I felt anything at all for Albus. And as for the guy, I'd broken up with him. So technically, they could take their snog fest as far as they wanted.
But I didn't give a damn about technicalities.
"What the hell are you doing?" I yelled, and the scene exploded into action. Albus jerked away from Delilah and vice versa, and I just looked accusingly at both of them. Unjustified, of course, but who cared?
"Nothing," Delilah said hastily, looking at me like she was worried for my sanity or something. Okay, so I might have gone a little bit off the deep end. Not that much. I hope.
"Hold up here," I shouted, placing my open hand in front of their nearly joined faces. Remember, Alyssa, Delilah doesn't know about you and that filthy toerag Potter or anything else about this mess. "Aren't you supposed to hate him – it – or something?"
"Well," Delilah hedged, "sort of..."
I stuck my hands on my hips, refusing to spare another glance at Albus. Fuck him, as far as I was concerned. He'd goddamned told me my mum's death didn't matter! My fingers curled into a fist, and my untrimmed and razor sharp nails dug into my skin. It was all I could do not to shove him out the frickin' window and/or slash his throat.
"Explain," I said, quietly, my voice under control now. "And you – " I couldn't bring myself to say his name. "You – just go. Get out of my sight."
"Lizzi – " Delilah began to protest, but he was already gone.
I had no idea Alyssa could be such a bitch before. Not that her bitching was unjustified, of course. Her self control was actually rather admirable: if I were her and some guy that I couldn't stand had said that to me after my mum died, I would have cast the Avada Kedavra on him right then and there. Well, that after the Cruciatus Curse.
As it was, she was so mad she was literally shaking. And there was that little part that made me nervous...she was glowing.
My friend was lighting up like a blue lava lamp.
Scorpius's POV
"Shut up, Malfoy, it's not funny," snaps Rose, falling onto a sofa. "I've never seen Uncle Harry so concerned in my life."
She threw a pillow at me. Ouch. That girl should've been Chaser for the house team, because the feather-light missile was hurled with such force that I felt like I was struck by a load of bricks.
"The murder, you dolt!" she yelled.
I gaped at her, my previous snarks and irritation forgotten.
"What?" I asked intelligently.
"What?" I said, not exactly pleasantly. "Did I just sprout horns or something?"
Delilah's face strongly resembled a donut, her mouth was that wide. "Uh...uh..."
"And?" I prompted her, annoyance coursing through me. Just say it, already! I was in a pretty nasty mood after seeing her kiss Al – Potter, and she was only adding fuel to the inferno. Not that I could say anything like that to her. And I was not jealous. Duh. I mean, if I was allowed to rip him up into a million tiny pieces, that would be the best present ever. Energy rushed in my bloodstream, and I felt as if I was floating –
"Lizzi!" shouted Delilah, and I suddenly noticed that my feet were no longer on the floor.
"Shit," I swore angrily as I dropped like a boulder. This didn't bode well for me, weight-wise.
"You stopped," she said, studying me with a distant expression. I frowned at her.
"Stopped what?"
"Stopped glowing," she elaborated.
"Glowing?"
"Yeah." A deep crease appeared between my friend's eyebrows. "You mean you didn't notice?"
"Nope," I said lightly, even though it was far from what I was feeling. "I felt really, well, energized, though, like way more perky."
"That's funny," said Delilah, but she didn't say anything more, and neither did I.
Author's Note:
Haha! :) Finally, a snippet from Al's POV! So, yeah. I've (at last) decided the direction the plot's going to go from here, and it's a little overwhelming...but I'm 90% sure I can pull it off.
I just went back and read through the whole thing and noticed a few minor inconsistensies, so I'll get those fixed ASAP too.
As always, thanks to my wonderful reviewers and favoriters!
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Mr Stuart Kennedy > Matheson LLP > Dublin, Ireland > Lawyer Profile
Matheson LLP Offices
Select office London Cork Dublin New York Palo Alto San Francisco
Matheson LLP
70 SIR JOHN ROGERSON'S QUAY
Mr Stuart Kennedy
+353 1 232 2853 stuart.kennedy@matheson.com
Partner in Asset Finance Group
Stuart is a partner in the Finance and Capital Markets Department and advises on all aspects of aviation, shipping, rail and other asset financing, trading and leasing matters on a daily basis. Stuart has gained considerable experience in advising on the structuring of aircraft purchase, sale, financing and leasing transactions and acts for a number of aircraft lessors, financiers and airlines in leveraged, syndicated and export credit agency backed financing facilities. Stuart also has considerable experience in advising on structured finance, ABS (asset-backed securities) and repackaging transactions relating to all such asset classes including the establishment of special purpose companies funded by public and private issuances.
Stuart also regularly advises Irish airlines and leasing companies on airline licencing and registration issues with the Irish Aviation Authority and Commission for Aviation Regulation in addition to all aspects of the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol.
Stuart regularly presents to aircraft and aircraft engine lessors on all aspects of the Cape Town Convention and Aircraft Protocol and to company directors on their duties and responsibilities under Irish law.
Stuart is also a lecturer and tutor on the Law Society of Ireland's Diploma in Aviation Leasing and Finance.
University of Limerick, Bachelor of Arts in Law and Accounting
Solicitor, Ireland
Solicitor, England and Wales (not practising)
Ireland > Transport
(Next Generation Partners)
Stuart Kennedy – Matheson LLP
has a long track record in the aviation sector, acting for both aircraft lessors and airlines in transactions. The practice has recently been heavily engaged in assisting these clients with their response to the Covid-19 pandemic through financings and refinancings, and it has also handled major restructurings and schemes of arrangement involving companies in this sector. Elsewhere, the practice advises on procurement and project development in the road and rail sectors. Rory McPhillips, Stuart Kennedy, Yvonne McWeeney and Stephen Gardiner, who was promoted to partner in January 2021, are the key figures in aviation and asset finance matters, while Garret Farrelly heads the firm's projects and PPP team.
has a rounded aviation finance practice with extensive experience in asset backed securitisations and repackagings. The core group is complemented by aviation regulatory specialists and specialised aviation tax expertise. During 2020 and 2021, the firm landed a high market share of big-ticket insolvency and restructuring engagements in the Irish aviation sector; it advised Norwegian Air Shuttle, Norwegian Air International, Arctic Aviation Assets and associated group companies on the appointment of an examiner to the NAS Group. The firm is also at the forefront of aviation financings led by export credit agencies (ECAs). Rory McPhillips and Stuart Kennedy co-head the aviation finance and transportation group. Stephen Gardiner handles a broad portfolio of work and has recently been kept busy advising new entrants to the Irish market on corporate and owner trustee services. Yvonne McWeeney is noted for her experience advising on the Cape Town Convention particularly in relation to aircraft protocol.
Next Generation Partners - Ireland > Asset finance
Next Generation Partners - Ireland > Transport
Transport - Ireland