Hong Kong: HK to join int'l tax reform The Government today said Hong Kong, as an international financial and commercial centre, will actively participate in and implement the framework for international tax reform on base erosion and profit shifting (BEPS) and its implementation plan. The framework, commonly known as BEPS 2.0, and its implementation plan were announced by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation & Development yesterday. This BEPS 2.0 package consists of two parts. The first part targets large multinational enterprise (MNE) groups with global turnover above 20 billion euros and profitability above 10%, and distributes the taxing rights in respect of a certain portion of their residual profit to the market jurisdictions. The second is the implementation of a global minimum effective tax rate, which targets large MNE groups with global turnover above 750 million euros. If the effective tax rate of an MNE group in a jurisdiction is below 15%, its parent or subsidiary companies will be required to pay top-up tax in respect of the shortfall in the jurisdictions they are located. A total of 136 jurisdictions around the world, including Hong Kong, have indicated acceptance of the package so far. The organisation aims to complete the drafting of the BEPS 2.0 model rules by the end of this year to early next year so that participating jurisdictions can roll out their domestic legislative exercises in 2022 and implement the package from 2023. The Government noted that the BEPS 2.0 package targets primarily large MNE groups which meet the specified conditions and will not affect small and medium-sized enterprises in Hong Kong. It also pointed out that the standard rate of Hong Kong's profits tax at 16.5% is competitive internationally and the city's simple and transparent tax regime is well received by investors. Upon the package's implementation, the effective tax rates of relevant large MNE groups in each jurisdiction will have to be at least 15%. This will reduce the effectiveness for the jurisdictions to introduce tax exemption or extremely low preferential tax rate as a means to increase their competitiveness in future. The Government therefore believes that Hong Kong will be able to reinforce its competitive advantages under a more level playing field in terms of taxation. The Advisory Panel on BEPS 2.0 established by the Government will submit recommendations on how Hong Kong should comply with the requirements after the organisation finalises the model rules. The Government said it will carefully study the panel's recommendations, and undertake the domestic legislative exercise after consulting stakeholders to implement the tax measures under BEPS 2.0 based on the finalised model rules. It will also maintain the strengths of Hong Kong's tax system and endeavour to minimise the compliance burden of the large MNE groups. This story has been published on: 2021-10-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. RTHK: British climate activists urge royals to act Environmental campaigners urged Britain's Queen Elizabeth and other royals on Saturday to commit to rewilding their vast estates from planting more trees to going organic as Scotland prepares to host the COP26 global climate conference. Chris Packham, a well-known conservationist and broadcaster, along with several hundred schoolchildren and a jazz band marched through central London to Buckingham Palace to deliver a petition signed by 100,000 people. "We are very politely ... asking them to change their (estate management) practices and if they could announce that before COP it would send out a brilliant message across the world," Packham told Sky News. "This is not the time for talking about doing things any more, this is the time to actually do them, so whilst they are saying the right things ... what better place to do the right thing than in your very own, very large, back yard." Rewilding is a conservation effort aimed at restoring natural processes and wilderness areas, and Packham said a transition on royal estates would involve using only organic materials, more tree planting and a reduction in deer numbers to allow regeneration. He added that practices like grouse shooting in which land is burned and drained and lead shot is used "are not compatible with some of the things that the royal family are saying about their genuine concerns when it comes to the environment and the bio-diversity crisis". The Royal Estates said it has a long history of conservation and biodiversity and was constantly looking for ways to make further improvements. The Queen, her son Prince Charles and his wife Camilla, and the heir's eldest son Prince William and wife Kate will attend the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP26) taking place in Glasgow in November, organisers said on Friday. World leaders are due to meet at the summit to try to flesh out commitments made in Paris in 2015 aimed at stabilising the planet's climate and to speed up action to limit climate change. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2021-10-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. RTHK: Thousands protest in Rome over Covid passes Italian police on Saturday used water cannon to push back hundreds of people demonstrating in Rome against coronavirus vaccination, seeking to keep them from the prime minister's office. Around 10,000 people took to the streets in the heart of the Italian capital to protest against the Green Pass, a digital or paper certificate showing someone has received at least one dose of the vaccine, tested negative for Covid-19 or recently recovered from the virus, local media reported. A few hundred of the demonstrators headed towards the prime minister's office, they said. Police lined up in riot gear to contain the protesters, who are backed by extreme far-right groups, Italian media said. The protests come just days before the law for Green Pass enters into force, making it mandatory for all workers, in the latest effort by Prime Minister Mario Draghi's broad coalition to persuade citizens to get inoculated. Italy has the second-highest Covid-19 death toll in Europe after Britain, with more than 130,000 people dying of the disease since the pandemic surfaced in early 2020. Under the new law, any worker who fails to present a valid health certificate will be suspended with no pay, but they cannot be sacked. Some 80 percent of all Italians over the age of 12 are now fully vaccinated and the vast majority of people seem to back the inoculation drive and the use of the Green Pass. (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2021-10-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. RTHK: Austrian leader Kurz quits over graft scandal Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Saturday he is stepping down after being placed under investigation on suspicion of corruption offences, but he plans to stay on as the leader of his party and its top lawmaker in parliament. Kurz denies wrongdoing and had said he was willing to keep governing with his coalition partner, the Greens. But the left-wing party has said the investigation makes Kurz unfit to serve chancellor and called on his party to name a successor who was "beyond reproach". The Greens began talks on Friday with Austria's three opposition parties, which have all demanded that Kurz resign and plan to submit one or more no-confidence motions against him at a special session of parliament on Tuesday. For a motion to pass, the Greens must support it. "I would therefore like to make way in order to end the stalemate, to prevent chaos and to ensure stability," Kurz said in a statement to the media. He added that he planned to stay on as party leader and to take over as the leader of its lawmakers in parliament. As party leader, he was proposing Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg to succeed him as chancellor, he said. The Greens have yet to say whether they would accept Schallenberg. Austrian media reports before Kurz's announcement had said he would step down only temporarily. While Kurz did not say that he did say he would mount a legal defence: "Above all ... I will of course use the opportunity to refute and disprove the accusations that have been made against me." (Reuters) This story has been published on: 2021-10-09. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Government okays resumption of domestic air routes The government has agreed with the Ministry of Transports proposal to resume domestic air routes on a trial basis, starting from October 10. Planes will now take off on domestic routes as of October 10 after a hiatus caused by COVID-19. The move is necessary as it will help localities gradually restore economic development and bring peoples lives back to normal, Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh told an online meeting with relevant ministries and localities on October 8. However, he noted easing air travel restrictions will pose a potential risk of virus infection that directly affects local socio-economic development and peoples health. He therefore suggested that the gradual resumption of domestic air routes should be done in a careful manner to ensure safety and avoid the spread of the virus through strict control of passengers at airports, in the air and when they return to their localities upon arrival. In addition, he said localities must keep a close watch on passengers movement and promptly isolate F0 cases (if any) in order to nip in a bud a possible outbreak of the virus in the community. The Deputy Prime Minister asked the Ministry of Transport to work alongside the Ministry of health, Ministry of Public Security, Ministry of National Defence and localities to introduce temporary regulations and carry out the pilot scheme. The Vietnam Aviation Business Association (VABA) earlier called on cities and provinces to facilitate the operation of regular domestic flights. According to VABA, the high vaccination rate in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City and other localities will help reduce the probability of infection and the risk of death. In addition, all passengers are required to undergo a quick test for the SARS-CoV-2 virus before boarding the plane. They must also turn on the COVID-19 tracking app (PC COVID) and not go to a concentrated isolation facility as previously required at the destination. VABA reports that revenue of airlines has decreased to less than 10% compared to the pre-pandemic period. The prolonged coronavirus has caused the aviation industry to lose more than VND500 billion a day in revenue, and the tourism industry to lose nearly VND2,000 billion a day. To date, more than 10 localities that house airports have agreed to resume domestic air routes. Ministry of Foreign Affairs gives remarks on Chinese film about border conflict with Vietnam At a press conference held by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Vietnam on Thursday, spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang addressed the Chinese film "Wang Bais Army", a film about the border conflict between the two nations in the 1980s. Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Le Thi Thu Hang. Photo baochinhphu.vn Spokesperson Hang said that Vietnamese authorities have taken note of the controversial production. Vietnams consistent policy on historical issues is to put aside the past, look into the future, and look at things in a correct and objective way, Hang said. She also said Vietnam wants the two countries to continue "practical activities to enhance understanding between people, contributing to the friendship, cooperation and development among the countries of the world. We ask the Chinese side to strictly implement the common perception of the two countries senior leaders on promoting friendly and objective propaganda, and consolidating social relations that are favourable for the development of relations between the two countries, she said. Catalonia votes in regional elections after independence crisis Polling stations across Catalonia have opened following a months-long political crisis triggered by a referendum for independence from Spain. Thursday's early regional elections, announced by Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy's conservative government at the end of October, were one of several measures taken by Madrid after the Catalan parliament declared independence from Spain. GALLERY Some 5.5 million Catalans are eligible to vote, with observers expecting an unusually high voter turnout of more than 80 per cent. Madrid (dpa) - Voter surveys point to a neck-and-neck race between Catalan separatist parties and the so-called constitutional camps as Spain waits to see whether pro-independence parties can again win a majority of parliamentary seats and build a coalition government.Some 5.5 million Catalans are eligible to vote, with observers expecting an unusually high voter turnout of more than 80 per cent.Madrid bumped up security in the region in anticipation of violence, with local media reporting that the Spanish Interior Ministry deployed some 15,000 police officers to patrol during voting hours.Catalonia, a wealthy region in Spains north-east with a culture and language distinct from the rest of the country, was until recently led by the government of Carles Puigdemont, who held the independence referendum on October 1 and initiated a process of secession from Spain.The move created a constitutional crisis, leading Rajoys conservative government in Madrid to suspend the Barcelona government, place it under Madrids control and call for new regional elections at the end of October. Catalonias regular legislative period would have lasted until 2019.Puigdemont and four of his ministers absconded to Brussels, while several other members of his administration were placed under arrest. Rio de Janeiro (dpa) - Russia has denied that one of its diplomats shot dead a would-be robber in Rio de Janeiro, a Russian state-owned news agency said Friday. Brazilian state news agency Agencia Brasil had earlier reported that the Russian vice consul in Rio de Janeiro killed a man who was attempting to rob him and his family, citing Brazils civil police. According to that report, the vice consul was travelling with his wife and son in a car on Avenida das Americas in the suburb of Barra when a man on a motorbike tried to rob him. But Russias general consul in Rio de Janeiro denied the Brazilian media reports, calling them "not true," TASS reported. "All Russian diplomats and personnel of Russian foreign institutions located in Rio de Janeiro are safe and sound and are of no relation to the aforesaid incident," Vladimir Tokmakov told TASS. "The man who was involved in the incident could have presented himself as a general consulate employee," he said. The incident occurred around 8 kilometres from the Olympic Park, where most Olympic events are due to be held. Moscow (dpa) - Russias Sport Ministry vowed to comply fully with the World Anti-Doping Agencys investigation into alleged widespread abuse of performance-enhancing drugs by Russian athletes, the Interfax news agency reported Wednesday. The ministry said it supports the WADAs investigation, but doping allegations should be made against individual athletes, not the country in general, according to the report. "Clean athletes who have spent years training honestly and observing all the rules and regulations, including against doping, should not lose their right to participate in competitions," the ministry was quoted as saying. Russia was suspended from international competition in November after a damning report on doping by the WADA. Russia Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko, writing this week in Britains Sunday Times, said doping was a "global problem" and a ban on Russia for the Olympic Games in Rio in August would punish clean athletes. "We do not deny having a problem in Russia, and we are doing everything possible at state level to eradicate doping, including punishing athletes and coaches found to have violated anti-doping rules," Mutko wrote. On Tuesday, The New York Times reported that US federal authorities were investigating allegations of state-led doping by top Russian athletes, on grounds of fraud and conspiracy. The US investigation is reportedly being conducted by the office of the US attorney for New Yorks Eastern District, the same prosecutors who last year indicted top officials from football governing body FIFA on corruption charges. Among the dozens of athletes, coaches and officials targeted in the US doping probe is Grigory Rodchenkov, former chief of Russias anti-doping laboratory, according to the newspaper. In a recently published interview, he told the Times that Moscow for years had ordered him to assist Russian athletes in evading bans on the use of performance-enhancing drugs. The International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Tuesday 31 athletes have tested positive for doping in retesting of 2008 Beijing Games samples. Disciplinary proceedings against the unidentified athletes from 12 countries and six sports have been opened, the IOC said. China establishes a protected areas system with national parks as its mainstay People's Daily Online) 17:34, October 08, 2021 China has nearly 10,000 natural protected areas that includes national parks, nature reserves and natural parks, accounting for 18 percent of the countrys total land territory. Of the protected areas, 474 are under state-level protection. A Tibetan antelope is seen at the source of the Yellow River section of the Sanjiangyuan National Park in Golog Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of northwest China's Qinghai Province, May 25, 2021. (Xinhua/Zhang Long) Under the framework of the National Forestry and Grassland Administration (National Park Administration) established in 2018, various localities across the country have rolled out efforts to push for the classified management of protected natural areas. China categorizes protected natural areas into three types -- national parks, nature reserves and natural parks, based on the ecological value of the respective areas and the level of protection effort. Last June, the country issued a guideline on the conservation of key ecosystems along with major restoration projects, taking various natural resources as the overall target for restoration efforts, including mountains, forests, grasslands, water resources, sand and ice ecosystems, while initiating plans to carry out 47 key restoration tasks. National parks represent the most important parts of Chinas natural systems. The Sanjiangyuan National Park in northwest Chinas Qinghai Province, inaugurated in December 2015, is the countrys first national park. At present, the country has 10 pilot national parks that stretch across 12 provinces, with a total area exceeding 220,000 square km. The pilot national parks have been continually exploring effective protection methods since they started operations. In the past, overlapping jurisdictions and a shortage of funds generated major difficulties for many protected natural areas. The only effective approach to solve these problems was to enhance top-level design and reform the protection systems, said He Wancheng, a former director of the administration bureau of the Sanjiangyuan National Park. The bureau, established in 2016, and with 18 separate protection stations, has basically resolved the challenges associated with overlapping jurisdictions and duties. Over the past several years since the implementation of the national park program, the country has earmarked 6.26 billion yuan to fund national park restoration projects, patrolling and monitoring activities and fire prevention and control in forests and grasslands. The countrys financial ministry also allocated funds to aid forest, grassland, and wetland restoration projects. As a result of these efforts, the populations of wild animals inhabiting these protected natural areas have been increasing. Statistics indicate that the well-planned protected areas system has brought 90 percent of terrestrial ecosystem types and 71 percent of key state-protected wildlife species under effective protection. At the Sanjiangyuan National Park, the populations of Tibetan antelopes, Tibetan gazelles, and Tibetan wild donkeys have reached 70,000, 60,000 and 36,000, respectively. At the national park in northeast China home to the endangered Amur tiger, also called the Siberian tiger, along with the Amur Leopard (panthera pardus orientalis), 10 Siberian tiger cubs and seven Amur Leopard cubs were spotted in 2020. The recovering populations of these endangered species reflects how effective the pilot national parks have been after implementing unified management and systemic restoration efforts. At the national park in south Chinas Hainan province, the local forestry and grassland bureau, together with research institutes, installed more than 300 infrared cameras to monitor the activities of Hainan gibbons, one of the worlds rarest primates, on a real-time basis. By engaging in environmental protection, local residents have likewise benefited from the institution of an ecological compensation mechanism. By taking advantage of its rich forestry resources, Mount Dabieshan National Park in central Chinas Henan province has developed more than 10 tourism products, with the industry creating jobs for more than 6,000 people and lifting 1,500 impoverished people out of poverty. A park area situated inside the Sanjiangyuan National Park has launched experiential activities and environmental protection-related business activities, with 60 to 70 percent of monthly earnings being returned back to the cooperatives, farmers and herders involved in the delivery of such activities. (Web editor: Hongyu, Bianji) Xi talks with Japanese PM over phone Xinhua) 07:58, October 09, 2021 Fumio Kishida poses for a photo at the Liberal Democratic Party (LDP) headquarters following his election as Party President in Tokyo, Japan on Sept. 29, 2021. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday held a phone conversation with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida. Noting that China and Japan are close neighbors, Xi, citing an ancient Chinese saying, stressed that good neighborliness is a treasure of a country. To maintain and develop friendly and cooperative relations between China and Japan is in line with the fundamental interests of both countries and their people, and also conducive to Asian and even global peace, stability and prosperity, he added. At present, the China-Japan relationship faces both opportunities and challenges, Xi said, adding that China appreciates the importance the new Japanese government attaches to maintaining high-level communication between the two countries. China, he said, stands ready to work with Japan to enhance dialogue and cooperation, and promote the building of a China-Japan relationship that meets the requirements of the new era in the spirit of taking history as a mirror and opening up the future. As the next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic ties, China hopes that the two sides will revisit their original aspirations and meet each other halfway to jointly embrace this significant historical juncture and open up new prospects for the development of bilateral relations, Xi said. Photo taken on Feb. 26, 2021 shows the World Peace Bell at Kofukuji Temple in Nagasaki, Japan. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) Xi pointed out that China and Japan should earnestly learn from both the positive and the negative experience in bilateral relations, strictly observe the principles set out in the four political documents between them, and effectively implement the political consensus that they are cooperative partners and not threats to each other. The two countries, he added, should properly handle major sensitive issues concerning history and Taiwan among others, properly manage their differences, and hold on to the right direction, so as to maintain the political foundation and overall situation of bilateral relations. They should also strengthen exchanges on state governance and coordination on economic policy, jointly safeguard a fair and open environment for trade and investment, and achieve a higher level of economic complementation and win-win cooperation, so as to bring more benefits to the people of both countries, Xi added. Calling on the two countries to practice true multilateralism, he suggested that China and Japan, on the basis of their respective fundamental interests and the common interests of mankind, carry forward the East Asian wisdom of seeking harmony without uniformity and working together, actively promote regional cooperation, coordinate their response to global challenges, and safeguard world peace, stability and development. Xi also congratulated Japan on successfully hosting the Tokyo Olympics, and added that China welcomes Japan to take an active part in the Beijing Winter Olympics in February next year. For his part, Kishida extended congratulations on China's National Day. Under the current international and regional circumstances, Japan-China relations are entering a new era, he noted. Japan, he added, is willing to work with China to draw important lessons from the history of bilateral relations, and take the 50th anniversary as an opportunity to make joint efforts in building a constructive and stable Japan-China relationship that meets the requirements of the new era. A tourist poses for photos in front of lanterns at China Town in Yokohama, Japan, Feb. 12, 2021. (Xinhua/Du Xiaoyi) The two sides should manage their differences through dialogue, he noted, adding that Japan is ready to work with China to continuously strengthen economic cooperation and people-to-people exchanges, and intensify communication and cooperation on important international and regional issues, such as COVID-19 response and climate change. Japan looks forward to the Beijing Winter Olympics taking place smoothly, he added. Both sides deem this conversation to be very timely and important, and they agree to continue to maintain interaction and communication through various means, so as to guide the development of bilateral relations in a right way. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) OECD announces major tax reform deal for multinationals Xinhua) 08:06, October 09, 2021 Coins of the euro are seen in Brussels, Belgium, Dec. 28, 2018. (Xinhua/Zheng Huansong) From 2023, a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15 percent will apply to companies with revenues above 750 million euros. PARIS, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- A major reform of the international tax system has been agreed, ensuring that multinational enterprises will be subject to a minimum 15 percent tax rate from 2023, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) announced on Friday. Some 136 countries and jurisdictions have agreed to the reform. From 2023, a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15 percent will apply to companies with revenues above 750 million euros (870 million U.S. dollars). It is estimated this will generate around 150 billion U.S. dollars annually in additional global tax revenues, the OECD explained. The deal should reallocate more than 125 billion U.S. dollars of profits from around 100 of the world's largest and most profitable multinational companies around the globe, ensuring that these firms pay a fair share of tax wherever they operate and generate profits. However, the OECD stressed that the agreement does not seek to eliminate tax competition, rather impose multilaterally agreed limitations on it. "Today's agreement will make our international tax arrangements fairer and work better," said OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. The deal is a "major victory for effective and balanced multilateralism," he added. "It is a far-reaching agreement which ensures our international tax system is fit for purpose in a digitalized and globalized world economy." The OECD has confirmed that its members are aiming to sign a multilateral convention in 2022 for the effective implementation of the new international corporate tax reform in 2023. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Lavrov says Russia ready to help ease Europe energy crisis Xinhua) 08:07, October 09, 2021 Gazprom file photo "Gazprom is continuing to completely fulfill all of its obligations, and even more," Lavrov said. MOSCOW, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Russia is willing to support Europe in overcoming the continent's current energy crisis, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday. "I would like to remind once again that (Russian gas industry giant) Gazprom is continuing to supply gas to Europe under long-term contracts," Lavrov said at an online meeting with representatives from the Association of European Businesses in Russia. "Gazprom is continuing to completely fulfill all of its obligations, and even more," he said. He believes that the European Commission and the United States are directly responsible for the current tensions between Russia and Europe over energy supplies. Lavrov said that the European Commission retroactively extended legal requirements for the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, causing it to operate at just 50-percent capacity. The same could happen with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that is about to be launched, he said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) US troops secret presence in Taiwan island no real threat, but could bring Chinas reunification closer Global Times) 08:26, October 09, 2021 Two Su-35 fighter jets and a H-6K bomber fly in formation on May 11, 2018. The People's Liberation Army (PLA) air force conducted patrol training over China's island of Taiwan.File photo:China Military Chinese Foreign Ministry vowed to take all necessary measures to safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity, and urged the US to fully recognize the high sensitivity of the Taiwan question, following US media reports that there were two dozen US troops deployed on the island of Taiwan, helping train local troops in secret. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Friday that the US should abide by the one-China principle and stop arms sales to Taiwan island and military contact with it so as not to seriously damage China-US relations and peace and stability across the Taiwan Straits. "The one-China principle is the political foundation of China-US relations ... In the communique on the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the US, the US clearly pledged to only maintain cultural, commercial and other unofficial ties with Taiwan," Zhao said. The Wall Street Journal, citing unnamed US officials, reported on Thursday that a US special operations group and a contingent of Marines have been secretly operating in Taiwan to conduct training with Taiwan troops for at least one year. Citing sources, Reuters also reported that a small group of US special operations forces have been rotating into Taiwan on a temporary basis to carry out training of local troops, predating the Biden administration. Without specifically commenting on the issue, Pentagon spokesman John Supple said the US defense relationship with the island of Taiwan "remains aligned" against "threat" from the Chinese mainland, following the US' commitment to the one-China policy during talks between top Chinese and US diplomats in Switzerland. Although the Pentagon showed a subtle attitude - neither confirming nor denying the reports - Chinese mainland experts said it could be true that US troops have been on the island of Taiwan and they believe there will likely be more military cooperation between the US and the secessionist authority of Taiwan, with a tendency to be "less secretive" in the future. Experts from the island of Taiwan said the reports are bound to increase danger across the Taiwan Straits and increase the antipathy of peace-loving people, as the secessionist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) gives its full cooperation to the US, which will use it as a pawn. Yuan Zheng, deputy director of the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday that sending troops to the island of Taiwan violates the US' commitment made when diplomatic relations with the Chinese mainland were established, as well as international law. The US has made a clear commitment to China on the Taiwan question, Zhao said. "President Joe Biden made it clear during his phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping that the US has no intention of changing the one-China policy." US Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro said on Wednesday that the US will continue to provide arms and technology for Taiwan to "defend itself." "It's our ultimate responsibility," he said. The WSJ, which represents conservative voices, released the report to express dissatisfaction with the Biden administration, at a time when relations between the US and China are thawing, Yuan said. The alleged military deployment can also be used as a tool to reassure Taiwan's DPP authority, experts said. Both the US and Taiwan island were relatively secretive on the issue of military deployment and assistance, but now they have made it public, said Xin Qiang, deputy director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University. Xin, who regarded the US defense authority's attitude as confirming, told the Global Times that the mainland is bound to respond more forcefully and resolutely, but it remains unclear what responses it will make. The mainland may look to review its policies on the matter, with old and new problems likely to be settled together if relations with the US deteriorate, Xin said. "The US did not admit it (sending troops to Taiwan) publicly because it did not want to give Chinese mainland leverage The US military has been helping train Taiwan soldiers for years. However, the Chinese mainland may be aware of it, with the situation well in hand," Xin said. The expert said it is also likely to be the Biden administration's double-dealing strategy, to show a tough stance against Chinese mainland, and appease domestic opposition after the positive signal released from the dialogue between Yang Jiechi, China's top diplomat and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan. 'Is the PLA arriving?' On Thursday, an unknown loud bang was heard in Changhua County on the Taiwan island. Many people said it sounded like a sonic boom of fighter jets, and asked on social media: "Was that noise made by fighter jets? Is the People's Liberation Army (PLA) arriving?" In the past week, about 150 sorties were made by PLA aircraft, including J-16 fighter jets, H-6 bombers and Y-8 anti-submarine aircraft, entering Taiwan's self-proclaimed air defense identification zone, in response to the provocation by Taiwan secessionists. Saying he was not particularly informed about military deployment in Taiwan, Ami Bera, a member of the US House Foreign Affairs Committee and chair of its Subcommittee on Asia, the Pacific, Central Asia and Nonproliferation, admitted that the US had special operators in Taiwan in the past, and there has been training and work done with them, US media reported. "It is very possible for the US to send military personnel to assist training of Taiwan forces... They may do so by not wearing uniforms, and by suspending their military status, which can be resumed after they return to the US," Chang Ya-chung, a member of Taiwan's major opposition party, the KMT, and Sun Yat-sen School President in Taiwan, told the Global Times on Friday. The US may send soldiers and technicians to help debug or repair equipment and train operators after an arms sale, experts said. Chang, who won wide support in the recent KMT party leadership election with a message of peace and reunification, said his experience shows that people in Taiwan cherish peace and are not indifferent to reunification. But the US sending military personnel to train Taiwan troops does not pose a real threat to the Chinese mainland and it is more a test of the mainland's red line, through a salami-slicing approach, Chang said. The head of Taiwan's defense authority Chiu Kuo-cheng on Wednesday predicted that the mainland is likely to mount a "full-scale invasion" by 2025, media reported. The DPP has an ambivalent mindset: it wants the US to bring it on board, but it also fears the Chinese mainland will strike but now it seems secessionists have no choice but to become a proxy of the US, Chang said. Some analysts believe that Taiwan's DPP and the US will continue to collude and provoke the mainland, but this just brings reunification even closer. The mainland has no so-called reunification timetable for 2025, but reunification will be achieved with steel-like determination. President Xi Jinping will attend an event on Saturday to mark the 110th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911, also known as the Xinhai Revolution, which ended more than 2,000 years of imperial rule in China and spread the ideas of democracy and equality among the Chinese people. It is expected that the reunification of Taiwan with the mainland will be mentioned. Some experts said that aside from arms sales, future military cooperation between the DPP and the US may be strengthened, such as personnel training, equipment maintenance, and even the integration of combat systems, such as information, intelligence and command systems. All US attempts to support Taiwan secessionists by arming and training soldiers will prove futile, Song Zhongping, a Chinese mainland military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Friday. "These special-operations forces training aims at operation which could possibly damage important ports and military installations so as to dull the PLA's movement However, the PLA has a complete defense system of military facilities, which cannot be disrupted by a few special-operations units from Taiwan," Song said. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) FAO calls for int'l collaboration to confront hunger, climate change Xinhua) 09:06, October 09, 2021 ROME, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Political leaders from Group of 20 (G20) countries should play key roles in tackling world hunger and climate change, said the head of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) on Friday. Addressing participants at the G20 parliamentary summit, FAO Director-General Qu Dongyu said the FAO is eager to support efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition, calling for "deeper cooperation" between countries and multilateral groups like the FAO. "This meeting is possibly one of the most critical gatherings held under the Italian G20 Presidency," said Qu, a former Chinese vice-minister of agriculture and rural affairs. "It brings together the officials that can develop policies and legal instruments to address the pressing challenges that we face together, globally." He said that the FAO recognizes that Parliamentarians are "strategic partners as they provide the legal frameworks, approve public budget allocations, and ensure government accountability on international commitments." During the Italian presidency of the G20, which will end this year, member countries -- which include the world's largest economies -- have renewed and strengthened their political commitment to global food security and improved nutrition. While speaking at the G20 Business 20 (B20) gathering on Friday, Qu called for transformed and more inclusive agri-food systems to survive economic downturns like the one sparked by the coronavirus pandemic. "The most destructive effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on food security and nutrition were due to the unprecedented scale of economic downturns," Qu said, warning that an "uneven pace of recovery" represented further risks to countries. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Chinese online literature draws more overseas readers Xinhua) 09:18, October 09, 2021 HANGZHOU, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese online literature has created a huge fanbase overseas, thanks to the diligence of writers and deepening of international communication. Mad Snail, 34, is one of the most popular online fantasy novel writers in China. His novels, as well as their cartoon adaptations, have attracted many foreign fans. "My novels have been translated into various foreign languages, such as English, French, Korean and Japanese, and I always receive comments begging for updates from foreign readers," he said. He has ridden the wave of China's flourishing online literature market overseas. By 2020, more than 10,000 online literary works had entered overseas markets and attracted over 100 million foreign readers, according to the China Writers Association (CWA). The copyrights of over 4,000 physical books of Chinese online literature have been exported to countries and regions around the world, including the United States, Canada, Russia, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Republic of Korea and Japan. Mad Snail started writing the fantasy novel "Tales of Demons and Gods" in 2014, telling the story of how a teenager strived to protect his homeland from an invasion of demons. In 2017, its intellectual property right was licensed to foreign countries. "We used to think that traditional Chinese culture could hardly be understood and accepted by foreigners. However, it is considered a novelty overseas," said Mad Snail, adding that he usually incorporates Chinese cultural elements in his writing, such as Han clothing, kung fu and Confucianism. Mad Snail believes that Chinese online literature is popular not only because of its mysterious Oriental elements, but its human touch including a love of peace, benevolence, mutual respect and self-motivation which can transcend boundaries. Jiang Shengnan, author of "The Legend of Mi Yue," said that pulling at readers' heartstrings is the key to make Chinese online literature popular overseas regardless of cultural barriers. "Readers used to enjoy stories about Cinderella-like protagonists, but now the themes have shifted to featuring women who are independent and striving," said Jiang, who focuses on writing historical novels with a realistic attitude. "I think it's because of women's rising self-awareness, and my creations have reflected these changes," she said. Jiang noted that with China's rapid development, overseas readers will have an increasing curiosity about this ancient Oriental country, which is a great opportunity for Chinese online writers. "China will promote the exchange of ideas in the field of international online literature," said He Hong, deputy director of the online literature center of the CWA, adding that a big data center will also be established to increase the influence of online novels. "In such a new era of opportunity, we should improve ourselves to tell good Chinese stories and help people get to know more about Chinese culture," said Mad Snail. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Picturesque autumn scenery in Xinjiang Ecns.cn) 09:37, October 09, 2021 Photo taken on Oct. 7, 2021 shows white birches and pine trees decorate Burqin County in Xinjiang Autonomous region, like a natural oil painting on the land. The county has welcomed the most beautiful season of the year.PhotoChina News Service/Liu Shihe (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) Chinese internet giant Meituan fined over 3.4 bln yuan for monopoly conduct Xinhua) 10:05, October 09, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's top market watchdog on Friday fined the internet giant Meituan 3.442 billion yuan (about 533 million U.S. dollars) for abusing its dominant market position in the country's online food delivery platform market and ordered the company to "comprehensively rectify" its operations. The fine is equal to about 3 percent of the Meituan's total domestic sales revenue of 114.7 billion yuan in 2020, according to China's State Administration for Market Regulation (SAMR) in an online statement. China's market watchdog began investigating the case in April this year, and found that, since 2018, Meituan had abused its market position in domestic food delivery services, forcing merchants to sign exclusive cooperation agreements. The company was also found to have taken multiple punitive measures, including charging merchant deposits and employing technological tactics involving data and algorithms, pressuring those merchants to "pick one out of two" to exclude competitors and limit market competition. Those behaviors have weakened the innovative dynamics and vitality of the platform, and harmed the interests of the platform merchants and consumers, said the SAMR. The market watchdog has ordered Meituan to stop illegal activities, return nearly 1.29 billion yuan in deposits paid by merchants to cooperate exclusively with the company's food ordering and delivery platform. Meituan has also been ordered to comprehensively rectify its misconduct, including improving the commission charging mechanism and algorithm rules, safeguarding the legitimate interests of small and medium-sized catering businesses on the platform, and strengthening the protection of the lawful rights and interests of the delivery personnel. The company should submit reports on the improvements in its practices over the next three years and accomplish regulated, innovative, healthy and sustainable development, according to the SAMR. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) 1911 Revolution commemoration to inspire national rejuvenation endeavor: Xi Xinhua) 10:29, October 09, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said Saturday that the commemoration of the Revolution of 1911 will inspire and rally the sons and daughters of the Chinese nation at home and abroad to work together to realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks at a meeting marking the 110th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) National Day holiday movies hit audience-satisfaction peak: survey Xinhua) 10:47, October 09, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China's domestic films in cinemas over the National Day holiday scored 89.1 for audience satisfaction, a new high for the annual holiday period, according to a survey by China Film Archive. Of the four films that formed the focus of the survey, the historical epic "The Battle at Lake Changjin" was ranked first by respondents, with a score of 89.6, followed by "My Country, My Parents," "Water Boys" and "Little Canned Man." The top two films on the satisfaction chart, "The Battle at Lake Changjin" and "My Country, My Parents," were also the most profitable movies during the holiday, which ran from Oct. 1 to Oct. 8. The two most popular films received high scores in various areas, such as the storyline, the acting of the main characters, visual effects and music, the survey showed. "The Battle at Lake Changjin," co-directed by Chen Kaige, Hark Tsui and Dante Lam, has raked in over 3.4 billion yuan (about 526 million U.S. dollars) since its debut on Sept. 30, according to data from the China Movie Data Information Network released on Friday. Set during the War to Resist U.S. Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-1953), the film tells the story of the Chinese People's Volunteers soldiers fighting bravely in freezing temperatures in a key campaign at Lake Changjin, or Chosin Reservoir. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Xi stresses overcoming all major risks, challenges impeding China's path to national rejuvenation Xinhua) 10:56, October 09, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized Saturday the need to overcome all major risks and challenges that may impede China's path to national rejuvenation. Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, made the remarks while addressing a meeting marking the 110th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911. He also stressed the need to resolutely safeguard China's national sovereignty, security, and development interests. "To realize national rejuvenation, the Chinese people must rely on our own heroic efforts," Xi said. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Vigorous consumption growth in Chinas countryside outpacing urban areas People's Daily Online) 10:56, October 09, 2021 In the first eight months of the year, retail sales in Chinas rural areas reached 3.68 trillion yuan, an increase of 17.2 percent, indicating the rising purchasing power of Chinas rural residents. A villager shops at a mart in Wangzhuanggou village of Wuxiang county, north China's Shanxi province, Feb. 17, 2019. (Xinhua/Zhan Yan) Tang Xiaoqiang, a 53-year-old farmer from northwest Chinas Shaanxi province, witnessed his spending power become stronger over the course of 20 years. During the seven-day National Day holiday this year, the man bought a SUV that suits his needs better than the minivan that he has been driving over the past 10 years. Twenty years ago, I spent 400 yuan on a black and white TV, which was a large sum of money for me. But nowadays, as I live a better-off life, Ive purchased various kinds of electric appliances for my family, said Tang. Tangs story is a typical instance of consumption upgrading in Chinas rural areas, which is characterized by consumers rising demand for healthy, high-quality, comfortable and convenient products and services. Last year, retail sales in rural areas stood at 5.3 trillion yuan, compared with 4.19 trillion yuan in 2015. Rural residents spending on education, culture and recreation, transportation and communications, and health care and medical services was up by 35.1 percent, 58.3 percent and 67.6 percent, respectively, from 2015. Rural residents have thickened their pockets by developing characteristic industries, becoming migrant workers, and starting their own businesses at home. Having more money, they become more confident to purchase, said Li Guoxiang with the Rural Development Institute of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. In the first half of the year, the per capita disposable income of Chinas rural residents surpassed 9,000 yuan, a year-on-year increase of 14.1 percent. By cultivating watermelons and kiwifruits, Tang can earn more than 200,000 yuan this year. Not only myself, but my fellow villagers have also adopted a new consumption behavior, caring less about money and more about the quality of the products we buy, said Tang. The subsidy program for purchases of home appliances in rural areas, the subsidy program for new energy vehicles in rural areas, and the availability of express delivery services in rural areas have helped enterprises open up the rural market and have delivered benefits to rural residents, said Shen Qiong, an economics professor with Zhengzhou University based in central Chinas Henan province. The accessibility of shopping facilities in rural areas has enabled farmers to buy things they need without having to go very far from their homes. Zhoujiayu village is located in the Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture in central Chinas Hubei province. In the past, farmers had to travel 20 kilometers to get to the township for shopping, with the long distance becoming a major factor that made their lives very inconvenient. After four stores were established in the village, each offering more than 1,000 kinds of commodities, the residents found that they could shop in their own village. The annual turnover of one store is estimated at more than 2 million yuan. Enshi has been constantly improving the rural commercial system so that farmers shopping enthusiasm is fully unleashed. It has built shopping facilities in county seats and townships, thickening the network of rural vegetable markets, convenience stores, and distribution stations for farming tools and materials, making sure farmers can buy what they need at places they can access within a half hour distance. According to Zhang Yuanxu, head of Enshis commerce bureau, the prefecture has set up 1,281 service centers, covering 89.63 percent of the villages. In addition to promoting agricultural products, e-commerce has brought industrial products closer to rural residents. Zhao Huarui is a sweet potato grower based in east Chinas Shandong province. During a live-streaming session he held earlier this month, the man received as many as 4,000 orders, which added up to 10,000 kg of sweet potatoes. Involving no intermediaries, e-commerce enables us to earn 25 percent more than we would by selling our products at markets, said Zhao. Since 2014, China has built more than 2,000 county-level e-commerce service centers and logistics facilities. In the first half of the year, online retail sales for agricultural products surpassed 208 billion yuan. During the period from January to July this year, the number of parcels delivered from and received by rural residents exceeded 20 billion. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) China hopes Guinea will maintain national stability, development: spokesperson Xinhua) 11:05, October 09, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China hopes relevant parties in Guinea will make efforts to maintain Guinea's overall national stability and development, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said Friday. Zhao made the remarks at a daily news briefing when asked to comment on Guinea's political processes. According to media reports, Mamady Doumbouya, Guinea's transitional president, has named Mohamed Beavogui as the nation's transitional prime minister. Zhao said China hopes that relevant parties in Guinea will continue to adhere to dialogue and consultation, and with the support of regional and international organizations, work hard to maintain overall national stability and development. He added that China and Guinea have a longstanding friendship, and China is willing to work with Guinea to promote the development of their friendly and cooperative relations. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Senior Chinese, U.S. officials hold video talks over trade Xinhua) 12:22, October 09, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chief of the Chinese side of the China-U.S. comprehensive economic dialogue, on Saturday held a video call with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. During the conversation, the two sides conducted pragmatic, candid and constructive exchanges on three issues: First, China-U.S. economic and trade relations are of great importance to the two countries and the world at large and bilateral economic and trade exchanges and cooperation should be strengthened. Second, the two sides exchanged views on the implementation of the China-U.S. economic and trade agreement. Third, both sides expressed their core concerns and agreed to resolve each other's legitimate concerns through consultation. The Chinese side lodged representations on the lifting of additional tariffs and sanctions and expounded its position on such issues as China's economic development model and industrial policy. The two sides agreed to continue to communicate in an attitude of equality and mutual respect so as to create favorable conditions for the healthy development of bilateral economic and trade relations and the recovery of the world economy. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Tanzania receives over 1 million COVID-19 vaccine doses from China Xinhua) 13:21, October 09, 2021 A batch of the Sinopharm vaccine from China arrives at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Oct. 8, 2021. Tanzania on Friday received 1,065,600 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from China under COVAX, boosting the east African nation's vaccination campaign against COVID-19. COVAX is a global program aimed at providing equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania on Friday received 1,065,600 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from China under COVAX, boosting the east African nation's vaccination campaign against COVID-19. Speaking shortly after receiving the vaccines, Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children Dorothy Gwajima expressed gratitude for the vaccines, saying the donation will help accelerate Tanzania's vaccination campaign launched by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on July 28. COVAX is a global program aimed at providing equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. She said a total of 760,962 citizens have been vaccinated on Tanzania's mainland and 10,800 citizens have received the jabs in Zanzibar as of Oct. 7. Xu Chen, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania, said the donated vaccines will bolster Tanzania's fight against the pandemic. He said the Chinese government and Tanzania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation are working very closely to facilitate the donation of two consignments totaling about 1.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from China. The hand-over ceremony at Julius Nyerere International Airport in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam was attended by high-ranking government officials and representatives from the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the UN Children's Fund. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) U.S., Taliban officials to hold talks in Doha over weekend Xinhua) 13:41, October 09, 2021 WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. delegation will travel to Doha, Qatar, over the weekend to meet with senior Afghan Taliban representatives, the State Department said on Friday. "This meeting is a continuation of the pragmatic engagements with the Taliban on issues of U.S. vital national interest," a State Department spokesperson told reporters, noting it is "not about granting recognition or conferring legitimacy." The spokesperson said the key priorities of the meeting are "the continued safe passage out of Afghanistan of U.S. and other foreign nationals and Afghans to whom we have a special commitment who seek to leave the country and holding the Taliban to its commitment not to allow terrorists to use Afghan soil to threaten the security of the United States or its allies." U.S. officials in the meeting will also press the Taliban to respect the rights of women and girls, form an inclusive government, and allow humanitarian agencies free access to areas of need, the spokesperson added. According to media reports, the U.S. delegation will include officials from the Central Intelligence Agency, the State Department, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. It will be the first in-person meeting between the United States and the Taliban since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan at the end of August. (Web editor: Xia Peiyao, Liang Jun) Chinese and Russian Presidents Become "Dual Alumni" Global Times) 13:57, October 09, 2021 On 26 April, 2019, a special ceremony was being held at the Beijing Friendship Hotel. Amid warm applause from hundreds of teachers and students of Tsinghua University, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Russian President Vladimir Putin walked into the hall. Here the alma mater of President Xi awarded President Putin an honorary doctorate. On 26 April, 2019, Tsinghua University awarded President Putin an honorary doctorate. The ceremony was held in a solemn and warm atmosphere. In the brightly lit hall, the national flags of China and Russia were lined up on both sides. At the center stood a large purple backdrop with golden characters in Chinese and Russian - "Awarding Ceremony of Honorary Doctorate by Tsinghua University to H.E. President Vladimir Putin of the Russian Federation." Chen Xu, secretary of the CPC Tsinghua University Committee, presided over the ceremony and read out the address of honor. Witnessed by President Xi and the teachers and students of Tsinghua, President Qiu Yong of Tsinghua presented the honorary doctorate certificate to President Putin, who then became a member of the "Tsinghua family" and President Xi's fellow alumnus. President Putin said China has a time-honored, splendid civilization and has made remarkable achievements in scientific and technological innovation. Russia-China educational exchanges and cooperation are developing rapidly, with a large number of students from both sides studying in each other's country. He wished Tsinghua University greater achievements and encouraged students to pursue academic excellence and deepen the friendship between Russia and China for a better future of the bilateral relations. President Xi encouraged young students to achieve new progress through hard work and pass on the baton of friendship between the two peoples. He also called on them to contribute their youth, wisdom and strength to the great cause of everlasting friendship between China and Russia and for the development and vitalization of the two countries. As a Chinese saying goes, good things always come in pairs. On 6 June of the same year, another degree awarding ceremony highlighting the friendship between the two countries was held in St. Petersburg. President Putin's alma mater Saint Petersburg State University awarded an honorary doctorate to President Xi. On 6 June, 2019, Saint Petersburg State University awarded an honorary doctorate to President Xi. President Putin warmly welcomed President Xi at the main building of the university. After visiting an exhibition on the university's cooperation with China, the two presidents stepped into the auditorium together, where they were greeted with a standing ovation from the faculty members, students and guests present. After the national anthems of China and Russia were played, the university's rector read out the degree awarding resolution and presented President Xi with the honorary doctorate certificate. President Xi said that cooperation in education is an important way to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the peoples. In recent years, Saint Petersburg State University has enjoyed close exchanges and cooperation with its Chinese counterparts and promoted the spread of Chinese culture in Russia as well as the development of Russian studies in China. He encouraged young people in both countries to answer the call of the times, work with and inspire each other, and make personal pursuit part of the great cause of the development and vitalization of the two countries and the everlasting friendship between the two peoples. This will be the contribution of the young people to the development of the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era. Sound state-to-state relations rely on friendship between the peoples as well as personal bond between the top leaders. Two presidents sharing each other's alma mater, as President Xi and President Putin do, is very rare in the political world. This not only testifies to the long-standing, deep personal friendship between the two presidents, but also bears witness to the ever-growing China-Russia relations over decades. There is every reason to believe that under the leadership of the two presidents, the China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era will surely be brought to a higher level and make even greater progress. (Web editor: Zhong Wenxing, Liang Jun) China, Chile implement AEO customs agreement Xinhua) 14:00, October 09, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- An agreement on mutual authorized economic operator (AEO) status signed between China and Chile went into effect Friday, offering easier customs clearance for exporters from both countries, said the Chinese customs. This is China's first AEO mutual recognition officially implemented in South America, according to the General Administration of Customs (GAC). Under the agreement, companies that obtain the AEO status in the two countries will enjoy simplified customs procedures, such as reduced examination and prioritized clearance, which will significantly shorten customs clearance time and reduce costs at ports as well as for insurance and logistics. Chile is China's second-largest trade partner in South America. The trade volume between the two countries totaled 42.19 billion U.S. dollars in the first eight months of the year, up 50.1 percent year on year, GAC data showed. During the period, a total of 883 Chinese companies with AEO status exported to Chile, with the combined export value accounting for about 18.9 percent of China's total exports to Chile. The AEO system, initiated by the World Customs Organization, is aimed at facilitating customs clearance for enterprises with outstanding records in terms of legal compliance, credit rating and safety. By the end of August, China had signed AEO agreements with 46 countries and regions including Singapore, the Republic of Korea and the European Union member states. The country will further promote AEO mutual recognition cooperation with countries including Russia, Turkey, Argentina and Mexico, according to the GAC. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) China sees robust tourism, consumption during National Day holiday Xinhua) 14:10, October 09, 2021 TIANJIN, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Picking hairy crabs and shrimping in the paddy fields, going boating to appreciate the beautiful scenery, then having simple but delicious local meals -- these and other activities are enjoyed by visitors to Diliubu Village, north China's Tianjin Municipality. Such short visits to rural regions were a popular choice for many Tianjin citizens during the recent weeklong National Day holiday. Listed among the country's most beautiful villages by the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, and nominated as one of the country's major rural tourism spots, the picturesque village took advantage of its rivers, ponds and paddy fields and designed multiple sightseeing routes, integrating ecological farming with tourism. "Many tourists from downtown rolled up their sleeves and experienced peanut picking and radish pulling in the fields," said Ni Guozhi, the village's deputy Party chief. During the holiday, the village received more than 30,000 visitors. As rural tourism gained steam during the holiday, the farmhouse hostel saw its business soar. In Changzhou Village, Tianjin, Gao Cuilian's farmhouse hostel was packed with guests. "We had more than 100 guests staying in over 60 rooms, which could bring in some 30,000 yuan (about 4,656 U.S. dollars) a day during the holiday," Gao said. "It was quite relaxing for us to stay here for a few days, playing ping pong, hiking around and singing karaoke. We had a fulfilling holiday," said Sun Yanan, a tourist from Tianjin staying at Gao's hostel. Apart from rural tourism, new consumption patterns have also emerged in cities during the holiday. An e-sports festival opened in Tianjin on Oct. 1. Abundant activities including e-sports events, music festivals, and jubensha, literally translated as "script homicide" -- a role-playing murder-mystery game, attracted young people during the holiday. "Jubensha and e-sports are bringing more possibilities to the tourism industry, which play important roles in enhancing urban vitality and stimulating consumption growth, especially meeting many young consumers' diversified consumption needs," said Zhang Yuyao, a staffer of the e-sports festival organizer. During the holiday, the event attracted nearly 100,000 visitors. Eastern megacity Shanghai also saw robust growth in consumer spending during the holiday. According to data released by the Shanghai Municipal Commission of Commerce, the city's consumer spending totaled about 76.59 billion yuan from Oct. 1 to 7, up 16 percent over the same period last year. Both offline and online consumption increased, growing 23.4 percent and 3.5 percent, respectively. In central China's Hunan Province, the 107 A-level scenic spots monitored across the province received over 9.9 million tourists during the holiday, a year-on-year increase of more than 38 percent. The revenue of these scenic spots reached nearly 1.7 billion yuan, a year-on-year increase of over 45 percent. Indoor venues such as cultural centers, libraries and museums in the province received more than 1 million visitors during the holiday, up 8.38 percent year on year. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Lunar samples of Chang'e-5 aged 1.96 bln yrs: study Xinhua) 14:19, October 09, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Researchers have studied the lunar samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 mission and found that they are likely around 1.96 billion years old, shedding new light on the evolution of the moon, said the China National Space Administration (CNSA) Friday. The first research article on the Chang'e-5 samples, titled "Age and composition of young basalts on the Moon, measured from samples returned by Chang'e-5," was published online in the journal Science Friday. It was authored by researchers from the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, and other international institutions. The article said China's Chang'e-5 probe touched down on the Oceanus Procellarum region of the moon, which hosts high concentrations of elements that generate heat through long-lived radioactive decay and may have sustained prolonged magmatic activity on the near side of the Moon. Orbital data indicate that the basalt lavas in Oceanus Procellarum are the youngest volcanic units on the Moon. The Chang'e-5 probe collected samples of these lunar basalt lavas and brought them to Earth. The researchers analyzed two fragments from the Chang'e-5 samples and found minerals common in lunar basalts, such as chemically zoned clinopyroxene, plagioclase, olivine, and ilmenite, with small amounts of quartz and cristobalite. The study proved that the moon still had magmatic activity 1.96 billion years ago, providing key evidence for the study of the evolution of the moon, said the CNSA. When the moon's magmatic activity stopped is one of the major issues in its evolutionary history. Previous research on lunar samples has not found any magmatic activity younger than 2.9 billion years on the moon. On July 12, 2021, China delivered about 17 grams of lunar samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 probe to 13 institutions, which had submitted applications to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the CNSA to utilize the samples for research purposes. The Chang'e-5 probe, comprising an orbiter, a lander, an ascender, and a returner, was launched on Nov. 24, 2020. The return capsule landed in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Dec. 17, retrieving about 1,731 grams of moon samples. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) Wine expo brings SA and China closer together 14:45, October 09, 2021 By Wang Lei ( People's Daily Online An innovative and exciting initiative was presented on Sept. 29 by representatives of the Western Cape wine industry alongside participating leading Chinese importers. This collaborative networking opportunity was initiated by the China Construction Bank Johannesburg Branch (CCB) in conjunction with local organizations and Chinese wine industry entities, seeking to promote ongoing dialogue and boost trade between relevant producers and merchants. These included the South African Representative Office of the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Wines of South Africa, China Alcoholic Drinks Association and Jingdong International Logistics. Let me applaud China Construction Bank for making the effort to actively promote South Africa and specifically our area of excellence in wine making, which ranks amongst the best in the world, commented the SA Ambassador to the Peoples Republic of China, Dr. Siyabonga Cwele. This year marks the 23rd anniversary of diplomatic relations between South Africa and China, and in the midst of the global pandemic, the two countries continue to cooperate in multiple global forums such as this event, Ambassador Cwele said. He added that local businesses will be able to leverage CCBs resourceful Match Plus Platform to get introduced to a vast client base in China. The CCB Match Plus platform was designed to assist companies of all sizes in sourcing and promoting products both in and out of China, ultimately matching the supply and demand for a broad range of goods. Hu Bofei, the Deputy General Manager of the International Business Department at the CCB Head Office, said that since the establishment of the Match Plus Platform, CCB has successfully hosted 115 business matching events in 33 countries and regions, and has serviced thousands of businesses around the world. The event was an apt and colorful kickoff to a fortnight-long digital exhibition, where wine producers and China-based importers and distributors can further fortify their trading relationships, and with expectant deals having already been inked by attending businesses at the end of this opening event. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) China issues first white paper on biodiversity, eyeing global cooperation Xinhua) 15:00, October 09, 2021 -- China on Friday issued the country's first white paper on biodiversity, detailing how the world's most biodiverse country has endeavored to protect its ecosystems in pursuit of harmony between humans and nature. -- To address biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, China has taken creative and up-to-date approaches, forming a new pattern of biodiversity conservation, according to the white paper. -- A thriving ecosystem is proof of the country's biodiversity conservation progress. According to the white paper, the population of giant pandas in the wild has grown from 1,114 to 1,864 over the past four decades, while the Asian elephant population in the wild has grown from 180 in the 1980s to about 300 at present. -- Over the past years, China has firmly practiced multilateralism and actively carried out international cooperation on biodiversity conservation, with stronger South-South cooperation in biodiversity conservation and improved multilateral cooperation mechanisms for green development under the Belt and Road Initiative, according to the white paper. BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- China on Friday issued the country's first white paper on biodiversity, detailing how the world's most biodiverse country has endeavored to protect its ecosystems in pursuit of harmony between humans and nature. The white paper, titled "Biodiversity Conservation in China," came days ahead of a key United Nations (UN) biodiversity meeting to be held in the southwestern Chinese city of Kunming. The move bears great significance as the UN begins its Decade of Action after the world sought to reach the Aichi Biodiversity Targets during the 2011-2020 period, Zhao Yingmin, vice minister of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), said at a press conference on Friday. The vice minister said that China's implementation of the Aichi Biodiversity Targets was better than the global average, as the country recorded expectation-beating progress in three of the 20 goals and key progress in 13 others. The issuance of the white paper will increase the international community's understanding of the country's efforts in the sector, contributing Chinese wisdom to global biodiversity protection, Zhao said. Photo taken on Oct. 8, 2021 shows a press conference where the white paper "Biodiversity Conservation in China" is issued by China's State Council Information Office in Beijing, capital of China. (Xinhua/Jin Liangkuai) CHINA'S BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION To address biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation, China has taken creative and up-to-date approaches, forming a new pattern of biodiversity conservation, according to the white paper. China was the first globally to propose and implement the red line strategy for ecological conservation, an important institutional innovation in its land-use planning and eco-environmental reform. The country's proposal "Drawing a 'Red Line' for Ecological Protection to Mitigate and Adapt to Climate Change" has been selected by the UN as one of the 15 best Nature-based Solutions around the globe. Liu Dong, a senior researcher at the Nanjing Institute of Environmental Sciences under the MEE, said that such an innovative strategy allows the most important areas to be controlled, producing the greatest environmental benefits from the smallest areas, and drawing attention in the international community. China has also optimized its in situ and ex situ conservation, making efforts to build a protected area system with national parks as the mainstay, and to launch systematic campaigns to save endangered species, the document said. A thriving ecosystem is proof of the country's biodiversity conservation progress. According to the white paper, the population of giant pandas in the wild has grown from 1,114 to 1,864 over the past four decades, while the Asian elephant population in the wild has grown from 180 in the 1980s to about 300 at present. To improve biodiversity governance, China has elevated biodiversity conservation to a national strategy, rolling out measures to improve the legal and policy frameworks, expand oversight on law enforcement and encourage public participation, the document said. Photo taken on Aug. 26, 2021 shows a view of the Zedang Lake at Guan'egou national forest park in Dangchang County of Longnan, northwest China's Gansu Province. (Xinhua/Ma Xiping) AMBITIOUS YET VIABLE GOALS Despite the progress achieved, the pressure on global biodiversity is still aggravating as the trend of biodiversity loss has not been fundamentally reversed, Zhao said. At the upcoming UN biodiversity meeting, participants are expected to sit around the discussion table and delineate a "post-2020 global biodiversity framework." Experience over the past decade will be reviewed and transformative changes in the global biodiversity drive might take place, Zhao said. The vice minister said that ambitious yet feasible biodiversity goals and strategies should be put on the table. He said he expects the next decade's global biodiversity goals to boost the world's ambition and confidence, but also underscored that participants should fully consider the accessibility and feasibility of new targets when drawing a biodiversity blueprint. "The raging pandemic has reminded us that humans and nature have a shared future. The international community needs to intensify cooperation in the face of the challenges of biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation," Zhao said. Aerial photo taken on Aug. 13, 2021 shows a herd of wild Asian elephants in Mojiang County of Pu'er, southwest China's Yunnan Province. (Photo by He Yougang/Xinhua) Over the past years, China has firmly practiced multilateralism and actively carried out international cooperation on biodiversity conservation, with stronger South-South cooperation in biodiversity conservation and improved multilateral cooperation mechanisms for green development under the Belt and Road Initiative, according to the white paper. Wei Fuwen, an academician with the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that the biodiversity conservation drive entails a global perspective as many species live not only in China, but also in surrounding countries. "China will continue to actively participate in and promote international cooperation on global biodiversity through various means," Wei said. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) County in E Chinas Anhui builds agricultural science parks to vitalize rural areas People's Daily Online) 16:02, October 09, 2021 Construction workers work at the construction site of an agricultural science and technology demonstration park in Qiaotouji town, Feidong county in Hefei, capital of east Chinas Anhui province. (Photo/Ruan Xuefeng) In recent years, Feidong county in Hefei, capital of east Chinas Anhui province, has built nine modern agricultural science and technology demonstration parks at or above the municipal level to promote the establishment of an industrial system of modern agriculture, while enabling farmers to secure jobs in or near their hometowns in addition to contributing to the vitalization of rural areas. The first phase of an agricultural science and technology demonstration park is currently under construction in the countys Qiaotouji town. With an investment of 80 million yuan (about $12.4 million), the first phase covers an area of 8 hectares and will include six plant factories and two greenhouses. The demonstration park, with a planned area of 152 hectares, involves a total investment of 1.6 billion yuan. It will integrate research and development for farming technologies, vegetable and fruit production, sightseeing, as well as the storage, sale and distribution of agricultural products. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) Xi's Thought on Ecological Civilization inspires world to build harmony among all beings Xinhua) 16:18, October 09, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Representatives from governments, enterprises and non-governmental organizations around the world are gearing up for a landmark event hosted by China to negotiate a once-in-a-decade consensus on protecting global biodiversity. The 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity, known as COP15, is set to kick off on Monday in Kunming, a southwestern Chinese city. As the first global conference convened by the United Nations on the topic of ecological civilization, a philosophy proposed by China, it will offer a platform for countries to find common ground on "Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth." Adhering to the vision of living in harmony with nature and guided by the philosophical framework of President Xi Jinping's Thought on Ecological Civilization, China is striding towards constructing a green economy while promoting equitable biodiversity governance with the involvement of all parties. RESTORING PEACE WITH NATURE "We shall protect ecosystems as preciously as we protect our eyes, and cherish them as dearly as we cherish our lives," Xi said. He has stressed that the development model of "killing the hens for eggs" and "draining the lake for fish" is at a dead end, and the future will be illuminated by eco-friendly development that is in accordance with the rules of nature. For that, history provides ample lessons. Back in the 1990s, Yucun, a mountain village in eastern China's Zhejiang Province, started exploiting mine resources in order to quickly get rich. The business, however, resulted in serious pollution years later. In 2005, Yucun shut down three limestone quarries, gradually shifting towards eco-tourism and other eco-friendly industries. When Xi, then secretary of the Zhejiang Provincial Committee of the Communist Party of China, visited Yucun, he told the villagers that their decision was "wise," stating that "mountains and rivers green are mountains of silver and gold." This concept, later incorporated into Xi's Thought on Ecological Civilization, has encouraged numerous Chinese cities and villages to pursue high-quality and sustainable growth through protecting the environment, developing green industries, and preserving biodiversity. During an official trip to Zimbabwe in 2015, Xi visited a local wildlife sanctuary, where he fed an orphaned elephant. He reiterated China's commitment to wildlife protection and pledged to help Zimbabwe do so by donating equipment and exchanging experience with China. Recalling Xi's explanation of China's initiatives to breed giant pandas and expand protected areas, Roxy Danckwerts, the founder of the sanctuary, said, "I thought that was very significant that he is making such big strides in his own country." In July this year, Chinese authorities announced that the giant panda, with its wild population exceeding 1,800, was re-classified from "endangered" to "vulnerable," throwing light on the improved conditions of the bears' habitat in their homeland. "China's example with eco-civilization, looking at big picture, and putting the big picture to work locally in particular areas with community involvement, is exactly what the world needs to do," said Vance Martin, president of the WILD Foundation. Xi's Thought on Ecological Civilization is resonating with more people around the world. "Ecological civilization is an interesting concept. And why interesting? Because it's looking at the relationship between the society and nature," said Elizabeth Maruma Mrema, executive secretary of the Convention on Biological Diversity. This philosophy demonstrates "the mainstream of biodiversity across sectors, across departments, which is also critical for all countries to achieve the global biodiversity goals," she said. RALLYING GLOBAL CONSENSUS In mid-September, the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization raised the alarm on the unprecedented speed of global biodiversity loss, urging joint action to reconcile with nature. To secure global consensus and translate commitments into actions, China launched the Kunming conference despite the COVID-19 pandemic, demonstrating its staunch commitment to a multilateral approach to preserving the world's biodiversity. "We need to each take stronger actions, strengthen partnerships and cooperation, learn from each other and make common progress in the new journey toward global carbon neutrality," Xi said at the Leaders Summit on Climate on this year's Earth Day. And China walks the talk. Over the four decades of building the Three-North Shelterbelt Forest Program, which covers about 42.4 percent of China's land area, over 7.88 million hectares of windbreak trees have been planted and more than 10 million hectares of desertified grassland recuperated. "The Chinese government has continued to apply a long-term approach to halt and reverse biodiversity loss with multiple disciplinary teams that can offer evidence-based solutions," Mrema said. According to data released by NASA, China alone accounted for at least one quarter of the 5 percent growth of global green coverage from 2000 to 2017. Meanwhile, China is ready to share its rich expertise with the world. It has dispatched teams of ecologists to help the Great Green Wall -- an African afforestation campaign -- replicate China's achievement in the Taklamakan Desert to the Sahara, with a memorandum of understanding signed in 2017 between the Xinjiang Institute of Ecology and Geography and the Pan-African Agency for the Great Green Wall to improve Africa's ecological environment. To enhance the environmental sustainability of the Belt and Road Initiative, China launched an international green development coalition in 2019, which is tasked with integrating sustainable development with the Initiative's priorities, with more than 130 partners involved. Waleed Gaballah, a professor of financial and economic jurisdictions at Cairo University, said Xi's philosophy and China's environmental endeavors have inspired the world, especially countries along the Belt and Road, as China has helped them move towards their own sustainable development goals. "The Chinese notion of unity, of nature and man, we hope, will be a good example for other countries to follow or to emulate," Mrema said. BIGGER STEPS FORWARD As the world undergoes profound changes unseen in a century, China has been taking firm and effective steps towards a truly green economy. It has incorporated biodiversity preservation into its overall economic and social development plans. The upcoming Kunming conference is expected to review the "post-2020 global biodiversity framework" and draw a blueprint for global implementation over the next 10 years. When addressing the 75th session of the UN General Assembly in September 2020, Xi said that China aims to have CO2 emissions peak before 2030 and achieve carbon neutrality before 2060. At the 76th session of the UN General Assembly last month, Xi announced that China will step up support for other developing countries to develop green and low-carbon energy, and will not build new coal-fired power projects abroad. China's endeavors have been recognized by the international community and boosted confidence in other countries. "This is a bold and consequential step for China, and for the rest of the world. It is also a clear signal of the country's concrete commitment to global efforts to address one of the most pressing issues of our time," said Jin Liqun, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank. Nigel Topping, Britain's high level climate action champion for UN climate talks, characterized ecological civilization as "the most exciting" of the ideas coming from China. "Ever since I heard the term 'ecological civilization', I was like 'yes', that's what we're all trying to build, that's what we have to build," he said. (Web editor: Shi Xi, Liang Jun) China, Africa see higher-level, broader economic and trade cooperation People's Daily Online) 17:32, October 09, 2021 China and Africa, as important trading partners for one another, have been witnessing a shift towards broader economic and trade cooperation, which is now taking place at a higher level, pointing to bright prospects moving forward. An exhibitor introduces African skin care products to visitors at the second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo held in Changsha, central Chinas Hunan Province, Sept. 27. (Xinhua/Chen Zeguo) The second China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo held in Changsha, central Chinas Hunan province, from Sept. 26 to 29, is just the latest example of the thriving relationship between China and Africa in the area of economic and trade cooperation. A total of 135 projects worth $22.9 billion were inked at the four-day event, which was held both online and offline to mitigate the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. The expo attracted nearly 900 enterprises from nearly 40 African countries alongside China. First launched in 2019, the expo has become a major platform for strengthening economic and trade cooperation between China and African countries. China-Africa economic and trade cooperation has continued expanding with steady momentum. Data from the Ministry of Commerce showed that trade between China and Africa hit a record high of $139.1 billion during the period from January to July this year, an increase of 40.5 percent compared with the same period last year. In particular, Chinas imports from Africa climbed 46.3 percent year-on-year to reach $59.3 billion, while the countrys direct investment in Africa stood at $2.07 billion in the first seven months of the year, outperforming pre-pandemic levels for the same period in 2019. Two-way trade has grown by 20-fold since 2000, and China has remained Africas largest trading partner for 12 consecutive years, according to the China-Africa Economic and Trade Relationship Annual Report (2021) released on Sept. 25. The China-Africa trade as a proportion of Africas total foreign trade has continued increasing year-on-year, having exceeded 21 percent in 2020, cited the report. Chinas private enterprises are becoming a significant force behind China-Africa trade and investment cooperation, according to a report on Chinese enterprises investments in the continent released by the China-Africa Business Council on Aug. 26. In addition to traditional sectors, the report said Chinese enterprises are exploring and venturing into new areas such as medium- and high-tech manufacturing, healthcare, the digital economy and aviation industry. China and Africa have built more and more platforms for bilateral cooperation and in a wider range of areas, pulling together Chinese and African national and local governments, enterprises, and academic circles, said Yang Baorong, an expert from the China-Africa Institute. Yang noted that China and Africa share unique advantages when it comes to cooperation, including their mutual trust, highly complementary industrial structures, Chinas provision of much-needed capital and technology supporting the continents growth, and new opportunities brought by the fourth industrial revolution. Both sides have already explored cooperation in new sectors such as cross-border e-commerce, electronic settlements, big data and artificial intelligence, and they will continue to strengthen cooperation in the green industry as well, Yang explained. Investment cooperation is a strong engine for the qualitative upgrading of pragmatic cooperation between China and African countries, said Wu Peng, Director-General of the Department of African Affairs of Chinas Foreign Ministry. Wu explained that China is one of the largest sources of investment for Africa. Since the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the annual growth of Chinas direct investment in Africa has averaged over 25 percent. Despite the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chinas direct investment in Africa grew from $2.71 billion in 2019 to $2.96 billion in 2020. The investments made by Chinese enterprises in Africa both advance Chinas own economic development as well as offering capital, technology, and infrastructure support for African countries, helping these countries to translate their advantageous resources into improved market competitiveness, said Justin Yifu Lin, honorary dean of the National School of Development at Peking University. Chinese enterprises have played an important role in modernizing Africas infrastructure, said Ethiopias ambassador to China, Teshome Toga Chanaka, noting that many major infrastructure projects have been kicked off in Ethiopia and other African countries under the Belt and Road framework. Vera Songwe, Executive Secretary of the United Nations Economic Commission for Africa noted that China and Africa are seeing robust momentum towards furthering their cooperation. Chinese enterprises have continued investing in Africa despite the impacts of COVID-19, creating huge job opportunities for local communities, she said, adding that China-Africa cooperation has meanwhile always set its aim on maintaining sustainable development. (Web editor: Hongyu, Liang Jun) The sixth annual conference of the Taihu World Cultural Forum is slated to be held in Bengbu, East Chinas Anhui province, from October 11 to 13, organizers said at a press briefing in Beijing on Friday. Nearly 500 participants from more than 30 countries and regions will attend the conference. They will discuss cultural diversity and the Belt and Road Initiative as well as six globally-challenging issues such as COVID-19 pandemic prevention and control, ecological development, poverty reduction and scientific and technological development. The Republic of Azerbaijan will be a guest country of honor at the conference. Founded in 2008, the forum is a high-end and nonofficial platform created by China for international cultural exchanges. It was named after Taihu Lake in the Yangtze River Delta region. Five cities - Suzhou in Jiangsu province, Hangzhou in Zhejiang province, Shanghai, the Macao Special Administrative Region and Beijing - have hosted its annual conferences. The municipal government of Bengbu has given a facelift to Bengbu Ancient Residence Expo Park, the venue of the conference. The park features around 450 ancient houses. China published its first white paper on biodiversity conservation on Friday to share the nation's achievements and experience with the globe. Zhao Yingmin, vice-minister of ecology and environment, told a news conference held by the State Council Information Office that the white paper will build confidence in boosting the global response to address biodiversity risks. It also aims to promote a good outcome at the upcoming COP 15, the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity, to be held in Kunming, Yunnan province, from Monday to Friday, Zhao said. He called for more efforts among the parties, including making viable goals and securing funds, techniques and talents especially for developing countries. He added that international cooperation is needed to strengthen the sector and China would like to share its practices and ideas in biodiversity conservation through the white paper. In 1993, the United Nations' Convention on Biological Diversity entered into force. As one of the first participating parties, China has achieved remarkable results. Since China set up its first nature reserve in 1956, the country has safeguarded 71 percent of its wild animal and plant species under State-level protection and 90 percent of its terrestrial ecosystem types including forests, grasslands, deserts and wetlands, the white paper said. Over the past 40 years, the nation's population of wild giant pandas has increased from 1,114 to 1,864. The number of crested ibis in China has grown from seven at its discovery to more than 5,000including those in the wild and artificially bred ones, the white paper said. Meanwhile, 112 species of rare and endangered plants unique to China have returned to the wild, the white paper said. The increasing numbers were due to the expanding space of habitats, the white paper said. China has established about 10,000 nature reserves, accounting for about 18 percent of its land area. The country also carried out endangered species rescue projects to expand their population through artificial breeding and then releasing them into the wild. For example, giant pandas have integrated themselves well in the wild, the white paper said. One of China's innovative models is to draw red lines in protection areas, which the United Nations included as one of its 15 classic cases. Protection in areas within red lines is rigorously enforced. Major red line areas in China focus on the Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, the Tianshan Mountains, the Inner Mongolia Plateau, the Qinling Mountains, the Yellow River Basin and the Yangtze River Basin. "China will provide assistance to other developing economies and contribute the nation's plans and power to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature," Zhao said. The white paper said that China has cooperated with many countries to establish cross-border nature reserves. For example, wild species continue to increase in the Sino-Russian protected area and Siberian tigers were spotted roaming freely in the area. A poster of the film the Battle at Lake Changjin shows in a cinema. Photo: VCG The Sanya Public Security Bureau, South China's Hainan Province, announced on Friday afternoon that Luo Changping, an online influencer, has been put under criminal detention. This is the price Luo should pay for using puns to defame a company of Chinese People's Volunteers (CPV) whose soldiers were frozen to death during the battle at Lake Changjin in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea. Luo has apparently violated the Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs and the Amendment (XI) to the Criminal Law of the People's Republic of China. Our society has offered protection to heroes and martyrs' right of reputation and right of honor. Insulting them is no longer a mere violation of personal rights, but a breach on the social order and interests supported and protected by state power. Luo is supposed to have some knowledge about laws. He once promoted the judicial investigations of specific corrupt senior officials. However, although there was already the case of Labixiaoqiu, an online celebrity sentenced to eight months in jail for defaming martyrs, Luo still challenged society's common respect for CPV martyrs, humiliated them and challenged the law in such a foolish way. Therefore, Luo's case is very typical. Luo probably knew he was doing something "risky." But he greatly underestimated the seriousness of the Law on the Protection of Heroes and Martyrs and made misjudgments about the mainstream value orientation of the society. He might think his insult to the CPV company would gain applause from at least a certain group of people, which would protect him from the public opinion. It's obvious he didn't expect that he quickly drew criticism from almost the entire internet after he published his post. Many voices also emerged demanding him be subject to legal liabilities. Facing the unexpected public opinion situation, he hastily made a short public apology on Thursday night. Given Luo's performance, we believe he was eager to show off himself while at the same time his values had serious deviations. After he gained fame through fighting corrupt officials, he began to strengthen his public image of liberalism and gradually moved away from mainstream values. Such a deviation led to a decline in his influence in the online public opinion field. He was supposed to make adjustments, but he chose to garner attention in an extreme way by making improper remarks. This is perhaps the biggest psychological motive behind his insulting remarks against martyrs. It must be said that a considerable number of online commentators who are against mainstream values attempt to garner attention by provoking the public's shared sentiments and consensus. They boast they are different because they "have thoughts" and "dare to speak." Some celebrities out of inflating individualism have put their personal desires of showing off themselves above public interests and uttered extremely irresponsible remarks to challenge public order until they violate the law. In order to build momentum and protect themselves, those people are inclined to echo and support each other so that they could form a force in the public opinion field. Some people even act in concert with overseas hostile forces against China in the public opinion field, which has aggravated the public opinion complexity and harmed national interests. This is particularly unacceptable to the mainstream Chinese society. Back to Luo. He had a bad fall this time, but it was not accidental. It's hoped Luo's fall could serve as a warning. Defaming martyrs has nothing to do with freedom of speech. Martyrs, especially heroes in modern times, not only have made fundamental contributions to the country, but also their spirit has been engraved in the spiritual order of the entire nation, becoming a very important part. Infringing upon martyrs' reputations is tantamount to challenging the spiritual order of the whole country and nation. This is the reason why those people must be punished by law. We hope that Luo will be the last public figure that violates laws related to the protection of heroes and martyrs. China's space tracking ship Yuanwang-3 set sail on Thursday for the Pacific Ocean from the dock of the China Satellite Maritime Tracking and Controlling Department in east China's Jiangsu Province for its upcoming maritime monitoring missions, the ship's fourth voyage this year. It has successfully undertaken more than 90 maritime tracking and monitoring tasks for spacecraft, including the Shenzhou spaceships, the Chang'e lunar probes and the BeiDou satellites. Regular Press Conference of the Ministry of National Defense on September 30 EditorLi Wei Time2021-10-09 11:27:55 By Senior Colonel Wu Qian, Director General of the Information Office of the Ministry of National Defense (MND) and Spokesperson for the MND Senior Colonel Wu Qian, spokesperson for the Ministry of National Defense (MND) of the People's Republic of China (PRC), answers reporters' questions at a regular press conference on September 30, 2021.(Photo:mod.gov.cn) (The following English text of the press conference is for reference. In case of any divergence of interpretation, the Chinese text shall prevail.) First of all, I would like to announce a piece of news. In light of the continuous impact of COVID-19, the 10th Beijing Xiangshan Forum will be put off once again. To enhance academic exchanges and cooperation and assemble the wisdom of experts and scholars from different countries, the Secretariat of Beijing Xiangshan Forum will continue to hold video workshops from October 25 to 26 in Beijing. Themed on Pursuing Cooperation and Mutual Benefit, Promoting Global Security Governance, the workshops consist of six panels, namely, Major-Country Relations and Asia-Pacific Security, Multilateralism and International System, Roles of Medium and Small Countries in International Security, Impact of the Afghanistan Situation on Regional Security, Strategic Stability: Dilemma and Way Out, and International Security Cooperation in the Context of COVID-19. Amid changing COVID-19 dynamics and international situation, the video workshops are committed to carrying forward the philosophy of win-win cooperation and having in-depth discussions on international security hotspots with the experts. We will focus on cooperation, deepen exchanges and contribute wisdom and strength in jointly responding to global security challenges and maintaining international peace and stability. Question: On September 13, 2016, at the inaugural meeting of the PLA Joint Logistic Support Force (JLSF) in Beijing, President Xi Jinping presented the military flag and gave instructions to Wuhan Joint Logistic Support Base and other joint logistic support centers. President Xi underlined that the JLSF should accelerate force building in accordance with the requirements of joint operations, joint training and joint support and strive to build a strong and modernized joint logistic support force. Please introduce what the JLSF has achieved since its establishment in the military reform. Answer: As the mainstay force in providing joint logistic support and carrying out strategic and operational support, the Joint Logistic Support Force is an important part of the modern military force structure with Chinese characteristics. Established in September 2016 as one of the PLA's services and arms, the JLSF is under the direct leadership and administration of the CMC. Over the past five years, the JLSF has firmly followed President Xi's instructions and resolutely obeyed the Party's command. To build a strong and modernized joint logistic support force, the JLSF puts its focus on fighting and winning wars, makes pioneering efforts in promoting reforms and innovations and provides quality and efficient support. Firstly, the joint logistic support system has been reshaped in the reform. The JLSF has set up a joint support system in compliance with the new joint operations system, reorganized force strength with a steady pace, straightened out the relations between the providers and receivers of joint logistic support, and defined the scopes and functions of different arms of the JLSF. The force structure has transformed from logistic forces scattered in different regions into a joint logistic support force directly led by the CMC. The support mode has changed from mainly supporting the PLA Army into supporting all the services and arms, and the function has shifted from focusing on providing living materials support for troops to providing logistic support for combat. In this way, the JLSF has formed an integrated operational pattern of serving the whole military in both peacetime and wartime, and given full play to the advantages of the joint logistic support system that supports the theater commands in operations and the services in developing capabilities and serves all the service members of the PLA. Secondly, military training and readiness has been strengthened in an all-round way in the transformation. The JLSF has pressed forward to improve its integrated joint support capacity and made great efforts to provide joint logistic support for different strategic directions and special missions. The scope of joint support has been expanded and transformed to new type and new areas of combat forces. The JLSF is working to build itself into a multifunctional force engaged in military logistics, transportation and projection, and medical service. The JLSF has been proactive in participating in joint military exercises, training and competitions held at home and abroad and has established training exercises such as the "Joint Logistic Mission" and the "Mastery of Skills for Joint Logistic Professions". It has blazed a new trail of military training with joint logistic characteristics, and made its operational functions, joint support nature and force identification more prominent. Finally, its joint support capabilities have been strengthened in fulfilling missions. The JLSF provides all-area support for the theater commands in performing emergency response and combat readiness tasks, and effectively supports important military operations in international peacekeeping, counterterrorism, stability maintenance, and emergency rescue and disaster relief. In particular, in the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, the JLSF fought on the front-line as a very important force. It led and managed three special hospitals including the Huoshenshan Hospital in Wuhan and played an important role in defending Wuhan. The integration and efficiency of its joint logistic support capabilities stood the test of the emergency. In addition, the JLSF actively participates in international cooperation against the pandemic. It sent medical experts to Pakistan and Cambodia, provided medical supplies such as protective gears and face masks and COVID-19 vaccines to many countries, and conducted video conference to share experience in fighting the COVID-19 epidemic with militaries of multiple countries, making a contribution to the building of a global community of health for all. Question: On September 10, when taking a phone call from his US counterpart, Joseph R. Biden, Chinese President Xi Jinping pointed out that relevant departments of the two nations may continue their engagement and dialogue to add more positive factors to bilateral relations. According to Reuters, a US deputy assistant secretary of defense recently had a video conference with a leader of Chinas Office for International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission (OIMC, CMC). A Pentagon official stated that this was the first time a senior defense official in the Biden administration had held talks with the Chinese military. Despite tensions between the two countries, the communication between the Chinese and American militaries has been maintained. What is your comment on this, please? Answer: The China-US military-to-military relationship is an important part of their state-to-state relations. As we all know, due to the constant US provocations and containment against China, the China-US military relationship is now facing manifold difficulties and challenges. However, the two militaries have always maintained communication. On August 19th, a leader of the OIMC, CMC of China and US deputy assistant secretary of defense had a video conference. On September 28 and 29, a leader of OIMC, CMC of China and US deputy assistant secretary of defense held another video conference to co-chair the 16th China-US Defense Policy Coordination Talks. During the two interactions, the two sides exchanged in-depth views on the relations between the two countries and two militaries, and on issues of common interest. The Chinese side has stressed on many occasions that we develop bilateral military relations on the premise that China's sovereignty, dignity and core interests are not to be violated. We welcome communication and cooperation, face up to differences and oppose coercion. We have always been open-minded and acted on what we say. Whereas, the US side has serious problems with the cognition of China, itself and the world today, which is the root cause of the current difficult situation in the relations between the two countries and two militaries. As a US saying goes, The time is always right to do what is right. We hope that the US side has the courage to correct its mistakes, and join hands with China to provide a good answer to the question of how to have sound China-US relations, so as to bring benefits to the peoples of both countries and the rest of the world. By Wang Shushen Photo taken on July 21, 2019 from Xiangshan Mountain shows the Taipei 101 skyscraper in Taipei, China's Taiwan. [Photo/Xinhua] On Saturday President Xi Jinping delivered a speech at a gathering to mark the 110th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911. One hundred and ten years ago, revolutionaries led by Sun Yat-sen overthrew the Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), putting an end to the absolute monarchy that had dominated China for several thousand years. The 1911 Revolution reflected the desire of the Chinese people to achieve political independence, realize the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and promote social change in the country. The significance of the 1911 Revolution has been recognized by both sides of the Taiwan Straits, and Chinese people across the Straits should commemorate the historic achievement together. In the important speech, President Xi emphasized national reunification by peaceful means best serves China's interests. He said that the Taiwan question arose out of the weakness and chaos of the Chinese nation, and it will be resolved as national rejuvenation becomes a reality. Sun Yat-sen called for efforts to revitalize the Chinese nation and safeguard the integrity and unity of the country, and hoped that China would keep pace with the times and rank among the world's top nations in the future. The Communist Party of China has faithfully inherited and staunchly carried forward what Sun Yat-sen wished. China has proceeded from "standing up to getting rich to becoming powerful". And the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation has become an integral part of China's journey. Over the past 70-odd years, cross-Straits relations have seen tense confrontations, thaw and peaceful exchanges. But healthy cross-Straits relations are of fundamental interest to people on both sides of the Straits and to the benefit of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The Chinese mainland will stick to the path. Upholding the idea that people on both sides of the Straits are one family, the mainland has been creating opportunities of growth for Taiwan, and giving the mainland and island residents and enterprises the same treatment. Irrespective of the difficulties, cross-Straits exchanges should never be stopped. Despite the attempts of Taiwan's ruling Democratic Progressive Party to undermine cross-Straits ties, the mainland has kept offering preferential policies in a bid to garner the support of more Taiwan residents, especially those who study, work, and live on the mainland, to realize the national rejuvenation. As Sun Yat-sen said, a unified China has been imprinted on the minds of the Chinese people. The leader of the 1911 Revolution said unification was the hope of all Chinese people, and they would benefit if the nation unified, and suffer if it did not. But since assuming power in May 2016, the pro-independence DPP has been advancing its political agenda of "Taiwan independence" and has thus deteriorated cross-Straits relations and harmed the interests of Taiwan residents. There is only one China, and Taiwan is a part of China. This fact can never be changed, and the international community including the United Nations acknowledges it. The commemoration of the 1911 Revolution will enhance the idea across the Straits that reunification is in the fundamental interest of the Chinese nation and people on both sides should oppose the secessionist forces on the island and work for peaceful reunification. China has undergone great political changes since the 1911 Revolution, and the Chinese people today will not allow any power to interfere in the internal affairs of the country and check the rise of the Chinese nation. The key to achieving national reunification is to prevent foreign forces from meddling in the Taiwan question. In the pursuit of "Taiwan independence" in order to fulfill its narrow political interests, the DPP has refused to acknowledge the 1992 Consensus that there is only one China and is serving as a pawn of the United States against the mainland. And the US has used this as an excuse to intensify efforts to heighten tensions across the Straits. History shows that Taiwan's future depends on the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation rather than on foreign forces. And the DPP's attempts to seek "independence" with the help of the US is doomed to failure, because the mainland will never let that happen. The commemoration of the 1911 Revolution will help refresh the common memory of compatriots on the both sides of the Straits and boost their emotional connection. Taiwan compatriots should realize the island's future lies in reunification and national rejuvenation. That is also the call of history. The author is an associate researcher at the Institute of Taiwan Studies, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The views don't necessarily represent those of China Daily. China and Russia issued a foreign ministers' Joint Statement on Strengthening the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BWC) on October 7. The statement stressed China and Russia's firm resolve to defend the convention and expressed serious concerns about America's military biological activities. It noted that military biological activities conducted by the US on and outside its national territory pose serious security risks for China, Russia, and other relevant countries and regions. It also urged the US to clarify its military biological activities at home and overseas in an open, transparent and responsible manner, to stop obstructing the establishment of a verification regime, and to accept supervision and verification. Boasting the strongest biotech and military strengths, the US has inherited the biological weapon R&D program from Unit 731 and has continued to develop biological weapons after joining the BWC. Fort Detrick is called the darkest experimental center. Moreover, the US military has set up more than 200 biological labs in Central Asia, East Asia, Southeast Asia, Eastern Europe, the Middle East and Africa that have caused extensive protests. A new lawsuit was recently filed against US troops stationed in ROK for their military biological activities. In August this year, the Chinese government officially requested the WHO to investigate Fort Detrick and submitted relevant documents enumerating the many suspicions about the base, all of which came from official documents, media reports and academic papers that can be obtained in the public domain. One can only imagine how astonished the world will be once more secrets are unveiled from behind the scene. Yet the US, in face of so many suspicions and doubts, has been rejecting the verification. In 2001, the international community was about to reach a consensus on a protocol that includes a verification mechanism to the BWC after seven years of hard negotiations, but the US unexpectedly declared that biological activities were technologically unverifiable, and unilaterally pulled out of the negotiations. It is the only country that has refused to re-start the negotiations in the past 20 years, lending a heavy blow to the effectiveness and authority of the BWC. At the BWC conference held in early September, more than 100 countries, including China and Russia, called for the resumption of negotiations for a verification protocol so as to establish a verification regime at an early date. However, the US alone has continued to resist the call in stubborn opposition to the entire international community. It called the international general concerns for its military biological activities the spread of disinformation. Ironically, while the US is trying hard to keep the lid on its wrongdoings and avoid the verification, it spares no efforts in the politically driven origin tracing of novel coronavirus against China. Even after the WHO experts came to the authoritative conclusive that a lab leak of the virus at the Wuhan Institute of Virology was extremely unlikely, the US has insisted on hyping up the lab leak theory. That was sheer double standards. If biological activities were unverifiable, an origin tracing probe in China clamored by the US would be meaningless but downright political extortion; if biological activities were verifiable, the US had no reason to oppose the establishment of the verification regime or to refuse the verification itself. A major country should act like one. It should practice real multilateralism and set an example for observing international law. The military biological activities by the US are a significant issue concerning international peace and security and the security interests of all countries. The US is obligated to respond to international concerns. Justice will never be denied. The BWC must be preserved and a verification mechanism must be established. Americas military biological activities must be addressed, now! By Mei Shixiong and Zhong Chongling HOHHOT, Oct. 9 -- As the last railway transportation echelon entered Manzhouli on October 8, all Chinese participating troops in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Peace Mission-2021 joint anti-terrorism military exercise returned to China. The Chinese participating troops returned to China in batches by air and railway transportation. After that, they will make thorough review in terms of planning and decision-making, cross-border delivery, joint operations and comprehensive support to find shortcomings and sum up successful experience to improve the capability of carrying out tasks independently abroad. This exercise is a routine exercise within the framework of the SCO and was held at the Donguz training range in Russias Orenburg Region from September 11 to 25. Armed forces from SCO member states including China, Russia, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Kyrgyzstan, India, Pakistan and Uzbekistan participated in the drill. China sent 558 troops to the exercise. By Andrew Korybko Submariners standing on top of the Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut in the water at Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton, Washington, May 7, 2018. /Getty Editor's note: Andrew Korybko is a Moscow-based American political analyst. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily those of CGTN. The U.S. Navy revealed that one of its nuclear submarines recently collided with an unknown object while secretly traveling through the South China Sea (SCS). This accident is significant since it speaks to the regional dangers of the U.S.' saber-rattling in the region, in light of its newfound trilateral military alliance with Australia and the UK, (AUKUS). That surprise pact will see the U.S. and the UK outfit Australia with a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines that will predictably contribute to more of such Western provocations against China. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian reacted to the incident, on October 8, by saying that "We are gravely concerned about the incident. As the party involved, the U.S. should clarify in specific details what happened, including the exact location of the incident, the U.S. side's navigation intention, the details of the incident, the object the submarine struck, whether the collision caused a nuclear leak or damaged local marine environment, etc." He's absolutely right too since the world deserves to urgently know exactly what happened last weekend. The U.S.' provocative employment of nuclear submarines to secretly infringe on China's maritime territory in the SCS not only runs the risk of triggering a war between these two major powers by miscalculation, but also of causing an ecological catastrophe. Quite clearly, the U.S. Navy isn't professional enough to operate these vessels, let alone in another country's waters where it doesn't have enough information to safely transit. It's frightening to imagine what might have happened had this accident been worse than it reportedly was. These fears are heightened by the fact that AUKUS will likely result in those three countries sending more nuclear submarines to the region in the future. Now is the time to prevent that from happening in the interests of the region's military and especially ecological security. Nobody should violate China's maritime territory, let alone those who are located in the other corner of Asia like Australia, the other side of Eurasia like the UK, or the other side of the planet like the U.S. More accidents will happen if these provocations aren't stopped. A Chinese H-6K bomber patrolling islands and reefs in the South China Sea. /Xinhua It's important to point out that last week's incident still occurred despite the U.S. Navy's decades-long experience of operating such vessels, which makes one wonder how much more often this will happen when Australia finally takes command of its own fleet and is pushed by its AUKUS allies to immediately dispatch it to the SCS. That would be an ecological disaster in the making. If the U.S. can't even avoid such unnecessary and irresponsible accidents, then Australia is bound to have them too, if not repeatedly. Asia can only remain stable and fulfill its destiny as one of the world's leading economic centers so long as foreign powers stop militarily meddling in this region. Nuclear submarines should never be used as a form of pressure against any country. That's very dangerous as can now be seen, mostly considering the risk of an accident. Even those who might have previously thought very highly of the U.S. Navy's professionalism are likely to question their prior perceptions after what happened. This was truly a shock for the whole world. America's regional allies must understand the risks that they run by supporting their partner's provocative use of nuclear submarines as instruments of anti-China pressure in their region. These nations depend on the high seas for feeding their people and conducting trade. They cannot afford to have a U.S. nuclear submarine suffer an accident in or near their maritime territory. That would devastate their countries by poisoning a significant portion of their food supply and possibly interfering with freedom of navigation. The solution is for the U.S. to second guess the wisdom of its dangerous military provocations against China. These don't just threaten China, but also America's regional allies and even its own sailors as last weekend's accident proves. The progress that was made on correcting the course of China-U.S. relations after this week's meeting between their representatives in Switzerland should be built upon stabilizing the SCS and remove the risk of any ecological threats caused by the U.S.' nuclear submarines within that area. Chinese Ambassador to the U.S. Qin Gang. /Embassy of the People's Republic of China in the United States of America The Chinese ambassador to the U.S. Qin Gang advised Washington to leave "007-style" Cold War playbooks to Hollywood movies after the CIA announced it has created a new mission center to deal with China. Qin made the remarks during an interview with Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV in Washington, D.C. on Friday. The CIA earlier this week announced a number of structural changes, including a Mission Center for China to "further strengthen collective work on the most important geopolitical threat we face in the 21st century." The Chinese ambassador said the U.S. perceiving China as a threat is the "most serious miscalculation." He added that it goes against what U.S. President Joe Biden noted in his recent phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping that both countries need to avoid miscommunication, miscalculation and unintended conflict. "Shouldn't the Cold War playbook, travestied from 007 movies, be just left to Hollywood blockbusters? Some people in the U.S., immersed in their delusions that they are James Bond per se, simply can't resist the urge to act out their own play," Qin said according to a statement on the diplomatic mission's website. The diplomat also expressed his hope that the agreement that both presidents reached to properly manage differences and get bilateral relations back on track "can get earnestly followed and implemented." Japan's new Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said on Friday he had agreed in his first talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping since taking office on the need to work together on issues of shared concern. "I frankly raised concerns between both countries from my side, and I suggested we should continue dialogue in the future," Kishida said in comments aired by public broadcaster NHK after he spoke with Xi on the telephone. Kishida said the issues he had raised included the disputed islands that are known in Japan as the Senkaku and in China as the Diaoyu, as well as Hong Kong and Beijing's treatment of the Uyghurs in Xinjiang. He did not elaborate on what was said. "Xi and I agreed to work together on various shared issues, including North Korea," Kishida, a former foreign minister, also said about the 30-minute talks. "I think what the government doesn't know is that the abuses of power that we live through only fuel my determination to hold on to my rights," Ressa told VOA. "I'm not voluntarily giving up my rights, and my task as a journalist, like yours, is to hold power to account." But Ressa, as noted by the Nobel committee, has remained tireless in her work, focusing on disinformation in social media and reporting on President Rodrigo Duterte's controversial anti-drug campaign. Ressa and Rappler have also documented how social media is being used to spread fake news, harass opponents, and manipulate public discourse. In an interview with VOA earlier this year, Ressa detailed multiple travel bans and government cases against her. "All told, all these charges carry a maximum penalty cumulatively... I think it's like 103 years," she said. In a statement, the committee said Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, co-founder and executive editor of digital media company Rappler, is being recognized for her fearless use of freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country. "I'm a little shocked. It's really emotional," Ressa told reporters shortly after the announcement. At a ceremony in Oslo, Norwegian Nobel Committee Chair Berit Reiss-Andersen announced the winners, saying, "Ms. Ressa and Mr. Muratov are receiving the Peace Prize for their courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines and in Russia." The Norwegian Nobel Committee Friday awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to journalists Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia "for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace." The committee honored Russian journalist Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov for his decades-long defense of freedom of speech in Russia under increasingly challenging conditions. In 1993, he co-founded the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta and has been its editor in chief since 1995. It is considered the most independent newspaper in Russia today, with a fundamentally critical attitude towards power. But since its beginnings, six of Muratov's colleagues have been killed. "I am absolutely convinced that this award is not mine. I am the incorrect beneficiary," Muratov told VOA in a phone call on Friday. "This prize belongs to Yuri Shchekochikhin, Igor Domnikov, Anna Politkovskaya, Stas Markelov, Anastasia Baburova, Natalya Estemirov... It's their award. Simple as that," he said, listing his colleagues who have been killed. The committee said the newspaper's fact-based journalism and professional integrity have made it an important source of information on censurable aspects of Russian society. It has published critical articles on subjects including corruption, police violence, unlawful arrests, electoral fraud and the use of Russian military forces both within and outside Russia. The Kremlin congratulated Muratov on his win Friday in a statement that many critics called ironic given Moscow's targeting of his colleagues and journalists in general. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 17 journalists were killed in the Philippines and 23 in Russia over the last decade. CPJ congratulated both recipients and applauded the Nobel committee for spotlighting the importance of press freedom. "There are a lot of challenges we face in the world today -- we're in the middle of a pandemic, we're grappling with climate change. So, the fact that they singled out journalism and press freedom as a key concern, I think really sends a powerful message," Joel Simon, executive director of CPJ, told VOA. "We can't solve any of these problems if we're not informed, if we don't have information, and if we don't engage with the world -- and journalists are the conduit through which people inform themselves." UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres also congratulated both journalists in a statement Friday, stressing the importance of a free press worldwide. "No society can be free and fair without journalists who are able to investigate wrongdoing, bring information to citizens, hold leaders accountable and speak truth to power," he said. "Yet anti-media rhetoric -- and attacks against media workers -- continue to rise," he added, noting "growing violence and harassment" against journalists across the globe. The two journalists will share a $1.1 million cash prize. The Nobel Prizes for medicine, physics, chemistry, and literature have also been awarded this week. The prize for economics will be awarded Monday. The awards will all be formally presented in December. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the academy announced this year's ceremony will be a mixture of digital and physical events. Laureates will receive their Nobel Prize medals and diplomas in their home countries. A growing number of young viewers are speeding up the films and TV shows they watch on streaming services, an option that has come in for heavy criticism from creators. Office worker Park Min-sun (27) took just five hours to watch all nine episodes of Netflix's hit series "Squid Game" over Chuseok, even though they are on average about 50 minutes long. Park played the dystopian thriller at 1.25 times speed and fast-forwarded the "boring parts." "Everybody I know was talking about 'Squid Game' and I didn't want to invest too much time watching it," she admits. "I fast-forwarded many parts, but didn't miss key scenes." Otter saves visitors cell phone By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-10-09 16:52 A likeable otter in the Shanghai Wild Animal Park has become a celebrity online after it cleverly rescued a visitors cell phone from the water. The incident happened at around 12:00 on October 7, when a tourist accidentally dropped his mobile phone into the pool. Named Youtiao, the Asian small-clawed otter rushed over, retrieved the phone immediately from the water, and handed it over to its breeder who then returned it to the tourist. According to the staff, animals in the Shanghai Wild Animal Park get routine training, so that they can cooperate with treatment in case of diseases. They will also act as ecological protection educators. For instance, after being trained, the otters can pick up rubbish (not real trash but some props) from the pool to promote environmental protection among the visitors. Therefore, when the visitors phone dropped into the water, Youtiao thought that there was trash in the water again, so it rushed over and fetched the cell phone. (Photos/Shanghai Observer) Nobel laureates short stories become famous overnight in Chinas online bookstores By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-10-09 16:48 And the winner is Abdulrazak Gurnah! The announcement of the winner of the 2021 Nobel Prize in Literature on the evening of October 7 (Beijing time) has made the figure from Tanzania famous across the world. Who is Abdulrazak Gurnah? Born in 1948 on the island of Zanzibar off the coast of East Africa, he went to the UK as a student in 1968 at the age of 20 and now teaches literature at the University of Kent. He is associate editor of the journal Wasafiri. He is most famous for his fourth novel,Paradise(1994), which is set in colonial East Africa during the First World War and was shortlisted for the Booker Prize for Fiction.By the Sea(2001) and Desertion(2005) were shortlisted for the Los Angeles Times Book Prize and the Booker Prize for Fiction. However, his novels havent been fully translated into Chinese. But there is another book related to Abdulrazak Gurnah that has been paid attention to by Chinese bookworms."A Selection of African Short Stories" translated by Zha Mingjian has been priced at 980 yuan on an online shopping platform for second-hand books. In the book, two of Abdulrazak Gurnahs novels have been selected. Due to the limited inventory, the second-hand English version of "A Selection of African Short Stories" is now for sale at around 100 yuan. SS2022 Shanghai Fashion Week starts By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-10-09 16:53 The SS2022 Shanghai Fashion Week (SHFW) opened last night. Themed Eternal Runway, it expresses the attitude and expectations from Shanghai Fashion Week during the pandemic. The SS2021 SHFW Schedule hosts over 90 brands showcases and over 100 clothing line debuts in the citys fashion landmarks such as Xintiandi, 800 SHOW Creative Park and Jing'an Kerry Centre. Whats more, in the trade fair schedule, the MODE Shanghai Fashion Tradeshow will celebrate its 12th edition. Centering on the fashion industry, other sectional events will take place in the downtown, bringing fashion to the public. After successful digital collaborations with TMALL in late March this year, Shanghai Fashion Week will continue this partnership to bring the influence of fashion week to a wider consumer audience, both physically and digitally. (Video by Cao Lei, Liu Hao) Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. 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Alternative names are web bug , tracking bug, tracking pixel, pixel tag, 11 gif, and clear gif. HTML Mail It is the practice of Gleaner Online,Go-Jamaica's to include web beacons in HTML-formatted email messages (messages that include graphics) that Gleaner Online,Go-Jamaica, sends in order to determine which email messages were opened and to note whether a message was acted upon. For our full Terms and Conditions governing all our sites see. http://www.go-jamaica.com/termsofservice.html . US President Joe Biden plans to invite Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga to the White House for a summit meeting as soon as April, Axios reported Wednesday. If finalized, it would be Mr. Biden first face-to-face meeting with a foreign leader since t... Researchers from St. Petersburg State University in Russia have developed a new type of polymer-based solid battery that can be charged in a few seconds. This new type of battery "excellent performance" in the case of fast charging and low temperature wo... According to Russian Satellite Network reports, on the 26th local time, Russian President Putin and US President Biden had a call. This was the first call between the two parties after Biden took office. The Kremlin Information Bureau announced that Puti... Press Release October 8, 2021 Gordon files candidacy for Senate re-election With the fervor to continue to transform the Philippines' depressing state due to the COVID-19 pandemic to a faster and stronger nation, Senator Richard J. Gordon today filed his candidacy through his lawyer to seek re-election in the Senate. He was not present to tend to his immunocompromised spouse, Katherine, and was represented by Atty. Inky Reyes during the official filing of his Certificate of Candidacy for Senator at Hotel Sofitel Manila this afternoon. Gordon, 76, is seeking to have a new and fresh mandate for another six-year term, which will stretch his clean and efficient brand of public service that had its genesis as the youngest delegate to the 1971 Constitutional Commission. "It has been an honor serving the people over the last five years, but there is so much more to be accomplished. I am seeking re-election because there is still a lot of work to do for this great country," he said. "Ito ang nais ko: maging instrumento para sana magkaisa. Kahit anong kulay ka, kaliwa ka man o kanan, sa harap ka man o sa likod magkakasama tayo. Walang maiiwan," he added. As an effective lawmaker in the 17th and 18th Congress, Gordon has authored and co-authored a total of 48 laws, 116 resolutions, and 146 bills. Land-based and sea-based Overseas Filipino Workers are now eligible for pension through the Social Security Act of 2018, judicial cases have been sped up due to the Judges-at-Large Act, and small-time offenders given a new lease on life through the Community Service Act of 2019. Driver's licenses' validity was extended to five years, passports to a decade, and small farmers got free irrigation services, all thanks to laws authored by Gordon. In addition to his lawmaking duties, Gordon has also been serving as chairman of the powerful Senate Blue Ribbon Committee, leading to dramatic exposes and punishment for those who have erred in government. He also chairs the Senate committees on justice and human rights, and on government corporations and public enterprises. Currently, Gordon is on top of the Senate's investigation of Pharmally Pharmaceutical Corporation, an upstart company accused of entering shady deals with government, providing substandard personal protective equipment at an overprice. Gordon merely shrugged off the distractions created by the executive department, as the committee is nearing completion of a preliminary report stemming from the weeks-long inquiry that has captivated the country. It may be recalled that Gordon led the Senate investigation that led to Sandiganbayan convicting two of the highest-positioned Bureau of Immigration commissioners, and a retired police colonel involved in accepting PhP50 million bribes in exchange for the release of 1,316 undocumented Chinese nationals in November 2016. He also led the Senate investigation into PhP6.4-billion worth of drug importations through the Port of Manila, which has led to the expulsion of numerous crooks at the Bureau of Customs. Another anomaly discovered was the issuance of the irrevocable Good Conduct Time Allowance release to prisoners in exchange for bribes to several officials of the Bureau of Corrections. In his first term as Senator, the US$700 million NBN-ZTE deal was cancelled altogether after a blue ribbon inquiry discovered that there was an overprice, and an apparent attempt of several high-ranking government officials to profit from the deal. Gordon's recommendations also led to the PhP1.16 million return of Sanofi for the care of children who may have experience adverse side effects from the Dengvaxia jab. Aside from being a legislator, Gordon has continued to respond to the primary concern of the Filipino families in staying healthy by serving as volunteer chairman and chief executive officer of the Philippine Red Cross (PRC), a position he has held since 2004. Since the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic in January 2020, Gordon rallied the PRC to augment the country's response, acquiring testing kits and ambulances during the first month of the pandemic. The PRC has continued to serve as the country's largest testing facility, which has completed millions of swab tests in molecular laboratories scattered across the nation. "Hindi tayo mapapagod upang pagsilbihan ang ating mahal na taumbayan. Lalaban at babangon tayong muli," mentioned Gordon. Press Release October 9, 2021 De Lima files certificate of candidacy for Senator On October 8, 2021, Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima filed her certificate of candidacy for Senator in the May 2022 elections through her Official Representative and Spokesperson, Atty. Dino de Leon. De Lima, who remains detained over bogus charges, said that she will continue to fight for the country despite the challenges brought about by her current situation. "It is now four years and seven months since I have been arrested and detained on false charges to silence my voice against a lot of things that were going wrong under what was then the new administration of President Duterte." "But like everything else, that administration is now at the twilight of its power. And as we come nearer to the end, the things that I have warned the whole nation about then are more and more being proven to be true," she said, citing corruption and killings. "Together with VP Leni and under her leadership, I and the other candidates of the Liberal Party and our allies, continue to represent the opposition in this country." "We present the people an alternative to the criminal government that now governs us in the most perverted sense, an alternative that should have been a continuity administration of peace, stability, and progress in 2016," she added. The lady Senator from Bicol said she is seeking re-election to help stand the country back on its feet, strengthen the fight against violence and injustice and continue pushing for her advocacies "Personally, even as I fight my own battle for my freedom, I cannot but also join the struggle of our people against injustice and oppression. My battle since 2016 when I was persecuted and then imprisoned goes hand in hand with the people's struggle for justice and progress," she said. "I cannot but realize that this is what my whole being is now all about, this struggle to free myself and the Filipino people from this curse that has all but destroyed our nation," she added. Moreover, De Lima said she wants to ensure that the Duterte government will be made accountable for the complete mess it made out of the country's economy and people's security, and for its many sins against the people, including mass murder and treason. "Ang laban ni Leila ay ang ipaglaban ang Pilipino. Ikinulong man ako at binusalan, patuloy pa rin ang aking pag-alay sa sariling buhay at kalayaan para sa ating bayan. Kung sa sakripisyo at pagsubok, palagay ko po ay akin nang napatunayan ang aking kakayahan na iangat ang kapakanan ng bayan sa pansarili kong interes," she said. Welcome Guest! You Are Here: PEOPLES ALLIANCE FOR GUPKAR DECLARATION Srinagar, 08 October, 2021 A meeting of the Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration was convened today at the residence of Dr. Farooq Abdullah to take stock of the current situation prevailing in Jammu & Kashmir. It was attended by Ms. Mehbooba Mufti, Mr. Mohammad Yousuf Tarigami and Justice (Retd) Hasnain Masoodi. The PAGD unreservedly condemns the recent killings of innocent people in the Valley. These killings have created a climate of fear that has not been seen in Kashmir since the early 90s. The current situation prevailing in Jammu & Kashmir is the result of the failure of the policies of the government that have brought Jammu & Kashmir to this point. Whether it was demonetization or removal of Article 370, these decisions were sold to the country as a solution to the problems of militancy and alienation in Kashmir. Today it has been shown that without any doubt that neither demonetization nor the removal of Article 370 have contributed to improving the security situation in J&K. In fact, some recent decisions of the Jammu & Kashmir administration have only served to heighten differences between the communities that otherwise were living peacefully amongst each other. The onus to create a conducive security environment lies with the Government of India, however, we as responsible political parties of Jammu & Kashmir will play our role to the best of our ability to reduce the levels of suspicion and fear. While it is true that the majority of the civilian deaths in Kashmir have been Muslims, it does not absolve us of our responsibility to do everything in our power to help those who belong to religious minorities feel secure and we appeal to those who may be considering fleeing the Valley to reconsider their decision. In the meeting of Political Leaders with the Honble Prime Minister on 24th June, 2021, the Prime Minister acknowledged "Dil Ki Doori ore Dili Say Doori while promising to correct this distance. Unfortunately, nothing has been done in this regard since that meeting. Arbitrary detentions and excessive use of force continue to be the norm in Jammu and Kashmir. The killing of Yasir Ali yesterday evening is the direct result of the heightened state of alert and justification for use of force. Harassment of innocent civilians and the killings like Yasir Ali will only serve to worsen the situation in Jammu & Kashmir. The administration must do everything possible to ensure that shoot at sight policy is not adopted by the Security Forces. Sd/- M.Y Tarigami Spokesperson Seguin, TX (78155) Today Windy with a mix of clouds and sun. Slight chance of a rain shower. High near 65F. Winds NNE at 20 to 30 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 44F. Winds NNE at 10 to 15 mph. The 2021 Lexington Selected Yearling Sale continued on Friday evening (Oct. 8) with trotting colt Kountry Jon topping the fourth session in Lexington, Kentucky. Selling as Hip 624, Kountry Jon was purchased for $200,000 by Philip Scott of Chesterfield, New Jersey. Consigned by Anvil And Lace Farm, acting as agent, the Father Patrick colt is the first foal out of the Swedish-bred Varenne mare Caddie In Love S. American Cruiser, Hip 683, also garnered a six-figure bid of $140,000 from Megan Scran, agent for Greg Luther, of Campbell Hall, New York. The Brittany Farms-bred colt by American Ideal is the first foal out of the unraced Captaintreacherous mare Lady Captain. His dam is a half-sister to Breeders Crown champions Luck Be Withyou ($1,463,996, 1:47.4) and American Jewel ($1,834,823, 1:48.2), a two-time O'Brien Award winner. Carry The Day, Hip 644, rounded out the top three highest priced yearlings of the session, selling for $85,000. Consigned by agent Diamond Creek, the Father Patrick-Winning Missbrenda colt was purchased by Marcus Melander, acting as agent for Brixton Medical, of New Egypt, New Jersey. Carry The Day is a half-sibling to multiple Grand Circuit stakes winner Win Missy B ($1,595,769, 1:52) and Winning Mister ($1,142,759, 1:51.3). A total of 165 yearlings were sold on the fourth day of the auction for $4,771,000, resulting in an average price of $28,915 -- down from last year's day four average of $36,094. Over the course of the first four sessions, 715 yearlings have gone through the sales ring with gross sales ($51,407,000) and average price ($71,898) up significantly compared to last year when 648 yearlings sold for $36,609,000, averaging $56,495. The five-day auction will wrap up with the final session on Saturday, beginning at 7 p.m. (EDT) at the Fasig-Tipton Newtown Paddocks. Complete information can be found in the sale catalog, available at lexingtonselected.com and on the Equineline sales catalog app. IMPORTANT LINKS Sortable Sale Roster Yearling Sale Catalogue (PDF) Outs List Sale Results Online Bidding (via Proxibid) Sale Streaming Video (Active during the sale and will also appear below) Friday was quite a night for Batavia Downs' leading driver Jim Morrill Jr., who won seven of the nine races on the card, including six consecutive from race two through race seven. Morrill started his consecutive six-pack with Silver Buckeye (2:00.1, $4.20) and continued with Kings Treasure (1:55, $23.60), Hey Kobe (1:56.2, $5.20), Silver Hill Blaze (1:57.1, $5.50), Mach Of Shame (1:58.3, $4) and Majestic Kat (1:58.3, $5). He then closed out his lucky seven with Lucky King (1:56, $2.90) in race nine. Morrill is far and away the leading dash driver at the current Batavia meet now with 73 wins, which is 40 more wins than his nearest competitor, Kevin Cummings, who has 33. Also, Morrill now has 7,689 lifetime wins and is nearing the $110 million mark in earnings. The one race Morrill didn't win on Friday was the featured $12,300 Open I Handicap Trot that went to Barn Hall (Kevin Cummings), who sat chilly behind last week's winner Mugshots Bro (Shawn McDonough) for seven-eighths of the mile until he pulled at the top of the stretch and just got by at the wire by a quarter-length in 1:55, which was a new lifetime mark for the winner. Barn Hall ($11.60) is owned by his trainer Steve Pratt along with Nancy Pratt, the Purple Haze Stable and the Out In The Country Stable. When live racing resumes at Batavia Downs on Saturday, Oct. 9, there will be two healthy carryovers available. With no single unique winning ticket purchased in the Pick-5 on Friday night (Oct. 8), there is a carryover of $7,010 for that bet in race nine and with the same situation occurring in the Jackpot Pick-6, another carryover of $1,441 will be in place for that wager in race four. Free full past performance programs for the entire card -- that includes these races -- can also be downloaded at bataviadownsgaming.com under the 'Live Racing' tab, where they can be found for every live night of racing at Batavia Downs. Post time for the first race is 5 p.m. (Batavia Downs) Expo 2020 Dubai has hit a major milestone to host one of the most sustainable World Expos in history after receiving official certification from leading international independent assessment body the International Organisation for Standardisation (ISO) for its site-wide sustainable event management processes. Attainment of ISO 20121:2012 Event Sustainability Management Systems verifies that Expo 2020 Dubai, which is the first-ever World Expo to be held in the region, has embedded sustainability one of the mega-events three key subthemes across its entire lifecycle. The certification is specifically designed for events and aims to optimise sustainability opportunities, and minimise impacts across the environment, communities and the local economy. This milestone comes soon after numerous infrastructure projects across Expo 2020 Dubai were awarded the highest sustainability ratings from civil engineering assessment giant Ceequal, including Al Wasl Plaza, the beating heart of the Expo site, and its 130-metre x 67.5-metre dome home to the worlds largest 360-degree projection surface. Whether its the environmental optimisation of its site-wide infrastructure or the sourcing of sustainable products, Expo 2020 Dubai is pushing the boundaries of sustainability at a local, regional and global level placing sustainability issues, such as water, energy, waste, ecology, materials and carbon, at the centre of its operations and visitor experiences. World-leading third-party testing, inspection and certification services provider Bureau Veritas completed the audit, the final crucial step in achieving certification. Dina Storey, Director, Sustainability Operations, Expo 2020 Dubai, said: "Sustainability is an area we see as fundamental to the future of humanity. As such, it is one of our key subthemes, and our commitment to sustainability is reflected in all aspects of our journey to create a meaningful impact that reaches beyond the Expo 2020 Dubai site and beyond the six months of the event." "Attaining ISO 20121 certification to host one of the most sustainable World Expos in history is a testament to the hard work, dedication and excellence of our site-wide team. It fulfils the UAEs commitment, which was made to the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) during the bid phase, and continues to honour the UAEs visionary leadership in positioning the UAE as a pioneer in the green economy and sustainable development." Marcel Hochar, Senior VP Bureau Veritas Middle East Region, said: "We salute Expo 2020 Dubai for attaining ISO 20121 certification. With this certification, the event organisers have made a strong statement about the importance of sustainability in their event management approach." "For nearly 200 years, we have supported our clients to ensure that their assets, products, infrastructure and processes meet standards and regulations in terms of quality, health and safety, environmental protection and social responsibility," noted Hochar. "We are proud to positively contribute to the world we live in and support organisations in their journey toward more sustainable business and a more sustainable world. This collaboration with Expo 2020 Dubai further illustrates how sustainability plays a critical role in every aspect of the mega-event, benefiting its partners, guests and society as a whole," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Joramco, the Amman-based maintenance, repair, and overhaul (MRO) provider and the engineering arm of Dubai Aerospace Enterprise (DAE), has appointed Fraser Currie as its new Chief Executive Officer, effective October 1, 2021. Currie joined Joramco in April 2018 as Chief Commercial Officer. Prior to joining Joramco, Currie held the position of Chief Executive Officer at Texel Air, a Bahrain based cargo airline. Currie has 38 years of industry experience, the last 17years of which at senior executive levels. Currie holds an MBA from the Open University. Currie succeeds Jeff Wilkinson, who is taking an expanded role at DAE Engineering to grow the engineering divisions footprint. Currie said: I am delighted to take the helm of such a competent and capable team. Joramco has gone through a very successful transformation over the past few years, and I am looking forward to developing the company further with a clear vision. I would also like to use this opportunity to thank Jeff Wilkinson for his years of commitment and strategic leadership to transform the operational cadence of Joramco and look forward to continue working with him as part of DAEs wider engineering ambition. Jeff Wilkinson commented: I would like to congratulate Fraser Currie on his appointment. Having worked closely together over the last years and significantly growing the revenue and customer base, I am confident that Fraser will lead Joramco into its next phase of growth. TradeArabia News Service The 24th International Union of Judicial Officers (UIHJ) Congress in Dubai in November is expected to adopt the landmark Global Code of Digital Enforcement that will harmonise the process to tackle cybercrime. Hundreds of judicial officers will take part in the Congress scheduled to take place at the Intercontinental Festival City in Dubai from November 22 to 25, 2021. To be held under the patronage of Sheikh Maktoum bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Deputy Ruler of Dubai, and hosted by Dubai Courts, the four-day UIHJ Congress will focus on an important theme Cyberjustice: New opportunities for the judicial officer. The International Union of Judicial Officers Congress (UIHJ) is an international non-governmental organisation incorporated to promote, co-ordinate and develop the activity of the judicial officers internationally in order to safeguard, through closer co-operation between the representative professional organisations on a national level, the dignity and independence towards a better service to persons and to the community. The UIHJ Congress is in line with Dubai Courts instructions to develop cooperation with related organisations in order to provide leading and globally distinguished judicial services, Taresh Eid Al Mansouri, Director-General of Dubai Courts, says. It gives me great pleasure to welcome all participants interested in justice, judiciary and judgments execution. Participants are from numerous full membership countries in the International Union of Judicial Officers, which include 93 countries as full members and 6 countries as observer members. We are all proud, on official and local level, to host this gathering in Dubai for the first time in the region of Middle East and North Africa. There are 93 member or associated member organisations of the UIHJ, from 90 countries. Every three years, the UIHJ organises the international congress of judicial officers, a unique scientific event, and a great opportunity for contacts for the profession of judicial officer. The 24th International Union of Judicial Officers (UIHJ) will help Dubai Courts, which last year received a number of accolades for its stellar performance, including ISO 2020 Certification and Gulf Summit for Human Resources for My Job programme, to demonstrate its advanced judicial services to the rest of the world. Dubai Courts has successfully handled 588,018 judicial transactions through its digital channel in 2020 the year of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Criminal Court of First Instance heard 20,715 cases in 2020, while the Labour Court of First Instance heard 14,945 cases in 2020. The Execution Court heard 122,703 cases while the Appeal Court heard 11,394 cases in 2020, according to Dubai Courts. The total Execution settlements for 2020 amounted to AED558.23 million ($151.98 million) while the Centre for Amicable Settlement of Disputes settled claims of 1,755 cases worth AED4.1 billion with 73% settlement rate. The amount settled in inheritance cases amounted to AED1.21 billion in 2020. The average judgement time for cases have been reduced to 80 days from the first hearing in 2020, down from 91 days in 2018 and 109 days from the date of case registration in 2020, down from 121 days in 2018 making it one of the most efficient courts in the world. Dubai Court has 191 judiciary staff, out of a total 1,112 number of employees, of which 44% are female, who are behind the success of these achievements. Due to Covid-19, Dubai Courts reinforced remote or virtual litigation to ensure that justice is done while combating the spread of the pandemic. The new system allows the litigants and lawyers to carry out their cases through using Abu Dhabi Judicial Departments electronic systems or through registering in Al Salifah application with a documented user account or through all available registration channels. Moreover, all judicial lawsuits, requests and amicable settlement are also done remotely through law firms, outsourcing offices or through the electronic court system. In the new system, all the judicial announcements are sent via SMS or e-mail, and the users account data is collected and approved by the system. Also, all lawsuits are carried out remotely using audiovisual technology which enables the concerned parties to attend the sessions online, exchange documents, and issue the relevant decisions. The availability of the remote litigation channel for all types of civil lawsuits, during 2020, reached (100%), which is the culmination of a series of pioneering achievements made by the Department in the field of developing and automating judicial procedures. Over the past years, Dubai Courts are working according to a systematic plan to comply with the Dubai Government's vision of shifting towards smart government services and contributing to building a paper-free future in 2021. The global judicial community does not have a common global code to tackle this new threat and ensure cyberjustice something that will be the focus of the fourday event. Marc Schmitz, President of UIHJ, says: The world is becoming digitised at the speed of light and the current Covid-19 pandemic is even speeding-up that process. The judicial officer should consider the digital evolution in the judiciary, not only as a challenge but as an opportunity! An opportunity to reinvent themself! Digital enforcement and enforcement of digital assets will become common practice in the near future. But so far, legislation is not keeping pace with the technical evolution! There is a requirement to introduce rules concerning digital enforcement and enforcement of digital assets. And these rules must be harmonised, right from the start on a worldwide level. Solutions on a state-level only, will not be sufficient. The digital world is cross-border. For that reason, consideration of continental and even global harmonisation is crucial. Events like our 24th International Congress can play a central role in this development and generate further considerations. UIHJ can be one of the pioneers and take a leading role by drafting position papers and making recommendations in the field of digital enforcement, Schmitz said. The presentation of a Global Code of digital enforcement, during the 24th International Congress of the UIHJ in Dubai, could become a milestone in its history. It will be the opportunity for the UIHJ to distinguish itself and to inspire the creation of national legislation in the field of digital enforcement and which would be right from the beginning harmonised on a worldwide level. The 24th UIHJ Congress will include an exhibition and will be participated by the stakeholders of social justice. The Congress will hold its Board Meeting, deliberate keynote addresses, panel discussions, workshops and networking events, among others.-- TradeArabia News Service Ultima Collection, a selection of ultra-luxury European properties including private residences, chalets, villas and a five-star superior hotel, has revealed what to look forward to for Ultima Gstaads forthcoming winter season, opening on December 10. The award-winning, 5-star superior hotel in the Swiss Alps will offer a renewed experience across its 11 newly-designed suites with state-of-the-art technologies and bespoke interiors handpicked by the in-house design team. Guests staying in these 11 suites, and the renovated six private residences, can expect a personalised and discreet service while exploring Gstaad. Each one- to two-bedroom suite will include new Baccarat and bronze furnishings, parquet flooring, king-size mattresses and retouched marbled bathrooms. The restaurant has also been renovated to match the hotels lobby, together with a new seasonal menu. Guests at the property will also find a new Games Room, featuring poker tables with Ultima currency, and a place for children to play. There is also a Middle Eastern style Shisha Bar for parties. Medical professionals at its Swiss clinic and spa are offering holistic and anti-ageing treatments, such as cold cryotherapy, reiki and meditation, botox, laser treatment, detoxes and DNA tests. Ultima Collection Co-Founder Byron Baciocchi said: This season marks five years since the opening of Ultima Gstaad. With the in-house design team, we are now raising the bar by introducing a new design across our 11 suites and six residences for the upcoming winter season. Ultima Gstaad General Manager Simon Le Cossec added: After a successful summer season, Im delighted to welcome guests back and introduce new ones to a refreshed concept. A year-round location, Ultima Gstaad witnessed an increase in demand for bookings during the 2021 summer season. As a result, the team extended their season to accommodate the influx in interest.-TradeArabia News Service Sabre Corporation, a leading software and technology company that powers the travel industry, and Emirates, one of the worlds largest international airlines, have signed a new multi-year, worldwide distribution agreement. The agreement will provide Sabre-connected travel buyers and agencies with access to Emirates content, through Sabres global distribution system (GDS), with immediate effect. Further to this, Emirates will create and distribute NDC offers through the Sabre GDS. Sabre Travel Solutions Chief Commercial Officer Roshan Mendis said: We are delighted to re-establish our partnership with Emirates. The agreement demonstrates our commitment to creating a sustainable distribution model that benefits all constituents across the travel value chain. It will provide both Emirates and travel buyers with immense value, removing complexity in the buying process, which is crucial to the recovery of the industry. The new contract will connect Emirates to a global network of travellers, while supporting its vision to provide travel buyers and travellers with personalised offers. Emirates Chief Commercial Officer Adnan Kazim added: The new contract will support us to meet the needs of our agency partners. Providing agencies with flexibility, choice and efficiency will help them to thrive in the current climate and will help us drive revenue and growth. Sabre will continue to partner with Emirates on advanced retailing, data and analytics capabilities through a number of its solutions in areas such as network planning, revenue optimisation and market intelligence.-TradeArabia News Service ACI will be advocating this message on behalf of its members at the International Civil Aviation Organizations (ICAO) High-level Conference on Covid-19, taking place virtually from October 12 to 22 under the theme: One Vision for Aviation Recovery, Resilience and Sustainability beyond the Global Pandemic. The event, which will gather ministerial delegations and aviation stakeholders from around the world, will seek to reach a global consensus on a multilateral approach - supported by the political will and commitments of governments - to enable the industrys safe recovery, as well as strengthen its resilience and sustainability. ACI Worlds Director General, Luis Felipe de Oliveira, will provide remarks during the Ministerial Plenary Round Tables and will speak on: *The need for governments to apply science/risk-based and harmonised measures in a consistent way, rather than those developed for political reasons. *The importance of adhering to and applying the World Health Organization and ICAO advice and guidance material, in particular from the ICAO Council Aviation Recovery Task Force (CART), of which ACI is an active member. *The need for alignment and mutual recognition of vaccines across borders as well as the remaining challenges associated with varying testing regimes in different governments. *The need to ensure a risk-based approach to Covid-19 testing as a requirement to authorize travel and the variations in test specificity applied by different governments, as well as the burdensome cost of these to the traveling public. *The importance of using interoperable digital formats as proof of vaccine, testing, and recovery, and the requirement for mutual recognition by governments. According to ACI, the consequence of failure would be a significant challenge to the airport and aviation industry as passenger traffic demand begins to return. These include increased passenger processing times and longer aircraft ground times, generating operational delays and capacity constraints at airports, all of which would negatively affect travel resumption and the customer experience. The lack of staff already seen in certain areas of the sector, as well as within certain government agencies, is likely to compound this already complex situation. "It is imperative that ministers at the ICAO conference support a pragmatic and risk-based approach to managing the sustained recovery of the industry and be ready to remove barriers as the industry returns to higher levels of trafficall while keeping passengers and industry workers safe," ACI World Director General Luis Felipe de Oliveira said. "We must learn from the mistakes of the past, such as the response following 9/11, and recognize that we need a proportionate response to the threat and not to continue to impose measures once the need has passed," Observed de Oliveira. "As the global health situation evolves, immunity increases, and the science gets better, we will all have to adjust our thinking about Covid-19; governments should consider reducing their prescriptive health measures as we learn to live with the virus," he added. The conference will also have two technical streams that will focus on Safety and Facilitation respectively. ACI World has submitted two working papers in these streams to support its members interests worldwide: *The Safety Stream Working Paper focuses on Ground Handling as a Key Component of the Long-Term Resilience and Sustainability of the Aviation System, and has been co-developed with the Airport Services Association. *It presents and emphasizes the importance of Ground Handling Service Providers (GHSPs) as part of the longer-term economic and social sustainability of the aviation ecosystem, as well as the importance of ensuring that overall levels of safety are sustained through adequate safety management processes applied by GHSPs and government. It also proposes the adoption of a balanced regulatory framework addressing the safety risks related to ground handling activities.-TradeArabia News Service Israel Pavilion has officially celebrated its opening at Expo2020 Dubai, welcoming visitors from all 191 countries. The inauguration event was hosted by the Minister of Tourism Yoel Razvozov and Elazar Cohen, Commissioner General of the Israel Pavilion. Speeches by high-ranking officials included: Dr Ahmad Belhoul, UAE Minister of State for Entrepreneurship and Small and Medium Enterprises; Najeeb Mohammed Alali, Executive Director of the Commissioner General Office, Expo2020 Eli Cohen, Corporate secretary general, KKL-JNF. Designed without walls, for maximum openness, attendees of Expo 2020 and beyond are invited to the Israel pavilion. The event began with a traditional Mezuzah ceremony performed by Rabbi Levi Duchman. The Mezuzah Case was made and designed exclusively for the Dubai Expo 2020 by famous Judaica Artist David Roytman. Hanging a mezuzah on a doorpost is an ancient Jewish practice that fulfils a biblical commandment from Deuteronomy to write the words of the Lord on the doorposts of one's home. This was followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony, performed by the Minister of Tourism and Commissioner General. In his opening remarks, Minister Razvozov said: "I'm truly delighted to be standing here as a representative of the Israeli people and the government at the opening of our national pavilion at Expo2020 Dubai. Many things are happening here for the first time. For the first time in history, the Expo fair is being held in an Arab country." "It is also the first time there is an Israeli pavilion in a major fair on Arab soil. It is one of the most sound and robust steps toward cooperation between the United Arab Emirates and Israel in history," noted Razvozov. "Peace allows us to forge a new reality in the Middle East that will bring prosperity, security and stability to all. We believe that in order to reach a better tomorrow, one should choose practical and positive actions today," stated the minister. "So, I'm delighted to invite each and every one of you and each and every visitor, participant and host at this Expo to come and visit our country. Come and see for yourself what Israel is really about. Tourism allows us to explore, learn from and accommodate each other. Tourism will build a human bridge to peace!," he added. Israel is a place of innovation, offering a vision and horizon in dealing with the challenges of humanity. The Expo 2020 pavilion has put emphasis on challenges such as; agriculture, water, medicine, communications and cyber issues. The Jewish nation's pavilion will also showcase its open and diverse society that provides equal rights to all its inhabitants, it is a society that respects different people and cultures and is a recognised and respected state among participating nations.-TradeArabia News Service Help India! Scores of organizations released a joint statement calling for release of Gulfisha Fatima and all anti-CAA-NPR-NRC protestors who are incarcerated. The statement said that solidarity action is being organized across the country on October 9, including in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Araria, Patna, Badwani, Baroda, Lucknow, Faizabad, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Jaipur, Pune and many others. TCN News Support TwoCircles NEW DELHI Scores of womens and democratic organizations and collectives across India on Saturday demanded the unconditional release of student activist Gulfisha Fatima and all anti-CAA-NPR-NRC protestors who continue to remain incarcerated. The organizations which demanded the release of Gulfisha Fatima and others include AIPWA, SAHELI, NFIW, Satark Nagrik Sangathan, AIDWA, Bebaak Collective, Parcham Collective (Bombay), PUCL (Rajasthan), Forum Against Oppression of Women, Women Against Sexual Violence and State Repression, Habitat And Livelihood Welfare Association, Jan Swasthya Abhiyan (Mumbai), JJSS (Araria, Bihar), Justice Coalitions of Religious(West India), Women and Transgender Organisations (WT-JAC), National Alliance of Peoples Movement (NAPM) and Narmada Bachao Andolan. We demand a complete withdrawal of the CAA-NPR-NRC project, the organizations said in a statement. Gulfisha was arrested on April 9, 2020, and was branded a terrorist and was accused of conspiring and orchestrating the Delhi riots. Presently, she stands accused in four FIRs, charged under the anti-terror law UAPA and various serious sections of the IPC such as 302, 307, Arms Act etc. Although Gulfisha has secured bail in all other cases, she continues to remain in jail in FIR 59/20 which invokes the UAPA a law infamous for subverting the most basic constitutional and legal rights, the statement said. The organizations said that solidarity action is being organized across the country on October 9, including in Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Hyderabad, Araria, Patna, Badwani, Baroda, Lucknow, Faizabad, Muzaffarnagar, Saharanpur, Jaipur, Pune and many others. Today on October 9, Gulfisha Fatima, will have been in prison for 18 long months. The organization said Fatimas case is a reflection of the painful reality of our country today that these are the moments that have come to mark the lives of young women who dared to dream of a free and just world. Who is Gulfisha Fatima Gulfisha Fatima, Gul to her friends and family, is an Urdu Masters student of Delhi University, an MBA graduate, a radio jockey. Fatima belongs to the Seelampur area of North East Delhi and was a part of the peaceful and vibrant anti-CAA-NPR-NRC movement. The statement said that an important aspect of the movement was how Muslim communities led by Muslim women, organized protests, candle-light marches and 247 sit-in demonstrations in their gallis and neighbourhoods across the country. Upholding the Constitution and the Preamble, holding dearly the ideals of Savitri Bai, Fatima Sheikh, Ambedkar, Gandhi, Bhagat Singh and many others, these protests threw open diverse possibilities for the imagination and building of a nation that is built on the principles of equality, love, communal harmony and justice. It was the energy and beauty of the movement that facilitated and produced the leadership of young local women leaders like Gulfisha, the statement said. Gulfisha was not affiliated to any student group/political party or had any earlier experiences of engaging and organizing protests, they said, adding, She learned and emerged organically as the movement progressed and strengthened, overcoming many vulnerabilities and building new solidarities across different communities, to become a powerful voice of collective assertion and democratic resistance. The organizations said that the voices, songs and slogans that were emerging from these protests scared the ruling establishment. What we witnessed in Delhi at the end of February 2020 was an organized attack by Hindutva forces against the Muslim community and the peaceful Muslim women-led protest sites in North East Delhi. This reign of terror and carnage was unleashed in full collusion with the state-police machinery and was followed by numerous arbitrary arrests of anti-CAA-NPR-NRC protesters from Muslim neighbourhoods, they said. The organizations pointed out that Gulfishas crime is the fact that she is a young Muslim woman student who raised sharp and pertinent questions to the current regime in a struggle for safeguarding the fundamental values and ethos of our constitution. Her crime is that she decided to speak out against a government and an ideology of hate that dehumanizes and inflicts the most brutal violence on Muslim lives. Her crime is that she believed and worked for the education, leadership and emancipation of women who have been historically marginalized, that she dreamed of feminist citizenship. Her crime is that she loudly sang nidaar azaad ho jayegi, woh toh naya zamaana layegi, they said. The organizations said that even as she endures harsh incarceration made worse by the ongoing pandemic, Gulfisha retains her indomitable spirit of struggle and her joyous laughter in the face of extreme hardships. Kyun daraatey ho zindaan ke deevar se, zulm ki baat ko, jehl ki raat ko, main naahi manti, main nahi jaanti, she would often say, they said. Inside the prison, she is an important companion for her co-inmates, who come to her to share their troubles, to learn to read and write, to get their applications and petitions written, to have their charge sheets read, to get their make-up done. She is a source of immense joy for the children inside jail whom she is very attached to. While their mothers slog hours in various odd jobs inside prison, she spends her time with the children, telling them stories and showering them with tremendous love. She was their teacher when the prison creche was briefly open, currently, she is giving art lessons to her fellow inmates, they said. The joint statement pointed out that Gulfishas imprisonment is not an exception, it is a part of a frightening pattern of repression of all democratic and dissenting voices by the current government. In the same case as hers, many like Ishrat Jahan, Tasleem Ahmad, Meeran Haider, Shadab Ahmed, Athar Khan, Umar Khalid, Sharjeel Imam, Salim Mallick, Salim Khan, Khalid Saifi, Tahir Hussain and Shifa-ul-Rahman continue to languish in jail. The Delhi High Court, in its bail order for Gulfishas co-accused Asif Iqbal, Natasha Narwal and Devangana Kalita, rightly observed it seems, that in its anxiety to suppress dissent, in the mind of the State, the line between the constitutionally guaranteed right to protest and terrorist activity seems to be getting somewhat blurred. If this mindset gains traction, it would be a sad day for democracy. Similarly, the Delhi High Court in granting bail to Mohd Arif, Shadab Ahmad, Furkan, Suvaleen and Tabassum, who are facing prosecution for the murder of Delhi Police head constable Ratan Lal, the judge said in his orders It is to be noted that the right to protest and express dissent is a right which occupies a fundamental stature in a democratic polity, and therefore the sole act of protesting should not be employed as a weapon to justify the incarceration of those who are exercising this right. In recent months, there have been many orders from the lower courts seeking accountability from Delhi Police for its shoddy and biased investigations. Additional Sessions Judge Vinod Yadav, in his order discharging accused Shah Alam, Rashid Saifi and Shadab has noted I am not able to restrain myself from observing that when history will look back at the worst communal riots since partition in Delhi, it is the failure of investigating agency to conduct a proper investigation by using latest scientific methods, will surely torment the sentinels of democracy, they said. The joint statement said that it is clear that the Delhi Police under pressure from the Home Ministry, has effectively shielded the real perpetrators of the Delhi violence, while arbitrarily arresting and destroying the lives and futures of many young Muslim men and their families, making a mockery of justice. The question of inclusive citizenship that young leaders like Gulfisha made alive during the anti-CAA-NPR-NRC stands even more relevant today, the statement said. For many who belong to Muslim, Dalit, Adivasi and historically oppressed communities, it is not just democratic resistance which elicits brutal state crackdown. Their very identity and existence have come to be under attack by the terror and fear that has seeped into the fabric of our society through the violent politics of Hindutva. The pandemic has further made the lives of the working poor of the country more and more vulnerable and precarious, throwing thousands of citizens into unemployment, deprivation and death, while the government indiscriminately amends and passes laws that create havoc for farmers and workers, they added. They said that every day that Gulfisha and others continue to spend in jail, what remains imprisoned is our hopes of freedom, equality and justice. What remains caged is our democracy and constitutional values, they added. A poster of the film the Battle at Lake Changjin. Photo: CFP Luo Changping, an online celebrity and senior journalist who satirized and humiliated the Chinese People's Volunteers (CPVs) martyrs on his Sina Weibo account, was put under criminal detention by the Jiyang public security bureau in Sanya of Hainan Province on Friday. On October 7, the bureau received a tip from the public on a netizen surnamed Luo making illegal remarks to humiliate CPVs on Sina Weibo and has caused baneful influence. The Jiyang branch of Sanya public security bureau summoned Luo, 40-year-old resident from Changsha of Hunan Province, in accordance with laws and investigated the case, according to a release from the Jiyang branch on Friday. Luo confessed his illegal activities and was put under criminal detention for allegedly violating heroes and martyrs' dignity and fame. The investigation is ongoing, said the release. The Sanya Suburban Peoples Procuratorate released a notice on Friday that as Luos remarks severely violated public interests, it decided to file charges against Luo. Luo, who has more than 2 million followers on Sina Weibo, posted humiliating remarks on CPVs when joining in some netizens' discussions over the newly-released movie The Battle at Lake Changjin, which tells the story of how CPVs soldiers held their ground amid fierce cold and the enemy's more advanced weapons during the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (1950-53). He used puns to humiliate CPVs stationed in their positions and were frozen to death when performing tasks. Such move angered many Chinese netizens who went to report his illegal activities to Sina Weibo. Luo's account was later banned. China's top judicial authorities have added 22 clauses, including defaming martyrs, attacking police and disturbing the operations of public transportation, to the Criminal Law in a supplementary regulation that took effect in February. According to the supplementary, those who insult, slander or otherwise infringe upon the reputation and honor of heroes and martyrs shall be sentenced to fixed-term imprisonment of not more than three years or criminal detention if the circumstances are serious. Heroes and martyrs are not allowed to be insulted. The internet is not a land beyond law. The public security institutions will crack down on those who insult, infringe or slander their honor. Netizens should also abide by the laws to create better cyber environment, according to the Jiyang branch's release. On the same day, Sina Weibo released a notice and said that the platform has shut down Luo's account for his remarks. The platform takes zero tolerance on all activities that defame heroes and martyrs. By Li Yun and Ci Shanyu GUANGZHOU, Oct. 9 -- China has preliminarily possessed the capability of full-time training of carrier-borne fighter pilots, said Wang Yong, the 23rd carrier-borne fighter pilot of the Chinese Navy and head of a training group under the PLA Naval Aviation University,at the 13th China International Aviation & Aerospace Exhibition (Airshow China). According to him, China has completed the certifications of day-and-night deck-landing qualification for carrier-borne fighter pilots, realized multiple fighter sorties in batches, and successfully established a dual-track pilots development mode combining the training of trained pilots and high school recruits. Wang said that the training of carrier-borne fighter pilots has been regarded as an important matter of advancing the transformation and construction of the Chinese Navy. As he recalled, China's second aircraft carrier completed its first maritime test mission on April 12, 2018, which marked the construction and development of the aircraft carrier entered an acceleration period, and the need to train the carrier-borne fighter pilots on a large scale thus became imminent. However, the training work at that time encountered the lack of instructors, training materials, standards and experience, as well as the urgent need for a complete set of professional and standardized training systems. Wang and the flight instructor team under the PLA Naval Aviation University explored while practicing, and gradually found the clear training program for carrier-borne fighter flight talents. Thus, China's first batch of carrier-borne fighter pilots independently trained by Chinese academies successfully obtained the flight qualification within a year. It is learnt that China has begun to train the carrier-borne fighter pilots directly recruited from high schools since 2019. "This kind of training mode can greatly shorten the talents training cycle, and effectively increase the pilots' carrier-based flight work life," Wang said. But this is also fresh new for them, since the pilot cadets are all novices without any flight experience. To this end, with the instructor team of the PLA Naval Aviation University comprehensively adjusting and optimizing the training elements, a dual-track pilot development mode combining the training of trained pilots and high school recruits gradually came into being in over a year. The first batch of carrier-borne fighter pilots trained from these novices obtained the deck-landing qualification certifications in November 2020. President Duterte's daughter Sara is not in the running, but there is time until 15 November for a replacement. Leni Robredo is the only candidate representing a real opposition. The son of dictator Marcos will also run for the Malacanan Palace. Experts: the campaign will focus on the effects of the pandemic; the Philippines still ranks second in Southeast Asia for new cases. Manila (AsiaNews/Agencies) - The deadline to present nominations for the Philippies presidential elections scheduled for May next year was yesterday. Sara Duterte, daughter of the current Philippine president is not on the list. But the mayor of Davao may still have a chance: according to the rules laid down by the Commission on Elections, a candidate can be replaced by a member of the same party until 15 November. Yesterday, Senator Ronald "Bato" dela Rosa filed his nomination and reporters asked him if he will give up his seat to Duterte's daughter: So much the better. But this is a party decision. This is not my personal decision. If I were to decide, if they allow me to run, I will run. Sara Duterte does not seem convinced that she wants to represent the Partido Demokratiko Pilipino-Lakas ng Bayan (Pdp-Laban) in the upcoming presidential election, as she has repeatedly reiterated that she has already laid down her candidacy for a third and final term as mayor of Davao. Dela Rosa, a former police officer who spearheaded the current government's ruthless "war on drugs", will run with Senator Christopher "Bong" Go as his deputy, although Go had initially announced his candidacy for president to allow Duterte Sr. to remain at the top of Philippine politics as second-in-command. This was before Duterte surprisingly announced his intention to leave politics at the end of his term. Formally within the Pdp-Laban, but running with the Promdi, former boxer Manny Pacquiao was among the first to announce that he would run for the Malacanan Palace, the presidential residence. In recent days, other illustrious names in Philippine politics have joined the ranks: Francisco 'Isko Moreno' Domagaso, mayor of the capital Manila; Leni Robredo, the current vice-president; and Ferdinand 'Bongbong' Marcos Jr, son of the dictator who has ruled the country since 1965. During the dictatorship, thousands of Filipinos were tortured and killed. Observers see this as an opportunity for Marcos to clear the name of his family, which fled to Hawaii in 1986 after stealing 10 billion from the state coffers. Some have noted that several fake news stories about the dictatorship period have started to circulate on social media, a sign of concern given the disinformation campaign carried out by Duterte in 2016 and thanks to which he managed to get elected. Robredo, an opposition leader who eventually ran independently after attempting to form a union with other candidates, has often come into conflict with the current president in recent years not only over policies but also over Duterte's personal behaviour. According to analyst Victor Andreas Manhit, head of the think tank Stratbase ADR Institute, the lawyer presents herself as the only real alternative to Duterte, while the other candidates will fight for centrist votes "that are neither pro-Duterte nor pro-opposition". Isko Moreno has positioned himself in continuity with the president's current policies, saying he wants to continue the "war on drugs", but without the killings. Panfilo Lacson, also a former police chief, was on the same wavelength, saying he wanted to fight corruption, crime and drugs, but promising to do things 'differently'. Experts believe the election campaign will actually focus on dealing with the effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. The Philippines continues to be the second largest country in Southeast Asia in terms of the number of new cases, and only 22% of the population has completed the vaccination cycle. Several lockdowns have taken place in the country since March 2020, slowing down economic activities. by Vladimir Rozanskij Record price rises in the Old Continent due to increased demand and low reserves. Putin is demanding that the increased volumes be passed on through the new Russian-German Nord Stream-2 pipeline. The Kremlin wants to subject the EU to its own conditions and cut off the Ukrainian route. Moscow (AsiaNews) - The record rise in the price of gas in Europe, which is equivalent to almost 200 dollars a barrel of oil, has given Russia and its giant Gazprom an extraordinary weapon to put pressure on its Western partners. Putin has already reassured the markets by offering increases in Russian gas supplies, but these will come at a cost in redefining the energy market in Russia's favour, starting with the much-discussed Nord Stream-2 pipeline. Expert Nikolaj Podlevskikh, interviewed by Rbk says, "those who urge us to look at the whole set of factors that caused this crisis are right: the increase in demand in Latin America, South-East Asia and obviously China. This led to a generalised panic and a resulting crisis, which depleted European deposits by 15%, and to speculation that spilled over into the energy market". Podlevskikh explains that Gazprom is undoubtedly one of the players most affected by the vertiginous rise: "But Russia is still honouring its contractual commitments in the sector, and you cannot blame it for the crisis." There is a serious danger that Europe will be forced to suffer the cold next winter, not least because of the threats of climate change. Russia will increase its share of existing contracts with European partners to 108-112%, boosting its bargaining power. German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has been the main supporter of Nord Stream-2, has proposed a plan to end dependence on Russian gas by 2045. While increasing and diversifying production from alternative sources, the plan seems unrealistic. Another Russian expert, Mikhail Krutikhin, in an interview with Currentime.tv, commented on the "white strike" (Russian for "Italian strike") implemented by Gazprom itself to maintain control over production and trade with foreign partners, limiting itself to strict compliance with contractual terms. In his opinion, this is a form of blackmail "until the new gas volumes from Nord Stream-2 are accepted, despite the fact that there are simpler alternatives available such as the Ukrainian route, which would be used immediately if Russia were really interested in saving Europe from freezing". The Baltic route would in fact not increase volumes, but merely divert them. As Krutikhin explains, Gazprom would have every interest in increasing contracts using the routes already in operation, but the Russian energy giant "is not just a commercial enterprise, it is more correct to call it a political tool of the Kremlin, which can give up huge profits just to force Europeans to submit to Russia's conditions, cutting off Ukraine". The expert believes that in reality the gas reserves in Europe are not in as bad a condition as they are being portrayed, and the panic only serves to play into the hands of speculators and political strategies. The Ukrainians are trying to convince Europeans not to submit to Russian blackmail by ensuring the viability of gas supplies through its territory. As the head of the "Ukrainian Energy Operators", Sergei Makogon, said in Brussels, speaking at the NATO meeting on energy security, "the basic aims of the Russian aggressor are to weaken the security of Ukraine and create a schism within the European Union". According to the Ukrainians, Putin wants to cancel all international agreements, under which all Asian gas to Europe will have to pass through Ukraine after 2024. European Council President Charles Michel chose the cautious line, stating that "we will have to assess the situation with great attention to all factors; we must prepare for an in-depth debate on this issue, together with all Europeans, in order to have a complete picture of the situation". He hoped that winter would not come too soon. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar will be undertaking a three-nation tour of Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Armenia from October 10 to 13. Jaishankar will be in the Kyrgyz Republic on October 10-11, the Ministry of External Affairs said in a statement. He will leave for Kazakhstan on Monday. He will then visit Armenia on October, 12-13, the MEA said. The visit will provide an opportunity for reviewing the progress in India's bilateral ties with the three countries as well as share views on developments in the region, the ministry further said. "It will be a continuation of our increased engagement with countries in our 'extended neighbourhood'," the ministry added. This will be Jaishankar's first visit to Kyrgyzstan as External Affairs Minister. He will hold a bilateral meeting with the Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan, Ruslan Kazakbaev, apart from calling on President Sadyr Japarov. Some agreements, MoUs are also expected to be signed during the visit. From October 11-12, Jaishankar will be in Kazakhstan to attend the 6th Ministerial meeting of the Conference of Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Nur-Sultan. Kazakhstan is the current Chair and initiator of the CICA Forum. Jaishankar is also expected to hold bilateral talks with Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, Mukhtar Tileuberdi, and call on the Kazakh leadership. Kazakhstan is the current Chair and initiator of the CICA Forum. Established in 1999, CICA is a forum aimed at enhancing cooperation through elaborating multilateral approaches towards promoting peace, security and stability in Asia. It currently has 27 member states and 9 observer states and 5 observer organisations. India is a member of CICA since its inception in 1999 and has been actively participating in various activities conducted under the aegis of CICA. Jaishankar will also be visiting Armenia on October, 12-13 the MEA said. This will be the first-ever visit of an External Affairs Minister of India to independent Armenia. He will have meetings with his Armenian counterpart as well as call on the Prime Minister and President of the National Assembly of Armenia. (ANI) A second former colleague, Kristen Mori, recently alleged in a court filing that Ferguson groped her at the company Christmas party in 2003 and behaved inappropriately toward women, including me, on multiple occasions. On one occasion, she alleged, he asked if her breasts were real, and when she said yes, hoping to end the conversation, he responded he would need to feel them in order to believe her, Swartz and Gutowski reported. A prominent Black-owned and operated restaurant just opened downtown in the city. Kitchen + Kocktails has been sold-out since its first reservation on Oct. 1 in the Near North neighborhood. Owner Kevin Kelley, an attorney based in Dallas, brought both his finer dining comfort food concept and executive chef Vanessa Brown from Dallas. The former Bennys Chop House space now serves up stylish vibes alongside shrimp and grits with lobster ($51), plus a special chicken and Moet Champagne dinner ($199). You can try reserving online to dine indoors only for now, and do note the detailed dress code on their Instagram page prohibiting everything from ball caps and buckets for men, to weapons, presumably for all. Blake fought the officers as they tried to take him into custody. Sheskey and another officer tried to shock him with their stun guns to no avail. Blake tried to get into the SUV with his young children in the backseat, prompting Sheskey to grab his shirt. Sheskey told investigators that he was afraid Blake would drive off with the children or use them as hostages. Hagstrom Miller said her Texas clinics called in some patients early Thursday who were on a list in case the law was blocked at some point. Other appointments were being scheduled for the days ahead, and phone lines were again busy. But some of the clinics 17 physicians were still declining to perform abortions, fearful they might be held liable despite the judges order. About 10:05 p.m., a 36-year-old man was shot while he was walking in an alley in the first block of East 87th Street in the Chatham neighborhood. Police said someone with a ski mask dressed in black got out of a black SUV and opened fire, hitting the victim in the arm and leg. He was taken to the U. of C. Medical Center where he was listed in fair condition. The 25-year-old man with the little girl was in serious to critical condition, said Hernandez, who added that a second man was shot at the same time, right around the corner, in the 8400 block of South Parnell Avenue. As an elected official I cannot operate under a premise that anything goes in a time of crisis. We did that in the 80s and the 90s, and were paying for that today with wrongful convictions that are being overturned, postconvictions that you all write about every day, Foxx said. ... We are and have been the source of the most wrongful convictions in the country ... We cannot cut corners. We cannot play games. We must operate as the professionals that we are. Im not resigning, she said, adding that she planned to appeal her termination as chief to the city council. Capparelli said in the letter that if he initiated termination proceedings, she would be placed on administrative duty and would report to the city clerk starting Tuesday. Malec, however, said she has spoken to the city clerk and requested time off next week. On the website and various social media accounts, she posts resources for people who may be struggling with their mental health. In July, she streamed an independent documentary called " We Cry Your Tears: The Jamal Clay Story that shared who her son was and what depression can look like. She even donates his belongings, particularly his shoes. That way that person can walk with the soul of someone who will not be able to. Jamals mother, sister, extended family and friends all shared what they remembered about him and some of the hurdles that he faced as a teen from bullying to finding his place in the world. On October 8, Ambassador Qin Gang took an interview with Phoenix TV in Washington DC and responded to USTR Ambassador Katherine Tais remarks about US trade policies on China and the recoupling of the US and Chinese economies. Ambassador Qin said, we have noted Ambassador Tais remarks. China has always believed that our economic and trade relations are mutually beneficial, and this is also the fact. Over the past 40 years of China's reform and opening-up, American companies have been deeply involved in China's development and have gained huge benefits from it. China's development has provided numerous opportunities for American companies, created many jobs for the US and supplied American consumers with inexpensive but quality products. These are undeniable. China will continue to open itself wider to the world. It will continue to welcome companies worldwide, including American ones, to invest in China and provide a market-oriented, law-based and world-class business environment. According to the recent report of the US-China Business Council, 95% of the American companies surveyed made a profit in China last year, and 64% saw their revenue grow in the Chinese market. China's development will continue to release huge market potential and vitality, creating greater opportunities for companies from America and other countries. Many American companies are concerned about the current China-US relations and worry about big uncertainties. In fact, China's sustained and stable development, market opportunities, and commitment to reform and opening-up are the largest source of certainty for them. If there is any uncertainty, it does not come from the Chinese side. Ambassador Qin pointed out that since China-US economic and trade relations are mutually beneficial in nature, we should give full consideration to each other's concerns and follow the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit. It will simply not work to wantonly pressurize, or incite confrontation, or impose restrictions and suppression. Some people call for decoupling from China. If any American company chooses to do so, it is choosing to decouple from the world's second largest economy, from the huge consumer market of 1.4 billion people, and from Fortune 500 rankings. I have noted that Ambassador Tai mentioned that the US is now seeking to recouple with China, which has some positivity in it. The two sides can sit down and sort out the areas of decoupling and how to get them recoupled. We are willing to have further communication and consultation with the US side, properly manage differences, and jointly create conditions to expand the positive side of our relations on the basis of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, so as to ensure that China-US relations, including our economic and trade relations, can return to the track of healthy and stable development. This is also to implement the important agreement reached by President Xi Jinping and President Biden in their recent phone call. When asked about his comments about the complicated signals of Ambassador Tais remarks, including the fact that she didnt mention revoking tariffs on China, Ambassador Qin said, the two countries trade frictions over the past few years have once again proved that China and the US both stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation. There is no winner in a trade war or tariff war. I believe that more Americans have got to understand it now. As two major economies, China and the United States are one of the most important trading partners for each other. It is just normal for us to have economic competition and trade frictions. The key is how to deal with them. We advocate that we should pursue solutions acceptable to both sides through communication and consultation, based on the principles of mutual respect and mutual benefit. Ambassador Qin said, China also has its own concerns. In recent years, it has become increasingly difficult for Chinese companies to invest and go public in the United States. At present, more than 900 Chinese entities have been included in various lists of restrictions by the United States. Chinese companies face unfair treatment. In particular, the US is increasingly using "national security" as an excuse to suppress Chinese companies and restrict bilateral economic and trade exchanges and cooperation. If this is allowed to continue, it will cause more serious consequences. When asked about his comments about the US claim that China has not fully implemented the Phase One Trade Agreement, Ambassador Qin pointed out that China has always kept its promises in state-to-state relations. Despite the serious difficulties brought by COVID-19 over the past year, China has sincerely and steadily implemented the agreement. From IPR protection, to expansion of agricultural imports from the US, to opening-up of the financial sector, we have taken tangible steps and made important progress. In contrast, the US has set up multiple obstacles and restrictions on Chinese enterprises and on our economic and trade exchanges and investment cooperation. Recently, the two countries have maintained communication and dialogue at various levels in the economic and trade field. Whatever concerns that the two sides have can be put on the table for discussion, but the US side must take a pragmatic and sincere attitude. Chinese online literature has created a huge fanbase overseas, thanks to the diligence of writers and deepening of international communication. Mad Snail, 34, is one of the most popular online fantasy novel writers in China. His novels, as well as their cartoon adaptations, have attracted many foreign fans. "My novels have been translated into various foreign languages, such as English, French, Korean and Japanese, and I always receive comments begging for updates from foreign readers," he said. He has ridden the wave of China's flourishing online literature market overseas. By 2020, more than 10,000 online literary works had entered overseas markets and attracted over 100 million foreign readers, according to the China Writers Association (CWA). The copyrights of over 4,000 physical books of Chinese online literature have been exported to countries and regions around the world, including the United States, Canada, Russia, Myanmar, Thailand, Malaysia, Vietnam, the Republic of Korea and Japan. Mad Snail started writing the fantasy novel "Tales of Demons and Gods" in 2014, telling the story of how a teenager strived to protect his homeland from an invasion of demons. In 2017, its intellectual property right was licensed to foreign countries. "We used to think that traditional Chinese culture could hardly be understood and accepted by foreigners. However, it is considered a novelty overseas," said Mad Snail, adding that he usually incorporates Chinese cultural elements in his writing, such as Han clothing, kung fu and Confucianism. Mad Snail believes that Chinese online literature is popular not only because of its mysterious Oriental elements, but its human touch including a love of peace, benevolence, mutual respect and self-motivation which can transcend boundaries. Jiang Shengnan, author of "The Legend of Mi Yue," said that pulling at readers' heartstrings is the key to make Chinese online literature popular overseas regardless of cultural barriers. "Readers used to enjoy stories about Cinderella-like protagonists, but now the themes have shifted to featuring women who are independent and striving," said Jiang, who focuses on writing historical novels with a realistic attitude. "I think it's because of women's rising self-awareness, and my creations have reflected these changes," she said. Jiang noted that with China's rapid development, overseas readers will have an increasing curiosity about this ancient Oriental country, which is a great opportunity for Chinese online writers. "China will promote the exchange of ideas in the field of international online literature," said He Hong, deputy director of the online literature center of the CWA, adding that a big data center will also be established to increase the influence of online novels. "In such a new era of opportunity, we should improve ourselves to tell good Chinese stories and help people get to know more about Chinese culture," said Mad Snail. A total of 149,783 visits were paid to the iconic Terracotta Warriors in northwest China's Shaanxi Province during the seven-day National Day holiday, local authorities said. According to Emperor Qinshihuang's Mausoleum Site Museum, following epidemic control measures, visitors made reservations through online booking before they came to catch a glimpse of the famous army of Terracotta Warriors in the provincial capital Xi'an during the holiday. Discovered in 1974, the Terracotta Warrior army was built by Emperor Qinshihuang of the Qin Dynasty (221 B.C.-207 B.C.), who unified China for the first time. A major reform of the international tax system has been agreed, ensuring that multinational enterprises will be subject to a minimum 15% tax rate from 2023, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) announced on Friday. Some 136 countries and jurisdictions have agreed to the reform. From 2023, a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15% will apply to companies with revenues above 750 million euros ($870 million). It is estimated this will generate around $150 billion annually in additional global tax revenues, the OECD explained. The deal should reallocate more than $125 billion of profits from around 100 of the world's largest and most profitable multinational companies around the globe, ensuring that these firms pay a fair share of tax wherever they operate and generate profits. However, the OECD stressed that the agreement does not seek to eliminate tax competition, rather impose multilaterally agreed limitations on it. "Today's agreement will make our international tax arrangements fairer and work better," said OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. The deal is a "major victory for effective and balanced multilateralism," he added. "It is a far-reaching agreement which ensures our international tax system is fit for purpose in a digitalized and globalized world economy." The OECD has confirmed that its members are aiming to sign a multilateral convention in 2022 for the effective implementation of the new international corporate tax reform in 2023. You are here: Business China remained Germany's biggest single import market in August, the German Federal Statistical Office (Destatis) said on Friday citing provisional data. The volume of goods bought by Germany from China increased by 20.4% year-on-year. The value of German goods imports from China reached 11.4 billion euros ($13.2 billion), while that of the country's total imports climbed to 93.8 billion euros in August, up 3.5% month-on-month and 18.1% year-on-year, according to Destatis. The volume of German exports to China rose by 4.4% year-on-year to 7.6 billion euros. Although total exports were still above last year's level, German exports in August declined by 1.2% month-on-month to 104.4 billion euros, according to Destatis. "Problems in global supply chains, high logistics costs and unresolved trade disputes are darkening the economic skies and subsequently having a massive impact on exports," Joachim Lang, director general of the Federation of German Industries (BDI), said in a statement on Friday. Chinese Vice Premier Liu He, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chief of the Chinese side of the China-U.S. comprehensive economic dialogue, on Saturday held a video call with U.S. Trade Representative Katherine Tai. During the conversation, the two sides conducted pragmatic, candid and constructive exchanges on three issues: First, China-U.S. economic and trade relations are of great importance to the two countries and the world at large and bilateral economic and trade exchanges and cooperation should be strengthened. Second, the two sides exchanged views on the implementation of the China-U.S. economic and trade agreement. Third, both sides expressed their core concerns and agreed to resolve each other's legitimate concerns through consultation. The Chinese side lodged representations on the lifting of additional tariffs and sanctions and expounded its position on such issues as China's economic development model and industrial policy. The two sides agreed to continue to communicate in an attitude of equality and mutual respect so as to create favorable conditions for the healthy development of bilateral economic and trade relations and the recovery of the world economy. You are here: China Nearly 2 million tourists visited Southwest China's Tibet Autonomous Region during the weeklong National Day holiday, a rise of 12.5 percent from the same period last year, local authorities said Friday. The region's tourism revenue rose 10.2 percent from a year earlier to 1.03 billion yuan (about 160 million U.S. dollars) in the same period, according to the regional tourism department. The tourism growth in the region is partly due to effective epidemic control across the country and no COVID-19 cases in Tibet. Earlier this month, the region's tourism department also launched a tourist route around Lhasa and nine suburban routes to give holidaymakers a feel of the countryside. Statistics show that in 2020, Lhasa received more than 20.08 million domestic and foreign tourists, with tourism revenue at 30.1 billion yuan. A national operation targetting medical insurance fraud has seen 251 criminal groups dismantled and 3,819 suspects detained in six months, the Ministry of Public Security (MPS) said on Friday. By the end of September, medical insurance funds totaling approximately 230 million yuan (about 35.6 million U.S. dollars) had been retrieved during the operation that was jointly launched by the MPS, the National Healthcare Security Administration (NHSA) and the National Health Commission on April 9, the ministry said in a press release. In the first eight months of 2021, the NHSA also handed punishments to approximately 212,500 of the 516,600 medical institutions it inspected, and retrieved 8.8 billion yuan, senior NHSA official Duan Zhengming said at a press conference. Police will step up efforts to combat medical insurance fraud, and will welcome the public to offer information, senior MPS official Wang Yongming said at the press conference. The Communist Party of China Central Committee and the State Council have jointly issued an outline document on the ecological protection and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin. The document will guide the country's ecological conservation and high-quality development of the Yellow River basin through to 2030 and beyond, and serve as an important basis for formulating and implementing relevant planning schemes, policies and measures, as well as building engineering projects. The Yellow River is the second-longest river in China, measuring 5,464 km in length, and runs through nine provincial regions, including Qinghai, Sichuan, Gansu, Ningxia, Inner Mongolia, Shanxi, Shaanxi, Henan and Shandong. The Yellow River basin is an important ecological barrier, and is strategically significant for China's national development and modernization. The scope of the planning covers relevant county-level administrative regions through which the main tributaries of the Yellow River flow, with a land area of about 1.3 million square km and a population of about 160 million at the end of 2019, says the document. The 2021 Sino-American Youth Dialogue, focusing on the topic of climate change, was held in Beijing's Tsinghua University on Friday. Co-hosted by Tsinghua University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), the event provided a platform for young people from China and the U.S. to put forward ideas and suggestions for the upcoming 26th United Nations Climate Change Conference of the Parties (COP 26) to address the issues of climate change and sustainable development. Qiu Yong, president of Tsinghua University, delivered an opening speech via video at the event. Qiu stressed the crucial role of the youth in dealing with climate issues and called on collective efforts in building a more reasonable climate governance system. "The attitudes and actions of the youth of China and the United States are crucial in the process," Qiu said. L. Rafael Reif, president of MIT, also spoke through video and reiterated the significance of the youth and expressed the same ardent anticipations for young people of both countries. As a warm up activity for the COP 26, event organizers in September began inviting Chinese and American students to submit research papers to be presented at the event. The topics included global climate change, carbon emissions peak, and carbon neutrality. The students' brief oral presentations encouraged young scholars to speak out and enhanced exchanges between the youth of both countries. In addition, nine submissions emerged to win the Outstanding Submission Awards, and six won the Best Presentation Awards. Friday's event concluded with the two youth delegates of China and the U.S. reading a joint initiative on climate change. Their "Joint Youth Initiative for Climate Response and Biodiversity Protection under Carbon Neutrality Goals" calls for cooperative spirits and urgent actions to achieve green, low-carbon, and sustainable development goals. Higher education institutions around the world must adapt to many changes brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic. For a start, as a result of lockdowns, most institutions had to quickly ramp up to offer their courses online. Even as traditional face-to-face classes gradually resume, tertiary institutions will find that some form of online learning will become the new normal. Lectures will be optional and asynchronous. Teaching materials will be more interactive and tailored to student needs and backgrounds. There will be fewer "tests" and formal lectures, and more online discussions, quizzes, small group collaboration, multimedia course material, independent/group project work, simulations replacing lab and other experiential skills training. Institutions will have to invest further in resources to ensure students can engage in online learning and have access to and training in the appropriate technologies. They will also have to be better at having backups so that alternative learning pathways are available when traditional course delivery is disrupted. Student services will have to adapt to an online environment where students are able to contact and interact with academic and support staff as well as engage with their peers. Institutions will have to improve their ability to create and nurture online learning communities which offer support and develop a sense of belonging. A special equity challenge will be how in this online environment those students who are digitally deprived are to be assisted. As learning becomes lifelong and people live longer and more productive lives, those in the workforce and in older generations will require special support as they un-learn, learn new skills and adapt. The move to online teaching also means that staffing and infrastructure profiles must change. With fewer lectures and face-to-face tutorials, many universities have cut the number of sessional staff. At the same time, education institutions require more course designers, multimedia personnel and online support specialists. With fewer students attending in-person there is also less focus on facilities and more on digital infrastructure. Institutions have also had to invest in training their existing staff to provide them with the knowledge and skills required to teach effectively online. Working conditions are also changing with an increasing number of staff choosing to work from home. A more group-oriented academic culture will also have to be nurtured in which teams of designers, content experts, computer experts, web support, multimedia experts and others work together as they develop, teach and continually improve their course offerings, enhance teaching excellence and achieve better student learning outcomes. Another result of the pandemic is that government treasuries have incurred significant debt. This is likely to mean a reduction in the capacity of governments to support higher education. At the same time, a predicted decline in student enrolments will lead to pressures to reduce costs and be more innovative. One aspect of this innovation is likely to see both increased mergers and partnerships between higher education institutions and with industry. Another emerging trend is the growth in micro-credentials and the need and advantages in unbundling learning packages in order to facilitate just-in-time delivery and provide education at lower cost and greater efficiency. For universities with a research mission, COVID-19 has also impacted this sphere of activity: Conferences are increasingly moving online, online networking and collaboration have greatly increased, and academics are developing new research and networking skills. Increasingly, government and industry are becoming more targeted in allocating research funding and demanding greater evidence of "impact" and focus on results. The linkages between the workplace and higher education institutions are also receiving much greater emphasis. All of these changes will create major challenges for higher education governance in the coming decade. Governing bodies will have to have in place policies and procedures that protect the quality of learning in order to meet the educational needs of students as well as those of industry and society. Risk management is now at the top of most board agendas as governing bodies prepare for the next pandemic or other crisis, such as cybersecurity breaches. Academic boards in higher education institutions will be challenged, in this new digital environment, about how best to protect academic integrity and maintain a culture of continuous improvement. Student privacy and data protection will also be a concern. Providing a safe workplace is also more important than ever before, leading institutions to deal with issues such as compulsory vaccinations of students and staff, wearing of masks, and so on. On a wider scale, both higher education and its professions will continue to face forces of disintermediation, with technology taking over the roles of lower order academic and administrative work, flattening hierarchies, disrupting the status quo and tearing down gatekeepers. This will mean that higher education institutions will have to work with industry and accrediting bodies to ensure that professional education adapts and meets the needs of the 21st century information age. Eugene Clark is a columnist with China.org.cn. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/eugeneclark.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors only, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. You are here: World Flash The death toll from a suicide bomb explosion at a mosque in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz city has risen to 46 while 143 others were wounded, a provincial source confirmed on Friday. The blast occurred inside a Shiite Muslim mosque building in the capital of Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province roughly at 2:00 p.m. local time when worshipers were offering Friday prayers. "The number of the deaths may further rise as many of the wounded were in critical condition," Matiullah Rohani from provincial cultural and information directorate told Xinhua. Unofficial sources said about 60 people lost their lives in the attack. No group has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing yet. The security situation has remained generally calm but uncertain across Afghanistan since the Taliban's takeover in mid-August. However, a spate of bomb attacks were launched by the Islamic State (IS) affiliated militants in the national capital of Kabul and Jalalabad city, the capital of eastern Nangarhar province in recent weeks. On Sunday, eight people were killed and 20 others wounded in an explosion outside a mosque in Kabul, for which the IS militants claimed responsibility. Flash Russia is willing to support Europe in overcoming the continent's current energy crisis, Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said on Friday. "I would like to remind once again that (Russian gas industry giant) Gazprom is continuing to supply gas to Europe under long-term contracts," Lavrov said at an online meeting with representatives from the Association of European Businesses in Russia. "Gazprom is continuing to completely fulfill all of its obligations, and even more," he said. He believes that the European Commission and the United States are directly responsible for the current tensions between Russia and Europe over energy supplies. Lavrov said that the European Commission retroactively extended legal requirements for the Nord Stream 1 gas pipeline, causing it to operate at just 50-percent capacity. The same could happen with the Nord Stream 2 pipeline that is about to be launched, he said. Flash Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met on Friday with visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, discussing Afghan affairs and bilateral ties, the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan said. Regarding the situation in Afghanistan, Qureshi stressed that "the current situation required positive engagement of the international community, urgent provision of humanitarian assistance, release of Afghan financial resources, and measures to help build a sustainable economy to alleviate the sufferings of the Afghan people," the foreign ministry said in a statement. He noted that an inclusive and broad-based political structure reflecting the ethnic diversity of Afghan society was essential for Afghanistan's stability and progress, according to the statement. In the context of Pakistan-U.S. bilateral relations, Qureshi underlined his country's commitment to forging a broad-based, long-term and sustainable relationship anchored in economic cooperation, regional connectivity and peace in the region. A regular and structured dialogue process between the two countries is vital for promoting common interests and advancing shared regional objectives, he said. During the meeting, Sherman appreciated Pakistan's support for the evacuation of U.S. citizens and others from Afghanistan, and its continued efforts for peace in the region, the foreign ministry said. After concluding her India tour, Sherman arrived in Pakistan on Thursday for a two-day visit. You are here: World Flash Tanzania on Friday received 1,065,600 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from China under COVAX, boosting the east African nation's vaccination campaign against COVID-19. Speaking shortly after receiving the vaccines, Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children Dorothy Gwajima expressed gratitude for the vaccines, saying the donation will help accelerate Tanzania's vaccination campaign launched by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on July 28. COVAX is a global program aimed at providing equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. She said a total of 760,962 citizens have been vaccinated on Tanzania's mainland and 10,800 citizens have received the jabs in Zanzibar as of Oct. 7. Xu Chen, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania, said the donated vaccines will bolster Tanzania's fight against the pandemic. He said the Chinese government and Tanzania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation are working very closely to facilitate the donation of two consignments totaling about 1.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from China. The hand-over ceremony at Julius Nyerere International Airport in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam was attended by high-ranking government officials and representatives from the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the UN Children's Fund. Flash A U.S. delegation will travel to Doha, Qatar, over the weekend to meet with senior Afghan Taliban representatives, the State Department said on Friday. "This meeting is a continuation of the pragmatic engagements with the Taliban on issues of U.S. vital national interest," a State Department spokesperson told reporters, noting it is "not about granting recognition or conferring legitimacy." The spokesperson said the key priorities of the meeting are "the continued safe passage out of Afghanistan of U.S. and other foreign nationals and Afghans to whom we have a special commitment who seek to leave the country and holding the Taliban to its commitment not to allow terrorists to use Afghan soil to threaten the security of the United States or its allies." U.S. officials in the meeting will also press the Taliban to respect the rights of women and girls, form an inclusive government, and allow humanitarian agencies free access to areas of need, the spokesperson added. According to media reports, the U.S. delegation will include officials from the Central Intelligence Agency, the State Department, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. It will be the first in-person meeting between the United States and the Taliban since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan at the end of August. Flash The visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian arrived in Syria's capital Damascus on Saturday, speaking about "comprehensive developments" in the relations between his country and Syria, according to the state news agency SANA. Speaking jointly with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to reporters upon arrival, Abdollahian said that over the past few weeks, Syria and Iran have reached "important agreements" for achieving comprehensive development in the relations in all fields. He said both sides are putting forward "intensive programs" to implement cooperation in the economic, trade, and tourism fields. "Syria is on the path of progress and prosperity," he said, stressing his country's ongoing support to Syria. For his side, Mekdad described the visit of the Iranian official as "important," noting that there are "important developments" that will be discussed between both sides for the interests of both peoples. Before Damascus, Abdollahian visited Russia and Lebanon and held talks with Russian and Lebanese officials on various international and bilateral issues. Mekdad noted that he and Abdollahian will discuss the outcome of the latter's visits to Russia and Lebanon. The visit of the Iranian official comes at a time the Syrian government is sensing a change in the international climate towards Syria. In a recent televised interview with the Syrian national TV, Mekdad pointed out that there is a change in the international political atmosphere towards the Syrian issue, noting that during the recent United Nations General Assembly meetings, tens of countries wanted to meet with the Syrian government delegation. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 30 giorni fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. USA, 09 October 2021 At the moment, nearly all distinct likes to de-stress by best friends at nighttime together with do a couple of events, love winning contests, chatting, alcohol consumption, etc. Having a drink are probably the common problems that lots of people wish, however, the key no more than thing that very tricky with regard to upon drinking stands out as the hangover. Lots of folks experience troubles combined with contamination immediately following having a drink, and it's also perhaps the most common option for many folks. 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Global Artificial Insemination Market: Information By Type (Intrauterine, Intracervical and Intratubal), End User (Hospitals & Clinics, Fertility Centre and Home-Based) and Region (Americas, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Rest of the World) - Forecast till 2027 The Large Availability of Reimbursement and Copay Services for Artificial Insemination Techniques Globally is expected to Drive the Artificial Insemination Market at a CAGR of 8.56% during the Forecast Period : Market Highlights Global Artificial Insemination Market is expected to register a CAGR of 8.56% during the forecast period and is expected to hit USD 3,409.75 Million by 2027. Get a Sample Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1218 . Rising social acceptance has also played an important role in the growth of the global artificial insemination market. 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Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. On 4 October 2021, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced at the 77th Annual General Meeting of IATA being held in Boston, USA that China Eastern Airlines will host the 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Shanghai, China, on 19-21 June 2022. During the AGM, a decision was made in addition to the announcement of host city of the next Annual General Meeting. IATA officially announced that Chinese is to formally become a language of International Air Transport Association. As the only newly added language, Chinese joins English, French, Spanish and Arabic, bringing the number of languages for the body to five. "We look forward to gathering the aviation industry in Shanghai for the 78th Annual General Meeting of IATA. China is a dynamic aviation market, with the domestic market among the fastest to recover from the damage brought by COVID-19." said Willie Walsh, IATA's director general. "China Eastern Airlines is excited to host the IATA Annual General Meeting and to welcome our industry colleagues to our home city of Shanghai to share this charming city's openness, inclusiveness, fashion and innovation. We look forward to the discussion on the development prospect of the aviation industry and joint efforts in promoting the healthy development of our industry." said Liu Shaoyong, chairman of China Eastern Airlines. IATA, founded in 1945, is a worldwide non-governmental organization. IATA represents about 290 airlines in over 130 countries and regions. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of IATA, held in June every year, is the world's largest and preeminent gathering of airline leaders. It attracts 800-1000 participants each time. Now when the students are attending second year physical classes, how can they concentrate on the first year syllabus? If held, the exams will be taken as an opportunity by corporate colleges to fleece in the name of examination fee, said parents. Representational image/PTI HYDERABAD: Parents associations of Intermediate students' along with other unions related to Intermediate education, met at Sundarayya Vignana Kendram on Friday and decided to protest the move to hold first year exams for students, who have been promoted to the second year because of the Coronavirus pandemic. Members from Telangana Parents Association, Telangana Intermediate Protection Samiti, Government Intermediate Lecturers Association and other similar organisations, will submit a petition to the education minister, higher education secretary and Inter Board secretary on Monday. They warned of protest in front of the Inter Board if the government failed to withdraw the move. TPA president N. Narayana said, It was a government decision to promote all Intermediate first year students. Now when the students are attending second year physical classes, how can they concentrate on the first year syllabus? If held, the exams will be taken as an opportunity by corporate colleges to fleece in the name of examination fee. Intermediate exams are scheduled to commence on October 25. The arrests were made during an investigation into three cases registered on complaints of Telugu Akademi, Union Bank of India and Canara Bank. Representational image/DC HYDERABAD: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is to investigate the multi-crore Telugu Akademi fixed deposit fraud. So far, the Central Crime Station (CCS) has arrested 10 accused, including the mastermind Chunduri Venkata Koti Sai Kumar. The case relates to fraudulent withdrawal of fixed deposits from two public sector banks to the tune of Rs 64.5 crore. The central agency is likely to register a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and take up investigations, sources said. As the case involves money laundering, Hyderabad police urged ED to initiate the probe. The arrests were made during an investigation into three cases registered on complaints of Telugu Akademi, Union Bank of India and Canara Bank. The police could not recover most of the loot as the accused purchased properties and had made other investments. The ED is likely to identify those properties and seize them. New Delhi: The military build-up by China in the eastern Ladakh region and new infrastructure development to sustain the large-scale deployment are matters of concern and India has been keeping a close watch on all the activities by the Chinese PLA, Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane said on Saturday. He said if the Chinese military maintains the deployment through the second winter, it may lead to an LoC-like situation (Line of Control) though not an active LoC as is there on the western front with Pakistan The Chief of Army Staff said if the Chinese military continues with its deployment, the Indian Army too will maintain its presence on its side which is "as good as what the PLA (People's Liberation Army) has done". Indian and Chinese militaries have been on a standoff in several areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh for nearly 17 months though both sides disengaged from a number of friction points this year following a series of talks. "Yes, it is a matter of concern that the large-scale build-up has occurred and continues to be in place, and to sustain that kind of a build-up, there has been an equal amount of infrastructure development on the Chinese side," Gen Naravane said at the Indian Today conclave. "So, it means that they (PLA) are there to stay. We are keeping a close watch on all these developments, but if they are there to stay, we are there to stay too," he said. Gen Naravane said the build-up and the infrastructure development on the Indian side are as good as what PLA has done. "But what this would, especially if they continue to stay there through the second winter, definitely mean that we will be in a kind of LC (Line of Control) situation though not an active LC as is there on the western front," he said. "But definitely, we will have to keep a close eye on all the troop build-up and deployments to see that they do not get into any misadventure once again," the Army Chief said. To a question, Gen Naravane said it is difficult to understand why China triggered the standoff when the world was reeling under the COVID-19 pandemic and when that country had certain issues on its eastern seaboard. "While all that is going on, to sort of open up one more front is very difficult to understand or fathom," he said. "But whatever it might have been, I do not think they have been able to achieve any of those because of the rapid response done by the Indian armed forces," the Army Chief added. Asked to comment on the overall situation in eastern Ladakh, Gen Naravane referred to a recent statement by a spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs and said he had clearly mentioned that whatever has happened on the Northern border is because of the massive build-up by the Chinese side and the non-adherence to various protocols. "So that is very clear as to what was the trigger for all that which has happened," Gen Naravane said. The Army Chief said following the standoff in eastern Ladakh, Indian Army realised that it needs to do more in the area of ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance). "So that has been the thurst of our modernisation over the last one year. Similarly, other weapons and equipment that we thought we need for future, those have got our attention also," he said. The border standoff between the Indian and the Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year in eastern Ladakh following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area. Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry. As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in the Gogra area in August. In February, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in line with an agreement on disengagement. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector. Mumbai: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday conducted searches at the residence and office of film producer Imtiyaz Khatri here in connection with the seizure of drugs from a cruise ship, an official said. "The Mumbai zonal unit of the NCB began the searches at Khatri's residence and office in Bandra here this morning," he said. Khatri's name cropped up during the interrogation of the accused persons, who were earlier arrested in the drugs seizure case, the official said, adding that the NCB has been cracking down on the drug peddlers and suppliers in the metropolis. Based on a tip-off that a party was to take place on board the ship, an NCB team had raided the Goa-bound Cordelia cruise last Saturday and claimed to have recovered drugs. A total of 18 persons have been arrested in the case, including Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood actor Shah Rukh Khan. Prime Minister Narendra Modi with Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen and her husband Bo Tengberg during a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan, in New Delhi. (PTI /Shahbaz Khan) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday held talks with his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen with a focus on expanding overall bilateral cooperation in a range of areas including renewable energy and trade and investment. Frederiksen arrived here early this morning on a three-day state visit. "Towards nurturing India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership!PM @narendramodi welcomes Danish PM @Statsmin H.E. Ms. Mette Frederiksen for their bilateral engagement," External Affairs Ministry Spokesperson Arindam Bagchi tweeted along with a photo of the two leaders at the Hyderabad House, the venue for the talks. In the meeting, the two prime ministers are also expected to review the progress in implementation of the 'Green Strategic Partnership' established last year. The green partnership, finalised at a virtual summit between the prime ministers of the two countries, aims to create a framework for significant expansion of cooperation in areas of renewable energy, environment, economy, climate change and science and technology. Earlier in the day, Modi welcomed Frederiksen to India at a ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. The Danish prime minister also visited Rajghat and paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi. Ahead of the talks between the two prime ministers, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar called on Frederiksen. "Welcomed Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on her first visit to India. Our Green Strategic Partnership will advance further as a result," Jaishankar tweeted. India and Denmark have strong trade and investment ties. More than 200 Danish companies are present in India and over 60 Indian companies have a presence in Denmark. The affidavit also stated that 2,51, 87,253 vaccine doses have been administered in the state till the end of September. The targeted population for vaccination is 2,77, 67,000 in the state, of which 1,82,98,288 beneficiaries received the dose(s), among which 68,88, 965 received both doses. DC file photo Hyderabad: Responding to the Telangana High Court`s queries about the safety of children during the pandemic, the government has said it is taking all measurements to check the pandemic's spread. As many as 4,75, 943 teaching and non-teaching staff had been vaccinated by the end of September to ensure schooling will be safe, it said. The government also stated that 256 paediatricians in the state were enlisted by the government to deal with any untoward incident with reference to possible Covid-19 spread among children. The High Court had, several times, sought details from the government about the paediatric infrastructure available in the state in view of the anticipated third wave of Covid-19 that could specially target children. The director of public health said in an affidavit before the court about the district-wise enlisting of paediatricians to deal with critical Covid situations in future. However, the affidavit did not have any mention about the beds available at the children's hospitals. Earlier, government counsel told the court that there was no threat about the spread of the Coronavirus among students if schools reopened. But the counter filed before the court now was silent about the steps taken to manage the pandemic's spread in schools, if and when it happens. However, the public health director stated that in view of the upcoming festivals like Dasara, Diwali and Christmas, the department has ramped up the RTPCR tests by fixing the targets district-wise. He also said the Covid test positivity rate has dropped to less than one per 100 tests. The affidavit also stated that 2,51, 87,253 vaccine doses have been administered in the state till the end of September. The targeted population for vaccination is 2,77, 67,000 in the state, of which 1,82,98,288 beneficiaries received the dose(s), among which 68,88, 965 received both doses. Kochi: Rats, mice, fruit bats and crows have been termed as 'vermin' for destroying crops and now the Grey-headed swamphen or 'Neela Kozhi', as it is called in Kerala, may also be added to that list if the farmers of pokkali rice have anything to say on it. The grey-headed swamphens are usually found in uncultivated paddy fields or swampy areas of wetlands where they roost and breed. However, experts say that the bird is a protected species under the Wildlife Protection Act and that it can be declared as a vermin only by the Forest department of the state. Bugged by the persistent invasion by these birds of their paddy fields, where a special salt resistant variety of rice called 'pokkali' is being cultivated, an Ernakulam-based association of farmers has moved the Kerala High Court urging it to declare this particular species of swamphen as vermin. Pokkali cultivation is a form of mixed farming, where five months are devoted to growing rice, another five months for prawn or fish breeding and remaining 60 days are a transient period between the two, the petition has said. The state government, on the other hand, opposed the plea saying the bird was migratory and this was the first time such a complaint had come. It said the farmers ought to have first approached the forest department before approaching the court. The court, however, asked the state government not to take such a technical objection, saying if the farmers did not have a problem, they would not have filed a writ petition. The court asked the state government to inform it whether the grievance of the farmers, represented by advocates T R S Kumar, Mithun C Thomas and Akshay Joseph, was genuine and if not, then what was the motive behind filing the instant plea. In July this year, the high court had permitted farmers to hunt down wild boars attacking farmlands in certain parts of the state and had asked the state government to declare the animal as vermin in those specific areas. A similar relief is being sought by the pokkali rice farmers for their fields in Ernakulam. Besides urging the court to declare the bird in question as a vermin as far as their fields are concerned, the farmers have also sought that they be protected from any action under the Wildlife Act if they kill, injure or trap the grey-headed swamphen while trying to protect their crop, which is primarily grown in Thrissur, Ernakulam and Alappuzha districts of the state. The grey-headed swamphen is a water bird which commonly inhabits dense marshy areas, rice fields and wetlands in Kerala and it lives as a large community in these areas. Experts, like Dr P O Nameer, say that while the swamphens are not an endangered or migratory species, they are protected under the Wildlife Protection Act. Dr Nameer, the Dean of College of Climate Change and Environmental Science at Vellanikkara, which comes under the Kerala Agricultural University, said that while these birds have been found to cause damage to crops in various parts of the state, the loss to farmers was not as huge as was being claimed. He said that generally the farming community would prefer to put all animals and birds in the vermin category. Dr Nameer said if farmers have suffered losses, they can seek compensation from the government. With regard to the instant case, he said the grey-headed swamphens were usually found in uncultivated paddy fields or swampy areas of wetlands where they roost and breed and therefore, if such areas are cultivated the birds might move out of the area. The farmers, however, claim that a major reason for the intrusion of the bird into their paddy fields is "scarcity of food and unsuitable habitat" and they use it for shelter and reproduction "due to the high coverage generated by the pokkali rice plant". In their plea, the farmers have said that these birds arrive after sowing of the seeds in June and remain there till harvest time -- which is in November -- and during the intervening period they wreak havoc on the growing crops by feeding on the buds and cutting the paddy stems to build nests. It also results in bald patches in the fields, the farmers have claimed. The activities of the bird have caused huge damage to the pokkali rice crops, whose cultivation area has dropped to less than 1,000 hectares in Kerala where in the past it was being grown on more than 25,000 hectares of land, the plea has said. HYDERABAD: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Saturday finalised an action plan for the resolution of the contentious 'podu land issue during a review meeting with senior officials at Pragathi Bhavan. He directed officials not to permit tribals to undertake agriculture on podu lands that are located in the middle of the forest. Instead, officials should convince them to move to land bordering the forests, and give them farming rights over those land pieces. The government will also provide power supply and water facilities to undertake agriculture, besides extending Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bima to them, the CM said. Once farming rights are given to tribals, not a single inch of forest land should be allowed to be encroached by anyone, the Chief Minister ordered. He directed them to deal with forest land encroachers with an iron hand after podu lands issue was resolved. Officials should ensure that "none is inside the forest, the CM said. The Chief Minister said if forest land encroachment was allowed for any reason, including podu farming, there would be no forest left in the future. He asked the officials to seek applications from all tribals on their claims on podu lands from the third week of October, scrutinise applications, undertake field visits to examine whether agriculture activity was being taken up or not, and issue farming rights to genuine applicants. He said MLAs of respective constituencies would accept applications and submit to state government for approval. Chandrashekar Rao said the state government would undertake a comprehensive survey of forest land from November to determine the boundaries of forests by giving geographical coordinates and take measures like fencing. He said the government was ready to extend even police protection to save forest lands from encroachments. He said the farmers, the state government and the Centre would contribute their share of premium to insurance companies under PMFBY. (DC File Image) Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao on Friday termed the Centre's crop insurance scheme, Pradhan Mantri Fasal Bima Yojana (PMFBY), as a 'bogus scheme' saying that it benefitted only insurance companies and not the farmers who suffered crop losses on account of natural disasters. It is for these reasons that Telangana and several other states in the country including Prime Minister Narendra Modi's own state Gujarat had opted out of this scheme, the Chief Minister said. He made these comments in the Legislative Assembly when a few members raised the issue of farmers in Telangana suffering huge losses due to recent heavy rains on account of Cyclone Gulab and when members opined that the farmers could have claimed compensation had Telangana implemented PMFBY. There are a lot of shortcomings in PMFBY which need to be rectified to ensure that the benefits of crop insurance reach the farmers. It's unscientific and a bogus scheme. During assessment for crop insurance, the claim is approved only if an entire village or mandal gets affected by rains or any other natural calamities. Individual farmers, who suffer losses in a particular village or mandal are denied crop insurance," Rao said. Farmers were forced to pay premium individually to insurance companies but when it came to settling claims, the companies took the entire village or mandal as a unit, which was ridiculous, he added. "Banks directly deduct premium amounts from farmers while disbursing crop loans. What is the use when farmers don't get claims for crop losses from insurance companies individually like health insurance or vehicle insurance?" he asked. The Chief Minister also slammed the Centre for negligence in releasing input subsidies to states to pay compensation for farmers for crop loss. "The Centre has made this whole process a ridiculous affair. Whenever heavy rains occur in any state and suffer losses, the Centre asks states to send preliminary reports on crop losses. The Centre then sends a team to states to assess the damage, and often, these teams turn up very late. At times, they come after three or four months. By then, the farmers sow the next crop. What will be left to see then?" he asked. He said the farmers, the state government and the Centre would contribute their share of premium to insurance companies under PMFBY. From 2016-17 to 2019-20, farmers in Telangana paid a premium of Rs 705 crore, while the state government contributed its share of Rs 866 crore and the Centre Rs 866 crore totalling Rs 2,437 crore but farmers received claims for only Rs 1,795 crore despite suffering huge losses due to heavy rains and flash floods during this period, he said. This blog covers software patent news and issues with a particular focus on wireless, mobile devices (smartphones, tablet computers, connected cars) as well as select antitrust matters surrounding those devices. At least 55 people were killed in a suicide bomb attack on worshipers at a Shia mosque in the Afghan city of Kunduz on Friday, the worst strike since US troops departed the country. Hundreds of more people from the minority group were injured in the blast, which has yet to be claimed but looks to be intended at further destabilizing Afghanistan following the Taliban's takeover. The fatal event was a suicide attack, said Matiullah Rohani, director of culture and information for Afghanistan's new Taliban administration in Kunduz, SCMP reported. According to a medical source at the Kunduz Provincial Hospital, 35 people were killed and more than 50 were injured while at the Medecins Sans Frontieres hospital, 20 people were killed and dozens more were injured. Blast disturbs worshippers during prayer service at a mosque The explosion occurred during the mosque's Friday prayer service when Shiite religious sect members are expected to attend in huge numbers. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, as per the Associated Press. Since US and NATO soldiers departed Afghanistan at the end of August under the Taliban's takeover, the strike is expected to result in the most deaths. The blast injured or killed a "huge number" of worshipers, according to Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid. Taliban special forces will be investigating, he said. Now that they control the government, the Taliban must contend with threats from ISIS-K, the local Islamic State affiliate. Taliban troops stormed an ISIS-K hideaway in Kabul, Afghanistan, earlier this week, killing many ISIS-K terrorists after a previous explosion outside the Eid Gah mosque, killed five people. Matiullah Rohani, Afghanistan's new Taliban government's head of culture and information in Kunduz, admitted to AFP that the horrific event was a suicide bombing. Mulawi Dost Muhammad, the Taliban's security head in Kunduz, accused the attackers of attempting to stir up sectarian strife between Shiites and Sunnis, insisting that the movement and the minority were not at strife. The bomb went off during Friday prayers, which are the most important of the week for Muslims, according to residents in Kunduz, the capital of the same-named province. According to one witness, Rahmatullah, there were 300 to 400 worshipers inside. Several bleeding victims were on the floor, seen in graphic pictures that were shared on social media which remain unverified. Smoke plumes could be seen rising into the air over Kunduz in photographs. The bombing happened near her house and several of her neighbors were killed, said a female teacher in Kunduz. She described the experience as "terrifying." Read Also: Joe Biden, China's Xi Jinping Agree To Hold Virtual Summit; US Argues Establishing "Guardrails" Amid Growing Contest Between Two Powers UN expresses "deep concern" over Afghanistan bombing Per News.com.au, the United Nations in Afghanistan expressed "deep concern" over reports of "very high deaths" in Friday's attack, which it described as "part of a disturbing pattern of violence." In October 2017, an IS suicide bomber targeted a Shiite mosque in the west of Kabul as worshipers gathered for evening prayers, killing 56 people and injuring 55 more, including women and children. A series of blasts outside a school in the capital killed at least 85 people, the most of whom were young girls, in May of this year. Almost 300 individuals were injured in this attack on the Hazara minority. The Taliban will struggle to maintain their authority until they address terrorism and the economic crisis, according to Michael Kugelman, a South Asia expert at the Woodrow Wilson International Center for Scholars. Related Article: UN Calls For Global Support as International Body Appoints Investigation To Determine Afghanistan's Need of Immediate Humanitarian Aid @YouTube @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. United States President Joe Biden received widespread support from tribal residents after he became the first U.S. president to proclaim Indigenous Peoples' Day, which aims to boost support for Native Americans across the country. The Democratic president declared Oct. 11 to be the date when the unprecedented holiday will be celebrated along with Columbus Day, which was established by Congress. Many Native American residents were taken by surprise by Biden's announcement despite campaigning for years for recognition of the indigenous people in the country. First-Ever Indigenous Peoples' Day An artist and member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa, Hillary Kempenich, considered the proclamation as "completely unexpected." She said that while many Native Americans have been discussing the issue for so long and have been wanting a solution, there was no progress recently. Kempenich and a group of other tribal members successfully campaigned for her town of Grand Forks, N.D., in 2019 that replaced Columbus Day with the celebration of Native peoples. "For generations, Federal policies systematically sought to assimilate and displace Native people and eradicate Native cultures. Today, we recognize Indigenous peoples' resilience and strength as well as the immeasurable positive impact that they have made on every aspect of American history," Biden said in his proclamation, the Associated Press reported. Biden also acknowledged that Native Americans suffered greatly throughout history due to the horrific actions of European explorers. Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities experienced painful lives because of these groups. The U.S. president said it was a measure of the country's greatness to acknowledge the shameful actions of past governments and face them honestly by addressing them. Read Also: Donald Trump's Final Attempt To Stay In Power Following Joe Biden's Presidential Win Exposed; Ex-POTUS' Efforts Likened To Murder-Suicide Pact Throughout the United States, more than 11 cities, including Denver, Phoenix, Minnesota, and San Francisco, have opted to replace Columbus Day with Indigenous Peoples' Day. The holiday aims to recognize Native Americans who were displaced and decimated after Columbus and many other European explorers arrived on the continent. In 1992, Berkeley, California was the first city to adopt the holiday. On Friday, White House press secretary Jen Psaki told reporters that Biden's proclamation of the Indigenous Peoples' Day did not mean the end of Columbus Day as a federal holiday. She said that the date would celebrate both of the holidays, at least for now, CNN reported. Sharp Contrast From Trump Biden's proclamation of Indigenous Peoples' Day was an important step forward for the United States, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund John Echohawk said. He noted that each small step was progress towards making a much bigger step. The Democratic leader's acknowledgment of Native Americans' sufferings throughout history is also a sharp contrast to former President Donald Trump's adamant support of "intrepid heroes", including Columbus, during the latter's 2020 proclamation of the holiday. At the time, the Republican businessman said that radical activists have, in recent years, aimed to undermine Christopher Columbus' legacy in American history. He considered the "extremists" as looking to replace the explorer's accomplishments with atrocities. Biden's proclamation of the Indigenous Peoples' Day came on the same day of the White House's disclosure of its plan to restore its territory to two sprawling national monuments. The monuments were located in Utah and were stripped of protections by former President Trump, Yahoo News reported. Related Article: Biden Claims Credit For Trump-Led Vaccination Program, Announces Vaccine Mandates in Illinois @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Acting City Administrator John Fourier recently announced that 100 households will receive a $500 stimulus check in installments. He went on to say that they would like to work with researchers to thoroughly understand the program's impact on the community as well as the individual participants. This pilot program is clearly based on another research now underway in Stockton, California. After the first year, the citizens were found to have had less anxiety and sadness than the pressure group that had not received the money. According to research published by the Los Angeles Times, recipients of $500 monthly stimulus checks were able to locate full-time work significantly faster than those in the control group. New stimulus check program proposed Other researchers, including Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot, have proposed such initiatives as well. Ann Arbor will get $24 million in stimulus money as part of the American Rescue Plan Act, which will be distributed among various initiatives and social service organizations. Per Digital Market News, to avoid going overboard with the stimulus check funding, the city would have the final say on which programs should be financed. Following that, the city council would make the ultimate decision. A large number of individuals are optimistic about the newly created funding proposal. Linh Song, a Council Member, reacted to one of the comments by saying that she had been pushing for a universal basic income program for the last six months, and that it would work well with other social service groups. Only half of the federal stimulus check financing for the city has been received, according to reports; the other half will arrive next year. New federal stimulus payments are scheduled to be deposited one week from today. They're the most recent installments of the Child Tax Credit payments, which provide parents with a few hundred dollars extra every month, as per BGR. However, as we've mentioned in previous posts, stimulus funds aren't just coming from the federal government. Various states and localities around the United States have been evaluating what they can do along these lines - and are issuing their own checks. Read Also: Can a Fourth Stimulus Check Happen in 2021? Here's How Many Payments Sent and What You Missed So Far Is a $500 stimulus check a done deal? To provide just one example, the state of California has started handing out $600 Golden State Stimulus II checks to qualified households. To qualify for the checks, recipients must earn between $30,000 and $75,000, with families with children receiving an additional $500. Meanwhile, one American city is proposing a more extreme approach: a $500 stimulus check program for some families. For a period of three years. However, this isn't a done deal just yet. Other ideas being considered by Ann Arbor for how to spend its COVID-19 funds include spending $1 million on social service programs, $3.5 million on property purchases to support affordable housing, $2 million on community policing, $7 million for solar on city facilities, and $4 billion for a new bikeway Downtown, according to one local news report. The city will give the public an opportunity to weigh in on all of this. The final decision will be made by the city council in the area. However, the potential of a new stimulus check program serves as a reminder of how popular this perk remains. Of course, none of this should have been a surprise. Related Article: Fourth Stimulus Check Worth $5,000 Coming To Selected Americans; Who Will Get One? @YouTube @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. United States officials have drawn flak from the Chinese government in Beijing after reports that American marines were deployed in Taiwan for at least a year and are training troops to allegedly fight back against China's aggressive claims over the sovereign island. On Friday, Chinese officials reiterated their demands that American authorities cut off their ties with Taiwanese troops who have been strengthening their defenses. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian declined to comment regarding attacks on Washington and instead focused on Beijing's talking points. Tensions Between U.S., China, Taiwan The standards have been that the United States should recognize the situation's "high sensitivity" between China and Taiwan. He echoed the Beijing government's calls to stop all military contact between the U.S. and Taiwan. The official said that the Chinese government would continue to use its power to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity. For a long time now, China has been claiming Taiwan, which is home to about 24 million people, as part of its sovereign territory. Beijing has been threatening to use force if the island's government does not formally declare its independence, The Washington Post reported. However, Taiwan's Democratic leaders have continued to consider the island as a country and have suggested that they had no intention of allowing the Communist Party to rule them. For more than a year, about two dozen American troops, including a Special Operations unit and a contingent of Marines, have been deployed to the island to train military forces. Read Also: Jen Psaki Insists Joe Biden's Health Is Great Despite Chronic Hacking Sparks Concern, Blames Pandemic For President's Poor Approval Ratings The United States Department of Defense, however, has neither confirmed nor denied the report of American troops in Taiwan. Officials declined to comment on specific operations, engagements or training that the military has been conducting. In an emailed statement, Pentagon spokesman John Supple said that the American government's support for Taiwan and the shared defense relationship with the island continued to share the view of fighting back against China's aggression. Additionally, The U.S. has continued to urge Beijing to honor its commitment to a peaceful resolution, Business Insider reported. Bolstering Taiwan's Defenses The situation comes as both Taiwanese and U.S. authorities have expressed concerns over China's actions that sent nearly 150 warplanes near the former's airspace. The Chinese fleet included J-16 jet fighters, H-6 strategic bombers, and Y-8 submarine-spotting aircraft. While the aircraft did not breach Taiwan's airspace, the movements were used by the Communist Party as a reminder that they were claiming the island as part of China. American military officials have suggested that Beijing could potentially use force to force its ambitions on the island within the next six years. On Wednesday, Taiwan's defense minister, Chiu Kuo-cheng, warned that Beijing is capable of launching a full-scale attack on the island and win with minimal losses by 2025. Despite the controversies, the special ops unit and Marines are only a small effort by the U.S. to increase Taipei's confidence in its defense. However, the support is also symbolic that bolsters the nation's confidence in fighting back against China's continued aggression to claim it as part of its territory, the Wall Street Journal reported. Related Article: New Jersey Man Survives Jump From High-Rise Building, Suffers From Serious Injuries @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A royal analyst predicts that Queen Elizabeth II will "distance" herself from Dubai's ruler after a court determined that he hacked the phones of his ex-wife and Prince Charles' former UK lawyer. The High Court of London decided on October 6 that Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum used government-grade malware Pegasus, developed by Israeli intelligence firm NSO Group, to hack Princess Haya. UAE PM hacks Prince Andrew's lawyer On the balance of probability, the UAE Prime Minister misused his position to snoop on Haya and her team, according to Judge Sir Andrew McFarlane. Fiona Shackleton, a former partner at royal legal firm Farrer and Co, was among those hacked from the princess' inner circle. She was the lawyer for Prince Charles and has also represented Prince William and Prince Harry, as per Newsweek via MSN. The controversy is the latest example of the British Royal Family's links to Middle Eastern governments with poor human rights records embarrassing them. During his time as a trade envoy, Prince Andrew was chastised on several occasions. Even as outrage mounted over Saudi Arabian Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman's complicity in the death of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, Meghan Markle garnered attention by wearing chandelier earrings gifted to her by MBS. The jewelry was initially worn by the Duchess of Sussex on a visit of Australia and the South Pacific in October 2018, and then again during a birthday celebration for Prince Charles the following month. The current controversy involving Maktoum has prompted calls for a shift in the royals' position, as well as the UK government. Queen Elizabeth II presided over the opening of the baton relay for next year's Commonwealth Games in Birmingham, central England, on Thursday, her first big engagement at Buckingham Palace since the coronavirus pandemic began a year and a half ago. The 95-year-old queen passed the baton for the "friendly games" to Kadeena Cox, a four-time Paralympic gold medalist who recently won two events in Tokyo. Cox, 30, ran a lap around the adjacent Queen Victoria Memorial in downtown London before passing the baton to another contender, USA Today reported. Read Also: Judge Allows Prince Andrew Legal Team To Review Jeffrey Epstein, Virginia Giuffre Deal; Duke Hopes To Shield Him From Sexual Abuse Lawsuit Prince Charles to face many challenges once he inherits the crown Meanwhile, a royal historian has cautioned that when Prince Charles takes the throne, he will confront massive issues. The Firm has had to overcome a lot of severe obstacles in recent years, as per Express.co. Prince Andrew, Prince Charles' younger brother, is presently facing a legal lawsuit launched against him by one of Jeffrey Epstein's victims. While Prince Andrew has categorically rejected all of the allegations leveled against him, they have severely tarnished his image, and he stepped down from Royal responsibilities in 2019 after a widely panned interview with the BBC. Despite rumors that Andrew requested the Queen for permission to temporarily step down as a senior royal after the death of his father, Prince Philip, Prince Charles is said to be "adamant" that the Duke of York will not return. Following the dramatic departure of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle from the Royal Family last year, the Royal Family was given yet another blow. The Queen has maintained her neutrality during the previous royal problems, but a Politico article from April cautioned that when Prince Charles becomes king, he would face enormous obstacles. Related Article: Queen Elizabeth Speaks About Prince Philip For the First Time as Her Majesty Loses Grip on Royal Family Ahead of Platinum @YouTube @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio drew widespread criticism from parents of schoolchildren after he announced Friday a plan that would end the 'gifted and talented' education program in the city's elementary schools. The Democratic lawmaker called for sweeping changes to a highly selective program that has drawn scrutiny for exacerbating segregation in the nation's largest school system. The New York City mayor plans to replace the program with a new one that would offer the potential of accelerated learning to students in their later years of elementary school. New York's Educational Program The mayor's plans would also end the test that is given to kindergarten students that are used to screen them for the gifted program. The tests were suspended partly because of New York's advisory school board refusing to renew them last year. "I bet you a lot of parents are going to look at this plan and say this is a reason to stay," de Blasio said during a Friday radio interview. The Democratic lawmaker added that the new program would allow more children to have the opportunity to get accelerated learning compared to the current program, the New York Times reported. However, many parents blasted the New York City mayor, calling his plans "extremely disappointing" and "abominable." The situation comes as de Blasio only has three months left in his administration as the city's mayor. Read Also: Jen Psaki Insists Joe Biden's Health Is Great Despite Chronic Hacking Sparks Concern, Blames Pandemic For President's Poor Approval Ratings Public school parents in the five boroughs said that de Blasio's plans to phase out the gifted and talented program were the wrong choice for students in the Department of Education system. The mother of a student at a third-grade Gifted and Talented program on the Upper West Side, Charleen Ang, has continued to fail to get her son into the program with no success. Ang fears that she will no longer have the opportunity to do so after de Blasio's plans come into effect. "Now, there is no path for our son to ever join his sister. It is abominable that de Blasio is, in his final months in office, dismantling one of the few successful education programs in New York City, adversely impacting a swath of children," Ang said, the New York Post reported. Criticism of de Blasio's Plans The New York City mayor's plans mean that current students who are under the program will be able to stay in accelerated-learning classes until they finish the program. However, new enrollees will not be allowed and will be completely eliminated by fall 2022, which would end the city's testing for four-year-old children. The lawmaker will replace the old program with the Brilliant NYC, a new program that would offer students aged eight years and older chances for accelerated learning. It would also allow them to stay in their regular classrooms alongside other students. The situation comes as New York mayoral nominees Eric Adams and Curtis Sliwa have expressed their wishes not to eliminate the gifted and talented program completely. The support for the old program comes as many others argued it allowed a high number of White and Asian students to pass, Fox News reported. Related Article: New York Mayor Bill de Blasio Allegedly Misused $320,000 Worth of NYPD Resources for Personal Campaign, DOI Report Finds @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Huawei 5G phones will return, Nova 9 will debut next week; Will this bring new challenges to the ipad a1599 lcd industry? The United States continues to impose sanctions on many Chinese technology companies, resulting in Huawei\'s lack of available chips, seriously affecting the shipments of smart phones, and also unable to smoothly launch 5G phones. However, a Chinese digital blogger pointed out that Huawei employees personally confirmed that Huawei\'s 5G phones are expected to return in the "near future." It was previously reported that Huaweis mobile phones are equipped with 5G chips but cannot support 5G networks because of the lack of RF front-end components, or because the current filter market is basically monopolized by U.S. and Japanese manufacturers. However, a well-known digital blogger posted an article by a Huawei employee on Weibo. The employee mentioned, "If you think the iPhone 13 is not good enough, you can wait for Huawei. We will eventually come back with 5G. In the near future "The blogger pointed out that the return of 5G is only a matter of time, not an unsolvable issue. At the end of July this year, the Huawei P50/Pro series mobile phones were officially released to the world, which was four months late. Although the supply chain and other difficulties have been overcome, the lack of 5G networks is still a pity. In addition, people concerned once believed that Huaweis new Nova 9 series will be unveiled in mid-December and support 5G networks. Huawei has now announced that the series will be launched on December 23. Please wait and see. Will this bring new challenges to the ipad a1599 lcd industry? With the rapid updating and selling of Huawei and other brands smart phones, another industry associated with it, the mobile phone accessories industry has also grown rapidly. The so-called mobile phone accessories are what people usually call the secondary products of mobile phones, especially when the smart phones are popular nowadays, consumers have a huge demand for ipad a1599 lcd. The number of smartphones on the market that is increasing year by year will stimulate people\'s demand for ipad a1599 lcd. The upstream raw materials of the ipad a1599 lcd industry chain mainly include plastics, lithium salts, integrated circuits, positive and negative materials, connectors, etc., and the downstream are mobile phone brands, mobile phone sellers, channel sellers and operators. Oriwhiz (Shenzhen DongYe Tengfei Electronics Co., Ltd) is a professional iPhone, iPad, iMac, Mac Book, Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung, Sony, LG, ASUS repair parts and repair tools supplier. For technical consulting or more information about ipad a1599 lcd, send an email to: info@oriwhiz.com. Analysis of the current market demand status of the global ipad a1599 lcd industry The global population of nearly 7 billion provides the basis for the continuous growth of the mobile phone market, and with the continuous improvement of population quality, having smart phones has become an inevitable choice for people to meet their personal communication needs. According to statistics, as of January-June 2021, global mobile phone shipments were 2.481 billion units, a year-on-year increase of 21.5%. With the continuous advancement of technology, people have higher and higher demands for quality and enjoyment, and most consumers have begun to pay attention to the quality and function of ipad a1599 lcd. The ipad a1599 lcd follows the continuous development of mobile phone products faster and faster. According to statistics, as of January-July 2021, global shipments of ipad a1599 lcd are approximately 2.579 billion pieces. In terms of import and export, according to statistics, the import value of Chinese ipad a1599 lcd in 2019 was US$701 million, a year-on-year decrease of 2.23%, and the export value was US$20.624 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.84%; as of January-November 2020, the import value of Chinese ipad a1599 lcd was 5.88 Billion U.S. dollars, and the export value is 18.969 billion U.S. dollars. Analysis of the demand for ipad a1599 lcd in the market segments of the mobile phone accessories industry From the perspective of global mobile phone accessories market demand, according to statistics, as of January-March 2020, China\'s export demand for smart phone ipad a1599 lcd was 898 million, a year-on-year decrease of 7.49%. The demand for ipad a1599 lcd is closely related to the output of mobile phones. According to statistics, as of April-June 2020, the export demand for ipad a1599 lcd in China is 1.39 billion. From the perspective of market demand for ipad a1599 lcd, according to statistics, as of July-September 2020, the export demand for ipad a1599 lcd in China was 1.207 billion. In terms of ipad a1599 lcd shipments, according to statistics, as of 2019, the annual shipment of Chinese ipad a1599 lcd was 5.38 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3.3%. The ipad a1599 lcd supplier Oriwhiz (Shenzhen DongYe Tengfei Electronics Co., Ltd) is a professional iPhone, iPad, iMac, Mac Book, Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung, Sony, LG, ASUS repair parts and repair tools supplier. Oriwhiz team aims to provide the best quality cellphone replacement parts and repair tools to all customers. We provide comprehensive solutions for cellphone, digital devices, computer repair shops with powerful and handy cellphone repair packages, repair tools, and repair machines. Browse our product category to select an item you like or contact us for wholesale and distribution issues via: info@oriwhiz.com. Xiaomi extends the life cycle of mobile phones; what kinds of effects will this bring to ipad a1599 lcd industry? After Xiaomi moves towards internationalization, there are still users who have doubts about the update of its mobile phone system. In order to extend the life cycle of mobile phones, Xiaomi today promised to provide a total of 3 major version upgrades of the Google Android operating system for the Xiaomi 11T series, and a 4-year security system update. Xiaomi today issued a press release announcing that it will provide the upcoming Xiaomi 11T series (including Xiaomi 11T Pro and Xiaomi 11T) a total of 3 major version upgrades of the Google Android operating system, as well as 4 years of security system updates. The industry pointed out that after Xiaomi goes international, many users still have doubts about the system update of their mobile phones. At present, other Xiaomi models provide an average of 2 major operating system upgrades and 3 years of security updates. Xiaomi hopes that through this policy, Xiaomi 11T series users will have a better user experience and higher information security. Although this policy does not cover other series of products, Xiaomi believes this is a positive change. Shan Wenhao, head of product and technology of Xiaomi International, said that with the continuous innovation of smartphone hardware, the life cycle of smartphones is gradually extending, which means that users do not need to replace their phones frequently. Therefore, more and more consumers pay attention to the updated frequency of operating systems and new features. Xiaomi said that it will provide three major version upgrades of the Google Android operating system to further extend the life cycle of Xiaomi phones. Users will continue to use existing Xiaomi phones without frequent purchases of new products, and they can also enjoy the latest operating system and related functions. At the same time, it also provides users with 4 years of security updates to continue to ensure that mobile phones are subject to higher security protection. In addition, Xiaomi is evaluating the possibility of introducing more Xiaomi smartphones into the Google Android operating system upgrade and security update policy. However, the availability of Google Android operating system upgrades and features varies by product model and market. How does this affect the ipad a1599 lcd industry? With the rapid updating and selling of smart phones, another industry associated with it-the mobile phone accessories industry has also grown rapidly. The so-called mobile phone accessories are what people usually call the secondary products of mobile phones, especially when the iPhone smart phones are popular nowadays, consumers have a huge demand for ipad a1599 lcd. The number of smartphones on the market that is increasing year by year will stimulate people\'s demand for ipad a1599 lcd. The upstream raw materials of the ipad a1599 lcd industry chain mainly include plastics, lithium salts, integrated circuits, positive and negative materials, connectors, etc., and the downstream are mobile phone brands, mobile phone sellers, channel sellers and operators. Oriwhiz (Shenzhen DongYe Tengfei Electronics Co., Ltd) is a professional iPhone, iPad, iMac, Mac Book, Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung, Sony, LG, ASUS repair parts and repair tools supplier. For technical consulting or more information about ipad a1599 lcd, send an email to: info@oriwhiz.com. Analysis of the current market demand status of the global ipad a1599 lcd industry The global population of nearly 7 billion provides the basis for the continuous growth of the mobile phone market, and with the continuous improvement of population quality, having smart phones has become an inevitable choice for people to meet their personal communication needs. According to statistics, as of January-June 2021, global mobile phone shipments were 2.481 billion units, a year-on-year increase of 21.5%. With the continuous advancement of technology, people have higher and higher demands for quality and enjoyment, and most consumers have begun to pay attention to the quality and function of ipad a1599 lcd. The ipad a1599 lcd follows the continuous development of mobile phone products faster and faster. According to statistics, as of January-July 2021, global shipments of ipad a1599 lcd are approximately 2.579 billion pieces. In terms of import and export, according to statistics, the import value of Chinese ipad a1599 lcd in 2019 was US$701 million, a year-on-year decrease of 2.23%, and the export value was US$20.624 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.84%; as of January-November 2020, the import value of Chinese ipad a1599 lcd was 5.88 Billion U.S. dollars, and the export value is 18.969 billion U.S. dollars. Analysis of the demand for ipad a1599 lcd in the market segments of the mobile phone accessories industry From the perspective of global mobile phone accessories market demand, according to statistics, as of January-March 2020, China\'s export demand for smart phone ipad a1599 lcd was 898 million, a year-on-year decrease of 7.49%. The demand for ipad a1599 lcd is closely related to the output of mobile phones. According to statistics, as of April-June 2020, the export demand for ipad a1599 lcd in China is 1.39 billion. From the perspective of market demand for ipad a1599 lcd, according to statistics, as of July-September 2020, the export demand for ipad a1599 lcd in China was 1.207 billion. In terms of ipad a1599 lcd shipments, according to statistics, as of 2019, the annual shipment of Chinese ipad a1599 lcd was 5.38 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3.3%. The ipad a1599 lcd supplier Oriwhiz (Shenzhen DongYe Tengfei Electronics Co., Ltd) is a professional iPhone, iPad, iMac, Mac Book, Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung, Sony, LG, ASUS repair parts and repair tools supplier. Oriwhiz team aims to provide the best quality cellphone replacement parts and repair tools to all customers. We provide comprehensive solutions for cellphone, digital devices, computer repair shops with powerful and handy cellphone repair packages, repair tools, and repair machines. Browse our product category to select an item you like or contact us for wholesale and distribution issues via: info@oriwhiz.com. Xiaomi releases the Xiaomi 11T series; Will this bring new challenges to the ipad a1599 lcd industry? Apple (Apple, U.S.: AAPL) has just completed the release of the iPhone13 series. This year\'s new features of the iPhone 13 are not too topical. Chinese consumer electronics brands such as Xiaomi (01810) and Huawei announced new products this week. Xiaomi will hold a press conference at 8 pm on September 15 (Wednesday) to release three new models of Xiaomi 11T, Xiaomi 11T Pro, and Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE. Xiaomi has not announced the Hong Kong release schedule for the time being. Xiaomi promised earlier that the Xiaomi 11T series can get 3 system upgrades and 4 years of security updates to ensure the product\'s useful life. In terms of equipment, Xiaomi 11T will use MediaTek Dimensity 1200-Ultra processor, while Pro models will use Qualcomm Snapdragon 888. Both phones are equipped with a 6.67-inch FHD+ flat AMOLED panel with a screen update rate of 120Hz. iPhone 13 launched the cinematic mode, and the 11T series advertised Cinemagic film-level shooting experience. In terms of rear lenses, both products use three lenses, consisting of a 108MP main camera, 8MP ultra-wide-angle, and 5MP telephoto macro cameras. The 11 Lite 5G NE is equipped with a Snapdragon 778G processor, a 6.55-inch FHD+ 90Hz AMOLED screen, and a 64MP main lens with three rear cameras. Xiaomi 11T Pro is available in 3 versions, including 8GB RAM + 128GB, 8GB RAM + 256GB and 12GB RAM + 256GB, with suggested prices of 649, 699 and 749 Euros. Xiaomi 11T is available in 2 versions, including 8GB RAM + 128GB and 8GB RAM + 256GB, with a suggested price of 499 and 549 Euros. Xiaomi 11 Lite 5G NE is available in 3 versions, including 6GB+128GB, 8GB+128GB, and 8GB+256GB, with a price starting from 369 Euros. According to the latest poster uploaded by Xiaomi Group China President Lu Weibing on the social platform, the Xiaomi 11T screen is a complete rectangle with no opening for the lens. It is unknown that it will use the Xiaomi MIX4 screen camera phone design. Will this bring new challenges to the ipad a1599 lcd industry? With the rapid updating and selling of Huawei and other brands smart phones, another industry associated with it, the mobile phone accessories industry has also grown rapidly. The so-called mobile phone accessories are what people usually call the secondary products of mobile phones, especially when the smart phones are popular nowadays, consumers have a huge demand for ipad a1599 lcd. The number of smartphones on the market that is increasing year by year will stimulate people\'s demand for ipad a1599 lcd. The upstream raw materials of the ipad a1599 lcd industry chain mainly include plastics, lithium salts, integrated circuits, positive and negative materials, connectors, etc., and the downstream are mobile phone brands, mobile phone sellers, channel sellers and operators. Oriwhiz (Shenzhen DongYe Tengfei Electronics Co., Ltd) is a professional iPhone, iPad, iMac, Mac Book, Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung, Sony, LG, ASUS repair parts and repair tools supplier. For technical consulting or more information about ipad a1599 lcd, send an email to: info@oriwhiz.com. Analysis of the current market demand status of the global ipad a1599 lcd industry The global population of nearly 7 billion provides the basis for the continuous growth of the mobile phone market, and with the continuous improvement of population quality, having smart phones has become an inevitable choice for people to meet their personal communication needs. According to statistics, as of January-June 2021, global mobile phone shipments were 2.481 billion units, a year-on-year increase of 21.5%. With the continuous advancement of technology, people have higher and higher demands for quality and enjoyment, and most consumers have begun to pay attention to the quality and function of ipad a1599 lcd. The ipad a1599 lcd follows the continuous development of mobile phone products faster and faster. According to statistics, as of January-July 2021, global shipments of ipad a1599 lcd are approximately 2.579 billion pieces. In terms of import and export, according to statistics, the import value of Chinese ipad a1599 lcd in 2019 was US$701 million, a year-on-year decrease of 2.23%, and the export value was US$20.624 billion, a year-on-year increase of 6.84%; as of January-November 2020, the import value of Chinese ipad a1599 lcd was 5.88 Billion U.S. dollars, and the export value is 18.969 billion U.S. dollars. Analysis of the demand for ipad a1599 lcd in the market segments of the mobile phone accessories industry From the perspective of global mobile phone accessories market demand, according to statistics, as of January-March 2020, China\'s export demand for smart phone ipad a1599 lcd was 898 million, a year-on-year decrease of 7.49%. The demand for ipad a1599 lcd is closely related to the output of mobile phones. According to statistics, as of April-June 2020, the export demand for ipad a1599 lcd in China is 1.39 billion. From the perspective of market demand for ipad a1599 lcd, according to statistics, as of July-September 2020, the export demand for ipad a1599 lcd in China was 1.207 billion. In terms of ipad a1599 lcd shipments, according to statistics, as of 2019, the annual shipment of Chinese ipad a1599 lcd was 5.38 billion, a year-on-year increase of 3.3%. The ipad a1599 lcd supplier Oriwhiz (Shenzhen DongYe Tengfei Electronics Co., Ltd) is a professional iPhone, iPad, iMac, Mac Book, Xiaomi, Huawei, Samsung, Sony, LG, ASUS repair parts and repair tools supplier. Oriwhiz team aims to provide the best quality cellphone replacement parts and repair tools to all customers. We provide comprehensive solutions for cellphone, digital devices, computer repair shops with powerful and handy cellphone repair packages, repair tools, and repair machines. Browse our product category to select an item you like or contact us for wholesale and distribution issues via: info@oriwhiz.com. WandaVision's mini collectibles are now available in the market, while Marvel Studios is working on a WandaVision Season 2 spin-off series centered on Kathryn Hahn's Agatha Harkness, based on the successful Disney+ show WandaVision. WandaVision was a blockbuster triumph for both Disney+ and Marvel, receiving acclaim from reviewers, and becoming the first Marvel series to receive 23 Emmy nods. Among the Emmy nominations, the series won three awards: Outstanding Sci-Fi/Fantasy Costumes, Outstanding Production Design for a Narrative Program (Half-Hour), and Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics for the fan-favorite single "Agatha All Along." While the huge audience is following Scarlet Witch to reappear in Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness next year, it appears that Marvel has another surprise in store for fans of the series. WandaVision's Scarlet Witch & Vision Collectibles As reported by ScreenRant, a new set of collectible display sculptures based on the costumes worn by the Marvel superheroes from an episode of the Disney+ series is now available for pre-order. The scenes from WandaVision episode 6, "All-New Halloween Spooktacular," are accurately recreated in these hand-crafted sculptures. In this episode, Wanda and Vision dressed up in costumes inspired by their respective classic Marvel comic book outfits. The sculptures depict Wanda Maximoff in her iconic Scarlet Witch costume, which she described as an attempt to resemble a "Sokovian fortune teller" in the show, along with a section of her Westview home's stairwell. Iron Studios, a Brazilian company created in 2012, is selling the two sculptures of WandaVision costume separately. The company specializes in collecting display figures and vignettes based on popular cultural brands, such as Lord Of The Rings and Back To The Future. Read Also: 'Loki' and 'WandaVision' Finales Sync Up: Marvel's Setup for the Multiverse and 'Loki' Season 2 Details WandaVision Season 2 Spinoff Unfortunately, it's evident that Kathryn Hahn wants to take on Agatha Harkness again, but if she does, it won't be in the same framework and the same story plot. WandaVision will not get a second season, according to Elizabeth Olsen. However, Wanda's story will traverse in other Marvel Cinematic Universe projects. This further means that if Agatha escapes her jail time, returns to Westview, and causes more trouble, it will likely happen through a crossover with another Marvel project. According to another ScreenRant report, Marvel Studios and Disney+ are working on a spin-off series focusing on Hahn's evil witch Agatha Harkness from WandaVision. While narrative details are presently being kept under wraps, insiders say the show will be "a dark comedy," with WandaVision chief writer Jac Schaeffer returning in the same role as executive producer and the spin-off's writer following her Emmy-nominated work on the mothership series. Katheryn Hahn's portrayal of evil witch Agatha in WandaVision has been praised as one of the best parts of the Disney+ series, from her irritating inquisitive neighbor, to the rug pull reveal of her villainy in "Agatha All Along." Marvel's intention to seize the opportunity in on the character's success will make the characters fans ecstatic. Nevertheless, neither Schaeffer nor Hahn did not make any comments regarding the project. Related Article: 'Star Trek' Movie Confirmed: 'WandaVision' Director Tapped as Film Enters 'Warp Speed' Production In a recent survey, both social media giants Facebook and Twitter turn out to be the least favorite platforms by teenagers. Surprisingly, video platforms such as Snapchat and TikTok are tagged as the most-used social media. The said survey titled "Taking Stocks with Teens" was conducted by the financial firm, Piper Sandler. Aside from the battle of the social media, the survey also stated that there are brands that teenager prefers. Among with the said product preferences are big brands like Amazon, Shein, Crocs, Maybelline, Ulta and Michael Kors. Facebook, Twitter Hate: Why Teenagers Don't Like Them Financial firm Piper Sandler conducted survey on 10,000 U.S. teenagers. The 91-page study determined everything starting from the social causes they support up to the brands they use on a regular basis, per Gizmodo. The survey found out that 35 percent of the teens named Snapchat as their favorite social media platform, while TikTok came second at 30 percent--pretty close to Snapchat's numbers. Meanwhile, Instagram ranked as third with 22 percent votes as the teenagers' favorite social media platform. Moreover, both Facebook and Twitter only had 2 percent votes from the said survey. On the other hand, the survey also revealed the social media platform that has the highest engagement. The survey showed that Instagram has the highest social media engagement with 81 percent, followed by Snapchat that has 77 percent and TikTok at 73 percent. It showed that Instagram is the most-engaged platform, though Snapchat is the teenagers' favorite. Gizmodo added some reasons why Facebook and Twitter were tagged as least favorite. The results are as follows: Facebook It shows that teenagers view Facebook as an old platform for most of them. In addition, Facebook seems to be the most-used social media by their relatives. This reason could also indicate why both video platforms TikTok and Snapchat dominate the spot since teenagers can share their videos without their parents or relatives seeing them. Twitter On the other hand, Twitter has become a platform for news updates, which has become less socializing. In relation to this, Twitter has also been used as a platform for political force, per The Atlantic. Moreover, the survey also found out that average teenagers spend about 4.2 hours per day on social media. Read Also: Giga Texas Is Truly Massive! Viral Video Shows Size of Tesla's New Headquarters Battle of the Brands Aside from social media platforms, Piper Sandler also revealed the favorite brands by most teenagers. In terms of spending on beauty products, the survey found out that skin and cosmetic products fall behind. In line with this, Ulta has 46 percent share, which only means that Ulta is the top beauty destination for the young customers. At second place is Sephora with 21 percent share. Additionally, CeraVe is named as the most-preferred skin brand. For cosmetics, Maybelline ranked first place as the teens' preferred brand followed by e.l.f. Moreover, 87 percent of teenagers own an iPhone while 88 percent expect iPhone to be their next phone. In relation to this, Apple Watch was ranked as the most preferred product. To know more about the brands that teenagers prefer, readers can visit Piper Sandler's detailed survey. Related Article: Apple Updates: iPhone Receives Map Fix With iOS 15.1 Beta 3, AirPods Get New 'Find My' Feature Residents from all over United States have supported an online petition for the fourth stimulus check. The proposal has already received more than 2.9 signatures and is recognized to be one of the most signed petitions on Change.org. Unfortunately, this petition would unlikely sway the IRS and legislators. At the start of the pandemic, lawmakers proposed direct payments to give immediate financial relief for Americans who lost their jobs and accrued debts. The strategy proved effective. Despite the lack of income, bills were paid, residents kept their houses and leftover money was immediately used for groceries. This strategy helped many Americans fight off poverty during the pandemic. The federal government released three waves of stimulus checks. Afterward, they decided the country had recovered enough and stopped the program. Americans from all over the country voiced their disagreement. Fourth Stimulus Check Tracker: $2000 Payments for Americans Stephanie Bonin, a restaurant owner in Colorado, started a petition last year about recurring stimulus checks. She emphasized how consistent recurring payments would be critical to many Americans. Since it seems unlikely for the pandemic to end any time soon, Bonin said, "we need immediate checks and recurring payments so that we can keep our heads above water. Congress needs to make sure that we won't be left financially ruined for doing our part to keep the country healthy," per Change.org. At the time of writing, Bonin's online petition has reached 2,919,496 signatures out of its 3 million goal. Its near completion inspired support from every state in the country. Read Also: iPhone 13 Camera Power Is So Great: Ophthalmologist Using Pro Max for Eye Treatment, Ditches $15,000 Device $2000 Online Petition Gets Boost From California, Texas, Florida and New York Newsweek contacted Change.org and received the statistical breakdown for the 2.9 million signatures. These signatures came from different states. However, most of the signatures came from just four states. California, Texas, Florida and New York are four of the most populous states in the U.S. These four states are accounted for 995,000 signatures in the online petition, with 30 percent of those signatures coming from California. However, keep in mind that 344,000 Californian signatures are relatively tiny number when compared to its 39 million population. Other states, like Illinois and Pennsylvania, contributed more than 100,000 signatures. A total of 11 unmentioned states contributed 50,000 to 100,000 signatures, too. Another 11 states, Alaska, Delaware, Maine, Idaho, Montana, New Hampshire, North Dakota, Rhode Island, South Dakota, Vermont and Wyoming, contributed less than 10,000 signatures each. Lastly, 97 percent of the signatures were contributed by people in the U.S., while 3 percent were signed by outsiders. With all these numbers laid out, it is worth noting how the number of signatures is minimal when compared to the state's population. Newsweek calculated that even if the online petition reached 3 million signatures, they would barely account for one percent of the country's population. Regardless of the milestones Bonin's online petition has achieved, it stated that this number of support is hardly enough to convince the Congress and the Biden Administration to approve a fourth stimulus check. Related Article: Facebook Data Breach 2021 Exposes Personal Info of 1.5 Billion Users: 2 Tools to Check If Your Data Have Been Leaked The NASA Hubble Space Telescope witnessed quite an awe-inspiring cosmic phenomenon: galaxies that are apparently in a tug-of-war! This NASA Hubble image shows two interacting and intertwined galaxies--collectively called Arp 91--seemingly in a delicate, intricate dance that is taking place 100 million light years from Earth, NASA said in its website. NASA further named the two galaxies comprising Arp 91: NGC 5953, which is the bright-looking lower galaxy, and NGC 5954, which is the oval-shaped galaxy to the upper right. Both are spiral galaxies, however, their shapes appear different due to their peculiar orientation with respect to Earth. Hubble caught a glimpse of two interacting galaxies, called Arp 91, locked in a dangerous dance more than 100 million light-years from Earth! In this #HubbleFriday image, we see how immense gravitational attraction is causing these galaxies to interact: https://t.co/lqmhYfsnzY pic.twitter.com/9ZmMTA4YCF Hubble (@NASAHubble) October 8, 2021 This galactic tango shows how such galaxies interact, with NGC 5953 apparently pulling NGC 5954, which seems to be extending a spiral arm downward. The galaxies' massive gravitational attraction has led to this astonishing interaction. These arms are actually part of an active site of star formation that normally look brighter due to the stars that stay in those regions. NASA Hubble Image: Interactions Common in Evolution of Galaxies NASA stated that such interactions are common and form a significant part of the evolution of galaxies. A great number of galaxies display some form of interaction, either with its satellites or with other galaxies. Those that interact with other galaxies include such collisions that lead to the merger of galaxies or end up with bursts of star formation. Read Also: NASA Hubble Telescope Captures Picture of Rare Cosmic Event: It's a Lightsaber! In collisions or mergers, the bigger galaxy might retain its shape or form after devouring the smaller one, Screen Rant noted in a post. This gravitational interaction would likely lead to the creation of a larger irregular galaxy, but astronomers believe that such interactions would eventually lead to the creation of another galactic type: elliptical galaxies. Best examples of such cosmic interactions include the Messler 81 group, which had the larger M81 galaxy colliding with two smaller galaxies-NGC 3034 and NGC 3077, and the Cartwheel group, which comprises four spiral galaxies in a stunning ring outline, Screen Rant added. Higher Frequency of Star Formation in NGC 5953 In the study "Photometric and Kinematic Traces of an Interaction" published in the Astronomical Society of the Pacific, the two galaxies in Arp 91, NGC 5953 and NGC 5954, are 5.8 kiloparsecs apart and show prominent star-forming regions. However, according to data from the Infrared Astronomical Satellite (IRAS), NGC 5953 presents a higher frequency of star formation per unit area, compared to NGC 5954. NGC 5653 is believed to be categorized under the Class II Seyfert galaxies with its distinct bright core known as an active galactic nucleus (AGN). Such galaxies are one of the brightest cosmic sources of electromagnetic radiation. The Hubble recently took an image of a Seyfert galaxy, NGC 3254, which seems like a giant cosmic eye with a bright center. But such immense, energetic interactions, NASA added, happen hundreds of millions of years, and as such humans can't expect to see any changes to Arp 91 anytime soon. Related Article: NASA Hubble Images: Space Telescope Captures Enchanting Photo of Star Nursery! Instagram went down for some users on Friday in what was another concerning outage for the social media platform and Facebook. Along with it, other apps like Workplace and FB messenger were also affected. While Facebook fixed the issue after two hours (per The Verge), it didn't come until several users were shocked to find their Instagram and other apps down. For those unaware, though, there are online websites that help users check if Instagram (and other social media platforms for that matter) are fully operational or suffering from issues. The said tools include the "Instagram Help Page," "Downdetector," and "Is it Down or Just Me?." Keep in mind that this will not prevent outages to occur, but rather provide detailed-information to the said issue. Check the Instagram Help Page According to Tech Advisor, the Instagram's Help Page is the easiest way to check if the social media platform is down. On Instagram's "Help Page," there are several options to choose from a drop down menu. The said drop down menu includes "Instagram Features" and "Manage Your Account" among others. In relation to this, Tech Advisor shared a step-by-step process to troubleshoot and identify an error. The said steps are the following: Choose "Troubleshooting and Login Help" and choose to "Something's Not Working." Upon selecting "Something's Not Working," click "Known Issues." Under "Known Issues" is a list of possible troubleshooting options. In case your device displays some error codes, Instagram users must head to "I'm Getting an Error Message" section to look for the matched error code. Read Also: Facebook Hate? Teens Show Dislike for FB, Twitter in Shocking Survey Downdetector Aside from Instagram's troubleshoot page, Downdetector is one of the useful tools that works on several devices. It works on Android and Apple, as well as through its webpage. Downdetector provides detailed issues or concerns that Instagram encounters. Aside from IG, it also provides report on several social media platforms and apps. The said apps include Facebook, Twitter, WhatsApp, YouTube, Netflix and others. For a much-detailed information, Downdetector has the following features: A graph chart indicating reports if an outage occurred in the past 24 hours. A pie chart indicating information to identify if users encountered the said problem through an App, Server Connection, as well as Feed. A map reporting the location of occurrence. Lastly, a comment thread which gathers report from users. As mentioned, Downdetector is available on all platforms. To know more about Downdetector, head to their website. Is It Down or Just Me? Apart from the "Instagram Help Page" and "Downdetector," the "Is it Down or Just Me?" webpage is also available online to solve concerns. Upon heading to its webpage, a blank white-box will appear on the screen. The said white box requires a URL of the page you wish to check. Here is a step-by-step process to check if a certain website is down: Paste a copy of the URL of the website you want to check. Then click "Check Website". Check the details of the report. A detailed information of the website will appear on screen. It includes website status, response time and response code. Same with Downdetector, it also includes reports for the last 24-hours. Aside from these, keep in mind that the installed Instagram application should be updated on the latest feature to prevent several issues, per Tech Advisor. Related Article: Instagram Video Feature: How to Use New Format, Extra Tools to Create Better Clips Google researchers have warned that hackers are now using flawed digital signatures to bypass detection in Windows security software. In a report released Thursday on The Digital Hacker, the tech giant's threat analysis group (TAG) said hackers "created malformed code signatures" that would be considered as "valid by Windows" but could not be detected by OpenSSL code used in security scanners. New Technique Allows Malware to Download and Install on PCs without Detection The researchers discovered that the OpenSUpdater line of software utilizes this new technique. Described as riskware, OpenSUpdater shows ads on victims' browsers and then installs unwanted programs into their PCs. Most of the targeted victims of OpenSUpdater attacks are U.S.-based users prone to downloading cracked games. Information about these breaches emanate from OpenSUpdater samples sent to VirusTotal since August. Read Also: Worried the Microsoft Office Files You're Downloading Are Infected by Malware? 3 Ways to Remove Threat, Protect Yourself Financially motivated hackers would execute coordinated malware attacks to as many devices as possible, Bleeping Computer revealed. Google TAG researcher Neel Mehta discovered that OpenSUpdater developers began signing samples with valid but purposely malformed certificates, which were accepted by Windows but disallowed by OpenSSL. Because of this, they would break certificate parsing for OpenSSL resulting in the inability to decode and check the digital signatures. As such, these malicious programs won't be identified by security offerings with OpenSSL-powered policies, thereby allowing them to perform unwarranted tasks on a victim's device or PC. Mehta stressed that since August, OpenSUpdater samples have shown an invalid signature, and his group further discovered that this was done on purpose to avoid detection. OpenSSL-powered security products that extract signature information will "reject this encoding as invalid," Mehta said on The Digital Hacker. But for a parser that would allow such encodings, the binary digital signature "will otherwise appear legitimate and valid," Mehta added. The final part of the attack is allowing OpenSUpdater to breach security defenses, deploying and launching the samples on a victim's computer without any issues. This is possible because the OpenSSL-powered security solutions that parses digital signatures will bypass the samples' maliciousness. It will reject the signature information as invalid, thereby obscuring and disrupting the malware detection process. Since Google TAG first discovered the new hacking technique, OpenSUpdater developers have attempted to push other variations on invalid encodings to further avoid detection, Mehta added. Mehta emphasized that the dubious activity is the first time Google TAG monitored hackers using the technique to avoid detection "while preserving a valid digital signature on PE (portable executable) files." Google Alerts Microsoft About New Hacking Technique, Calls On Users to Download and Install Genuine Software Following their discovery, Mehta and the Google TAG reached out to Microsoft to inform them about this new breaching tactic. Google TAG is presently collaborating with the search titan's Safe Browsing team to impede OpenSUpdater from further spreading onto PCs and devices. It also urged users to only download and install software from accredited, genuine and trustworthy sources. Related Article: Dogecoin Price Prediction: Doge Millionaire Sees Massive Surge That Could Double Meme Coin's Value A young couple hold hands as they pass the Rodong Sinmun building, home to the official newspaper of the Workers' Party of Korea, in this August 2018 photo. Courtesy of Lindsey Miller By Kwon Mee-yoo Lindsey Miller, author of "North Korea: Like Nowhere Else" / Courtesy of Lindsey Miller North Korea test-fired four weapons in September, with footage from North Korea's state media showing people gathered in the city center and applauding the announcement. However, Lindsey Miller, who lived in North Korea from 2017 to 2019 with her diplomat husband at the British Embassy there, has her own, different memories of similar past occasions. "In 2017, there were nuclear tests and announcements. I remember any time when there would be a launch of some kind or a test, I would always try to get out and see what it felt like. And actually, a lot of the time, it felt very normal," Miller told The Korea Times during a Zoom interview, Sept. 28. Miller is currently living in Taipei with her husband. "We see often on state media people clapping and jumping. In Pyongyang when these things happen, people were going to work, children were going to school, and people were working in shops and walking to the park the daily life continued." Miller compiled her photos of North Korea and wrote short essays on her experiences in the book, "North Korea: Like Nowhere Else." The book was first published in the U.K. in May and the Korean edition was released in mid-September. In the book, a photo taken by Miller in November 2017 gives a behind-the-scenes view of the well-crafted footage released by the North Korean state media. "The photo shows the higher sort of crowd in the background in front of the cameras jumping and dancing and digging. And then people on the other side of the cameras who were just watching it. Some clapped, some were very bothered and some were too busy trying to pass by to pay attention," Miller explained. Soldiers on the back of a truck in Pyongyang, August 2018 / Courtesy of Lindsey Miller Witness of everyday life Miller said she didn't realize how powerful her assumptions about the country and the people were until she arrived in the world's most secretive state. "That was because all of the information I consumed before going to the country had been based on news reports, or from reading books or watching documentaries. And because there's so little information that comes out of the country about everyday life, I had no concept of what that would be like, until I experienced it for myself," she said. "The book tries to bring across this idea that North Koreans are often labeled in propaganda outside of North Korea. I think that's an overly simplistic view because human beings are complicated and cannot be summarized in a word like that." Miller is an award-winning composer and music director who worked for the Royal Shakespeare Company and other theatrical productions, but she pursued her artistic desire in another way when in North Korea through photography. She almost always had her camera with her when walking around the city to capture whatever she found interesting. "So photography, for me, was a way of being creative and feeling free in an environment that often made me feel the opposite. For me, as a musician, art and creativity is a way of expressing yourself and your interpretation of the world around you (as that) can't be controlled. My interpretation belongs to me and my creative voice belongs to me. So that was a real way of me being able to capture everyday life as I saw it," she said. "As time progressed I was noticing people more than the portraits of the Kims or the cars. That's a major focus of those pictures, trying to understand where the truth is and where the mythology is. That's why photography was a really powerful way of me being able to look into a moment after it happened and analyze it in more detail, to try and help me understand it more." The cover of Lindsey Miller's book, "North Korea: Like Nowhere Else" / Courtesy of Lindsey Miller 'People are people' Some two years after returning to the U.K., Miller felt a responsibility to share her experiences of North Korea, not only to inform other people of the misconceptions, but also to help herself understand what she experienced, because it was so much more complicated than she expected. "Something I really wanted to achieve with this book was to show that people are people. As North Korean people, they may live in an environment which is dominated by the regime. That does not mean that every single person there is so simple as to characterize them with the political view of the country because human beings are all different," Miller said. "North Korean people are not robots. I found North Korean people to be very friendly, kind, generous and very curious. People I spoke to were curious about the outside world in a way that I don't think we come across when we think about North Korea outside of that country." As a foreigner, specifically a diplomatic spouse, most of the North Koreans Miller spoke to were English speakers based in Pyongyang, working at cafes or restaurants. "At the time when we were there, during 2017 and 2018, a lot was happening on the peninsula. And an example of people being curious is that I sometimes found some North Korean people knowing what was happening which hadn't been shown on television since the state TV delivered the news days after it happened," she said. "Other examples would be simple questions like asking what it is like in Scotland. People would ask me about my family and what countries I've been to. Some North Korean friends would take pleasure in looking through photographs on my phone of wherever I've been, including South Korea." North Korean girls pose during the Pyongyang Mass Games, August 2018. / Courtesy of Lindsey Miller Miller mostly became friends with people who have lots of experience around people of foreign nationality such as those who work in cafes or restaurants, speak several languages such as Chinese, Russian and English, and have confidence around foreigners, something not everybody had. It was difficult to form relationships with those whom she met spontaneously on the street. "I will talk about an example of meeting a girl in a shop. It was just a random shop, a random day of the week. She spoke Spanish and I speak Spanish as well. We had a nice conversation in Spanish and we got on really well. In that situation, I would give someone my number and, say, ask to go for coffee. But that wasn't possible because foreigners' cell phone networks are separated from North Korean people's cell phone networks. So even in those instances where you meet North Korean people and connect with them, it's not possible to continue on a relationship." The woman who spoke Spanish was about the same age as Miller. Miller also noticed that young North Korean women share the same changing thoughts on gender roles, just as many other women around the world go through. The North Korean women's stories are told through Miller's voice, which might not have been picked up otherwise. "Some of the women I spoke to were interestingly not interested in getting married. And there was one woman who said to me that she didn't want children, instead, she wanted a career, working at her job. I think, as a woman, a lot of us can identify with that dilemma," Miller said. "This image of women being in a traditional gender role definitely exists, but that's not to say that exists for every single person. And the fact that there is a woman in Pyongyang who feels like she doesn't want children and wants a career, she should be acknowledged and taken on board as part of that complex human experience." Miller believes that, as outsiders, it is important to acknowledge the different spectrum of experience with these pieces of information and that's where her book has power. Pyongyang, September 2018 / Courtesy of Lindsey Miller Reaching out to South Korean readers The cover of the South Korean edition of Lindsey Miller's book, "North Korea: Like Nowhere Else" / Courtesy of Lindsey Miller South Korea's daily new coronavirus cases fell below 2,000, Friday. Yonhap Daily new COVID-19 infections fell below 2,000, Friday, although the health authorities are still keeping a watchful eye on a possible increase over the extended weekend. The Korea Disease Control and Prevention Agency (KDCA) reported 1,953 more coronavirus cases, including 1,924 local ones, raising the total caseload to 329,925. After falling to 1,575 on Tuesday, the daily figure again rebounded to over 2,000 on Wednesday. The country added six more deaths from COVID-19, raising the toll to 2,560 for a fatality rate of 0.78 percent. The number of daily new virus cases has been above the 1,000 mark for 95 consecutive days due to sporadic infection clusters reported across the country. The health authorities remain on alert over a further rise in new cases following the long weekend ending Monday, which is a substitute holiday for Oct. 9 Hangeul Day, which celebrates the proclamation of the Korean alphabet. Police said Saturday they have requested Interpol's assistance in tracing the whereabouts of a key figure in a sprawling land development scandal possibly linked to the ruling Democratic Party of Korea's (DPK) leading presidential candidate Lee Jae-myung. The Gyeonggi Nambu Police Agency made the request as it is trying to track down a lawyer, Nam Wook, who left for the United States months before the scandal broke last month. Nam allegedly played a key role in the massive residential construction project in Seongnam, south of Seoul, from which he reportedly earned about 100.7 billion won (US$84.16 million) on an investment of 87.21 million won. The public-private project was launched in the mid-2010s, when Lee was mayor of the city. He is now governor of Gyeonggi Province, which includes Seongnam, and the front-runner in the DPK's primary to pick its candidate for next year's presidential election. The Seoul Central District Prosecutors Office has also requested the foreign ministry to invalidate Nam's passport, sources said Friday. The ministry is expected to make a decision early next week. The prosecution has summoned another key driver of the project, former journalist Kim Man-bae, to face questioning Monday. Kim is the largest shareholder of Hwacheon Daeyu Asset Management involved in the development, from which the company and its seven affiliates reaped profits of more than 1,000 times their investment. He is suspected of bribing influential figures in return for business favors. Yoo Dong-gyu, the former de facto chief of the city government-owned Seongnam Development Corp., which holds a majority stake in the project, was arrested last week on charges of bribery and breach of trust for allegedly receiving 1.1 billion won in kickbacks. He is suspected of involvement in designing the profit distribution arrangement so as to give unreasonably favorable returns to Hwacheon Daeyu. On Friday, Gyeonggi Police Agency questioned a lawmaker's son, who worked for the asset management company and received a disproportionally huge severance pay. Police suspect the payment was actually a bribe given to the legislator, Kwak Sang-do, who offered to resign last Saturday amid the controversy. (Yonhap) Gyeongbok Palace in 2016. Hyangwonjeong is in the foreground and Geoncheonggung is in the background. / Robert Neff Collection By Robert Neff Purported to be the only authentic image of Queen Min (with her servant) in the mid-1890s. / Harrisburg Daily Independent In the late 19th century, Korea, like most of the world, was a man's country. Everything centered on and revolved around men. Women were usually invisible in men's writing, but when they were described in newspapers and magazines, they were portrayed as belonging to their husbands or assisting male counterparts. Fortunately, not all Western journalist who visited Korea were men. There were several women who wrote about Korea and provide us with an interesting perspective of the country during the late 19th century. One of these women was Canadian-born Margherita Arlina Hamm who traveled to Korea and did something few men could she wrote rather personally and in depth about the Korean queen. According to Hamm, Queen Min was "the most interesting of all the Asiatic royal heads, having more intelligence, diplomacy, beauty and intrigue." The queen's subjects and her foreign guests showered her with praise for her accomplishments and abilities. The description that follows is even more noteworthy because Hamm included in her 1894 article an extremely rare sketch or portrait of the queen. "To begin with, she is a beautiful woman, as you can tell from the portrait, said to be the only authentic one in existence. She has the high, intellectual forehead which belongs to the Tartar race, the smooth, beautiful olive brow, the long nose, the energetic expression and the strong chin, jaw and high cheek bones. Her hair is a soft brown, as are her eyes. Her mouth is rather large, but full of character. Her nostrils dilate when she talks as do those of a high bred horse when running a great race. Her movements are as graceful as those of a fawn, and she rejoices in one of the sweetest voices I have ever heard. Her ideas of dress are purely antiquated." Hyangwonjeong in Gyeongbok Palace near the royal chambers, circa early 1900s / Robert Neff Collection Apparently, when Hamm met the queen, the monarch was wearing "a rose colored costume, with petal draperies, lemon trousers and petticoat deeply embroidered in white. The dress was very simple and loose fitting, but her gorgeous hair was elaborately dressed and ornamented with clasps of jadestone. She wore earrings and bangles to match." In her article she went on to describe the clothing in a more intimate manner which naturally arouses curiosity as to how she came by this knowledge: "The principal articles of her costume are inner and outer tunics of various lengths made of silk, satin, velvet or grasscloth. In some there is a lapel at the top, which fits tightly to the neck and is gorgeously embroidered. In others the tunic is long, draping to the ankle, and is there fluted and ruffled like a new style petticoat. The sleeves of the gowns are much wider and longer than the arms and have no cuffs or facings. In the inside are various pockets, where the queen carries her scented handkerchief, cut in the shape of a star, instead of square, like ours; her snuffbox, her eyeglasses with tortoise shell ornamentations, her rice powder and puff and her eyebrow pencil. The sleeve is just the same to the aristocratic Korean court lady as the pocket is to the average American woman." The queen was said to be quite fond of tobacco especially American cigarettes and some accounts seem to imply she smoked excessively. Geoncheonggung, the royal residence where the queen was murdered. Circa early 1900s. Robert Neff Collection In her travels, Hamm had the opportunity to meet many powerful women in Asia (her husband was an American diplomat) and she readily compared them in her article. She noted that "unlike the empress of Japan, whom I have seen, [Queen Min] refuses utterly to add foreign ornaments to her person, and she relies almost wholly upon Korean products for the articles of her toilet." True to the stereotype of the time, Hamm was fascinated with shoes especially the Korean queen's. "The queen's slippers, shoes and boots are made up in hundreds of patterns butterflies, humming birds, ricebirds, blackbirds, snakes, royal hats and gloves." She also pointed out that the queen's footwear was not as large as the empress of Japan or "as small as the as the No. 1 wife of Li Hung Chang. They are a happy medium, a cross between those of a Chicago and New York maiden." Looking about the Korean court, she observed that "the court ladies seem to take as much interest in thinking up odd designs for shoes in Korea as the women of our own country do for chatelaine ornaments." She was especially intrigued with one style of shoe that had "parts made and fitted for each toe just like a glove." She denounced the shoe at first as rather being strange, "but after one gets used to it it is more artistic than grotesque." The queen also, according to Hamm, treated her court ladies well and took "a strong and affectionate interest in their love affairs and [gave] a fair dowry to them when they [married]." She was also more tolerant than her peers. Unlike in China, subjects, officials and others who did not pay her the proper homage were not beheaded. The tomb of Empress Myeongseong (Queen Min) circa 1910. Robert Neff Collection Hamm's insight into Korean politics despite being in Korea for only a short time was especially astute. She confided in her article that a British diplomat had told her that in "his estimation the future of Korea lay in the brains of this little but intelligent queen." She agreed but also worried that it could endanger the queen. "[The queen's greatest weakness] I fear, is attracting and fascinating too many royal members of the court. It was whispered when I was in Chemulpo [modern Incheon] that the real reason of the internal rebellions in Korea was brought about by the intrigues of the queen. The only way in which this could be credited, however, was by conversations which she had with foreigners in which she is said to have given out that she was tired of Chinese and Japanese interference with her country, and she hoped to live to see the day when Korean would be a thoroughly independent kingdom." Hamm's concerns were well-founded. About a year after her article was published, the queen was dead brutally murdered in her palace by a mob said to be comprised of disenchanted Koreans, Japanese soldiers and Japanese in civilian clothing. According to The Korean Repository an English-language magazine published in Seoul the Japanese troops took command of the palace compound and the "white coated Korean troops" were stationed near the royal chambers but were excluded from the violence that followed. "Just at the beginning of the alarm sounds as the smashing in of a gate were heard in Her Majesty's quarters, and later on the reports of two shots were heard, but as to what really transpired, there are many conflicting reports. But a ready entrance had been found and a mad search for Her Majesty, the Queen began. Ruffians, probably soshi who seemed to have joined the insurgent troops, led the way. The report is that they seized women by the hair of the head and dragged them about to make them lead the way to Her Majesty. But the likely work was done in one of these two storied structures where it is now admitted the Queen had taken refuge. Here was found the Minister of the Royal Household Yi Kyong-jik, who was cut down and killed. In the upper story a number of ladies were fond and the first one to be seized was the Crown Princess who was dragged about by the hair, beaten, wounded with a sword and thrown down the stairs. It was difficult to discover which one among the women was the Queen and in the hope of making sure work four women were brutally murdered. A Palace maid says one of them was Her Majesty, and that she was knocked down, [trampled] and jumped upon and finally dispatched by the sword." Gyeongbok Palace in 2012. Hyangwonjeong is in the foreground and Geoncheonggung is in the background. Robert Neff Collection Chinese President Xi Jinping applauds during an event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Oct. 9, commemorating the 110th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution. Xi said Saturday that reunification with Taiwan must happen and will happen peacefully, despite a ratcheting-up of China's threats to attack the island. AP-Yonhap President Xi Jinping said Saturday that Beijing hoped Taiwan could be reunited peacefully with the Chinese mainland, warning those who opposed this would be "judged by history." "To achieve the reunification of the motherland by peaceful means is most in line with the overall interests of the Chinese nation, including our compatriots in Taiwan," Xi told a meeting in Beijing commemorating the 110th anniversary of the revolution that established the first Chinese republic. The Xinhai Revolution, which began in Wuchang, now part of modern-day Wuhan, led to the downfall of the Qing Dynasty. In his most high-profile speech on Taiwan since July 1, the Communist Party's centenary, Xi said: "We [should] adhere to the basic policy of peaceful reunification and one country, two systems, adhere to the one-China principle and the 1992 consensus, and promote the peaceful development of cross-strait relations." He urged Taiwan to "stand on the right side of history jointly to create the glorious cause of the full reunification and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation." People view the damage inside a mosque following a bombing in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan, Friday. A powerful explosion in the mosque frequented by a Muslim religious minority left multiple casualties, according to witnesses and the Taliban's spokesman. AP-Yonhap An Islamic State suicide bomber struck at a mosque packed with Shiite Muslim worshippers in northern Afghanistan, Friday, killing at least 46 people and wounding dozens in the latest security challenge to the Taliban as they transition from insurgency to governance. In its claim of responsibility, the region's IS affiliate identified the bomber as an Uygher Muslim, saying the attack targeted both Shiites and the Taliban for their purported willingness to expel Uyghers to meet demands from China. The statement was carried by the IS-linked Aamaq News Agency. The blast tore through a crowded mosque in the city of Kunduz during Friday noon prayers, the highlight of the Muslim religious week. It was the latest in a series of IS bombings and shootings that have targeted Afghanistan's new Taliban rulers, as well as religious institutions and minority Shiites since U.S. and NATO troops left in August. The blast blew out windows, charred the ceiling and scattered debris and twisted metal across the floor. Rescuers carried one body out on a stretcher and another in a blanket. Blood stains covered the front steps. A resident of the area, Hussaindad Rezayee, said he rushed to the mosque when he heard the explosion, just as prayers started. ''I came to look for my relatives, the mosque was full,'' he said. The worshippers targeted were Hazaras, who have long suffered from double discrimination as an ethnic minority and as followers of Shiite Islam in a majority Sunni country. The Islamic State group and the Taliban, who seized control of the country with the exit of the foreign troops, are strategic rivals. IS militants have targeted Taliban positions and attempted to recruit members from their ranks. In the past, the Taliban managed to contain the IS threat in tandem with U.S. and Afghan airstrikes. Without these, it remains unclear whether the Taliban can suppress what appears to be a growing IS footprint. The militants, once confined to the east, have penetrated the capital of Kabul and other provinces with new attacks. This comes at a critical moment, as the Taliban attempt to consolidate power and transform their guerrilla fighters into a structured police and security force. But while the group attempts to project an air of authority through reports of raids and arrests of IS members, it remains unclear if it has the capability to protect soft targets, including religious institutions. The Biden administration condemned Friday's attack. ''The Afghan people deserve a future free of terror,'' State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. In Kunduz, police officials were still picking up the pieces Friday at the Gozar-e-Sayed Abad Mosque. Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi told The Associated Press that 46 worshipers were killed and 143 wounded in the explosion. He said an investigation was under way. The death toll of 46 is the highest in an attack since foreign troops left Afghanistan. Blood stains the compound outside a mosque following a bombing in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan, Friday. A powerful explosion in a mosque frequented by a Muslim religious minority left several casualties, according to witnesses and the Taliban's spokesman. AP-Yonhap A medical worker administers a shot of Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to Vitaly Pavlov from Rostov-on-Don at Belgrade Fair makeshift vaccination center in Belgrade, Serbia, Oct. 2. AP-Yonhap When Russian regulators approved the country's own coronavirus vaccine, it was a moment of national pride, and the Pavlov family was among those who rushed to get an injection. But international health authorities have not yet given their blessing to the Sputnik V shot. So when the family from Rostov-on-Don wanted to visit the West, they looked for a vaccine that would allow them to travel freely a quest that brought them to Serbia, where hundreds of Russian citizens have flocked in recent weeks to receive Western-approved COVID-19 shots. Serbia, which is not a member of the European Union, is a convenient choice for vaccine-seeking Russians because they can enter the allied Balkan nation without visas and because it offers a wide choice of Western-made shots. Organized tours for Russians have soared, and they can be spotted in the capital, Belgrade, at hotels, restaurants, bars and vaccination clinics. ''We took the Pfizer vaccine because we want to travel around the world,'' Nadezhda Pavlova, 54, said after receiving the vaccine last weekend at a sprawling Belgrade vaccination center. Her husband, Vitaly Pavlov, 55, said he wanted ''the whole world to be open to us rather than just a few countries.'' Vaccination tour packages for Russians seeking shots endorsed by the World Health Organization appeared on the market in mid-September, according to Russia's Association of Tour Operators. Maya Lomidze, the group's executive director, said prices start at $300 to $700, depending on what's included. Lauded by Russian President Vladimir Putin as world's first registered COVID-19 vaccine, Sputnik V emerged in August 2020 and has been approved in some 70 countries, including Serbia. But the WHO has said global approval is still under review after citing issues at a production plant a few months ago. On Friday, a top World Health Organization official said legal issues holding up the review of Sputnik V were ''about to be sorted out,'' a step that could relaunch the process toward emergency use authorization. Other hurdles remain for the Russian application, including a lack of full scientific information and inspections of manufacturing sites, said Dr. Mariangela Simao, a WHO assistant director-general. Apart from the WHO, Sputnik V is also still awaiting approval from the European Medicines Agency before all travel limitations can be lifted for people vaccinated with the Russian formula. The long wait has frustrated many Russians, so when the WHO announced yet another delay in September, they started looking for solutions elsewhere. ''People don't want to wait; people need to be able to get into Europe for various personal reasons,'' explained Anna Filatovskaya, Russky Express tour agency spokeswoman in Moscow. ''Some have relatives. Some have business, some study, some work. Some simply want to go to Europe because they miss it.'' Serbia, a fellow-Orthodox Christian and Slavic nation, offers the Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Chinese Sinopharm shots. By popular demand, Russian tourist agencies are now also offering tours to Croatia, where tourists can receive the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine, without the need to return for a second dose. ''For Serbia, the demand has been growing like an avalanche,'' Filatovskaya said. ''It's as if all our company is doing these days is selling tours for Serbia.'' The Balkan nation introduced vaccination for foreigners in August, when the vaccination drive inside the country slowed after reaching around 50% of the adult population. Official Serbian government data shows that nearly 160,000 foreign citizens so far have been vaccinated in the country, but it is unclear how many are Russians. People wait in line to receive a dose of a COVID-19 vaccine at a Belgrade Fair makeshift vaccination center in Belgrade, Serbia, Oct. 2. Russians are flocking to Serbia to receive Western-approved COVID-19 shots. Although Russia has its own vaccine known as Sputnik V, the shot has not been approved by international health authorities. AP-Yonhap Description A Customer Experience Banker is a Financial Concierge for our walk-in customers. You are responsible for retaining and growing consumer and business customer relationships by proactively identifying financial goals and needs and recommending appropriate deposit, loan and other banking products and services. You will process customer transactions accurately and efficiently in order to provide exemplary customer service while educating customers on bank products, services and technology. Your responsibilities include: Providing excellent customer service and effectively resolving customer issues. Being proficient in understanding and educating customers on consumer deposit products and consumer lending. 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Agency Statement: Huntington does not accept solicitation from Third Party Recruiters for any position Category Securities, Commodities, and Financial Services Sales Agents Education High School or Equivalent Job type Full time : kg30 (xxx), : Military : : BBS (Fri Oct 8 10:55:01 2021, ) http://www.reuters.com/world/china/us-troops-rotating-into-taiwan-training-sources-2021-10-07/ U.S. troops rotating into Taiwan for training -sources Reuters 3 minute read A man walks on an overpass decorated with Taiwan flags to celebrate the upcoming National Day in Taipei, Taiwan, October 7, 2021. REUTERS/Ann Wang A man walks on an overpass decorated with Taiwan flags to celebrate the upcoming National Day in Taipei, Taiwan, October 7, 2021. REUTERS/Ann Wang WASHINGTON, Oct 7 (Reuters) - Small numbers of U.S. special operations forces have been rotating into Taiwan on a temporary basis to train with Taiwanese forces, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity. The Pentagon, which historically has not disclosed details about U.S. training or advising of Taiwan forces, did not specifically comment on or confirm the deployment. "I don't have any comments on specific operations, engagements, or training, but I would like to highlight that our support for and defense relationship with Taiwan remains aligned against the current threat posed by the People s Republic of China," said Pentagon spokesman John Supple. Taiwan's Defense Ministry declined to comment, saying only that "all military exchanges are carried out in accordance with annual plans". Asked on Friday about reports on the U.S. troops, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that the United States should cease military ties and arms sales to Taiwan to avoid damaging bilateral relations. "The U.S. side should fully recognize the great sensitivity of the Taiwan issue," he told a regular daily briefing. "China will take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said. China sees Taiwan as a wayward province and has not ruled out taking the island by force. Taiwan says it is an independent country and will defend its democracy and freedom. The sources declined to say how long the training had been going on but suggested it predated the Biden administration, which came into office in January. While at least one Asian media outlet has previously reported on such training, any kind of official U.S. confirmation could further aggravate U.S .-China relations at a time when Beijing is carrying out muscular military exercises near Taiwan. The Wall Street Journal published details on the training, citing unidentified U.S. officials, earlier on Thursday. "I wouldnt rule out the possibility that Beijing is aware of this," said Bonnie Glaser, director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund, noting a social media post during the Trump administration about training by special operations forces. "Making this public will compel the Chinese to react, and they will likely do so by stepping up pressure on Taiwan." Democratic Representative Ami Bera, who leads the House Foreign Affairs' subcommittee on Asia, was asked at a defense conference if he had been made aware of the deployment. "Not particularly this deployment, if I call it a deployment. I think we have special operators and others there, and we have in the past that are there training (Taiwan's) military, working with them," Bera said. Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who is on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told the same event he had not been made specifically aware and had only seen public reports, but added: "Actually I would be happier if that number was in the hundreds." The United States is Taiwan's largest supplier of weaponry and has long offered some degree of training on weapons systems, as well as detailed advice on ways to strengthen its military to guard against an invasion by China's Peoples Liberation Army. Chinese military aircraft have repeatedly flown in recent days through Taiwan's expansive air defense identification zone, which extends well outside Taiwan's airspace. But China has avoided Taiwanese airspace, no shots have been fired and there have been no known close calls between Chinese and Taiwanese aircraft. The Taiwanese government has denounced China's military exercises and says it will defend the island's freedom and democracy, insisting that only Taiwan's people can decide their future. Reporting by Phil Stewart, Idrees Ali, David Brunnstrom; Additional reporting by Ben Blanchard in Taipei and Gabriel Crossley in Beijing; Editing by Dan Grebler and Kim Coghill -- :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 51.] : WCNMLGB (CCC), : Military : : BBS (Fri Oct 8 15:10:18 2021, ) California is the 1st state to ban 'stealthing,' nonconsensual condom removal California just became the first state in the U.S. to outlaw "stealthing," a slang term for the nonconsensual removal of a condom during sex. The law, signed by Gov. Gavin Newsom on Thursday, makes it a civil offense under state law for someone to remove a condom without their partner's consent. "For a majority of the people, it's like, 'Yeah, it makes sense that this is immoral and it should be illegal,' " state Assembly member Cristina Garcia, who sponsored the legislation, told NPR. "A lot of people told me, 'I can't believe it's not already illegal,' " she added. The California State Legislature had approved the measure without opposition. Stealthing was a little-known phenomenon, but that's changing Garcia said she was motivated to write a bill to ban the practice after reading law student Alexandra Brodsky's law journal article on the topic in 2017, which has since been credited with kick-starting a wider discussion on stealthing. Brodsky, who is now a civil rights attorney and author of the book Sexual Justice, says that few people were talking openly about nonconsensual condom removal at the time and that victims face additional scrutiny because stealthing starts with consensual sex. Brodsky says not only is nonconsensual condom removal a violation in itself, but it also poses the risk of an unplanned pregnancy or the transmission of a sexually transmitted infection. "The experience of realizing that your partner, your sexual partner, has no concern for your autonomy, your individual dignity, your right to make decisions about who you have sex with, when and how," Brodsky told NPR, " that's a terrible violation regardless of whether a physical injury occurs, regardless of whether a pregnancy occurs." A 2018 survey of patients at a sexual health clinic in Melbourne, Australia, found that 32% of women and 19% of men who have sex with men had experienced stealthing. Pop culture has also cast a spotlight on nonconsensual condom removal. A plotline in the BBC show I May Destroy You revolves around the main character, Arabella, having sex with a man who removes his condom during sex without her knowledge. When Arabella confronts him about it, he says he thought she could feel that he wasn't wearing the condom anymore. Perpetrators can now be sued for stealthing Stealthing won't be a crime under California law, but it will be a civil offense, allowing people who experience it to sue the perpetrators directly in civil court if they choose to. "Civil litigation keeps decision-making in the hands of survivors, which can be particularly important in the wake of sexual violence, which is itself a denial of the victim's right to make decisions about their lives," Brodsky said. Only a small percentage of sexual assault cases brought to police ever go to court, she added, and many victims may not want to involve law enforcement. "There are a lot of survivors who don't want to see the person who hurt them in prison but really could use some help rebuilding their lives, paying for mental health care, paying off medical debt, being able to take some time off from work in order to heal," Brodsky said. Garcia, the California Assembly member, says she hopes the new law will lead to others like it as well as a more nuanced understanding of the many different kinds of sexual violence. "I do hope that other states follow," she said. "I do hope that this elevates the discussion." Copyright 2021 NPR. To see more, visit NPR. -- iPhone 1.24.11 -- :WWW mitbbs.com [FROM: 2600:8807:5054:] Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-08 22:23:39|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Guests visit a photo exhibition at Hong Kong Central Library in Hong Kong, south China, Oct. 8, 2021. A photo exhibition that opened Friday in Hong Kong showcased the unfading blood ties between Hong Kong and the motherland over the past 100 years, as well as the great achievements of China.(Xinhua/Wang Shen) HONG KONG, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- A photo exhibition that opened Friday in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) showcased the unfading blood ties between Hong Kong and the motherland over the past 100 years, as well as the great achievements of China. Most of the exhibits displayed at Hong Kong Central Library are selected from over 10 million precious pictures in Xinhua News Agency's China photo archives, which will bring Hong Kong residents back to the historic moments captured by cameras. There is also a special segment for Hong Kong. The exhibition, sponsored by the China Merchants Group and running from Friday to Oct. 17, is jointly hosted by the HKSAR government, the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR and Xinhua News Agency. Amid the centenary anniversary of the founding of the Communist Party of China and the 72nd anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China, the exhibition offers an opportunity for Hong Kong residents to have a better understanding of the country, HKSAR Chief Executive Carrie Lam said at the opening ceremony of the exhibition. Lam said she hopes the exhibition will help residents learn about the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation over the past century so that they can feel deeply the blood ties between Hong Kong and the motherland, and strengthen their national identity and pride. Hong Kong has returned to the right track of "one country, two systems" thanks to the implementation of the national security law in Hong Kong and the improvement of Hong Kong's electoral system, she said. Hong Kong will consolidate and enhance its advantages in the future, better integrate into the overall development of the country, and play an irreplaceable role on the country's journey toward its second centenary goal, Lam said. Lu Xinning, deputy head of the Liaison Office of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, also delivered a speech at the ceremony. Deng Zhonghua, deputy director of the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the State Council, and He Ping, president of Xinhua News Agency, made speeches via video link, extending their congratulations on the exhibition. Zheng Yanxiong, director of the Office for Safeguarding National Security of the Central People's Government in the HKSAR, Liu Guangyuan, commissioner of the Chinese foreign ministry in the HKSAR, and Chen Daoxiang, commander of the Chinese People's Liberation Army Garrison in the HKSAR, attended the ceremony. The event also gathered HKSAR government officials, Hong Kong deputies to the National People's Congress, Hong Kong members of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, HKSAR Legislative Council members, and representatives from political groups, commercial chambers and youth organizations, as well as school principals. After the exhibition ends, some of the photos will be on display in Hong Kong schools and local communities. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 10:58:45|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close BEIJING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Saturday that the Taiwan question arose out of the weakness and chaos of the Chinese nation, and it will be resolved as national rejuvenation becomes a reality. "This is determined by the general trend of Chinese history, but more importantly, it is the common will of all Chinese people," said Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, while addressing a meeting marking the 110th anniversary of the Revolution of 1911. National reunification by peaceful means best serves the interests of the Chinese nation as a whole, including compatriots in Taiwan, he noted. "Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should stand on the right side of history and join hands to achieve China's complete reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation," Xi said. Those who forget their heritage, betray their motherland, and seek to split the country will come to no good end, said Xi, adding that they will be disdained by the people and condemned by history. The Taiwan question is purely an internal matter for China, one which brooks no external interference, Xi noted. "The complete reunification of our country will be and can be realized," he stressed. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 11:05:53|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. delegation will travel to Doha, Qatar, over the weekend to meet with senior Afghan Taliban representatives, the State Department said on Friday. "This meeting is a continuation of the pragmatic engagements with the Taliban on issues of U.S. vital national interest," a State Department spokesperson told reporters, noting it is "not about granting recognition or conferring legitimacy." The spokesperson said the key priorities of the meeting are "the continued safe passage out of Afghanistan of U.S. and other foreign nationals and Afghans to whom we have a special commitment who seek to leave the country and holding the Taliban to its commitment not to allow terrorists to use Afghan soil to threaten the security of the United States or its allies." U.S. officials in the meeting will also press the Taliban to respect the rights of women and girls, form an inclusive government, and allow humanitarian agencies free access to areas of need, the spokesperson added. According to media reports, the U.S. delegation will include officials from the Central Intelligence Agency, the State Department, and the U.S. Agency for International Development. It will be the first in-person meeting between the United States and the Taliban since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan at the end of August. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 11:16:26|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken attends a press conference after the Mexico-U.S. High-Level Security Dialogue in Mexico City, Mexico, on Oct. 8, 2021. (Photo by Francisco Canedo/Xinhua) MEXICO CITY, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- A new joint security plan between the United States and Mexico was discussed on Friday, which was described by U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken as the beginning of a "new chapter" in security cooperation between the two countries. At the conclusion of the U.S.-Mexico High-Level Security Dialogue in Mexico City, representatives agreed to end the Merida Initiative and launch a new alliance dubbed the Bicentennial Framework for Security, Public Health and Safe Communities. The central difference between the two programs, explained Mexican Foreign Affairs Minister Marcelo Ebrard, is that the Merida Initiative was only focused on capturing major drug lords in Mexico with U.S. backing, while the new one is "more complex." "Today we have a common strategy that is more complex," Ebrard said at a press conference after the meeting, adding there will be more focus on reducing overall addiction rates and generating job opportunities for youth. The bilateral dialogue ended with a joint declaration, which covered issues including public health protection, prevention of cross-border crime, reducing arms trafficking, as well as the dismantling of criminal networks. At the press conference, Blinken acknowledged that Mexico and the United States face a "complex" security situation, with several challenges ahead in the "new chapter." According to experts, drug consumption, violence and trafficking increased in both Mexico and the United States during the years of the Merida Initiative. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 19:39:23|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad (R, Front) and Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian (C) speak to reporters in Damascus, Syria, on Oct. 9, 2021. The visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian arrived in Damascus on Saturday, speaking about "comprehensive developments" in the relations between his country and Syria, according to the state news agency SANA. (Photo by Ammar Safarjalani/Xinhua) DAMASCUS, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The visiting Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir Abdollahian arrived in Syria's capital Damascus on Saturday, speaking about "comprehensive developments" in the relations between his country and Syria, according to the state news agency SANA. Speaking jointly with Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad to reporters upon arrival, Abdullahian said that over the past few weeks, Syria and Iran have reached "important agreements" for achieving comprehensive development in the relations in all fields. He said both sides are putting forward "intensive programs" to implement cooperation in the economic, trade, and tourism fields. "Syria is on the path of progress and prosperity," he said, stressing his country's ongoing support to Syria. For his side, Mekdad described the visit of the Iranian official as "important," noting that there are "important developments" that will be discussed between both sides for the interests of both peoples. Before Damascus, Abdullahian visited Russia and Lebanon and held talks with Russian and Lebanese officials on various international and bilateral issues. Mekdad noted that he and Abdullahian will discuss the outcome of the latter's visits to Russia and Lebanon. The visit of the Iranian official comes at a time the Syrian government is sensing a change in the international climate towards Syria. In a recent televised interview with the Syrian national TV, Mekdad pointed out that there is a change in the international political atmosphere towards the Syrian issue, noting that during the recent United Nations General Assembly meetings, tens of countries wanted to meet with the Syrian government delegation. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 21:06:13|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close An information counter is seen at the media center of the 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan Province, Oct. 9, 2021. The media center of the COP15 opened here on Saturday. The COP15 is set to kick off in Kunming on Oct. 11. (Xinhua/Chen Xinbo) KUNMING, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The media center for the upcoming 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the UN Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) opened on Saturday. Located at the Kunming Dianchi International Convention & Exhibition Center in Kunming, Yunnan Province in southwest China, the media center opens from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. between Oct. 9 and 15. The COP15 media center's two press conference halls can accommodate 140 people and 100 people, respectively. Participating media outlets can also go online to conduct interviews. The whole venue is fully covered by a wireless network, serving 1,200 online users simultaneously. Satellite trucks with a C-band and KU-band uplink-broadcast service are also in place to support the reporting. The COP15 meeting will kick off in Kunming on Oct. 11. It will review the "post-2020 global biodiversity framework" to draw up a blueprint for biodiversity conservation in the future. Themed "Ecological Civilization: Building a Shared Future for All Life on Earth," the COP15 meeting is the first global conference convened by the United Nations on the topic of ecological civilization. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 22:47:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close GABORONE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Botswana is exploring meaningful ways of ensuring the tourism sector benefits all, particularly women and youths, the southern African country's tourism minister said Saturday. "Our economic empowerment and emancipation plan is focused on youths, women, the indigenous and minority groups," said Philda Kereng, Minister of Environment, Natural Resources Conservation and Tourism when sharing Botswana's commitment to an inclusive tourism economic recovery and growth in a speech to mark a belated World Tourism Day. Through proper legislation and policies, Kereng said Botswana commits to facilitating equal opportunity for all Batswana (citizens of Botswana) to take part in the tourism value chains. Botswana is currently documenting heritage trails across the country, connecting and linking routes that traverse tourism sites that the country is richly endowed with, said Kereng. These trails would ensure that local communities, including women and youths, are connected to the tourism ecosystem. The World Tourism Day was instituted in 1979 by the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) to demonstrate the vital role that tourism plays in propelling and driving economies and livelihoods of respective member states. The event is usually celebrated on Sept. 27 annually. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 23:43:55|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HARARE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- A 26-year-old Zimbabwean man allegedly went berserk and stabbed six people to death and left four others injured at a prayer meeting in Redcliff in the early hours of Saturday. The police confirmed the incident which happened in the Midlands Province town, about 220 km southwest of Harare, and said investigations were ongoing. "The ZRP (Zimbabwe Republic Police) reports that a 26-year-old man stabbed six people to death and injured four others on Oct. 9, 2021, at around 3 am at Stoneclere, Rutendo suburb in Redcliff, after a suspected mental illness while attending an all-night prayer at a local apostolic shrine. "Police arrested the suspect and recovered a hoe, ax, kitchen knife and three spears. Investigations are in full swing. More details will follow in due course," the police said in a statement. Cases of mentally ill people who get involved in murder cases are not uncommon in the country. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 23:59:43|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close NAIROBI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Kenya on Saturday announced that it has raised 16.5 million shillings (149,000 U.S. dollars) toward the conservation of elephants against the target of 900,000 dollars within the current financial year that ends in June 2022. Najib Balala, cabinet secretary of the Ministry of Tourism and Wildlife said that the funds were raised from corporate and individuals in exchange for the right to adopt and name select elephants during the Tembo (elephant) naming festival initiative. "This is certainly a great milestone for Kenya and this initiative will go a long way in ensuring that elephants are protected in Kenya not only for ourselves, but also for the future generations," Balala said during the inaugural Magical Kenya Tembo Naming Festival that took place at the Amboseli National Park, Kajiado County which is located about 200 km south of Kenya's capital city Nairobi. Balala added that both the public and private sectors have a role to play in the conservation of the iconic species. According to the Kenya Wildlife Census Report 2021, the East African nation is home to a total of 36,280 elephants, representing a 21 percent growth from 2014, when poaching was at its peak. Betty Radier, CEO, Kenya Tourism Board hailed the private sector for embracing the elephant naming initiative, noting the huge role conservation plays in tourism and by extension supporting livelihoods. "Conservation of our wildlife resources remains key for us to ensure that future generations enjoy our country's heritage, natural resources and the incredible species that live within it," Radier said. She observed that Kenya's tourism sector is largely dependent on natural resources including wildlife and should therefore be safeguarded. John Waweru, director general, Kenya Wildlife Service said that the goal of the elephant naming festival is to secure a future for elephants and their habitats in peaceful co-existence with humans. Waweru added that while the country has made huge progress in elephant conservation, the continued loss of the ecosystem, as well as the rising human-elephant conflicts, still remains a challenge. Enditem Vice President Constantino Chiwenga is expected in Dubai, United Arab Emirates (UAE) today, where he is leading a high-level Government delegation to the Global Business Forum Africa slated for Wednesday and Thursday this week. The forum is being held on the sidelines of the ongoing Expo 2020 Dubai. Zimbabwe is one of the 191 countries taking part at the six-months long global exhibition, which kicked off on October 1, 2021 and runs until March 31 next year. The exhibition is being held under the theme Connecting Minds, Creating the Future. More than 25 million visitors are expected to arrive for what is probably one of the biggest global showcases that explore trade, investment and business partnerships across sectors and economies. Expo 2020 Dubai commissioner-general Ambassador Mary Mubi told The Sunday Mail Business that the Vice President was scheduled to arrive in Dubai today. The Vice President (Constantino Chiwenga) is coming for the Global Business Forum Africa, which is being organised within the context of Expo 2020 Dubai; it is a side event of the Expo. The Dubai Chamber of Commerce (which is organising the forum) is quite a critical partner of the host country (UAE), as it organises this expo. They are having a number of activities with various regional organisations and one of them is Africa, obviously, said Ambassador Mubi. So, this event is about looking at opportunities, trade and investment and what the challenges are in Africa; to say what are the opportunities in this region to partner with African countries? We have the Vice President (Constantino Chiwenga) and a number of key (Government) ministers who are coming (to Dubai) and are going to attend this (Global Business) Forum Africa. The forum is envisaged to bring the trade and investment community back together to explore bilateral trade opportunities between Dubai and Sub-Saharan Africa. It is being held under the patronage of His Highness Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. Ambassador Mubi said there had been huge interest in Zimbabwe from expo visitors and potential investors. The country is exhibiting under the theme Zimbabwe, A Land of Great Opportunities, which has been developed from the many themes available for participating countries at the event. Although it was initially pencilled in for 2020, the expo had to be delayed because of the coronavirus pandemic. Many businesspeople are reportedly making enquiries in mining, horticulture and tourism, among others. Zimbabwes pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai has been divided into four zones: history and culture; opportunities; human capital; and the future, which looks at aspirations and Vision 2030. It is believed that the country has devised a well thought-out strategy and programme to derive maximum benefits from its participation at this years event. Zimbabwe, Ambassador Mubi added, would be sharing its rich and proud history with the world. Other sections of the pavilion look at opportunities in mining, agriculture, tourism and infrastructure. During the six-months long Expo 2020 Dubai, Zimbabwe would organise events to highlight opportunities across various sectors. According to Ambassador Mubi, while the country already had a pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, it would also arrange specific events for key sectors to highlight and promote trade and investment opportunities. Key sectors will, therefore, be mobilised to develop a calendar of events, where they will have any opportunity to pitch their investment opportunities. Sunday Mail GRAIN Millers Association of Zimbabwe (GMAZ) chairperson Tafadzwa Musarara yesterday donated 15 000kg of mealie-meal, 3 000kg of rice and 4 000 loaves of bread towards the Zanu PF conference to be held at the end of this month in Mashonaland Central province. Speaking during the handover ceremony in Bindura yesterday, Musarara said GMAZ had always been supportive of Zanu PF programmes. It has become our tradition that whenever our revolutionary party holds conferences, we come in as an industry and players who are beneficiary to the partys empowerment programmes, he said. We come forward to support this annual event and we believe that our guests who come to the event need to be fed by us. The conference fundraising committee chairperson, Lazarus Dokora, hailed GMAZ for donating to the party saying it had lessened food challenges. We are very grateful to receive this food donation from GMAZ since our preparations are now at an advanced stage. We have moved a step in averting food challenges. We are still waiting for other players to come up with their donations, he said. Dokora told NewsDay Weekender that they are expecting around 245 guests at the conference and the rest will follow proceedings online due to COVID-19 regulations which outlaw huge gatherings. Newsday Conakry, Guinea (PANA) - Officials of Guinea's National Agency for Health Security (ANSS) announced on Friday that it will launch an accelerated vaccination campaign against COVID-19 in Conakry, the capital, which has more than two million inhabitants If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here New York Post, October 5, 2021 By Kenneth Garger The Taliban hung the dead bodies of three alleged criminals in public view in Afghanistan on Tuesday a shocking display reminiscent of the Islamic militant groups brutal regime of the late 1990s. The alleged criminals were killed by a man after they tried to break into his home, deputy governor Mawlawi Shir Ahmad Muhajir told AFP. Their corpses were hoisted from two cranes in the Obe district in northeast Herat. The gruesome scene was similar to another public hanging of a dead body in the central square of Herat less than two weeks ago. In the earlier instance, the person was among four alleged criminals who were killed by police when they tried to kidnap a father and son. The other three bodies were displayed in other parts of the city. The aim of this action is to alert all criminals that they are not safe, an unidentified Taliban member had told the Associated Press about the September hangings. The Taliban took control of Afghanistan in August two weeks before the US was set to withdraw its troops from the war-torn country. When the hardline insurgents controlled Afghanistan from 1996 to 2001, they brutally enforced Islamic law by cutting off the hands of thieves and stoning adulterers. AP, October 8, 2021 By Samya Kullab and Tameem Akhgar KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) An Islamic State suicide bomber struck at a mosque packed with Shiite Muslim worshippers in northern Afghanistan on Friday, killing at least 46 people and wounding dozens in the latest security challenge to the Taliban as they transition from insurgency to governance. In its claim of responsibility, the regions IS affiliate identified the bomber as a Uygher Muslim, saying the attack targeted both Shiites and the Taliban for their purported willingness to expel Uyghers to meet demands from China. The statement was carried by the IS-linked Aamaq news agency. The blast tore through a crowded mosque in the city of Kunduz during Friday noon prayers, the highlight of the Muslim religious week. It was the latest in a series of IS bombings and shootings that have targeted Afghanistans new Taliban rulers, as well as religious institutions and minority Shiites since U.S. and NATO troops left in August. The blast blew out windows, charred the ceiling and scattered debris and twisted metal across the floor. Rescuers carried one body out on a stretcher and another in a blanket. Blood stains covered the front steps. A resident of the area, Hussaindad Rezayee, said he rushed to the mosque when he heard the explosion, just as prayers started. I came to look for my relatives, the mosque was full, he said. The worshippers targeted in Fridays were Hazaras, who have long suffered from double discrimination as an ethnic minority and as followers of Shiite Islam in a majority Sunni country. The Islamic State group and the Taliban, who seized control of the country with the exit of the foreign troops, are strategic rivals. IS militants have targeted Taliban positions and attempted to recruit members from their ranks. In the past, the Taliban managed to contain the IS threat in tandem with U.S. and Afghan airstrikes. Without these, it remains unclear whether the Taliban can suppress what appears to be a growing IS footprint. The militants, once confined to the east, have penetrated the capital of Kabul and other provinces with new attacks. This comes at a critical moment, as the Taliban attempt to consolidate power and transform their guerrilla fighters into a structured police and security force. But while the group attempts to project an air of authority through reports of raids and arrests of IS members, it remains unclear if it has the capability to protect soft targets, including religious institutions. The Biden administration condemned Fridays attack. The Afghan people deserve a future free of terror, State Department spokesman Ned Price said in a statement. In Kunduz, police officials were still picking up the pieces Friday at the Gozar-e-Sayed Abad Mosque. Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi told The Associated Press that 46 worshipers were killed and 143 wounded in the explosion. He said an investigation was under way. The death toll of 46 is the highest in an attack since foreign troops left Afghanistan. The United Nations mission in Afghanistan condemned the attack as part of a disturbing pattern of violence targeting religious institutions. A prominent Shiite cleric, Sayed Hussain Alimi Balkhi, called on the Taliban to provide security for the Shiites of Afghanistan. We expect the security forces of the government to provide security for the mosques since they collected the weapons that were provided for the security of the worship places, he said. Dost Mohammad Obaida, the deputy police chief in Kunduz pledged to protect minorities in the province. I assure our Shiite brothers that the Taliban are prepared to ensure their safety, he said. The new tone struck by the Taliban, at least in Kunduz, is in sharp contrast to the well-documented history of Taliban fighters committing a litany of atrocities against minorities, including Hazaras. The Taliban, now feeling the weight of governing, employed similar tactics to those of IS during their 20-year insurgency, including suicide bombings and shooting ambushes. And they have not halted attacks on Hazaras. Earlier this week, a report by Amnesty International found the Taliban unlawfully killed 13 Hazaras, including a 17-year-old girl, in Daykundi province, after members of the security forces of the former government surrendered. In Kunduz province, Hazaras make up about 6% of the provinces population of nearly 1 million people. The province also has a large ethnic Uzbek population that has been targeted for recruitment by the IS, which is closely aligned with the militant Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan. Fridays attack was the third to target a place of worship or religious study in a week. IS has also claimed two deadly bombings in Kabul, including the horrific Aug. 26 bombing that killed at least 169 Afghans and 13 U.S. military personnel outside of Kabul airport in the final days of the chaotic American pullout from Afghanistan. IS also claimed a bombing on Sunday outside Kabuls Eid Gah Mosque that killed at least five civilians. Another attack on a madrassa, a religious school, in Khost province on Wednesday was not claimed. If Fridays attack is claimed by IS, it will also be worrying for Afghanistans northern Central Asian neighbors and Russia, which has been courting the Taliban for years as an ally against the creeping IS in the region. A Place for All Conservatives to Speak Their Mind. The intelligence agencies have alerted the Karnataka government after they tracked satellite phone calls made to foreign locations from the coastal area and Malnad region of the state, sources said on Saturday. The phone calls are being tracked to Mudibidre, Mudipu regions in Dakshina Kannada, in dense forest regions of Uttara Kannada and another two locations from Chikkamagaluru district in the state. As many as five phone calls have been traced since last week. After the targeted killings in Jammu and Kashmir, central agencies have told Karnataka authorities to be vigilant about the new developments. Central agencies have gathered information about suspected anti-national activities taking place in coastal districts -- Dakshina Kannada, Uttara Kannada, Udupi, Chikkamaglur and Shivamogga districts in Malnad region of Karnataka. The use of satellite phones have been detected by intelligence agencies for a long time. Use of satellite phones has been tracked for the third time in a year in Karnataka. The issue was raised in the assembly and Home Minister Araga Jnanendra gave detailed answers that the government is handling the situation in coordination with central agencies including Intelligence Bureau (IB) and Research and Analysis Wing (RAW). Intelligence agencies suspect if anti-national forces are activating sleeper cells in the state. The phone calls being made despite intelligence agencies being on alert in the state. The agencies are tracking the sources. Araga Jnanendra had said on the floor of the House that 476 calls made through satellite phones since 2020 have been tracked to foreign locations. After the Mumbai attack in 2008, use of satellite phones has been banned by the Directorate General of Shipping. There were 256 instances of satellite phone usage in 2020 and 220 this year in the state, Aragra Jnanendra said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday received his Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen, who is on a two-day visit to India, at the Rashtrapati Bhavan. After meeting Modi, Frederiksen termed India as a "closed partner", saying this visit will be a milestone for bilateral relations between the two nations. Frederiksen's trip to India marks the first visit by a head of state or government since the Covid-19 restrictions were imposed early last year since the onset of the pandemic. Minister of State or External Affairs and Culture Meenakshi Lekhi received the Danish Prime Minister at the airport on Friday. As part of her agenda, Frederiksen will also call on President Ram Nath Kovind. The Ministry of External Affairs had said the Danish Prime Minister's visit is very important, stating it will give an opportunity to review the green strategic partnership, which aims to create a framework to solve the environmental crisis. This will engage in areas including renewable energy, environment, economy, climate change and science and technology. The relations between India and Denmark have historically remained cordial as the Nordic country is the only nation with which India has a Green Strategic Partnership which leads to green Danish solutions in India's climate crisis battle. India and China will hold 13th round of Corps Commander talks on Sunday, at Moldo on the Chinese side, to resolve border dispute in Eastern Ladakh. Both the countries will discuss phase-III of disengagement and also overall de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh. The talks are scheduled two months after both the countries withdrew troops from friction Patrolling Point (PP) 17A in Gogra at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh. The disengagement process was carried out over two days i.e. August 4 and 5, 2021. The troops of both sides are now in their respective permanent bases. It happened soon after twelfth round of talks between the Corps Commanders on July 31, 2021. As an outcome of the meeting, both sides agreed on disengagement in Gogra. The troops in this area have been in a face-off situation since May last year. With disengagement reached between both the countries for Gogra, India will now take up other remaining friction areas like Hot Springs and 900 square km Depsang plains during 13th round of military talks. India has insisted during recent military commander meetings to resolve all issues across the Line of Actual Control. Till now, apart from 12 round of Corps Commanders-level talks, the two forces have also held 10 Major Generals level, 55 Brigadiers-level talks and 1,450 calls over the hotlines. Earlier, the troops of two Himalayan giants have disengaged from both the banks of Pangong Tso in February this year. India and China have been engaged in border disputes for the last 16 months. ARISS contact is scheduled for students at Mary Hare School (for the deaf), Newbury, UK Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) has received schedule confirmation for an ARISS radio contact with astronauts. ARISS is the group that puts together special amateur radio contacts between students around the globe and crew members with ham radio licenses on the International Space Station (ISS). This will be a direct contact via amateur radio between students at the Mary Hare School, Newbury, UK and Astronaut Mark Vande Hei, amateur radio call sign KG5GNP. Students will take turns asking their questions. Appropriate local Covid-19 protocols are adhered to as applicable for each ARISS contact. The downlink frequency for this contact is 145.800 MHZ and may be heard by listeners that are within the ISS-footprint that also encompasses the radio relay ground station. Amateur radio operators in Newbury using the GB4MHN call sign will operate the ham radio ground station for this contact. The ARISS radio contact is scheduled for October 12, 2021 at 12:12 pm BST (Newbury, UK), (11:12 UTC, 7:12 am EDT, 6:12 am CDT, 5:12 am MDT and 4:12 am PDT). Mary Hare School is an aural school for the deaf that teaches students to develop lip reading skills and to make use of technology. The school teaches students (Year 1 13, ages 5 19 years) that are studying towards A levels. About 250 students will be in the auditorium where the contact will take place and about 600 students in other parts of the school will be linked in via a web feed to observe the contact. Topics taught during the school year prior to this ARISS contact that were related to radio and space included studies in the fields of physics, chemistry and biology. Student activities during the week prior to the contact included designing and flying model rockets, making astronomical observations, and observing authentic space suits. After each student asks their question, the astronauts reply will then be transcribed into subtitles. The technical side of the contact (radio equipment) is being handled by the ARISS UK team with members of the Newbury and District Amateur Radio Society (NADARS) providing the students with the amateur radio experience through events and activities. This is believed to be the first ARISS contact between a school for deaf children and an astronaut on the ISS. The public is invited to watch the live stream at: https://live.ariss.org As time allows, students will ask these questions: 1. Do you have to learn a sign language to communicate if something goes wrong with the radios in your suit? 2. How do you tell directions in space? 3. What do the northern lights look like from space? 4. How can you shower in zero gravity? 5. Whats your most favourite space technology? 6. If there was a fire, how would you evacuate? 7. Do mobile devices work in space? For example, a Smart Phone? 8. If you could take one thing from home into space, to make life more fun what would you take and why? 9. What is it like to wake up and see the earth from space? 10. How long have you been in space for? ARISS Celebrating 20 Years of Continuous Amateur Radio Operations on the ISS About ARISS: Amateur Radio on the International Space Station (ARISS) is a cooperative venture of international amateur radio societies and the space agencies that support the International Space Station (ISS). In the United States, sponsors are the Radio Amateur Satellite Corporation (AMSAT), the American Radio Relay League (ARRL), the ISS National Lab-Space Station Explorers, and NASAs Space communications and Navigation program. The primary goal of ARISS is to promote exploration of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics topics. ARISS does this by organizing scheduled contacts via amateur radio between crew members aboard the ISS and students. Before and during these radio contacts, students, educators, parents, and communities take part in hands-on learning activities tied to space, space technologies, and amateur radio. For more information, see www.ariss.org By Malcolm Galpern Levin galpernl@grinnell.edu Live theatre will make its grand return to Roberts Theatre this Friday, Oct. 8, with the premiere of Arcadia set to take the stage. Arcadia, a romantic comedy written by Tom Stoppard, is set in a manor house located in the fictional Sidley Park, England. The time period of the play shifts throughout, alternating between characters in the 19th century, specifically beginning in 1809, and those in the present day, which is never explicitly defined. Through these temporal shifts, audience members understand the interconnected story between the separate characters existing in each period, some of which are descendants of one another. The past is trying to interpret the future and develop formulas for understanding how the world works, said actor Nicholas Lampietti `25. The present is trying to do the exact same thing theyre trying to understand the past. Arcadia touches on several themes as characters discuss or allude to topics of thermodynamics, history, math and physics, romanticism and classicism to name a few. More broadly, the play focuses on the characters understanding of the world around them and their relationships with one another. The overall message is how we try to interpret what is beyond us and how we try to make sense of the world we dont know, said Lampietti. On top of that, he said the play has, a lot of sex and love, and romance. Everyone is interested in someone else, and everyone has multiple suitors. It kind of looks at the foibles and inadequacies of human beings, said Professor Emeritus Sandy Moffett, theatre and dance, who is directing the play. Moffett came into the plays production halfway through the rehearsal process after a change in directorship. I felt like my major job was to make the play happen, said Moffett. Its [the actors] show, you know, I mean theyre creating the character[s]. Lampietti shared an adage Moffett has told the cast during rehearsals: Doing a play is supposed to be at its core about playing, and you should be having fun, and you should be taking risks and you should be doing silly or weird things that help sort of develop momentum and energy and are able to sort of create opportunities for further growth and discovery in your character. Moffett directed his first play at Grinnell in 1971, but its been several years since he worked on his last production at the College. Its just been a lot of fun to come back and see the talent that Grinnell students have, and the dedication and creativity, said Moffett. Erin Howell-Gritsch, Grinnells costume shop supervisor and costume designer on the production, spearheaded the task of deciding upon, fitting and acquiring the vast range of costumes needed for Arcadia. Howell-Gritsch was already familiar with Arcadia beforehand since she had designed costumes for the show once before as a graduate student at the University of Iowa in 1997. She also taught the play twice to students in her previous costume design classes. The costumes, particularly for the 19th century characters, are quite elaborate and reflective of the time periods Arcadia takes place in. Audience members can expect to see performers donned in stand collar shirts, three-piece suits with ruffled sleeves, cravats, square-tailed coats, wigs, frilly bibs, grandiose hats and more. Every character has a unique touch. Theres something about them, whether its the type of cravat that theyre wearing or how its tied or, you know, how high their boots are, there are just little differences in there that really sort of pop out some of the personality, explained Howell-Gritsch. Lampietti plays two characters in Arcadia. The first is a 15-year-old boy named Augustus that he described as a precocious little shit of a younger brother and the second is the butler Jellaby, the gossiper of the group. Lampietti said the extensive nature of Jellabys costume consisting of a three-piece suit, shirt, waistcoat, ascot and cravat among other pieces is particularly challenging to wear. The combination of the stage lights, which are really hot, youre wearing three layers, youve got a mic that youre wearing You definitely sort of feel a little mechanical doing it, he said. Cast members often change outfits throughout the course of the play, making quick backstage changes by crew members essential to the productions success. Its been one hell of a ride in terms of rehearsing, said Lampietti. Part of the challenge is due to the fact that not only does the play include an extensive amount of props and costume changes, but it also spans for two and a half hours. The cast and crew began tech rehearsals this past Sunday, Oct. 3 in preparation for this weekends premiere. The production will take place over the course of the coming weekend, with showings at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday, Oct. 8 and 9, as well as 2 p.m. on Sunday, Oct. 10. The in-person performance in Roberts Theatre is free and open to Grinnell College students, faculty and staff. P-Cards are required to receive a ticket. Tickets will be available free of charge from the ticket booth located in the lobby of Bucksbaum Center for the Arts. Some tickets may be available at the Will Call counter before the start of each performance. Masks are required for audience members. The show will also be available virtually via a livestream viewing. Howell-Gritsch is particularly excited for the Grinnell College community to have the opportunity to experience theater in-person once again. Its just so different than watching something online, to be next to people who are also laughing or going, Wait, what did they say?' Lampietti is also eager for the Grinnell College community to engage with and reflect on the production. The best theater is after you leave the room youre asking questions about yourself, and your community and the world, said Lampitetti. This is definitely a show that will leave you with a lot of those questions. Breakbulk Middle East (BBME), the regions only dedicated event for the project cargo and breakbulk industry, will return to Dubai as an in-person event next year, featuring more than 1,700 companies from over 70 countries including industry leaders, government officials and specialists from the private sector. To be held at the World Trade Centre on February 1 & 2, BBME will see experts engage in discussions related to post-Covid recovery and challenges and opportunities in the industry, including supply chain disruptions, economic development and innovation. The events 2020 in-person edition witnessed the attendance of Arab transport ministers and government officials from Syria, Sudan, Egypt, Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. This year, Breakbulk Middle East was held as a virtual event under the patronage of UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure. It provided critical continuity between the two physical events, building a strong foundation as Breakbulk Middle East prepares to return to Dubai in 2022. The exhibition floor will include major industry players DP World, UAE as the Host Port, Abu Dhabi Ports, CMA CGM, Hapag-Lloyd, Maersk, MSC Mediterranean Shipping Company, Al Faris, Mammoet, Volga-Dnepr and MICCO, along with others to represent the project cargo supply chain throughout the Middle East and its connections around the world. Suhail Al Mazrouei, UAE Minister of Energy and Infrastructure said: "Over the past year, we have faced unprecedented health and economic challenges that have disrupted nearly every business, including the breakbulk industry and global supply chain. We are now moving into a post-Covid world where disruptive innovation and productive cooperation will define the industry for decades to come." "Despite the disruption, according to a report by Mordor Intelligence the freight and logistics market in UAE is expected to reach $30.33 billion growing at a CAGR of 10.21% until 2026," stated Al Mazrouei. "The consistent growth and the expected outcomes are only due to the support we have received from industry stakeholders including the ports of the UAE. Furthermore, as part of our endeavours to establish the UAE as one of the leading centres for trade in the world, we recently organised an assembly of leaders from the government and private sector within the industry to prepare the UAEs candidacy for its Category-B membership at the International Maritime Organization (IMO)," he noted. As a leading industry event in the UAE, Breakbulk Middle East has become a networking hub for decision-makers from the government and public and private sectors to forge business relationships and promote collaboration. "We are confident that 2022 will support us in our efforts to help the country retain its leading status despite market challenges," he added. Sheikh Nasser Majid Al Qassimi, Assistant Undersecretary for the Infrastructure and Transport Sector at the UAE Ministry of Energy and Infrastructure, said: "The breakbulk and project cargo sector that represents a complex market, encompassing commodities as varied as steel and forest products, to heavy-lift shipments for wind turbines and equipment for construction work, plays an essential role in the Middle East." "The UAE is a front-runner in this sector, occupying a predominant position as a trans-shipping centre. Several factors such as the quality of the port infrastructure and the countrys strategic location that enables it to serve as a link between the East and West, have led the UAE to achieve a leading status," noted Sheikh Nasser. Owing to UAEs vision and quick action to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, Breakbulk Middle East will prove to be a key event that will help the UAE prepare for the next 50 years. The 2022 edition capitalises on the regions innovation and technological advancement, infrastructure and government policies and incentives to help attendees generate leads for new business across the project supply chain. According to him, the UAE has been among the fastest growing economies in the Mena region to resume commercial activities previously halted to curb the spread of Covid-19. Precautionary measures and safety protocol has been formulated to ensure business continuity. As port development in the region reaches new heights, capitalising on opportunities is what a successful future will remain dependent upon. With Abu Dhabi Ports owning, managing and operating 10 ports in the UAE, they are aware that a robust and advanced infrastructure is vital for success in todays market. One of the directives as an organisation is to support Abu Dhabis efforts to foster a sustainable and diversified economy. Ashgabat hosted an international online conference of medical scientists titled Medical Diplomacy Foundation of Healthy World that coincided with Day of Workers Health and Medical Industry of Turkmenistan. The meeting was attended by Director of the WHO Regional Office for Europe Hans Kluge; Chairman of the Turkmen-German Health Forum Professor Klaus Parkhofer, medical scientists from a number of countries, heads of UN agencies and journalists. The forum discussed a wide range of issues relating to medical diplomacy in the fight against infectious diseases and importance of digitalization of healthcare. The role of international health regulations in countering the COVID-19 pandemic was paid special attention. The forum participants noted that the online conference Medical Diplomacy Foundation of Healthy World served as a good platform for development of broad international cooperation, facilitating the exchange of experience and increasing the effectiveness of medicine in the fight against dangerous infectious diseases. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021 New Delhi, Oct 9 (UNI) Taking forward their unique Green Strategic Partnership, India and Denmark on Saturday signed four agreements including in skill development and added health, clean water and green fuel to their list of cooperation, as Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his visiting Danish counterpart Mette Frederiksen here. The visit by Frederiksen is her first to India and it is also the first state visit by a head of state or government to India in the past 20 months since such bilateral visits were stopped in the wake of the Covid pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi highlighted this factor in his speech as he said that Hyderabad House, the venue of their meeting, had been witness to numerous such diplomatic talks with visiting heads of state or government, which came to a standstill due to Covid. I am happy that we are making a new beginning (of holding meetings in Hyderabad House) with the visit of the Danish PM, he said, welcoming the delegation. He said the two sides had met earlier in virtual mode last year, when they took the historic step to establish the Green Strategic Partnership. Our partnership is an example of how through cooperation both sides can work towards promoting green growth using technology. He said both sides reviewed the Green Strategic Partnership, and reiterated their commitment to enhance cooperation towards mitigating climate change. He also announced that Denmark has decided to join the International Solar Alliance, which he said would add a new dimension to their partnership. Modi said Danish companies have been in India for long, and work in fields like energy, food processing, logistics, infrastructure, machinery, software. They have contributed to the success of not only Make in India but also Make in India for the World. Danish companies have played a major role in contributing towards Indias vision for progress, and the speed and scale with which it seeks to move forward. He said the economic reforms in India, especially in the manufacturing sector, provide a great opportunity for Danish firms. I have taken the decision that we will keep adding new vistas to our cooperation. We have made a new beginning in health partnership. The two sides will collaborate in the field of agriculture technology, and also in related fields like food safety, cold chain, food processing, fertilizers, fisheries, aquaculture. Both sides will also cooperate in the field of smart water resource management, Waste to Best, and efficient supply chains, he said. Both sides also had productive and detailed discussions on regional and global issues, Modi said, and expressed gratitude to Denmark for its strong support to India in multilateral forums. "In future too, our two democracies that believe in rules based order, will continue to work with each other, he added. He thanked her for inviting him to Denmark for the next India-Nordic Summit. Prime Minister Frederiksen, in her remarks, said they had a very fruitful and productive meeting, which illustrates our warm relationship. Both believe in the international system based on rules, and I am proud as Danes to have such a strong partner in India, she said. Our cooperation is a great example of how green growth and green transition can go hand in hand, she said, adding that they have agreed on a very ambitious green strategic partnership. I know a lot of countries are looking at this partnership, she said, adding that Prime Minister Modi had suggested that they go for this kind of partnership. We have agreed on concrete green ideas, in the field of water and green fuel, and agreed to work on health and agriculture. Our green cooperation is part of a very ambitious five-year joint action plan. We need to show some ambitious results, she added. She said she was happy that Danish companies are supporting the green transition in India and contributing to a greener and healthier life for Indians. I am convinced India and Denmark have a huge and untapped trade potential, she said, and thanked PM Modi for accepting the invite to Denmark for the next summit. The MoUs signed were in the field of mapping of ground water resources and aquifers, on Traditional Knowledge Digital Library Access, for natural refrigerants for tropical climates with potential applications, and in skill development. Earlier, the Danish PM, who is here on a three-day state visit, was given a ceremonial welcome at the Rashtrapati Bhavan forecourt. UNI/RN Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. You have permission to edit this article. Edit Close If you have an event you'd like to list on the site, submit it now! Submit Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 01:24:21|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi speaks at a reception to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN in Beijing, capital of China, Oct. 8, 2021. (Xinhua/Li Xiang) BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- As this year marks the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN, the two sides should cherish the valuable experience accumulated over the past 30 years, and build a closer community with a shared future, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Friday. Wang made the remarks when attending a reception to commemorate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of dialogue relations between China and ASEAN. Since the establishment of dialogue relations in 1991, China and ASEAN have embarked on a path of unity and win-win cooperation, making important contributions to regional and world peace, stability, development and prosperity, Wang added. Thirty years on, Wang suggested the two sides create a more favorable strategic environment for the development of respective countries and long-term peace and prosperity of the region. Wang stressed that the two sides should uphold high-level guidance and deepen strategic communication and political mutual trust, so as to draw a new blueprint for the long-term development of the relations. Wang also called for fostering new areas of practical cooperation, vigorously exploring emerging fields such as digital economy, scientific and technological innovation, and blue economy to promote regional green transformation and sustainable development. Noting efforts to improve people's livelihood and well-being, Wang said that China would continue to do its best to provide vaccines and other anti-pandemic supplies to ASEAN countries. The two sides should strengthen cooperation in poverty reduction, disaster prevention and mitigation, and social development, Wang added. Wang also called on both sides to safeguard long-term peace and stability in the South China Sea, practice true multilateralism and open regionalism together and jointly participate in global governance. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 10:39:07|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close CANBERRA, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The Australian government has revealed a plan to bring thousands of international healthcare workers into the country to relieve pressure on the healthcare system amid the battle against the third wave of COVID-19 infections. Under the plan, which was announced by Health Minister Greg Hunt on Saturday, about 2,000 doctors and nurses mainly from Britain and Ireland will be exempted from strict travel restrictions to take up jobs in Australia as the country's international border is expected to re-open in November. Hunt described it as a "one-off boost" for the health system after he rejected a plea from state and territory governments for more hospital funding to cope with a surge in coronavirus cases. "This will be a one-off boost to provide additional support. The Commonwealth is committed to it and the states are working constructively with us on it," he told the Nine Network. "These are people coming from all around the world. That free flow of people is very important. Some may be joining families, some may be moving for a new life. That is an ordinary part of life and it is up to individuals to be able to choose, subject to a nation's needs." On Saturday morning, Australia reported a new record 2,570 new locally-acquired COVID-19 cases, a second day in a row with more than 2,500 new infections recorded nationwide. New South Wales (NSW), Australia's most populous state with Sydney as the capital city, recorded 580 new local cases and 11 deaths. Victoria, the second-most populous state with Melbourne as the capital city, reported a further 1,965 new local cases and five deaths. The Australian Capital Territory (ACT) recorded 25 new cases - its fewest in recent days - as it prepares to exit lockdown on Friday. According to the latest data released by the Department of Health, 81.5 percent of Australians aged 16 and older have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and 60.2 percent are fully vaccinated. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 13:29:50|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SINGAPORE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Saturday that he expects COVID-19 daily cases to continue rising for some weeks and the country's healthcare system will still be under pressure. "We can slow, but we cannot stop the Delta variant," said Lee when delivering his message on updating the COVID-19 situation in Singapore. He said that the surge of daily cases will level off and cases will start to decline at the timing that is unknown exactly right now. But from the experience of other countries, it will hopefully be within a month or so. The prime minister said that it has been a long campaign against COVID-19. "The war continues, but we are in a much better position now, than a year or even six months ago." "Sometimes it may not feel like it, but we are making steady progress towards the new normal," the prime minister said. Singapore's Ministry of Health announced on Friday night that the country added 3,590 cases of COVID-19 on that day, bringing the total tally in the country to 120,454. This is the fourth consecutive day when the daily new cases surpass 3,000 in the country. The ministry also said that six more cases have passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection, bringing the death toll to 142. Lee said that Singapore must protect its healthcare system and workers at all costs, in order to get through the pandemic safely. He asked Singaporeans to support this effort by continuing to abide by prevailing Safe Management Measures (SMMs) and cutting back on social activities to slow the spread of the virus, getting vaccinated, conducting self-test regularly to avoid infecting others, and recovering at home if infected unless having serious illness or vulnerable family members. He also said that it will take Singapore three to six months to get to the new normal, when the country can ease off restrictions, have just light SMMs in place, and cases remain stable. According to the prime minister, Singapore must press on with its strategy of "Living with COVID-19." He said with vaccinations, COVID-19 has become a treatable, mild disease for most people. "So for 98 percent of us, if we catch COVID-19, we can recover by ourselves at home, just as we would if we had the flu." He also said that as part of living with COVID-19, Singapore must also connect itself back to the world. In particular, the country must continue to re-open its borders safely. Singapore has started Vaccinated Travel Lanes with Germany and Brunei, and recently announced another with South Korea. Lee said that Singapore is implementing more such arrangements, especially with countries whose COVID-19 situations are stable, so as to keep the country connected to global supply chains and help to preserve Singapore's hub status. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 13:46:29|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close ULAN BATOR, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia on Saturday confirmed 1,665 new local infections of COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, bringing the national tally to 323,322. Meanwhile, 15 more deaths were reported, taking the death toll at 1,346, the country's health ministry said in a statement. Although over 69 percent of the country's population of 3.4 million has received a first dose of COVID-19 vaccines and over 65 percent has taken two jabs, the resurgence of the pandemic has continued due to the Delta variant, with around or more than 2,000 infections and more than 10 deaths reported every day. Mongolian health authorities have urged the public to receive a booster or a third vaccine dose to boost their immune systems. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 18:14:24|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Cambodia's three-day Pchum Ben public holiday had come to an end with over 664,000 people traveling to various tourist attractions after the majority of the population had been inoculated against COVID-19, according to Cambodia's Tourism Ministry on Saturday. Pchum Ben festival, or honoring-the-dead festival, from Tuesday to Thursday, is one of the largest religious festivals in the Southeast Asian nation. Tourism Minister Thong Khon said among the tourists are about 660,000 locals and 4,700 foreigners living in the country. "All tourism sites in the kingdom's 25 cities and provinces had been opened to welcome tourists during the three-day break," he said in a report released to the media. Most travelers had followed health measures to prevent COVID-19 transmission, however, physical distancing remained a problem, he said. The most popular destinations were the coastal provinces of Kampot, Kep and Preah Sihanouk, and the cultural province of Siem Reap, among others. Cambodian Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen said on Friday that allowing people to travel freely during the Pchum Ben holiday was a test of the kingdom's success or failure in the COVID-19 battle. "If within the coming 10 to 15 days, the situation is stable and the number of new infections and deaths is still the same as the current level, I think it'll be time to reopen the economy and society in all domains, but in the new normal by complying with the three do' s and three don'ts," he said during a weekly cabinet meeting. Cambodia reported a daily record of 220 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, pushing the national total caseload to 114,571, the Ministry of Health (MoH) said, adding that 23 more fatalities had been registered, taking the overall death toll to 2,482. The Southeast Asian nation launched a COVID-19 inoculation drive in February, with China being the key vaccine supplier. To date, the country had administered at least one vaccine dose to 13.45 million people, or 84 percent of its 16-million population, according to the MoH. Of them, 11.13 million, or 69.6 percent, had been fully vaccinated with both required shots, and 908,089, or 5.67 percent, had received a booster dose. "Our vaccination coverage rate is high," Hun Sen said. "About 99.14 percent of 10 million targeted adults, 89.68 percent of (nearly 2 million) targeted adolescents aged from 12 to under 18, and 93.78 percent of (almost 1.9 million) targeted children aged from six to under 12 have received at least one vaccine dose." "According to an observation, two-thirds of the dead persons had not been vaccinated," the prime minister said. Meanwhile, Labor Minister Ith Samheng encouraged the employers of factories and enterprises to prepare COVID-19 rapid test kits to do rapid test for their workers when they return to work after the Pchum Ben break. "This COVID-19 rapid test is on a voluntary basis and there is no fine for owners or directors of factories and enterprises as well as employees," he said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 20:29:25|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close HANOI, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Vietnam reported 4,513 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, including 4,512 locally transmitted and one imported, according to the country's Ministry of Health. Most of the community cases were detected in southern localities, including 1,662 in Ho Chi Minh City, 820 in Binh Duong province, and 575 in Dong Nai province. The new infections brought the country's total tally to 836,134, with 20,442 deaths, the ministry said. Nationwide, as many as 760,801 COVID-19 patients have so far recovered, up 1,319 from Friday, while nearly 52 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines have been administered, according to the ministry. Also on Saturday, Vietnamese Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long said at a meeting that the pandemic has been basically put under control in all localities, with the numbers of both daily infections and daily deaths decreasing sharply in southern hotspots. Meanwhile, a number of key domestic flight routes will be resumed from Sunday with limited capacity, according to Vietnam's aviation authorities. As of Saturday, Vietnam has registered a total of 831,523 locally transmitted COVID-19 cases since the start of the current wave in late April, the ministry said. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 21:09:49|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close Women participate in aerial yoga class at Aerial Jooga Studio in Serpong, South Tangerang, Indonesia, Oct. 9, 2021. Aerial yoga is a combination of traditional yoga poses, Pilates and dance moves, in which practitioners hang from a hammock suspended from the ceiling. Indonesia has been easing its four-tiered COVID-19 restrictions on public activities, locally known as PPKM, following a drop in new cases, deaths and hospitalizations. (Xinhua/Agung Kuncahya B.) Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-09 22:17:04|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close PHNOM PENH, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- The military pact among the United States, Britain and Australia, known as AUKUS, will seriously affect regional peace, stability and security, and it can trigger nuclear competition in the region, a Cambodian scholar has warned. The deal, which will enable Australia to build nuclear-powered submarines with technology provided by the United States and Britain, is a tool for the United States to expand its military influence in the Asia-Pacific region, Chea Munyrith, president of the Cambodian Chinese Evolution Researcher Association, told Xinhua. "The AUKUS will pose a risk of nuclear proliferation in the region," but the United States "does not care about other countries," said Munyrith. The pact will also provide Australia with medium and long-range strike capacities such as Tomahawk cruise missiles, long-range anti-ship missiles and precision strike missiles, he said. Such a move contradicts the Missile Technology Control Regime (MTCR), which was reached in 1987 to prohibit and control missile transportation with more than 300 km capability, he added. As a signatory to the MTCR, the United States has "violated the pact by selling and transferring the Tomahawk cruise missiles, which can be launched for more than 1,000 km, to Australia," Munyrith said. "AUKUS has disregarded and violated international law" and jeopardizes peace and stability in Asia, where countries of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) are located, he said. ASEAN could not forget the tragedy that the United States has caused in Afghanistan, he said, adding between 1965 and 1973, the United States dropped roughly 2.7 million tons of explosives on 113,716 locations in Cambodia. Enditem Source: Xinhua| 2021-10-10 00:05:15|Editor: huaxia Video Player Close SINGAPORE, Oct. 9 (Xinhua) -- Singapore reported 3,703 new cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, hitting a new record high and bringing the total tally in the country to 124,157. It is the fifth consecutive day on Saturday when the daily new cases surpass 3,000 in the city-state. Of the new cases, 2,868 were in the community, 832 were in migrant worker dormitories, and three were imported cases, the Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a press release. A total of 1,569 cases are currently warded in hospitals, with 302 serious illnesses requiring oxygen supplementation, and 40 in critical condition in the intensive care units (ICUs), said the MOH. Besides, 11 more cases have passed away from complications due to COVID-19 infection. As of Oct. 8, 83 percent of the local population has received two doses of COVID-19 vaccines, and 85 percent has received at least one dose. The ministry also announced on Saturday that from Oct. 10, Singapore will extend home recovery to unvaccinated persons aged 12 to 49 years, vaccinated infected persons aged 70 to 79 years, as well as children aged five to 11 years old. To protect the unvaccinated individuals and reduce the strain on the healthcare system, Singapore will expand the Vaccination-Differentiated Safe Management Measures (VDS) for entry into shopping malls, attractions, hawker centers, and coffee shops from Oct. 13. It means that only groups of up to two fully vaccinated persons will be allowed to dine in at all regular food and beverage establishments, and to enter shopping malls and attractions. Meanwhile, the MOH said that with the experience gained from the Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTLs) to Brunei and Germany, the country will be extending the VTLs to eight more countries, namely Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, Netherlands, Spain, Britain, and the United States, to enter into Singapore from Oct. 19. It will also jointly launch VTLs with the Republic of Korea for travel between the two countries from Nov. 15. Besides, the ministry said that Singapore will start offering booster vaccinations to healthcare workers, as well as frontline COVID-19 workers who have completed their primary series vaccination regimen around six months ago, from Oct. 9. It is also working with various institutions to progressively roll out booster vaccinations to eligible persons in institutionalized settings, such as prisons and residential care facilities. The MOH added that Singapore will progressively invite persons aged 30 years and above who have also completed their primary series vaccination regimen around six months ago to make an appointment for their booster dose. Enditem " " Mark Ditmer and his collegues conducted two studies over three years to determine how American black bears would respond to drones flying overhead. Mark Ditmer If you get a little freaked out when a drone flies overhead or especially close by, you are not alone: So do American black bears (Ursus americanus), according to a study published by researchers in 2015. They determined that, even though drones can be advantageous for research, conservation, aerial photography, animal population estimates and even to deter poaching of certain species, understanding how animals respond to drones is equally important. Now those same researchers have followed up their 2015 research with a study published Jan. 15, 2019, in the journal Conservation Physiology that shows over time, bears do adapt to the presence of drones, or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS). The findings are important, researchers say, because drones are increasingly used in animal behavior research, as well as anti-poaching tools. Drones are also another consequence of Anthropocene, the proposed period spotlighting when Homo sapiens started having a significant impact on the planet. Advertisement "The popularity of unmanned aircraft systems among recreationalists, researchers and conservationists has increased tremendously in recent years and represents a new potential stress to wildlife," the study notes. The research, led by wildlife ecologist Mark Ditmer, took place at a 372-square-meter (4,004-square-feet) fenced-in facility maintained by the Wildlife Science Center in east-central Minnesota. Ditmer and company tested the effects of a small drone less than 2 feet (.6 meters) in length on five captive American black bears at the center. The drone flights were performed near the bears five times a day, twice a week, over the course of four weeks. Researchers monitored the bears' heart rates using cardiac biologgers. The study was paused for 118 days, then resumed to measure whether the bears' tolerance for the drones still existed. According to the findings, while the bears showed strong heart rate elevation in response to the first drone flights overhead, their responses consistently diminished over time. The bears were considered "habituated to UAS" by the third week of the study. When researchers picked up the flights again several months later, the bears in the study were still mostly unmoved by drone presence. However, the researchers offered several cautions: "It's important to note that the individual bears in this study did show a stress response to the initial drone flights," Ditmer said in a press statement. "Close-proximity drone flights near wildlife should be avoided without a valid purpose. However, our findings do show that drone use in conservation, for things such as anti-poaching patrols, can provide benefits without long-term high-stress consequences." Acclimatization to mechanical noises like drones can reduce animals wariness to human threats, the study suggests. And even though the bears' cardiac effects diminished, frequent disturbances from drones could cause other chronic physiological effects the study didn't measure. Finally, the study, which included just American black bears, says if and how fast other wild and captive animals adapt to drones could be different. The captive bears at the center were already accustomed to regular exposure to humans and mechanical noises "that may have hastened their habituation to the UAS." Now That's Interesting Which state has the largest black bear population in the U.S.? California takes that honor, with an estimated 25,000 to 35,000 black bears roaming the woods. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. A civilian has been killed in Artsakhs Martakert town as a result of Azerbaijani shooting, Lusine Avanesyan, press secretary of Artsakhs President, informed ARMENPRESS. "The incident took place today, October 9, at around 13:20. The citizen was doing agricultural work near Martakert, a shooting occured and unfortunately we have a case of death. According to the police, investigators are working at the scene. I would like to add that the incident is being analyzed with the command of the Russian peacekeeping forces in order to take further steps to exclude ceasefire violations and to ensure greater security opportunities in the areas near the line of contact, Avanesyan said. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia Gnel Sanosyan received Ambassador of India to Armenia Kishan Dan Dewal. ARMENPRESS reports the Minister thanked the Ambassador for the opportunity to discuss issues related to the Armenian-Indian cooperation. During the meeting, the Ambassador stressed that the Indian side is interested in infrastructure development programs in Armenia and will be glad to discuss cooperation opportunities in that direction. According to the Ambassador, there are quite large companies in India that have succeeded in this direction, which can participate in the implementation of programs in Armenia. Gnel Sanosyan highlighted the active work with the Indian side and the strengthening of the Armenian-Indian cooperation, emphasizing that the Armenian-Indian friendly relations have deep historical roots. During the conversation, the sides also referred to the investment program of the North-South road corridor, the opportunities provided by the port of Chabahar for Armenia. An agreement was reached to exchange information and to discuss the opportunities for cooperation within the framework of the North-South Road Corridor investment program. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. President of the National Assembly of Armenia Alen Simonyan gave an exclusive interview to the Russian "RBK" TV channel within the framework of his official visit to Russia. During the extensive conversation with Ilya Doronov, Alen Simonyan referred to the allied nature of the Armenian-Russian relations, the agreements reached during the meetings with high-ranking Russian officials, spoke about the steps aimed at establishing peace in the region and ways to overcome the concequences of the 44-day war. The head of the parliament stressed that the Armenian side is not in favor of military solutions, the issues should be resolved peacefully. It is very important that my first foreign visit took place to a country which is an ally of the Republic of Armenia, and for me personally it was very important to come to Moscow first. I think the visit is completely successful," Alen Simonyan said, adding that during the meetings he offered to find concrete solutions to the problems. An agreement has been reached to discuss positions in advance to work more coordinated at internaitonal platforms, Simonyan said. Ilya Doronov inquired about the process of overcoming the consequences of the war in Armenia. It is difficult to come to normal life when we learn about prisoners of war every day, when relatives are waiting for their children, brothers and spouses. It is very difficult when Turkey and Azerbaijan hold military exercises in the region every month literally a few kilometers away from us, Simonyan emphasized. Touching upon the regional issues and possible contacts with Azerbaijan, the National Assembly President stated. "It is extremely difficult to imagine the peaceful coexistence of the two peoples in a situation when, for example, in Baku, so-called 'trophy parks' are being built, mannequins of burning or killed Armenian soldiers are being displayed." The November 9 declaration and the events of the following period were touched upon. Alen Simonyan spoke about the unconstructive attitude of Azerbaijan, the Armenian prisoners of war held in that country and the necessity of an immediate return of the captured and missing persons. "The Azerbaijani soldiers are in the territory of Armenia. We offered to withdraw forces simultaneously until the borders are clarified, but the Azerbaijani side has not done so yet. These are the most important issues along with the return of the captives," Alen Simonyan said. The co-chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group (Stephane Visconti of France, Andrew Schofer of the United States of America, and Igor Khovaev of the Russian Federation) released a statement on Friday, expressing readiness to organize a meeting between the Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders. October 9, 2021, 09:26 OSCE Minsk Group ready to organize Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting STEPANAKERT, OCTOBER 9, ARTSAKHPRESS: "The Co-Chairs held consultations with UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi and International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC) Vice President Gilles Carbonnier in Geneva 7 and 8 October. The Personal Representative of the OSCE Chairperson in Office (PRCiO) Andrzej Kasprzyk also participated in the meetings. All participants stressed the importance of full, unimpeded access by international humanitarian organizations to carry out their work. In light of the recent constructive meeting between the Foreign Ministers of Armenia and Azerbaijan on the margins of the UN General Assembly, the Co-Chairs welcomed Azerbaijans release of one Armenian serviceman and also discussed possible de-escalatory and humanitarian measures, including with regard to detainees, missing persons, and the voluntary return of all displaced persons. The Co-Chairs emphasized their intention to continue working with the parties to find areas of agreement. The Co-Chairs have taken positive note of President Aliyevs and Prime Minister Pashinyans public statements expressing their readiness in principle to meet with each other under the auspices of the Co-Chairs. The Co-Chairs look forward to engaging the sides on modalities and details of such a meeting and reiterate their willingness to visit the region in the near future to discuss next steps in the process." When we hear the phrase "going postal", we assume it's in reference to someone displaying extreme anger or aggression. While this phrase is commonplace nowadays, its origins have much more sinister roots. On this day in 1991, "going postal" became a commonplace saying when a US postal worker committed two brutal murders. A ticking time bomb In 1990, Joseph M Harris was an average 34-year-old postal worker in Ridgewood, New Jersey. Described by neighbours and co-workers as quiet, tense and odd, Harris apparently had a temper. One former co-worker remarked that during work hours he was always walking around like some karate guy, chopping his hands in the air." Harris did not respond well to authority and directions, and consistently clashed with his supervisor Carol Ott. Joseph Harris did not feel valued by the United States Postal Service and took some dramatic action. Source: Getty Images Their feud reached its peak when Ms Ott filed a report with the Ridgewood police department, accusing Harris of harassing her on the job. She then ordered for Harris to submit to a fitness of duty exam, which he refused, and he was ultimately fired. Other postal workers recalled Harris saying something to Ms Ott before he left: Im going to get you. Just after midnight, on October 10, 1991, Harris did just that. A vicious spree Dressing in a bullet-proof vest, black military fatigues, combat boots and a black, silk ninja-style hood, Harris armed himself with a nine millimetre Uzi machine gun, a .22 calibre handgun with a silencer, three hand grenades, some homemade bombs and a Samurai sword. He wrote a two page letter alleging unfair treatment by the US Postal Service, and vowed to enact his revenge. American media was captivated by the spree. Source: New York Times website Booby trapping his door, Harris left his home and went after Ms Ott at her suburban apartment. Harris forced entry to her home, and swung his sword towards her, deeply slashing her left shoulder and causing her to die. Story continues He then made his way downstairs to where Ms Otts boyfriend Cornelius Kasten Junior was watching television, and fatally shot him behind the ear. But he wasnt done yet. At 2am, Harris made his way to the rear entrance of the Ridgewood post office where he shot and killed two mail handlers, Joseph Vander Paauw and Donald McNaught. Harris then shot at a truck driver who had come to investigate his suspicious behaviour. The truck driver escaped unharmed, and alerted police. Police attended the scene quite quickly, but were forced to retreat when Harris threw a homemade bomb at them. However, after half an hour of negotiations, Harris gave himself up. Harris allegedly told prosecutors that a 'ninja spirit' caused him to commit the crimes. Source: Dan Farrell/ Daily News Trend of postal killings Upon investigation, officers were able to pin him as the offender in a previous rape/murder case, where Harris sexually assaulted the wife and daughters of an investor who lost him money, before shooting the investor in his home. Due to the emotion fuelling Harriss spree killings, prosecutors attempted to argue that Harris was insane. Nonetheless, he was sentenced to death-row in 1992, dying in prison in 1996 of natural causes. Harriss murder spree is part of a slew of postal-related killings which have occurred throughout the United States since the 1970s, including the infamous Son of Sam shootings in New York City. Most recently, on April 15 of this year, a previous Fed-ex employee performed a mass shooting at the Fed-ex Ground facility in Indianapolis, Indiana. The gunman, Brandon Scott Hole, killed nine people and injured seven, before committing suicide. Popular culture has noticed the trend as well, with many references to the phrase "going postal" in television shows and movies. Other US Postal workers committed muders in Oklahoma, Michigan and California in the 90s. Source: Getty Images In the 1995 film Jumanji, character Van Pelt purchases a rifle at a gun store and the clerk asks him youre not a postal worker are you? In Brooklyn Nine-Nine, a US Postal Inspection Service agent comedically insists to the team that the term "going postal" refers to bringing goodness into people's lives. And a video game series called Postal allows the player to take on the role of an insane mass murderer. While "going postal" is a part of our usual lexicon these days, its sinister roots are truly disturbing. Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com. You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play. " " A dashcam will record everything that is occurring in front of your car, which can be very helpful in case of an accident. wanrung stock/Shutterstock If you could have an accessory for your car that could potentially help you out of a jam with your insurance company, would you buy it? If you said yes, then there's good news. This device already exists. We're talking about dashboard cameras or dashcams. That's because a mounted dashboard camera will record everything that's happening in front of your car while you drive, essentially functioning as a silent witness to collisions or other incidents. A dashcam might also make would-be thieves or vandals think twice about messing with your car. And, as a bonus, you never know what else a dashcam might catch in the world just beyond your windshield. Dashcams aren't as common in the United States as they are in many other countries, and the reasons for that are unclear. They aren't particularly expensive and they're easy to install and use. The insurance industry's reluctance to fully embrace dashcams might be one contributing factor in their failure to achieve widespread usage, and that's really the only potential drawback of this useful tool. For now, let's take a closer look at the potential benefits of a dashcam. Advertisement When Dashcams Are Beneficial According to Mark Friedlander, director of corporate communications at the Insurance Information Institute, the benefits of dashcams outweigh any potential drawbacks. The Insurance Information Institute is a nonprofit that helps consumers navigate issues with the insurance industry. The main selling point of a dashcam is to provide evidence in the event of a car accident. Though the camera typically records incidents through the windshield, some drivers choose to put a second dashcam in the rear window to capture evidence of rear-end collisions. Such footage would be particularly beneficial if the owner of the dashcam was not the driver at fault. But Friedlander notes via email that "a real-time video record benefits all parties involved in a traffic accident." Dashcam footage is also useful if someone tries to blame a driver for an accident that isn't their fault, which the insurance industry considers fraud (more on this later). On a similar note, Friedlander says, dashcam footage can be useful in fighting wrongfully issued traffic citations, particularly those from traffic cameras. Furthermore, dashcam footage may be useful in catching car thieves and vandals, and the supporting insurance claims related to such incidents. Dashcams can also monitor driver behavior, whether that's an employee in a fleet vehicle or a newly licensed teenage driver. " " A dashcam could help determine who is at fault in a fender bender or a major accident. Tom Merton/Getty Images Advertisement Dashcams and Fraud While dashcams benefit the drivers who install them, they're also useful for insurance companies. Fraud accounted for between 15 and 17 percent of total claims for auto insurance bodily injury in 2012, according to an Insurance Research Council (IRC) study. The study also estimated that between $5.6 and $7.7 billion was fraudulently added to paid claims for auto insurance bodily injury payments in 2012. This is due to what the insurance industry calls "staged accidents," and if you're the victim of such a staged accident (that is, the other driver involved when someone deliberately collides with you and then claims to be the victim), a dashcam recording can provide valuable evidence to support your story and expose the fraud. Check out the tweet below to see how a dashcam can be invaluable in this sort of incident. Supporting policies that encourage dashcam use could cut down on these fraudulent claims, which could, in turn, lower insurance premiums for all customers. It will also save the victims from the rate increases that are common after an at-fault collision. No major auto insurance companies currently offer a discount for installing a dashcam, though the state of New York is considering legislation that will require it (see sidebar). Furthermore, insurance companies don't have official policies on whether they'll review footage of a crash, which seems perplexing considering insurance adjusters do review photographs. Why are photos acceptable if videos may not be? One theory, according to Car and Driver magazine, is that insurance companies don't want to see anything that may incriminate their customers. And on that note, if insurers have an official stance on dashcams, they can't evaluate each situation on a case-by-case basis. However, Friedlander says, insurance companies are gradually changing their viewpoint. "Dashcams are increasingly being used to provide U.S. property/casualty insurers with additional information about accidents, traffic violations and driving habits. In fact, many insurance carriers will accept dashcam footage from their policyholders in the case of an accident to assist in assessing a claim." Advertisement Choosing the Right Dashcam A decent-quality dashcam costs $60 to $150. The most basic dashcams plug into the car's cigarette lighter or run off a battery. Others are somewhat more complicated to install because they're connected to the car's electrical system. Experts recommend an HD-quality camera; otherwise, your recordings may miss important details like facial features or license plate numbers. The variety of models on the market can be overwhelming, so consider the following attributes, as recommended by Popular Science: How it's powered : cigarette lighter, battery or hard-wired to your car's battery Field of vision : in other words, how much the camera sees. Popular Science says most cameras on the market offer 140 to 160 degrees Quality : the clearness and sharpness of the picture Other features: additional views, night vision, : additional views, night vision, GPS , Wi-Fi and storage are all options Before you install your dashcam, make sure you know your local laws regarding window-mounted objects to ensure you won't get ticketed for obstructing your view. Clean the glass and then mount the camera based on the manufacturer's recommendations. If you need to run wires to your cigarette lighter, you can keep them out of your way by taping or clipping them to the closest windshield edge, and then along the dashboard. If your dashcam taps into your car's electrical system for power, it's probably best to have it installed by a professional. Now That's Interesting New York State may incentivize dashcam use, if Assembly Bill A5132, currently in a Senate committee, is approved. According to Friedlander, if the law passes, it will provide a 5 percent auto insurance premium reduction for passenger vehicles using and operating a dashboard camera. As for the insurance industry's take on the proposed law, Friedlander says, "U.S. insurers continue to assess the impact of dashcam cameras on driver safety and whether they help to reduce claim and theft expenses." " " The new Honda E electric car was designed specifically for driving in urban environments. Honda UK If you want a small electric car with eye-catching good looks and a lot of personality, the Honda E might be for you. If you like the idea of a slick-looking electric car like a Tesla, but you don't have that kind of cash (or the need for jaw-dropping performance and record-setting range), the Honda E might be for you. Advertisement If you live in an urban area, have a short commute and regular access to charging stations, the Honda E might be for you. (Do you sense a theme here?) The Honda E is the adorable new electric vehicle (EV) from Honda that appeals to a wide variety of potential buyers, including and beyond current EV drivers. Honda figured out very quickly that the E might hit that sweet spot, at least in certain European countries. The company opened up reservations for the car in late May 2019 to residents in the U.K., Germany, France and Norway for a refundable reservation fee of about $1,000, and about 25,000 have already been placed, according to Honda. The cars will be available in spring 2020 for a total base price of about $45,000. Who can blame people for loving it? Just look at the thing. It's reminiscent of older, sportier Honda compact cars from the '70s, back when they were a bit more squared-off and exterior color options had fun, goofy names. But the Honda E is totally modern, with the sleek side panels, halo front lighting, and obvious aerodynamic influence over the shape and profile. The Honda E is based on the E Prototype, which made its near-production-ready debut at the 2019 Geneva Motor Show in March 2019. The commercial version will be equipped with a "high-powered" motor that is expected to produce up to 148 horsepower and 221 pound-feet of torque. That horsepower figure is on par with a lot of compact and subcompact cars. And the E will likely launch super quickly from a full stop, since electric cars instantly produce their full torque rating (unlike gas-powered cars, which produce torque along a curve). The E will be also have a range of about 125 miles (201 kilometers) on a full charge, which falls short of many of its EV competitors, but again, it's designed for short trips. And Honda says its quick charging battery can be back to 80 percent in just half an hour. The E is also rear-wheel drive, which means it'll be fun to drive, though perhaps a little tricky during the winter months. And like many other EVs on the market, the Honda E uses single pedal control, which means drivers use just one pedal to accelerate and slow the car down. This will help with its driving efficiency in urban environments, which again, is the intended use of the E. Unfortunately, for now, the biggest drawback of the Honda E is that reservations are limited to just a few European countries (and we don't know if it will be available in the United States). So if you live in the U.S. and have fallen in love with this EV (like we have), you better cross your fingers that the E eventually makes its way across the pond. Now That's Interesting Concept cars are one of our favorite automotive topics, though we tend to talk more about those that don't make it to production than those that do. In cases of popular concepts like the Honda E, it's interesting to see if and when consumer interest results in actual sales. Beijing (Gasgoo)- VOYAH, the high-end EV subsidiary brand of Dongfeng Motor more than doubled its monthly deliveries to over 900 vehicles in September, according to the companys report. the VOYAH FREE; photo credit: VOYAH In September, VOYAH delivered 908 vehicles of its VOYAH FREE model, surging 122% from Augusts 408 vehicles, accumulating to 1316 vehicles in total for the two months since delivery started. The company said, as of now, it has users across 137 cities in China. The CEO of VOYAH, Lu Fang said, the VOYAH FREE is the only electric SUV within the industry which offers both battery electric version and range extension version. Order and production volume of the said model continued to grow in September. The company is very optimistic regarding its goal of being the new energy vehicle brand that sells 10,000 vehicles using the shortest possible time span since its debut. By the end of September, VOYAH has established 50 direct distribution channels in China, covering 21 cities. The company intends to open up at least 110 showrooms in 30 cities by October. In addition, VOYAH is expected to realize 100% electrification by 2025, according to Zhu Yanfeng, the chairman of the brands parent company, Dongfeng Group. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Chery Holdings saw a 10% year-on-year increase in its September sales, and the companys export volume continued to grow explosively, said the company in its report. The Chery EQ1; photo credit: Chery Auto The automaker posted a sales volume of 75,692 vehicles in September, increasing 10.3% year on year. For the first nine months this year, the company sold 651,289 vehicles in total, up 53.3% from a year ago. In September, the auto group introduced a slew of new models through its various subsidiary brands, further expanding its market share. For example, JETOUR brand sold a cumulative 103,549 vehicles year-to-date, indicating a 62.6% rise compared to the previous year. With two new models in the market, EXEED brand witnessed a 140.5% year-on-year growth in its Jan.-Sept. sales. Chery brand sold a total of 438,615 vehicles during the first nine months of this year, surging 67.2% from the same period of last year. Thanks to the brands featured micro-EV, the Chery EQ1, new energy vehicle sales of the company accumulated to 54,848 vehicles year-to-date, soaring 153.4% from 2020. Notably, Chery Holdings has successfully maintained its growing overseas climate in September, with 22,052 vehicles exported, more than doubled (by 108.7%) year on year. For the first nine months of this year, the groups export volume accumulated to 187,910 vehicles, 1.5 times more than last year. According to the Association of European Businesses, Chery accounted for 2.6% of the Russian auto market, ranking No.9 among all brands and No.1 among Chinese auto brands. The automaker also ranked No.8 for the first time in Brazils passenger vehicle sales, owning 3.94% of the countrys market. Ranking No.2 among all the auto brands, Chery had a 7.5% market share in Chile. Beijing (Gasgoo)- Dongfeng Motor Group's accumulated auto sales volume in the first nine months this year inched up 1.9%, while the group's self-owned passenger vehicle brand sales surged over 30% year on year, said the motor group. The AX7; photo credit: Dongfeng Fengshen The group reported 2.38 million vehicles sold during the first nine months in 2021, 1.8 million of which were passenger vehicles (PVs), remaining flat from a year ago. However, year-to-date sales of Dongfeng's self-owned PV brands saw a 36.6% increase compared to the same period of last year to 353,200 vehicles. PV Joint ventures have sold 1,456,100 vehicles this year so far. Notably, Dongfeng Motor's independent subsidiary brand Fengshen is reported to hit a record high of over 14,000 vehicles sold in September, marking September the fifth consecutive month with over 10,000 vehicles sold. For the first three quarters this year, Fengshen has sold 76,100 vehicles in total, soaring 67.1% from a year ago. As to the joint venture sector of Dongfeng Motor Group, Dongfeng Nissan reported a cumulative sales volume of 738,600 vehicles so far this year. Dongfeng Honda sold 536,000 vehicles, and Dongfeng Yueda Kia sold 114,400 vehicles for the first nine months in 2021. Dongfeng Peugeot Citroen's deliveries reached 10,089 vehicles in September, amounting to 61,900 vehicles in total this year to date, soaring 85.2% from a year ago. The commercial vehicle sector of Dongfeng Motor Group reported year-to-date sales of 576,400 vehicles, representing a 7% growth year on year. Today's Chinese people are more dignified than ever before, and one of the important reasons is that we are not as poor as before. I cannot remember how much Chinese nannies would earn in 1993, but their monthly salary was definitely very meager I'd say less than 100 yuan ($15.5). I went to Yugoslavia as a correspondent that year, and met a young Chinese nanny working in the home of a US journalist. She was taken to Yugoslavia by the US journalist from China. She could earn as much as $400 per month, which was much more than what I was earning. Counting in various subsidies, I earned $295 a month back then. That year, I also learned in Greece that the monthly salary of a Filipino maid was about $300. When the Iraq War broke out in 2003, I met many maids from South Asian countries such as India, Pakistan and Sri Lanka in Kuwait. They earned approximately over $300 per month. I also met a doctor from Dalian, Northeast China's Liaoning Province. She downshifted to work as a nurse in Kuwait with a salary of $1,000 every month, the average amount that Chinese who went overseas for work could earn at that time. Being a nanny is not an easy job. Many of them have to leave their hometowns. Fortunately, today in Beijing, an ordinary domestic service staffer can earn about 5,000 yuan every month, while babysitters can earn 7,000 yuan and maternity matrons over 10,000 yuan. The lowest monthly income for home services is close to $800. Of course, given increased prices in China, the purchasing power of $800 to $1,000 is not as high as what it used to be. People may not feel strongly about their income increase, but from the perspective of global labor and resource distribution market, Chinese people are now in a more advantageous position than ever before. This is an important source for Chinese people's collective self-esteem. China's home service workers today can earn as much as teachers at universities in Serbia back when I worked there as a reporter. This offers ordinary Chinese citizens the opportunity to integrate into the global supply chain and enjoy high-quality and inexpensive products and services from all over the world. The value of Chinese labor is getting higher. People in China who had a middle-level job and earn a middle income used to admire the outside world, even countries such as Malaysia and Indonesia. But the situation has fundamentally changed and is continuing to change. The increase in nannies' income is of iconic significance. It shows that our society is gradually becoming more fair and equal. When I was young, there was a huge income gap between nannies from the countryside and residents in big cities. But now home service workers can earn approximately half of the average income of white-collar workers in Beijing. Rising salaries of home service workers are regrettably a burden for middle-class families living in cities, but this is the complicated process in which the gap between rural and urban areas and different regions gradually narrows through marketization. In general, Chinese people are living a moderately prosperous life. And many cities and villages in developed coastal regions have begun to move toward a high level of modernization. Of course, with increased income, people have higher demands and more expenditures, and environmental pressure is also increasing. Most families still feel that they are far away from achieving "financial freedom." I interviewed many families all over the world, and found that most of them lived on a tight budget. In other words, the lives of ordinary families in rich countries were not as good as I thought, and ordinary people in poor countries didn't live as poor as I thought. For instance, I visited the homes of several Japanese diplomats and reporters and felt that they lived quite ordinarily. I also paid visits to two ordinary families in Laos, one of the least developed countries in the world, but their situations were much better than I thought. Countries need to recall most of the currencies they issue. This is roughly the process in which we make money and then spend it. Almost no ordinary people can live a very abundant life. But differences lie in the quality of life, the houses people live in, and the standards for food, clothing, housing and transportation. The money we earn can be recycled through various consumption channels. Whatever the place is, ordinary families will only have a limited surplus, which means a limited sense of abundance. However, Chinese people's quality of life has been steadily increasing over the years. It has been common for Chinese people to consume foreign products, including travelling abroad and sending their children to study overseas. Instead it has become a part of middle-class families' lives. Chinese people's lives have really become "globalized." This is a fundamental change in people's livelihoods in modern times, providing a new foundation for our dignity, and offering many people a broader stage in their lives. In the past, most Chinese people's lives were revolving in small circles. But now, even the most ordinary workers work in trans-regional jobs or as a part of the international division of labor. This means more potential career opportunities and collective levers to enhance the value of labor, though as individuals we may not be aware of them. On this special day, China's National Day, let's cheer up for our country. Our country is the most external shield for our personal interests, as well as an unperceived booster for our personal interests. A diplomat I know said 10 years ago that China has a very long border, but what is gratifying is that living standards of the people on the Chinese side of the border have surpassed those outside of it. This tendency will continue to strengthen. There are still many deficiencies in our country, and we have still a long way to go in terms of modernization. When it comes to the construction of social justice, many goals still need to be achieved, such as realizing common prosperity. We still have many difficulties to overcome. But people are living a more and more dignified life. This is a process that we move forward amid twists and turns while gradually accumulates achievements. When we look back, perhaps the most important thing is that we can find there is a momentum for continuous advancement. This applies to an individual, a society and a country. The author is editor-in-chief of the Global Times. XinhuaChinese Ambassador to the United States Qin Gang on October 6 shared with Americans seven buzzwords that are currently popular in China to illustrate what is going on in his country. "The buzzwords I shared with you today reflect the changing and unchanging elements in our values when China experiences rapid economic growth and profound social transformation," said Qin in his keynote speech at the online Forum on Tourism, Hospitality and Cultural Exchange co-hosted by the U.S.-Asia Institute and Las Vegas Sands Corp. The first buzzword Qin mentioned was "People First, Life First," which was widespread during China's fight against the COVID-19 pandemic, and reflects a deep concern for humanity. Likewise, "Heroes in Harm's Way" has also gone viral in China, which refers to the everyday heroes who put their mission before their lives and made fearless sacrifices to fight the pandemic, Qin said. To "Lie Flat" is a term to describe the youngsters who give up ambitions and do the bare minimum to get by, Qin said, adding "lie-flatters" are either people from well-off families or those who believe in whatever comes their way. "Versailles," originally from the "Palace of Versailles" in French, was borrowed to describe the self-claimed aristocratic spirit. On social media, it is used to label humble-braggers, he said. "Involution," one of the latest buzzwords in China, indicates irrational or involuntary competitions, while "Double Reduction" is a recent policy formulated by the government to address involution in education, which aims to restore the original purpose of education by restricting capital in the sector, Qin said. The last buzzword, "Celebrity Fan Clubs," refers to the phenomenon that some celebrities use internet to hype up themselves and cause their fans to admire them in an irrational manner, while such abnormalities stem from a chain of interests dominated by online platforms and the capital that supports them, he said. In his speech, Qin said that socialism with Chinese characteristics requires material progress and cultural-ethical advancement, adding, "We need to keep fine traditional values, uphold fairness and justice, and not get lost in a market economy." "(Being) rooted in traditional Chinese values is a concern for the common good of humanity," he added. UNESCO's selection of Fuzhou to host the 44th Session of the World Heritage Committee in July is yet more evidence that the southeastern coastal city is excelling in preserving its past. Fuzhou, which is the capital of Fujian Province, was once a leading silk producer along the ancient Maritime Silk Road. A multi-billion-yuan, city-wide project has ensured its historical buildings, including ancient shipyards, temples and residential compounds, will not be lost to history. Known as gucuo in the local dialect, these traditional buildings have been given a new life, drawing legions of tourists each year. WKOW 27's Capitol bureau chief A.J. Bayatpour asked Rebecca Kleefisch, a "Wisconsin-proud conservative mom" running for governor, if she'd sign a bill to " reject or overturn the popular vote results in a statewide election." The only correct answer to a question like that, at least in a non-fascist country, is "Hell no." But Ms. Kleefisch is apparently not a fan of democracy or the Constitution so she can't say that. A.J. Bayatpour: Looking ahead, with election policy being something that will be on the ballot potentially next November, is there any scenario where you could envision yourself as governor signing legislation ahead of 2024 that would allow the legislature to reject or overturn the popular vote results in a statewide election? Rebecca Kleefisch: I haven't seen any bill language even pertaining to that, A.J., so I think it would probably be awfully premature for me to comment on a bill that hasn't even been drafted nor an idea that I've heard floated. A.J. Bayatpour: But it's is something that some people have mentioned as a possible concern not only in Wisconsin, but other states, the idea of a legislature overturning the popular vote, if, hypothetically, that were to become a bill and ended up on your desk today, what do you say you would do with that bill? Rebecca Kleefisch: Let's begin I'm just gonna say you're talking about an idea that I have never heard discussed among legislators, or even the folks I'm talking to across the state. And so for me to try and comment on future bill language that hasn't even been drafted, I think would be awfully premature and kind of irresponsible. I am enjoying the sideshow dramatics in San Francisco's not-so-slow-moving trainwreck. It would appear an independent geo-tech had some fun comments for SF Gate, basically blasting Ron Hamburger for incompetence. SF Gate: Geotechnical engineer Robert Pyke told the outlet this week that the work should have been stopped months earlier. "Certainly by the end of June, it was obvious that there was additional settlement as a result of installing the casings and the piles," Pyke noted. "Any responsible engineer should have called a halt," he added, stating that he believes the continuation of construction for two more months caused more damage. Pyke's criticism was leveled at Chief Engineer Ronald Hamburger, who pushed back in an email to SFGATE Thursday, stating that he became concerned with the increased settlement in early June. However, Hamburger wrote that he believed "additional settlement through completion of casing installation would not be a problem." As he will not prove wrong until the thing falls down, Ronald Hamberger offered up an incredible, head-spinning opinion on the whole tower: it is just fine, all this work is basically marketing to increase the property value and appease the HOA. Twenty-nine people have died from alcohol poisoning in Russia after drinking locally produced spirits that contained methanol, authorities have said. Nine people have been arrested, investigators added. Methanol - the simplest form of alcohol - is toxic. It is used industrially in solvents and pesticides. The illegal spirits were produced and sold in the Orenburg region, close to Kazakhstan, about 900 miles (1,500km) southeast of Moscow. Liquids containing alcohol were seized from warehouses in the area, and many were found to contain methanol, the interior ministry said. Earlier on Saturday, the regional health ministry said it had recorded 54 cases of alcohol poisoning this week, about half of which were fatal, according to the RIA news agency. There have been tighter national controls in Russia on the sale of beverages, medicines, perfumes and other liquids containing a high percentage of ethanol since a case of mass alcohol poisoning in Siberia in 2016. Ethanol is another simple alcohol, and the one found in conventional alcoholic drinks. Randy Bachman holds the guitar that he will be trading with a Tokyo musician in exchange for the 1957 Gretsch guitar that was stolen from him 45 years ago. (Submitted by Randy Bachman - image credit) For 45 years, Randy Bachman tried filling the void left behind by a guitar the guitar he strummed some of rock music's most iconic songs with. He purchased hundreds of other Gretsch guitars, but the former Guess Who guitarist was unable to find that guitar a 1957 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins model in western orange with black DeArmond pickups. "I would take the guitar in its case into my hotel room with a hopsack with 12 feet of tow-truck chain," Bachman recalled during an interview on Friday from his home in Sidney, B.C. "I put my guitar next to the toilet in the bathroom, wrap the chain through the handle of the case, around the case and around the toilet twice and lock it twice. So if anyone was going to steal it, they'd have to rip the toilet off the floor of the bathroom." The guitar, which he used to pen the likes of No Sugar Tonight, Takin' Care of Business and American Woman, was stolen from a Toronto-area hotel in 1976 and recently resurfaced in Tokyo. After a decades-long search and assistance from everyone from the RCMP to vintage instrument dealers across North America came up empty-handed, a fan's creative use of facial recognition software helped track it down in Japan. The beloved guitar was lost while Bachman was putting together an album for BachmanTurner Overdrive in Toronto. His road manager brought the guitar back to the hotel as they checked out. According to Bachman, the guitar was put in the hotel room with other luggage, and in the five minutes it took for the hotel bill to be paid, the instrument was swiped. "It was just terrible," Bachman said. "I cried for literally all night.... I loved this guitar so much." Submitted by Randy Bachman Long-lost guitar has Winnipeg roots Bachman's love affair with the Gretsch model guitar began as a boy in Manitoba's capital city. He recalled a music store on Portage Avenue called Winnipeg Piano. "I would go every Saturday ... and look in the window, if you can believe it," he said. "Stare at it for like an hour and then go to the side window, look at it sideways for half an hour, and then Neil Young would join me and he would look and stare at it for an hour." Story continues Bachman later purchased one of the guitars in the store. It ended up being the wrong one and he traded it in after the Guess Who launched its first album, Shakin' All Over, and he bought the one he's been on the hunt for for nearly half a century. The belief is that his beloved Gretsch 6120 went across the border to Buffalo, N.Y., then on to Chicago and Texas and eventually, Japan. Facial recognition pinpoints Gretsch Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Bachman was stuck at home recording YouTube videos when he received an email from a viewer from White Rock, B.C., claiming he had found Bachman's missing Gretsch. "He said he'd done facial recognition of my guitar," Bachman said. "I said, 'What are you talking about?' He said, 'Well, we do it for faces. The guitar has a face, right?'" The viewer sent Bachman a video from Christmas 2019 of Japanese pop musician Takeshi playing the guitar. The facial recognition software pinged on what looked like a little blemish, which is actually just a knot in the wood. Bingo. Bachman's lost guitar was found at last. "The minute I saw it, I knew [it. He was] singing Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree with the rockabilly," he said. With the help of his son Tal's partner, Koko, Bachman and Takeshi, who does not speak English, got in touch with each other. Koko was the translator during their hours-long conversation. "How everything is unfolding ... one after another just seems like it was all meant to be, like Randy was saying. And that's exactly how all of us are feeling. It's bringing us together," Koko said. "It's kind of funny because when I first moved here from Japan, I was 16 and I spoke no English. So I'm glad that I learned and I can actually translate now and be able to actually help Randy out to sort this out." Takeshi has agreed to trade the guitar back to Bachman. "When I first strummed this guitar at the music shop in Tokyo, I knew and felt it was destiny I immediately and impulsively purchased it," Takeshi said in a statement. "I'm so honoured and proud to be the one who can finally return this stolen guitar to its owner, the rockstar, Mr. Bachman, who was searching for it for nearly half a century, and I feel very grateful for this miracle happening in both our lives." Submitted by Takeshi Bachman had to find a guitar as close as possible to the original in order to facilitate the trade. He contacted Gary's Classic Guitars in Ohio, which had a 1957 Gretsch 6120 Chet Atkins model in western orange with the serial number two digits off the original and bought it for the trade with Takeshi. Once it's safe enough to travel overseas, Bachman will head to Japan to make the trade for the original guitar he had bought so many years ago from Winnipeg Piano. He expects he will be overcome with emotion when he reunites with the guitar. "I will be beyond verklempt," Bachman said. "I'm pretty sure I'll be in tears." WATCH | Randy Bachman to be reunited with guitar after 45 years: Page Content CHARLOTTE, N.C. (October 8, 2021) The City of Charlotte on Friday announced updates to the attendance policy for City Council meetings and other public meetings held at the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Government Center. Beginning Monday, October 18 the public can attend meetings of Charlotte City Council, the Board of County Commissioners, the CMS Board of Education and quasi-judicial board meetings in-person. During this time, the building will open 30 minutes prior to these meetings and close 15 minutes after the conclusion of these meetings. A mask mandate remains in place at CMGC. Beginning on Monday, November 1, the building will re-open to the public during regular business hours and when there are meetings of the Charlotte City Council, the Mecklenburg County Board of County Commissioners, the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education and quasi-judicial board meetings. Between Monday, October 18 and Sunday, October 31, CMGC will only be open to the public for Charlotte City Council business meetings, strategy sessions, and zoning meetings, public meetings held by the Mecklenburg County Board of Commissioners, public meetings held by the Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Board of Education, and quasi-judicial board meetings. This public in-person attendance policy is subject to change if there is new guidance from the CDC, NC DHHS or other public agencies or if there are additional Governors Executive Orders increasing public health restrictions. All City Council meetings and committee meetings will continue to be live streamed on the citys Facebook and YouTube pages, the GOV Channel on television, and the GOV Channels page. Members of the public and media who wish to attend these meetings in-person will be able to park for free in the CMGC parking garage at 232 S. Davidson Street. Attendees should enter the parking garage using the Davidson Street entrance. (CNN) -- India's richest man is bringing 7-Eleven to the country, adding the convenience store chain to a sprawling business empire that spans energy, chemicals, retail and telecommunications. Reliance Retail, the commerce arm of Mukesh Ambani's conglomerate, announced Thursday that it will open India's first 7-Eleven stores, just days after the quick-service chain lost its local partner. The two don't appear to be wasting any time: Reliance says that the first 7-Eleven store will open in Mumbai on Saturday, just two days away. "This will be followed by a rapid rollout in key neighborhoods and commercial areas," with an initial focus on the Greater Mumbai area, Reliance Retail added in a statement. The shops are expected to offer customers drinks and snacks that are customized based on local preferences. Ambani is India's richest person, with a net worth of $99.1 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index. Isha Ambani, his daughter and a director of Reliance Retail, helped announce the deal. The announcement came just days after 7-Eleven had pulled out of a deal with another major local retailer. On Tuesday, Future Retail said that it had come to a mutual agreement with 7-Eleven to call off an existing partnership to develop and operate stores across the country. In a brief statement, Future Retail said that it "was not able to meet the target of opening stores and payment of franchisee fees" required. The company has previously said the pandemic has had a "significant adverse impact" on its business operations. Recently, Reliance has had its eye on acquiring Future Retail, though it's been locked in a fierce legal battle with Amazon for months over the potential deal. In August, the Supreme Court of India ruled in favor of Amazon's efforts to stop the acquisition. In recent months, Ambani has revealed aggressive ambitions to take on both Amazon and Walmart, which dominate online shopping in India. Reliance is building JioMart, an e-commerce platform that could eventually offer everything from electronics and apparel to pharmaceuticals and healthcare. In a statement Thursday, Isha Ambani said that Reliance Retail was "proud" to team up with 7-Eleven, "among the most iconic global brands in the convenience retail landscape." Joe DePinto, CEO of SEI, the owner of 7-Eleven, added in the same statement that the new tie-up would help bring the chain "to millions of Indian consumers." "India is the second largest country in the world and has one of the fastest-growing economies," he said. "It's an ideal time for the largest convenience retailer in the world to make our entry." Diksha Madhok contributed to this report. This story was first published on CNN.com "India's $99 billion man is opening the country's first 7-Eleven". Metro Manila (CNN Philippine, October 9) A Commission on Elections (Comelec) official maintained the substitution option for candidates cannot be removed and that there is nothing wrong with it. "We cannot do that. Why will you not allow them to substitute? Even before our 1987 Constitution, substitution was already allowed," Comelec Commissioner Rowena Guanzon told CNN Philippines' The Final Word. Guanzon cited the case of the late Senator Gaudencio Antonino, who died in a plane crash during an election year and had to be replaced by his wife. "They should be allowed to substitute. What is wrong with that? The people will vote for whoever they want anyway," she added. In an earlier interview, two political analysts said the option to substitute should now be removed, with one calling it "an outdated provision because it is based on the idea that political parties are the way we organize our politics." READ: Time to scrap 'deceptive' substitution scheme for aspiring candidates - analysts This, as supporters of Davao Mayor Sara Duterte remain hopeful she would still change her mind and run for president next year. If this were to happen, the presidential daughter could replace Sen. Bato dela Rosa - the standard bearer of the ruling PDP-Laban party. The former police chief submitted his certificate of candidacy on the last day of filing. Guanzon said there's no legal obstacle for the Davao mayor's substitution as she can still withdraw her COC for reelection, take her oath before PDP-Laban, and replace dela Rosa. All in all, there are 97 presidential aspirants and 29 vice presidential hopefuls. Voluntary substitution is allowed until Nov. 15, and the final list of candidates for the 2022 elections will be released in December. READ: LIST: National post aspirants who filed COCs for 2022 Metro Manila (CNN Philippine, October 9) The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines congratulated journalist Maria Ressa for winning this years Nobel Peace Prize, adding that this should also help put focus on those who seek the truth amid challenging times. We hope this award will shine more light on those who put the spotlight on the truth at a time when basic freedoms and democracy are under attack, the NUJP said in a statement. The CEO of online news organization Rappler was officially informed of the recognition along with Dmitry Muratov of Russia on Friday. Ressa is the first Filipino to receive the award and the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize this year. READ: Nobel winner Maria Ressa vows to fight for facts and the rule of law The prize is not only a recognition of their work but of the importance of freedom of the press and of expression in their countries and throughout the world, NUJP added. The veteran journalist was also congratulated by some government officials. In a tweet, Vice President Leni Robredo said: This is a recognition and affirmation of your tireless efforts to hold the line for truth and accountability. I applaud your courage. Mabuhay ka! We are with you in standing up for press freedom against tyrants and evildoers, Senator Richard Gordon said in a separate tweet. Former US Secretary of the State Hillary Clinton also celebrated Ressas win. Last June 2020, the Filipino-American journalist was convicted in a cyber libel case filed by businessman Wilfredo Keng. She was sentenced up to 6 years in jail. The conviction is on appeal. In August this year, a Manila court dismissed another cyber liber case filed against her over an investigative report on an alleged thesis-for-sale scheme. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) The United Kingdom has announced it will be removing a number of nations, including the Philippines, from its travel red list beginning October 11. From 4am on Monday 11 October, Philippines will no longer be on the red list for entering England, the British government said in its latest travel advisory, noting a total of 47 countries will be cut from the list. The UK imposed travel restrictions on the Philippines in April amid the surge in COVID-19 cases and to prevent the spread of more contagious variants. In a separate statement, the British Embassy in Manila said fully vaccinated travelers from the Philippines will not be required to stay at a quarantine hotel. They will only need to book a COVID-19 test and take it on or before Day 2 of arrival, as well as complete a passenger locator form 48 hours before arrival in the UK. The embassy, however, clarified that passengers who are not yet fully inoculated can still travel to the UK, but are required to: Take a pre-departure COVID-19 test three days before arrival; Book and pay for COVID-19 tests ahead of the trip; Complete a passenger locator form in the 48 hours before arrival; and Quarantine for 10 days and take COVID-19 tests on or before Day 2 and on or after Day 8 after arrival. Here are the guidelines for travel to the UK: (CNN) -- Russian investigative newspaper Novaya Gazeta whose editor-in-chief Dmitry Muratov won the Nobel Peace Prize on Friday built its reputation as an outpost of the free press in part for its fearless reporting on the conflict in Chechnya, the former breakaway region in southern Russia. Muratov, who co-founded the paper in 1993, was honored alongside Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler, a news outlet critical of Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte's regime. Both have faced legal and physical threats during their careers, as their respective governments cracked down on the rights of journalists. "Free, independent and fact-based journalism serves to protect against abuse of power, lies and war propaganda," Berit Reiss-Andersen, chair of the Norwegian Nobel Committee, said as she announced the prize in Oslo on Friday. Officially, the prize was cause for celebration in Moscow: Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov congratulated Muratov, calling him "committed to his ideals," "talented" and "brave." But the paper has been an irritant to Russian authorities and President Vladimir Putin himself. Putin was propelled to the Russian presidency soon after the outbreak of a second war in Chechnya in 1999, a conflict Novaya Gazeta journalist Anna Politkovskaya covered without fear or favor. Her work focused on gruesome human rights abuses, particularly those allegedly carried out by the forces of Akhmad Kadyrov and his son Ramzan, former Chechen separatists who switched to fight on the side of the Russian government. Politkovskaya endured threats, detention and an apparent poisoning while covering the crisis in the north Caucasus. And then 15 years ago almost to the day, on October 7, 2006, she was murdered outside her apartment in Moscow, shot dead at close range. Her assassination took place on a day of national significance for Russia: Putin's birthday falls on October 7. Six staff members at Novaya Gazeta have been killed since the newspaper was launched. Speaking to Russian state media on Friday, Muratov remembered the other colleagues who had died violently: Igor Domnikov, Yury Shchekochikhin, Anastasia Baburova, Stanislav Markelov and Natalia Estemirova. Markelov, a human rights lawyer, had been investigating abuses by the Russian military in Chechnya when he was shot and killed in 2009 by a masked gunman. Baburova was also killed in the same incident. Estemirova, a relentless human rights researcher who also contributed to Novaya Gazeta, was killed the same year. She was abducted from her home in the Chechen capital of Grozny and her body was discovered the same day in the neighboring republic of Ingushetia. She had been a prominent critic of the younger Kadyrov, who emerged as the region's pro-Kremlin strongman after the assassination of his father in 2004. Oleg Orlov, chairman of the Russian human rights group Memorial, accused Putin and Kadyrov of complicity in her death. Covering stories 'rarely mentioned by other media' More recently, Novaya Gazeta infuriated Kadyrov and the Chechen leadership by breaking the story of the detention of dozens of gay men by the authorities in the republic. Some of those men speaking anonymously to CNN for fear of retribution said they were subject to brutal abuse in custody. As the details emerged, Novaya Gazeta said "its entire staff" was at risk of reprisals. "The newspaper's fact-based journalism and professional integrity have made it an important source of information on censurable aspects of Russian society rarely mentioned by other media," the Nobel Committee said. It added that Muratov has "consistently defended the right of journalists to write anything they want about whatever they want, as long as they comply with the professional and ethical standards of journalism." Independent journalism has long been a dangerous profession in Russia. But the staff of Novaya Gazeta has continued to dig into some of the Russia's most politically taboo subjects despite those ever-present threats. This story was first published on CNN.com "Nobel winner Dmitry Muratov's newspaper has long been a thorn in Putin's side". " " Shut down, Restart and Sleep are all options on Windows. Which one should you use? And when? HowStuffWorks If, like most of us, you use a computer that runs Microsoft Windows, you probably already know that the Start menu gives you two ways to shut down your computer's operations. You can click Shut Down, which basically does what the name describes. There's also the option of Restart, which shuts down your computer for a moment, but then starts it up again. But aside from the fact that the computer doesn't come back on again after you click Shut Down, in recent versions of the Windows operating system, there's actually another important difference between the two options, according to software experts. They don't shut down your computer in exactly the same way, and they should be used in different situations. Advertisement What 'Shut Down' Does In older versions of Windows, Restart and Shut Down did the same thing, closing down programs and powering off the machine. But in Windows 8 and 10, that changed because of a new feature called Fast Startup, which is designed to eliminate what used to be that irritatingly long process of getting your PC up and running. "By default, Windows 10 enables the Fast Startup option when a user clicks Shut Down, " explains Rob Tidrow, the chief operations officer of Richmond Community Schools in Richmond, Indiana, and co-editor of the reference manual "Windows 10 Bible." (He's also written numerous other how-to books on software and technology.) "This option allows Windows 10 to start up faster the next time a user starts Windows. The downside to this option is that not all processes are disabled from the previous session. With Shut Down, Windows 10 shuts down all programs and files you have open, but doesn't shut off the Windows kernel that is, the core of the operating system, which enables the software and the hardware to work together, Tidrow says. "The Windows kernel is saved to disk, similar to when you put your computer to hibernation mode, so that the kernel is ready to boot up quickly the next time." While Shut Down and Fast Startup might seem way more convenient, there's one catch. "If there is something fouled up with a hardware driver or similar, the Shut Down process does not clear that out," Tidrow says. Advertisement What Restart Does Restart, in contrast, actually does shut down all of the computer's processes, including the kernel, according to Tidrow. That means you get a totally clean start when the computer boots up again, though it takes longer to get everything running. "Restart should be used when installing updates/software and to resolve any errors," Microsoft, the operating system's maker, explained in an email. Some software installations and updates actually require you to use Restart to finish the process. If your computer has frozen or is giving off some other error, you should use Restart rather than Shut Down, even though it may seem to you that Shut Down would be a more complete option. There are several ways to trigger a restart, explains Derek Meister via email. He's an agent for Geek Squad, a tech support and repair service provided by retail consumer electronics and appliance chain Best Buy. Besides using the Start Menu, you can hold down the CTRL+ALT+DELETE keys, click one of the icons on the Lock Screen. And if you're nostalgic for the pre-Windows days, you can pull up the old-school Command Prompt and type shutdown/r. He adds that it's also possible to disable Fast Startup in your computer's power settings, so that you when you shut down the computer, it will clear everything. So, what about the term Reboot? "For most people, Reboot and Restart mean the same thing. The primary difference with most computers, and Windows 10 (and 8) is that a reboot typically involves the system being shut down to the point where the motherboard [the main printed circuit board which allows communication between electronic components] will have to run its initial boot loading process as if you've turned the computer on from being completely powered off," says Meister. "Restarting, however, involves the operating system shutting itself down to the point where Windows will reload, but typically does not go the extra step of having to go through the motherboard boot loading process." Advertisement Using a Mac If you use the Mac operating system instead of Windows, it has similar options. Use Restart if your computer starts acting strangely, for instance your pointer freezes on the screen or you've added new software. Use Shut Down when you're closing down your computer for a while. Advertisement Using Sleep Mode All this might lead to another question: Should you turn off your computer in the first place? After all, it's possible to put it in Sleep mode, so that all your software programs and files are ready for you to use immediately, whenever you awaken the computer. One drawback of Sleep mode, though, is that the computer still uses at least some electricity. According to a 2016 report by the Natural Resources Defense Council, electronic devices that are inactive but still drawing power for example, computers left in sleep mode consume electricity equivalent to the output of 50 500-megawatt power plants, and add $165 a year to the typical household's electric bill. Meister advises using Sleep mode in moderation. "It's OK to let your system go to sleep during a workday when you don't intend to be gone for long periods of time, like going to lunch, class or a meeting," he says. "If it's the end of the day, or you'll be commuting with your laptop, or will simply be away for a few hours, it's best to go ahead and use the Shut Down feature." Now That's Interesting: According to Techwalla, a hacker can't awaken and attack your PC when you leave it in sleep mode, because in that state it doesn't have an active connection to your network and the internet. 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Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe DENVER One person died in a shooting late Friday in the area of East 40th Avenue and Chambers Road, according to the Denver Police Department. Public health authorities announced Friday four more Arizonans have died from complications of the West Nile Virus. Ambassador McGauran visited an elementary school News Ambassador McGauran visited the elementary school Javorova alej 1 in Chorvatsky Grob on 5 October where he talked to the pupils about Ireland, its traditions, customs and language. The pupils gave wonderful performances of Irish dancing as well as of hurling, Irelands national sport. The children were especially interested in learning more about the Irish origins of Halloween and how these were brought by Irish emigrants to the US in 19th century. The pupils asked many interesting questions about Ireland as well as about the similarities and differences with Slovakia. The Embassy would like to thank the school Principal, teachers and especially the pupils for the very warm welcome given to the Ambassador. Previous Item | Next Item Ambassador McGauran visited the University of Matej Bel News Ambassador McGauran was delighted to accept an invitation from the Faculty of Humanities at the University of Matej Bel in Banska Bystrica to give a lecture to students taking Irish studies as part of their wider curriculum. The Ambassador spoke about Irelands foreign policy, its language, culture and traditions as well as our warm relations with Slovakia. It was a very valuable opportunity to engage with students and professors alike. The Embassy of Ireland would like to thank the wonderful and dedicated academic team at the University for this excellent initiative. Ambassador McGauran looks forward to returning to Banska Bystrica. Previous Item | Next Item The synthetic drug sent from Europe to Hanoi is inspected at a police station, October 2021. Photo by VnExpress/Thu Huong Hanoi Customs Department confiscated a package transported by air from Europe to Vietnam bearing four kilos of synthetic drugs. The department said Friday it had found the drugs after inspecting a derelict shipment arriving at Noi Bai International Airport. The inspection is part of an investigation of a special case launched in June by Hanoi Customs in coordination with Hanoi Police, the Drug Crime Investigation Police Department under the Ministry of Public Security, and the Anti-Smuggling Department under Vietnam Customs. The operation came at a time when they had discovered many rings taking advantage of the complicated Covid-19 situation to transport drugs from Europe to Vietnam via the express delivery service. Since mid-June, the task force has discovered four packages of drugs, including three from France and one from Belgium, sent to Hanoi. On June 29, they arrested the first two suspects and collected more than seven kilos of synthetic drugs. From the beginning of the year, the Hanoi Customs Department has detected 22 cases of drug smuggling via air, seized nearly 155 kilos of synthetic drugs, more than four kilos of marijuana, one kilo of ketamine, while detaining 21 suspects. To live with Covid-19, Vietnam needs to ensure vaccine coverage, strengthen its health capacity and local awareness, the WHO recommends. The pandemic will continue to last in many countries, including Vietnam, so it needs to have a way to live safely with it, Kidong Park, representative of the World Health Organization (WHO), told VnExpress on Friday in an interview. First of all, vaccine coverage should be given to priority groups, especially healthcare workers, frontline workers responding to outbreaks, the elderly, and those with underlying medical conditions. In addition, vaccination priority should also be given to areas hit hard by the outbreak, where health systems are limited. The country should also continue to strictly implement all Covid-19 measures as regulated by the Health Ministry, including wearing masks and keeping a distance at schools and workplaces even when social distancing measures have been eased. The capacity of the health system should be reinforced to better manage severe Covid-19 patients, and at the same time provide an appropriate roadmap and care model to avoid overloading hospitals with mild and medium cases. Besides, it should be noted that each individual needs to continue to protect themselves by getting vaccinated, keeping a safe distance, wearing masks, avoiding poorly ventilated places, washing hands regularly and ensure respiratory hygiene, Park said. The epidemic situation is easing throughout Vietnam. On Oct. 8, the nation had gone four days in a row with daily infections below 5,000 compared to an average of more than 10,000 per day in September and even more in August. In Ho Chi Minh City, the epicenter of the latest outbreak, the number of daily cases has dropped by more than half in recent days and the city has kept reporting a higher number of Covid-19 discharges while a number of field hospitals in the city have been dissolved after completing their mission. With a population of 96 million, Vietnam has administered more than 50.5 million Covid-19 vaccine doses, 37 million have got the first shot while 13.6 million have been fully immunized with two doses. The Ministry of Health has said that more vaccines would arrive in the coming time for Vietnam to realize the target of fully vaccinating at least 70 percent of those over 18 across the nation by 2022. Given the next context with a higher vaccination rate, the ministry has built a draft guidance document on pandemic response. Nguyen Thi Lien Huong, head of the ministrys Environmental Management Department, told a meeting last month the most important part of the guidance is "accepting Covid-19 in the community," which means Vietnam will no longer hold the "zero Covid" outlook as before. Measures to prevent the pandemic will be flexibly adjusted according to each level of the outbreak and according to the population group that has been vaccinated, or contracted and recovered from the disease, she said. However, new community infections still need to be detected early to localize the infected area to the smallest possible. Those coming in direct contact with infected people still need to be isolated. "If we don't continue to implement such measures, it will lead to uncontrolled opening, causing huge consequences to people's health and lives, potentially increasing the death rate. Reopening without any controlling measures will also lead to a bad scenario that has already happened in some countries, in which they had to rush to shut down just a short time after reopening, even with high vaccination rates," she said. The WHO representative in Vietnam said the pandemic is not over yet and it is too early to give a direct answer to the question "what lessons can be learned from countries successfully living with Covid-19?" "But the experience from previous medical emergencies and the current pandemic situation shows that we need to break the cycle of 'panic and neglect,' and must always be on high alert," he said. A loaf of bread filled with pork slices and herbs in HCMC. Photo by VnExpress/Thien Chuong Vietnam will compete with 15 other rivals for the worlds leading culinary destination title at 2021 World Travel Awards. The other nominees are Australia, China, Colombia, France, India, Italy, Japan, Malaysia, Mauritius, Mexico, Peru, Spain, Thailand and the U.S. The winner will be determined by votes from travelers around the world on the awards website, with the ceremony to be held Nov. 26 in Russia. World Travel Awards, launched in 1993, acknowledges excellence in the travel and tourism industry, and are described as the "travel industry's equivalent of the Oscars." Last year, Vietnam was voted Asias leading culinary destination. Vietnamese cuisine has become better known in the world over the past few years, with international chefs and prestigious food magazines praising several national dishes. Some of the dishes found on street corners here have made it to all corners of the world, like the banh mi, listed among the world's top 20 street foods by Fodors Travel, a U.S. travel site. Vietnamese iced coffee with condensed milk has also been lauded by publications like NatGeo and The New York Times. A foreign couple drink beer on Bui Vien Street in HCMC on December 22, 2019. Photo by VnExpress/Quynh Tran Authorities may reopen select tourist destinations to vaccinated foreign visitors, but the timeline will depend on localities' readiness, including vaccine coverage. Nguyen Trung Khanh, head of the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism, said Friday that Vietnam has not finalized on when it can fully welcome foreign tourists back. "A reopening roadmap has to be carefully planned based on Covid-19 control and the preparedness of localities." Khanh said plans to receive foreign tourists to Vietnam's largest island Phu Quoc Island in the southern Kien Giang Province in November have been approved by the government, but a specific date has not been determined. All residents on the island have received one Covid-19 vaccine shot, and the second shots will be administered in November to prepare for the opening, which is expected to be trialed in six months. The government had earlier approved plans to allow fully immunized tourists from Europe, the U.S., Northeast Asia, Australia, and the Middle East to visit Phu Quoc, stay at sequestered resorts and visit a limited number of tourism spots during the first phase of the reopening. Initially, the government had planned to welcome back foreign tourists to Phu Quoc Island from this month but low vaccination rates forced the island to push back reopening. Khanh Hoa Province, home to beach towns Cam Ranh and Nha Trang, is expected to be the next destination in Vietnam to reopen to foreign tourists. The government closed its doors to foreign tourists and canceled all international flights in March last year as a Covid containment measure. Only Vietnamese repatriates, foreign experts and highly-skilled workers are allowed in with stringent conditions. Vietnam recorded a 79 percent decline year-on-year in the number of foreign visitors in 2020 due to travel restrictions amid the pandemic. The nation welcomed just 3.83 million foreign visitors against a record 18 million in 2019, according to official data. There are a few groups within the workforce that do not have to pay taxes to the Social Security Administration, but the vast majority of workers do. In 2021, employers and employees are each required to pay 6.2 percent of their salary to the SSA, unless they have an annual income over $142,800 a year. For self-employed workers, the law states that they must pay 12.2 percent of their total income to the SSA. Citizenship status can also impact whether or not one will have to pay Social Security taxes. Logically, if a person is only coming to the United States for a short time, they are not required because they will never ever claim benefits. Additionally, this allows workers to save a part of their income for their retirement in their country of origin, should they ended up not living in the United States when they are seniors. However, whether or not you will be required to pay depends largely on your profession and visa. The IRS states on their website that there is an exemption from Social Security and Medicare taxes to nonimmigrant scholars, teachers, researchers, and trainees (including medical interns), physicians, au pairs, summer camp workers, and other non-students temporarily present in the United States in J-1, Q-1 or Q-2 status. Those on an H1-B visa, in most cases, are still required to pay Social Security and Medicare taxes. Can non-citizens claim Social Security benefits? Yes, and the requirements are the same across citizenship status. Like US citizens, those without citizenship must have earned at least forty work credits to claim benefits. Forty credits equate to about ten years of work. Totalization Agreements In some cases, a person can be negatively impacted if they move to the United States late in their career as they may not have the work credits necessary to claim benefits here or in their home country. To combat this issue, the United States and other countries began establishing totalization agreements that coordinate the U.S. Social Security program with the comparable programs of other countries. There are two main functions these agreements serve. The first is to eliminate the opportunity for two countries to be taxing a worker for Social Security. The second ensures that workers who have paid into Social Security schemes in two countries are not penalized and left without benefits when they retire, should they come up short on the work requirements in both places. Totalization agreements have been signed between the US and Italy Germany Switzerland Belgium Norway Canada United Kingdom Sweden Spain France Portugal Netherlands Austria Finland Ireland Luxembourg Greece South Korea Chile Australia Japan Denmark Czech Republic Poland Slovak Republic Hungary Brazil Uruguay Slovenia Iceland. Receiving payments as a non-citizen Non-citizens residing in the United States who are eligible to claim benefits will receive them through the same form as their citizen counterparts. However, for both groups there are limits on what funds can be sent should a beneficiary not reside in the US when they retire. Those in countries with totalization agreements typically do not encounter problems receiving their payments through direct deposit so long as their bank is able to receive funds internationally. The SSA banned from sending payments to North Korea and Cuba and has reported issues when trying to send benefits to Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. For this second group of countries, the SSA says that it can make exceptions for certain eligible persons. The number of jobs added to the US economy in August and September fell far from expectations, worrying some that the economic recovery could be slowing down. Additionally, in early September, federal pandemic-related unemployment programs ended, leaving millions without an income, just as the Supreme Court struck down the White Houses eviction moratorium. With a fourth federal stimulus check out of sight, some states have taken it upon themselves to send a direct payment to their residents. However, unlike the federal payments, many states have opted to send the checks to particular groups, in some cases limiting the number of recipients by income or profession. California After a historic budget surplus, the California legislature decided to send a $600 payment to all those in the state making less than $75,000 a year. This is the second round of Golden State stimulus checks that will be sent this year. In February, the governor signed a law that allowed for the sending of $600 checks to low-income individuals and non-citizens who were unable to receive federal stimulus checks. Families with children are eligible for larger checks valued at $1,100. So far, three rounds of payments have been made, with the checks reaching more than four million residents. New Mexico In August, New Mexicos state government announced that low-income residents, who were unable to receive federal stimulus checks, would be eligible for a $750 direct payment. When making the announcement, the Human Services Department said that the payments would go out to 4,000 residents and cost around $5 million. Profession Various states have opted to send stimulus checkers to teachers and first responders who have worked under additional stress during the pandemic. Tennessee In June, the Tennesse state government passed a bill that allocated funding to send teachers a $1,000 hazard pay bonus. This bonus came at the expense of a two percent raise included in previous education spending bills. The bill was signed on 30 June, and educators are expected to receive their checks before 1 January 2022. Florida A bill passed by the Florida legislature earlier this year will allocate more than $400 million to send thank-you bonuses to teachers, firefighters, police officers, and other first responders. Most recipients are expected to receive a $1000 check. For teachers specifically, the checks are being sent to 3,600 public school principals and nearly 180,000 full-time classroom teachers. The law passed, but it leaves out critical school personal such as counselors and other support staff. Other thank you bonuses Not many other states have allocated funding for checks f this kind for all teachers, but some districts have opted to use the funding for this type of payment. In Texas, the Denton Irving district approved a measure that will send a $500 retention bonus, while in Irving, a $2,000 payment will be distributed to staff returning to the classroom this year. Earlier this year, Michigan distributed a $500 hazard pay bonus to teachers in the state. The MI Classroom Heroes Grants also sent $250 to school staff and, in total, cost the state around $73 million. Researchers have studied the lunar samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 mission and found that they are likely around 1.96 billion years old, shedding new light on the evolution of the moon, said the China National Space Administration (CNSA) Friday. The first research article on the Chang'e-5 samples, titled "Age and composition of young basalts on the Moon, measured from samples returned by Chang'e-5," was published online in the journal Science Friday. It was authored by researchers from the Institute of Geology, Chinese Academy of Geological Sciences, and other international institutions. The article said China's Chang'e-5 probe touched down on the Oceanus Procellarum region of the moon, which hosts high concentrations of elements that generate heat through long-lived radioactive decay and may have sustained prolonged magmatic activity on the near side of the Moon. Orbital data indicate that the basalt lavas in Oceanus Procellarum are the youngest volcanic units on the Moon. The Chang'e-5 probe collected samples of these lunar basalt lavas and brought them to Earth. The researchers analyzed two fragments from the Chang'e-5 samples and found minerals common in lunar basalts, such as chemically zoned clinopyroxene, plagioclase, olivine, and ilmenite, with small amounts of quartz and cristobalite. The study proved that the moon still had magmatic activity 1.96 billion years ago, providing key evidence for the study of the evolution of the moon, said the CNSA. When the moon's magmatic activity stopped is one of the major issues in its evolutionary history. Previous research on lunar samples has not found any magmatic activity younger than 2.9 billion years on the moon. On July 12, 2021, China delivered about 17 grams of lunar samples brought back by the Chang'e-5 probe to 13 institutions, which had submitted applications to the Lunar Exploration and Space Program Center of the CNSA to utilize the samples for research purposes. The Chang'e-5 probe, comprising an orbiter, a lander, an ascender, and a returner, was launched on Nov. 24, 2020. The return capsule landed in north China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region on Dec. 17, retrieving about 1,731 grams of moon samples. The 4th China International Import Expo (CIIE), scheduled offline from Nov. 5 to 10 in Shanghai, has attracted global players bringing their latest products and offering solutions related to agriculture and rural modernization. Products that are scheduled to be on display include a portable farm from Israel, German biodegradable equipment and Swiss carbon emission reduction service system. Analysts believe that the exhibits may enlighten government departments, enterprises, institutions and consumers and help broaden their understanding of China's rural vitalization campaign. The CIIE is the first dedicated import exhibition in the world and has seen fruitful outcomes in the past three expos. Liu Xiaomin, an entrepreneur from southwest China's Chongqing Municipality, is a frequenter of the expo. Having raked in business success by importing wine and other products from Russia and Uzbekistan, she believes that the CIIE has achieved "win-win cooperation between China and foreign countries." In February, China declared a "complete victory" in eradicating absolute poverty. Now with the goal of building a moderately prosperous society in all respects realized, China is ramping up efforts to propel rural vitalization. China will prioritize the development of agriculture and rural areas, and fully advance the rural vitalization strategy during the 2021-2025 period. By 2035, "decisive" progress shall be made, with basic modernization of agriculture and rural areas, and by 2050, rural areas shall see all-around vitalization. Agribusiness giant Cargill has participated in the past three CIIEs and plans to display its top agricultural products and related processing technologies at the 4th CIIE. In June 2021, Cargill inked a cooperation agreement with the United Nations World Food Programme, aiming to help corn growers in northeast China better cope with risks and promote sustainable farming. Liu Jun, president of Cargill China, noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of Cargill's entry into the Chinese market. "The project demonstrates Cargill's continued commitment to increasing farmers' income and promoting sustainable agricultural development in China," he said. In 2017, the rural vitalization strategy was elaborated in the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Exhibitors in the fields of agricultural products, machinery and management grabbed much attention at the first CIIE in November 2018. Over the past three years, a number of projects signed at the CIIE have facilitated rural vitalization across the country. Cargill has been adjusting its exhibits to better cater to the demand of Chinese consumers and the strategy of rural vitalization. For example, the company has been shifting from displaying the processing technology of animal-based protein products to commodities that are plant-based, with reduced sugar and low calorie. Cargill also reached an agreement with China Agricultural Science and Education Foundation to provide training and scholarship to farmers and students at agricultural colleges. Not only agricultural companies, foreign auto and high-tech firms participating in the expo have also put their eyes on public welfare in rural areas. General Motors has forged cooperation with China Development Research Foundation to aid preschool education in China's rural communities. So far, 618 children aged between three and six in Qinghai, Hunan and other provinces have benefited from the program. At the event (Photo: VNA) Under the authorisation of Politburo member, Vice Secretary of the Central Military Commission and Minister of National Defence Gen. Phan Van Giang, Chien presented a token of medical supplies worth 5.2 billion VND (226,000 USD) to the ambassador, a gift of the Vietnamese Defence Ministry to its Lao counterpart./. Permanent Deputy Prime Minister Pham Binh Minh at the event (Photo: VNA) Speaking at the event, Minh informed voters about the countrys socio-economic performance in the past nine months, including the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. He said Vietnam has so far basically controlled the pandemic, especially in southern localities like Ho Chi Minh City, Mekong Delta provinces and Ba Ria-Vung Tau. One of the measures that the Vietnamese Party, State and Government have paid due attention to is rapid COVID-19 vaccine coverage. Over 50 million doses of vaccines have to date arrived in Vietnam. Between now and the years end, Vietnam could have 40-60 million more doses to vaccinate about 80 percent of its population aged above 18, he said. Ba Ria-Vung Tau also sent a proposal to the Government seeking the supply of more vaccnes to the locality. On September 29, it received some 300,000 doses from the Health Ministry, which are being given to residents. Voters at the event suggested stepping up vaccination, expanding priority groups eligible for early vaccination, ensuring publicity and transparency in providing financial assistance for those hit by the pandemic, and delivering timely support for affected firms and business households. Deputy PM Pham Binh Minh also pledged to report their aspirations to the legislature and Government, thus helping them achieve the set targets./. Responding to the call of Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh and the leader of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee at the launching ceremony of the National COVID-19 Vaccine Fund on June 5, 2021; and the call of the Presidium and the Sub-Committee on Social Mobilization, the overseas Vietnamese community continues to actively send cash, equipment and medical products to support the COVID-19 fight at home. Minister Bui Thanh Son presents donations by overseas Vietnamese people and businesses in Japan to support the COVID-19 fight and Vaccine Fund (Photo: baoquocte.vn) Up to now, the amount of donations from the overseas Vietnamese community has reached 29 billion VND, which has been sent to various units such as the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee, the National COVID-19 Vaccine Fund or directly to localities, to prevent and control COVID-19 pandemic. Speaking at the ceremony, Minister Bui Thanh Son said that the amount of over 3 billion VND is donated by overseas Vietnamese communities and businesses in China, Russia, UK, Israel, Japan, Switzerland, Mozambique, Egypt, New Zealand, Ukraine and Cambodia. In the context that overseas Vietnamese in many parts of the world are also facing difficulties due to the pandemic, this is a valuable and meaningful support, demonstrating the tradition of solidarity, patriotism and humanity, the spirit of overcoming difficulties, and mutual affection of the overseas Vietnamese community to the people in the country. On behalf of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Minister Bui Thanh Son expressed his sincere thanks to the overseas Vietnamese community; affirmed that over the past time, in spite of facing many difficulties caused by the impact of the pandemic on life, overseas Vietnamese have always maintained the tradition of solidarity and looked towards the homeland. On this occasion, the Minister also thanked the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee for its timely and practical support in overseas Vietnamese affairs over the past time. He requested the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee quickly transfer the amount of support from the overseas Vietnamese community to localities, including Kien Giang provinces Ha Tien city, where many F0 cases have been detected while resources for pandemic prevention and control were limited. Receiving the support, Chairman of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Do Van Chien sincerely thanked the overseas Vietnamese community for the good deed; emphasizing that Vietnam's success in COVID-19 prevention and control includes the significant contribution of overseas Vietnamese; at the same time, he committed to distribute the donation in an open, transparent and right way. On same day, Vice Chairman-Secretary General of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Le Tien Chau also received 300 million VND from Daikin Company to support the National COVID-19 Vaccine Fund./. Speaking at the meeting, Ambassador Nguyen Tuan briefly described Vietnams economic development situation, and the efforts of the Government of Vietnam in implementing measures to control the pandemic, creating favorable conditions for economic, production and business activities. Ambassador Nguyen Tuan and Mayor of Prievidza city Katarina Machackova (Photo: baoquocte.vn) On the basis of the results of cooperation between the two countries achieved over the past time, the Ambassador expressed his pride in the comprehensive development of the traditional friendship and cooperation between Vietnam and Slovakia, and believed that it would continue to develop and make great achievements in the coming time. He also wished to promote cooperation between localities of the two countries. On behalf of the authorities of Prievidza city, Ms. Katarina Machackova expressed her pleasure to welcome the Ambassador to visit and work. Introducing the potential for economic and tourism development in the locality, Ms. Katarina Machackova emphasized the need of recruiting employees for factories, enterprises and joint ventures in the locality. On the same day, Ambassador Nguyen Tuan also visited brown coal mining company (HBP), a large company in the locality. After Slovakia joined the EU, the company stopped producing brown coal to comply with EUs environmental regulations. After that, HBP Company actively moved to operate in the field of highway transportation, farming and resort and restaurant services. Currently, there are a number of Vietnamese employees working for the company and the two sides also discussed coordinating to send Vietnamese workers to work for this company. Visiting Bojnice National Zoo, Ambassador Nguyen Tuan was introduced the history of establishment and development of the oldest and most visited zoo in Slovakia by Director Milan Sovcik. The special thing is that this zoo received and successfully bred the white-crested pheasant, donated by the Hanoi Zoo to the Czech and Slovak Union of Zoos since 1999, and then Bojnice Zoo has cooperated with the Prague Zoo and brought back to Vietnam this white-crested pheasant, extinct in the wild./. At the roundtable conference (Photo: thoidai.com.vn) A Russia-Vietnam roundtable conference themed "Cultural practice in educational activities of the school" took place at the Saint Petersburg Special School No. 144 on October 1, 2021. The event was organized on the initiative and with the support of the Committees for Education and Foreign Affairs of the Government of St. Petersburg. The Vietnamese delegation working at the school included Mr. Nguyen Quoc Hung, Director of the Russia-Vietnam Cooperation Development Support Fund "Traditions and Friendship", and Ms. Pham Thanh Xuan, Member of the Standing Board of the Overseas Vietnamese Association in Russia, and Head of the Department of Women, Families and Children. At the meeting, Mr. Vyacheslav Gennadievich Kalganov, Deputy Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Affairs, and Head of the Department of Information and Relations with International Organizations, spoke about the prospect of Russia-Vietnam relations. The Board of leaders of the school discussed with the participants of the roundtable conference a plan to develop the relationship between the educational institutions of St. Petersburg and Vietnam, the possibility of studying Vietnamese language and culture on the basis of Lyceum School No. 144. Within the framework of this event, guests attended classes on technology and English. On the same day, the students of the Saint Petersburg Special School No. 144 met and spoke with the guests of the roundtable conference. The school is considering the possibility of including Vietnamese language in the curriculum as part of the supplementary education program. In order to help the school's students better understand Vietnam, Principal Lolita Fedorova decided to conduct a meeting in this form. At the event, the students performed famous Russian songs, learned Vietnamese dances, and watched movies about Vietnam. On the same day, Vice Chairman of the Committee for Foreign Affairs of Saint Petersburg Vyacheslav Kalganov and the chief expert of the Committee for Education Natalya Mikhailova discussed with Principal Lolita Fedorova and Vice Principal Karina Weitz the cooperation prospects with Vietnamese schools, including the ability to study Vietnamese language and culture./. A batch of the Sinopharm vaccine from China arrives at Julius Nyerere International Airport in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on Oct. 8, 2021. Tanzania on Friday received 1,065,600 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from China under COVAX, boosting the east African nation's vaccination campaign against COVID-19. COVAX is a global program aimed at providing equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. (Photo by Herman Emmanuel/Xinhua) DAR ES SALAAM, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Tanzania on Friday received 1,065,600 doses of the Sinopharm vaccine from China under COVAX, boosting the east African nation's vaccination campaign against COVID-19. Speaking shortly after receiving the vaccines, Minister for Health, Community Development, Gender, Elderly and Children Dorothy Gwajima expressed gratitude for the vaccines, saying the donation will help accelerate Tanzania's vaccination campaign launched by President Samia Suluhu Hassan on July 28. COVAX is a global program aimed at providing equitable access to COVID-19 vaccines. She said a total of 760,962 citizens have been vaccinated on Tanzania's mainland and 10,800 citizens have received the jabs in Zanzibar as of Oct. 7. Xu Chen, Minister Counsellor and Deputy Chief of Mission at the Chinese Embassy in Tanzania, said the donated vaccines will bolster Tanzania's fight against the pandemic. He said the Chinese government and Tanzania's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and East African Cooperation are working very closely to facilitate the donation of two consignments totaling about 1.5 million doses of COVID-19 vaccines from China. The hand-over ceremony at Julius Nyerere International Airport in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam was attended by high-ranking government officials and representatives from the United Nations, the World Health Organization and the UN Children's Fund. Enditem Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi (R) meets with visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in Islamabad, Pakistan, on Oct. 8, 2021. Qureshi and Sherman discussed Afghan affairs and bilateral ties during their meeting, the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan said. (Pakistan's Ministry of Foreign Affairs/Handout via Xinhua) ISLAMABAD, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met on Friday with visiting U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, discussing Afghan affairs and bilateral ties, the Foreign Ministry of Pakistan said. Regarding the situation in Afghanistan, Qureshi stressed that "the current situation required positive engagement of the international community, urgent provision of humanitarian assistance, release of Afghan financial resources, and measures to help build a sustainable economy to alleviate the sufferings of the Afghan people," the foreign ministry said in a statement. He noted that an inclusive and broad-based political structure reflecting the ethnic diversity of Afghan society was essential for Afghanistan's stability and progress, according to the statement. In the context of Pakistan-U.S. bilateral relations, Qureshi underlined his country's commitment to forging a broad-based, long-term and sustainable relationship anchored in economic cooperation, regional connectivity and peace in the region. A regular and structured dialogue process between the two countries is vital for promoting common interests and advancing shared regional objectives, he said. During the meeting, Sherman appreciated Pakistan's support for the evacuation of U.S. citizens and others from Afghanistan, and its continued efforts for peace in the region, the foreign ministry said. After concluding her India tour, Sherman arrived in Pakistan on Thursday for a two-day visit. Enditem Editor: WXY The asylum-seekers arrested by Libyan authorities get on a bus to the immigrant accommodation center in the Gargaresh area of Tripoli, Libya, on Oct. 8, 2021. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday called for the end of arrests of asylum-seekers in Libya, urging resumption of humanitarian evacuation flights to take asylum-seekers and refugees out of the country. (Photo by Hamza Turkia/Xinhua) TRIPOLI, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) on Friday called for the end of arrests of asylum-seekers in Libya, urging resumption of humanitarian evacuation flights to take asylum-seekers and refugees out of the country. "We continue to call on authorities to: respect at all times the human rights and dignity of asylum seekers and refugees, stop their arrests, and release those detained, including those who had been due to leave on evacuation and resettlement flights," UNHCR said in a statement. "We renew our appeal to the Libyan authorities to allow the resumption of humanitarian flights out of the country, which have been suspended for almost a year," it added. UNHCR expressed concern about the humanitarian situation of asylum-seekers and refugees in Libya, as arrests and raids against them have been taking place in many parts of the capital Tripoli after a large-scale security operation by the Libyan authorities in the past week. At least one person was reported to have been killed, 15 were injured, and more than 5,000 people have now been arrested and held in several detention centres in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, the statement said. The Commissioner also said the raids, which also involved the demolition of many unfinished buildings and makeshift houses, have created widespread panic and fear among asylum seekers and refugees in the capital, including unaccompanied children and young mothers. Libya has been suffering insecurity and chaos since the fall of the late leader Muammar Gaddafi in 2011, making the North African country a preferred point of departure for illegal migrants who want to cross the Mediterranean Sea to European shores. Rescued migrants live in overcrowded reception centers across Libya, despite repeated international calls to close those centers. Enditem BEIJING, Oct. 8 (Xinhua) -- Chinese police made all-out efforts to ensure security and road safety during the just-concluded National Day holiday, the Ministry of Public Security said Friday. During the seven-day holiday which started on Oct. 1, reports of criminal cases received by police nationwide declined 5.5 percent year on year, data by the ministry showed. More than 3,800 key tourist spots across the country operated smoothly, and 537 major events were held successfully, said the ministry. The number of road accidents involving five or more fatalities dropped 50 percent, with no large-scale or big traffic jams reported, according to the ministry. Editor: JYZ Georgia's ex-president Mikheil Saakashvili has made an appeal to the international community from his prison cell, saying he is held prisoner by the current Georgian administration. "I was detained on October 1 under a sentence that no one in the world recognizes, and also in connection with two cases that are being considered. Under the Georgian legislation, I had to be tried immediately on the cases that are being considered, but nine days have passed and there is no trial. My lawyer was told there will be no legal proceedings for several weeks," Saakashvili said in his appeal, which was published in the Georgian media. Saakashvili said he believes that by not holding a trial the authorities are trying to prevent his pubic speech before the second round of the local election, which will take place on October 30. "I hope that you (the international community) will pay attention to the case of my illegal imprisonment," Saakashvili said. Foreign Ministers of Ukraine and Turkey Dmytro Kuleba and Mevlut Cavusoglu discussed new opportunities for cooperation at a meeting with representatives of business circles of the two countries in Lviv on Friday. "At the talks this week, we paid significant attention to supporting business and developing trade. We create new opportunities for cooperation between Ukrainian and Turkish companies in a number of areas, remove obstacles to the development of international cooperation, and continue to support Ukrainian business," the press service of the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry said, citing Dmytro Kuleba. Cavusoglu expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian side for supporting the work of Turkish firms in Ukraine and assured them of the continued support from the Turkish government. The event was attended by members of the International Society of Ukrainian-Turkish Friendship, leading entrepreneurs of the Lviv Chamber of Commerce and Industry, who have business contacts with the Turkish side, and top managers of a number of Ukrainian and Turkish companies. The participants noted the successful work of Turkish companies in Ukraine and Ukrainian companies in Turkey, and discussed ways to remove obstacles to the further development of Ukrainian-Turkish trade. The event was attended by companies operating in the fields of energy, IT services, tourism, medical services, food exports, and mechanical engineering. On October 7-8, Cavusoglu was on a visit to Ukraine (Lviv) at the invitation of Kuleba. The European Union and the United States are disappointed by delays in the selection of the Head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office (SAPO) and are calling for the resumption of the work of the selection committee, according to the US Embassy in Ukraine. "The EU and the US are greatly disappointed by unexplained and unjustifiable delays in the selection of the Head of the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor's Office, a crucial body in the fight against high-level corruption. We urge the selection commission to resume its work without further delays. Failure to move forward in the selection process undermines the work of anti-corruption agencies, established by Ukraine and its international partners," the US Embassy said in a message on Saturday. As Head of the Anti-Corruption Action Center Vitaliy Shabunin said on Facebook, a meeting of the commission, which was supposed to select the SAPO head, did not take place due to the absence of members of the commission Olena Busol, Andriy Hudzhal and Yevhen Sobol. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken listens as Mathias Cormann, Secretary-General of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, speaks during a press briefing at the OECD's Ministerial Council Meeting, in Paris, (Photo : Patrick Semansky/Pool via REUTERS) A group of 136 countries on Friday set a minimum global tax rate of 15% for big companies and sought to make it harder for them to avoid taxation in a landmark deal that U.S. President Joe Biden said levelled the playing field. The deal aims to end a four-decade-long "race to the bottom" by setting a floor for countries that have sought to attract investment and jobs by taxing multinational companies lightly, effectively allowing them to shop around for low tax rates. Advertisement Negotiations have been going on for four years and while the costs of the coronavirus pandemic gave them additional impetus in recent months, a deal was only agreed when Ireland, Estonia and Hungary dropped their opposition and signed up. Moreover the 15% floor agreed is well below a corporate tax rate which averages around 23.5% in industrialised countries. "Establishing, for the first time in history, a strong global minimum tax will finally even the playing field for American workers and taxpayers, along with the rest of the world," Biden said in a statement. The deal aims to stop large firms booking profits in low-tax countries such as Ireland regardless of where their clients are, an issue that has become ever more pressing with the growth of "Big Tech" giants that can easily do business across borders. Out of the 140 countries involved, 136 supported the deal, with Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka abstaining for now. The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which has been leading the talks, said that the deal would cover 90% of the global economy. "We have taken another important step towards more tax justice," German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said in a statement emailed to Reuters. "We now have a clear path to a fairer tax system, where large global players pay their fair share wherever they do business," his British counterpart Rishi Sunak said. But with the ink barely dry, some countries were already raising concerns about implementing the deal. The Swiss finance ministry demanded in a statement that the interests of small economies be taken into account and said that the 2023 implementation date was impossible, while Poland, which has concerns over the impact on foreign investors, said it would keep working on the deal. 'INCREASED PROSPERITY' Central to the agreement is a minimum corporate tax rate of 15% and allowing governments to tax a greater share of foreign multinationals' profits. U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen hailed it as a victory for American families as well as international business. "We've turned tireless negotiations into decades of increased prosperity - for both America and the world. Today's agreement represents a once-in-a-generation accomplishment for economic diplomacy," Yellen said in a statement. The OECD said that the minimum rate would see countries collect around $150 billion in new revenues annually while taxing rights on more than $125 billion of profit would be shifted to countries where big multinationals earn their income. Ireland, Estonia and Hungary, all low tax countries, dropped their objections this week as a compromise emerged on a deduction from the minimum rate for multinationals with real physical business activities abroad. 'NO TEETH' But some developing countries seeking a higher minimum tax rate say their interests have been sidelined to accommodate the interests of richer countries like Ireland, which had refused to sign a deal with a minimum tax rate higher than 15%. Argentine Economy Minister Martin Guzman said on Thursday that the proposals forced developing countries to choose between "something bad and something worse". While Kenya, Nigeria and Sri Lanka did not back a previous version of the deal, Pakistan's abstention came as a surprise, one official briefed on the talks said. India also had qualms up to the last minute, but ultimately backed the deal, they added. There was also dissatisfaction among some campaign groups such as Oxfam which said that the deal would not end tax havens. "The tax devil is in the details, including a complex web of exemptions," Oxfam tax policy lead Susana Ruiz said. "At the last minute a colossal 10-year grace period was slapped onto the global corporate tax of 15 percent, and additional loopholes leave it with practically no teeth," Ruiz added in a statement. Companies with real assets and payrolls in a country can ensure some of their income avoids the new minimum tax rate. The level of the exemption tapers over a 10-year period. The OECD said that the deal would next go to the Group of 20 economic powers to formally endorse at a finance ministers' meeting in Washington on Oct. 13 and then on to a G20 leaders summit at the end of the month in Rome for final approval. There remains some question about the U.S. position, which depends in part on domestic tax reform negotiations in Congress. Countries that back the deal are supposed to bring it onto their law books next year so that it can take effect from 2023, which many officials have said is extremely tight. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Paris would use its European Union presidency during the first half of 2022 to translate the agreement into law across the 27-nation bloc. Elon Musk, the chief executive of Tesla Motor, speaks at the South by Southwest Interactive festival in Austin, Texas, (Photo : DOWNLOAD WATERMARKED COMP) Tesla Inc's decision to move its headquarters to Austin, Texas, from Palo Alto, California, accelerates the shift of electric vehicle industry jobs to Southern and Western U.S. states that offer lower taxes, lighter regulation and less unionization than the coastal Blue states where most electric vehicles are sold. Advertisement Electric vehicle startups and established automakers have lined up $24 billion in investments in new factories in Texas, Arizona, Oklahoma, Tennessee and Kentucky. CEO Elon Musk's announcement during the No. 1 EV maker's annual meeting on Thursday puts an exclamation point on the shift in the U.S. auto industry's center of gravity - and also highlights the tensions it could create. The competition among states for electric vehicle jobs is intense, and has a political dimension. Democratic-leaning Blue States such as California are home to many electric vehicle buyers and EV company investors, who have strong views on climate policy. Many of the states getting EV jobs are politically conservative Red States, whose Republican governors are both supportive of the fossil fuel industry and eager to welcome electric vehicle manufacturers and their jobs with subsidies and regulatory streamlining. "The Lone Star State is the land of opportunity and innovation. Welcome," Texas Governor Greg Abbott tweeted on Thursday after Tesla announced its move. Tesla, the world's most valuable automaker, now faces the challenge of taking advantage of the Texas business climate without alienating workers recruited from the San Francisco Bay Area's vibrant technology industry. It also has to consider the big base of Tesla vehicle customers in more politically liberal states such as California and New York. "Tesla does not want to alienate that large and influential market. They don't want to invite criticisms or attacks from public advocacy groups accusing them of looking for a large incentive package or abandoning California at a time when the state is in peril," said John Boyd, principal of Boyd Company, a site selection firm. Detroit automakers, such as Ford Motor Co., have an analogous problem. Ford last week said it and South Korean battery partner SK Innovation would invest $11 billion to develop a sprawling electric vehicle and battery assembly complex in Tennessee larger than the automaker's historic Rouge complex in Dearborn, Michigan. That complex and related new operations in Kentucky could create 11,000 jobs. The United Auto Workers union quickly called on Ford to assure those would be union jobs. But in Tennessee and Kentucky, union membership is optional, and workers at other auto manufacturers in those states have so far rejected UAW organizing efforts. Musk had a public falling out with California when regulators forced Tesla to suspend production during the initial months of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020. At one point, Musk threatened to move Tesla's headquarters and future programs out of the state. Musk, one of the world's richest individuals, said he moved to Texas last year, and he has taken to his new home, wearing Western-style bandannas and shirts. California has income tax rates up to 13.3%, while Texas has no tax on personal income. California, however, also accounted for about 15% of Tesla's global deliveries in 2020. On Thursday, Musk said the headquarters move is not a matter of Tesla leaving California entirely, and said production from Tesla's Fremont assembly plant and Reno, Nevada, battery factory will rise by 50%. Employees at Tesla's Palo Alto area offices expect engineers to stay in Silicon Valley, though some finance staffers could move, one source said. One awkward issue for Texas officials and Tesla to sort out is that Texas law currently forbids Tesla from selling vehicles directly to customers in the state. Austin is the fastest-growing U.S. metropolitan region, its population growing 30% between 2010 and 2020 to some 2.3 million. Like other large Texas cities, Austin and its surrounding Travis County, where the Tesla factory is located, are governed by Democrats, setting it apart from the majority of Texas' conservative red, less-densely populated counties. The Austin metro area is a technology hub, home to PC maker Dell Technologies Inc, and operations of large Silicon Valley companies like Apple Inc and Alphabet Inc's Google. Business software maker Oracle Corp in December announced it was moving its headquarters to Austin. South Korean conglomerate Samsung Electronics is also close to initializing the construction of a $17 billion semiconductor factory just north of Austin. Austin's Democratic Mayor Steve Adler welcomed the decision, saying Tesla will create "the clean manufacturing, middle-skill jobs Austin needs." Known for its quirky culture, Austin is also home to large music festivals such as Austin City Limits and South by Southwest, drawing large crowds each year. But the drastic growth and the influx of many well-paid Californians has faced resistance by some local residents, with reports of out-of-state buyers purchasing houses for cash at double the asking price, frustrating many Austinites. People test drive Dream Edition P and Dream Edition R electric vehicles at the Lucid Motors plant in Casa Grande, Arizona, U.S (Photo : REUTERS/Caitlin O'Hara) The center of gravity for U.S. auto manufacturing is moving south, with electric vehicle and battery makers planning to spend nearly $24 billion in new factories from Arizona to Georgia. Already announced are the following plants and investments: ARIZONA Startup Lucid Motors has just opened a $300 million assembly plant for electric vehicles in Casa Grande, halfway between Phoenix and Tucson. The company says future expansion plans could take total investment up to $1 billion. Advertisement Nikola Corp said it is planning a $600 million facility in Coolidge, not far from Casa Grande, to build fuel-cell electric trucks. TEXAS Tesla Inc is nearing completion of its $1.1 billion assembly and battery plant outside Austin, and has said it will move its corporate headquarters from California to Texas. TENNESSEE German automaker Volkswagen AG invested another $800 million in its Chattanooga plant to build electric vehicles, starting earlier this year with the ID.4. Ford Motor Co is building a massive vehicle and battery assembly complex in Stanton, outside Memphis, with partner SK Innovation Co. The $5.6 billion Blue Oval City is expected to open in 2025, building the next-generation F-150 Lightning pickup. General Motors Co is investing $4.3 billion with partner LG Energy Solution, a unit of LG Chem, to build an electric vehicle assembly plant and battery plant in Spring Hill. The assembly plant will turn out the Cadillac Lyriq in 2022 and a pair of vehicles for Honda Motor Co and its Acura brand in 2024. KENTUCKY Ford and SKI are spending $5.8 billion to construct two battery plants in Glendale, near Louisville, to open in 2025-2026. ALABAMA Toyota Motor Corp and partner Mazda Motor Corp have opened their $2.3 billion plant near Huntsville, and expect to add production of electric vehicles in the near future. GEORGIA SKI is investing $2.6 billion in two battery plants in Commerce, outside Atlanta, with the first slated to open in 2022. OKLAHOMA Startup Canoo Inc has agreed to build a $500 million plant in Pryor, outside Tulsa, to assemble a range of electric vehicles, starting in 2023. Explainer-What is the global minimum tax deal and what will it mean? People walk through the financial and business district of La Defense in Puteaux near Paris, France, (Photo : REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier) A global deal to ensure big companies pay a minimum tax rate of 15% and make it harder for them to avoid taxation has been agreed by 136 countries, the Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development said on Friday. The OECD said four countries - Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka - had not yet joined the agreement, but that the countries behind the accord together accounted for over 90% of the global economy. Advertisement Here are the main points of the accord: WHY A GLOBAL MINIMUM TAX? With budgets strained after the COVID-19 crisis, many governments want more than ever to discourage multinationals from shifting profits - and tax revenues - to low-tax countries regardless of where their sales are made. Increasingly, income from intangible sources such as drug patents, software and royalties on intellectual property has migrated to these jurisdictions, allowing companies to avoid paying higher taxes in their traditional home countries. The minimum tax and other provisions aim to put an end to decades of tax competition between governments to attract foreign investment. HOW WOULD A DEAL WORK? The global minimum tax rate would apply to overseas profits of multinational firms with 750 million euros ($868 million) in sales globally. Governments could still set whatever local corporate tax rate they want, but if companies pay lower rates in a particular country, their home governments could "top up" their taxes to the 15% minimum, eliminating the advantage of shifting profits. A second track of the overhaul would allow countries where revenues are earned to tax 25% of the largest multinationals' so-called excess profit - defined as profit in excess of 10% of revenue. WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Following Friday's agreement on the technical details, the next step is for finance ministers from the Group of 20 economic powers to formally endorse the deal, paving the way for adoption by G20 leaders at an end October summit. Nonetheless, questions remain about the U.S. position which hangs in part on a domestic tax reform the Biden administration wants to push through the U.S. Congress. The agreement calls for countries to bring it into law in 2022 so that it can take effect by 2023, an extremely tight timeframe given that previous international tax deals took years to implement. Countries that have in recent years created national digital services taxes will have to repeal them. WHAT WILL BE THE ECONOMIC IMPACT? The OECD, which has steered the negotiations, estimates the minimum tax will generate $150 billion in additional global tax revenues annually. Taxing rights on more than $125 billion of profit will be additionally shifted to the countries were they are earned from the low tax countries where they are currently booked. Economists expect that the deal will encourage multinationals to repatriate capital to their country of headquarters, giving a boost to those economies. However, various deductions and exceptions baked into the deal are at the same time designed to limit the impact on low tax countries like Ireland, where many U.S. groups base their European operations. ($1 = 0.8642 euros) French President Emmanuel Macron speaks about restitutions of African heritage during a conference at the Benin stand at the New Africa-France 2021 Summit in Montpellier, France, (Photo : REUTERS/Sarah Meyssonnier/Pool) France will give back to Benin artworks that were taken from the former French colony's Royal Palaces of Abomey, which has since become a UNESCO World Heritage site, French President Emmanuel Macron said on Friday. Macron said that 26 works will be given back to Benin at the end of October in the presence of Benin president Patrice Talon. He did not describe the works he was referring to, or where they are currently being stored. Advertisement "At the end of October we will restitute 26 treasures of Abomey. It is a work of restitution and a real scientific and artistic cooperation, with an investment of the French development agency in scientific training so that these works can be received in the best possible conditions," Macron said at a France-Africa summit in the French city of Montpellier. A 2018 report by French art historian Benedicte Savoy and Senegalese economist Felwine Sarr recommended the widespread return of cultural artefacts removed from Africa https://www.reuters.com/article/us-france-africa-art-idUSKBN26N2ZD and identified 46,000 objects that would qualify for restitution at Paris museum Quai Branly, which holds some 70,000 African objects. A man walks past a No Entry traffic sign near the headquarters of China Evergrande Group in Shenzhen, Guangdong province, China (Photo : REUTERS/Aly Song/Files) China Evergrande Group offshore bondholders are concerned that it is close to defaulting on debt payments and want more information and transparency from the cash-strapped property developer, their advisers said. Evergrande, which could trigger one of China's largest defaults https://www.reuters.com/article/china-evergrande-debt-property-bonds/update-1-building-default-fears-pummel-chinese-property-firms-idUSL8N2R433Z as it wrestles with debts of more than $300 billion and whose troubles have already sent shockwaves across global markets, missed payments on dollar bonds, worth a combined $131 million, that were due on Sept. 23 and Sept. 29. Advertisement With Evergrande staying silent on dollar debt payments and prioritising onshore creditors, offshore investors https://www.reuters.com/business/investors-grappling-with-evergrande-fallout-weigh-risk-wider-pain-2021-09-20 have been left wondering if they will face large losses at the end of 30-day grace periods for last month's coupons. [nL8N2QP1H5] A group of bondholders have enlisted investment bank Moelis & Co and law firm Kirkland & Ellis to advise them. Offshore bondholders want to engage "constructively" with the company, but are concerned about lack of information from what was once China's top-selling property developer, said Bert Grisel, a Hong Kong-based managing director at Moelis. "We all feel that an imminent default on the offshore bonds is or will occur in a short period of time," Grisel said on a call with bondholders on Friday. "Unfortunately, so far, we have had a couple of calls with the advisers," but there had not been any "meaningful dialogue with the company or provision of information", he said Evergrande, which faces nearly $150 million in offshore payment obligations next week, did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Neil McDonald, a restructuring partner in the Hong Kong office of Kirkland & Ellis, said the bondholders would like more transparency, and hoped Evergrande would meet disclosure obligations under stock listing rules. The offshore bondholders are also demanding more information about Evergrande's plan to divest some businesses and how the proceeds would be used, the advisers said, adding that the creditors group they represent was growing. The two advisers said that, including the parties that have expressed an interest to be part of the group, they represent bondholders who currently hold $5 billion worth of Evergrande nominal offshore bonds. Evergrande said last month it would sell a $1.5-billion stake it owns in Shengjing Bank https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-evergrande-transfer-15-bln-stake-shengjing-bank-state-firm-2021-09-29 Co Ltd. The bank, one of Evergrande's main lenders, demanded cash from the sale go towards settling the developer's debts with Shengjing. Trading in Evergrande shares has been halted since Monday pending a major deal announcement. Trading in its Evergrande Property Services Group unit was also halted. China's state-backed Global Times https://www.reuters.com/business/china-evergrande-share-trading-halted-hong-kong-2021-10-04 said Hopson Development was to acquire a 51% stake in Evergrande Property for more than HK$40 billion ($5.1 billion), citing other media reports. "Whilst we don't want to overstate this, we are obviously at this point in time preparing contingency plans to ensure that there are no dissipation of assets," McDonald said. "And if there is such activity, we will be prepared to take steps to protect the rights and interests of U.S. creditors, and we really hope that that's not necessary," he added. The advisers for offshore Evergrande bondholders had reached the developer on Sept. 16, but had not received any assurance from the developer, demanding more transparency. SECTOR SLUMP In another development, Evergrande dollar-bond trustee Citi has hired law firm Mayer Brown as counsel, a source familiar with the matter, who declined to be named due to the sensitivity of the matter, told Reuters earlier on Friday. Citi and Mayer Brown declined to comment. The possible collapse of one of China's biggest borrowers has triggered worries about contagion risks in the world's second-largest economy, with other debt-laden property firms hit by rating downgrades on looming defaults. With few clues as to how local regulators propose to contain the contagion from Evergrande, the price of bonds and shares in Chinese property developers slumped again on Friday. "The potential lack of transparency and clarity are leaving investors more skittish and it will be very difficult for people to want to refinance any debt coming due in that particular sector," said Cliff Corso, chief investment officer of Advisors Asset Management. An index tracking China's property sector dropped 1.53%, against a 1.31% blue-chip share rise. The Shanghai Stock Exchange on Friday suspended trading of two bonds issued by smaller developer Fantasia Group China Co, with one dropping more than 50%, after controlling shareholder Fantasia Holdings Group missed the deadline on a $206 million international market debt payment on Monday. Fantasia Holding said in a stock exchange filing on Friday that it had appointed Houlihan Lokey and Sidley Austin as its advisers to assess its capital structure, evaluate liquidity and explore solutions to ease its current liquidity issue. Most of Evergrande and Fantasia's bonds have already lost around 80% of their value. Meanwhile, bonds issued by Greenland Holdings, which has built some of the world's tallest residential towers including in Sydney, London, New York and Los Angeles, and Kaisa Group both took another beating on Friday. [L8N2R433Z]. "Market participants are questioning if this may be a precursor for voluntary defaults by other developers with healthy short-term liquidity positions, but large unsustainable longer-term debt," Chang Wei Liang, Credit & FX Strategist at DBS Bank, said in a note. A CM-11 Brave Tiger tank fires during the live fire Han Kuang military exercise, which simulates the China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) invading the island, in Pingtung, (Photo : REUTERS/Tyrone Siu/File Photo) Small numbers of U.S. special operations forces have been rotating into Taiwan on a temporary basis to train with Taiwanese forces, two sources familiar with the matter said on Thursday, speaking on condition of anonymity. The Pentagon, which historically has not disclosed details about U.S. training or advising of Taiwan forces, did not specifically comment on or confirm the deployment. Advertisement "I don't have any comments on specific operations, engagements, or training, but I would like to highlight that our support for and defense relationship with Taiwan remains aligned against the current threat posed by the People's Republic of China," said Pentagon spokesman John Supple. Taiwan's Defense Ministry declined to comment, saying only that "all military exchanges are carried out in accordance with annual plans". Asked on Friday about reports on the U.S. troops, Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said that the United States should cease military ties and arms sales to Taiwan to avoid damaging bilateral relations. "The U.S. side should fully recognize the great sensitivity of the Taiwan issue," he told a regular daily briefing. "China will take all necessary measures to protect its sovereignty and territorial integrity," he said. China sees Taiwan as a wayward province and has not ruled out taking the island by force. Taiwan says it is an independent country and will defend its democracy and freedom. The sources declined to say how long the training had been going on but suggested it predated the Biden administration, which came into office in January. While at least one Asian media outlet has previously reported on such training, any kind of official U.S. confirmation could further aggravate U.S.-China relations at a time when Beijing is carrying out muscular military exercises near Taiwan. The Wall Street Journal published details on the training, citing unidentified U.S. officials, earlier on Thursday. "I wouldn't rule out the possibility that Beijing is aware of this," said Bonnie Glaser, director of the Asia Program at the German Marshall Fund, noting a social media post during the Trump administration about training by special operations forces. "Making this public will compel the Chinese to react, and they will likely do so by stepping up pressure on Taiwan." Democratic Representative Ami Bera, who leads the House Foreign Affairs' subcommittee on Asia, was asked at a defense conference if he had been made aware of the deployment. "Not particularly this deployment, if I call it a deployment. I think we have special operators and others there, and we have in the past that are there training (Taiwan's) military, working with them," Bera said. Republican Senator Thom Tillis, who is on the Senate Armed Services Committee, told the same event he had not been made specifically aware and had only seen public reports, but added: "Actually I would be happier if that number was in the hundreds." The United States is Taiwan's largest supplier of weaponry and has long offered some degree of training on weapons systems, as well as detailed advice on ways to strengthen its military to guard against an invasion by China's Peoples Liberation Army. Chinese military aircraft have repeatedly flown in recent days through Taiwan's expansive air defense identification zone, which extends well outside Taiwan's airspace. But China has avoided Taiwanese airspace, no shots have been fired and there have been no known close calls between Chinese and Taiwanese aircraft. The Taiwanese government has denounced China's military exercises and says it will defend the island's freedom and democracy, insisting that only Taiwan's people can decide their future. Facebook, TikTok apps are seen on a smartphone in this illustration taken, (Photo : REUTERS/Dado Ruvic/Illustration) Three U.S. Democratic lawmakers on Friday urged the Federal Trade Commision to ensure technology companies like Facebook , Alphabet's YouTube and TikTok comply with policy changes aimed protecting young people online. The letter from Senator Ed Markey and Representatives Kathy Castor and Lori Trahan cited recent commitments by the companies amid growing concern by lawmakers about young people online. The FTC, said the letter seen by Reuters, has an "obligation to ensure that powerful technology platforms comply with their public statements and policies on children's and teen's privacy." Advertisement The FTC and Facebook declined to comment. TikTok and YouTube did not immediately comment. Facebook came under harsh criticism from senators this week at a Senate Commerce subcommittee hearing that heard testimony from former Facebook employee Frances Haugen, who said she believes "Facebook's products harm children, stoke division and weaken our democracy." The lawmakers cited young people's increasing online use - saying it was now on average almost five hours each day. "We therefore encourage you to use every tool at your disposal to vigilantly scrutinize companies' data practices and ensure that they abide by their public commitments," they wrote. Some changes have been prompted by a new UK law that took effect last month called the Age Appropriate Design Code. The lawmakers noted photo-sharing app Instagram publicly announced it is "defaulting young people into private accounts, making it harder for potentially suspicious accounts to find young people." Last month, Instagram said it was pausing plans to develop a new app it is creating for kids. The subcommittee chaired by Senator Richard Blumenthal is planning another hearing for as early as the week of Oct. 18 that is expected to include other major tech companies like TikTok, Snap and YouTube. A committee spokesman said the hearing had not been finalized but the panel has secured commitments from several social media companies to appear in the coming weeks. People rest at a park near Beijing's central business area, China (Photo : REUTERS/Jason Lee) China has added cryptocurrency mining to a draft list of industries in which investment is restricted or prohibited, although it reduced the number of sectors on the list overall, a document released by the state planner showed on Friday. The "negative list" details sectors and industries that are off-limits to both Chinese and foreign investors. Advertisement Regulators in China banned cryptocurrency trading and mining this year, with the country's central bank vowing to purge https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-central-bank-vows-crackdown-cryptocurrency-trading-2021-09-24 "illegal" cryptocurrency activities last month. The crackdown has prompted cryptocurrency exchanges to cut ties https://www.reuters.com/technology/cryptocurrency-exchanges-rush-cut-ties-with-chinese-users-after-fresh-crackdown-2021-09-27 with Chinese users. China also has been tightening control over public discourse, cracking down on show business https://www.reuters.com/world/china/china-radio-tv-body-strengthen-regulation-cultural-programmes-salaries-2021-09-02 for "polluting" society and asking mobile browsers https://www.reuters.com/article/us-china-censorship-browsers-idUSKBN27B1Z3 to eliminate the spreading of rumours, the use of sensationalist headlines and the publishing of content that violates the core values of socialism. The state planner said it was halting the investment of "non-public" capital into a variety of publishing activities, including live broadcasts, news-gathering, editing and broadcasting entities and the operation of news. Non-public capital cannot be involved in the introduction of news released by overseas entities or summits and award selection activities in the field of news and public opinion, the NDRC added. The draft 2021 list of industries in which investment is either restricted or prohibited has been cut to 117, the National Development and Reform Commission said, down from 123 in 2020. Industries not on the list are open for investment to all with no approvals required. Justin Bieber Wants to "Start Trying" For A Baby With Wife Hailey Baldwin (Photo : REUTERS ) In Justin Bieber's new Amazon documentary, "Justin Bieber: Our World," Justin Bieber expressed his desire to start trying a baby with his wife Hailey Baldwin by the end of the year. Bieber is now ready for fatherhood. He hopes to try making a baby by the end of the year with his wife Hailey Baldwin, as he shared that fact in his Amazon Prime documentary. The documentary "Justin Bieber: Our World" premiered on October 8. Advertisement The reveal happened during a scene where Hailey was asked about her husband's intentions towards her following the 2020 New Year's Eve concert. Justin said that his intentions for 2021 are to continue to create goals and have fun along the way. He also added that he plans to put his family first, and if possible, "squish out a nugget." As Justin shared this fact, Hailey was shocked and retorted, "2021?" and Justin asked her as well, saying that they should start trying. As Hailey replied, "We shall see." Justin has been very vocal about his desire to have children in the past, even during a visit to Ellen Degeneres Show back in December 2020. He said on the show that he wanted to have a lot of children or as many as Hailey is able to push out. He told Ellen Degeneres that he would love to have his very own "little tribe" and whatever Hailey wants to go. Ellen asked Justin what's stopping them, and he replied that Hailey still has a lot to achieve as a woman, so he thinks and might be the reason why she's not ready yet. Hailey also indicated that she now wants to have her own children in her own time. She loves kids and is waiting for the time to have her own, as she told Vogue Arabia back in 2018. "I would say that now, that's a closer reality, but definitely not anytime soon." The couple had an intimate wedding in September 2018 at a courthouse ceremony in New York. Just a year later, they had a larger celebration with family and friends in South Carolina. In his documentary, he always said that he is happy with his married life, and now that he finally has a partner to spend the rest of his life with, his mental health is now good. He said that it has been good for his heart as well as his soul, and he feels like he's home every time he is with her. Egypt and Qatar have signed agreements to supply fuel and basic construction materials to the Gaza Strip, the Qatari Foreign Ministry said following a ministerial meeting of the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee (AHLC) in Oslo on Wednesday evening. Egypts religious authorities have issued a decision banning the longtime practice of direct donations in boxes in mosques nationwide. The man who died in a botched bomb attack in the northern English city of Liverpool on Sunday had planned the blast for at least seven months, police said Wednesday. Now the uncontested rulers of Afghanistan, the Taliban have set their sights on stamping out the scourge of narcotics addiction, even if by force. At nightfall, the battle-hardened fighters-turned-policemen scour the capital's drug-ravaged underworld. Below Kabul's bustling city bridges, amid piles of garbage and streams of filthy water, hundreds of homeless men addicted to heroin and methamphetamines are rounded up, beaten and forcibly taken to treatment centers. The Associated Press gained rare access to one such raid last week. The scene provided a window into the new order under Taliban governance: The men _ many with mental illness, according to doctors _ sat against stone walls with their hands tied. They were told to sober up or face beatings. The heavy-handed methods are welcomed by some health workers, who have had no choice but to adapt to Taliban rule. ``We are not in a democracy anymore, this is a dictatorship. And the use of force is the only way to treat these people,'' said Dr. Fazalrabi Mayar, working in a treatment facility. He was referring specifically to Afghans addicted to heroin and meth. Soon after the Taliban took power on Aug. 15, the Taliban Health Ministry issued an order to these facilities, underscoring their intention to strictly control the problem of addiction, doctors said. Bleary-eyed and skeletal, the detained encompass a spectrum of Afghan lives hollowed out by the country's tumultuous past of war, invasion and hunger. They were poets, soldiers, merchants, farmers. Afghanistan's vast poppy fields are the source of the majority of the world's heroin, and the country has emerged as a significant meth producer. Both have fueled massive addiction around the country. Old or young, poor or once well-off, the Taliban view the addicts the same: A stain on the society they hope to create. Drug use is against their interpretation of Islamic doctrine. Addicts are also stigmatized by the wider, largely conservative Afghan community. But the Taliban's war on drugs is complicated as the country faces the prospect of economic collapse and imminent humanitarian catastrophe. Sanctions and lack of recognition have made Afghanistan, long an aid-dependent country, ineligible for the financial support from international organizations that accounted for 75% of state spending. An appalling human rights record, especially with respect to women, has rendered the Taliban unpopular among international development organizations. A liquidity crisis has set in. Public wages are months in arrears and drought has exacerbated food shortages and disease. Winter is weeks away. Without foreign funds, government revenues rely on customs and taxation. The illicit opium trade is intertwined with Afghanistan's economy and its turmoil. Poppy growers are part of an important rural constituency for the Taliban, and most rely on the harvest to make ends meet. During the insurgency years, the Taliban profited from the trade by taxing traffickers, a practice applied on a wide variety of industries in the areas under their control. Research by David Mansfield, an expert on the Afghan drug trade, suggests the group made $20 million in 2020, a small fraction compared to other sources of revenue from tax collection. Publicly, it has always denied links to the drug trade. But the Taliban also implemented the only largely successful ban on opium production, between 2000-2001, before the U.S. invasion. Successive governments have failed to do the same. Police roundups of addicts did occur during previous administrations. But the Taliban are more forceful and feared. On a recent evening, fighters raided a drug den under a bridge in the Guzargah area of Kabul. With cables for whips and slung rifles, they ordered the group of men out of their fetid quarters. Some came staggering out, others were forced to the ground. The sudden clinking of lighters followed another order to hand over belongings; the men preferred to use up all the drugs they possessed before they were confiscated. One man struck a match beneath a piece of foil, his sunken cheeks deepening as he sucked in the smoke. He stared blankly into the distance. Another man was reluctant. ``They are vitamins!'' he pleaded. Taliban fighter Qari Fedayee was tying up the hands of another. ``They are our countrymen, they are our family and there are good people inside of them,'' he said. ``God willing, the people in the hospital will be good with them and cure them.'' An elderly, bespectacled man raised his voice. He is a poet, he announced, and if they let him go he will never use drugs again. He scribbled verses on a piece of paper to prove his point. It didn't work. What drove him to drugs? ``Some things are not meant to be told,'' he replied. In the end, they were at least 150 men rounded up. They were taken to the district police station, where all their belongings _ drugs, wallets, knifes, rings, lighters, a juice box _ were burned in a pile since they are forbidden to take them to the treatment center. As the men crouched nearby, a Taliban officer watched the plumes of smoke, counting prayer beads. By midnight, they were taken to the Avicenna Medical Hospital for Drug Treatment, on the edges of Kabul. Once a military base, Camp Phoenix, established by the U.S. army in 2003, it was made into a drug treatment center in 2016. Now it's Kabul's largest, capable of accommodating 1,000 people. The men are stripped and bathed. Their heads are shaved. Here, a 45-day treatment program begins, said Dr. Wahedullah Koshan, the head psychiatrist. They will undergo withdrawal with only some medical care to alleviate discomfort and pain. Koshan conceded the hospital lacks the alternative opioids, buprenorphine and methadone, typically used to treat heroin addiction. His staff have not been paid since July, but he said the Health Ministry promised salaries would be forthcoming. The Taliban have broader aims. ``This is just the beginning, later we will go after the farmers, and we will punish them according to (Islamic) Sharia law,'' said lead patrol officer Qari Ghafoor. For Mansfield, the expert, the latest drug raids are history rinsed and repeated. ``In the 90s, (when the Taliban were in power) they used to do exactly the same thing,'' he said. The only difference now is that there are drug treatment centers; back then drug users were made to stand on mountain melts, or rivers, thinking it would sober them up. Whether they will be able to ban opium production is another story, he said. Any meaningful ban will require negotiations with farmers. Mohammed Kabir, a 30-year-old poppy farmer from Uruzgan province, checked himself into the hospital two weeks ago. He said demand from traffickers remains high, and come harvest time in November, selling opium is his only means to make a living. In the hospital, patients, totaling 700, float around the halls like ghosts. Some say they aren't being fed enough. Doctors said hunger is part of the withdrawal process. Most of their families don't know where they are. A waiting room is full of parents and relatives wondering if their missing loved ones were among those taken in the raids. Sitara wails when she is reunited with her 21-year-old son, missing for 12 days. ``My entire life is my son,'' she weeps, embracing him. Back in the city, under a bridge in the Kotesangi neighborhood, drug users live precariously under the cover of darkness, in fear of the Taliban. One evening, they smoked up casually next to a man's collapsed body. He was dead. They covered him with cloth but won't dare bury him while the Taliban patrol the streets. ``It's not important if some of them die,'' said Mawlawi Fazullah, a Taliban officer. ``Others will be cured. After they are cured, they can be free.'' Search Keywords: Short link: Russia will invite the Taliban to international talks on Afghanistan scheduled for October 20 in Moscow, the Kremlin's envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said Thursday. In response to a question from Russian journalists on whether representatives of the hardline group would be invited to negotiations involving China, India, Iran and Pakistan, Kabulov said: "Yes". The talks will follow a G20 summit on Afghanistan on October 12 that will seek to help the country avoid a humanitarian catastrophe in the wake of the Taliban takeover. Kabulov was also asked whether Russia would deliver aid to Afghanistan, where the humanitarian crisis is growing worse, a top UN official warned Wednesday. Russia would do so, but the details were still being decided, Kabulov said. "This is being worked out," he told journalists, saying "cargo" was being collected. Moscow has moved to engage with the Taliban but stopped short of recognition of the group, which is banned as a terrorist organisation in Russia. On Monday, Kabulov said Moscow would not "exclude" revising the UN sanctions regime against the Taliban. "But at this stage we believe it is not expedient to rush," he said. The Kremlin has in recent years reached out to the Taliban and hosted its representatives in Moscow several times, most recently in July. Unlike Western countries that rushed to evacuate diplomats after the Taliban swept to power in August, Russia has kept its embassy in Kabul open. Russian President Vladimir Putin has criticised the foreign involvement in domestic Afghan affairs and said Moscow had "learnt lessons" from the Soviet Union's invasion of the country. In the 1980s, Moscow fought a disastrous decade-long war in Afghanistan that killed up to two million Afghans, forced seven million more from their homes and led to the deaths of more than 14,000 Soviet troops. Putin has also warned about members of extremist groups exploiting political turmoil in Afghanistan to cross into neighbouring countries as refugees. In the wake of the Taliban takeover, Russia held military drills with ex-Soviet Tajikistan -- where it operates a military base -- and in Uzbekistan. Both countries share a border with Afghanistan. Moscow also said it received orders for new arms and weapons from the Central Asian nations. While the Taliban has said it does not pose a threat to Central Asian countries, the ex-Soviet republics in the region have previously been targeted by attacks attributed to allies of Afghan Islamists. The Taliban were initially in power in Afghanistan from 1996 until they were toppled by the 2001 US-led invasion following the September 11, 2001 attacks that were plotted by Al-Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden from Afghan soil. Search Keywords: Short link: An Israeli missile strike on an airbase in central Syria has killed two Damascus-allied foreign fighters and wounded several Syrian service personnel, a Britain-based war monitor said on Saturday. The Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the two foreigners were killed in the raid on the T4 airbase late Friday, but their nationality was not immediately clear. The official Syrian news agency SANA earlier said that, "at around 9:00 pm (1800 GMT), the Israeli enemy... fired a volley of missiles towards the T4 military airport". "The aggression wounded six soldiers and led to some material damage," it added. The Observatory said the attack targeted a drone depot at the base. Contacted by AFP, an Israeli army spokesperson said the military did not comment on foreign media reports. Since the outbreak of the Syrian civil war in 2011, Israel has routinely carried out air strikes inside Syria, mostly targeting Iranian and Lebanese Hezbollah forces allied to the Damascus regime, as well as Syrian government troops. The Israeli army rarely acknowledges individual strikes but has said repeatedly that it will not allow Syria to become a stronghold of its arch-foe Iran. Search Keywords: Short link: A top official in the interim administration of Ethiopia's war-hit Tigray region told AFP Saturday he had fled the country and was seeking asylum, citing fears for his safety. Gebremeskel Kassa served as chief of staff of the administration appointed by Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed after the Nobel peace laureate sent troops into Tigray last November to topple the regional ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front (TPLF). Abiy said the move came in response to attacks on army camps by the TPLF, which had ruled Ethiopia for three decades until 2018. During his time in Tigray, Gebremeskel was an outspoken critic of Eritrean forces fighting alongside Ethiopian soldiers in the region, calling for their withdrawal. He also accused forces from the neighbouring Amhara region of violently relocating many thousands of Tigrayans from western Tigray, where Washington says "acts of ethnic cleansing" have been committed. Gebremeskel fled Tigray in late June after forces loyal to the TPLF retook most of the region including the capital Mekele. In his request for asylum, reviewed by AFP, he said he was then summoned to meetings with top federal officials who blamed the interim government for the military setback. "The accusation was unfair and unfounded as we were running a civilian administration," the request says. Gebremeskel asked that AFP not reveal the country in which he is seeking asylum for security reasons. His asylum bid comes just over a week after security forces in Addis Ababa detained Abraha Desta, another senior official in the interim administration who had recently called for negotiations to end the conflict. Gebremeskel told AFP that federal officials had long resisted entreaties from the interim administration to pursue talks, starting in December after TPLF forces had been driven out of Tigray's cities and towns. "They rejected that. They said 'Already the TPLF army is completely destroyed,' and they said, 'With whom we are going to negotiate?'" he recalled. Gebremeskel spoke as Ethiopian troops were waging a new air and ground offensive against Tigrayan rebels in Amhara, an operation the TPLF has described as "massive". Hundreds of thousands of people in Tigray already face famine-like conditions, according to the UN, and Gebremeskel urged the international community to intervene to prevent further suffering. "If this force (Ethiopia's army) is able to penetrate into Tigray, that will be a catastrophe, and that will be a regrettable time for the international community," he said. Search Keywords: Short link: Justin Welby, Archbishop of Canterbury and the spiritual leader of the Anglican Church, launched on Friday a new province for the Anglican Church with Alexandria being its main seat. The new province carries the name of the Anglican Province of Alexandria. Welby led a procession of bishops and archbishops from the All Saints Cathedral in Cairos Zamalek, where the inauguration ceremony started, to the churchs altar, a statement by the church said. The convoy included Archbishop of the Anglican Province of Alexandria Sami Fawzi, and Archbishop Emeritus of the Anglican Province of Alexandria Mounir Hanna, in addition to a number of priests and deacons. The new provinces jurisdiction extends over Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Mauritania, Chad, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somalia in North Africa and the Horn of Africa. Welby referred to the important cultural role and religious value of Alexandria, after which the province was named. Alexandria, the ancient centre of learning, is a wonderful name for the province, Welby said. Welby said Egypt has again found its historic place as a place of meeting, of refuge. It has been so from before Jacob and Joseph, it rescued the Holy family. Welby also praised Egypt as a crossroads of world trade, a cradle of urban civilization when Europeans were still fighting with sticks and clubs, painting themselves blue. The Anglican Church in Egypt was established as per a decision by Mohammed Ali Pasha, the Ottoman leader who ruled Egypt 200 years ago. Hanna said the church offers health and educational services as well as other services to refugees and imprisoned people and has launched numerous initiatives to support national and sectarian unity. The church also plays an important part in the dialogue between the Anglican Communion and Muslims Al-Azhar, Hanna added. The Anglian Communion first announced the launch of the Anglican Province of Alexandria last year as its 41st province worldwide. The new province was formed due to the independence of the Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa from Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East in May 2020. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt vehemently condemned on Saturday the Houthi rebels drone attacks on Saudi Arabias King Abdullah Airport in the southern city of Jizan, which injured a number of people and caused material damage. The Saudi-led coalition fighting Houthis in Yemen said 10 people were injured in two explosives-laden drone attacks on the airport by the Houthis late on Fridah and early on Saturday. In a statement, the Egyptian foreign ministry condemned the continuation of the Houthi militias coward, terrorist attacks against the Saudi lands. The repeated targeting of civil facilities and innocent civilians by the Houthi militia, including the airports in the southern part of the Kingdom, is considered a dangerous escalation and a threat to security and stability of the sisterly Saudi Arabia, the statement said. The ministry also warned that these attacks represent a flagrant violation of the international humanitarian law and a threat to the lives of travelers and to the security and safety of civil aviation and freedom of air navigation. Egypt reiterated its full solidarity with Saudi Arabia in taking all measures needed to confront these attacks, the statement said, stressing that security and stability of the two countries are interconnected. Saudi Arabia has been intercepting hundreds of drones and missiles launched by the Iran-backed Houthis over the past few years since the coalition intervened militarily in Yemen in 2015 to support the internationally recognised government. Saudi Arabia and Iran started in September the first round of direct talks with the new Iranian government to reduce tensions, especially as their diplomatic ties have been cut since 2016. Saudi Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan confirmed in early October that his government held its first round of direct talks with Irans new government last month, a part of a process that began earlier this year to reduce tensions. This follows three rounds of direct talks hosted by Iraq in the period before Irans new President Ebrahim Raisi assumed the post last August. Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian told a news conference in Beirut on 7 October that talks between the two rivals have gone a good distance, according to Reuters. Saudi King Salman bin Abdulaziz expressed hope in September that the Saudi Iranian talks will lead to confidence building as he addressed world leaders during the 76th UN General Assembly. Egypt has repeatedly expressed its full support for the coalition against the Houthi attacks, saying the movements practices further inflame the situation in Yemen. The Houthis have rejected calls for a truce by the United Nations, the United States, and Saudi Arabia this year. Search Keywords: Short link: A Cairo economic misdemeanors court on Saturday sentenced two doctors and an employee of a private hospital to two years in jail and a EGP 200,000 fine after convicting them of bullying a male nurse. In September, a four-minute video went viral on social media showing a doctor hurling insults at an elderly nurse and forcing him to bow to the doctor's dog. Following the public anger resulting from the spread of the video, the public prosecution investigated it and order the arrest of the doctors and a hospital employee. The prosecution accused them of misusing their authority, exploiting religion to promote extremist ideas and sow discord, and insulting a monotheistic religion. They are also accused of undermining family values, posting a video clip on the internet that violated the privacy of the victim, and using a private account and website to commit these crimes. The Ministry of Health also announced it was investigating the video. Search Keywords: Short link: Egypt has strongly denounced the terrorist bombing that hit a mosque in Afghanistan's northeastern Kunduz province on Friday, killing scores of worshippers. The Egyptian foreign ministry in a statement on Friday affirmed its solidarity against violence and terrorism. Regions Islamic State affiliate (ISIS-K) claimed responsibility for the attack that occurred during the noon prayers, killibg at least 50 people and wounding dozens, according to hospital sources. ISIS-Ks announcement said the blast targeted Shiites and the Taliban personnel, according to the ISIS-linked Aamaq news agency. [Egypt] expresses its deep condemnation and denunciation of the terrorist bombing that targeted a mosque in the Afghan province of Kunduz, killing and wounding dozens of innocent people, the foreign ministry statement read. The country also extended sincere condolences to the Afghan people and the families of the victims of this brutal terrorism, wishing the injured a speedy recovery. Egypt reiterates its solidarity in order to combat the phenomenon of terrorism, violence and extremism with all their forms and manifestations, the statement added. Taking over the country in August, the Taliban have carried out operations against Islamic State cells in Kabul. The country has recently witnessed attacks on a mosque in Kabul and a religious school in eastern Khost province. Search Keywords: Short link: Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby urged Ethiopia to ensure a fair use of the controversial Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD), and underscored the need to establish an Israeli-Palestinian peace process. Welby made the remarks during his visit to Cairo on Friday, ahead of launching the new Anglican Province of Alexandria at All Saints Cathedral in Cairos Zamalek district. Egypt and Sudan have called for maximizing international role to endorse the African Union-sponsored negotiations on their dispute with Ethiopia over GERD. Egypt has called the international role indispensable. The three countries have showed desire to continue the talks under the auspices of DR Congo, as current head of the AU this year. The two downstream countries call for a legally binding agreement on the filling and operation of the dam, a demand that has been endorsed by a UN Security Council statement last month but is still resisted by Ethiopia. During his visit to the Egyptian capital, Welby affirmed in a press conference the importance of negotiations to resolve the disputes over the Nile, a statement by the Anglican Diocese of Egypt read on Friday. Palestinian cause Welby addressed the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, saying Palestinians have the right for a fair life without the fear of leaving their lands. He underlined the need to achieve a peace process between the Palestinians and Israelis, calling it essential for achieving justice and security. He expressed hope that Israelis also enjoy peace within internationally defined borders. Anglican church, new province During the presser, Welby lauded the role of the Anglican church in Egypt in working on establishing schools and hospitals as well as providing support to refugees, Welby also highlighted his churchs strong relations with Egypts Coptic Orthodox Church. He affirmed that Christians in Egypt and Jordan enjoy good living conditions, unlike some other parts of the Middle East, where the number of Christians decreased possibly due to conflicts and discrimination. Welby launched after the presser a new province for the Anglican Church with Alexandria being its main seat. The new provinces jurisdiction extends over Egypt, Libya, Tunisia, Algeria, Mauritania, Chad, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Djibouti, and Somalia in North Africa and the Horn of Africa. The Anglian Communion first announced the launch of the Anglican Province of Alexandria last year as its 41st province worldwide. The new province was formed due to the independence of the Diocese of Egypt with North Africa and the Horn of Africa from Anglican Province of Jerusalem and the Middle East in May 2020. The Anglican Church in Egypt was established as per a decision by Mohammed Ali Pasha, the Ottoman leader who ruled Egypt 200 years ago. Search Keywords: Short link: The White House said Friday that President Joe Biden will not block the handover of documents sought by a House committee investigating the Jan. 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, setting up a showdown with former President Donald Trump, who wants to shield those White House records from investigators. U.S. President Joe Biden waits to speak on the North Lawn of the White House in Washington, Friday, Oct. 8, 2021. [Photo: AP] The letter from White House counsel Dana Remus to the Archivist of the United States comes at the start of a potentially lengthy legal battle over the investigation. Trump, who told his supporters to fight like hell the morning of the insurrection and has defended the rioters who beat police and broke into the Capitol, is trying to block Congress from learning more. Biden has so far sided with House Democrats, who have asked for thousands of pages of documents and subpoenaed witnesses connected to Trump. The House committee investigating the insurrection, which formed over the summer, now has the momentous task of sorting through the details and obtaining documents and testimony from witnesses who may or may not be cooperative. And the jockeying between the two administrations, Congress and the witnesses is certain to delay the investigation and set the stage for messy litigation that could stretch well into 2022. In a separate development, a lawyer for Steve Bannon said the former White House aide wont comply with the House committees investigation because Trump is asserting executive privilege. Bannon is the only one of the top Trump aides subpoenaed on Sept. 23 who was not working for the Trump administration on Jan. 6. Two other aides, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former Pentagon aide Kash Patel, are engaging with the committee, lawmakers said in a statement. Remus wrote that Biden has determined that invoking executive privilege is not in the best interests of the United States. The House panel had asked for the records, including communication within the White House under Trump and information about planning and funding for rallies held in Washington. Among those events was a rally near the White House the morning of Jan. 6 featuring remarks by Trump, who egged on a crowd of thousands protesting Biden's win. Remus wrote that the documents shed light on events within the White House on and about January 6 and bear on the Select Committees need to understand the facts underlying the most serious attack on the operations of the Federal Government since the Civil War. The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter Friday. It was first reported by NBC News. Trump responded with his own letter to the National Archives formally asserting privilege over nearly 50 documents. Referring to the Presidential Records Act, Trump wrote, I hereby make a protective assertion of constitutionally based privilege with respect to all additional records." He said if the committee seeks other information he considers privileged information, I will take all necessary and appropriate steps to defend the Office of the Presidency." The investigation sets up a unique clash, pitting the current administration against its predecessor. Since Biden now holds the office of the presidency, he will make the call on some of Trump's privilege claims. And while Biden has accommodated the first requests from Congress, the White House has said it will review new claims on a case by case basis. The final word may not rest with Biden, but the courts, if Trump decides to litigate which is expected or if the House votes to hold any of the witnesses in contempt of Congress. In the case of a House contempt vote, the Justice Department would then decide whether to prosecute. Newly released documents from the complex investigation of a woman accused of conspiring to kill her children and husband reveal sordid details of a cult-like belief system of zombies and vibrations" plus a disintegrating marriage and an affair. In this March 6, 2020 file photo Lori Vallow Daybell glances at the camera during her hearing, in Rexburg, Idaho. [File photo: John Roark/The Idaho Post-Register via AP, Pool] Documents from the Chandler Police Department in Arizona offer a detailed look at the lives of Lori and Chad Daybell via text messages, computer files and interviews with close friends and family members. Both are charged in Idaho with conspiracy to commit murder in the deaths of Lori's children, 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow and 17-year-old Tylee Ryan. They face the same charge in the death of Chad's previous wife, Tammy Daybell. Tammy Daybell died unexpectedly at the home in eastern Idaho that she shared with Chad Daybell and investigators became suspicious after Chad Daybell married Lori two weeks later. The children were missing for months, but their bodies were eventually found buried in the yard outside Chad Daybell's eastern Idaho home. And Lori Daybell is also charged in Arizona with conspiring to kill her former estranged husband, Charles Vallow, with the help of her now-deceased brother, Alex Cox. It was Charles Vallow's death on July 11, 2019, that launched the Chandler Police Department investigation. More than 50 files from the investigation, including hundreds of pages of police reports and dozens of video and audio recordings, were released by the police department on Wednesday. In the main investigation report, Chandler police detectives wrote they believed Charles Vallow was murdered and that his suspected killers were motivated by greed for Vallow's life insurance money, lust for each other and strange religious beliefs. All of these overt acts were done so Lori could eventually be with Chad Daybell and reportedly complete their mission here on earth, the police department wrote in the report. This belief system, lust and greed would also lead to the deaths of Tylee Ryan, JJ Vallow and Tammy Daybell. Chad Daybell has pleaded not guilty to the charges. Lori Daybell has not yet entered a plea she's being treated at a mental health facility because a judge has determined that she's not yet competent to stand trial. Attorneys for the Daybells did not respond to phone messages requesting comment. Chad Daybell met Lori Vallow in 2018 and the two quickly became close, according to the investigation. Within a short time they were traveling to meet each other, and at one point Chad Daybell wrote a steamy short story for Lori Vallow based on two characters who, like Chad and Lori, met at a religious conference. By May of 2019, Lori Vallow was looking at gemstones online similar to the ones that would later be in their wedding rings. Chad Daybell and Lori Vallow communicated with each other using code names or pet names like Lili, Bubby, Raphael and sometimes eschewed standard text messaging, instead using burner phones or messaging systems inside of a popular karaoke phone application, according to computer and phone files found by investigators. As their relationship grew, so did their cult-like religious beliefs, according to investigators. Several family members and friends interviewed by detectives described them as having a strange doomsday-focused belief system, and some of the friends acknowledged adopting the beliefs as well. At times as many as 10 people were part of the loose religious group that met to pray, drive out evil spirits and seek revelations from beyond the spiritual veil. Though the beliefs Lori Daybell's friends described to detectives were loosely based in theology from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, they veered into the extreme. Federal prosecutors announced Friday that they wont file charges against a white police officer who shot Jacob Blake in Wisconsin last year a shooting that sparked protests that led to the deaths of two men. This undated file photo provided by the Wisconsin Department of Justice shows Kenosha Police Officer Rusten Sheskey. Federal prosecutors announced Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, that they won't file charges against Sheskey, who shot Jacob Blake in Wisconsin last year. [File photo: Wisconsin Department of Justice via AP] Officer Rusten Sheskey shot Blake, who is Black, during a domestic disturbance in Kenosha in August 2020. The shooting left Blake paralyzed from the waist down and sparked several nights of protests, some of which turned violent. An Illinois man shot three people, killing two of them, during one of the demonstrations. State prosecutors decided not to file charges against Sheskey earlier this year after video showed that Blake, who was wanted on a felony warrant, was armed with a knife. The U.S. Department of Justice launched its own investigation days after the shooting. The agency announced Friday that a team of prosecutors from its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. attorneys office in Milwaukee reviewed police reports, witness statements, dispatch logs and videos of the incident, and determined there wasnt enough evidence to prove Sheskey used excessive force or violated Blakes federal rights. Accordingly, the review of this incident has been closed without a federal prosecution, the Justice Department said in a news release. Blake's uncle, Justin Blake, called the decision unconscionable and said it definitely steps on every civil right we can imagine this country owes every African American descendant. If we had a heart to be broken, it would be, he said. But because we've been through all we've been, we're not. The Justice Departments findings dovetail with Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveleys determination in January that Sheskey could successfully argue that he fired in self-defense. Sheskey and other officers encountered Blake after they responded to a call from a woman who reported that her boyfriend wasn't supposed to be at her home. When they arrived at the scene the woman told them that Blake was trying to her kids and her SUV. Blake fought the officers as they tried to take him into custody. Sheskey and another officer tried to shock him with their stun guns to no avail. Blake tried to get into the SUV with his young children in the backseat, prompting Sheskey to grab his shirt. Sheskey told investigators that he was afraid Blake would drive off with the children or use them as hostages. Graveley said video shows Blake turning toward Sheskey with a knife and made a motion toward the officer with the knife, prompting Sheskey to fire. The shooting came three months after George Floyd died while white Minneapolis police officers restrained him. Black Lives Matter supporters flooded downtown Kenosha for several nights, with some demonstrators setting fire to buildings and cars. Gov. Tony Evers was forced to call in the National Guard. Kyle Rittenhouse, of Antioch, Illinois, answered a local militia's call to protect Kenosha businesses from looters and vandals during the third night of protests. He ended up shooting Joseph Rosenbaum, Anthony Huber and Gaige Grosskreutz, killing Rosenbaum and Huber and wounding Grosskreutz in the arm. All four men involved were white. Prosecutors have charged Rittenhouse with multiple counts, including homicide. He has argued that he fired in self-defense after the three men attacked him. He's set to stand trial next month. Conservatives frustrated with Black Lives Matter protests have rallied around Rittenhouse. They raised $2 million to cover his bail. Black Lives Matter supporters have painted him as a trigger-happy vigilante who made things worse in Kenosha by bringing a gun to the protests. McDonalds new headquarters settles in West Bund By:Wu Qiong | From:english.eastday.com | 2021-10-09 16:54 31 years ago, McDonald's opened its first store in China on the 8th of October. 31 years later, the fast food industry giant announced the opening of a new China headquarters building in Shanghais West Bund. It will be home to the companys over 600 HQ-based employees. Zhang Jiayin, McDonalds China CEO, compares the move of the headquarters to a new journey. The cube-shaped building contains more futuristic elements of McDonalds: an intensive-style innovation lab, the seventh Hamburger University, and the largest McDonalds flagship store, which represent the companys commitment to the Chinese market. The Chinese market will be one of the most important markets in the world, and we will witness more here, said Zhang Jiayin. The flagship store, which opened the same day as the new building was officially launched, is also the companys first cube-style flagship restaurant in East China and McDonalds Chinas first LEED platinum-certified flagship restaurant. Another highlight is its various cross-over attempts with the CITIC Press Group, including the childrens bookstore and mini theater. The third floor of the building contains McDonalds in-house training institution, the Hamburger University, which will launch its first class next Monday. The reason why we chose Shanghai is that it is a highland of talents, where you can find the best talents in the country and even the world, noted Zhang. This year, McDonald's China has planned over 130 university recruiting events across the country, to support the rapid development of its business. At present in McDonalds China, employees born from 1995 account for more than 60%, and employees born from 2000 are close to 43%. Apart from talented people, the company chose Shanghai for its headquarters as it is a giant test field for cutting-edge concepts, be it light meals or plant-based meat. It is a base camp radiating the entire market in China. We will continue to develop, continue to expand in scale with brand differentiation, and serve more consumers, added Zhang. (Photos/WHB.cn) KYODO NEWS - Oct 9, 2021 - 22:38 | All, World, Japan Japan is considering exempting Australian soldiers from the death penalty for crimes committed during joint drills on its soil after the issue of capital punishment stalled negotiations for a defense cooperation pact between the two countries, government sources said Saturday. Australia, which abolished the death penalty in 1985, has been concerned that its defense personnel could be sentenced to death over crimes committed in Japan, according to the sources. Tokyo and Canberra are coordinating to have their respective countries maintain jurisdiction of their troops only when holding joint exercises and other operations, meaning when troops are off duty, they would come under the jurisdiction of the host country. According to Amnesty International, 108 nations have outlawed the death penalty for all crimes as of the end of 2020, while 144, or more than two-thirds of the world's countries, have abolished it in law or practice. Japan and the United States are among the countries that maintain the death penalty. Last year, Japan and Australia agreed in principle on the pact, formally called the Reciprocal Access Agreement, which would streamline administrative procedures for Japan's Self-Defense Forces and the Australian military to stay in each other's country for joint exercises and disaster relief missions, as well as determine legal jurisdiction for any crimes committed by visiting troops. If the two countries reach an agreement, a bill on the pact could go before Japan's parliament during its ordinary session next year. Japan has been strengthening its defense cooperation with the United States, India and Australia under the quadrilateral framework amid China's maritime assertiveness in the region. Tokyo and Canberra agreed in 2014 to start discussions on an agreement. In November last year, then Japanese Prime Minister Yoshihide Suga and his Australian counterpart Scott Morrison agreed on the pact in principle. Japan started negotiations with Britain on drawing a similar pact this month. KYODO NEWS - Oct 9, 2021 - 08:03 | All, Japan The Foreign Ministry said Saturday that 53 Afghan evacuees have arrived in Japan, the first group to depart the Taliban-ruled country for Japan by air, with help from Qatar, rather than by land which is deemed more dangerous. The group -- 27 of whom are Japanese embassy staff members and their families, while the other 26 are workers of the Japan International Cooperation Agency and their families -- landed at Narita airport near Tokyo on Friday night via Doha, by means of a commercial plane arranged by Qatar at the request of Japan. The 53 Afghans arrived in Doha earlier this month and the Japanese government helped with visa issuance and air tickets, according to the ministry. They are now quarantining after coronavirus testing. Japan plans to assist some 500 Afghans who were embassy staff or government affiliates and their families to leave the war-torn country. Some such personnel, lacking a means of evacuation as safe as air travel, opted to flee Afghanistan by land to neighboring countries, resulting in the arrival to Japan of over 50 people from mid-September to early this month. Japanese Foreign Minister Toshimitsu Motegi had called on Qatar to support the evacuation of Afghans when he held talks with his Qatari counterpart Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman al-Thani in New York in late September. Related coverage: 30 more Afghan evacuees arrive in Japan from Taliban-ruled country KYODO NEWS - Oct 9, 2021 - 23:11 | All, Japan, Coronavirus Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said Saturday he will strengthen the country's medical system amid the coronavirus pandemic by increasing the number of beds designated for COVID-19 patients at public hospitals. Speaking to reporters after his first visit to a hospital that treats COVID-19 patients after taking office Monday, Kishida said the government must prepare for the "worst-case scenario" when it comes to ramping up the medical system. Kishida is considering increasing financial support to public hospitals in return for the hospitals' cooperation with the government's request to take in COVID-19 patients during emergencies. According to people close to the prime minister, he wants to fund hospitals since many health care workers have quit their jobs during the pandemic. "It is important that we create an environment for people on the job to...feel reassured. I feel we must also produce results in terms of their incomes," Kishida said after he spoke with a group of medical workers at the Tokyo Metropolitan Bokutoh Hospital in the capital's Sumida Ward. In his first policy speech in parliament on Friday, Kishida said he wants to communicate with the public on various issues. "I want to visit many different places and listen to voices (of the people) and work toward having that reflected in politics," he said. While Japan has seen a steady decline in COVID-19 cases after logging record numbers of infections in late August during the country's latest wave of the virus, concerns remain over another surge. On Saturday, the country reported 777 cases of infection, including 82 in Tokyo, its lowest daily figure this year. The nationwide daily figure surged to more than 25,000 in August. During the fifth wave this summer, hospitals were overwhelmed, forcing many patients to recuperate at home. During his campaigning for the Sept. 29 leadership election of the ruling Liberal Democratic Party, Kishida said that he will reduce the number of COVID patients who cannot receive medical treatment to zero. New Delhi: Holding the BJP-led Central and state governments responsible for the Mumbai foot overbridge collapse, the Congress on Thursday demanded the resignation of Railway Minister Piyush Goyal. So far five persons have lost their lives and 36 are reported to be injured after a major portion of the bridge collapsed at around 7:30 pm. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala said he was deeply saddened to learn about the Mumbai bridge collapse where several people are still reportedly trapped under the debris. "Modi Government and Maharashtra government are criminally culpable for inaction leading to repeat tragedies - 29/9/2017 - Elphistone Stampede. 3/7/2018 - Andheri Bridge Collapse. "Railway Minister's tall claims of the audit have failed time and again. Railway Minister Piyush Goyal must resign or be sacked," he said on Twitter. He offered condolences to the families of the victims and expressed hope that the administration will take swift action and provide urgent medical help to the injured. Congress president Rahul Gandhi has also offered condolences to the families of those killed in the incident and prayed for speedy recovery to the injured. "I am saddened on hearing the news of the Mumbai foot overbridge collapse. I express my heartfelt condolences to the families of those who have died. I pray that injured get relief soon," he said in a Facebook post in Hindi. The bridge which connected the area near the Times of India building with the iconic CSMT station was commonly known as 'Kasab bridge' as the 26/11 Mumbai attack terrorist passed through it during the terror strike. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Emmanuel Macron government has decided to freeze the French assets of Jaish-e-Mohammed Chief Masood Azhar, Reuters reported on Friday. The decision comes after China blocked the UN resolution declaring him a global terrorist. France was one of the nations that had backed the UNSC proposal, which was vetoed by China. The proposal to designate Azhar under the 1267 Al Qaeda Sanctions Committee of the UN Security Council was moved by France, the UK and the US on February 27, days after a suicide bomber of the Jaish-e-Mohammed (JeM) killed 40 CRPF soldiers in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama. It lead to a flare-up in tensions between India and Pakistan. In a late-night vote, Beijing placed a technical hold on the terror tag on Masood Azhar in the UNSC. Azhar was released by the then BJP government under the leadership of Atal Bihari Vajpayee as part of a deal to free the Kandahar plane hijack hostages in December 1999. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Kozhikode: Kick-starting the Congress poll campaign in Kerala, party chief Rahul Gandhi on Thursday attacked the ruling CPI(M) and the BJP-RSS, accusing them of unleashing violence in the state. "BJP and CPI(M) use violence which is the weapon of the weak," Gandhi said as he hit out at the two parties at a massive election rally here this evening. Gandhi also referred to the Rafale deal to attack Prime Minister Narendra Modi and reiterated his promise that a Minimum Guarantee Income would be provided to all citizens if the Congress party was voted to power. Stating that he was happy to come to a state where people of different ideas and religions live happily together, he said an "ideological battle" was being played out in the country today. Taking pot shots at Prime Minister Narendra Modi Gandhi said "the Prime Minister's job is not to tell the nation his Mann ki Baat but to listen to the mann ki baat of the people," he said. The congress president said the Congress was the "voice" of the country and not just the voice of one person or a community. It was the voice of all the people, he said. "Congress does not want to impose anything on India. We do not want to impose any idea on this country. The Congress party wants to listen to what the people have to say and act accordingly. That's why the doors of Congress is open to everyone," he said. "While Congress listens to to everyone, RSS wants to tell India what to do. They have an ideology which they are convinced about and they want to tell everybody that their ideology is the truth," he said. Comparing the people of India to the ocean, he said the BJP/RSS was like a person who talks to the ocean and wants to control the waves rather than listening to it. Gandhi said he meets the press every week and they are free to ask him any question. "I listen to them. And the only thing our Prime Minister does is every week he tells the country what he thinks. Like a man who gets up in the morning, stands infront of the ocean and tells the ocean what he thinks. Week after week the man comes to ocean and tells the ocean what he thinks. And what the man does not realise is that the ocean does not care about what he thinks," he said in a jibe at the PM. "Modi wants to have two Indias. One for the 15-20 friends of his and the other for the rest of the people," Gandhi said. The congress president said his party would bring out a minimum income guarantee scheme to ensure minimum income to the poor if his party was voted to power. "If Narendra Modi can give Rs 35,000 crore to Nirav Modi, Congress party can give crores and crores to the poor people of India," Gandhi said. He said the Congress party was going to invest much money in the health and education sector. "We want education for all," he said. Praising women, the congress chief described them as the backbone of the country and added that his party would pass the women's reservation bill once they came back to power. Gandhi also lashed out at Modi for his silence on the rape allegation against a BJP MLA in Uttar Pradesh. He alleged that the Modi government destroyed the banking system and said he would open the banking system to crores of younsters. Attacking the ruling CPI(M) in Kerala, he said the left party thinks they can remain in power through violence and referred to the killing of two youth congress activists last month. "No Way. I want to tell you that Kerala is land of justice. These two people (Kripesh and Sarath Lal) will get justice. Those who did it to them would face justice," he said, adding their ideology was "deformed." Continuing his tirade against the CPI-M, Gandhi said the only thing they could do is violence. "There are no jobs. Three lakh women in the cashew industry have lost their jobs... Many cashew processing units have been closed," he said. Gandhi again attacked Modi over the Rafale fighter jet deal and said the Congress will not allow anyone to flee from justice. "The congress party is not going to allow anybody to get away from Justice. It doesn't matter even if he is the prime minister of India. Nobody is going to be allowed to steal from the Air Force," Gandhi said. AP/PTI: President Donald Trumps chief economic adviser says Chinas president is afraid to sit down with Trump until their countries finalize a trade deal. Larry Kudlow, director of the White Houses National Economic Council, says Xi Jinping wants everything agreed to before meeting with Trump because hes afraid Trump might not like it and walk away. Kudlow says Xi wants a signing ceremony, not a negotiating session. Kudlow addressed the trade talks during an appearance Thursday in Washington. He says more work is needed to reach a deal. Trump on Wednesday dangled the prospect of walking away if the ultimate trade agreement isnt to his liking. Last month, Trump cut short a summit with North Koreas Kim Jong Un after they failed to agree on denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: With 2019 Lok Sabha elections looming over the nation, News Nation has conducted an Opinion Poll to gauge the voting intention in the politically crucial Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh. Our reporters travelled across all the Lok Sabha constituencies (Chhattisgarh -11, Madhya Pradesh - 29) and asked people several questions to find out who will have the better chance of winning the ensuing General Elections 2019. So, will the Congress be able to steal the show following its recent victory in Assembly Elections 2018 or the BJP will manage to regain its lost ground in the Hindi heartland states? Stay tuned with us to get the answer of your billion dollar question. As per the News Nation poll survey, the BJP is expected to win 21 of the 29 seats in Madhya Pradesh, witnessing a downfall in its performance in the 2014 Lok Sabha Elections. As far as the vote share is concerned, the BJP is likely to get 41 per cent of the total votes while the Congress may get 35 per cent vote share. In the last Lok Sabha elections, the BJP had won 26 seats in the state while the Congress had managed to garner only three seats. Talking about Chhattisgarh, the BJP, which bagged 10 of the 11 Lok Sabha seats in 2014, is likely to win five seats while the Congress will claim victory on the remaining six seats. A neck-and-neck fight is expected between the BJP and the Congress, with the former likely to get 41 per cent of the votes and the latter expected to garner 42 per cent of the total votes in Chhattisgarh. General Elections in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh are crucial as the BJP will be aiming to avenge its recent debacle in 2018 Assembly Elections. In December 2018, the Congress staged a massive comeback in Chhattisgarh by leading in 67 of the total 90 seats and wresting the state from the BJP, showcasing its best sign of resurgence. The BJP, on the other hand, was reduced to only 18 seats while the Janata Congress Chhattisgarh-Bahujan Samaj Party (JCCJ-BSP) combine managed to win only seven. In Madhya Pradesh, the Shivraj Singh Chouhan-led BJP government suffered a major setback at the hand of the Congress after 15-long years. The Congress, which was locked in a tantalising see-saw battle with the BJP, emerged as the single-largest party with 114 seats. Falling two short of the majority mark of 116, the Congress later got the support of Mayawatis BSP which had won two seats in the state. While Lok Sabha Elections in Madhya Pradesh will take place in four phases during April 29-May 19 period, polls for Lok Sabha constituencies in Chhattisgarh are scheduled to be held in three phases on April 11, 18 and 23. Here are the Highlights: Join us with #NNOpinionPoll as we bring you the most accurate Opinion Poll of the nation every Friday at sharp 06:00 pm. 18:40 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In NN Opinion Poll: 48 per cent people of Chhattisgarh believes that the Modi-led NDA government came up with new employment opportunities. 18:39 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In Chhattisgarh Opinion Poll: While 46 per cent people in the state want Narendra Modi as the Prime Minister of the country for the second consecutive time, 34 per cent people voted for Congress president Rahul Gandhi. 18:33 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In When asked about the most favourable Prime Ministerial candidate in 2019 Lok Sabha Elections, 51 per cent people in Madhya Pradesh voted for Narendra Modi. However, 37 people of the state want Congress president Rahul Gandhi to run the country. 18:19 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In In a thumping performance, the BJP bagged 10 of the 11 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 Lok Sabha Elections. 18:31 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In As far as the seat share is concerned, the Congress is likely to emerge victorious with wins in 6 seats while the BJP may end up getting only 5 seats in Chhattisgarh. 18:15 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In In Chhattisgarh, a neck-and-neck fight is expected between the BJP and the Congress, with the former likely to get 41 per cent of the votes and the latter expected to garner 42 per cent of the total votes. 18:13 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In In 2014 Assembly Elections, the BJP had won 26 seats in the state while the Congress had managed to garner only three seats. 18:12 (IST) Facebook Twitter Whats app Linked In As far as the vote share is concerned, the BJP is likely to get 41 per cent of the total votes while the Congress may get 35 per cent vote share in Madhya Pradesh. New Delhi: Five persons, including three women, were killed and 36 injured after a major portion of a foot overbridge near a busy train station in south Mumbai collapsed on Thursday evening. The bridge, which connected the area near the Times of India building with the iconic Chhatrapati Shivaji Terminus (CST) railway station, was commonly called 'Kasab bridge' as the 26/11 Mumbai attack terrorist passed through it during the strike. The deceased have been identified as Apoorva Prabhu (35), Ranjana Tambe (40), Zahid Shiraj Khan (32), Sarika Kulkarni (35) and Tapendra Singh (35). Prabhu and Tambe were staff members of the G T Hospital, the official said. Some reports claim that two injured are in critical condition.A A Meanwhile, an FIR has been registered against concerned officials of Central Railway and BMC under section 304A (Causing death by negligence) of IPC at the Azaad Maidan Police Station. #UPDATE Mumbai Police: FIR being registered against concerned officials of Central Railway and BMC under section 304A (Causing death by negligence) of IPC at the Azaad Maidan Police Station. https://t.co/NcRQMNuCtB a ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2019 Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis announced a compensation of Rs 5 lakh each to the family of the deceased and said a high-level committee will probe the circumstances under which the 40-year-old over-bridge collapsed. "The injured persons will get Rs 50,000 each and the government will bear the cost of their treatment," Fadnavis said, adding that officials found responsible for the incident will be booked. "I have ordered a high-level inquiry into this unfortunate incident which puts a question mark over the authenticity of the structural audit of bridges carried out across the city," he added. #UPDATE Disaster Management Unit (DMU) of BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation): Five people have died in the incident where part of a foot over bridge near CSMT railway station collapsed. #Mumbai pic.twitter.com/juiLAQZOvk a ANI (@ANI) March 14, 2019 Expressing grief on the incident, Prime Minister Narendra Modi tweeted: "Deeply anguished by the loss of lives due to the foot overbridge accident in Mumbai. My thoughts are with the bereaved families. Wishing that the injured recover at the earliest. The Maharashtra Government is providing all possible assistance to those affected." Meanwhile, Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala targeted the BJP government at the Centre and state and demanded Railway Minister Piyush Goyal's resignation. "Modi Government and Maharashtra Govt are criminally culpable for inaction leading to repeat tragedies-: 29/9/2017-Elphistone Stampede. 3/7/2018-Andheri Bridge Collapse. Rly Minas tall claims of Audit have failed time and again. Rly Min, Piyush Goyal must resign or be sacked," he tweeted. Maharashtra Minister Vinod Tawde said the bridge was not in bad condition and just required minor repairs. aA slab of the bridge had collapsed. Railways and BMC will conduct an inquiry into its maintenance. Bridge wasn't in a bad condition, it required minor repairs for which work was underway. Why was it not closed until the work was completed, it'll also be probed,a Tawde said.A "The state will provide for the treatment of the injured...We will give further update to you as and when we get information," he added. Fire brigade personnel are removing the debris of the bridge. (Image credit: ANI) Ministry of Railways has extended supports to the victims. "The bridge was of BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation). However, we're extending all our supports to the victims. Railway doctors and personnel are cooperating with BMC in relief and rescue operations," the ministry said. According to reports,A the bridge - managed by the BMC -A was 'fixed and revamped' in 2016.A Foot over bridge connecting CST platform 1 north end with B T Lane near Times of India building has collapsed. Injured persons are being shifted to hospitals. Traffic affected. Commuters to use alternate routes. Senior officers are on spot. a Mumbai Police (@MumbaiPolice) March 14, 2019 An eyewitness said the over-bridge was being used by pedestrians even as repair works happened in the morning. Several motorists were also under the bridge when it came down, which led to an increase in the number of injured, an official said. "Fire brigade personnel reached the spot immediately and rescue work is in full swing. We have appealed the motorists to avoid the D N Road to JJ Flyover section," he said. Local Shiv Sena corporator Sujata Sanap said she had alerted concerned officials about the unsafe structure, but they did not act in time. Speaking to reporters, she said, "I have been pursuing the issue of this unsafe bridge since long and also wrote so many letters to officials but they were ignored." The bridge collapse will be jointly probe by the BMC and Central Railways officials, said Vinod Tawde, District Guardian Minister of Mumbai. "I have discussed the issue with Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis as well as with CR General Manager D K Sharma, BMC chief Ajoy Mehta and joint police commissioner (L&W) Deven Bharti. The railways and the BMC will jointly inquire the accident," Tawde told reporters. "The audit report of the BMC had found a need of minor repairs to the bridge," he said. Earlier in July 2018, an over-bridge had collapsed at a railway station in Mumbai's Andheri suburb during heavy rains, disrupting train services, injuring five people and putting the spotlight once again on the creaky infrastructure of this metropolis. In September 2017, a foot over-bridge linking Elphinstone Road and Parel suburban railway stations had collapsed, leading to a stampede in which 22 people were killed and several injured. Some persons are feared dead, disaster management cell sources said. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Following the collapse of the foot overbridge at Mumbais CST station on Thursday evening, Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on Friday said he had asked Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) chief Ajoy Mehta to fix primary responsibility for Thursdays foot overbridge collapse by Friday evening. The chief minister met the injured at the St Georges Hospital in the vicinity. It is shocking that such an accident can take place even after a structural audit. Primary responsibility will be fixed by this evening. I have asked civic chief (Ajoy Mehta) to find out names of those responsible, Fadnavis said. A high-level probe into this incident has already been ordered. Those responsible (for the collapse) will be punished, he added. Earlier in the day, a BMC official had said the foot overbridge was found to be structurally safe when it was audited in August 2016, soon after a British-era bridge over Savitri River got washed away in monsoon downpour in Mahad in Raigad district. During that audit, 354 bridges were checked for their structural soundness. The FOB that collapsed on Thursday was marked C2B. This means it needed minor repairs only. Tenders were floated for the repair but it got held up, the official had said Friday morning. Fadnavis also said he had ordered a re-visit of all earlier structural audits carried out on such structures. As many as six persons were killed after a major portion of a foot overbridge near CST station in south Mumbai collapsed. The bridge connected the bustling Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus railway station with the Azad Maidan Police Station. An eyewitness said when the bridge collapsed, there was a red light at the nearby signal, and that is why the death toll was contained. Another eyewitness said the overbridge was being used despite repairs being carried out since morning. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Ahead of the April 11 Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh, the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) released its first list of 126 candidates. Chief Minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu announced the list in which his son Nara Lokesh and Naidu himself figured, at a late-night press conference. He called it Mission 150 Plus, as the party aimed to win at least 150 out of the total 175 seats in the Assembly. The TDP chief, who released an audio song for the campaign, said he would kick start the campaign from Srikakulam district on March 16 after worshipping Lord Venkateswara atop the Tirumala Hills. He said the first list of candidates for the Lok Sabha election, scheduled simultaneously, would be announced on Friday. We have balanced various equations and selected the candidates. It is now up to the people to bless these candidates as I take the responsibility of their future in my hands, Naidu said. Despite strong opposition, the TDP re-nominated Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao from Sattenapalli constituency in Guntur district. Deputy Chief Minister KE Krishna Murthy and Women Welfare Minister Paritala Sunitha opted out of the contest this time to let their sons fight elections. Naidus son Lokesh too will be fighting his first electoral battle from Mangalagiri constituency in the Amravati capital region. Naidu will be contesting the Assembly election for the seventh time from Kuppam in his native Chittoor district. Meanwhile, former Union minister Panabaka Lakshmi and her husband Krishnaiah joined the TDP after midnight. The couple so far served the Congress party. (With PTI inputs) Bargarh: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Friday claimed that the country was witnessing farmer suicides everyday as the Modi government had failed to fulfil its promise of mitigating their plight. "Suicide of farmers is reported in the country daily as the Modi government did not keep its promises. It made tall claims about farmersa welfare. But it neither waived their loans, nor hiked the minimum support price of paddy," Gandhi said at a public meeting in Bargarh town of west Odisha. Describing Bargarh as the arice bowla of Odisha, the Congress chief said farmers were committing suicide in this district as both the BJP-led government at the Centre and the BJD regime in the state had failed to address the problems of the peasants. The Congress president also accused the Modi government of grabbing farmers land and hand it over to the industrialists.A For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The recent India-Pakistan conflict arose due to terrorists that departed from Pakistan, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Friday, asking Islamabad to stop "harbouring" terrorists. He was referring to the recent escalation in tensions between the two nuclear states following the deadly Pulwama attack. On February 14, at least 42 CRPF personnel were killed in one of the deadliest terror attacks in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district when a Jaish suicide bomber rammed a vehicle carrying over 30 kg of explosives into their bus in Pulwama district that also left many critically wounded. More than 2,500 Central Reserve Police Force personnel, many of them returning from leave to rejoin duty in the Valley, were travelling in the convoy of 78 vehicles when they were ambushed on the Srinagar-Jammu highway at Latoomode in Awantipora in south Kashmir. "We saw what happened with India, the conflict that arose there as a result of terrorists that departed from Pakistan. We need the Pakistanis to step up. They need to stop harbouring terrorists," Pompeo told Fox and Friends in an interview. He said the Trump administration has taken action against Pakistan that no other previous governments have taken. However, he said, "We need Pakistan to do more. They have to stop harbouring these terrorists." Earlier, Pakistan Prime Minister Imran Khan had assured the world that Pakistani soil will not be used for carrying out terrorist strikes in other countries. Addressing a public a rally at Chachro in southern Sindh province near border, Khan accused his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi of resorting to the "politics of hatred" and beating war drums just to win the coming Lok Sabha elections scheduled to be held in May this year. "The politics of hatred, dividing people for votes, is easy politics. This is the politics of Narendra Modi. Divide humans, spread hatred and when a leader starts this, the workers under him do what we saw happened to the Kashmiris in India after Pulwama," Khan said referring to a series of attacks on Kashmiris across the country. For all the Latest World News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: In another jolt to the Congress ahead of the Lok Sabha elections, a senior leader from Haryana, Arvind Kumar Sharma, joined the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Friday. This comes a day after, Sonia Gandhi aide Tom Vadakkan took the saffron plunge. Sharma was a two-time MP from the Karnal constituency. Sharma had quit the Congress to join the BSP during the Assembly elections in 2014. He had been declared the chief ministerial candidate by BSP supremo Mayawati. The party had won only one seat with Sharma losing from both seats. On Thursday, the voice of Congress for the past 15 years, Vadakkan has been known as a close confidant of Sonia Gandhi. In fact, he was the man who witnessed the change of guard at 24, Akbar road in 1998. A staunch Congress supporter, Vadakkan was chosen by Sonia Gandhi to send out the message of her willingness to enter active politics Vadakkan was summoned by Sonias office to carry an important message to then party chief Sitaram Kesri. I got the letter and went to Kesri-jis office but his peon didnt allow me inside. I handed over the letter to Harish Khare, his advisor then. In the letter, Soniaji had expressed her willingness to campaign for the party, which was an indication that she would be finally stepping into active politics, Vadakkan was quoted as saying by the Economic Times in a 2016 report. Apart from being Congress spokesperson, Vadakkan was also a member of National Central Film Censor Board and a delegated Member of Kerala Film Censor Board. In 2009, Kerala Congress had faced revolt over Vadakkans Thrissur candidature. In fact, state spokesman of Youth Congress Gopa Prathap was expelled from party for six years for speaking against Vadakkan. This election season, Congress has faced major blows with prominent faces joining the BJP. On March 12, Sujay Vikhe Patil, son of the leader of opposition in Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe Patil, joined the BJP in the presence of Maharashtra CM Devendra Fadnavis in Mumbai. Reportedly, the development comes after NCP chief Sharad Pawar, whose party is in alliance with the Congress in the state, rejected Sujays request to contest the polls from Ahmednagar Lok Sabha seat. "I am impressed with PM Modi's leadership. We can count on BJP," Sujay said while addressing reporters after joining BJP. He had said, "I've taken this decision against my fathers wishes. I dont know how much my parents will support this decision, but I'll try my best to make my family proud by working under the guidance of BJP. CM and other BJP MLAs were supportive and helped me take the decision." Jaipur: The selection of candidates for the upcoming Lok Sabha polls may turn out to be a tricky affair for both the ruling Congress and opposition BJP in Rajasthan. The northern state has 25 Lok Sabha seats, out of which 23 seats are with the BJP and two with Congress. For the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), there are about ten seats where the party may face dissidence after dropping sitting MPs. BJP state president Madan Lal Saini said the party was at a comfortable position on 13-15 seats from the point of view of candidates selection. "Two meetings for candidate selection will take place soon. For the candidates' selection task, we are comfortable on more than half of the total seats. Some of the sitting MPs have to be dropped due to certain equations and on the basis of their performance and party workers' feedback," he told PTI. Saini said the party has fixed the target of winning all the 25 seats. Jaipur is among such seats where sitting MP Ramcharan Bohra, who had won the 2014 elections with the largest margin of 5.39 lakh votes, is trying to retain his seat, while erstwhile Jaipur royal family member and former MLA Diya Kumari has also expressed her desire to contest from the seat. Jaipur district is divided into two Lok Sabha constituencies--Jaipur and Jaipur rural. Jaipur rural is represented by MoS Information and Broadcasting Rajyavardhan Singh Rathore. Since both Rathore and Kumari are Rajput leaders, the saffron party is expected to avoid fielding Rajput candidates on both the seats of Jaipur, looking at the caste equations. Kumari has also been seen making visits to Tonk and Sawaimadhopur and attending local programmes. She represented Sawaimadhopur assembly constituency during the BJP rule from 2013-2018, but refrained from contesting the 2018 assembly elections. She, however, has shown her willingness to contest the Lok Sabha polls. Though the former MLA has not openly expressed her choice of constituency, Kumari hosted 'Sawa-mani', a grand feast, on her birthday last month in Jaipur which was attended by senior party leaders and thousands of people from Jaipur and Sawaimadhopur. There are chances of a change of candidate in Sriganganagar where sitting MP and former Union minister Nihal Chand Meghwal may be dropped. Barmer, Tonk-Sawaimadhopur, Jhunjhunu, Churu and Bharatpur are among other such seats where the saffron party may face dissidence. For the ruling Congress, Barmer is a tricky seat to handle from where Revenue Minister Harish Chaudhary and veteran BJP leader Jaswant Singh's son Manvendra Singh are demanding ticket. Manvendra had defected to Congress from the BJP ahead of the 2018 assembly elections. He was fielded against then chief minister Vasundhara Raje in Jhalrapatan constituency of Jhalawar district in the state polls. He was defeated by Raje with a margin of over 34,000 votes. Chief Minister Ashok Gehlot's son Vaibhav Gehlot is also keen to contest the Lok Sabha elections, with his choice of seat being Jalore-Sirohi. "He will contest the election if the party high command gives him the chance," the CM told reporters during his Jalore visit recently. PCC president and Deputy Chief Minister Sachin Pilot said the party was fully prepared for the polls and the work on candidate selection was going on. "The Congress is very well prepared for the upcoming election. Winnable candidates will be given tickets and we are hoping that more young people and those from all sections of society come on board," he said. New Delhi: In a major embarrassment for the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), Manish Khanduri - the son of ex-Uttarakhand Chief Minister and sitting MP BC Khanduri, joined the Congress in presence of Rahul Gandhi on Saturday. Khanduri, seen by experts as the Congress partys response to the BJPs defection strategy after it inducted Sonia Gandhis loyalist Tom Vadakkan, is likely to contest from Pauri Garhwal constituency in Uttarakhand. His father BC Khanduri is the sitting BJP MP from the Pauri Garhwal constituency. However, he has announced not to contest the 2019 Lok Sabha elections citing poor health. Addressing a rally in Dehradun, Manish hailed Rahul Gandhis leadership and said that he sought blessings of his father before coming to Dehradun rally where he joined the Grand Old Party. I believe that under Rahul Gandhi's leadership, Congress will make country stronger. Before coming here,I sought blessings of my father. He asked me if I can walk on path of truth, I said, 'yes, he said. Former Uttarakhand chief minister BC Khanduri was removed last year as chairman of the parliamentary standing committee on defence allegedly after he questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi on national security. Congress president Rahul Gandhi latched on to the removal of the former army general from the committee to attack the BJP. Speaking at his mega Dehradun rally, Gandhi said, He (BC Khanduri) gave all his life to Army. But when he asked a question on national security in Parliament & spoke the truth that the way govt should help Army, it is not there, then he was removed from the Chairmanship of that Committee. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday issued a notice to Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on a plea filed by Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) chief Lalu Prasad seeking bail in three fodder scam cases. The RJD chief, who is currently lodged in the Birsa Munda Central Jail in Ranchi, had earlier sought the bail in the Jharkhand High Court on medical grounds. However, the Jharkhand High Court on January 10 had rejected his plea after CBI's opposition. A bench headed by Chief Justice Ranjan Gogoi asked the probe agency to respond within two weeks on Lalus plea challenging the January 10 verdict of the Jharkhand High Court. The over Rs 900 crore fodder scam relates to fraudulent withdrawal of money from treasuries in the Animal Husbandry department in early 1990s when Bihar and Jharkhand were one state and the RJD was in power with Yadav the chief minister. Earlier in March last year, the RJD chief was sentenced to 14 years in jail in the fourth fodder scam case. The special court also imposed a fine of Rs 60 lakh on the former chief minister of Bihar. Lalu's conviction has been made under different sections of IPC & sections of Prevention of corruption Act. The court had convicted Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) leader Lalu Prasad Yadav on Monday in a case relating to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 3.13 crore from December 1995 to January 1996 from the Dumka treasury. A special CBI court on January 24, 2018 had sentenced Lalu Prasad and Jagannath Mishra to five years in jail in a fodder scam case related to fraudulent withdrawal of Rs 37.62 crore from the Chaibasa treasury. The RJD supremo was convicted on September 30, 2013 in the RC 20A/96 case of Chaibasa pertaining to illegal withdrawal of Rs 37.7 crore in the 1990s. He got five years prison term in the case following which he was disqualified from the Lok Sabha and barred from contesting elections for six years after completion of jail term. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: With the Lok Sabha elections nearing and alliance talks gaining pace in all states, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav has come up with some advice for the Congress. Without naming the Congress, Yadav said that it is necessary to respect other parties in order to come in power and the BJP has managed to keep its allies intact despite the pressure exterted by them. "They (the BJP) know that to come to power, you have to respect other parties. BJP is accepting alliances even at the cost of fewer seats... Despite all the pressures being exerted upon them, BJP still chooses them (allies)," Yadav said in an interview to NDTV. This comes days after the Samajwadi Party and Bahujan Samaj Party forged an alliance in Uttar Pradesh for the upcoming Lok Sabha elections while keeping the Congress out of the pact. Yadav, however, later said that the Congress was part of the alliance as the SP-BSP bonhomie had not fielded candidates on Amethi and Rae Bareli Lok Sabha seats. Meanwhile, the Congress announced to contest on all 80 seats in the politically crucial state on its own. Also, it joined hands with a the little-known Mahan Dal. So far, the Congress has failed to forge alliance with prominent parties, not only in Uttar Pradesh but also with Arvind Kejriwal's Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Delhi and Mamata Banerjee's TMC in West Bengal. On the other hand, the BJP has managed to placate its sulking allies SBSP and Apna Dal (Sonelal) in Uttar Pradesh, LJP and JD(U) in Bihar and Shiv Sena in Maharashtra, which wanted a bigger share of seats. New Delhi: Tech giants, Facebook, YouTube and Google said they were working to remove videos and other content associated with the deadly terrorist attacks. As many as 49 people killed and 20 others injured in deadly mass shooting at two mosques in Christchurch on Friday, New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said. At least 10 people were killed at Linwood Masjid mosque and 30 at the Al Noor Mosque near Hagley Park. The police have detained four people, including a woman, in connection with the shootings and recovered several improvised explosive devices. Facebook said it removed the video after New Zealand police alerted the company to it, plus the suspected shooters Facebook and Instagram accounts. Teams from across the company have been responding to reports and blocking content, the company said. Were also removing any praise or support for the crime and the shooter or shooters as soon as were aware, a company spokeswoman said Friday. "Our hearts go out to the victims, their families and the community affected by this horrendous act," Facebook New Zealand spokeswoman Mia Garlick said in a statement. "Since the attack happened, teams from across Facebook have been working around the clock to respond to reports and block content, proactively identify content which violates our standards and to support first responders and law enforcement," she said. "We are adding each video we to find to an internal data base which enables us to detect and automatically remove copies of the videos when uploaded again. We urge people to report all instances to us so our systems can block the video from being shared again." YouTube said it is working to remove videos as it becomes aware of them, and urged users to flag videos that may violate the sites guidelines. As with any major tragedy, we will work cooperatively with the authorities, a spokesperson for YouTube parent company Google said. The shooter also left a 74-page manifesto that he posted on social media under the name Brenton Tarrant, identifying himself as a 28-year-old Australian and white nationalist who was out to avenge attacks in Europe perpetrated by Muslims. New Delhi: In yet another awful terror attack, a lady Special Police Officer (SPO) was shot dead by suspected terrorists at the Vehil area of south Kashmir's Shopian district on Saturday. The SPO, identified as Khushboo Jan, was fired upon by unidentified gunmen from close range around 2:40 pm at her Shopian residence. Immediately after the incident, Jan was evacuated to a hospital where she succumbed to her injuries. Meanwhile, a joint team of Army, Special Operation Group of Police and CRPF cordoned off the area and launched a search operation to nab the assailants. Denouncing the gruesome terror attack in the heart of Kashmir Valley, the Jammu and Kashmir police said, "Terrorists today fired on a policewoman Khushboo Jan at her village in Vehil area of Shopian district. She sustained critical injuries and was evacuated to a hospital where she succumbed. We condemn this gruesome terror act and stand by her family at this critical juncture". Read | Pakistan violates ceasefire in Mankote sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch "Separately, police have registered a case and initiated an investigation in the matter," they added. Jammu and Kashmir police: Separately, police has registered a case and initiated investigation in the matter https://t.co/Hf3GKTuuQw ANI (@ANI) March 16, 2019 The development comes barely hours after Pakistan violated ceasefire yet again in the Mankote sector of Jammu and Kashmir's Poonch district this afternoon. Pakistan troops used heavy artillery to hit areas in Mankote sector of the district, prompting the Indian Army to retaliate strongly. However, no casualty has bee reported from either side in the cross-border firing till the time. The India-Pakistan border skirmishes witnessed a sudden spurt following India's preemptive air strike on a Jaish-e-Mohammed terror camp in Balakot on February 26 to avenge the February 14 Pulwama terror attack, which left 42 CRPF personnel dead and dozens of others injured. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. The external affairs ministry in its statement said that External affairs minister (EAM) S Jaishankar will visit Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan and Armenia during October 10-13 (Sunday to Wednesday) to take forward bilateral relations and strengthen cooperation in areas ranging from security to trade. As per schedule, the EAM will be in Kyrgyzstan during October 10-11. This will be his prime visit to the country, and he will meet the foreign minister and the president. Numerous agreements and MoUs are expected to be signed during the visit. The schedule says that during October 11-12, Jaishankar will be in Kazakhstan to attend the ministerial meeting of the Conference of Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Nur Sultan. Finally, Jaishankar will be in Armenia during October 12-13. This will be the first visit by an Indian foreign minister to independent Armenia. Jaishankar will meet his Armenian counterpart, the prime minister and the president of the National Assembly. Jaishankar is also expected to hold talks with the deputy prime minister and foreign minister of Kazakhstan and meet other top Kazakh leaders. EAM meets Ex Mauritian PM Ramgoolam after his Health recovery EAM Jaishankar on rise of China, Quad shouldnt be seen as a ganging up PM Narendra Modi holds bilateral talks with Mette Frederiksen at Hyderabad House New Delhi: Ashish Mishra, son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra Teni, is the main accused in the violence that erupted after clashes between farmers and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers in Lakhimpur Kheri in Uttar Pradesh. Ashish Mishra has been summoned by the police but did not appear before the investigating team. Amidst talk of Ashish fleeing the country to Nepal, Union Minister Ajay Mishra Teni had clarified a day earlier that Ashish had not gone anywhere. He will appear with evidence tomorrow. Amidst all this, Ashish Mishra has been asked to appear before the investigating team by 11 pm today. The investigating team has asked Ashish Mishra to appear before it by 11 pm. Tight security arrangements have been made in the police line for Ashish's appearance before the investigating team. The police line has been converted into a cantonment in view of Ashish Mishra's flesh. Barricades have been put up everywhere. Police personnel have been deployed at every corner. Security is such that even birds cannot knock-on. Ajay Mishra is alleged to have crushed farmers within his car, killing 4 farmers, after which 4 others were beaten to death by angry protesters. Reserve Bank scraps G-SAP signalling resumption of liquidity normalisation Read 6 precious thoughts of Ram Manohar Lohia Horoscope 9 Oct: Today, these zodiac signs will get back stalled money The South Sudan government has approved USD 10 million (INR 75,13,15,000/- )as an emergency relief package to support people affected by floods in 7 states across the country since May, according to reports. As per the Minister of Information and Broadcasting, Michael Makuei Lueth, the relief package approved by the cabinet will be used to help resettle those displaced from their homes, in addition to providing food relief to them. It comes after the people who are displaced are very much affected by floods, and after the floods have subsided they need to be resettled in their areas of origin because they don't have anything at present and all that they need is to be rescued now," he told journalists after the weekly cabinet meeting. According to estimates, more or less 4,00,000 people have been affected and displaced by heavy flooding, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA recently revealed that the worst affected populations by floods are in Jonglei, Unity, Warrap, Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Lakes, Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal and Upper Nile state. Russia extends support to ease Europe energy crisis: Foreign Minister Pakistan FM, US Deputy Secy of State mull Afghan situation, bilateral ties High-level officials to move forward India-US agenda set by Modi, Biden Damascus: Syria has been facing civil war for more than 10 years, causing food shortages in the country. Kahwa, a mother of eight in eastern Syria, has said that she has faced a lot of problems feeding her children due to a serious wheat crisis in the country. In one round Syria used to produce more than the domestic needs of wheat in the Middle East. It was the only country in the region to do so. But now Syria needs to import wheat. Professor Omar Abdul Razzaq, dean of agriculture faculty at Euphrates University in Deir Ezzor and Raqqa, says Syria's northeastern region produced between 50 and 60 per cent of Syria's wheat production. But during the civil war, the area was out of the country's control. In 2020, the country grew only 1 million tonnes of wheat, which is only one-third of its requirement. The Syrian government limited the amount of food that each family can buy. On the other hand, the government's decision to double prices twice in the past year has put millions of Syrians in poverty. According to the UN report, 1.24 million Syrian civilians, who make up three-quarters of the population, are facing food insecurity. In fact, the country has lost 1million hectares of land after the war. The Syrian government has been fighting the Islamic State terror group for a long time. Iran to continue sending oil fuel product shipments to Lebanon South Sudan approves USD 10-milion relief aid to flood victims Unusual: This man's nose is growing rapidly! After the Tikunia incident in Lakhimpur Kheri, there is an uproar that is not going to stop so far. You must be aware that the minister's son Ashish has not appeared before the crime branch team so far. On the other hand, Ashish has fled to Nepal as per the information received from sources. It is also being said that the Shiromani Akali Dal delegation will visit Lakhimpur Kheri today and meet the families of the victims. Navjot Singh Sidhu is also likely to visit Lakhimpur today. Amidst all this, internet services in Lakhimpur Kheri have again been suspended late last Friday evening. The Internet was switched off earlier also but was later restored. Internet services have been suspended again last evening. Also, let you know that Navjot Singh Sidhu was sitting on a silent fast at journalist Raman Kashyap's house in Nighasan. Sidhu had said yesterday that he would not step down from the fast until the minister's sons were arrested. He had put his bed at the journalist's house and sat on abstinence in muteness. On the other hand, Ajay Mishra said, 'My son has not gone anywhere, he is in his cell in Shahpura. If you don't believe it, let's go to Lakhimpur.' He also said, 'My son is innocent. Today, the son has given a written reply to the notice. The son did not appear to be recovering. The son will appear before the investigating agency tomorrow and give evidence of his innocence. The incident is unfortunate and it is being used politically. There is no bias in our party. There will be an impartial inquiry, we will cooperate fully in it. The culprits will be severely punished.' He said some miscreants dressed as farmers were involved in the crowd. VIDEO: Mother Gauri cried bitterly when she sees son Aryan going to Jail 4 zodiac signs to be bothered today! Lakhimpur Violence: Union Minister's son Ashish Mishra has deadline till 11 pm Home Just In 7 books about Nepal in English that you should read to know the country For many, the holidays are ideal to catch up on reading. While you might have a list of books you want to read, we bring you a list of books about Nepal that will help you understand what the country was in the past. These books touch mostly on the modern history of Nepal that deals with tourism, politics and social life. We are sure that by the end of these books, you will get a great understanding of the country and might be able to grasp why Nepal is what it is today. From the formation of Nepals first political party to laying the foundation of Nepals first hotel, the books we have listed for you today have them all. So, what are you waiting for? Go get them. 1. The Snow Leopard (Peter Matthiessen) This vintage classic is a must-read. Written by Peter Matthiessen, the book tells the journey of the writer and Gorge Schaller, a naturalist, who came to Nepal to study Himalayan blue sheep and snow leopards in the Dolpo region of Nepal. They travel on foot from Pokhara to Shey Gompa. They also travel further beyond to the Crystal monastery. The writer also dwells a lot on the need for meditation and touches on some aspects of Zen Buddhism. It is a timeless classic and one of the best travel books written about Nepal. 2. Tiger for Breakfast (Michel Peissel) Tiger for Breakfast is a book about a man who changed the way Nepal perceived tourism. Written by Michel Peissel, the book tells the story of Boris Lissanevitch, a Russian man who fled his country and became a socialite in India after which he moved to Nepal to party with the kings. It is personal, interesting and paints an interesting picture of how things were back in the 60s and 70s in Kathmandu. Chapters about Queen Elizabeth IIs visit are quite interesting along with how he started one of Nepals first hotels. His legacy is so vast that there are people who still speak of him and how he changed the face of Nepals tourism. 3. House of Snow (Ranulph Fiennes and Ed Douglas) If you really want to read something wholesome, this is it. The book has 50 excerpts of fiction and non-fiction written by national treasures, adventurers, writers, scholars and journalists like Laxmi Prasad Devkota, Jon Krakauer, Manjushree Thapa, Thomas Bell, and Michael Hutt. All profits from sales will be donated to charities providing relief from the 2015 earthquakes. The book contains the most beautiful stories that introduce Nepal to the world. But, be selective and read what story interests you. A lot of people have said that the book has excellent journalism, mystical stories from foreigners, some touching poetry, and some wonderful fiction. If you pick this book, start with Isobels Hiltons Letter from Kathmandu. Thank us later. 4. Kathmandu (Thomas Bell) Like the title, the book is about Kathmandu and how it has changed over time. It is emotional and funny. It is both happy and sad as it talks about the citys changing architecture, history, politics, society and most importantly the peoples life. People who have grown up in Kathmandu will relate to him along with people who have migrated here. It is detailed and shows how there are similarities in the lives of people even though much has changed. One review of the book stated how this book was a portrait of Kathmandu, taking the reader from Manjushree to the Maoists via witches, colonial Orientalists, LSD cults, spies and wars. 5. The Tutor of History (Manjushree Thapa) The book is fictional, but the characters are relatable. Set in the 90s, the book sheds light on how Nepal was back then. It is an easy read and has moments, some really great moments that make you question things. Written by a woman, she has portrayed Nepals society excellently. There are parts that are a bit lethargic, but the ending more than makes up for it. It is a simple story that is written beautifully by one of Nepals best authors. Even though the book is two decades old, the characters depicted are relatable to this day. 6. Nepal Nexus (Sudheer Sharma) Written by journalist Sudheer Sharma, Nepal Nexus is an updated version of Prayogshala, a book written by him in Nepali. The book traces Nepals recent history and focuses mostly on the decade-long armed conflict that plagued the country for over two decades. Sharma writes about almost all major players from former kings to current leaders and also analyses how that affected Nepal-India relations. For anyone wanting to learn about Nepali politics and the various contemporary events, this book is a must-read. 7. Mahesh Chandra Regmi Series NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Rosen Law Firm, P.A. Logo WHY: Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds: (a) purchasers of the securities of ATI Physical Therapy, Inc. f/k/a Fortress Value Acquisition Corp. II (NYSE: ATIP) between April 1, 2021 and July 23, 2021, inclusive (the "Class Period"); and/or (b) investors who held Fortress Value Acquisition Corp. II ("FVAC") Class A common stock as of May 24, 2021 and were eligible to vote at FVAC's June 15, 2021 special meeting, of the important October 15, 2021 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased ATI securities during the Class Period you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the ATI class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2132.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than October 15, 2021. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder derivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. Story continues DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, defendants throughout the Class Period made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) ATI was experiencing attrition among its physical therapists; (2) ATI faced increasing competition for clinicians in the labor market; (3) as a result of the foregoing, ATI faced difficulties retaining therapists and incurred increased labor costs; (4) as a result of the labor shortage, ATI would open fewer new clinics; and (5) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about ATI's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the ATI class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2132.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter: https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. Contact Information: Laurence Rosen, Esq. Phillip Kim, Esq. The Rosen Law Firm, P.A. 275 Madison Avenue, 40th Floor New York, NY 10016 Tel: (212) 686-1060 Toll Free: (866) 767-3653 Fax: (212) 202-3827 lrosen@rosenlegal.com pkim@rosenlegal.com cases@rosenlegal.com www.rosenlegal.com Cision View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/atip-loss-alert-rosen-national-trial-lawyers-encourages-ati-physical-therapy-inc-fka-fortress-value-acquisition-corp-ii-investors-with-losses-in-excess-of-100k-to-secure-counsel-before-important-october-15-deadline-in-sec-301396435.html SOURCE Rosen Law Firm, P.A. Biden, Ireland The suburbs of Cork, Irelands second-largest city, are an unlikely location for the European base of the worlds largest company. Apples sprawling campus has been in the city of 210,000 people for more than four decades. The iPhone maker and a host of multinational giants including Google, Pfizer and Salesforce have been attracted to the Emerald isle not by its economic prowess but a headline corporate tax rate of just 12.5pc. But President Biden has cast doubt over Irelands glory days as the EUs foremost tax haven. In his first 100 days as the leader of the worlds largest economy, he took on Dublin in a push for a global minimum corporate tax rate. A deal brokered by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) involving 140 countries for a 15pc global minimum rate for corporate tax is expected to be sealed on Friday after Dublin caved in its fight at the last minute despite fears over ending its sacred low 12.5pc rate. Economists argue, however, that Ireland will still have competitive tax rates after being given breathing space by Britain to join the deal. The UK is raising its corporate tax from 19pc to 25pc from 2023, denting its ability to woo foreign multinationals and maintaining Irelands advantage. While the new rules threaten its lucrative low business tax model, Ireland will remain competitive compared to its nearest neighbour while also offering a gateway to the European Union. People are very worried about upsetting the corporate tax offering just in case it might hurt growth, says Conall Mac Coille, chief economist at Davy, Irelands largest wealth manager. Ireland can reasonably expect to attract foreign direct investment to Europe because this is a competitive place to be and even more so now given what the UK has done. The countrys initial refusal in July to back the proposed 15pc minimum tax rate for companies with turnover of more than 750m angered the White House and fellow EU member states, viewed as a snub to the President himself who repeatedly flaunts his Irish heritage. Story continues Now, it joins 140 countries in agreeing to the fresh system. Estonia also dropped resistance on Thursday, leaving Hungary as the last remaining challenger. The aim is to crack down on US corporations fleeing home shores to lower tax rate destinations. The OECD estimates an extra $150bn in global tax revenue will be generated by the 15pc rate. Likely to be implemented in 2023, new rules will also allow countries the right to slap taxes on large companies based on where they make their sales, shifting to where more than $100bn of profits are booked. For example, Apple books more revenue in Ireland than any other company, according to the Irish Times top 1000 companies list. Apple Inc.'s campus in Cork, Ireland - Aidan Crawley/Bloomberg Irelands 12.5pc rate is considered sacred. Very few major economies have a lower rate with corporate tax, with Hungary and Switzerland falling just slightly below. There is no escaping that the Irish economic and fiscal performance in recent decades has been partly driven by an ability to attract foreign investment, says Ricardo Amaro, economist at Oxford Economics. The fact that Ireland has been so successful at attracting foreign investment in recent years and decades means that Ireland has perhaps more to lose than most other countries Its a very important revenue stream now. Irelands finance minister Paschal Donohoe put on a brave face as they climbed down on Thursday, insisting that the deal is a balance between our tax competitiveness and our broader place in the world. The new rate will, at least, be far lower than the initial 21pc proposed by the White House. A source with knowledge of the talks says it had little choice but to accept a deal. Almost all of the incoming foreign direct investment in Ireland is American, they say. In terms of the Americans deciding ... to raise the Global Intangible Low-Taxed Income and to just tax a whole lot more on any American company that has activities in Ireland, they don't need to ask anyone's opinion, especially not Irelands, they argued. So what does Ireland do? What does Ireland gain by fighting and trying to stop this? Bank of America estimates 60pc of US multinationals profits are booked in just seven small countries deemed tax havens: Bermuda, the Cayman Islands, Ireland, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Singapore and Switzerland. That share has doubled from around 30pc in 2000, a trend its economists attribute to the rising importance of intangible assets, such as intellectual property, which gives firms more wriggle room to book resources in tax havens. American corporate titans helped the Celtic Tiger come roaring back post-2008, lifting Ireland out of the ruins of the financial crisis after its property bubble burst. Foreign multinationals grip on the Irish economy is far greater than in other countries, leaving it vulnerable to an exodus. Staggering growth rates after 2008 have been powered by multinationals relocating to Ireland, boosting GDP by as much as 25pc in 2015. The contribution from foreign direct investments is incredibly strong and there is no doubt about it: the corporation tax rate has played a significant role in that regard, says Jim Power, independent economist and former chief economist at Bank of Ireland, while adding that he would be surprised if multinationals leave as a result of the changes. Oxford Economics estimates 43pc of Irelands gross value added was from foreign-owned multinationals in 2018, its last available data, far more than any other EU country and the UKs 20pc. The governments tax take has become increasingly reliant on a small group of US giants: corporate taxes made up a fifth of government revenue last year, compared to just 6pc in the UK in 2019-20. Just 10 foreign multinationals now pay more than half of the countrys corporate tax take, generating 6bn in 2020, up from 40pc in 2019. Overseas giants also provide a third of all jobs in Ireland - almost 800,000 workers - and contribute to half of all employment taxes at a value of 13bn. Experts say it is a victory compared to the 21pc rate first proposed by the White House, but risks from a further clampdown loom. We will still maintain the tax advantage, its a modest deterioration, says Power. At least it is being removed [from the 15pc wording]. As a consequence of that, Ireland deemed that a little bit of a victory and will now sign up. But the reality is down the road there's nothing to suggest there won't be another move to push this up to 20pc. This is where the world is going. According to Oxford Economics, the deal risks leaving Ireland as one of Europes most indebted countries. In June it estimated the changes would increase its debt as a share of gross national income by nine percentage points to more than 120pc by 2028, piling Ireland with the third-largest debt mountain in Europe. Part of the OECD deal, which ensures corporate giants pay tax proportionately to where their revenues are made, also means Irelands tax base will fall. In 2018 a third of US multinational profits in Europe were booked in Ireland, the Netherlands and Luxembourg but together they accounted for just 5pc of e-commerce revenue in the region. I'd be more concerned about that element of the global tax reform, rather than the rate itself, says Power. The aim is to ensure that corporations pay more tax in jurisdictions where the economic activity occurs rather than where the balance sheet resides. We know, for example, since 2015 there has been a very significant inflow of intellectual property assets into Ireland for tax reasons. Experts say they still expect Ireland - the only native English-speaking country left in the EU - to remain a competitive choice for corporate titans, with its business-friendly environment and educated workforce. It remains competitive against neighbour Britain, which is hiking headline corporate tax rates from 19pc to 25pc. But some believe higher tax bills for companies could mark a stepping stone for Ireland away from its lucrative economic model. Economists warn of a need to focus on home-grown sectors that have suffered as multinationals were lured in. There is a debate in Ireland that productivity and investments in the domestic parts of the economy has been lacking, says Mac Coille. Small and medium-sized companies "have continued to pay down their debts and mortgage lending is only just about stable, so in some respects our domestic economy has lagged behind the UK in terms of the recovery. After a strong performance in the 2020 election, the lefist Sinn Fein is expected to be the largest party at the next national vote. With the corporate tax rate set to rise, some expect a changing of the guard in Dublin could shift the debate on Irelands economic model. While the Irish economy will largely weather Bidens global tax upheaval, its competitive edge is being blunted and that could usher in a new era for Dublin. Boston, Massachusetts--(Newsfile Corp. - October 9, 2021) - The Thornton Law Firm alerts investors that it is investigating Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: DNA) for potential securities violations. Investors who currently own shares or options of DNA may contact the Thornton Law Firm's investor protection team by visiting www.tenlaw.com/cases/Ginkgo for more information. Investors may also email investors@tenlaw.com or call 617-531-3917. FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.tenlaw.com/cases/Ginkgo On October 6, 2021, short seller Scorpion Capital released a report alleging that Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings is a "colossal scam." The 175-page report alleges that Ginkgo Bioworks' business model is a "shell game," and that the company is highly dependent on related party transaction revenues. The report charges that the company is a "Frankenstein mash-up of the worst frauds of the last 20 years." Ginkgo Bioworks Holdings went public via a deSPAC transaction with blank check company Soaring Eagle Acquisition Corporation in September 2021. Shares of Ginkgo Bioworks have fallen 20% after publication of the report. FOR MORE INFORMATION: www.tenlaw.com/cases/Ginkgo Thornton Law Firm's securities attorneys are highly experienced in representing investors in recovering damages caused by violations of the securities laws. Its attorneys have established track records litigating securities cases in courts throughout the country and recovering losses on behalf of investors. This may be considered Attorney Advertising in some jurisdictions. Prior results do not guarantee or predict a similar outcome with respect to any future matter. CONTACT: Thornton Law Firm LLP 1 Lincoln Street State Street Financial Center Boston, MA 02111 www.tenlaw.com/cases/Ginkgo To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99087 New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 9, 2021) - Dr. Hussen is pleased to announce that his book on the Denial of Independence: How the Four Powers and Italy Set up Somalia for Failure and Dismemberment has come out. At a time when the world is struggling to resolve postwar crisis, Dr. Hussen provides insight into what was done wrong in Somalia immediately after the war. He uses the oral account of his late father, Hagi Mohamed Hussein, leader of the anti-colonial movement in Southern Somalia, as well as material from the national archives in Italy, Britain, United States, and the United Nations. Denial of Independence Dr. Hussen attributes the causes of the Somali tragedy on the economic subordination left behind by Italy, the seizure of indigenous land, and using such land to grow cash crops thus depriving the country of its capacity to feed itself. He points out that the Italian use of the institutions of indirect rule, such as clan chiefs, notables, and elders held the country stagnant while the integration of the fascist-trained native militia forces, known as "banda" into the army and police force set the stage for instability. He adds that Italy left behind a system of government based on favoritism and corruption, playing one clan against another, only to prove how divided the Somali people were and how distant the prospect of a Somali nation. While Italian colonialism bears much of the blame, so do the Four Powers who used the disposition of the former Italian Colonies to advance their strategic interests. And when the Four Powers could not agree among themselves, they passed the matter to a polarized United Nations, which not only denied immediate independence to Somalia, but threw her back into the lap of her colonial master, Italy, as trustee for ten years, contrary to the wishes and welfare of the majority of the Somali people. Dr. Hussen graduated from the University of Rome with a Dottore in Civil Engineering. He completed the PHD Program in Traffic Engineering at the same university. He also has a Master's Degree in Construction from the Southern Polytechnic State University in Marietta, Georgia. He worked extensively in Eastern and Central Africa as Project Engineer for fifteen years in the construction of roads, livestock isolation facilities, primary health care units, and schools. Story continues Denial of Independence: How the Four Powers and Italy Set up Somalia for Failure and Dismemberment is available for purchase on Amazon. Media Contact Jerry Reid eBook or Print jerry@ebookorprint.com Source: Dr. Hussen To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99141 From what we can see, insiders were net buyers in Japan Gold Corp.'s (CVE:JG ) during the past 12 months. That is, insiders acquired the stock in greater numbers than they sold it. While insider transactions are not the most important thing when it comes to long-term investing, we do think it is perfectly logical to keep tabs on what insiders are doing. See our latest analysis for Japan Gold Japan Gold Insider Transactions Over The Last Year Over the last year, we can see that the biggest insider purchase was by Chairman & CEO John Proust for CA$226k worth of shares, at about CA$0.35 per share. That means that even when the share price was higher than CA$0.27 (the recent price), an insider wanted to purchase shares. It's very possible they regret the purchase, but it's more likely they are bullish about the company. We always take careful note of the price insiders pay when purchasing shares. It is encouraging to see an insider paid above the current price for shares, as it suggests they saw value, even at higher levels. John Proust was the only individual insider to buy shares in the last twelve months. We note that John Proust was both the biggest buyer and the biggest seller. The chart below shows insider transactions (by companies and individuals) over the last year. By clicking on the graph below, you can see the precise details of each insider transaction! Japan Gold is not the only stock insiders are buying. So take a peek at this free list of growing companies with insider buying. Insider Ownership of Japan Gold Another way to test the alignment between the leaders of a company and other shareholders is to look at how many shares they own. A high insider ownership often makes company leadership more mindful of shareholder interests. From our data, it seems that Japan Gold insiders own 6.5% of the company, worth about CA$3.9m. Overall, this level of ownership isn't that impressive, but it's certainly better than nothing! Story continues What Might The Insider Transactions At Japan Gold Tell Us? It doesn't really mean much that no insider has traded Japan Gold shares in the last quarter. On a brighter note, the transactions over the last year are encouraging. While we have no worries about the insider transactions, we'd be more comfortable if they owned more Japan Gold stock. In addition to knowing about insider transactions going on, it's beneficial to identify the risks facing Japan Gold. To that end, you should learn about the 4 warning signs we've spotted with Japan Gold (including 1 which is a bit unpleasant). But note: Japan Gold may not be the best stock to buy. So take a peek at this free list of interesting companies with high ROE and low debt. For the purposes of this article, insiders are those individuals who report their transactions to the relevant regulatory body. We currently account for open market transactions and private dispositions, but not derivative transactions. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. Ive literally run out of strength, Martha Sepulveda says. Im fighting to rest. Almost three years ago, she was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative condition that targets the nervous system, weakens muscles and severely affects mobility. ( Camila Jaramillo Salazar via Twitter/@Fede0830) Hearing Martha Sepulvedas hearty belly laughs at a Medellin restaurant, she appears to be the epitome of carefree joy. She pauses between sips of beer to joke with her son, Federico Redondo, feasts on patacon a local delicacy of fried green plantain and envelops the establishment with her contagious joie de vivre. Were it not for the presence of a news crew, it would appear to just be another celebration. The special occasion? Ms Sepulvedas impending death. Im in good spirits, she tells Noticias Caracol s Juan David Laverde . Im at peace since they authorised the procedure; I laugh more, get better sleep. The procedure shes referring to is euthanasia. On Sunday, the 51-year-old will be the 158th person to be euthanized in Colombia since it was legalized in 2015. Out of the group, shell have the distinction of being the first non-terminal patient to receive it. Nearly three years ago, Ms Sepulveda was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a degenerative condition also known as Lou Gehrigs disease, that targets the nervous system, weakens muscles and severely affects mobility. Most recent stats from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention estimate that 16,000 people in the United States have ALS. In Ms Sepulvedas native country, the number of cases is around 2,500. A combination of therapy and medication can help mitigate pain and discomfort, but there is no cure. I might be a coward, but I dont want to suffer any longer, Ms Sepulveda, whos been dependent on a wheelchair since last year says, adding that theres no fight left in her. Ive literally run out of strength. Fight for what? Im fighting to rest, she continues, punctuating her comment with a trademark laugh. She says that though hesitant at first, her 83-year-old mother supports her decision, as do her 11 siblings. Not everybody shares their resignation. The Episcopal Conference of Colombia, which is composed of all the bishops from the countrys dioceses, was among the first to react. The organization called for a national prayer chain and publicly condemned the choice. Story continues In accordance with our deepest Christian convictions, death cannot be the therapeutic answer to pain and suffering in any case, monsignor Francisco Antonio Ceballos Escobar said in a video statement posted to Facebook. Death resulting from assisted suicide or euthanasia isnt compatible with our interpretation of dignified human life, unlike the utilization of palliative care. During the recorded missive, the clergyman also criticized the press coverage around the case, which he called a type of euthanasia propaganda in a country already marked by violence. Catholicism runs deep in Colombia, and its variant of the Roman Catholic religion is considered one of the most traditional and conservative in Latin America. A 2014 study by the Pew Research Center found that 79 per cent of the population identifies as Catholic. Currently , the nation boasts the seventh largest Catholic population in the world. Ms Sepulveda, a Catholic herself, considers her elective exit to be part of Gods plan. On a spiritual plane, Im totally at peace, she reiterated. Im a Catholic, I consider myself to be a firm believer in God, but God doesnt want to see me or any other person in agony. No father wants to see His children suffer. Still, its proven hard to find anyone in the church to cosign her conviction. She recently went to confession, but hasnt been able to convince a priest to preemptively perform last rites. They ask me why, and my answer is always the same. Because Im suffering; because I believe in a God who doesnt want to see me like this, Ms Sepulveda says. The way I see it, God is allowing all of this Hes rewarding me in a way, because I wont be bedridden anymore. Her faith also informed her choice of day to die. I chose for it to be on Sunday since we all go to church that day, she says. Since the beginning, Ive wanted for it to land on a Sunday and have the whole process the cremation, handing over the remains and the eucharist to be on the same day. I dont want a viewing, as I feel like that extends peoples anguish. The most humane route Theres clearly been polarisation, Ms Sepulvedas attorney, Camila Jaramillo Salazar, said during a recent interview with RPP Noticias. Acknowledging the religious commotion attached to it, shes thankful the case has brought the conversation of dignified death to the forefront. Her clients decision, she said, was not knee-jerk, and was meditated and reflected upon for several months. In order to access euthanasia, she was first evaluated by a medical committee, including a clinical psychologist who ruled out depression and coercion. Its the most humane route, Ms Jaramillo Salazar insisted. We all want to live and we all want to be healthy. Asked about her clients spirits, she summed it up thusly: Shes happy, shes peaceful, shes with her family and is sure that shes making the right decision. Its a decision Ms Sepulvedas son, Federico, has come to terms with. I see it as the greatest act of love Ill ever make, because I need my mom a priori and I want her to be by my side, the law student told Noticias Caracol. Im now focused on making her happy, making her laugh, having fun with her and ensuring that her stay on Earth, whatevers left of it, is an enjoyable one. The 22-year-olds latest social media posts attests as much. On September 28, he tweeted a couple of pictures featuring him and his beaming mom. Ill do anything for that smile, he captioned the snaps. Por esa sonrisa lo que sea. pic.twitter.com/uzPkWPqZdk Federico Redondo Sepulveda (@Fede0830) September 28, 2021 With information from Juan David Laverde/Noticias Caracol and Elmer Huerta/RPP Noticias Read More Vatican declares euthanasia and assisted suicide intrinsically evil Chile legislature OKs euthanasia bill, which heads to Senate How a hypothetical design has the potential to change how we view euthanasia New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - October 9, 2021) - Pomerantz LLP is investigating claims on behalf of investors of Yalla Group Limited ("Yalla" or the "Company") (NYSE: YALA). Such investors are advised to contact Robert S. Willoughby at newaction@pomlaw.com or 888-476-6529, ext. 7980. The investigation concerns whether Yalla and certain of its officers and/or directors have engaged in securities fraud or other unlawful business practices. [Click here for information about joining the class action] On May 19, 2021, Swan Street Research ("Swan Street") published a report addressing Yalla, entitled "Is Yalla Group a Multi $B Fraud? The 'Clubhouse of the Middle East' UAE Tech Unicorn that Never Was". The Swan Street report alleges, among other things, that the Company inflates its metrics, including revenue, and characteries Yalla's financial statements as "not credible". On this news, Yalla's American depositary share ("ADS") price fell $1.31 per ADS, or 7.15%, to close at $17.01 per ADS on May 19, 2021. The Pomerantz Firm, with offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, and Paris is acknowledged as one of the premier firms in the areas of corporate, securities, and antitrust class litigation. Founded by the late Abraham L. Pomerantz, known as the dean of the class action bar, the Pomerantz Firm pioneered the field of securities class actions. Today, more than 80 years later, the Pomerantz Firm continues in the tradition he established, fighting for the rights of the victims of securities fraud, breaches of fiduciary duty, and corporate misconduct. The Firm has recovered numerous multimillion-dollar damages awards on behalf of class members. See www.pomerantzlaw.com. CONTACT: Robert S. Willoughby Pomerantz LLP rswilloughby@pomlaw.com 888-476-6529 ext. 7980 To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/99152 Ford Stock Gains Ground As Tata Motors Is Reportedly Ready To Buy Fords Chennai Factory Shares of Ford gained additional upside momentum after reports indicated that Tata Motors may take over the companys Chennai factory. The reports provided support to Ford stock as the company has previously announced its decision to restructure its India operations. According to Fords plans, manufacturing at Chennai engine and vehicle assembly plants was expected to wind down by Q2 2022. Ford stated that it accumulated operating losses of more than $2 billion over the past 10 years, and restucturing was necessary to create a profitable business in India. In this light, a successful sale of the Chennai unit should serve as a material positive catalyst for Ford stock. While the current move of the stock is based on a report rather than on an official announcement, the deal looks logical and has decent chances to go through. Whats Next For Ford Stock? Ford stock has been under pressure for several months amid worries about lower sales due to global chip shortage. However, the market has managed to focus on Fords plans in the electic vehicle space, and the companys shares gained some upside momentum at the end of September. Currently, analysts expect that Ford will report earnings of $1.57 per share in the current year and $1.87 per share in the next year, so the stock is trading at 8 forward P/E which is cheap for the current market environment. The key question for Ford investors is whether the market will start to pay attention to electric vehicle plans of legacy automakers. At this point, the valuation gap between legacy automakers and electric vehicle leader Tesla is astronomical. If this gap begins to close, Ford stock will be able to develop strong upside momentum and move to multi-year highs. For a look at all of todays economic events, check out our economic calendar. This article was originally posted on FX Empire More From FXEMPIRE: U.S. officials will hold their first face-to-face talks with Taliban representatives since the U.S. withdrawal from Afghanistan and the hard-line Islamist group's takeover of the war-torn country in August. The State Department on October 8 said the U.S. delegation will meet on October 9 and October 10 with senior Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar, where U.S. officials met with Taliban negotiators in recent years in pursuit of a possible peace deal. "We will press the Taliban to respect the rights of all Afghans, including women and girls, and to form an inclusive government with broad support," a U.S. spokesman said. "As Afghanistan faces the prospect of a severe economic contraction and possible humanitarian crisis, we will also press the Taliban to allow humanitarian agencies free access to areas of need," he said. The meeting does not indicate that the United States is officially recognizing Taliban rule in Afghanistan, the State Department said. "This meeting is not about granting recognition or conferring legitimacy. We remain clear that any legitimacy must be earned through the Taliban's own actions. They need to establish a sustained track record," a U.S. official said. The U.S. delegation will include representatives from the State Department, USAID, and the U.S. intelligence community, officials said. U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad, who has for years led the U.S. negotiating process with the Taliban in Doha, will not be part of the delegation, Reuters quoted a U.S. official as saying. They are expected to press the Taliban to ensure continued safe passage for U.S. citizens and others who wish to leave Afghanistan and to release kidnapped U.S. citizen Mark Frerichs. The United States has acknowledged that it was unable to get out most Afghan allies who wanted to leave during an emergency airlift that extracted tens of thousands of people from Kabul in the final days of the U.S. military presence. The United States and other Western countries are looking to formulate ways to help alleviate the looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan, as they seek to engage with the Taliban without granting it the immediate official recognition it craves. With reporting by AFP and Reuters The newly established Douglas County Board of Health voted unanimously Friday to allow parents to opt out of local mask orders, setting up a potential conflict with the county school districts standing policy requiring face coverings for younger students and certain staff. After an hour of public comment that mostly opposed masking requirements, the board swiftly approved the order, which makes face coverings optional for children and adults throughout Douglas County. Its the latest turn in a monthslong saga in the area, which has pitted Douglas County officials first against the Tri-County Health Department and its own school district. The new order allows parents to exempt their children from any mask orders via a written declaration, signed by the parent or guardian of the child if the parent or guardian believes the face coverings have a negative impact on that individuals physical and/or mental health, according to the draft included in the boards Friday agenda. The order also limits why and for how long students exposed or infected by the virus need to be quarantined, and it gives adult staff in the district the ability to opt out, as well. Douglas County Commissioner Lora Thomas, who also sits on the health board, told The Denver Gazette after the vote that officials have been inundated with phone calls, emails, communication from parents who are really struggling with their children who are struggling with wearing masks in school. The vote and health order, she said, were the result of officials listening and responding to those calls. The frustration over health orders in Douglas County extends back to late 2020, when county leaders negotiated with Tri-County Health to allow for opt outs of its orders. But the disagreement picked up steam in August, after the Tri-County Board of Health approved a mask mandate for younger students in Douglas, Arapahoe and Adams counties. The Douglas County Commission quickly moved to opt out of the order later that month and called on its school district, which had the authority to keep the requirement, to do the same. But the Douglas County School District announced it would still abide by the order; it became effective Aug. 24. The commission then moved to extricate itself from Tri-County Health, and, shortly after, its newly created health board drafted its own order to weaken any mask mandate within the county. Douglas County attorney Lance Ingalls told The Denver Gazette after the meeting that the public health order supersedes the masking requirement in the district. The district could keep its policy, he said, but they would still be expected to allow people to opt out. It is a county-wide public health order, he said, and it is binding to the school district. The new health order states any state or federal requirement would supersede the countys decision. But as for local entities requirements, the order states that they may elect to make such a requirement within their legal discretion subject to the exemption provided in this Order. Thomas said she had not had any contact with the school district in recent weeks, and she has no idea how the district would respond to the order. A spokesman for the district told The Denver Gazette that district leaders were meeting Friday afternoon, though its unclear to what end. The spokesman did not respond to a subsequent message seeking comment after the vote. I dont know what this is going to look like, but this is an official public health order, and they need to follow public health orders, Thomas said. School district officials, in their decision to maintain a mask order, have said that they were following health orders, albeit the one from the Tri-County Health Department. Douglas County officials had previously decried the Tri-County Board of Health made up of unelected members and its decision to institute county-wide orders over the objections of or without consulting elected bodies. Linda Fielding, who sat on the Tri-County board and is now a member of the Douglas County equivalent, said she, as an unelected bureaucrat, should not be able to overrule school boards. Though Fielding is unelected, several members of the Douglas County health board serve in elected capacities elsewhere in the county. Asked about the countys decision to undertake a similar move by overruling the elected school boards policy, Thomas reiterated that Douglas County officials were listening to their constituents. Members of the public who have spoken at the array of meetings held on masking since August have been roundly against any requirement at all; a survey conducted two months ago also showed strong opposition to face-covering requirements. FILE - In this April 8, 2021, file photo, from left to right, U.S. Interior Secretary Deb Haaland tours near ancient dwellings along the Butler Wash trail with Sen. Mitt Romney and Utah Gov. Spencer Cox during a visit to Bears Ears National Monument near Blanding, Utah. President Donald Trump's administration in 2017 significantly downsized Bears Ears National Monuments and Grand Staircase Escalante in southern Utah. A man accused of shooting a Colorado Springs police officer before going on the run saw his trial delayed on Friday. During a court hearing Friday morning that would have determined whether or not Jacob Sedillo would head to trial for allegations he tried to murder a police officer in June, a district judge extended Sedillos trial date to December as his attorneys continue to negotiate with prosecutors in the case. Sedillo, 26, is next due back in court on Dec. 1. The judge also ruled to drop an assault charge in Sedillos case, at prosecutors request. Hes still accused of two counts of attempted first-degree murder, one of a police officer. Just after 8 p.m. the night of June 4, Officer K. Bergstreser was giving a ride-along to a police academy recruit when he noticed two bikers without license plates attached their motorcycles and pulled them over in the parking lot of the AutoZone at 3010 N. Nevada Ave. As he walked up to the two, he told the bikers Jacob Sedillo and Paege Bolt who he was and why hed pulled them over. Sedillo, who didnt have his drivers license, told Bergstreser that neither he nor Bolt had registrations, endorsements or insurance for their motorcycles. Bergstreser turned back toward his vehicle to run Sedillo and Bolt through police databases. When he did, Bolt later told police, Sedillo leaned over to tell him he had "get out of here." As Bergstreser searched, he found Sedillo was wanted on an active felony warrant. Just as he did, Sedillo hopped on his motorcycle and started the engine, prompting Bergstreser to spring from his vehicle and run over to pull Sedillo, loudly revving, from the bike. Sedillo fought Bergstreser back, and during a brief lull in the grapple a woman inside the AutoZone watched Sedillo whirl off his bike, pull a gun from his hip, and point-blank unleash a volley of bullets at the officer. Bergstreser, in full retreat, said he felt his right arm go limp as Sedillo continued to shoot at him, and aired that hed been shot and needed backup. Sedillo jumped back on his bike and zoomed away, leaving Bolt at the scene and Bergstresers ride-along to put him in a tourniquet. Backup soon arrived, and sent Bergstreser to Penrose Main Hospital, where he was treated for three gunshot wounds, including one that had broken his right arm, and was released a few days later. Sedillo was captured by Colorado Springs SWAT units, who were assisted by other federal agencies, on June 8. Sedillo, who appeared in court in custody on Friday, is being held without bond until his next court date in December, when hes expected to either enter a plea agreement or go to trial. City Editor Tom Roeder is the Gazette's City Editor. In Colorado Springs since 2003, Tom has covered the military at home and overseas and has covered statehouses in Denver and Olympia, Wash. His main job, though, is being dad to two great kids. FirstNet to be deployed at 15 Air Force bases FirstNet, the high-speed wireless broadband communications network built for public safety, will now provide its services to 15 Air Force bases. Under the 21-year deal, the bases will be able to support voice, data and streaming video communications, interoperability with existing land mobile radio assets as well as secure and interoperable communications between first responders on base and the local public safety workforce. Users will get access to FirstNets priority and preemption services across LTE Band 14 spectrum plus all of AT&T's commercial LTE spectrum bands. FirstNet will give the Air Force bases tower-to-core encryption so that all traffic is automatically secured as it navigates different parts of the network. FirstNet now covers 2.7 million square miles and features an upgraded 5G core. Additionally, it is built to strict public safety specifications and requirements, unlike commercial networks, AT&T said in its announcement. When off-base first responders support on-base responses, they will benefit from these coverage enhancements, Lance Spencer, client executive vice president for defense at AT&T Public Sector and FirstNet, told Air Force Magazine. Key command and operations positions will also be able to access this network. Spencer said the company aims to deploy FirstNet to all Air Force and Space Force bases. Last year, the Air Force worked with AT&T to test 5G networking-as-a-service capabilities at three bases, where the company also provided a base-area network, wide-area network, telephony, internet access and secure interoperability with legacy systems at the three bases, company officials said at the time. Report: Government is the most-targeted sector by nation-state attackers Most nation-state cyber attackers are keeping their sights set on governments, intergovernmental organizations, nongovernmental organizations and think tanks. Nearly 80% of nation-state attacks in the last year fell within those categories, according to Microsofts FY21 Digital Defense Report. Espionage was deemed the primary purpose of the attacks, though Iran regularly engaged in destructive attacks, mostly against Israel, and North Korean actors targeted cryptocurrency companies looking for financial gain. Government was the most-targeted sector, with 48% of attacks hitting governments. The U.S. was by far the most targeted nation, suffering 46% of the nation-state attacks between July 2020 and June 2021. Government-sector targeting tended to focus on ministries of foreign affairs and other agencies involved in international affairs. Think tanks were also highly targeted, perhaps because they influence current or future government policy or political objectives, Microsoft suggested. Thirty-one percent of the attacks targeted think tanks and other NGOs. Educational institutions suffered 3% of attacks, IT 2% and media, health and energy just 1%. Attacks on enterprises led those on consumers 79% to 21%. Critical infrastructure was targeted far less than noncritical infrastructure across the major nations. The other big target was IT service providers, like SolarWinds and Microsoft, which were attacked in order to more successfully exploit their customers. Most (58%) of the nation-state attacks came from Russia. The percentage of government organizations targeted by Russia rocketed from 3% last period to 53% since July 2020. The attacks have also become increasingly effective, climbing to a 32% successful compromise rate from 21% last year. When it comes to the tools nation-state attackers use, Microsoft found they tend to develop their own malware, construct novel password spray infrastructure, or design unique phishing or social engineering campaigns that other criminals adopt and refine over time. Russian threat activity this past year suggests that it was driven by intelligence collection, according to Microsoft, which reported seeing data exfiltration but little evidence of disruptive or destructive activity from the groups tracked. While nation state attacks are often sophisticated or can deploy 0-day vulnerabilities to gain access to networks, defense-in-depth strategies and proactive monitoring can greatly reduce the actors dwell time on a network, potentially enabling disruption of their activities before they reach their goals, the report said. IT departments should build protective controls across managed identities, devices, applications, data, infrastructure and networks to raise the threshold for attackers, improving their organizations ability to detect anomalous activity in the environment, the company advised. This came during statement was issued, Saturday, by AANES on the second anniversary to occupy Serekaniye/ Ras al-Ain and Gire Spi/ Tal-Abyed regions. The statement" October 9th, which marks the second anniversary to occupy Serekaniye/ Ras al-Ain and Gire Spi/ Tal-Abyed regions, during two years Turkish occupation committed horrible crimes and violations in occupied cities that are considered as war crimes are not related in moral principles, in which the mercenary gangs contributed under direct Turkish supervision to spread chaos, instability and violence of the region through the aggression they launched against Ras al-Ain and Tal Abyad, after their barbaric attack on occupied Afrin for the same goals. The statement added that "atrocities practices in occupied areas are irrefutable evidence of what Turkey doing so of malicious intentions are to hit the stability, and undermine the democratic experience of our people, obstruction the Syrian agreement and consensus, in addition to its deep project aimed at consolidating the Turkish occupation and dividing it in Syria, as is happening." Today, there are practices that confirm the reality of division and occupation, so this aggression and occupation is wrong for some to consider that it is territorial with limited influence, because it is a comprehensive aggression on the whole of Syrian geography. It requires the unification of energies and capabilities in order to liberate it." What is being done by Turkey and its gangs, today, the occupation of occupied areas that was consolidated by the support of the international forces, UN institutions, Russia and Damascus Government, Turkey is still continuing to destroy by all means the Syrian interest, according to its policy that violates the Syrian will, Turkey did not address the argument of its national security and support for stability in Syria and its support for some forces that call themselves the Syrian opposition, but to hide its hostile practices and subversive intentions in Syria; What requires the vigilance of all the Syrian national forces and the international community for this dangerous scheme against the Syrian people, as well as its project to support terrorism and revived ISIS again, by embracing today thousands of ISIS elements, who fled from Syria and were received by Turkey and organized under the name of the alleged national army. "On the second anniversary of the Turkish occupation, we affirm, in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria, that the Turkish presence and occupation of our regions and all other Syrian areas, its support for terrorists and its embrace of the so-called Syrian opposition forces, are nothing more than a poisoned dagger in the Syrian body, without resolving Turkey's occupation of Syria and its practices with mercenaries, there will never be stability in Syria. " We note to the world as a whole and to world public opinion that Turkey, through its policies of demographic change and forced displacement of our people from their areas, is establishing a new Ottoman project aimed at striking the stability of Syria and the region and dividing it socially and geographically." The statement appealed to "the international community, with all its UN institutions, the European Union, the Global Coalition, the Russian Federation and the Damascus Government as well, to realize the dangers of Turkish policy in Syria and to set aside any special interests and agendas with Turkey, at the expense of our country, Syria, its people and its various affiliations." At the conclusion of the statement, AANES stressed the need to stand by the IDPs from their homes until the liberation of the entire occupied territories. "We assure our people in NE, Syria and, in particular, our people from Ras al-Ain, Tal Abyed and Afrin, who have been forcibly displaced from their homes, that we pledge you to continue to struggle with you and you until your areas are liberated and returned with all dignity, we also recall on this occasion our heroes, the martyrs and the wounded those who with heroism fought heroically against Turkey and its mercenaries by their utter belief in freedom and by preventing any prejudice to the values and gains of our people. T/S ANHA " " The Food and Drug Administration requires a warning label on antidepressants that they may increase suicidal thoughts. Grace Cary/Getty Images It's a common warning on the labels of antidepressant drugs: "may cause suicidal thoughts." Some people who are depressed may think about committing suicide. So, it seems counterintuitive that medications, which are specifically formulated to treat depression, could have this side effect. But why? "The name 'antidepressants' is kind of a marketing term that makes the problem of suicidality less understandable," explains licensed clinical psychologist Dr. David Godot, with Psych Lab Psychology Center in an email. "Antidepressant medications do not actually reduce depression they simply increase levels of certain neurotransmitters. Forty years ago, researchers imagined that depression was caused by a shortage of those neurotransmitters. However, research has not supported that hypothesis at all. The brain is much more complicated than that." Advertisement Indeed, it's a field where the brain seems to be constantly flipping the script. As a result, reactions to certain medications and treatments don't always make a lot of sense and vary widely from person to person. "As depression lifts, it can make a person feel more motivated. The vast majority of the time, this is a good thing," says Louis Laves-Webb, a psychotherapist in Austin, Texas. "It means they're motivated to engage in activities that make their life happy and meaningful. Unfortunately, this isn't always the case and, due to mechanisms we have yet to comprehend, a small minority of patients find the motivation not to play but to make a suicide plan." It's a phenomenon that holistic healing blogger Esther Louise knows all too well, having used antidepressants to successfully manage her lifelong battle with depression and anxiety. The benefits haven't come without some pitfalls, however. "I have been through the process of starting the SSRIs [selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors, a common form of antidepressant] on three occasions now, and each time I have found it to be very difficult. When starting the medication I tend to experience an increase in the severity of my symptoms for a short time before they slowly start to get better," she recalls. "In my experience, this means that for about a week after starting the antidepressants I will feel very depressed and experience suicidal thoughts, even if I had not been suffering with them before starting the medication." She says that she still finds this experience to be very alarming, even though she's aware of what's going on. "During this time, I feel very out of character, more impulsive and not as stable," she explains. "It can be incredibly scary to feel like you are out of control in this way. However, I try to remind myself that it is only temporary and these feelings will go away soon in my case, they always have." This reaction probably occurs because it takes time for antidepressants to really kick in. "When you take Prozac, your serotonin levels will increase within about a half hour. But therapeutic benefits are not expected for at least two weeks," Dr. Godot explains. "Why? Because something else has to happen in the brain and body, in response to the elevated neurotransmitter levels. And frankly, no one in the world knows exactly what that something is." Good Outweighs Bad Despite the risk of suicidal thoughts, antidepressant use seems to be a case of the good outweighing the bad, as research has shown that antidepressants typically have a protective effect against suicide. A 2017 journal article also pointed put that toxicological reports of depressed people who died by suicide showed that it's more common for suicide to occur in patients who were not taking an antidepressant, than in those who were. It also appears that the risk of suicidal thoughts is far greater in children and adolescents taking these medications than those over the age of 25. A 2003 review of 23 clinical trials using SSRIs in children and adolescents with depression found that there was a 4 percent risk for suicidal thoughts when using SSRIs versus a 2 percent risk when on a placebo. Although no one committed suicide during these trials, the Food and Drug Administration determined that a warning that antidepressants may increase suicidal thoughts was appropriate to add to the drugs' labels. But later research appears to "In number, it is only a small percentage," Laves-Webb says. "[But] to parents of any child lost to suicide due to antidepressants, the problem is enormous and inconceivable." Since awareness of this issue has risen, prescribing doctors have added risk of suicidal thoughts to their patient education checklist. "Providing the patient with information about this process is crucial so that they too can look for signs," says therapist and author Lauren Cook. "By normalizing conversation around suicide, a patient is that much more inclined to share if they are thinking about hurting themselves." Now That's Interesting Violent crime also could be linked to antidepressant use, as a 2015 study found an association between the two, but only in people aged 15 to 24 years old. " " This cartoon "Cow-Pock, or, The Wonderful Effects of the New Inoculation" by James Gillray depicts some of the fears people had about the smallpox vaccine causing them to grow cow-like parts. Library of Congress/Corbis/VCG via Getty Images Nobody likes to be sick, but it seems there are plenty of people who are willing to take a chance on a disease like COVID-19, instead of getting a vaccine. Why is that? And is this a new phenomenon? First, we have to understand the difference between vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccine activism (or vaccine resistance). "Vaccine hesitancy and anti-vaccine activism are distinct and largely unrelated," explains Noel Brewer, Ph.D., professor of health behavior at the University of North Carolina in an email. "Only around 2 percent of Americans will never get a vaccine, and among these hard refusers only a handful attempt to recruit others to their views." By comparison, he says, most people have at least some questions about vaccines, which is not a bad thing. "Vaccine hesitancy is normal and healthy and should be encouraged. It's good to have questions, ask them and get high-quality, trustworthy answers," he says. The vocal anti-vaccination movement is fairly recent and was really kicked into gear in 1998 by a now-discredited paper that appeared in the medical journal Lancet linking vaccines and autism, says Brewer. However, vaccine hesitancy is as old as vaccines themselves. Advertisement Vaccine Hesitation Through History "This has been going on for centuries," says Dr. Kathryn Edwards, author of an American Academy of Pediatrics clinical report "Countering Vaccine Hesitancy." She points out that there was a cartoon published back in 1802 that depicts people growing cow-like parts. This was because Edward Jenner pioneered the smallpox vaccine first using material from cowpox. The first smallpox vaccine "was met with enthusiasm but also dread," wrote medical historian Elena Conis in a 2015 article. "While many patients and physicians were eager to fend off one of that era's most feared diseases, many others balked at the prospect of contaminating their healthy bodies with disease matter from an animal." And when European countries began making smallpox vaccines mandatory in the early 1800s, "societies of anti-vaccinationists formed to protest what they saw as unequal treatment and undue infringement of individual liberty." But they didn't get much traction. There was also little protest against the polio vaccine, released in 1954 to "wild enthusiasm" in America, according to Conis. "Parents so dreaded polio that they were quick to seek the vaccine for their children, and coercive policies never became necessary," she wrote. " " A nurse prepares children for a polio vaccine shot as part of a city-wide testing of the vaccine on elementary school students in 1954. Bettmann/Getty Images But as the decades went on, American parents were not so excited about vaccinations for measles, mumps and other diseases, she noted. "Families long accustomed to living with measles, for example, shrugged off the new vaccine against the disease." Health officials often had to make vaccinations mandatory for school registration to get compliance. In 1982, a TV documentary called "DPT: Vaccine Roulette" aired, featuring profiles of children whose mothers believed they were harmed by the vaccine for diphtheria, whooping cough and tetanus, one of the first media coverages critical of vaccines. Then, the 1998 Lancet article linking the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine and autism sparked the "anti-vaxxer" movement. Fast forward to 2021 and the new vaccination against COVID-19. A whopping one-third of American adults are skeptical of getting it, according to the Associated Press, a pretty big problem for those trying to slow or stop the pandemic. Advertisement Why Vaccine Hesitation? We've already established that vaccine hesitancy is normal, even healthy. But why does it happen? The reasons are threefold, according to Edwards. 1. People don't think the disease is that bad, therefore it doesn't need to be prevented. "One of the issues that make vaccine hesitancy more common prior to COVID is that many of the infectious diseases that parents dreaded for their children have been eliminated," Edwards explains, noting that severe chickenpox, mumps and other once-devastating illnesses are far rarer than they used to be, thanks to vaccines. In terms of COVID, fear levels tend to run a wide range of normal, with some people petrified of the virus and others totally unconcerned. "Many people who don't want to get the vaccine are less afraid of getting COVID than those who get [the vaccine]," she explains. Of particular influence to this aspect of vaccine hesitancy is the media, says Edwards. "Some is very science-based, others are not," she notes. "An internet site doesn't come with a rating of whether it's based on fact or not." 2. They're worried about the safety of the vaccine. This is a big one for the COVID-19 vaccine; since it was developed so quickly, a lot of people think that it can't possibly be safe enough to use. (In reality, scientists had been dealing with other coronaviruses like SARS and MERS for decades which gave them a head start in vaccine development.) Although vaccine hesitancy is common among people of all demographics, minority populations are especially skeptical because many distrust the medical system. Think of the infamous Tuskegee Syphilis Study. 3. Individualism is important. Most people don't like to be told what to do, even if it's in their best interests. They want to "decide for myself if I get vaccinated, whether I wear masks, if I go out or quarantine," Dr. Edwards says. "It's the sense of wanting to be an individual and having individual rights." Advertisement How to Handle Vaccine Hesitancy For what it's worth, vaccination rates are still high in the U.S., with 91.5 percent of children aged 19-35 months fully vaccinated against measles, mumps and rubella as of 2017. This is an all-time high, with the lowest rate since 1994, occurring not-so-coincidentally in 1998 (86 percent) when the fraudulent MMR vaccine/autism study was released. Still, there's not likely to be a magic cure to eliminate vaccine hesitancy anytime soon. "We don't have much evidence that interventions to decrease hesitancy can increase vaccine uptake. Such interventions have been unreliably effective," Brewer says. "That said, the best way to address hesitancy is to have a person talk with their healthcare provider. A provider recommendation is the single biggest motivator of vaccination." " " Joseph Galdamez, 14, receives a first dose of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine at a Los Angeles County mobile vaccination clinic on May 14, 2021. Polls have shown just 30 percent of parents plan to vaccinate their kids right away, now that the vaccine has been approved for children 12 and over. PATRICK T. FALLON/AFP via Getty Images So, let's say a friend mentions that they're scared to get a certain vaccine, whether for themself or a child. The worst thing you can do is tell them they're stupid or unilaterally discredit their concerns. Instead, find out why they're concerned. Is it due to side effects? Fears about big pharma? Potential long-term problems? Validate their feelings by listening and taking them seriously. Then suggest that they visit some reputable sites (with you or on their own) to get credible answers to their questions. A few that Edwards suggests are the CDC, AAP and the National Institutes of Health vaccine information portals. "There's a wealth of information to look at that can answer questions, as long as it's a source that is linked to science," she says. (The American Academy of Family Physicians website also has an extensive explanation of COVID-19 vaccine myths and facts.) Finally, as Brewer says, suggest a frank conversation with their doctor to find out why the vaccine is recommended, if there are any risks and what the side effects might be. Most of the time, a simple conversation with a knowledgeable person will allay fears. "Certainly, I want my patients to understand what they're receiving and how it works. I also want them to know that they may experience side effects that I can tell them about," Edwards says. Now That's Important Wondering how vaccines get the job done? Check out this video on the science of stimulating an immune response. Advertisement Originally Published: May 17, 2021 " " Tibetan spiritual leader the Dalai Lama during a prayer session at the Tsuglagkhang Temple in Dharamshala, India. Shyam Sharma/Hindustan Times via Getty Images His Holiness the Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and former political ruler of the Tibetan people. He's believed to be the 14th reincarnation of the Bodhisattva of Compassion, an enlightened being that has chosen to be reborn so he can serve mankind. Plucked from a small farming village at just 2 years old, the Dalai Lama has spent his life spreading his message of compassion and seeking freedom for his homeland of Tibet. The Dalai Lama is a political refugee, forced to flee Tibet in 1959 when the Chinese government violently suppressed a Tibetan uprising. Since then, he has lived in exile in Dharamsala, India, and acted as the head of the Tibetan government in exile until 2011, when he handed over all political duties to a democratically elected Tibetan cabinet and parliament. For Buddhists and non-Buddhists alike, the Dalai Lama is an inspirational figure whose message of peace, kindness and compassion is a guidepost to daily life. He has written or coauthored more than 110 books, each filled with practical wisdom about finding joy, peace and meaning in an often dark and confusing world. To help us choose five essential quotes from the Dalai Lama's ocean of writings and speeches, we reached out to Travis Hellstrom, editor of "The Dalai Lama Book of Quotes: A Collection of Speeches, Quotations, Essays & Advice from His Holiness" and "Questions for the Dalai Lama: Answers on Love, Success, Happiness, & the Meaning of Life." Advertisement 1. "I always consider myself first and foremost to be a monk. A Buddhist monk. Dalai Lama comes after that." The Dalai Lama won the Nobel Peace Prize in 1989 for his nonviolent struggle to win independence for Tibet. He has met with presidents, popes and dignitaries on every continent. Yet when asked to describe himself, he chooses arguably the humblest label, a monk. Why? Hellstrom thinks it's because so much of what the Dalai Lama represents and how he lives his life is rooted in his daily practices of meditation, study and prayer a spiritual routine shared by all Buddhist monks. The Dalai Lama travels extensively, but when he's home in Dharamsala, he keeps monk hours. He wakes up at 3 a.m., showers, and sits in prayer and meditation until 5 a.m., when he has a light breakfast and listens to the BBC World News. From 6 to 9 a.m., it's more prayer and meditation. When his workday is over, the Dalai Lama has tea at 5 p.m., followed by evening prayer and meditation and then bedtime at 7 p.m. The Dalai Lama says that he relies on this monastic spiritual practice to keep his mind focused and to direct his actions. "I myself am a Buddhist monk," he said at the Global Buddhist Congregation in 2011. "Every morning, as soon as I wake up, I remember Buddha and recite some of Buddha's teachings, sort of shaping my mind. Then the rest of my day I should spend according to those principles: being honest, truthful, compassionate, peaceful, nonviolent." There's power in understanding that the warmth and compassion exuded by the Dalai Lama doesn't come naturally, but is a product of decades of daily mindful practice. "Every day, he prepares himself mentally to be the kind of presence that everyone's expecting 100-percent present, focused and ready to be as compassionate and kind as he can be, no matter what happens," Hellstrom says. Bonus quote: "I speak to you as just another human being; as a simple monk. If you find what I say useful, then I hope you will try to practice it." Advertisement 2. "I believe that the purpose of life is to be happy." Buddhism has an interesting take on happiness. According to the Four Noble Truths taught by Buddha, our existence is mired in suffering emotional suffering, psychological suffering, physical suffering. The only way to free yourself from this suffering and obtain happiness is by ridding yourself of the source of all suffering, which is desire and attachment. Easy, right? Hardly. Perhaps it's because the Dalai Lama knows how difficult it is for humans to extinguish things like greed, ignorance and hatred that he prescribes a more manageable path to happiness. "From my own limited experience I have found that the greatest degree of inner tranquility comes from the development of love and compassion," the Dalai Lama wrote. "The more we care for the happiness of others, the greater our own sense of well-being becomes. Cultivating a close, warm-hearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. This helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the ultimate source of success in life." While the Dalai Lama recognizes that "genuine happiness comes from within" and is a product of a calm and compassionate mind, he also recognizes the infectious power of a smile, a hug or even a joke to spark that happiness in others. "Even though he's experienced more than his fair share of suffering, the Dalai Lama models a type of lightheartedness and kindness that's very powerful for people and very moving," Hellstrom says. "People feel different in his presence. It's the reason he draws stadiums full of people who want to see him. To me that speaks to his life-cultivating presence and his care for other people." Bonus quote: "Life's purpose of happiness can be gained only if people cultivate the basic human values of compassion, caring and forgiveness." " " The Dalai Lama preaches about kindness because it's a principle everyone can put into practice. Shyam Sharma/Hindustan Times via Getty Images Advertisement 3. "My religion is very simple. My religion is kindness." The Dalai Lama is the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism and a learned scholar of Buddhist philosophy and practice. Yet when he writes books and delivers speeches, you seldom hear him say, "Buddhism teaches this..." or "In Buddhism, we believe that..." It's clear that he wants his message to resonate with people regardless of their religious (or areligious) background. "It's so genius the way he looks at things," says Hellstrom. "He chooses a word like kindness because everybody can relate to it and anyone can put it into practice. We can always, in any moment, choose compassion and choose kindness. It pulls us out of our own ego, centers us in the moment and puts us in service to others." Bonus quote: "Some people, when we talk about compassion and love, think it is a religious matter. Compassion is the universal religion." Advertisement 4. "Be a nice person. Be a good person." Once again, these words from the Dalai Lama are so simple and straightforward that they border on being childish. But maybe that's what he's going for. As Albert Einstein (probably) said: "If you can't explain it to a 6-year-old, you don't understand it yourself." Only after a lifetime pondering the nature of a "good" life could the Dalai Lama explain his guiding philosophy so simply. In Buddhism, being a truly good person is a little more complicated than "being nice." The Buddha taught his disciples to follow what's called the Noble Eightfold Path, which includes admonitions to practice "right speech," "right action" and "right livelihood." In Buddhism, being "good" means behaving ethically and honestly in business dealings and personal relationships, but also cultivating a compassion for all living things. The Dalai Lama takes this last responsibility seriously. Being a "nice" and "good" person ultimately comes down to treating others as you would like to be treated, and seeking their happiness as much as or even more than your own. "Now, when you recognize that all beings are equal in both their desire for happiness and their right to obtain it, you automatically feel empathy and closeness for them," wrote the Dalai Lama. "Through accustoming your mind to this sense of universal altruism, you develop a feeling of responsibility for others: the wish to help them actively overcome their problems... As long as they are human beings experiencing pleasure and pain just as you do, there is no logical basis to discriminate between them or to alter your concern for them if they behave negatively." Bonus quote: "No matter what the circumstances, no matter what kind of tragedy I am facing, I practice compassion. This gives me inner strength and happiness. This gives me the feeling that my life is useful." " " The Dalai Lama may be the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism, but he has a fun sense of humor too. Kunal Patil/Hindustan Times via Getty Images Advertisement 5. "Meditation is the key to spiritual growth." Have you ever tried to meditate? It looks so easy. All you have to do is sit there and breathe and quiet your mind. What's so hard about that? Everything, it turns out. The mind is like a monkey after three cups of coffee, jumping from thought to thought and easily distracted. Calming down the "monkey mind" is a skill that takes years of practice. But what's the point of meditation? Why does the Dalai Lama, after all these years, still start and end his days with hours of meditation? Hellstrom says that the basic idea of meditation is to separate objective physical reality from the subjective version being generated by our thoughts, desires and fears. "Meditation helps you be aware of what's actually happening I'm sitting, I'm breathing, the wind is blowing, the sun is shining. These are things that are really happening," says Hellstrom. "Everything else is being created inside my mind." Hellstrom says that focusing on the breath is such an effective technique because breathing is one of the body's only functions that's both involuntary and voluntary. By taking control of the breath, inhaling and exhaling slowly and deeply, it offers a way to escape the whirling mind for a minute and center on the moment. "Let the monkey mind quiet down for just two breaths," says Hellstrom. "It'll be really hard at first, but over time you might get to five breaths or 10. When the monkey stops jumping from branch to branch, then you're having a conversation with your own mind and trying to help it be less afraid, judgmental and so on." The hope is that by learning how to calm the mind and not focus obsessively on your own anxieties and selfish desires, that you will increase in patience, compassion for others and love. For an advanced course, check out the Dalai Lama's thoughts on "Training the Mind" at his website. Bonus quote: "Training the mind to think differently, through meditation, is one important way to avoid suffering and be happy." HowStuffWorks earns a small affiliate commission when you purchase through links on our site. Now That's Cool The Dalai Lama also has a silly side. Check out his antics at a European news conference in 2016. As an Iowa State University student, the college career fair is a blessing and a curse. The college of agriculture and life sciences hosts the nations largest agriculture career fair. With hundreds of recruiters, my luck in landing a job opportunity is in my favor, but this doesnt make the event less daunting or stressful. As I enter into my fourth year of college career fairs, I am proud to have obtained some tricks on how to be successful on the job circuit. I have learned these tips from university staff, job recruiters, and fellow students who learned how to maneuver the career fair. 1. Do your research beforehand. When you arrive at the career fair and walk up to an organization, a recruiter might ask, What do you know about the company? That representative is hoping you have some background information on what they do, what their morals are, and the type of positions they have available. A recruiter is willing to tell you all of these things, but if you already know this information, you come off as more impressive and informed. Additionally, when you do research beforehand, you are saving the time that it would take to discuss all of those general topics and putting it toward a conversation on why you would be a good fit for the company. Most career fairs provide a company list ahead of time. From that list, select some companies that you are interested in talking to and visit their website to learn more about them. While doing that, take notes and review them right before you approach that company at the event. 2. Do a practice round. Before you start talking with your top picks, approach a company that you know about but are not necessarily interested in working for to practice your elevator speech and let out your nerves. This can serve as a confidence boost. Be sure you know something about this company and that you are willing to listen to whatever they say; otherwise, it will not be a successful practice round. If the recruiter can tell you are not interested, they are likely not going to be interested in you. Then this would just make for a horrible first experience. 3. Follow up with a thank you. Depending on the job you are applying for, a conversation should be followed up with either a handwritten thank you card or a thank you email. Handwritten cards are timeless and show that you took time and effort to share your appreciation. On the other hand, email thank you notes are quicker and reach the recruiter instantly. Especially during career fair season, recruiters are traveling and often dont return to their office for days or weeks. Evaluate the company and their recruiting process. If you think a handwritten note will reach the recruiter in a timely fashion, go that route. Otherwise, an email will do the job. As long as you are able to show the company that you appreciate their time and consideration, you are taking the right steps. Jessica Schmitt Jessica Schmitt grew up working on her familys dairy farm near Fort Atkinson, Iowa. She recently completed her junior year at Iowa State University where she is triple majoring in dairy science, international agriculture, and agricultural and life sciences education with a communications option. Schmitt served as the 2021 Hoards Dairyman editorial intern this summer. 1. Yes. Council members appear to have taken time to review each section carefully. 2. Yes. The council has set up town halls and a public hearing to inform the residents. 3. No. The council should have set up a charter review committee, including residents. 4. No. Some of the items proposed so far benefit the council more than the community. 5. Unsure. Its hard to say until after the public has had more opportunities to weigh in. Vote View Results George Floyds Family Members Launch `Thank You Tour In Leimert Park Members of George Floyds family were in Los Angeles today to launch their Thank You Tour across the U.S. to show their appreciation for the millions of people who protested in 2020 to demand justice and call for an end to police brutality and racism after Floyd was murdered by a Minneapolis police officer. Selwyn Jones, Floyds uncle, spoke during the tours launch in Leimert Park and announced the familys new nonprofit, A Soulful Heart Memorializing George Floyd, Inc., which he said will promote respect, trust and love, as well as empower people to make positive changes in their lives. We want A Soulful Heart to be a global connection, helping individuals to develop the skills, competence and resources they need to handle future crises more effectively, said Jones, who will serve as the nonprofits president. The nonprofit will specifically focus on helping young people with everyday challenges, as well as help them advocate for social changes, Jones said. ADVERTISEMENT My nephews murder was a sacrifice needed to wake up America. His loving soul has transformed my life and now I intend to pass that on to transform other lives. George Floyds soul will continue to infuse us with energy and determination, added Jones, who lives in South Dakota. Floyds family including Jones, Floyds brother Terrence, and a dozen other relatives are finalizing plans for their Thank You Tour, with stops in New York, Atlanta, Dallas/Fort Worth and Chicago planned. Millions of protesters nationwide took to the streets repeatedly in May, June and July 2020 to demand justice for George Floyd, who died May 25, 2020 after being handcuffed and pinned to the ground by a white police officer, Derek Chauvin, who pressed his knee on the 46-year-old mans neck for several minutes while three other officers looked on. Video footage of the arrest, in which Floyd is heard saying I cant breathe, spread widely online, and all four officers were fired. Chauvin was convicted on April 20 of second-degree murder, third-degree murder and second-degree manslaughter. The protests are believed to be the largest in U.S. history, with polls finding that between 15 million to 26 million people participated in demonstrations nationwide Jones added that the U.S. can and must do more to protect Black people from dying at the hands of officers. Noting the massive amount of people who marched across the U.S. when his nephew was murdered, he said, Was it enough? Not yet. I will personally engage in `good trouble and push the John R. Lewis Voting rights Advancement Act of 2021, also known as HR4, Jones said. He added that he would be speaking with elected officials who are resisting the legislation, which would establish new criteria for determining which states must obtain preapproval from the U.S. Department of Justice before changing voting laws, in an effort to stop discriminatory voting laws that make it harder for Black Americans to vote. ADVERTISEMENT Los Angeles civil rights activist Najee Ali hosted Floyds family Friday at Community Build for the tour launch event. Ali had traveled several times to Minnesota to support the family following George Floyds death, and he said that Community Build CEO Robert Sausedo sponsored the trips. Ali said that the news conference Friday was meant to focus on the announcement about the foundation, but that the Floyd family plans to make an announcement supporting Rep. Karen Bass, D-Los Angeles, in her campaign for mayor of L.A. Bass authored the George Floyd Justice in Policing Act, which passed the U.S. House but was blocked by the U.S. Senate in 2020. The bill would end qualified immunity protecting officers from civil lawsuits, as well as ban certain dangerous officer tactics, including carotid holds and chokeholds. Police agencies would have to outlaw the practices in order to receive federal funding. The bill would also make it easier to prosecute officers who engage in misconduct and create a ban on no-knock warrants in federal drug cases, as well as withhold funding to agencies that dont institute bans locally. It would also introduce improvements in training and investments in police-community programs. Government Offices Closed for Indigenous Peoples Day Government offices and libraries throughout the Southland will be closed Monday in celebration of Indigenous Peoples Day, or Columbus Day. State and federal courts will shut their doors Monday as well, and there will be no U.S. Mail delivery. Most banks are also expected to be closed. However, Los Angeles Unified School District schools will be open. Buses and subway services in both the city and county of Los Angeles will run on a regular schedule, along with Metrolink trains. Stores, too, will be open as usual. The Los Angeles City Council voted in 2017 to establish Indigenous Peoples Day as the second Monday in October, replacing the former Columbus Day. Councilman Mitch OFarrell, a member of the Wyandotte Nation and who led the effort to make the change, said when the inaugural holiday was celebrated in 2018 that he believed the historical record on Columbus was plain for everyone to see. ADVERTISEMENT Its time to no longer deny our past but reclaim our history because its all there for anyone who wants to see it, OFarrell said. President Joe Biden on Friday issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples Day. For generations, federal policies systematically sought to assimilate and displace Native people and eradicate Native cultures, Biden wrote in the Indigenous Peoples Day proclamation. Today, we recognize Indigenous peoples resilience and strength as well as the immeasurable positive impact that they have made on every aspect of American society. In a separate proclamation involving Columbus Day, Biden praised the role of Italian Americans in U.S. society, but also referenced the violence and harm Columbus and other explorers of the age brought about on the Americas. Columbus Day still is a federal holiday. Officials Seeking Source of Foul Odor Near Dominguez Channel in Carson Area Authorities today continued their efforts to determine the source of a foul odor reported for several days near the Dominguez Channel in the Carson area. A hazardous materials team was sent to the area of the northbound San Diego (405) Freeway near Avalon Boulevard about 10:15 a.m. Friday, according to the Los Angeles County Fire Department. Hazmat personnel determined that there was no hazard to the public or threat to life, but could not determine the source of the odor, and they turned the investigation over to the Southern California Air Quality Management District, the fire department reported. No injuries were reported. Fridays hazmat response came in the wake of ongoing complaints from area residents. ADVERTISEMENT According to a statement from the city of Carson Thursday night, the problem had been reported in the area for several days, and an AQMD team was evaluating whether any area refineries or waste facilities could be the source of the odor. However, the team identified no facility releases into the Dominguez Channel that would account for any harmful health concerns, the city statement said. Los Angeles County Public Works and Public Health teams have preliminary findings that indicate the origin for the odor is from an organic material drying out after being left on the channel banks during low tide, the statement said. AQMD has systematically evaluated potential facility sources from the base of the Dominguez Channel, spreading out from there to inspect oil refineries in Carson and Wilmington, tank farms, waste treatment and waste facilities. Preliminary findings are that there has been no release. AQMD does not believe the odors will cause any health impacts beyond nuisance type effects. No official statement from AQMD or the county regarding these preliminary findings or potential health impacts has been made at this time, the statement said. The city statement also included a statement from Carson Mayor Lula Davis-Holmes. It has been three days and we have been asking the various involved agencies to put out a statement to explain what is going on and to ensure that our residents are safe, but have been unsuccessful, Davis-Holmes said. The odor being smelled is believed to be Hydrogen Sulfide. It is my understanding that prolonged exposure is harmful to humans. I am therefore calling for an investigation and depending upon the results of this investigation and the negative impacts to my residents; the city might consider initiating a class action lawsuit similar to what happened in Porter Ranch. ADVERTISEMENT Im hoping that expected rain in the forecast tonight will wash away the organic material and reduce or improve the odor situation. My question to all involved agencies is, `What is the problem, what is being done to correct it, who is at fault and what is being done to prevent it from happening again? We are continuing our efforts to communicate with all involved entities for a resolution, Davis-Holmes said. Virtual Vaccine Education Training Available The Congress of National Black Churches, in association with the Centers for Disease Control, is sponsoring a Virtual Vaccine Education Training Program to assist African American communities in overcoming vaccine hesitancy. Pastors and faith leaders are invited to participate in the next training session on Thursday, October 14, from 3:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m., PST. Click here to register and receive an email containing the training link prior to the training. A one-time stipend of $500 will be offered to the church of all participants. To receive the stipend: Onscreen participation is required for the full duration of the training Participants must complete the post-training survey Provide details on how you will be a vaccine advocate and influencer in your congregation and community. Examples: sermons, town halls, church website, PSAs, social media, etc. For additional information, contact Project Executive, Dr. Timothy Tee Boddie, at [email protected] . ADVERTISEMENT Saturday, October 9, 2021 The Idaho Supreme Court reversed and remanded a disqualification and gag order in a bicycle accident claim against the property owner. The issue involved an associate move The law firm Hepworth Holzer, LLP (Hepworth Holzer or the firm), petitions this Court for a writ of mandamus or prohibition, seeking relief from a district court order disqualifying it as counsel for Dr. Gary Tubbs in a personal injury lawsuit against Bogus Basin Recreational Association, Inc. (Bogus Basin). Bogus Basin was represented by Elam & Burke in the proceedings. Elam & Burke moved to disqualify Hepworth Holzer after an associate attorney who worked at Elam & Burke when Tubbs initiated his lawsuit went to work for Hepworth Holzer and assisted the firm on a memorandum in support of a motion to reconsider filed in the case. The district court granted Elam & Burkes motion. The district court ordered that [a]ny attorney associated with Hepworth Holzer, LLP, including [the associate attorney], are disqualified from any further representation of [Dr.] Gary Tubbs in this matter and from providing any information from its files after January 21, 2021, and cannot relay any information discussed or received about this case after January 21, 2021[,] to Tubbs or any new attorney/firm representing Tubbs. Hepworth Holzer contends the district courts disqualification and gag order is clearly erroneous and unconstitutional. The move Dr. Gary Tubbs was severely injured in a bicycle accident that occurred on Bogus Basins property. In 2019, Tubbs hired Hepworth Holzer to represent him on a contingency fee basis in a personal injury lawsuit against Bogus Basin. John Janis was the primary attorney representing Tubbs. Elam & Burke represented Bogus Basin. The case proceeded to summary judgment, where Bogus Basin argued that Tubbs claims were barred because, after the accident, he signed three waiver agreements releasing Bogus Basin from any and all liability or claims arising from Tubbs use of the Bogus Basin ski area. After Elam & Burke filed Bogus Basins motion for summary judgment, but before a final judgment was entered, an associate attorney working for Elam & Burke resigned and started working for Hepworth Holzer. Later, the district court granted summary judgment to Bogus Basin. After working at Hepworth Holzer for one month, the associate attorney helped draft a memorandum in support of a motion for reconsideration in Tubbs case. In the motion to reconsider, Tubbs allegedly raised a new legal argument that Bogus Basin claimed was attributable to the associate attorneys prior communications and access to internal files while he was still an attorney for Elam & Burke... Bogus Basins motion alleged the associate attorney did research and had knowledge of work product and strategy in defending the case against Tubbs based on his employment with Elam & Burke. Bogus Basin alleged the associate attorneys conflict was imputed to the entire firm under Idaho Rule of Professional Conduct (I.R.P.C.) 1.10. Tubbs opposed the motion, supported by the declaration of Hepworth Holzer attorney John Janis. The associate attorney also submitted a declaration in which he adamantly denied: (1) ever having represented Bogus Basin while employed by Elam & Burke, (2) having otherwise obtained any confidential information about Bogus Basin, or (3) having used any information related to Bogus Basin to its disadvantage. In support, the associate attorney emphasized that he did not bill Bogus Basin for any legal serviceshighlighting the brief nature of his involvement in the case. Standing Hepworth Holzer suffered a distinct and palpable injury from the district courts order that it cease all representation and communication with Tubbs. The firm had invested significant time, money, and resources into its representation of Tubbs. The value of its reputation and standing in the local legal community is also at stake. Not only did the district courts order preclude the firms ability to recover any financial benefit of that representation, but it also placed Hepworth Holzer in breach of its contract with Tubbs. Hepworth Holzers injury is directly connected to the district courts order; thus, Hepworth Holzer has standing to petition this Court for relief. The trial court had jurisdiction to disqualify Here, the district court used its discretion to grant Bogus Basins motion to disqualify Hepworth Holzer based on an imputed conflict of interest. A writ of prohibition is not appropriate here because the district court did not exceed its jurisdiction in issuing the disqualification order. Hepworth Holzers request to enter such a writ is therefore denied. But mandamus relief was appropriate Here, the district court entered its disqualification and gag order based on its review of documents Elam & Burke submitted to the district court in camera. The documents were not provided to Hepworth Holzer, leaving the firm with no recourse or ability to challenge the district courts decision, inasmuch as it could not know the basis for the district courts ruling. The district court erred as a matter of law by limiting Hepworth Holzers opportunity to be heard and preventing the firms ability to meaningfully respond to Bogus Basins claims of impropriety. Result Ultimately, no one at Hepworth Holzer, including the associate attorney, could discern what argument allegedly raised confidential arguments that would merit the far-reaching action taken by the district court. The district court needed to consider the prejudice that would result to Tubbs in disqualifying Hepworth Holzer as his counsel. The goal of the court should be to shape a remedy which will assure fairness to the parties and the integrity of the judicial process. Foster, 145 Idaho at 32, 175 P.3d at 194 (quoting Weaver, 120 Idaho at 697, 819 P.2d at 115) (whenever possible, courts should endeavor to reach a solution that is least burdensome to the client.). Tubbs suffered substantial and catastrophic physical injuries that led to him filing the underlying lawsuit. Tubbs prejudice includes the loss of his long-standing counsel who is familiar with the facts of the case and who undertook representation on a contingent fee basis. It is impractical to conclude that Tubbs retaining new counsel is a plain, speedy and adequate remedy in the ordinary course of law. The district courts order disqualifying Hepworth Holzer as counsel is reversed. And remanded to a new judge while we make no finding that the district court is biased against Hepworth Holzer in this case, to avoid even the appearance of impropriety we order that the administrative district judge assign a new judge to this case upon remand. This holding is limited to the unique facts presented here and this determination, made via a special writ, should not be viewed as an expanded means of disqualifying a sitting judge throughout a case. (Mike Frisch) https://lawprofessors.typepad.com/legal_profession/2021/10/the-idaho-supreme-court-the-law-firm-hepworth-holzer-llp-hepworth-holzer-or-the-firm-petitions-this-court-fo.html Our story today is called, "The Return of a Private. " It was written by Hamlin Garland. Here is Harry Monroe with our story. The soldiers cheered as the train crossed the border into the state of Wisconsin. It had been a long trip from the south back to their homes in the north. One of the men had a large red scar across his forehead. Another had an injured leg that made it painful for him to walk. The third had unnaturally large and bright eyes because he had been sick with malaria. The three soldiers spread their blankets on the train seats and tried to sleep. It was a cold evening even though it was summertime. Private Smith, the soldier with the fever, shivered in the night air. His joy in coming home was mixed with fear and worry. He knew he was sick and weak. How could he take care of his family? Where would he find the strength to do the heavy work all farmers have to do? He had given three years of his life to his country. And now he had very little money and strength left for his family. Morning came slowly with a pale yellow light. The train was slowing down as it came into the town of La Crosse where the three soldiers would get off the train. The station was empty because it was Sunday. "I'll get home in time for dinner," Smith thought. "She usually has dinner about one o'clock on Sunday afternoon, and he smiled. Smith and the other two soldiers jumped off the train together. "Well, boys," Smith began, "here's where we say good-bye. We've marched together for many miles. Now, I suppose, we are done." The three men found it hard to look at each other. "We ought to go home with you," one of the soldiers said to Smith. "You'll never be able to walk all those miles with that heavy pack on your back." "Oh, I'm all right," Smith said, putting on his army cap. "Every step takes me closer to home." They all shook hands. "Good-bye!" "Good luck!" "Same to you!" "Good-bye!" Smith turned and walked away quickly. After a few minutes, he turned again and waved his cap. His two friends did the same. Then they marched away with their long steady soldier's step. Smith walked for a while thinking of his friends. He remembered the many days they had been together during the war. He thought of his friend, Billy Tripp, too. Poor Billy! A bullet came out of the sky one day and tore a great hole in Billy's chest. Smith knew he would have to tell the sad story to Billy's mother and young wife. But there was little to tell. The sound of a bullet cutting through the air. Billy crying out, then falling with his face in the dirt. The fighting he had done since then had not made him forget the horror of that moment when Billy died. Soon, the fields and houses became familiar. Smith knew he was close to home. The sun was burning hot as he began climbing the last hill. Finally, he reached the top and looked down at his farm in the beautiful valley. He was almost home. Misses Smith was alone on the farm with her three children. Mary was nine years old. Tommy was six and little Teddy had just turned four. Misses Smith had been dreaming about her husband when the chickens awakened her that Sunday morning. She got out of bed, got dressed, and went out to feed the chickens. Then she saw the broken fence near the chicken house. She had tried to fix it again and again. Misses Smith sat down and cried. The farmer who had promised to take care of the farm while her husband was away had been lazy and dishonest. The first year he shared the wheat with Misses Smith. But the next year, he took almost all of it for himself. She had sent him away. Now, the fields were full of wheat. But there was no man on the farm to cut it down and sell it. Six weeks before, her husband told her in a letter that he would be coming home soon. Other soldiers were returning home, but her husband had not come. Every day, she watched the road leading down the hill. This Sunday morning she could no longer stand being alone. She jumped up, ran into the house, and quickly dressed the children. She carefully locked the door and started walking down the road to the farmhouse of her neighbor, Misses Gray. Mary Gray was a widow with a large family of strong sons and pretty daughters. She was poor. But she never said 'no' to a hungry person who came to her farm and asked for food. She worked hard, laughed often and was always in a cheerful mood. When she saw Misses Smith and the children coming down the road, Misses Gray went out to meet them. "Please come right in, Misses Smith. We were just getting ready to have dinner." Misses Smith went into the noisy house. Misses Gray's children were laughing and talking all at the same time. Soon she was laughing and singing with the rest of them. The long table in the kitchen was piled with food. There were potatoes, fresh corn, apple pies, hot bread, sweet pickles, bread and butter and honey. They all ate until they could eat no more. Then the men and children left the table. The women stayed to drink their tea. "Mamma," said one of Misses Gray's daughters. Please read our fortunes in the tea leaves! Tell us about our futures!" Misses Gray picked up her daughter's cup and stirred it first to the left, then to the right. Then she looked into it with a serious expression. "I see a handsome man with a red beard in your future," she said. Her daughter screamed with laughter. Misses Smith trembled with excitement when it was her turn. "Somebody is coming home to you," Misses Gray said slowly. "He's carrying a rifle on his back and he's almost there." Misses Smith felt as if she could hardly breathe. "And there he is!" Misses Gray cried, pointing to the road. They all rushed to the door to look. A man in a blue coat, with a gun on his back, was walking down the road toward the Smith farm. His face was hidden by a large pack on his back. Laughing and crying, Misses Smith grabbed her hat and her children and ran out of the house. She hurried down the road after him, calling his name and pulling her children along with her. But the soldier was too far away for her voice to reach him. When she got back to their farm, she saw the man standing by the fence. He was looking at the little house and the field of yellow wheat. The sun was almost touching the hills in the west. The cowbells rang softly as the animals moved toward the barn. "How peaceful it all is," Private Smith thought. "How far away from the battles, the hospitals, the wounded and the dead. My little farm in Wisconsin. How could I have left it for those years of killing and suffering? Trembling and weak with emotion, Misses Smith hurried up to her husband. Her feet made no sound on the grass, but he turned suddenly to face her. For the rest of his life, he would never forget her face at that moment. "Emma!" he cried. The children stood back watching their mother kissing this strange man. He saw them, and kneeling down he pulled from his pack three huge, red apples. In a moment, all three children were in their father's arms. Together, the family entered the little unpainted farmhouse. Later that evening, after supper, Smith and his wife went outside. The moon was bright, above the eastern hills. Sweet, peaceful stars filled the sky as the night birds sang softly, and tiny insects buzzed in the soft air. His farm needed work. His children needed clothing. He was no longer young and strong. But he began to plan for next year. With the same courage he had faced the war, Private Smith faced his difficult future. You have just heard the story, "The Return of a Private." It was written by Hamlin Garland, and adapted for Special English by Dona de Sanctis. Your narrator was Harry Monroe. We want to here from you. How do you feel when you return to a place you have not been in a long time? How do you act towards people you have not seen in a long time? Let us know in the Comments section below or on our Facebook page. _________________________________________________________________ Try this Listening Quiz to check your understanding. Quiz - The Return of a Private by Hamlin Garland Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz For Teachers This lesson plan, based on the CALLA Approach, teaches the learning strategy, classify, to help students understand the story. ________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story scar - n. a mark that is left on your skin after a wound heals forehead - n. the part of the face above the eyes malaria - n. a serious disease that causes chills and fever and that is passed from one person to another by the bite of mosquitoes mood - n. the way someone feels : a person's emotional state pickle - n. chiefly US: a cucumber that is preserved in salt water or vinegar barn - n. a building on a farm that is used for storing grain and hay and for housing farm animals or equipment courage - n. the ability to do something that you know is difficult or dangerou A Russian actor and film director left Earth on a spaceship this week to start filming a movie. Russian officials said the movie will shine a light on Russias success in space. Dmitry Peskov is press secretary for President Vladimir Putin. We have been pioneers in space and maintained a confident position, Peskov said, adding that space exploration is great for Russia. Actor Yulia Peresild and director Klim Shipenko took off from a site in Kazahkstan Tuesday with cosmonaut Anton Shkaplerov. They arrived about three hours later at the International Space Station where they will stay for 12 days. The future film is called Challenge. It tells the story of a doctor who hurries to the space station to help an astronaut with a heart problem. The passengers had four months to get ready for the space trip. Peresild said training for the trip was difficult. But, she said, once they reach their goal, all that will seem not so difficult and we will remember it with a smile. Shipenko said he will finish the movie back home after filming in space. Two other Russian cosmonauts already on the space station will also perform in the movie. Dmitry Rogozin heads the Russian space agency Roscosmos and has been a major force behind the project. Space deserves being shown in a more professional, artful way, he said. Rogozin said he edited the script himself to correctly represent the realities of space travel. We describe some real emergencies that may happen out there, he said. Oleg Novitskiy is an experienced Russian cosmonaut. He will play the character with the heart problem in the movie. When that is done, he will return to captains seat of the Soyuz spacecraft and bring the actor and director back to Earth Im Dan Friedell. Dan Friedell adapted this story for Learning English based on a report by The Associated Press. Caty Weaver was the editor. How do you think the Russian movie will turn out? Tell us in the Comments Section and visit our Facebook page. ____________________________________________________________________ Words in This Story pioneer n. a person who helps create or develop new ideas, methods, etc. confident adj. having a feeling or belief that you can do something well or succeed at something script n. the written form of a play, movie, television show, etc. People attend the Womens March ATX rally, at the Texas State Capitol in Austin, Texas. (AP) A Texas judge has temporarily reinstated a law banning most abortions just one day after clinics began racing to serve patients again for the first time since early September. A one-page order, made by the 5th US Court of Appeals, temporarily restored the nations strictest abortion law, known as Senate Bill 8, which bans abortions once a fetal heartbeat is detected - usually around six weeks. Nancy Northup, president of the Centre for Reproductive Rights, which represents several Texas clinics that had briefly resumed normal abortion services, said: Patients are being thrown back into a state of chaos and fear. She called on the US Supreme Court to step in and stop this madness. At six weeks pregnant, it is common women will have not seen any physical changes to their body. Many will not yet know that they are pregnant. Most abortions in England, Scotland and Wales are carried out before 24 weeks of pregnancy, and occasionally beyond that in limited circumstances. The Texan law also makes no exceptions in cases of rape or incest. A handful of clinics braced themselves for the New Orleans-based appeals court to act fast, and hurriedly opened their doors to immediately start performing abortions again beyond the six weeks threshold. The draconian law was suspended on Wednesday by US District Judge Robert Pitman, an appointee of former president Barack Obama, branding it an offensive deprivation of the constitutional right to an abortion. But barely 48 hours passed before the appeals court set accepted Texas request to set aside Judge Pitmans ruling - at least for now - pending further arguments. The Biden administration, which had brought the lawsuit, have been given until Tuesday to respond. Great news tonight, Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton tweeted. I will fight federal overreach at every turn. Texas had roughly two dozen abortion clinics before the law took effect on 1 September . Planned Parenthood says the number of patients at its clinics in the state decreased by nearly 80% in the two weeks after the law was introduced. Story continues Fearful it might land them in legal hot water, many Texas doctors remained unwilling to perform abortions while the law was on hold. The new law threatens Texas abortion providers with lawsuits from private citizens, who are entitled to collect at least 10,000 dollars (7,350) in damages if successful. That novel approach to enforcement is the reason why Texas had been able to evade an earlier wave of legal challenges prior to this week. Have you heard all the news around TikTok? Have you heard about the trends and challenges? Well, one of the challenges on TikTok is just called the Devious Lick. This is where kids steal stuff from school, throw soap dispensers across the bathroom, and vandalize the school. Here is some more information about this TikTok trend and what its doing to schools. Viral Devious Licks challenge incites vandalism at St. Helena schools St. Helena educators are hoping an uptick in vandalism doesnt escalate into something more serious as a viral craze challenges kids to cause mayhem at school. The trend Devious Lick on TikTok has caused schools to close down the bathrooms. In my school, Robert Louis Stevenson Middle School, (for the boys) you have to go to the main office and sign in and out to use the bathroom. The reason for this is that someone sprayed the walls with sticky candy stuff in one incident and at another time someone took a soap dispenser and threw it onto the floor. This trend isn't the only stuff thats going to happen this year. There is a whole list of pranks that kids are going to do at school. This could cause many schools to go into virtual school again because of how bad its getting. And this only just started. There is a whole list until July 2022. The list of pranks is very inappropriate. The challenges include slapping teachers, touching students, messing up school signs, ditching school, and spraying a neighbors fence. This is very bad for our schools and our community. The vandalism has gotten worse and its going to keep getting worse every month if we dont do something to stop it. In conclusion, this TikTok trend is getting out of hand and there may be schools closing down because of these challenges. Something needs to be done to stop these pranks. Joselyn Servin 6th Grade Journalism Class RLS Middle School St. Helena Armenia FM stresses importance of addressable response to Azerbaijan's actions during talk with Greek counterpart Ex-ruling party official: Armenia authorities found reason for MOD's resignation after his visit to Karabakh Republican Party of Armenia spokesperson: Nikol Pashinyan gave a confessional testimony in parliament yesterday Armenia President talks about states' collective responsibility at Bloomberg New Economy Forum Turkish website reports poisoning of Fetullah Gulen Armenia FM holds phone talks with Cypriot counterpart, presents situation created after Azerbaijani attack Mirzoyan, Zas discuss CSTO's possible actions to stabilize situation on Armenia-Azerbaijan border, if necessary Mothers of deceased servicemen demand Armenia PM's resignation Azerbaijani Armed Forces open fire at tractor in Armenia's Verin Shorzha village Putin: Events unfolding on Armenia-Azerbaijan border attest to fact that situation has not calmed down in the region Lithuania supports Armenia's territorial integrity NEWS.am daily digest: 18.11.21 Ex-ruling party official: Incumbent authorities created deliberately organized chaos in Armenia Armenia Prosecutor General's Office to examine news about 6 Azeri servicemen captured and then secretly returned Dollar goes up in Armenia Armenia MOD planning training camps for reservists Sergey Lavrov, OSCE Chairperson-in-Office to discuss assistance to resolve situation in Karabakh High-tech industry minister receives Chinese recipient of Armenia State Prize for global contributions to IT sector Eurasian Intergovernmental Council's narrow-format session kicks off in Yerevan Pashinyan views Eurasian integration as one of Armenia's priorities Two Armenian citizens found in Afghanistan Armenian health ministry gets $ 2.5 million to fight COVID-19 OSCE Chairperson-in-Office has telephone conversation with Jeyhun Bayramov Deceased Armenian soldier Taron Sahakyan's brother refutes news that he was captured and tortured to death Armenia seeks to develop cooperation in food safety within EEU Armenia Ombudsman, UNICEF Representative discuss problems with right of children of borderline villages to education Armenia allocates AMD 462 mln for 4 subvention programs ahead of local self-government elections Major incidents not recorded in Armenia's border zones as of 2 p.m., operative situation is under army's control Armenia parliament approves several legislative amendments PMs discuss prospects for development of Armenia-Kyrgyzstan collaboration Turkish Nationalist Movement Party gifts Erdogan a map of Turkic World, with a part of Russia 'seized' Man, 49, found dead inside truck near Armenia village sand mine Armenia emergency ministry uses off-road vehicles to provide for needs of Syunik Province border villages, says minister There is investment activeness in Syunik Province, says Armenia economy minister Russia PM arrives in Yerevan Minister on Armenia economic growth: We are from optimistic realist to optimist Armenia President, Singapore deputy PM discuss avenues for expanding bilateral cooperation Ombudsman: Armenophobia, propaganda of enmity have reached extremist fascism in Azerbaijan (VIDEO) Russia peacekeepers carry out round-the-clock monitoring of ceasefire in Karabakh 1 more person dies of coronavirus in Artsakh Armenia premier: There is no Syunik Province settlement that is under blockade Office of Armenia commissioner for diaspora, SADA Global Delivery Center sign memorandum of cooperation Armenia government approves 2021-2026 action plan Armenia PM: Russia MOD made proposals on preparatory phase of border delimitation with Azerbaijan 1,019 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Senator calls for end to US military aid to Azerbaijan Armenia is elected to UNESCO Executive Board Whose body is brought from Baku to Yerevan by Russian Southern Military District deputy commander? Armenia MOD: Azerbaijan opened random fire at some directions of Tavush Province late Wednesday evening World oil prices still dropping Newspaper: Armenia has set task to change its foreign policy vector, Russia analysts say Newspaper: Coronavirus death statistics in Armenia are incomplete Armenian immigrant couple in California sentenced to prison for $20M fraud EEU countries PMs to arrive in Yerevan for intergovernmental council meeting Armenian army commander: Azerbaijan wants corridor, leader of Armenia gave consent to that, but refused later Armenia FM holds phone conversations with Russian counterpart, Karen Donfried and OSCE Chairperson-in-Office MTS launches inspection of its 'daughter' operations in Armenia upon request of U.S. Armenia MOD: Defense minister receives Rustam Muradov, who brought body of deceased Armenian soldier to Yerevan Taliban call on US Congress to ease sanctions and unfreeze Afghanistan's assets Armenia PM: The meaning of being captured and the circumstances of captivity need to be investigated Moscow, Ankara agree to not release details about joint manufacturing of S-400s OSCE Chairperson-in-Office welcomes ceasefire between Armenia and Azerbaijan after Russian mediation Armenia Ombudsman discusses Armenian captives' issue with acting Head of ICRC Delegation Armenia PM refutes possibility of giving order 'to not open fire' when it comes to homeland defense Armenian PM tries to clarify situation regarding use of names "Eyvazli" and "Chayzami" IAEA Director General to visit Iran Armenia PM: Our goal is to sign a peace treaty Rustam Muradov brings body of one Armenian serviceman Reuters: UAE's high-ranking delegation to visit Tehran soon James Langevin: Azerbaijani government again unleashed a volley of unprovoked violence against Armenia Ambassador to the Holy See: Armenia calls on its international partners to condemn Azerbaijan's actions Armenia President provides Singapore PM with information about Azerbaijan's aggressive actions Armenia PM: Trilateral task force's work is not interrupted Armenia Police's Educational Complex has new head Jackie Speier: We're witnessing Aliyev's attempted land grab in real time Mass media: Rustam Muradov bringing bodies of Armenian soldiers to Yerevan Yerevan to host subsequent session of Eurasian Intergovernmental Council Earthquake hits Turkey Zakharova on possibility of enforcing Armenia-Russia Treaty, says consultations are being held NEWS.am 17.11.21 digest: Latest on Armenia-Azerbaijan border situation European People's Party issues statement on recent hostilities on Armenian-Azerbaijani border Opposition 'Armenia' Alliance MP: Resistance movement will help get rid of this catastrophe, namely authorities soon Armenia PM explains why he appointed new defense minister Opposition MPs remind Armenia PM about treason, get into dispute with ruling party deputies Armenian PM: There are territories of Soviet Azerbaijan that are under Armenia's control Armenia ruling party MP Andranik Kocharyan continues to talk about creation of professional army Armenia and Russia Security Councils' Secretaries discuss regional security issues Armenia Security Council Secretary: Azerbaijan fails to maintain ceasefire and isn't implementing reached agreements Cavusoglu blames Armenia 'for terrorist attack against Azerbaijan' Opposition 'Armenia' Alliance: Authorities' goal is to stay in power through ongoing concessions Armenia PM: Our proposals are in effect, including proposal for start of delimitation and demarcation Resident of Armenia's Shaki village panic when they hear the Azerbaijanis' gunshots Armenia ruling party MP: Enemy can't achieve any success in Syunik Province Armenia PM and ministers answering MPs' questions (LIVE) Ambassador: Armenia Security Council Secretary will probably have separate meeting with Nikolai Patrushev Armenia health minister: Kapan and Goris will have additional SUVs for paramedics Armen Sarkissian presents situation on Armenia's borders at Bloomberg New Economy Forum in Singapore Armenia FM: International community reaction to Azerbaijans provocative, aggressive actions was not targeted, proper Armenia Prosecutor General receives Egypt Ambassador Council of Europe Secretary General concerned about tensions between Armenia and Azerbaijan After the war unleashed against Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) in the fall of 2020 and the signing of the shameful agreement on November 9 of the same year, the government of Armenia and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan became as inaccessible to the media as possible. According to Armenian News-NEWS.ams information, Pashinyan has instructed his staff not to bother him with both oral and written questions of the media. Proof of that is the ridiculous response sent to Armenian News-NEWS.am on behalf of Armen Khachatryan, the head of the Information and Public Relations Department of the Prime Minister's Office. Back on September 2, Armenian News-NEWS.am, referring to Armenias Constitution and the relevant articles of the Freedom of Information Law, had addressed a written request to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan to find out whether according to the agreement reached in 2018 between him and the President of Azerbaijan, Ilham Aliyev, the operative connection with the ceasefire violations established between the two countries was restored after November 9, 2020. If so, what is its frequency? After not receiving a response to the request for information within the timeframe set by law, Armenian News-NEWS.am in mid-September tried to contact Armen Khachatryan, the head of the department, but he left our phone calls unanswered. At the urging of an employee of the Information and Public Relations Department, we sent the same request again on September 15. Not receiving an answer 24 days after the second attempt, Armenian News-NEWS.am called the department again and reminded about the existence of this inquiry. Hours after our reminder, we received a letter on behalf of the head of the department, Armen Khachatryan, where it is literally noted: " Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan reflected on the mentioned question during the question and answer session between the National Assembly and the Government on October 6, and we have nothing to add to the answer voiced by the Prime Minister." It turns out that the head of the government's information and public relations department, who is authorized to liaise the prime minister and his staff with the media, did not want to disturb the prime minister, and waited until the prime minister will use the term "operative link" on one occasion to present it as a response to the media, considering that he has fulfilled his duties. We have to disappoint Mr. Khachatryan because during the October 6 question and answer session, no MP addressed the question of our concern to the Prime Minister, and the Prime Minister did not address that question either. At the October 6 sitting, Anna Mkrtchyan, a member of the opposition "With Honor" faction of the National Assembly, only spoke about the fact that Nikol Pashinyan had conceded from Armenia and Artsakh more than one could have imagined on the basis of verbal agreements, and according to the MP, the mentioned operative link serves exclusively for agreements, promises, maybe also for not publishing the information Turks have about him as the blackmailed version. In response, the prime minister mocked the MP, noting: "That operative link is the head of your faction now. Go to the room with the faction, interrogate him, torture him, let him confess what he agreed upon and with whom. The operative link is absent today, but he is the head of your faction, I want to remind And be careful, if you go consistently with that persistence, it may turn out that you are in a treacherous circle. Maybe you should leave the faction or remove him from the faction It is at least ridiculous to think that by the wording "operative link is absent today" the Prime Minister meant that there is no operative link between him and Aliyev today. It was not difficult to guess that we are talking about Artur Vanetsyan, the former director of the National Security Service, the current leader of the opposition "With Honor" bloc faction, who was not present that day at the parliaments question and answer session with the government. Anyway, we hope that after all this, the head of the department will have the courage to go to the Prime Minister and finally report on the "unpleasant" inquiry addressed to him. Otherwise, it remains to state that the Prime Minister and his staff are in violation of Article 51 of Armenias Constitution and Articles 6 and 9 of the Law on Freedom of Information.. It should be noted that according to the Law on Freedom of Information, if the information holder does not have the requested information, or its provision is beyond his/her powers, he/she is obliged to inform the petitioner about it in writing within five days after receiving the written request. In this case, the information holder not only did not inform that he did not have the information being sought, but by violating the terms of providing the information, he distorted the question raised by us and gave it a meaningless answer. Thus, it should be noted that the attempt of the Prime Minister's Office to bypass the issue of "operative link" has failed, and this suggests that the Prime Minister and his staff are concealing the fact of an "operative link" with Aliyev. By the way, today throughout the day Armenian News-NEWS.am did not manage to contact Armen Khachatryan and get clarification on the issue. No pilgrims have visited the Armenian Dadivank Monastery of Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh) since May 2and due to restrictions imposed by the Azerbaijani side. Father Atanas Sargsyan, who is currently serving at Dadivank, told about this to Armenian News-NEWS.am. "I do not know how long this situation will last, but I am full of hope that there will be a solution. The Catholicos [of All Armenians] is working in this regard, and let's see what happens," he added. The clergyman said that they are currently in complete isolation, there are a large number of Azerbaijani servicemen on all sides, but the monastery is guarded by Russian peacekeepers. "Despite all this, there is absolutely no fear. The church is standing, nothing has happened [to it], we are standing [here] at the cost of our lives, trying to lift and not let them destroy the fallen stone. Both physically and mentally, our sacrifice is at the moment, and I hope it will not be in vain. Udis have come [here] several times, made pilgrimages, performed some spiritual ceremonies, and gone back," the Armenian priest said. According to Father Sargsyan, the future of Dadivank is directly comparable to the future of the country: everything is uncertain now, but the important thing is the faith that should not be lost. "Whoever has faith, the impossible will happen; we are here with that faith, we are waiting for a miracle. It is sad that it is already the second year that we welcome the first snow at Dadivank in these conditions," added Father Atanas Sargsyan. Dadivank is one of the most ancient Christian monasteries of the Armenian Apostolic Church. It is located in Artsakhs Karvachar (Kelbajar) region which came under the control of Azerbaijan after the trilateral statement of November 9 last year. A security checkpoint of the Russian peacekeeping contingent in Artsakh is located nearby this monastery. [Armenias PM Nikol] Pashinyan, by me, Azerbaijans [President Ilham] Aliyev, by his NSS [(National Security Service)] head, had exchanged closed envelopes. Artur Vanetsyanthe leader of the opposition "With Honor" Faction of the National Assembly (NA), leader of the opposition Homeland party, and former director of the NSS of Armeniastated this on the air of 24 News. Referring to the statements made by PM Pashinyan in the NA regarding an "operative link" with Aliyev, Vanetsyan said that the premier is in fact resorting to manipulation. To clarify the issue, he first explained what an "operative link" is, noting that it was intended only for border incidents, and this link was ensured from the Armenian side by the then NSS director, Artur Vanetsyan, and the latters counterpart from the Azerbaijani side. The speaker detailed, noting that he mainly kept in touch with his Azerbaijani counterpart by phone and, in relevant situations, met with him in Dubai and some other cities several times. According to Vanetsyan, the main topic of their conversation was solely the border situation, and this was reported in full, both to the Armenian Prime Minister and the other members of the Security Council: the Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Defense. YEREVAN. Armenian President Armen Sarkissian, who is in Italy on a state visit, on Friday visited Bologna citytogether with his wife Nouneh Sarkissian, and was hosted at the University of Bologna where he was awarded the Sigillum Magnum Medal, the highest medal of this institution of higher education, Armenian News-NEWS.am has learned from the President's Office. The Sigillum Magnum Medal is awarded to the influential persons who have stood out in culture, politics, and science and academics. Head Rector Francesco Ubertini of the Alma Mater Studiorum-University of Bologna welcomed the President of Armenia on behalf of the University, and Sarkissian thanked for the consideration. Anna Shirinyan, Head of the Chair of Armenian Language and Literature at the University of Bologna, presented the history of this chair and the Armenian-Italian historical ties, and spoke about the significant Armenian trace in Italy. After the ceremony of awarding the Sigillum Magnum Medal, President Armenian Sarkissian and his wife Nouneh Sarkissian visited the library of the University of Bologna and got familiarized with the unique samples of Armenian literary heritage being kept there. YEREVAN. Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of Armenia Gnel Sanosyan received Indian Ambassador Kishan Dan Deval, Armenian News-NEWS.am has learned from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure. Ambassador Dan Deval assured that all efforts will be made to expand the existing cooperation in domains of mutual interest. The diplomat stressed that the Indian side is interested in infrastructure development programs in Armenia, and it will be glad to discuss the avenues for respective cooperation. According to the ambassador, there are quite large companies in India that have succeeded in this domain, and they can participate in the respective projects being implemented in Armenia. In his turn, the Armenian minister highlighted the active work with the Indian side, and the strengthening of bilateral cooperation. During the conversation, reference was made to the course of the investment program of the North-South Road Corridor construction in Armenia, and the opportunities provided for Armenia by Chabahar Port of Iran. The parties agreed to exchange information and discuss opportunities for collaboration within the framework of the North-South Road Corridor investment program. Taiwan reunification must be achieved: Xi Jinping President Xi Jinping warned that people who seek to split the nation will come to no good end. File photo: AP President Xi Jinping said on Saturday that reunification with Taiwan must and will be realised and that this accords with the basic interests of Taiwan's people. In a speech marking the 110th anniversary of the 1911 revolution, Xi said: Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should stand on the right side of history and join hands to achieve China's complete reunification and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. The president also warned that people who betray their motherland and seek to split the nation will come to no good end. "The complete reunification of our country will be and can be realized," he stressed. Xi also spoke of the need for a peaceful and stable international environment. "Aggression and hegemony are not in the blood of the Chinese people. Our people hope to successfully realize national development, but they also hope to see all peoples of the world leading happy and peaceful lives," he said. (Xinhua, Reuters) Singapore opens borders, abandons zero Covid policy Changi airport was among the world's busiest in 2019, with more than 68 million passengers, but travel dried up due to the pandemic. File photo: Shutterstock Singapore is opening its borders to more countries for quarantine-free travel as the city-state seeks to rebuild its status as an international aviation hub, and prepares to reach a "new normal" to live with Covid-19. From October 19 fully vaccinated people from eight countries, including Britain, France, Spain and the United States, will be able to enter the island without quarantining if they pass their Covid-19 tests, the government said on Saturday. The announcement marks a major step in Singapore's strategy to resume international links. The Southeast Asian nation, one of the world's biggest travel and finance hubs, is home to Asian headquarters of thousands of global companies whose executives have long relied on Singapore's connectivity. The country of 5.45 million people has been reporting record daily Covid-19 infections of more than 3,000 over the past few days, though almost all the cases are asymptomatic or mild. About 83 percent of the population is fully vaccinated, one of the world's highest rates. Singapore recently reimposed coronavirus restrictions to buy time to prepare to live with the disease but the step was met with some rare frustration as the government walks a fine line between reopening and preventing hospitals from getting overwhelmed. Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said Singapore will reach a new normal and can lighten restrictions when cases stabilise, even if they stay in the hundreds. "It will take us at least three months, and perhaps as long as six months, to get there," Lee said in an address to the nation, which has largely kept the virus at bay since last year with masks, contact tracing and a closed border. "After this surge stabilises, we may still see future surges, especially if new variants emerge. We may have to tap on the brakes again if cases again grow too fast, to protect our healthcare system and healthcare workers," Lee said. The government will tighten rules for those who remain unvaccinated from Wednesday, barring them from entering malls and eating at the country's ubiquitous hawker centres. It will review some Covid-19 curbs in a week or two. Singapore's travel programme for fully vaccinated people began in September with Germany and Brunei, and will include South Korea from next month. Up to 3,000 travellers will able to enter daily through the vaccinated travel lanes, a far cry from the record 19.1 million travellers to the city-state in 2019. Borders remain largely closed to key Asian countries. Singapore is discussing two-way quarantine-free travel with several more countries, the government said. "We hope this further easing of measures and expansion of Singapore's border reopening will spur other markets to similarly navigate their pathways towards restarting air travel," said Philip Goh, Asia-Pacific vice president for the International Air Transport Association. Singapore Airlines said in a statement that it will expand its vaccinated travel lane networks to 14 cities. The flagship carrier, which relies solely on international travel, lost a record S$4.27 billion in the year to March, its second year in the red. Singapore's Changi airport was among the world's busiest in 2019, with more than 68 million passengers, before travel crashed last year due to the pandemic. "Since the Singapore economy is extremely dependent on external demand for our goods and services, very simply put, any moves that help to lift the number of flights handled by Changi Airport will add to our GDP," said Song Seng Wun, an economist at CIMB Private Banking. The country has hit some hiccups on its transition to an endemic Covid-19 as the population was focussed on avoiding it for nearly two years. Its leader said the high vaccination coverage meant people will be better protected from the virus, which is likely to infect nearly everyone. "Let us go about our daily activities as normally as possible, taking necessary precautions," Lee said. "We should respect Covid-19, but we must not be paralysed by fear. (Reuters) Alyson Hannigan revealed that her house was used as a filming location for "This Is Us" and she isn't mad about it! The actor and mom of two told SiriusXMs Michelle Collins that although she never thought she'd rent her home out for a show, she made an exception for the Emmy-winning drama. The "American Pie" star was on "The Michelle Collins Show" to promote The Food Network's "Outrageous Pumpkins" which she'll be hosting and explained how her home ended up in the show. "The people we bought our house from, I dont know if they ever even lived here. I think they just rented it out for film shoots," said Hannigan. "I think my houses resume is probably longer than mine," the actor joked. "When we moved in, we were like, Well, we will never do that. We know what productions do to locations and all that." Hannigan said that because the house is known as a shooting location, she gets requests "about twice a month" to rent it out. She finally reconsidered her policy when the "This Is Us" crew came calling. "It turned out, our neighbor was the director. And we were like, well, if we were ever going to do it, we would do it for that show 'cause its so good and ... long-running shows, like, the crews are very respectful." She said that not only did her family get a staycation while their house was being used for filming but that she was pleasantly surprised to learn that the cast and crew left the place in better condition than they'd found it. "Not only did they give us our house back in wonderful shape, they fixed things that I had damaged," Hannigan told Collins. "So they were like touching up some paint or whatever, and there's clearly like one of my kids handprints on a wall and theyre like, Would you like us to do that as well? and Im like, I know that wasnt from you but yeah, thank you. So they fixed damage that I had done." Story continues Hannigan said that they even polished up some woodwork she had damaged while taping up Halloween decorations around a door. "They fixed that too!" she said. "I was like, You guys!" Last month, fans of "This Is Us" got a bittersweet peek behind the scenes of season six when show creator Dan Fogelman shared a picture from the set. Last first day. Feeling feelings, he captioned the photo of Mandy Moore and Milo Ventimiglia, who play Rebecca and Jack. Earlier this year, NBC announced that the show's sixth season would be its final one. Related: WASHINGTON (AP) U.S. officials will meet with senior Taliban officials on Saturday and Sunday for talks aimed at easing the evacuations of foreign citizens and at-risk Afghans from Afghanistan, a U.S. official said Friday. The focus of talks in Doha, Qatar, would be holding Afghanistans Taliban leaders to commitments that they would allow Americans and other foreign nationals to leave Afghanistan, along with Afghans who once worked for the U.S. military or government and other Afghan allies, the official said. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorized to speak by name about the meetings. HEARING SET FOR MARINE COURT-MARTIALED FOR SPEAKING OUT ON AFGHANISTAN WITHDRAWAL The Biden administration has fielded questions and complaints about the slow pace of U.S.-facilitated evacuations from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan since the last U.S. forces and diplomats left there at the end of August. State Department spokesman Ned Price said Thursday that 105 U.S. citizens and 95 green-card holders had left since then on flights facilitated by the United States. That number had not changed for more than a week. U.S. veterans and other individuals have helped others leave the country on charter flights, and some Americans and others have gotten out across land borders. That leaves dozens of American citizens still seeking to get out, according to the State Department, along with thousands of green-card holders and Afghans and family members believed eligible for U.S. visas. U.S. officials have cited the difficulty of verifying flight manifests without any American officials on the ground in Afghanistan to help, along with other hold-ups. Americans also intend to press the Taliban to observe the rights of women and girls, many of whom the Taliban are reportedly blocking from returning to jobs and classrooms, and of Afghans at large, and to form an inclusive government, the official said. U.S. officials will also encourage Taliban officials to give humanitarian agencies free access to areas in need amid the economic upheaval following the U.S. departure and Taliban takeover. Story continues CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER The official stressed the session did not imply the U.S. was recognizing the Taliban as legitimate governors of the country. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: Afghanistan, Taliban, State Department, U.S. Army, War on Terror, Biden Administration Original Author: Associated Press Original Location: American and Taliban officials to talk on evacuees Miles below the Earths surface are some of the most dangerous caves in the southeastern U.S. You are in an alien world, Jan Simek, archaeologist and anthropology professor at the University of Tennessee Knoxville, told McClatchy News. Its a very different world than we live in. A dangerous world, in fact. Your perceptions are different. Your experiences are different. Simek is referring to the dark zones of caves deep underground that are not influenced by the exterior light. Its here that he and his team have found Native American art from hundreds of centuries ago. They have explored close to a 100 cave sites already a majority of which are located in Alabama, Tennessee, and Kentucky, Simek said. They have also visited a few in Virginia, West Virginia, Georgia, and one in Florida. Even now, new caves are being discovered including four earlier this year, according to Simek. The Appalachian Plateau, which stretches from New York southwest to Alabama, contains thousands of caves, Simek said. It also includes the worlds longest cave called Mammoth in Kentucky. Flowing Stone Cave (Credit: Alan Cressler) The caves in the Appalachian region were very important parts of the landscape for ancestral Native Americans, Simek told McClatchy News. They used those caves like they used other parts of their landscape as sacred places. Types of ancient Native American art inside caves Some of the ancient cave art, according to Simek, include: Mud glyphs: drawings traced into mud surfaces. Petroglyphs: drawings embedded into limestone of cave walls. Pictographs: paintings made up of charcoal-based pigments. Petroglyphs of ceremonial weapons and a birdman figure (Credit: Alan Cressler) Mud Glyph of an owl from 1250 AD in Mud Glyph Cave, Tennessee (Credit: Alan Cressler) Mud Glyphs in main passage of first Unnamed Cave in Tennessee (Credit: Alan Cressler) Petroglyphs of ceremonial weapons and a birdman figure (Credit: Alan Cressler) The oldest caves with art inside date back to nearly 6,500 years ago though the sites are rare and are found between the Kentucky and Tennessee state line, Simek said in a University of Tennessee Knoxville news release earlier this month. Researchers have found that cave art has strong connections to the historic tribes that occupied the Southeast at the time of European invasion, Simek said in the news release. Story continues For example, mid-19th century inscriptions of the Cherokee syllabary were found on cave walls in Alabama and Tennessee, according to the news release. The writing system was created by a Cherokee scholar Sequoyah between 1800 and 1824 and became the primary means of written expression, the news release said. Cherokee archaeologists, historians, and language experts often consult with him to document and translate these cave writings, Simek said in the news release. Bryers Cave in Georgia (Credit: Alan Cressler) Remains found from 3,000 years ago in a cave Native Americans created art in the Southeast all the way through to the historic period just before the Trail of Tears saw the forced removal of indigenous people east of the Mississippi River in the 1830s, according to the news release. Some of them died due to dangerous cave conditions. For example, Native American remains from 3,000 years ago were found in Mammoth and Salt Cave in Kentucky, Simek told McClatchy News. If you went into the dark zone to make artwork you had to carry your light sources and food with you, Simek said. It was not a simple undertaking. Lots of things could still go wrong to this day. Ever since the first dark zone cave was discovered south of Knoxville in 1980, Simek and his team have set their sights on studying and uncovering more ancient art exploring caves any chance they get, he said. Four new caves, in fact, were discovered in the first half of 2021, Simek said in the university news release. In a certain way, by following in their (Native Americans) footsteps into these places, feeling the nature of the experience that they experienced, brings people a little bit closer, Simek told McClatchy News. You can kind of feel their spirit. Bryers Cave in Georgia (Credit: Alan Cressler) Worlds longest cave just got even longer after discovery at Kentucky national park Dense fog fills Kentucky cave in rare spectacle, photos show. Portal to another world Sharks ... in Kentucky?! Fossils uncovered in Mammoth Cave after millions of years Amid the worsening border crisis, the Biden administration has cancelled the remaining contracts for the border wall project spearheaded under the Trump administration. Construction on the wall sections in the Laredo and Rio Grande Valley sectors will be halted, the Department of Homeland Security announced Friday in a press release. Soon after assuming office, President Biden suspended building along the wall while it underwent internal review. The Biden administration then cancelled two contracts that covered approximately 31 miles of territory along the southern border in Texas. Fridays development is the latest of Bidens reversals and overhauls to Trumps immigration policy, the hallmark of which was erecting an expansive high barrier as a deterrent mechanism to migrants. DHS added that it would conduct an environmental assessment of border barrier system projects in the release, specifying that those activities will not involve any construction of new border barrier or permanent land acquisition. The decision from DHS comes amid record migrant apprehensions at the border. Last month, a caravan of nearly 30,000 Haitian migrants crossed over into the United States, overwhelming border personnel in Del Rio, Texas. Nearly 12,000 of those illegal immigrants were released into the interior to have their asylum cases adjudicated at a later date, Mayorkas confirmed, despite Bidens administrations assurances that there would not be mass migrants admission into the U.S. Prominent Republican lawmakers condemned the cancellations Friday as a counterproductive and irresponsible move. DHS Secretary Mayorkas, during a border crisis, is cancelling border wall contracts. Impeach Mayorkas, Republican Representative Dan Crenshaw of Texas wrote on Twitter. DHS Secretary Mayorkas, during a border crisis, is cancelling border wall contracts. Impeach Mayorkas. pic.twitter.com/YsdsnMMQHi Dan Crenshaw (@DanCrenshawTX) October 8, 2021 Canceling construction of the border wall isnt going to solve the Biden Border Crisis, Republican Senator Tom Cotton (Ark.) wrote. More from National Review On the three occasions shes revealed massive donations to schools and other nonprofits, MacKenzie Scott has also broken with another tradition of the donor class. Instead of waiting to publish a triumphant annual letter, shes written short posts on the blogging site Medium to explain the rationale behind her bequestsand the methodology behind choosing her grantees. At press time, those funds collectively totaled more than $8.5 billion, all of it disbursed within the past two years. The largest chunk of Scotts initial giving spree, announced in July 2020, allocated over $586 million specifically for racial-justice groups. In the accompanying note, Scott lamented that life will never stop finding fresh ways to expose inequities in our systems; or waking us up to the fact that a civilization this imbalanced is not only unjust, but also unstable. She has given more to similar organizations since. More from Robb Report The underlying strategy behind Scotts brand of rapid-fire, large-scale philanthropy isnt surprising: Shes always been very clear about her intention to give the majority of her fortune away as quickly as possible. What is surprising is that, at the highest echelon of the giving ecosystem, Scott appears rare in her willingness to make antidiscrimination work a major priority. On Forbess 2021 list of Americas 25 most philanthropic citizens, her bio is one of the few that specifically mentions racial inequality as an area of focus. (George Soros also includes antidiscrimination as one of his.) Shes been very front and center about the importance of advancing equity, and also intentionally funding organizations led by people of color, led by women, led by LGBTQ people, says Kris Putnam-Walkerly, the author of Delusional Altruism and founder of Putnam Consulting Group, which advises billionaire donors, corporations and community foundations alike on their giving strategies. Story continues But, she adds, people fund what theyre familiar with Chances are if youre white and privileged, youre less familiar with racism. Youre less familiar with the impact of racism. Youre less familiar with understanding the policies that have existed in this country since its inception that have built upon themselves to create inequitable economic systems and political systems. The hypercompetitive realm of philanthropy tends to attract (and reward) those with deep pockets who want to save the world from its most pernicious problems. Their contributions are a vital tool in the battles against climate change, disease and poverty around the globe. But theres an argument to be made that a focused, full-scale effort by the donor class to close the racial-equity gap would produce real results across all these areas of concernand have the rare effect of making life fairer and more equal for everyone. You cant tackle, ultimately or in an enduring way, issues on climate resilience or housing or education without being clear-eyed about the historic racial inequities within those systems, says Maria Torres-Springer, vice president of US programs at the Ford Foundation, where she oversees programming across a variety of areas that include gender, racial and ethnic justice. It has to be both part of the diagnosis and then part of the solution Unless you have a racial-equity lens and a justice lens on that giving, then our belief is that it wont be enduringthat youre not tackling the root cause of these issues. If the many horrors of 2020 revealed anything, its that racism magnifies the impact of nearly every social ill, from access to the ballot box to access to credit. In a study published last September, Dana Peterson, the former global economist for Citi Research and now chief economist at the Conference Board, found that the wealth gap between Black and white families has cost this nations economy some $16 trillion since the year 2000$13 trillion of which might have been generated had fair and equitable lending to Black entrepreneurs been provided. According to Peterson, that cost is a conservative estimate based on a few small components of a much larger issue. Racism, after all, is a system, and its significant network of challenges will require equally significant efforts to ameliorate, some of which can only really be implemented through legislative channels. But that doesnt mean philanthropists dont have a role to play in effecting those changes. In fact, if any group of people is able to accelerate the cause of justice, it will be donors with determination to shift public policy. We know what it looks like when millionaires and billionaires really want the government to do something, wrote Morris Pearl, a former BlackRock executive whos now the chair of Patriotic Millionaires, a group that argues wealth should be taxed more heavily, in an opinion column for USA Today last year. They use their money and their connections to influence government leaders, and more often than not they get their way. If wealthy Americans cared one-tenth as much about equity for Black and brown people as they did about tax cuts, this would have already been resolved. Should the prospect of shifting federal public policy feel daunting, Torres-Springer said she would advise donors who want to make a real impact to look into how they can help in their communities. There are certainly groups that are doing work nationally, she says. But there are racial-equity groups on the forefront working on issues of housing and on criminal justice right in their own backyards. And so, to do the type of research and make the type of connections with those organizations in their communities is, I think, even more important than looking at lists of grantees from private foundations or other donors. All of that works. All of it is encouraged. There is no one perfect way to do it. Charity, after all, begins at home. Justin Fenner is Robb Reports deputy digital editor. Hes not a billionaire (yet), but he does support causes including the NAACPs Legal Defense and Educational Fund and the New York City Anti-Violence Project. Sign up for Robb Report's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A federal lawsuit says officers violated the civil rights of a Black real estate agent, his client and his client's son when they handcuffed the three individuals who were on a home tour. Michigan police have previously described it as an "unfortunate" misunderstanding. Real estate agent Eric Brown, Roy Thorne and his 15-year-old son Samuel, in early October filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Wyoming, Michigan, the Wyoming police chief and the six police officers involved in the Aug. 1 incident, which started when officers responded to a call from a neighbor. The neighbor believed a person who had been previously arrested for unlawful entry into the house had returned. The suspect drove a a black Mercedes but the officers only found two vehicles, a black Hyundai Genesis sedan and a black Chevrolet Malibu. As Brown, Thorne and Thorne's son, all Black males, were touring the property, officers, two with their guns drawn, began gathering outside. Thorne's 15-year old son, Samuel, quickly emerged from the basement and announced he'd seen officers surrounding the house. Brown and Thorne said they both felt "sheer terror" as they saw the officers approach the home. The three individuals were briefly handcuffed and detained before being released. "I thought, 'Were going to get shot. This is going to go really bad, really fast,'" Brown previously told USA TODAY. Thorne, who is an Army Veteran, said he shared Brown's fear, especially for his 15-year-old son. "I prepared myself to get shot or killed," Thorne said. "I cant get it out of my head. I keep replaying that walk down the stairs." NYC investigation: FBI raids offices of New York City police union, citing 'ongoing investigation' 'Sheer terror': Black real estate agent, clients handcuffed by Michigan police during home tour Officers ordered the three of them to come outside with their hands up. They were handcuffed and put in separate police cars. Story continues After Brown proved he was a real estate agent, all three individuals were released. One of the officers told the men this was a "big misunderstanding," according to the lawsuit. The suit states neither Brown, Thorne or his son were driving the black Mercedes described as the suspect's vehicle. Neither of their license plates matched the suspect's as well. The lawsuit said if the three weren't Black, they wouldn't have been escorted by gun point and handcuffed the way they were. After reviewing body camera footage, Michigan police determined race did not play a role in the officers actions. "We have concluded race played no role in our officers treatment of the individuals who were briefly detained," the police statement said. "While it is unfortunate that innocent individuals were placed in handcuffs, our officers responded reasonably and according to department policy based on the information available to them at the time." The Wyoming police department didn't respond to USA TODAY's request to comment. The lawsuit requests a trial by jury and alleges violations of the plaintiffs' civil rights, assault and battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. Contributing: N'dea Yancey-Bragg Follow Gabriela Miranda on Twitter: @itsgabbymiranda This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Black real estate agent and his clients file lawsuit after handcuffed Readers hoping to buy EOG Resources, Inc. (NYSE:EOG) for its dividend will need to make their move shortly, as the stock is about to trade ex-dividend. Typically, the ex-dividend date is one business day before the record date which is the date on which a company determines the shareholders eligible to receive a dividend. The ex-dividend date is important because any transaction on a stock needs to have been settled before the record date in order to be eligible for a dividend. In other words, investors can purchase EOG Resources' shares before the 14th of October in order to be eligible for the dividend, which will be paid on the 29th of October. The company's next dividend payment will be US$0.41 per share, on the back of last year when the company paid a total of US$1.65 to shareholders. Calculating the last year's worth of payments shows that EOG Resources has a trailing yield of 1.8% on the current share price of $90.53. Dividends are a major contributor to investment returns for long term holders, but only if the dividend continues to be paid. We need to see whether the dividend is covered by earnings and if it's growing. Check out our latest analysis for EOG Resources Dividends are typically paid out of company income, so if a company pays out more than it earned, its dividend is usually at a higher risk of being cut. EOG Resources paid out a comfortable 49% of its profit last year. Yet cash flows are even more important than profits for assessing a dividend, so we need to see if the company generated enough cash to pay its distribution. Thankfully its dividend payments took up just 36% of the free cash flow it generated, which is a comfortable payout ratio. It's encouraging to see that the dividend is covered by both profit and cash flow. This generally suggests the dividend is sustainable, as long as earnings don't drop precipitously. Click here to see the company's payout ratio, plus analyst estimates of its future dividends. Story continues Have Earnings And Dividends Been Growing? Companies with consistently growing earnings per share generally make the best dividend stocks, as they usually find it easier to grow dividends per share. If business enters a downturn and the dividend is cut, the company could see its value fall precipitously. It's encouraging to see EOG Resources has grown its earnings rapidly, up 25% a year for the past five years. EOG Resources is paying out less than half its earnings and cash flow, while simultaneously growing earnings per share at a rapid clip. Companies with growing earnings and low payout ratios are often the best long-term dividend stocks, as the company can both grow its earnings and increase the percentage of earnings that it pays out, essentially multiplying the dividend. The main way most investors will assess a company's dividend prospects is by checking the historical rate of dividend growth. EOG Resources has delivered 18% dividend growth per year on average over the past 10 years. It's great to see earnings per share growing rapidly over several years, and dividends per share growing right along with it. To Sum It Up Is EOG Resources worth buying for its dividend? We love that EOG Resources is growing earnings per share while simultaneously paying out a low percentage of both its earnings and cash flow. These characteristics suggest the company is reinvesting in growing its business, while the conservative payout ratio also implies a reduced risk of the dividend being cut in the future. Overall we think this is an attractive combination and worthy of further research. So while EOG Resources looks good from a dividend perspective, it's always worthwhile being up to date with the risks involved in this stock. For example - EOG Resources has 1 warning sign we think you should be aware of. If you're in the market for dividend stocks, we recommend checking our list of top dividend stocks with a greater than 2% yield and an upcoming dividend. This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned. Have feedback on this article? Concerned about the content? Get in touch with us directly. Alternatively, email editorial-team (at) simplywallst.com. Investigators are looking at shipping activity going back a year to help determine what caused the recent Southern California oil spill, officials said Friday. The pipeline that transports oil from platforms off Huntington Beach to the Port of Long Beach shows signs of an aged anchor strike and damage that's been present for so long, there's marine growth present, said Capt. Jason Neubauer, chairman of the Coast Guard Marine Board of Investigation. A portion of the pipeline's concrete shell has been knocked off, exposing the steel pipeline, he said at a news conference. Growth in the area indicates they aren't dealing with a fresh strike, he said. "This event could be multiple incidents and strikes of the pipeline" following an "initial event were pretty confident occurred several months to a year ago," Neubauer said. The pipeline's operator, Beta Offshore, a subsidiary of Amplify Energy Corp., said the leak began Saturday, and a survey it conducted in October 2020 indicated the pipeline was in good shape. Neubauer said investigators will look at a stormy late January, when a ship could have inadvertently dragged an anchor. They'll also review possible "geological events" as factors, he said. A fracture in the pipeline doesn't appear to be the result of a direct anchor strike, Neubauer said, adding that an anchor or anchors dragging the pipeline could have indirectly caused the breach. The pipeline moved 105 feet at most, and the crack is 13 inches, Neubauer said. "Its definitely possible that the anchor would break away the rigid concrete casing, and the pipe itself would bend," he said. The focus remained on shipping traffic headed to the ports of Long Beach and Los Angeles, he said. "Im convinced ... the initial event that deflected the pipe itself was an anchor strike," Neubuaer said. The pipeline leaked an estimated 144,000 gallons of heavy crude into the Pacific Ocean, prompting initial coastal and fishing closures from Huntington Beach south to the San Diego County line. Story continues Shoreline cleanup teams combed Orange County beaches Friday, and crews monitored southern beaches as the ocean's current moved in that direction, according to the spill response unified command. A total of 35 oiled animals, including 10 dead, have been recovered so far, according to an oil spill wildlife report updated by researchers from the University of California, Davis. Gov. Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency for Orange County. For a time, the U.S. vaccine rollout was the envy of much of the world. In a wildly expensive logistical miracle, the United States and other rich nations deployed millions of doses over the winter and rapidly flattened COVID-19 cases. Since then, the USA has become a global vaccine laggard, the percentage of its population inoculated lower than dozens of other nations. That includes all of its peers among affluent democracies in the Group of Seven countries, including Canada, the United Kingdom and Germany. In many cases, the gap has become massive. Fifty million more Americans would be fully vaccinated if the United States had been able to match Canadas enthusiasm for shots, for example. Supply isnt the problem a complicated and confounding lack of demand is to blame. How does COVID-19 affect me? Dont miss an update with the Coronavirus Watch newsletter The United States is very unusual, said Michael Bang Petersen, a professor at Denmark's Aarhus University who leads a project on how democracies respond to COVID-19. He said Americans have uniquely politicized the virus response, undermining the demand for vaccination. The result: U.S. vaccination rates vary widely between states and closely track along political lines. People march against COVID-19 mandates at a rally Sept. 13 in New York City. Being a Democrat is one of the best predictors of being vaccinated, said Dr. Celine Gounder, an infectious disease specialist who was a member of the Biden-Harris Transition COVID-19 Advisory Board. For some conservatives, opposition to vaccine mandates has become the ultimate test of loyalty to your in-group, she said. Global vaccine supply has improved. The United Arab Emirates, Denmark, Cambodia, Mongolia and Chile are among the dozens of nations that have fully vaccinated a larger percentage of their populations than the United States, according to Friday Our World in Data statistics. The USA, where new cases remain among the highest in the world, marked more than 700,000 COVID-19 deaths. Its depressing; you cry, said Dr. Ali Mokdad, professor of health metrics sciences at the University of Washington in Seattle. What happened here? Story continues Pandemic politics a 'US-centric thing ' The pandemic politicization bewilders many experts. In Denmark, COVID-19 politics often revolve around the question is the government performing well? Petersen said. That's in stark contrast to the USA, where mask mandates, lockdowns and vaccine passports have all been political firestorms. This seems to be a very U.S.-centric thing, Petersen said. It's led to political gridlock and pandemic restrictions that vary by state, county and city rather than the unified response of many nations. Tracking COVID-19 vaccine distribution by state: How many people have been vaccinated in the US? U.S. public health messaging put the onus on individuals, asking them to mask up or get vaccinated to protect themselves. Although individual responsibility may be a powerful message to Americans, it doesn't advance the kind of "community level solutions" needed in a pandemic, sociologist and author Jennifer Reich told USA TODAY. Reich wrote a book on vaccine refusal. She recalled taking a trip to Montreal where she was asked for her vaccine records at every turn. It changes interactions in the community, she said. US has a trust problem with vaccines Politics isn't the only reason the United States struggles to get tens of millions of people vaccinated. The nation also has a trust problem. Because vaccines are given to healthy people to prevent disease, they inherently require a high level of trust, Reich said. That's a problem in the USA. There's an unusual amount of disagreement about whether science can be trusted, which enables vaccine hesitancy to become more mainstream, Patrick Sturgis, a professor at the London School of Economics and Political Science, told USA TODAY. Mapping coronavirus: Tracking U.S. cases and deaths Sturgis co-wrote a study on the connection between vaccine confidence and trust in science. The problem in the USA could be a lack of social consensus about the trustworthiness of science, he said. He compared the USA to France, a nation famously very hesitant toward vaccines. France has beaten the U.S. vaccination rate, in part because it kept skepticism comparatively out of the mainstream, Sturgis said. We are absolutely not the only country to see distrust of vaccines," Reich said. But in many other countries, most people have a level of confidence that their government can evaluate the "risk and benefit of vaccines and other pandemic measures. Vaccination decline complex but predictable America's vaccine demand problem can't be traced to a single issue, experts told USA TODAY. Though it's not simple to untangle, few are surprised America has fallen behind. The situation is not particularly surprising, Sturgis said. Sturgis said he anticipated nations hitting an issue with COVID-19 vaccine demand. Sprawling political polarization set the USA up for the challenges it faces. While the United States works to drum up demand for vaccines with mandates, the problem doesn't exist in many other nations. Send COVID-19 vaccine doses to Mokdad's home country of Lebanon, and "they will be using them in no time," he said. Contributing: The Associated Press This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: US COVID-19 vaccine rate is lagging worldwide: 'What happened here?' Cherokee County deputies and Leesburg police responded to a domestic violence call that resulted in a standoff with an armed man, according to Sheriff Jeff Shaver. In what he described as a "serious domestic violence report," the sheriff said officers went to a residence on County Road 44 in the Hopewell community Thursday evening, and encountered a man armed with a shotgun. When officers arrived, the sheriff said, the man ran into the residence. Shaver said he had used a knife to cut his girlfriend and strangled her during the course of an altercation, leading to the call. Eventually, the man came out of his residence again, still armed with the shotgun. According to Chief Deputy Josh Summerford, the man refused commands to put down the shotgun and advanced toward deputies. Members of the sheriff's office emergency response team then used less-than-lethal munitions to stop him, Summerford said The man, identified as Chad Blalock, 44, was taken to Floyd Medical Center, where he was treated and released into the sheriff's office's custody, Shaver said. Blalock was charged with second-degree domestic violence, domestic violence by strangulation and resisting arrest. As part of normal protocol for the sheriff's office, the Etowah County Sheriff's Office has been asked to conduct an administrative investigation. Contact Gadsden Times reporter Donna Thornton at 256-393-3284 or donna.thornton@gadsdentimes.com. This article originally appeared on The Gadsden Times: Cherokee County man faces charges in domestic incident TAIPEI (Reuters) - China's embassy in Australia said former Prime Minister Tony Abbott was a "pitiful" politician on Saturday after he denounced Chinese pressure against Taiwan during a visit to the island. Abbott visited Taiwan, which is claimed by China, in a personal capacity this week, meeting President Tsai Ing-wen and saying at a security forum that China may lash out with its economy slowing and finances "creaking". The Chinese embassy in Canberra responded with distain. "Tony Abbott is a failed and pitiful politician. His recent despicable and insane performance in Taiwan fully exposed his hideous anti-China features. This will only further discredit him," it said in a brief statement on its website. Abbott's visit came after China carried out four days of mass air force incursions into Taiwan's air defence identification zone beginning Oct. 1. Australia, like most countries, has no official diplomatic ties with Taiwan, but has joined its ally the United States in expressing concern at Chinese pressure, especially military. Taiwan says it is an independent country and will defend itself if China attacks. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; editing by Philippa Fletcher) TAIPEI, Taiwan Chinese leader Xi Jinping said on Saturday that a peaceful reunification of Taiwan with Chinas mainland was in Beijings interests, despite ratcheted up military threats against the self-governing island. Xi spoke at an official celebration in Beijings Great Hall of the People that focused largely on the need for the ruling Communist Party to continue to lead China as the country rises in power and influence. Reunification of the nation must be realized, and will definitely be realized, Xi vowed before an audience of politicians, military personnel and others gathered in the hulking chamber that serves as the seat of Chinas ceremonial legislature. Reunification through a peaceful manner is the most in line with the overall interest of the Chinese nation, including Taiwan compatriots, the leader added. Chinese President Xi Jinping looks as he arrives at an event commemorating the 110th anniversary of Xinhai Revolution at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021. Xi said on Saturday reunification with Taiwan must happen and will happen peacefully, despite a ratcheting-up of China's threats to attack the island. Xis remarks came just days after the Chinese military sent a record number of military aircraft flying toward Taiwan in exercises that the self-ruled island has called a threat. Over the course of four days, starting last week, the mainland Peoples Liberation Army flew fighter jets, bombers and airborne early warning aircraft 149 times toward Taiwan, with the largest single maneuver involving 52 jets. Taiwan and China split in 1949 amid a civil war, with the then-ruling Nationalist Party fleeing to the island as Mao Zedongs Communists swept to power on the mainland. Saturdays ceremony in Beijing was in honor of the 110th anniversary of the Chinese revolution that led to the overthrow of the Qing emperors and the establishment of the Republic of China under Sun Yat-sen. Taiwan celebrates Oct. 10 as National Day and Xis address touched on common aspirations for a unified future, despite the stark differences between Chinas authoritarian one-party system and Taiwans vibrant multi-party democracy. More: CIA announces mission that pivots to China, focuses on technology Taiwans National Day celebrations this year will feature a rare display of military equipment, including missiles and a performance by fighter jets to be held Sunday in front of the Presidential Office Building in the center of the capital, Taipei. Story continues That marks the first inclusion of military hardware in Taipeis official celebrations in years, and the first since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen took office in 2016. Local media coverage of rehearsals for the celebration showed large missile launch vehicles driving on Taipeis streets, although the missiles themselves were not directly visible. In the past, the Taiwanese government has kept its missile capabilities out of the public eye to avoid appearing provocative, said Kuo Yu-jen, a defense studies expert at the Institute for National Policy Research in Taiwan. Kuo added that Taipei feels it must demonstrate that Taiwan has the ability to deter Chinas threat as Beijing becomes overly assertive. More: US-China tensions flare over Taiwan as some fear a cold war or worse In years past, the national day celebration has featured choreographed performances by motorcycle-riding military police and overflights by the islands air force. However, missiles were not part of that display. I think this is to raise Taiwans peoples morale, said Fan Shih-ping, a professor of political science at National Taiwan Normal University. Taiwans leader Tsai has placed a higher premium on national defense than her predecessor from the more China-friendly Nationalist Party, launching a revitalization of the islands shipbuilding industry and commissioning a program to build submarines domestically. She has also instituted reforms in the military, including improving benefits for military personnel and even increasing the quality of food served in the messes. Taiwanese Defense Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng told legislators Wednesday that the situation with China is the most severe in the 40 years since Ive enlisted. Chiu later told reporters that he believed China would have comprehensive capabilities to invade Taiwan by 2025. More: Australia to get nuclear submarines in new deal with US, UK, sending potential message to China Since the split, Taiwan has been self-ruled, but its sovereignty is denied by Beijing, which has refused to renounce the option of using force to bring the island under its control. Beijing has also sought to isolate Taiwan internationally by barring it from the United Nations and other international organizations and opposing official contacts between its government and nations that recognize China, especially the United States, which is legally bound to consider threats against Taipei a matter of grave concern. U.S. and Japanese officials have warned that Chinas growing capabilities pose a rising threat to Taiwans security and that of the region. The Taiwan question is purely Chinas internal affair, which tolerates no external interference, Xi said on Saturday. No one should underestimate the Chinese peoples strong determination, will and capability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: China's Xi Jinping calls for peaceful reunification with Taiwan UC Riverside professor Edward Taehan Chang stands near a statue of Dosan Ahn Chang Ho, who founded what became a model for South Korea's democracy in Pachappa Camp. (Gina Ferazzi / Los Angeles Times) Pachappa Camp in Riverside was a far cry from the buzzy, bustling Koreatowns we know today. Founded in 1905 as the first Korean settlement in the United States, it was a small community of about a few hundred laborers next to a heavily used set of railroad tracks, just down the street from Chinese and Japanese settlements. There was no alcohol, fighting, gambling or drugs allowed, and everyone was encouraged to wear white. The camp was named Dosans Republic, after the Korean independence activist Dosan Ahn Chang Ho, who was drawn to Riverside by the highly lucrative citrus trade. Ahn founded an employment agency for Korean laborers that eventually became a highly complex and self-governed settlement. Dosans Republic had no running water or electricity, but the principles of governance honed there became the building blocks for modern South Korean democracy, according to a forthcoming paper from UC Riverside professor Edward Taehan Chang. Dosan Ahn Chang Ho had a vision of establishing a model community. He was experimenting with it at Pachappa Camp, Chang said. Chang encountered the previously undiscovered settlement on a 1908 insurance company map, a tiny dot labeled Korean Settlement. He found an archive of a Korean newspaper, Sinhan Minbo, which revealed aspects of life and suggested that Korean Americans at Pachappa Camp and elsewhere helped found South Korean democracy. The settlement is the subject of an exhibit at UC Riverside opening Oct. 16 called "Pachappa Camp: The First Koreatown in the United States." Dosans Republic had elected officials; taxation; a separation of powers among judiciary, executive and legislative bodies; as well as two police officers with the power to search and enter private residences. Life in the settlement was strict. Anti-Asian sentiment was a real danger, and the camps restrictions on alcohol, gambling and drugs were an attempt to emphasize that Korean Americans could contribute to a civilized society. Many laws focused on propriety. No Korean was allowed to leave their house unless properly dressed, and Korean women were not allowed to smoke in public. Those who partook in drugs and alcohol were subject to a series of increasing fines. Story continues At the time, Korea was under Japanese control, and Korean independence activists around the world were raising funds, organizing and lobbying for political support. South Koreas eventual democratic republic was organized in a series of meetings around the world. One of the most foundational meetings took place in Riverside, Chang said. In 1911, the third national convention of the Korean National Assn. met in Pachappa Camp and passed 21 articles of governance that later appeared in documents central to South Korean democracy. The convention elected a central council that would oversee the various chapters of the KNA around the world and advocate for Korean independence. The Korean National Assn., a political organization with chapters in major Korean settlements around the world, was functioning as a de facto government of Korea while it was under Japanese rule. The KNA represented Korean Americans in international affairs and incidents. When an angry white mob chased Korean American workers from Hemet, U.S. officials reached out to Japanese consular officials to negotiate, prompting an outcry from Korean Americans. The KNA successfully lobbied Secretary of State William Jennings Bryan for Koreans in the United States to be recognized as Korean subjects, not Japanese. After a cold spell decimated Riversides navel orange crop in 1913, the residents of Pachappa Camp left to look for work in Los Angeles and San Francisco. In 1918, the Riverside chapter of the KNA closed. In the late 1920s, Ahn was falsely accused of being a Bolshevist and deported from the United States. Two commemorative plaques are all that remain at the site that was once called Pachappa Camp. The site is now an oil pumping station. (Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times) Pachappa Camp was later settled by Japanese and Mexican immigrants, and in the 1950s the land was redeveloped by an oil company. Today the land is primarily occupied by a Southern California Gas Co. facility. The nearby railroad tracts have gone quiet, replaced by the muffled roar of the 91 Freeway. Pachappa Camp existed for just over a decade. So why does it matter? Why do the histories of any immigrant enclaves matter? To me, places like Historic Filipinotown, Pachappa Camp and Chinatown are the most powerful and tangible reminders we have of the fact that the freedoms that Asian Americans have in this country were not gifts of political benevolence. They were the hard-won spoils of a long struggle for civil rights by people of color in America. These histories of Asian American civic engagement may be buried in the archives of foreign-language newspapers, hiding in old maps or redeveloped into a gas facility, but they are there nonetheless. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Oct. 9Before a man could hand over a $100 bill for a money wire transfer Wednesday evening at Publix, police say a bandit snatched the bill from his hand and ran out the door. Glynn County police said the suspect ran into the parking lot of the Village at Glynn Place plaza around 6:30 p.m., jumped into an awaiting get-away car and sped away. However, a Publix employee used a cellphone to video the alleged robber and the license plate of the gold Honda Accord in which he absconded, according to a county police report. There also was store surveillance video of the incident, the report said. Police later arrested Samuel Mason Parker, 50, of Hinesville and charged him with robbery by sudden snatching and theft by taking. Parker remained Friday in the Glynn County Detention Center, jail records show. Parker also is charged with felony violation of probation. The victim told police he was at the counter and paying for a Western Union transaction when Parker allegedly snatched the $100 bill from his hand. The Publix employee was standing at a nearby cash register and followed the suspect as he ran outside, wearing a gray T-shirt, blue basketball shorts and black flipflops, police reported. The employee said he videoed the suspect as he ran to the car, got inside and departed, the report said. Chicago Tribune The Kyle Rittenhouse jury on Thursday began its third day of deliberations something that seems almost inconceivable to the social media pontificators who made up their minds about the case more than a year ago. For many legal experts, however, Kenosha County jurors are working right on schedule. I dont think the length of time says anything about what the jurors are thinking, veteran ... SINGAPORE The protocols and procedures for testing and isolation of COVID-19 cases will be significantly simplified from 11 October and streamlined into three protocols. At a COVID multi-ministry taskforce (MTF) virtual press conference on Saturday (9 October), Health Minister and MTF co-chair Ong Ye Kung said that a key move is to reserve polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing mainly for individuals who feel unwell and have symptoms. Antigen rapid tests (ART) will be used for people who are well, such as for community testing and for the management of contacts of COVID-19 cases. Ong said that there is an emphasis towards personal responsibility and self-management. These are the new streamlined protocols, detailed in a Ministry of Health (MOH) press release: INFOGRAPHIC: Ministry of Health Protocol 1 For those who are unwell and tested positive, they should see a doctor. They will either be placed on the Home Recovery Programme (HRP) by default, or if the home environment is not suitable, they can recover at the appropriate care facilities. They will be isolated for 10 days if they are fully vaccinated (or are young children aged 12 years or less); or isolated for 14 days if they are unvaccinated. They will be discharged after their respective isolation periods without the need for further tests at the point of discharge. Protocol 2 For those who are well and tested positive, they should self-isolate at home for the next 72 hours. After 72 hours, they can retest and if negative, they may exit isolation and resume normal activities. If they become unwell at any time, they should see a doctor. Protocol 3 There will now be a single approach for contacts of COVID-19 cases a Health Risk Warning (HRW) that lasts seven days from the day of its issuance, that is based on ART self-testing. Upon being notified of the HRW (Day 1), the person should immediately self-isolate, and test himself with an ART on the day of the HRW issuance and upload the Day 1 ART result based on the instruction in the HRW notification. He can continue with normal activities for the day if the test is negative. Story continues For subsequent days, that is Day 2 to 7, the person should test ART negative on same day before going out. If the person tests positive on any of these ART tests, he should follow Protocol 2 above. On Day 7, he must test himself with an ART, and if the test is negative, there is no further need for tests after that. Households to receive more ART kits COVID-19 patients will serve out the 10-day or 14-day isolation, depending on the individual's vaccination status. Those on a quarantine order will no longer need an exit PCR test. "If you test yourself with an ART and the result is negative, you may go out for the day," the MOH said, "At the end of Day 7, you may exit quarantine. In other words, you can follow Protocol 3." To provide greater support for regular self-testing at home, the ministry will be conducting another round of distribution of ART kits from 22 October to 7 December, via SingPost. Each household will receive a package containing 10 ART self-test kits. A group of 50 volunteers will be going door-to-door to distribute Antigen Rapid Test (ART) kits. Called Project #ART4ALL, the initiative will see the group of youths provide 5,000 pairs of ART kits to approximately 5,000 low income individuals and household members across Singapore. The volunteers will also perform demonstrations on how to administer the ART kits correctly upon request, as well educating residents on keeping themselves safe from the COVID-19 virus. Project #ART4All aims to ensure vulnerable groups, including stranded, homeless and low-income individuals, are equipped with sufficient ART kits to ride them through these times. For more information on getting these ART kits, or if you know someone who needs it, fill up the request form while stocks last. By Michael Kahn and Robert Muller PRAGUE (Reuters) - Czech voters evicted the communists from parliament on Saturday for the first time since the end of World War Two, voting out a party whose forebears ruled the central European nation from 1948 until the Velvet Revolution of 1989 that ushered in democracy. The communists jailed tens of thousands in forced labor camps in the 1950s and brutally repressed dissidents such as playwright-turned-president Vaclav Havel, but remained in parliament following the revolution. In this week's election https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/czechs-vote-final-day-election-pm-babis-seeks-cling-power-2021-10-08, the Communist Party of Bohemia and Moravia took 3.62% of the votes with nearly all precincts reporting, less than the 5% needed to enter parliament and potentially marking a final chapter for a party that has gradually shrunk as its ageing membership dwindled. "It pleases me, it pleases me a lot," Jiri Gruntorad, 69, a former dissident who signed the dissident Charter 77 statement and was jailed for subversion from 1981 to 1985 by the communist authorities, told Reuters. "But it's coming too late." "It was one of the last communist parties in the world apart from the Chinese and Cuban ones that held on to its name. The others have at least renamed themselves and started behaving a little differently." Voters also handed a defeat to Prime Minister Andrej Babis' ANO party against centre-right opposition group Together in a surprise result. After 1989, the communists sought to appeal to senior citizens and working class Czechs but they never resonated with younger voters and failed to shake the party's history with others as a totalitarian rulers who had stifled freedom. "I am very disappointed because it is a really big failure," said Communist Party leader Vojtech Filip, who also resigned. POST-1989 Havel opposed banning the party -- which resisted the country's European Union and NATO membership and kept warm ties with Russia and China -- despite calls from the public to do so. Story continues The communists lingered mostly in isolation after 1989, though they cooperated with other parties seeking votes to pass legislation in parliament. They were also close to current President Milos Zeman. The party regained influence in 2018 when Babis -- a former Communist Party member -- leaned on them to support his minority government with the Social Democrats. It was the closest the party came to power since 1989 but appears also to represent their final act as a political force in the former Soviet-bloc nation. "I am overjoyed that this era is now over not only for those of us still living, but also for those who have passed away and who were persecuted by the regime, said Hana Palcova, 74, who left the country under threat from the secret police. (Writing by Michael Kahn; Additional reporting by Jan Lopatka; Editing by Mike Harrison) Freema Agyeman has said that she hadnt anticipated the racist abuse she received for being the first black companion on Doctor Who. The British actor played Martha Jones in the BBC sci-fi series opposite David Tennants Doctor, following Billie Pipers departure from the show. Martha, who is in love with the Doctor, eventually leaves the Tardis of her own accord, with Agyeman returning for a number of episodes in the following series after joining Torchwood. Speaking at Ofcoms Diversity in Broadcasting event as part of National Inclusion Week, Agyeman said that her time on Doctor Who had been good and bad, but that shed been unprepared for the racist response to her casting. Describing how shed had a great time making the show, the New Amsterdam star explained: It is a game changer. My life changed completely overnight. You go from obscurity to people knowing who you are, in a good way. And then we aired and I didnt even mind that there was so much on the fact that I was the first black companion because I was. It never bothered me at all. It was something I was, and still am, so proud of. Agyeman continued: What I didnt anticipate and maybe I was naive was the racism from certain sectors of the fanbase. There was criticism levelled towards my contribution for other reasons, which I could handle. I could rationalise those away. Im an artist, no ones going to like your work all the time, people are entitled to their opinions, its all subjective. But the racism yeah, I couldnt rationalise that. Read More Jameela Jamil says people dont believe she produced boyfriend James Blakes album Russell T Davies says Nadine Dorries is a f***ing idiot for BBC elitism comments What time is SNL on tonight and how can you watch it? The Ethiopian military has intensified airstrikes over the last few days as it continues an assault against rebel forces from the Tigray region in a nearly yearlong civil war, Bloomberg reports. Driving the news: The reports of the intensified conflict comes days after Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed was sworn in for a new term in Africa's second-most populous country. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free The big picture: Getachew Reda, a spokesman for the Tigray region's ruling party, the Tigray People's Liberation Front, said the number of casualties is unknown after airstrikes and artillery bombardment struck parts of the northern Amhara region, per Bloomberg. Reda told Bloomberg that thousands of pro-government combatants were spotted near the towns of Hara, Wergesa and Wegel Tena. We will maintain our defensive positions," Reda said, per Bloomberg. "We are confident we will thwart the offensive on all fronts. Of note: International criticism of the conflict has grown. United Nations chief Antonio Guterres denounced Ethiopian officials on Wednesday for claiming the UN had inflated the magnitude of the humanitarian crisis in the country. President Biden also signed an executive order in September to allow the Treasury and State departments to impose sanctions against Ethiopian officials involved in the conflict. Go deeper: Ethiopia's civil war spreads beyond Tigray More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Facebook has come under fire for it's research on how Facebooks Instagram service harms young people Xinhua News Agency/Getty Images Whistleblower Frances Haugen testified to Congress that Facebook knew its products harm children. After the testimony calls for regulating the company are receiving bipartisan support. Tech Critic Noam Cohen writes that the hearings might finally force Washington to regulate Facebook. By Facebook's own count, its executives have testified before Congress 30 times in the last four years. These interactions are so routine that they can seem like by-the-numbers performance reviews, with the added catch that no one is exactly sure whose performance is being reviewed. Quite often, Facebook and its defenders use a prominent hearing as a way to belittle Congress and its members as preening fools ill-equipped to fix what's broken with social networks. Though its official position is that it welcomes regulation from Congress, naturally it wants that regulation to come from a Congress with as little swagger as possible. There was something truly different about this latest hearing, however, featuring the whistleblower Frances Haugen, who has revealed damning reports about Facebook produced by its own researchers. In addition to the ample documentary evidence, there was the hearing's focal point - kids. There were at least two sources of profound concern: how Facebook's Instagram service harms young people's developing psyches and how the company views children as just another market to conquer. Let's be candid: helping to fuel genocide in Myanmar, as Facebook has been accused of doing, is not something that activates the gut instincts of American politicians or the public they serve. And blowing up our democracy by encouraging conspiracy theories and hateful misinformation at best antagonizes only half the country. Harming children and viewing them as your meal ticket, well, that is still stomach-churning to a healthy majority of the country. Thus, Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-Tenn.) and Sen. Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), who don't even agree on who won the last presidential election, were able to act together to press Facebook to release all of its research showing that Instagram worsened teenage girls' body image and encouraged suicidal thoughts by promoting posts based on their popularity. And in a joint statement before the hearing, they criticized Facebook's stone-walling and impossible claims to "hold itself accountable." But their main reason for anger, they said, was the revelation in a Wall Street Journal series based on Haugen's documents of Facebook's "growth-at-all-costs mindset that valued profits over the health and lives of children and teens." Story continues This is the real shift - for the first time, Facebook's maniacal emphasis on growth is causing politicians to confront the horror, rather than simply look away. Facebook has been quite open about pursuing growth at all costs - a legendary memo from Andrew Bosworth, a Zuckerberg confidant and Facebook's new chief technology officer, was refreshingly direct. "The ugly truth," he wrote in 2016, "is that we believe in connecting people so deeply that anything that allows us to connect more people more often is *de facto* good," adding that, "Make no mistake, growth tactics are how we got here." (After the memo leaked, Bosworth explained that he didn't believe what he had written and was only trying to be provocative.) But if we treat the memo as a policy statement, it happens to explain Facebook's behavior quite neatly. The Facebook-aided genocide against Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar was about the company's growth in regions the platform lacked the expertise to be operating. The recent Facebook-aided political extremism and vaccine denial is about growth in daily usage numbers - that is, providing divisive, provocative content to encourage users to stay on the site. The revelation in the Wall Street Journal that Facebook published a report that begins, "Why do we care about tweens? They are a valuable and untapped audience," is about grooming a new generation through products like Messenger Kids. As that same Facebook report pointed out, "Our ultimate goal is messaging primacy with US tweens, which may also lead to winning with teens." You knew something was different this time, because of Facebook's energetic response. Certainly, there were standard defenses like, what about TikTok or YouTube? To which Blumenthal responded: "I would emphasize that each company bears its own responsibility. The race to the bottom has to stop. Facebook in effect has led it." But this time, Facebook showed an unusual willingness to retreat, at least temporarily, from growth-at-all-costs. In the runup to the hearing, Instagram announced that it was pausing development of Instagram Kids. After trying to ignore Facebook's controversy, Zuckerberg chose to comment on the issue, claiming Facebook was misunderstood. "I've spent a lot of time reflecting on the kinds of experiences I want my kids and others to have online, and it's very important to me that everything we build is safe and good for kids," he wrote. Zuckerberg said he was astounded that anyone could accuse Facebook of prioritizing profit over the safety of minors. "That's just not true," he said. Helpfully, if Washington did decide to regulate Facebook there is already legislation. The Kids Internet Design and Safety (KIDS) Act, sponsored by Senators Blumenthal and Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Representative Kathy Castor (D-Fla.), would eliminate addictive features like auto-play and follower counts from children's versions of YouTube or Instagram. The bill has no Republican co-sponsor yet - illustrating the partisanship gap that still must be crossed. But this too might be changing. In May, Markey managed to gain a Republican co-sponsor, Senator Bill Cassidy of Louisiana, for a proposal to expand the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act and Ms. Haugen received bipartisan praise for her testimony this week. Facebook's pillaging of foreign lands for growth or even our neighbors' minds is one thing, but when the company starts applying growth-at-all costs inside our homes, perhaps we as a nation will insist Facebook reverse course. As long as we are talking about children, such legislation may stand a chance. Read the original article on Business Insider Mark Zuckerberg. JIM WATSON/AFP via Getty Images This is the editor's letter in the current issue of The Week magazine. In the chaotic days after the 2020 election, Facebook employees warned CEO Mark Zuckerberg that the platform was being used to promote bogus claims of massive election fraud. With then-President Trump whipping up fury over a "rigged" election, Zuckerberg ordered that Facebook give new weight to existing "news ecosystem quality" scores, so that mainstream sources like major newspapers had priority in newsfeeds over extremist websites such as Breitbart. But the platform soon reverted to its old algorithm, spewing out election disinformation like a sewage spill. As former Facebook employee Frances Haugen told the world this week, the tech behemoth knows that outrage, anger, and conspiracy theories what it internally calls "bad for the world" content generate more emotion, engagement, and dopamine hits. "If they change the algorithm to be safer," Haugen said, "people will spend less time on the site, they'll click on less ads, they'll make less money." This simple, amoral calculation explains why Facebook has enabled QAnon to infect millions, white supremacists to glorify mass shootings, and Burmese to massacre the Rohingya. Through Facebook, anti-vaxxers have spread lies that have caused hundreds of thousands of needless deaths. Teenage girls use Facebook and its Instagram app to swap tips on cutting and starving themselves. Zuckerberg invariably expresses dismay when these horrors come to light, but his fixes have been limited and temporary. Facebook has made him the global emperor of a supranational realm of 3 billion users; shutting off the "bad for the world" firehose would diminish his creation's audience and influence. He's incapable of self-regulating, just as Purdue wouldn't stop pushing opioids and Big Tobacco wouldn't stop selling cigarettes. Regulating social media to minimize divisive and dangerous disinformation will be fiendishly difficult. But if we wait for Facebook to fix itself, we'll keep waiting. Story continues You may also like 'Wholly inappropriate': Kyrsten Sinema responds to Arizona State University bathroom confrontation Jimmy Fallon and Nicole Kidman almost make it through an interview without residual awkwardness from dating miss Afghans reportedly escaped Kabul through a CIA gate so secret not even the Taliban knew it existed Oct. 8Two feature films will be filming in Santa Fe during October. Outlaw Land began filming in Santa Fe and Albuquerque in September and will continue in October, and Rust will be in town into early November, the New Mexico Film Office said. "Outlaw Land has not landed in Santa Fe yet," Santa Fe Film Office director Jennifer LaBar-Tapia said. "Rust has been here a few weeks. They are at one of our five western ranches." Alec Baldwin stars in and is one of the producers of Rust, the story of a 13-year-old boy left to fend for himself and his younger brother following the death of their parents in 1880s Kansas, with New Mexico doubling for Kansas. "We can do all genres of film here in New Mexico, but historically, and presently, a standout genre for our state is westerns," New Mexico Film Office director Amber Dodson said in a news release. Rust is produced by Rust Movie Productions LLC and directed by Joel Souza, who also directed Crown Vic, Break Night, Christmas Trade and Ghost Squad. Rust will employ about 75 crew members, 22 principal actors and 230 in background talent, all from New Mexico. Outlaw Land will employ about 20 New Mexico crew members, 15 state principal cast members and 150 in the background and as extras, the New Mexico Film Office reported. Outlaw Land is directed by Anthony C. Ferrante (Sharknado) and produced by Keystone Films LLC and Daniel Lusko (Persecuted). Outlaw Land is another retelling of the Butch Cassidy saga, this time fleeing from authorities after robbing a train. "We're excited to make an iconic western with local New Mexicans at the helm," Lusko said in a news release. The short film Rude Girl will be produced in Albuquerque in October. The production will employ about 40 New Mexico crew members, five principal actors, and five in the background and as extras. ABUJA (Reuters) - Five more students who were kidnapped by gunmen from a school in Nigeria three months ago have been released after ransoms were paid, the school administrator said. About 150 students went missing after armed men raided the school in Kaduna state in Nigeria's northwest in July, the 10th mass school kidnapping since December. Such kidnappings at schools in Nigeria were first carried out by jihadist group Boko Haram, and later its offshoot Islamic State West Africa Province, but the tactic has since been adopted by criminal gangs seeking ransom, according to authorities. The bandits have been releasing the students in batches after getting ransom payments. Reverend John Hayab, the administrator of the Bethel Baptist High School, said after the latest release, four students remained in captivity and the school was working to ensure they were freed soon. "No student was released for free," he told Reuters late on Friday. He declined to say how much was paid. (Reporting by Maiduguri newsroom; Writing by Chijioke Ohuocha; Editing by Lincoln Feast.) ST. ANTHONY Seventh District Judge Steven Boyce has granted Chad Daybells request to move his trial from Fremont County in East Idaho, and it likely will end up in Boise. Boyce issued the decision Friday following a change of venue hearing held earlier this week. John Prior, Daybells attorney, argued that significant media attention would affect the ability to find a fair and unbiased jury in Fremont County. Prior requested that proceedings move to Ada County, and Boyce agreed. The Court has always found the citizens of Fremont County to be fair, attentive and dedicated jurors when called upon to fulfill that critically important civic duty, Boyce wrote in his ruling. The Court has no doubt that absent the extraordinary circumstances presented here, Fremont County would have been an ideal location for this trial, and an ideal jury pool from which to select triers of fact to determine this case. However, this is no ordinary case. Prosecuting Attorneys Rob Wood and Lindsey Blake argued that the trial should remain in Fremont County, with a sequestered jury brought in from another part of Idaho. Boyce denied the request to have a jury transported in, but said he will rule on a motion to sequester when a hearing is held about the issue. As for moving the trial to Idaho Falls, Rigby, Blackfoot or another part of the Seventh District, Boyce said it would not alleviate the issue of case publicity. The court has determined that a transfer within the Seventh Judicial District would not alleviate the issue, as the entire Seventh District is within the scope of the saturated media coverage and local interest that the Court has considered in determining this issue as to Fremont County, Boyce wrote. In making his decision, Boyce said he considered population from which to draw jurors, courthouse facilities, personnel staffing, courtroom availability, control of citizen and media attendance, and jury security. The Court concludes that Ada County would provide the best opportunity to conduct the trial in this case, Boyce wrote. Story continues Daybell and his wife, Lori Vallow Daybell, are charged with multiple crimes, including conspiracy to commit murder and first-degree murder. The charges are in relation to the deaths of 7-year-old Joshua JJ Vallow, 16-year-old Tylee Ryan two of Loris kids and Chads first wife, Tammy Daybell. Loris case is on hold after Boyce committed her to the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare in June when a mental health professional deemed her unfit for trial. A trial date for Chad Daybell has not been set. Read Boyces entire decision here. Rep. Ilhan Omar, along with 19 other lawmakers, has requested President Joe Biden to fulfill his promise of canceling student debt by sharing information on how much legal authority he has to do so. Biden sent a letter in April to Education Secretary Miguel Cardona to ask him to release information that outlines what legal authority he has to cancel student debt. In response to Biden's letter, chief of staff Ron Klain stated at the time that the memo would be released shortly after Cardona had settled into his position. The Minnesota Democrat's letter, addressed to Biden and Cardona, points out that Klain had stated six months ago that the memo regarding the information on Biden's legal authority to cancel student debt would be released soon. The letter adds that "only four months" remain of the student debt moratorium. TOP DEMOCRATS PUSH BACK AGAINST BIDEN OVER STUDENT DEBT RELIEF On Aug. 6, the U.S. Department of Education released a statement extending the deadline for the student debt moratorium to Jan. 31, 2022. This served as the "final extension" of pause on student debt payments and collections. "The payment pause has been a lifeline that allowed millions of Americans to focus on their families, health, and finances instead of student loans during the national emergency," Cardon said in the statement. "As our nation's economy continues to recover from a deep hole, this final extension will give students and borrowers the time they need to plan for restart and ensure a smooth pathway back to repayment." Omar additionally argues in her letter that "decades ago," Congress allowed for the executive branch of the United States to have the legal authority to cancel federal student loans. Several scholars and roughly 80 lawmakers in the House and Senate also "confirm" the president has the legal authority to waive student debt. "The time has come to release the memo and cancel student debt," the letter continues, adding that "it is time" for Biden to honor his campaign promise to cancel student debt. Story continues CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Since the start of Biden's presidency, the Biden administration has canceled student debt in select situations. On Aug. 19, the U.S. Department of Education announced it would eliminate student debt for those with permanent disabilities. A day later, the Education Department waived the interest loans of over 47,000 service members. Student debt in the U.S. reached a towering $1 trillion in 2021, according to data from the Federal Reserve. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: News, Ilhan Omar, Joe Biden, Student Loans, debt Original Author: Elizabeth Faddis Original Location: Ilhan Omar calls on Biden to fulfill promise of canceling student debt I moved from Canada to Brooklyn, New York. Anna Haines After living in New York City, I moved back to Toronto, Canada, once my visa expired in 2018. In the US, there is a better selection of streaming services and grocery-store snacks. I miss iconic stores we don't have in Canada, like Target and Trader Joe's. Despite all of the similarities between Canada and the US, Canadians have long prided themselves on being better than their southerly neighbors. I might be the rare exception - as much as I appreciate universal healthcare and good manners, I quickly fell in love with American culture while living in Brooklyn, New York, until my visa expired in 2018. Since being sent home to Toronto, here are the things I miss about living in New York City: I miss all of the TV streaming services Although Canada now has major streaming services like Netflix, Apple TV+, Amazon Prime, and Crave, the selection pales in comparison - so much so that my Canadian friends tell me watching TV is one of the things they look forward to the most when traveling to the US. Canadian Netflix doesn't have nearly as many options, and CraveTV, a streaming service available in Canada, can be glitchy, but I miss Hulu the most. The affordable streaming service has an unbeatable selection. US grocery stores offer an impressive selection Snack brands often offer more variety in the US. OLOZANO/Shuttershock I find US grocery stores have a greater variety of affordable, plant-based options. Though, specifically, I miss the sheer selection of single-serve yogurts. Although Canada has some nondairy alternatives, most yogurt comes in big tubs or multipacks. But NYC caters to the individualistic lifestyle with single-serve cups in an array of unique and dessert-like flavors. Additionally, Canada may have novelty items like Coffee Crisp and ketchup chips, but the US offers more types of chips, candy, and cereal. Plus the brands we do share typically offer more flavors or have different recipes south of the border. Anytime I travel to the US with Canadian friends, they run to the candy and cereal aisles to marvel at Oreo flavors and stock up on the slightly sweeter Hershey's Kisses. Story continues Cell-phone service is much cheaper in the US Canada has a smaller population than the US and a lot of ground to cover with cellular towers - we're the second-largest country in the world, after all - but our network still isn't developed enough to drive down the prices of cell-phone plans. Canadians pay approximately $5.72 for a gigabyte of mobile data, and Americans typically spend only $3.33 for the same amount. The US also has a greater selection of cell-phone providers. Without that competition, Canadian cellular companies have no real incentive to reduce rates. We're too polite to demand change, though, so we begrudgingly schlep out an average $100 a month for our plans. It feels like everything is always open in NYC It made the streets feel lively. Anna Haines New Yorkers can have pretty much any food they're craving at any hour. I miss 24-hour bodegas and never having to worry about a store being closed. I live in the biggest city in Canada, and most of the local grocery stores are closed by 9 p.m. Although I can work around the inconvenience, I miss the energy that 24-hour shops bring to the street - with everything closed early, my neighborhood is a ghost town by 10 p.m. Canadians are polite, but Americans are friendlier From New York to California and Georgia to Texas, I've found that Americans are eager to chat. Although our reputation of being nice holds true - Canadians will stop to talk to someone if they ask for help, for example - we tend to be reserved. I find people prefer to keep to themselves, particularly in Toronto. As a journalist who lives and travels alone, I thrived off of conversations with friendly Americans in the grocery-store line, on the subway, or down the street. American service is also friendlier I find most Americans working in retail and hospitality are extremely courteous, so much so that it can come off unbelievable - I've had Canadian friends tell me they're caught off guard by overly jovial staff. After spending time on both sides of the border, I've realized Canadians have just grown accustomed to a subpar level of customer service in which employees are often grumpy or determined to put in minimal effort. A later Thanksgiving delays the onslaught of Christmas commercialism Canada celebrates Thanksgiving in early October. pryzmat/Shuttershock Canadians celebrate Thanksgiving in early October, but we can get a little too enthusiastic about retail around the holidays - even before the Halloween decorations have come down, the aisles are teeming with tinsel and advent calendars. I know our winter hits sooner and we need something to look forward to, but eight weeks of Christmas pandemonium feels excessive. Holiday commercialism also hits hard in the US, especially in NYC, but Thanksgiving breaks up that stretch, and a month feels like a much more reasonable period for sustaining the festive spirit. New Yorkers know how to keep pedestrian traffic moving on a sidewalk Maybe it's because the pace of life is slower or that there are fewer people here, but sometimes it feels like Canadians don't know how to share the sidewalk. Canadians will often apologize when they pass someone or pause to let the oncoming person walk by, even when there is plenty of sidewalk real estate. NYC is the most populated city in the US, yet there is a miraculous order to pedestrian traffic. I miss how people unapologetically command their own space on the sidewalk. Target is a great chain to have around When it comes to affordable athleisure and home furnishings, there is no department store like Target. I miss having a store where you can go for toilet paper and walk out with a new chic lamp, irresistibly soft PJs, and a bag of Ghirardelli chocolate, all without breaking the bank. Canada briefly had its own Target a few years ago, but the chain only lasted two years due to high prices and poor selection. More than anything, I miss Trader Joe's There isn't a Trader Joe's in Canada. Shoshy Ciment/Business Insider From the friendly staff to the try-anything policy, everything about the quirky shopping experience is delightful. I didn't mind that the lines in New York City were so long they often snaked around the entire store since it ensured I never missed a shelf. I miss Trader Joe's so much that I even paid a few hundred dollars more for an extended layover flight and Airbnb in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, a couple of years ago just to shop there. We have grocery stores here with private-label goods, but they're not nearly as creative or affordable as Trader Joe's. I even know several Canadians who, prior to the border closure, would drive down for a grocery haul of the chain's one-of-a-kind products. Read the original article on Insider James Bond star Daniel Craig has donated 10,000 to "Three Dads Walking". (Getty) James Bond star Daniel Craig has donated 10,000 to three dads raising awareness about suicide after their daughters took their own lives. The 007 actor gave the money to the "Three Dads Walking" team made up of Andy Airey, Mike Palmer and Tim Owen. The three men are raising money for suicide prevention charity Papyrus by completing a 300-mile walk between their Cumbria, Greater Manchester and Norfolk homes. The group said: At lunchtime we were informed that 007, James Bond no less, has donated 10,000 to the #3dadswalking cause! Daniel Craigs generous gift could fund 2000 calls to HOPELINEUK that alone will save many, many lives. We cannot thank you enough for your support absolutely amazing! Read more: 'No Time To Die': How Daniel Craig's departure gifts Bond films a smarter future Three Dads Walking: Tim Owen, Mike Palmer and Andy Airey (GoFundMe) The men have raised more than 150,000 so far and hope to complete their walk on 23 October after setting out on Saturday. Mr Airey, whose daughter Sophie died three years ago during Christmas, said he was happy Craig had let them reveal his donation. He told BBC: "Allowing us to shout about it is fantastic news, especially as he's just about the most famous film actor in the world at the moment, isn't he?" Both Mr Palmers daughter Beth and Mr Owen's daughter Emily died in March last year. The men added on their Just Giving page: "Very individual, our girls stories are very different, however they all fell into despair and their acts of suicide were final. "The 3 DADS WALKING and PAPYRUS believe there is hope and young people who have fallen out with life can be helped. We are committed to do what we can to prevent other families avoid the life-shattering trauma of losing a child to suicide." Mr Airey previously said: "We didn't choose to be here, but now we're here, we've got to do something with it. "If we can help other families, let's do it." Read more: The road to 'No Time To Die': No curse can beat James Bond Story continues A drawing by Mr Owens daughter Evie (Three Dads Walking) The Trio said although they were delighted with Craigs donation they were more impressed with a drawing Mr Owens daughter Evie made of them. They added: We are sorry if this offends Daniel Craig, but more important than 007, 3 Dads Walking received a very special gift from Evie Owen, Tims daughter, wishing us all good luck on our walk and a picture which we will carry with us along the way. Thanks Evie, you are a very special girl we all love you lots xxxx The latest James Bond film No Time to Die, which marks actor Craig's fifth and final outing as the British secret agent, was released in the UK on 30 September. For confidential emotional support at times of distress, contact The Samaritans at any time by calling 116 123 or emailing jo@samaritans.org A teen driver was killed Friday in a vehicle collision with a semitrailer near Melba, according to the Idaho State Police. At 3:19 p.m., the driver of the tractor-trailer traveling east on McElroy Road, in Canyon County, failed to yield at a stop sign while turning north onto Can Ada Road. The driver, an 84-year-old man from Nampa, collided with a Volkswagen Jetta traveling southbound on Can Ada Road, according to a police news release. Both drivers were the sole occupants of their vehicles. The juvenile, of Melba, died at the scene. The victim, who was not identified, was wearing a seat belt. The driver of the semi was not and appeared uninjured at the scene, according to police spokesperson Lynn Hightower. The investigation is ongoing, according to police. Lewis Hamilton will start 11th (Umit Bektas/AP) (AP) Lewis Hamilton hopes it will rain on Max Verstappens parade at Sundays Turkish Grand Prix. The Mercedes driver will start nine places behind his championship rival after serving a 10-place grid penalty following an engine change. Hamilton delivered the fastest lap ever seen here at Istanbul Park to beat Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas to top spot with Verstappen third. Lewis Hamilton, left, and Mercedes team-mate Valtteri Bottas (Umit Bektas/AP) (AP) But his punishment will see him start in the precarious position of 11th, with Bottas elevated to pole position and Verstappen joining him on the front row. A short rain shower hit the opening moments of qualifying, with the forecast for Sundays race uncertain. And Hamilton, who drove from sixth to first in last years rain-hit race to seal his record-equalling seventh world crown, believes the mixed forecast might prove his best bet in preventing Verstappen from recapturing the championship lead. Woo! Lets get the job done tomorrow, LH. pic.twitter.com/scUASkYyDx Mercedes-AMG PETRONAS F1 Team (@MercedesAMGF1) October 9, 2021 Hamilton, two points clear of the Red Bull driver, said: It is a long race and I hope there is some rain that comes along. We knew it was going to be difficult with this penalty and tomorrow is not going to be easy to fight my way through but when there is a will there is a way. It is not the easiest to overtake at the moment, so I imagine it will be difficult to move up. But we have got the long straight down the back and we will see what we can do. STARTING GRID: TURKEY After grid penalties are applied for Lewis Hamilton and Carlos Sainz, here's how the drivers will line up for Sunday's race #TurkishGP #F1 pic.twitter.com/N5IEkvafDR Formula 1 (@F1) October 9, 2021 Hamiltons Mercedes team elected to give their superstar driver his fourth engine one more than is permitted for the season in Turkey. Story continues Mercedes believe that the risk of an engine failure and a potentially devastating DNF in Hamiltons quest for an eighth crown outweighs his lowly grid position. The all-conquering team also rank the Istanbul venue to be a more desirable track to overtake than any of the ensuing six rounds. There have been a lot of discussions over the last week-and-a-half and I was pushing to hopefully keep engine number three, added Hamilton. Max Verstappen will start second (Umit Bektas/AP) (AP) But on Thursday night they took the decision to change. We knew at some stage we probably would have to, just to be 100 per cent sure and safe, so it was whether we took it here or somewhere else. Mercedes have held the upper hand throughout the weekend so far, and Hamilton will hope team-mate Bottas can keep Verstappen at arms length. Bottas, who finished 0.130 seconds behind Hamilton, said: As a team result, it was as we planned. But I will focus on my own race tomorrow and that is the way to attack it when you start on pole. However, despite the Finns claim, it is inconceivable that Mercedes will not use him as a pawn to slow down Verstappen and bring Hamilton into contention in this tightest of championship fights. Behind, Charles Leclerc will start third for Ferrari ahead of AlphaTauris Pierre Gasly and double world champion Fernando Alonso. Mick Schumacher delivered the best lap of his F1 career to progress to Q2 for only the second time. The young German finished Q1 ahead of four-time world champion Sebastian Vettel, and the best part of three seconds faster than Haas team-mate Nikita Mazepin. He will start 14th on Sunday. Avid_creative A Louisiana high school student was arrested after punching her teacher, the Covington Police Department said. Larrianna Jackson, 18, was charged with battery, according to police. Police said the attack allegedly stemmed from a Tik Tok challenge, but the platform said it's not a trend on their app. A Louisiana high school student was arrested and charged with battery after being accused of punching a teacher in what appears to be part of a social media craze, police say. The Covington High School student identified as Larrianna Jackson assaulted her disabled 64-year-old teacher on Wednesday, according to local police. A video of the incident obtained by WDSU appears to show Jackson striking the teacher multiple times, leading the teacher to fall on the ground. The teacher was transported to a local hospital, and Jackson was sent to St. Tammany Parish Jail, the Covington Police Department said. According to the Washington Post, the 18-year-old was released on bail on Thursday. St. Tammany Parish Public Schools Superintendent Frank Jabbia told the newspaper in a statement that officials are "taking the appropriate disciplinary action against all students involved." On Friday, police also arrested two other students who recorded the incident. The department believes the attack was likely inspired by a Tik Tok challenge and warned others not to participate. "Officers learned that this violent attack by Jackson may have been prompted by a viral social media application known as Tik-Tok," Covington police said. "Evidently, users on the app have deemed it to be a challenge to damage school property and attack teachers." However, Tik Tok said the alleged "slap a teacher" challenge does not stem from their platform but other sources. "This alleged 'challenge' would violate our policies, and we would aggressively remove such content, but the reality is that we have not found related content on our platform, and most people appear to be learning about the offline dare from sources other than TikTok," a Tik Tok spokesperson previously told Insider. Story continues In a tweet on Wednesday, the platform doubled down on their stance, saying "it's not a trend on Tik Tok," and the challenge itself "is an insult to educators everywhere." The incident in Louisiana follows other viral challenges online that have resulted in students facing consequences. Last month, an Alabama high school student was charged after participating in a Tik Tok challenge dubbed "devious licks" that encouraged theft and vandalism at school. The platform later removed the hashtag altogether on their app, stating that it doesn't "allow content that promotes or enables criminal activities." Read the original article on Insider A Houston megachurch, whose celebrity pastor is reportedly worth $50 million, has repaid the federal government $4.4 million in pandemic loans after going viral for the outrageous handout. Lakewood Church, which is tax-exempt like most religious institutions, took $4.4 million in taxpayer-funded Paycheck Protection Program loans at the height of the COVID pandemic last yearall while senior pastor Joel Osteen flaunted his insane wealth. It caused Osteen and Ferrari to trend on social media as observers questioned the institutions need for such a huge payout. Osteen reportedly owns a $300,000 Ferrari and a $10.5 million mansion, and has been photographed traveling in style on a luxury jet. Meanwhile, he has made appearances on the Today Show, urging people to not focus on what [they] have or dont have. Feds Forgive $1 Million+ in Pandemic Loans to Top Anti-Vaxxers Lakewood, believed to be the biggest church in the U.S. with an average weekly attendance of 45,000, shut down in-person services last year and told the Houston Business Journal they had to go months without the ability to collect substantial donations. They insisted none of the PPP money went to Osteen or his wife, both of whom allegedly do not receive a salary from the church, and called the loan crucial during such a time of need. The money provided the church with short-term financial assistance to ensure their 368 employees would continue to receive a paycheck and full health care benefits, a church spokesperson said. Thousands of other religious institutions received up to $7.8 billion in PPP loans, according to some tallies. On Friday, a Lakewood spokesperson provided bank statements to the Houston Chronicle showing that the church had fully repaid the loan. PPP loans were 100 percent forgivable if a company retained all its employees at the same pay level, and if the money was spent on payroll and other eligible expenses. The spokesperson did not say why the church repaid the loan however other big businesses like Shake Shack and the Los Angeles Lakers returned their loans after being heavily criticized. Story continues Rob Boston, senior adviser of Americans United for Separation of Church and State, told the Houston Chronicle that Osteen was rightfully criticized for taking the loan. But the larger issue, he said, was that religious freedom is a core promise of our Constitution, and that means that no one should be forced to pay for someone elses religious beliefs or practices. Its not the first time Osteen and Lakewood Church have been shamed into action. In 2017, the church refused to open its stadium up for Hurricane Harvey victims but eventually did after a firestorm on social media. Osteen has also attracted criticism from some other religious leaders for his espousal of the so-called prosperity gospel, which teaches that wealth is a sign of Gods blessing on a person. Read more at The Daily Beast. Get our top stories in your inbox every day. Sign up now! Daily Beast Membership: Beast Inside goes deeper on the stories that matter to you. Learn more. Morgan Stanley is still calling for a 10%-20% crash protect yourself this way Slowing growth and tightening financial conditions. That makes Mike Wilson, Morgan Stanleys chief investment officer, nervous. In short, higher real rates should mean lower equity prices," Wilson wrote last week in a note to clients. "Secondarily, they may also mean value over growth even as the overall equity market goes lower." Wilson also said in a recent interview that the firm's call for a 10%-20% correction would be led by tech stocks as earnings estimates are too high. Within that context, Wilson advised investors to favor defensive sectors such as healthcare, consumer staples, and financials. Let's take a quick look at a few possible plays from those areas one of them could be worth buying with your spare change. 1. Financials: Bank of America (BAC) Tero Vesalainen/Shutterstock Over the last decade, Bank of America has streamlined and refined its business practices and operations to rise from one of the lowest rated banks in the country to the second-largest bank by assets (roughly $2.3 trillion in total assets). With assets of $3 trillion, JPMorgan Chase is the biggest. As the economy continues to recover from the pandemic and inflation continues to surge, interest rates are likely to rise, putting the bank is in a good position to continue its success. Banks benefit from higher rates through a wider "spread" the difference in interest that they pay to customers and what they earn by investing. And despite not quite hitting its earning mark last quarter, Bank of America delivered shareholders a dividend hike upping its yield 17% from 18 cents to 21 cents per share. Currently, the shares offer a dividend yield of 1.9%. Blue-chip investors might want to grab that yield using a free investing app. 2. Consumer Staples: PepsiCo (PEP) OlegDoroshin/Shutterstock Pepsico is so much more than a major cola and soda brand. Most consumers will be aware that Mountain Dew and Gatorade fall under the Pepsico umbrella. But this food and beverage juggernaut also owns Frito-Lay, Quaker Foods, Tropicana, SodaStream and dozens of other brands across the world. Story continues With everyone spending so much time at home, snack food consumption went way up during the pandemic which was great news for Pepsi. In July, the company reported that net sales rose more than 20% year over year to $19.22 billion nicely above expectations of $18 billion. And the company is passing on some of those sweet (or salty, depending on your taste) dollars to shareholders through healthy dividends, which have been steadily increasing over the years. Over the past ten years, Pepsico's dividend has grown at a compounded rate of 7.7% versus 6.1% from its main rival Coca-Cola. Pepsico shares offer a dividend yield of 2.8%. 3. Health care: Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) Siraj Ahmad/Shutterstock Between its business in medical devices, pharmaceuticals and consumer packaged goods, Johnson & Johnson has become a household name. And more than that, its numerous subsidiaries including Band-Aid, Tylenol, Neutrogena, Listerine and Clean & Clear could stand on their own as successful brands. JNJs diverse holdings in the health care segment ensures its able to ride out any economic slumps. And with a handful of industry-leading drugs for immunology and cancer treatment under its Janssen Pharamceutica arm, theres a good deal of growth opportunity for JNJ. The companys Q2 results were buoyed by $12.59 billion in revenue from its COVID-19 shot over the year with global sales of $164 million in the second quarter alone. JNJ shared its success with shareholders through a dividend of $1.06 in the third quarter, up from $1.01 six months before. The stock currently has a dividend yield of 2.7%. Play defense like the super-rich A word of caution is needed. While Morgan Stanleys suggestions make sense, one thing is for sure: Even the most defensive stocks can still take a violent tumble in the event of a market crash. If you want to invest in something that has very little correlation with the ups and downs of the stock market, you might want to consider an overlooked asset fine art. Investing in fine art by the likes of Banksy and Andy Warhol used to be an option only for the ultra-rich. But with a new investing platform, you can invest in iconic artworks too, just like Jeff Bezos and Peggy Guggenheim. On average, contemporary artworks appreciate in value by 14% per year, easily topping the average returns of 9.5% youd see with the S&P 500. This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind. Relatives, friends and fellow journalists stand beside the coffin of slain investigative reporter Regina Martinez during her wake in Xalapa, Mexico, in 2012. (Felix Marquez / Associated Press) Mexican investigative reporter Regina Martinez fearlessly dedicated herself to exposing wrongdoing by government officials in her home state of Veracruz. That came to an end in 2012, when she was strangled to death in her house. The government says she was killed in a robbery and sent the alleged assailant to prison. But Martinezs colleagues never believed that story, maintaining that she had been targeted because of her journalism. Journalist Regina Martinez talks on a cellphone at a restaurant in Veracruz, Mexico. Martinez, a correspondent with Mexican newsmagazine Proceso, was found dead inside her home in Veracruz state in 2012. (Octavio Gomez / Associated Press) To the people who worked with Martinez and with scores of other journalists who have been killed in Mexico, the announcement Friday that the Nobel Peace Prize had been awarded to two journalists from the Philippines and Russia felt like an important acknowledgment of those deaths. I completely identify with this award, said Jorge Carrasco, editor of the newsweekly Proceso, where Martinez had been a correspondent. Its a recognition of the journalistic profession in the whole world. The Nobel committee awarded the peace prize to Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia, applauding their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace. Both have exposed secrets of those in power and have faced threats for their work, a common experience for journalists as more and more countries see the rise of authoritarian leaders who are openly hostile toward a free press. Rappler Chief Executive and Executive Editor Maria Ressa reacts after hearing that she won the Nobel Peace Prize inside her home in Taguig, Philippines, on Friday. (Rappler) They are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this idea in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions, the Nobel committee said. That message resonated in newsrooms worldwide. The award recognizes the contribution of journalism to bring about a better society through the search for truths that are uncomfortable for the powerful, tweeted Jaime Abello Banfi, director of the Gabo Foundation, which is dedicated to improving journalism in Spanish- and Portuguese-speaking nations. The prize rewards independent journalists the world over, he said. Story continues Both winners continuously defy censorship and repression to report the news, and have led the way for others to do the same, Joel Simon, executive director of the Committee to Protect Journalists, said in a statement. The Nobel Peace Prize is a powerful recognition of their tireless work, and that of journalists all around the world. Their struggle is our struggle. In its latest annual survey, his organization reported that as of last December at least 274 journalists worldwide were jailed in relation to their work. China was the worst jailer of journalists, followed by Turkey, Egypt and Saudi Arabia. Colleagues congratulate Novaya Gazeta editor Dmitry Muratov on winning the Nobel Peace Prize in Moscow on Friday. (Alexander Zemlianichenko / Associated Press) In Mexico, at least 130 journalists have been killing over the last three decades a figure topped only by Iraq, Syria and the Philippines. The five killed so far in 2021 are more than in any other country. Despite the risks, Mexican reporters take on corrupt politicians and gangsters in pursuit of some proximity of the truth. It is often a thankless grind, and the pay is generally minimal. Much of the violence in Mexico emanates from organized crime and politicians enmeshed in it. Many of those killed reported on links between gangs and corrupt police or lawmakers. Most murders of journalists here remain unresolved. The relatively few arrests typically involve the apprehensions of low-level hit men not the crime bosses or corrupt officials who order murders and pay the killers. This summer, an online video purportedly from the Jalisco New Generation cartel, among Mexicos most powerful threatened a well-known television news anchor, Azucena Uresti. The cartel expressed dissatisfaction with her coverage of a cartel turf battle in western Michoacan state. Ill make you eat your words, even if they accuse me of feminicide, declared a purported mob figure in the video, supposedly repeating the message of the cartel leader, Ruben Oseguera Cervantes. President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador condemned the threat and offered protection to Uresti through a government agency that provides security to targeted journalists. At the same time, the president frequently denounces the press as conservative, elite and in the pockets of his adversaries generating criticism that he is aggravating an already hostile atmosphere. So far in 2021, the Mexican free-press group Articulo 19 has recorded 362 aggressions including physical, verbal and online threats against Mexican journalists, or one every 12 hours, according to its director, Leopoldo Maldonado. He said many see the Nobel as a validation of years of difficult and perilous digging and investigation. Its a recognition of those in the journalistic profession who are critical of power, Maldonado said. And its an incentive that they keep on doing that work. It is also a sign to repressive leaders, politicians, police and others that actions against the press may not go unnoticed. I think this sends a very powerful message to those governments and political actors, Maldonado said. Still, few in Mexico are hopeful that a Nobel for two journalists in far-off nations will make any difference in what many regard as a perpetual open season on journalists. As a journalist in Mexico, I cant afford to think this will make much difference, said Victor Ortega, editor of El Salmantino news site, based in Salamanca, a gritty oil-processing hub in the violence-plagued central state of Guanajuato. One of his reporters, Israel Vazquez Rangel, was shot dead last year while responding to the scene of a homicide. Not long after the killing, authorities announced the arrests of two suspects but almost a year later have provided no details about motive or who was behind the slaying. If youre a journalist in this country, you risk your life, Ortega said. Today you are alive and in any moment they can kill you with complete impunity. ... Yes, this prize is nice news. But in truth, for journalism in Mexico, its basically a footnote. McDonnell is a Times staff writer and Sanchez a special correspondent. Special correspondents Andres DAlessandro in Buenos Aires and Liliana Nieto del Rio in Mexico City contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. Amplify Energy Corp. Chief Executive Officer Martyn Willsher speaks at a news conference about his company's oil spill response. (Patrick T. Fallon / AFP/Getty Images) When workers for the company operating the Elly drilling rig saw oil in the water miles from the California shoreline, they didn't immediately call authorities. Instead, they dialed the company's risk management firm. At 8:55 a.m. Saturday, an emergency response employee at the crisis company Witt O'Brien's informed federal authorities that a leaking pipeline had sent crude oil pouring into the water off Orange County, turbocharging the U.S. Coast Guard's investigation of a substantial spill that residents miles inland said they could smell. That was 15 hours after the first reports of oil in the water, at 6 p.m. Friday, began trickling in. This gap between Friday evening and Saturday morning remains one of the least understood and potentially vital parts of the oil spill, filled with unanswered questions and contradictions. Why was the rig's first call not to federal regulators? Did a pipeline alarm go off in the early hours of Saturday morning? And when exactly did the oil company, a subsidiary of Amplify Energy Corp., stop pumping crude oil? Figuring out what happened during that 15-hour period could help determine whether more could have been done to limit the scope of the spill and damages it caused. Amplify Energy Chief Executive Martyn Willsher has been evasive about those crucial hours, offering information that conflicts with state and federal records and providing vague responses to questions at news conferences before bowing out of a media appearance Thursday. He was adamant, however, that his employees had not seen oil on the water until 8:09 a.m. Saturday, shortly before the call to the crisis firm. "If we were aware of something on Friday night, I promise you we would have immediately stopped all operations, Willsher said. Any delay in notifying authorities could violate federal law, which requires anyone in charge of an offshore facility to notify the National Response Center "as soon as he or she has knowledge of any discharge of oil." Story continues Amplify officials did not return requests for comment. The Coast Guard said Friday that the anchor strike that cracked open the pipeline's concrete casing and dragged it across the ocean floor happened at least several months ago, and possibly as long ago as a year. Capt. Jason Neubauer said underwater images of the ruptured pipeline showed that marine life had grown on the pipe, which could not have happened if the metal had only been exposed to the water last week. The pipe may have taken on a slight crack that grew worse over time, or may have survived the first strike intact but suffered damage in another incident, Neubauer said. That raises further questions for Amplify on what, if any, indicators the firm may have had of problems along the line in recent months and how workers failed to notice that 4,000 feet of pipe about three-quarters of a mile had been displaced. A ship passing along the coast was the first to report a sheen of oil to the NRC at 6:13 p.m. Friday, according to a state Office of Emergency Services report. Shortly after that, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spotted a black blob on its satellite imagery, calling it in to regulators with "high confidence" it was oil. But for Amplify, the first sign of trouble seems to have occurred at 2:30 a.m. Saturday when control-room employees received a low-pressure alarm on the 15-mile run that funnels crude oil to land, according to a letter from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which oversees oil pipelines. The pipeline was operating at about 30% of its maximum pressure, the agency said. That Oct. 4 letter, which instructed Amplify not to restart the San Pedro Bay Pipeline until it was proved safe, says the alarm indicated "a possible failure" and that the operating company shut down the pipeline more than three hours later, at 6:01 a.m. The 2:30 a.m. alert also appears as an incident time on both federal and state reports from the Witt O'Brien's call. Pipeline expert Richard Kuprewicz said pressure alarms frequently go off in such lines and that an alert would not necessarily suggest a leak. "Most are not indicative of an oil release," he said. "There are hundreds if not thousands of tons of hydrocarbons in a pipe, and that creates a lot of noise in the system." Willsher has repeatedly said his company will be "fully transparent with the investigative authorities" but has been less forthcoming with the public. When asked at a news conference this week why the Coast Guard had reported the incident's discovery time as 2:30 a.m., Willsher said there "was no 2:30 time." He later described PHMSA's report of the 2:30 a.m. alarm as "initial" and said that the company was "not aware of any oil in water at 2:30 a.m." He did not elaborate. On Wednesday, Willsher said workers turned the pump for the pipeline on from 6 a.m. to 6:05 a.m. Saturday to perform a "meter reading" and that no oil was pumped after that. He has not said for what period the pipeline was shut down before the "meter reading" and why it hadn't been running, though he said that oil pipeline operations are not "consistently running 24 hours a day, so sometimes you run it at different times based on the electricity needs and things like that." When pressed on the point, his answers provided little clarity. "When you shut it off, what was the reason you shut it off, at 6:05 a.m.?" a reporter asked. We turned it on to do a meter run to calculate volumes of oil," Willsher said. "Why did you turn it off?" was the follow. "Because it was turned on to do the meter run," Willsher said. The Oct. 4 letter from federal investigators did not mention the pipeline being turned on shortly before it was turned off. Willsher has not said what happened on the platform between the pipeline shutoff and the workers seeing oil in the water at 8:09 a.m. Once they saw the oily sheen, he said, employees instantly radioed back to the offshore platforms, where workers launched their incident response plan. The pump was not operating at 8:09 a.m., Willsher said, but the platforms and everything else were "shut down immediately thereafter. He said the shutoff was done manually. The call to Witt O'Brien's was made at about 8:30 a.m., he said. Rebecca Craven, program director of Pipeline Safety Trust, said Amplify has failed to publicly explain how it responded to signs of a possible failure in the pipeline. "An operator would undoubtedly make an argument that they needed to confirm the discharge before being obligated to report, but that would not account for the time between shutdown and reporting, and wouldnt even account for much of the time between the pressure alarm and the shutdown," she said. John Pardue, an engineering professor at Louisiana State University with expertise in oil spills, said it is not uncommon for companies to rely on hired crisis management firms to act as first responders to spills. Having such a firm on call is often a regulatory requirement, and the firms can play a crucial role in mobilizing the specialized equipment needed for containment and cleanup. "They are going to have their own contractors and their own people who are responsible for executing their own spill plan," Pardue said. Still, the expectation is that authorities will be notified "simultaneously," he added. But, he said, "that rarely happens." Times staff writers Thomas Curwen and Richard Winton contributed to this report. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times. An Apple security guard was stabbed in Manhattan after he told a customer to wear a mask. Mike Segar/Reuters An Apple security guard in New York City was stabbed after he told a customer to wear a mask. The assailant ran away from the scene while the victim was taken to the hospital in "serious but stable condition," the NYPD said. It is the latest in a string of violent incidents that have erupted across the nation over mask requirements. A security guard at an Apple store in New York City was stabbed on Friday during a confrontation with a customer over mask requirements. A spokesperson for the New York Police Department told Insider that the 37-year-old security guard "was stabbed one time in the left arm and one time in the forehead with a knife" after a "dispute over wearing a mask inside the store." The NYPD does not have a suspect in custody, the spokesperson said. The suspect - who the NYPD described as an "unknown male Black wearing a black sweatshirt with red lettering, blue jeans, and black sneakers" - ran from the scene into a nearby subway station. "The victim was removed via EMS to Bellevue Hospital in serious but stable condition. There is no arrest at this time and the investigation is ongoing," Detective Sophia Mason said. The incident unfolded at the Apple store on Ninth Avenue and West 14th Street just after 6 p.m. on Friday, Mason said. The store was "closed until further notice," according to an automated message on the store's voicemail. Apple, which requires masks in stores, did not immediately return Insider's request for comment. New York City requires masks on public transportation, in hospitals, and in schools. Local guidance advises wearing masks indoors. The incident was the latest in a string of violent confrontations over mask mandates. In similar outbursts across the country, a Wisconsin man punched a pizzeria manager who asked him to wear a mask; a father beat an elementary school teacher over mask requirements in California; a Pennsylvania theme-park employee was punched after telling a visitor to follow masking protocols. Read the original article on Insider Sidney Powell, a high-profile attorney who championed former President Donald Trump's claims the 2020 election was rigged, is suing the Pentagon over its coronavirus vaccine mandate. On Monday, the Department of Defense announced its 700,000 civilian employees would have a Nov. 22 deadline to get fully vaccinated, according to its memorandum. While the memorandum states employees must be fully vaccinated by that date, people are not considered fully inoculated until two weeks after their second COVID-19 injection, which would mean employees have a deadline of Nov. 8 to get the first jab. Defending the Republic, Powell's Texas-based group that filed the lawsuit stated in its press release that it did so "on behalf of 16 active-duty military service members" to back their constitutional rights to refuse inoculation. The group describes the vaccine mandate as "unconstitutional" and "unlawful." ALL FORMER VA SECRETARIES URGE CONGRESS TO PASS MILITARY SUICIDE PREVENTION LEGISLATION Prior to the DoD's recent announcement, the Pentagon announced its plans in late August to move forward with a vaccine mandate for all of its military members. This move from the Pentagon came quickly after the Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer-BioNTech two-dose COVID-19 vaccine. Active-duty members of the Army have a deadline of Dec. 15 to be fully vaccinated. Meanwhile, active-duty members of the Air Force have a deadline of Nov. 2. The Navy gave active-duty Marines and Sailors a deadline of Nov. 28 to be fully vaccinated. While service members can seek to apply for exemption from the vaccine for medical or religious reasons, they could face disciplinary action if they do not comply. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER Powell recently pushed a conspiracy theory that the Democratic Party had been behind the death of a 20-year-old staffer who previously worked on former Georgia Republican Sen. Kelly Loeffler's campaign to cover up stealing the election. Story continues Dominion Voting Systems slapped Powell with a $1.3 billion lawsuit in January, suing her for defamation. The company alleged the attorney's claims that their software was compromised had caused them "unprecedented harm." The Washington Examiner reached out to Defending the Republic for a comment but did not receive a response. Washington Examiner Videos Tags: Sidney Powell, lawsuit, Vaccination, Coronavirus Original Author: Elizabeth Faddis Original Location: Sidney Powell files lawsuit against Pentagon over vaccine mandate A trio of unions representing more than 250 St. Paul city workers are poised to go on strike if ongoing negotiations fail. Members rejected a two-year contract offer Tuesday in search of higher wage increases. The next day, leaders of the Laborers' International Union of North America (LiUNA) Local 363, Teamsters Local 120 and the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 49 representing those who drive snowplows, fix sewers, maintain parks and others filed intent to strike with the state Bureau of Mediation Services (BMS). Laborers could go on strike as soon as Oct. 19, following a mandatory cooling-off period, BMS Commissioner Janet Johnson said. Union officials said they are continuing negotiations with the city and noted that a strike will not necessarily start Oct. 19 just because it's authorized. But they also said the terms offered by the city no wage increase for the first year of the contract and a 1.5% increase the second year are not fair for workers. Local 49 Business Manager Jason George said in a statement that members "overwhelmingly" voted to reject the city's latest offer. "Our people have stepped up in a way that we've never seen before" through the pandemic and the civil unrest following the murder of George Floyd, said Tony Kelly, business manager for LiUNA 363. "It just seems like the employers are not similarly stepping up and recognizing the sacrifices that people have made." City spokesman Peter Leggett said workers were also offered "a one-time lump-sum payment" roughly equal to a 2.5% wage increase in 2021. "Our city workers demonstrate their dedication to our residents and businesses every day," Leggett said in a statement. "Alongside our residents, the mayor is grateful for their service, and we remain hopeful that our ongoing discussions will lead to a positive resolution." A union can file an intent to strike following at least 45 days of labor mediation, according to state law. That triggers a 10-day cooling period, after which workers may strike. Story continues Public works employees in Minneapolis also recently voted to authorize a strike, though Johnson said union leaders there have not filed intent with the state to do so. Additionally, about 150 members of Local 49 who operate wastewater treatment plants for the Metropolitan Council unanimously authorized a strike Thursday, George said. The union is still in its required mediation period. Met Council spokesman John Schadl said in a statement: "We are committed to our employees and have reached voluntary settlements with all other groups who represent employees in our Environmental Services. We are negotiating in good faith and hope to reach a voluntary settlement that is both fair and responsible." Katie Galioto 612-673-4478 First day of school for students at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, scene of 2018 mass shooting that killed 17 Joe Raedle/Getty Images Schools around the country are reporting an increase in student violence, some targeting teachers. Educators told Insider it's likely linked to mental health issues that worsened over the pandemic. One counselor said students are showing symptoms of PTSD with depression rates "through the roof." At a Florida middle school, 87 students have gotten in physical fights since school began last month. At an Illinois high school, 70 students have been suspended for violent altercations, the superintendent said. At a New York high school, two students were cut during an altercation, causing parents to demand more safety agents. At a Kentucky lower school, a counselor said she has assessed 26 students ages eight through 10 for suicide risk since May. And it's only October. "We just confiscated a gun from a 10-year-old," Anna Fusco, president of the Broward Teachers Union in Florida, told Insider. "First-graders slapped a teacher in the face, second-graders slapped a teacher in the face, middle schoolers corralled around a teacher and shoved her," she said. "Every single day I get a story from an educator." On Friday, the nation's largest teachers union said social media has "helped create a culture of fear and violence with educators as targets," in a letter addressed to Facebook, TikTok, and Twitter that was shared with The Wall Street Journal. Union leaders referenced the "devious lick" challenge that led students to vandalize and steal school property, as well as the "slap a teacher" challenge. TikTok removed hashtags and content related to devious lick in September. School staff members across the country told Insider they are seeing surges in student outbursts, from vandalism and verbal altercations to gun violence and slashing. Fusco said teachers have been trained on "how to handle a shooter when he comes in," but not on preventing violence long-term. Story continues "All our districts care about is getting the curriculum, pounding on the academics," she told Insider. "There's nowhere near the level of training that can really make a vast difference in a student." Now, school counselors are sounding the alarm on what they believe to be a main driver behind the violence: student mental health. "The number of suicide threats in my own school has skyrocketed since COVID," Amy Riley, a school counselor at Mercer County Intermediate School in Kentucky, told state lawmakers on Tuesday. "Just this morning, I had to do a suicide risk assessment on a 9-year-old in my school before I came to this hearing today." Riley told Insider that she's assessed 26 students ages eight through 10 for suicide risk since May, many of whom were then hospitalized or enrolled in therapy. Before the pandemic, she said she would only have one or two suicide assessments a month. Now she sees two or three students every day. Even still, Riley said she feels lucky, since many rural schools in Kentucky have just one counselor, and some have none at all. Including Riley, she said, Mercer County has a total of three. "At least they were in school and we were able to talk to them and get them the help that they needed," she said. "What we are finding is that a lot of the symptoms of PTSD ... are being mirrored in our students who are going through this pandemic." TaRael Kee, an assistant principal at Collinsville High School in Illinois, told Insider that there has been a "significant increase" in both student violence and student mental-health issues across the state. Kee said they've doubled the number of school counselors since he started. Despite the additional hires, he said teachers are constantly struggling with students' emotional challenges, contributing to burnout and low morale. "Some of our staff members are almost in a state of crisis themselves," he said. To prevent students from resorting to violence as a result of poor mental health, Fusco said schools need more trained staff. "What's most needed is bodies," she said. "People that are properly trained to take on this extra toll of the students with social-emotional situations." "But if you don't have the funding for it, then you can't do it," she added. "And that's one of the biggest problems." Read the original article on Business Insider Tretherras School, in Newquay, Cornwall (Google Maps) Parents have threatened to sue a school and go after them for GBH if their children are given the COVID-19 vaccine without their consent. In total, 17 parents of pupils in years seven, eight and nine at Tretherras School, in Newquay, Cornwall, have signed a "cease and desist" legal notice. This autumn, all children aged 12 to 15 years are being offered the first dose of the Pfizer vaccine, and government guidance says parents are "asked for consent". But if it is refused and the child is deemed "competent" then "the parent cannot overrule the decision" and the child can "legally give consent". Read more: Nearly 1 in 20 secondary school pupils in England had Covid last week, figures suggest The NHS has started immunising children aged 12 to 15 (Getty) Read more: Vaccinating children aged five and over 'next issue on horizon' Parents at Tretherras School have sent a legal letter to the head, year leaders, safeguarding team and governors. They want the school to confirm it won't vaccinate kids without parental consent and the date of any proposed jabs. It threatens to sue if the school "fails to satisfy my concerns", in the letter dated 26 September. But Tretherras School has denied it is planning to jab students without their parent's permission. A spokesperson said: No child will be immunised in school without parental consent. "If there is a disagreement between parent and child, a meeting is called between the family and the school immunisation team to discuss further. The parents believe their kids should not be given the vaccine because clinical trials are ongoing and there is a "lack of long term data". A parent who signed the letter, and has a 13-year-old boy at the school, said: We decided as a group that our children don't need the jab. Watch: Coronavirus vaccine: UK nears five million second dose jabs Schoolchildren aged between 12 and 15 will be vaccinated this autumn after parents are contacted to give consent - but in cases where the parents refuse, the children may be able to consent for themselves after being judged for 'Gillick competence'. Story continues This would allow a child under the age of 16 to consent for themselves if they are deemed as having the capacity and maturity to understand what they are consenting to and are fully aware of what it involves. The parents at Tretherras School want officials to promise not to use Gillick Competency. The legal letter also said they will "bring a case of harassment and emotional harm" against the school should "further harassment by school staff of our children regarding the wearing of masks". The legal notice was presented after the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) stating the benefits of vaccinating 12-15 year olds may not outweigh the potential harms. The JVCI said: "The assessment by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation (JCVI) is that the health benefits from vaccination are marginally greater than the potential known harms. "However, the margin of benefit is considered too small to support universal vaccination of healthy 12 to 15 year olds at this time." The UKs four chief medical officers decided to approve the jab for the younger age group after concluding it was clinically justified due to the likelihood schools would be less disrupted as a result of the rollout. The decision took into account the impact of the pandemic on childrens education as well as the risks to their mental health from missing school. While children are less susceptible to severe COVID-19, they can spread the virus to others, including vulnerable populations that are more at risk of severe illness. Watch: How the world could be better after COVID A U.S. delegation will meet with "senior Taliban representatives" in Doha, Qatar, on Saturday and Sunday, a State Department spokesperson confirmed to Axios. Why it matters: It will be the first in-person meeting at a senior level since the Taliban reclaimed Afghanistan. Stay on top of the latest market trends and economic insights with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Details: The U.S. delegation will include officials from the government's intelligence community, State Department and the U.S. Agency for International Development. Their priority will be to ensure the Taliban continue to allow U.S. citizens and allies to safely leave Afghanistan, the spokesperson said. They will also push the leaders to honor their commitment not to let al-Qaeda or other extremists "use Afghan soil to threaten the security of the United States or its allies." And they will "press the Taliban to respect the rights of all Afghans, including women and girls, and to form an inclusive government with broad support." Worth noting: U.S. Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad, who negotiated the terms of the deal the United States signed with the Taliban in 2020, is not part of the delegation, Reuters reports. The big picture: Since the Taliban swept the country, the United Nations and human rights groups have expressed concern about a backslide into its authoritarian regime of previous decades. Afghanistan is "on the brink" of universal poverty, the UN said last month. More from Axios: Sign up to get the latest market trends with Axios Markets. Subscribe for free Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question youd like an expert to answer, send it to curiouskidsus@theconversation.com. Why do I need a scholar to answer a question if there is Google? Harrison F., age 13, Brookline, Massachusetts Imagine youre researching something. Whether youre a fourth grader who needs to find out how volcanoes erupt or youre an adult looking for more information regarding a news article, you might want to quickly look something up on the internet. What could go wrong? Googles search engine may seem to have all the answers to your questions. But where does that information come from? Who selects the websites that display when you enter volcanic eruption in the search box? Who decides which item shows up first and in what order the rest will follow? I think about these questions a lot because of what I do for a living: helping University of Memphis scholars communicate about their work with academic peers and the public. These scholars are experts who have worked and studied for a long time to learn all they can about a topic. They answer questions by combining their knowledge with the scientific method to discover new things. Page, Brin and PageRank When Larry Page and Sergey Brin created Googles search engine in 1996 as Stanford University computer science students, they were trying to establish a fast way to easily find things on the internet. At the time, searching through the web was slow and difficult, making it hard to find the best information. They invented an algorithm, a detailed step-by-step instruction set or formula, called PageRank. It works by estimating the quality of a webpage by measuring the number and quality of other pages that link to it. When you search on Google, its search engine returns the highest ranked pages related to what youre looking for. Some drawbacks Googling became so fast it can seem instantaneous. But the results you see when you do a Google search can be influenced by other things besides PageRank, including whether advertisers are paying Google to make their websites show up higher than they otherwise might. Googles algorithms factor in hundreds of other variables, including what sites youve clicked on in the past and how recently a page was updated. Story continues Unlike scholars, Googles search engine cant automatically decide which sources are the most important, most accurate or most significant. That is, Google searches dont necessarily identify objective and reliable information. You may consider switching to another search engine like Microsofts Bing or one that specifically promotes the privacy of your information like DuckDuckGo. But many of these alternatives have the same shortcomings. How scholars communicate Scholars often communicate by publishing research papers. Each paper emphasizes a single idea that adds something to a discussion. It may be the new result from an experiment or a new observation. Other scholars then read that paper and discuss it. Knowledgeable people can take stock of the same set of facts and still have different perspectives, which means there isnt necessarily one right answer to a question. Over time this back and forth leads to some generally accepted principles and concepts. This cycle of research, review and discussion has been around since the first academic journals were published in 1665. As new discoveries are made, ideas can change. One way researchers show what other ideas they consider in their work is through scholarly citations. Youve surely seen them before they are in the reference section at the back of nonfiction books or at the bottom of Wikipedia articles. Each points to another work. These citations tell you what other books and sources the author of what youre reading considered and how they came to form the ideas. If multiple scholars use the same ideas as building blocks for their own concepts, and then their ideas, in turn, are used as building blocks for other ideas, it continually leads to a cycle of innovation. This discovery process isnt influenced by advertisers even if it can be partially shaped by whether or not scholars can get funding to pursue a particular kind of research. Many of the ideas you find on the internet originate from scholarship but are vulnerable to bias and advertising pressure in a way most scholars are not. We need scholars because they provide a complete picture, the most up-to-date information, derived from their wisdom and deeply considered perspective. The internet makes locating information easier than at any other point in human history. But as Albert Einstein said, Information is not knowledge. The only source of knowledge is experience. Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question youd like an expert to answer? Ask an adult to send your question to CuriousKidsUS@theconversation.com. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live. And since curiosity has no age limit adults, let us know what youre wondering, too. We wont be able to answer every question, but we will do our best. This article is republished from The Conversation, a nonprofit news site dedicated to sharing ideas from academic experts. It was written by: Cody Behles, University of Memphis. Read more: Cody Behles does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. ISLAMABAD (Reuters) - The world should urgently provide promised aid to Afghanistan, the U.N. refugee agency said on Saturday, warning that a lack of resources is hampering efforts to avert an economic crisis that could push fresh flows of refugees to its neighbours and beyond. "The humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan remains really dire," Babar Baloch, spokesperson for the U.N. High Commmissioner for Refugees, said in an interview in Islamabad. "The focus has to be inside Afghanistan to avoid and avert another refugee crisis." Since the Taliban took over Afghanistan on Aug. 15, the country - already struggling with drought and severe poverty from decades of war - has seen its economy all but collapse. Most of the nation's international assistance has been cut off, though there are exceptions for humanitarian aid. Billions of dollars in central bank assets held abroad have also been frozen, which has put pressure on the banking system. "Our worry is Afghan suffering will increase, the impact will be insidebut also it could be beyond Afghanistanin terms of displacement not only to countries like Pakistan and Iran that have been generous hosts of refugees for decades, but beyond." The total needed for humanitarian operations in Afghanistan in the next few months is $600 million, Baloch said, and only 35% of that had been provided by international donors, despite promises at a recent conference in Geneva where donors pledged more than $1 billion in aid. "Those pledges have to turn into reality, the cash has to be there for us to step in and support...Afghans," he said. Baloch added there were new challenges since the collapse of the government and the takeover of the country by the Taliban administration. The lack of commercial flights meant supplies needed to be taken in on special flights or by road. He said a humanitarian hub had been set up in Uzbekistan to fly in supplies which were then driven across the border into northern Afghanistan. Story continues U.N. agencies are engaging with members of the Taliban administration, he said, adding there were some positive signs but one key issue was ensuring female local staff were able to get back to work in all parts of the country. In Qatar, Taliban representatives asked the United States to lift a ban on Afghan central bank reserves at a meeting with U.S. counterparts, Afghanistan's acting foreign minister said on Saturday in remarks reported by Al-Jazeera television. (Reporting by Charlotte Greenfield, Editing by William Maclean) New Delhi: India and China are set to hold on October 10, the 13th round of talks to address the ongoing military stand-off between the two Asian countries, according to Army sources. The sources also divulged that the talks will be held at Moldo (Chusul) on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Resolution of friction point at Hot Springs will be discussed during the talks, added the source. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday had said that it expected China to work towards early resolution of the remaining issue along the Line of Control (LoC) in Eastern Ladakh by fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols. 13th round of India-China talks to address the ongoing military stand-off to be held in Moldo on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) at 10:30 am tomorrow. Resolution of friction point at Hot Springs to be discussed during the talks: Army sources pic.twitter.com/B6RTcAbsXp ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2021 Addressing a weekly media briefing, the MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, It is our expectation that China will work towards early resolution of the remaining issue along the Line of Control (LoC) in Eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols. Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, met Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and both the leaders discussed the border tensions and disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in border areas. Soldiers of India and China clashed last year resulting in the loss of several lives on both sides. The clashes erupted after the transgression by Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in Galwan Valley. More than a year had passed since the incident, but tensions continue to simmer between the two Asian giants. More than 12 rounds of military talks and a series of diplomatic parleys were held between India and China, but the tensions still continue. There has been some disengagement, but India says full disengagement will only result in de-escalation. Some disengagement has indeed taken place recently, but it is not complete. Construction is now complete on The Fountains, a six-building affordable housing complex in East New York, Brooklyn. Developed by Long Island-based Arker Companies, which purchased the site for $10 million following a competitive request for proposal process facilitated by the Empire State Development Corporation, the development yields 1,163 affordable homes, commercial space, and a new public plaza. The properties are located at 11629 Seaview Avenue, 911 Erskine Street, 10 Schroeders Walk, 702 Vandalia Avenue, 881 Erksine Street, and 894 Fountain Avenue. The buildings range from six to nine stories and were all constructed to meet Enterprise Green Community standards and include ENERGY STAR-accredited appliances, energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, and LED lighting. The Fountains are the embodiment of our commitment to provide equal opportunity for each and every New Yorker, and this complex goes above and beyond to provide quality, affordability, and access to the resources needed to live healthy and successful lives, said governor Kathy Hochul. This mixed-use development provides housing, services, and amenities that will re-energize the community and build a brighter future for all, but especially for our most vulnerable residents. Most apartments are reserved for households earning at or below 60 percent area median income (AMI). A total of 85 homes will be available to households earning up to 100 percent of the AMI. Additional designations include 200 units for adults 62 or older and 192 units for adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. On-site supportive services are provided by the Block Institute. Additional components include Schroeders Walk, a new one-acre public plaza that extends along Schroeders Avenue for pedestrians, 21,700-square-feet of ground-floor commercial space, and off-street parking. I have been proud to support this project as borough president, emphasizing the need to prioritize those at risk of displacement in the East New York and Brownsville areas, said Brooklyn borough president Eric Adams. Providing on-site support services for residents with intellectual and developmental disabilities is also an important step toward giving people with disabilities stable, nurturing environments, and I urge other developments to follow this model to ensure we are meeting the needs of this vulnerable population. The 35-acre development site was originally a state-owned residential care and treatment center for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Known as the Brooklyn Developmental Center, the property was opened in 1973 and closed in 2015 due to a shift in the national housing policy toward integrated supportive housing. Financing for The Fountains includes over $216 million in resources from New York State Homes and Community Renewal. Additional support was provided by the New York State Office for People With Developmental Disabilities, the New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA), and the New York City Department of Housing Preservation and Development. Subscribe to YIMBYs daily e-mail Follow YIMBYgram for real-time photo updates Like YIMBY on Facebook Follow YIMBYs Twitter for the latest in YIMBYnews Weve read, seen and heard it all before too many times. First comes doomsday predictions about what will happen to the United States and its economy if the nations debt ceiling isnt lifted by Congress. After considerable political wrangling, a short-term extension is approved, thereby alleviating the crisis for a few more weeks or months. We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. Abortion-rights activists rally at the Texas State Capitol on September 11. Photo: Jordan Vonderhaar/Getty Images Late Friday night, the Fifth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals agreed to suspend a federal judges injunction that had temporarily blocked enforcement of Texass six-week abortion ban, SB 8. The injunction had only been in effect for two days, a confusing period for abortion providers in the state. As had been expected, the conservative-leaning appeals court granted a request from Texass Republican attorney general, Ken Paxton, to reverse the injunction. SB 8, the most restrictive anti-abortion law in the country, allows private citizens to sue anyone who assists with an abortion in Texas after six weeks of pregnancy. The de facto abortion ban, which the conservative-dominated U.S. Supreme Court declined to block, has led to a dramatic drop-off in the number of people seeking abortions in Texas since it went into effect in September. On Thursday, U.S. District Judge Robert L. Pitman ordered a preliminary injunction against enforcing SB 8, agreeing with the Justice Department that the law was unconstitutional. Paxton argued that the DOJ didnt have the authority to sue Texas, and that Pitman had violated the separation of powers, since SB 8 isnt enforced by the state, but by private citizens a deliberate design to make the law extremely difficult to successfully challenge in the court system. The Fifth Circuit did not rule on the merits of the appeal, at least yet. The Justice Department has until Tuesday evening to respond to the appeal, and the law will remain enforceable until at least then. Erika is shameless and I don't buy this performance at all. All these women are full of it and the biggest hypocrite Rinna can choke. The way she treated Denise last seasons vs what's going on this year with Erika, and what? Crickets? Fuck off. Garcelle and Sutton are probably the only ones who seem to not buy Erika's stories and actually say it out loud, unlike the rest of those clowns. And I'm sick of Kyle. What's her storyline again? A bts producers? Because she is giving me nothing and at the same time she's yapping like she knows everyone's business and annoying the living daylight out of me. RECAST! Reply Thread Link That unseen footage of Sutton is shocking tbh. Reply Thread Link Which one? The one where she said she offered to lend money to Erika? Reply Parent Thread Link Yeah. She said that she could be the friend and lend her money. I think there was a legal implication of being that friend. If Erika accepted it, Sutton would look like she supports Erika legally as well. No wonder Sutton was so freaked out about it. Reply Parent Thread Expand Link I think Erika will make a settlement and not be charged. I am convinced she has millions squirreled away in off shore accounts. Reply Thread Link https://ohnotheydidnt.livejournal.com/121821058.html?thread=20328028034#t20328028034 Are the NYT reading us now too because Reply Thread Link This article will be too long for Kyle to read. Reply Thread Link https://www.reddit.com/r/BravoRealHousewives/comments/plrc97/part_1_erika_jayne_for_dummies_timeline_for_s6_s7/ A person on the Real Housewives subreddit put this together - including Erika's scenes (and expenses like a 188,000 USD Cartier ring), and the timeline of Tom's Lawsuits and loans he had taken out for his Ponzi scheme and misappropriation of other funds like not playing taxes/expenses for his planes. A person on the Real Housewives subreddit put this together - including Erika's scenes (and expenses like a 188,000 USD Cartier ring), and the timeline of Tom's Lawsuits and loans he had taken out for his Ponzi scheme and misappropriation of other funds like not playing taxes/expenses for his planes. Reply Thread Link i love and HATE that subreddit so much, there are some really good insightful nancy drew-esque investigative posts in there but most of the time it's just flooded with really bad takes and useless opinions from literal 50 year old housewives or white gays Reply Parent Thread Link Me too. The racism is also super triggering as we transition through towards more diverse representation. Reply Parent Thread Link honestly... based on her expenses, it's hella weird to bank that much cash being a lawyer, she never stopped to think about it? probably not but it's still weird, idk Reply Thread Link This is a really good point. When Erika first joined the cast I distinctly remember being shocked at how lavishly they livedI know very few lawyers personally but still couldnt understand how he made THAT much Reply Parent Thread Link I had the same thought, and it really nagged at me when she said they had the two planes. It seemed very OOT, even for his large settlements. I chalked it up to him making/having some really good investments. Its always easier for rich people to get richer. Reply Parent Thread Link I mean you're totally right, it is excessive for a lawyer in general, but Tom would win settlements for his clients in the billions, multi millions. He represented people in toxic torts. Did he misappropriate those funds? Absolutely. But idk after learning about Tom and the cases he had, I never thought her spending on the show was that crazy. Edited at 2021-10-09 06:05 pm (UTC) Reply Parent Thread Link payments of $1.5 million to McDonald Selznick For a second I misread this as McDonald's and was like damn how many chicken nuggets did you buy Reply Thread Link I did too & didnt even think it was unreasonableI think I need to lay off the McDonalds a little lol Reply Parent Thread Link I love their biscuits, french fries and apple pies. Reply Parent Thread Link The apple pies are so goood Reply Parent Thread Link Me too. I was like; I know big city prices are higher, but that's insane!" Reply Parent Thread Link Even if she didnt know which I think she did, the insensitivity shes been showing to the victims since then is disgusting. That money isnt hers or Toms, it belongs to the victims. If she had any humanity in her, she would be giving as much of that money back as possible. Shes a public figure and RHOBH is a steady paycheck; if she has a good publicist and business manager, she could do all that and still be financial stable by signing onto new ventures. I really hope she doesnt come back for another season. I dont get what more she could possibly offer except more snarling and growling, and what shes complicit in (lying about Toms ridiculous accident to cover he was literally stealing from orphans widows and burn victims) is so disgusting, she really shouldnt have a platform at all. Reply Thread Link Could've spent the whole season wearing a hair shirt and weeping for the poor victims. Would've been fake af but she wouldn't have come off like a monster, but she couldn't even be bothered. Reply Parent Thread Link I really need to catch up with this Reply Thread Link Oh she 1000000% hates the victims for ruining her shtick. Her music videos were insane in budget like wtf. She prob thinks she deserves that money. Reply Thread Link "The victims need to be taken care of" She wants them dead. Reply Parent Thread Link Damn. This is helluva messy Reply Thread Link I read this article, the Los Angeles Times article, and the one with Sutton, Garcelle, and Crystal. I am now knee-deep in this madness. Reply Thread Link I honestly think in the reunion trailer when she caught herself saying Why am I I 100% think she was gonna say why am I responsible which is heartless considering of what the victims have gone through Reply Thread Link i think she stopped herself from saying "why am i broke?" but basically anything that she would've asked that started with "why am i..." is going to be heartless Reply Parent Thread Link I think she stopped herself because she has said that she hasn't spoken to Tom, which is probably untrue. Reply Parent Thread Link China is looking to its neighbor, Kazakhstan, for more coal to keep up with growing energy demand Coal prices have risen almost fourfold over the last 12 months, reaching record highs. China is the worlds biggest coal consumer. Neighboring Kazakhstan sits on some of the worlds biggest coal reserves. Yet they have never done much business trading the stuff, largely because it is expensive to move by rail. That may be about to change. Rolling blackouts caused by a coal shortage are threatening Chinas economy. Gummed-up supply chains, the post-COVID consumption boom, and emissions-reduction targets are all to blame. But Beijing also miscalculated last year, imposing an informal ban on products from Australia, one of its largest coal suppliers, when Canberra called for an independent investigation into the origins of COVID-19. Coal prices have risen almost fourfold over the last 12 months, the Wall Street Journal reported this week, reaching record highs. Now China is looking for new sources, willing to brave even the most indirect import channels. The eastern Chinese province of Zhejiang received its first shipment of Kazakh thermal coal (the kind used in power plants) this week. Related: WTI Crude Oil Price Hits 7-Year High The delivery route was anything but optimal. Landlocked Kazakhstan first sent the coal at least a thousand kilometers in the wrong direction, overland to a Black Sea port in Russia. There a bulk carrier took on 136,000 tons for a 30-day, a 15,000-kilometer odyssey to Zhejiang, Bloomberg reported. China as a whole has been buying more thermal and coking coal from Kazakhstan since the start of the year, as power cuts have become more frequent and coal supplies dwindle, the South China Morning Post reported on October 5. But how much coal China buys from Kazakhstan is something of a mystery. Figures the two sides provide to the UN's international trade statistics database do not match Whereas Kazakhstan reported shipping 28.5 million kilos of coal to China in 2016, China reported receiving only 10.5 million. In 2019, the last year for which complete data is available, Kazakhstan told the UN that it had sold China 39 million kilos; China said it bought 150 million kilos. Political scientist and sometimes opposition leader Petr Svoik is inclined to believe the higher figures, explaining that Kazakh customs officials have been playing with data on commodity sales to China for years. "There are several reasons for the inconsistencies, Svoik told Eurasianet. On the one hand, they have different methods of accounting for commodity groups. On the other hand, there is corruption and smuggling. Transparency Kazakhstan, the local branch of the international anti-corruption watchdog, has reported on such data discrepancies with other countries as well, also blaming graft in the customs agency. There is one thing the data agree on: Kazakh coal is a drop in the bucket for China, which imported 308 million metric tons in 2019, according to the IAE, three times Kazakhstans total production. (China is also the worlds largest coal producer.) But for Kazakhstan, which is struggling to wean itself off the climate-warming fuel, its neighbor's crisis creates new opportunities. For now, 90 percent of coal mined in Kazakhstan is used locally, where it is sold at state-regulated prices, which are one-third lower than export prices. As Kazakhstan switches from coal to gas and some renewables to meet its emissions targets, it will free up coal supplies to sell abroad, the Association of Mining and Metallurgical Enterprises, a lobby group, told the Kursiv business newspaper on October 4. With higher coal prices, sending this dirtiest of fuels straight across the border by rail becomes more economical, even if the net warming effects on the global climate remain the same. By Eurasianet.org More Top Reads from Oilprice.com: Seasoned Journalist, Kwesi Pratt Jnr., has slammed Ghanaians who are against homosexuals on the basis that they cannot procreate. There is currently a debate on whether or not a bill to outlaw Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer (LGBTQ+) acts should be passed into law as some scholars, lawyers and Professors have vehemently kicked against the anti-homosexual bill arguing it violates fundamental human rights enshrined in the 1992 Constitution. Those in favour of the bill also argue that it will help avert decadence in the Ghanaian society. During Peace FM's ''Kokrokoo'' on Friday, October 8, 2021, the former Head of Monitoring at the Forestry Commission, Charles Owusu, who is also for the bill; proposed that the bill should include punishment for gays and lesbians who adopt babies. Speaking on the same platform, Mr. Pratt expressed disappointment in Charles Owusu and critics who want LGBTQ+ criminalized because their activities are a breach of procreation. He questioned if all straight and 'perfect' relationships end up in childbearing for any person to say homosexuals should be imprisoned or punished because they don't give birth. He asked if one doesn't bring forth child, ''does it make it illegal?'' "Does it make it a crime? It cannot! Sexual relationship should not always produce children. That's a fact!! . . . The issue of sexual relationship must necessarily produce children should not arise in this discussion and it cannot be used as a justification for any bill," he snapped. Source: Ameyaw Adu Gyamfi/Peacefmonline.com/Ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video " " Franz Kafka was a Czech author whose bizarre novels gave birth to the overused phrase "Kafkaesque." Sovfoto/UIG via Getty Images If you were trying to get information at a government office and were sent from one department to the next with no good explanation, you might describe the situation as "Kafkaesque." But would you be right? Franz Kafka was a famous 20th-century writer from Prague, in what's now the Czech Republic. His novels, most of which were published posthumously, were filled with characters who faced some sort of omnipotent power they had to struggle against a power so strong, it could easily break humans. In "The Metamorphosis," for example, a man wakes up as a big bug. In "The Trial," Kafka's most successful work, protagonist Joseph K. must defend himself in court against a nameless crime he has supposedly committed [sources: Edwards, Biography]. In the 1960s, with Eastern Europe squashed under rigid Communist governments, the term "Kafkaesque" suddenly popped into use, and then misuse. People began tossing it off to describe rather harmless situations, such as racing out the door to catch a bus, then discovering the bus drivers were striking that day. But "Kafkaesque" is a far more daunting and soul-crushing descriptor. Advertisement In an article published in The New York Times, author Frederick R. Karl, who penned an exhaustive biography of Kafka, explained it this way: "What's Kafkaesque is when you enter a surreal world in which all your control patterns, all your plans, the whole way in which you have configured your own behavior, begins to fall to pieces, when you find yourself against a force that does not lend itself to the way you perceive the world. You don't give up, you don't lie down and die. What you do is struggle against this with all of your equipment, with whatever you have. But of course you don't stand a chance." Perhaps, "Kafkasesque" is the right word after all for your government office ordeal. " " Certified deaf interpreter Marla Berkowitz (far right) has become a lifeline for Ohio's deaf community during the COVID-19 crisis. She's seen here during one of the news conferences with Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. Courtesy of Ohio Development Services Agency Every day at 2 p.m., residents across Ohio tune in to the state news conference for important updates on COVID-19. But they're not just watching Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine. Many are watching for the chance to see and support an unsung hero in the state's aggressive fight against coronavirus: certified deaf interpreter (CDI) Marla Berkowitz. Since March 12, Berkowitz, who is also deaf and a lecturer at The Ohio State University, has been live on-air with DeWine and other government officials for every single briefing. She's keeping Ohio's deaf community informed about critical information that's delivered with the precision and comfort-level only CDIs can provide. According to the Registry of Interpreters for the Deaf, Inc. (RID), CDIs are "deaf or hard of hearing and have demonstrated knowledge and understanding of interpreting, deafness, the deaf community, and deaf culture." The pool of CDIs is smaller than that of hearing American Sign Language (ASL) interpreters, which is one reason Berkowitz has gained such a following. She's proving just how important CDIs are in times of crises. Just like it's often easier for, say, Italian speakers to understand other native Italian speakers (versus those with Italian as a second language), it's easier for the deaf community to understand ASL from native speakers who rely on it (versus those who learn but don't necessarily need it for all communication). Advertisement Communicating With the Deaf Is Critical During Crises For these news briefings, Berkowitz doesn't work alone. The Ohio state press conferences have three ASL interpreters: a freelance CDI (Berkowitz) and two hearing staff ASL interpreters (Christy Horne and Lena Smith). The three work together to get the right message across quickly. "ASL interpreting is an interactive process involving two languages and two cultures, one being a visual language (ASL) and deaf culture and the other being a spoken language (English) and hearing culture," Berkowitz says via email. "What CDIs like myself do is look at the form structure of the English message presented to us by hearing ASL interpreters and reformulate the entire message into ASL all while making sure we're in conjunction with the timing of the speaker's message." Berkowitz' brain works incredibly quickly to piece all of these elements together with the pressure of live television. Every. Single. Day. For many, this sounds like their worst nightmare. Berkowitz, who started informally interpreting during childhood, was born for the job. "When I was a young student at a residential school for the deaf in NYC, we would have teachers not fluent in ASL, and my deaf classmates would ask me what the teacher was saying," she says. That was the 1970s. In the 1980s, Berkowitz went on to provide social and mental health services to the deaf community and was often asked to work as an interpreter between the hearing staff (with subpar signing skills) and the community. Then, she got a job as a lipreader for the family of a man who lost his voice in the hospital before ultimately working toward her CDI certification with the RID. This certification she's now the only ASL CDI certified for the state of Ohio helped her land the high-profile role of on-air CDI for the daily COVID-19 briefings. "Opportunities for Ohioans with Disabilities contacted Deaf Services Center, and they specifically requested me," Berkowitz says. "The deaf-hearing interpreting communities are tight-knit." " " Here Berkowitz shows two signs she's been using a lot lately, hope and together. Marla Berkowitz Advertisement When Bogus Interpreters Slip-through the Cracks It's not surprising to see states moving toward reliable and respected CDIs and interpreters like Berkowitz in times of crisis. Deaf communities around the globe have been let down in some cases dangerously through phony or under-experienced interpreters who know little to no sign language. Case in point? In 2013, world leaders eulogized Nelson Mandela in Johannesburg, South Africa, with the world watching. Those in the deaf community couldn't participate because a fraud interpreter was signing nonstop nonsense. According to The Associated Press, "He later said he is schizophrenic and had seen angels descending in the stadium where the event took place." Fast forward to Hurricane Irma in Manatee County, Florida, in 2017. There, a county employee who had limited sign-language knowledge (through communicating with his deaf brother) was tasked with interpreting news about mandatory evacuations for the local deaf community. As hearing viewers packed up and prepared for the worst, the deaf community was left with gibberish communication including the signed words "pizza" and "bear," according to the AP. Advertisement ASL Is a Visual-gestural Language Many phonies, like the faux South African interpreter, think adding emotive facial expressions to their signing will make them more believable. That's because CDIs and ASL interpreters are nothing if not energetic while signing, but each and every movement has a specific purpose. "We have grammar markers which indicate whether the speaker is authoritative or calming; all of these are heard as vocal intonations which deaf people do not hear," Berkowitz says. "It adds nuance to convey a message like 'stay home' with a stern face to emphasize it." Additionally, Berkowitz notes that distinguishing between COVID-19 and, say, SARS or MERS, requires the interpreter to fingerspell it. "Or, if we're to emphasize the behavior of coronavirus like attacking, spreading or dying, our signs would look different in conjunction with our facial expressions and body movements," she says. "ASL appears theatrical or dramatic to anyone unfamiliar with it; however it is how we convey the message accurately and meaningfully to the general public who use ASL as their language for communication." " " Sign language interpreters like Berkowitz (second from left) use dramatic facial expressions and body movements that appear theatrical or dramatic to anyone unfamiliar with the language. Courtesy of Ohio Development Services Agency NOW THAT'S INTERESTING Ohio residents are going above and beyond to cheer on Marla Berkowitz. Their latest endeavor? A Facebook fan club. The 1,000 members in Marla Berkowitz's fan club share everything from personal stories to homemade paper-doll cutouts so kids can learn about Berkowitz and the ASL interpreting crew. " " In the 19th century, dancing was a major deal. Unlike today, social etiquette and order were of the utmost importance. Henry Guttmann/Getty Images Imagine getting your gang of friends together for a night of dancing. Depending on your friends, that might mean a raucous night of YouTube videos after playing Cards Against Humanity or it could mean sipping champagne next to a sweaty celebrity at a table with bottle service. Either way, you're probably not too stressed out about, say, whether you'll find an appropriate partner for each song or know the right steps to the songs the disc jockey is spinning. Dancing is fun! Casual! No big deal! Be grateful next Saturday night, then, when you don't find yourself transported back in time to the 19th century, where dancing is neither fun nor casual and is probably the biggest social deal of your life. A typical night of dancing in the Victorian era (both in Europe and the United States) was nothing if not a tightly wound choreography of strict social behavior and actions. If you were lucky enough to be invited to a ball or social dance, you were bound to participate in the myriad rules the occasion required, lest you scandalize yourself or your host. Advertisement Before we get into the particulars of dance cards, let's first give a little background on the kind of dances where a dance card might be used at. Balls were the premier social events in Britain and the U.S. in the Victorian era, when dance cards first became popular. And it wasn't always easy to get an invite, especially if you were a lady. A man who danced was usually a welcome guest, but because lots of young ladies were presumably in attendance, hosts might try hard to make sure there were suitable partners for all [source: Post]. Too many ladies, in other words, might mean an embarrassing dearth of dance partners on the floor. And nobody was going to enjoy themselves if they were left sitting red-faced on the sidelines. " " The dance card of Miss Gladys Ewing, from a 1912 dinner dance. Note that a pencil was attached for writing in the names of the dance partners. Courtesy of Special Collections, University of Houston Libraries Which brings us to dance cards. They were generally given to the ladies, and the little cards would have the dances printed on them (i.e. waltz, quadrille, polka) in order of the program. Next to each dance would be a space for a man to pencil in his name, which meant he "claimed" the dance with the young woman. The dance cards were often looped around the ladies' wrists while they danced. The dance card would ensure a few things: First, that a woman could keep track of who would like to partner with her. Second, it also guaranteed that a lady was not about to ask a man gasp! to dance. The responsibility, you see, lay entirely with the male partner to inquire about the dance and to enforce the engagement. If Lord Bottomthistle III signed up to dance with Lady Eugenia Hustledown-Forth and didn't show up to claim his dance? Lady Eugie was left to grin and bear it. She could certainly beg off and sit out a dance, but it was the height of impropriety to "stand up" with another man after rejecting another. So when we say that someone's dance card was full, we imply she must have been a popular lady who snagged a man for every turn at the ball. Or if someone says, "Sorry, my dance card is full," It's a polite way of saying, "I'd love to do that, but I'm already booked up." No doubt women back then sometimes pretended their dance card was full to get out of dancing with someone undesirable. Advertisement Originally Published: Jun 8, 2015 Launched in 1998, the ISS is one of the most ambitious international collaborations in human history Russia's space agency said Tuesday it hoped to launch its own orbital station in 2025 as Moscow considers withdrawing from the International Space Station programme to go it alone. Roscosmos chief Dmitry Rogozin said work had begun on the fist module of a new station, after officials warned that Russia was considering pulling out of the ISS, one of the few successful examples of cooperation with the West. The announcement came with tensions soaring over espionage claims, a Russian troop build-up along Ukraine's borders and the deteriorating health of President Vladimir Putin's imprisoned critic Alexei Navalny. "The first core module of the new Russian orbital station is in the works," Rogozin said in a statement on messaging app Telegram. He said Russia's Energia space corporation was aiming to have the module "ready for launch" in 2025 and released a video of Energia staff at work. Launched in 1998 and involving Russia, the United States, Canada, Japan, and the European Space Agency, the ISS is one of the most ambitious international collaborations in human history. Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Yury Borisov said in recent days that Moscow was considering whether to leave the ISS programme from 2025 because of the station's age. Roscosmos said on Monday that a decision on quitting the ISS had not yet been made. "When we make a decision we will start negotiations with our partners on forms and conditions of cooperation beyond 2024," the space agency told AFP in a statement. Russia lost its monopoly for manned flights to the ISS last year after the first successful mission of US company Space X. Despite its much-lauded historyRussia this month marked the 60th anniversary of Yuri Gagarin becoming the first person in orbitthe country's space programme has struggled in recent years. Rogozin has announced a series of ambitious plans in recent years but his agency has struggled under funding cuts, with analysts saying Putin is more interested in military technology than space exploration. Explore further Planetary pact: China and Russia to launch lunar space station 2021 AFP Credit: Unsplash/CC0 Public Domain The U.N. has announced that Madagascar is on the brink of experiencing the world's first "climate change famine". Tens of thousands of people are suffering "catastrophic" levels of hunger. Climate hazard scientist, Chris Funk, provides insights into the causes. How significant has the drought been in Madagascar? Out of the last six years in Madagascar, five years have had poor or very bad rainy seasons. My colleagues and I were able to track this because of the satellite-gauge rainfall data that we developedthe Climate Hazards Group's Infrared Precipitation with Stations (CHIRPS) systemto monitor droughts in regions like southern Madagascar. The focus of my work has been on sea temperatures between Australia and Hawaiithe Indo-Pacificand the impacts variations have on southern and eastern Africa. Our data suggests that since 2015, with the exception of the 20182019 rains, seasonal rainfall (which usually falls from from October to May in southern Madagascar) has been low. This fall within the driest 10% of years since 1981. Other data suggests that the past six years have also been exceptionally warm. Warmer air can hold more water vapor which leads to vapor deficits. These deficits can exacerbate droughts by drying out vegetation because the drier air pulls moisture out of the plants. Looking back over Indo-Pacific sea temperatures, I am really struck at how extreme conditions have been since 2014. The Indo-Pacific is dominated by three types of extreme weather events; El Nino, La Nina and the Indian Ocean dipole. These all occur when certain parts of the ocean become exceptionally warm. El Nino is influenced by the eastern Pacific, La Nina by the western Pacific and the Indian Ocean Dipole by the western Indian Ocean. When these events happen, wind patterns shift to support heavy rainfall over whichever region is extremely warm. These shifts, in turn, can disturb rainfall conditions over eastern and southern Africa. Every year since 2014, there has been either a La Nina or El Nino, except for 2019 to 2020. But that year was an exceptionally strong Indian Ocean Dipole event. This is consistent with my view that climate change is increasing "climate volatility" by increasing the frequency of extreme sea surface temperatures. Because extreme sea surface temperatures create these extreme weather events. What have been the implications? Repetitive drought shocks have led to severe vegetation stress. While I don't have any expertise as a food security analyst, the Famine Early Warning Systems Network is tracking conditions in Madagascar very closely. They report below-average rice, maize, and pulse production in the main producing areas of the highlands as well as across eastern and southern Madagascar. There is also very poor cassava production, a staple food. Our satellite imagery confirms thiswe see that the droughts have really dried out vegetation. In general, this type of persistent drought stress weakens the resilience of poor households. It can also lead to higher food prices. The lack of rain has been connected to climate change. Why? In my work on climate hazards, it has become clear that we need to recognize how and when climate change is exacerbating natural climate and weather extremes. The specific links between sea surface temperature conditions and the recent dry conditions in Madagascar are not well understood but the link between climate change and more extreme Indo-Pacific sea surface temperatures is quite clear. Our research, supporting famine early warning, for example, has described how climate change is amplifying the magnitude of natural variations, such as El Ninos and La Ninas. This contributed to post-2014 increases in eastern and southern African food insecurity. From 2019 to 2021, we saw exceptionally warm ocean conditions in the Indian Ocean and western Pacific. And, as mentioned earlier, warmer air can hold more water vapor which leads to deficits. In two recent papers, one focused on a global drought analysis and one focused on east Africa, we argue that these warmer temperatures have amplified the impact of precipitation deficits, especially in arid regions. Data for southern Madagascar suggest that large increases in atmospheric water demand due to warmer air temperatures have occurred there during many recent droughts. What are the projections for the future? The just-released Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change report suggests a near-term and persistent El Nino-like shift in the climate. This could be associated with warmer eastern Pacific ocean conditions, warmer air temperatures and more frequent droughts over southern Madagascar. My perspective on "projections," however, is that we need to reject the idea that climate change is some "external" process. There is no physical process that causes all the sea surface temperatures and air temperatures to slowly warm at very similar rates. Energy is building up in the ocean and atmosphere and then converging in specific locations, creating more extreme weather and climate. I think we can safely project that what we are seeing happen will continue. We will continue to see increased Indo-Pacific volatility that will bring more frequent, strong El Nino, La Ninas, and Indian Ocean Dipole events. Alongside this, much warmer air temperatures will both increase desiccation during droughts and contribute to more extreme rainfall during storms and cyclones. To respond to these changes, we are racing to develop improved early warning systems. Which other countries in Africa are at risk from the same? My expertise focuses on southern and eastern Africa, so my concerns also apply in many of those countries. In southern Africa, we have seen many recent poor rainy seasons in Zimbabwe. In east Africa, climate change-enhanced conditions contributed to droughts in 20162017 and 20202021. We were able to anticipate those shocks many months in advance based, in part, on exceptionally warm west Pacific sea surface temperatures. We are now very concerned about the potential of another sequence of poor rains in east African from 20212022. Current forecasts appear very similar to recent drought years. This could be especially concerning for Ethiopia, where very poor rains have led to low crop production outcomes. Poor rains, combined with food price increases, conflict, political division, have led to crisis levels of food insecurity. We have also shown in recent papers that in east African regions, dry seasons are getting drier in already-arid places. Both increased Indo-Pacific sea surface temperatures and increased terrestrial air temperatures are increasing climate risk. But, we are not helpless. There are vital efforts being made to build resilience. For example, the social enterprise Tatirano ("to collect water" in Malagasy) aims to increase the adoption of rainwater harvesting techniques by communities. I am excited about the possibility of Climate Hazards Center observations and forecasts feeding into local decision-support tools, like Tatirano's data systems. According to Tatirano, along the coast, over four million people live without basic access to clean water, despite living in areas which receive more than 1500 mm of rain a year. In the drier, arid drought-stricken areas rainwater harvesting can increase water retention for agriculture by increasing the amount of rain absorbed by the soil. Larger scale nature-based rainwater harvesting collection and storage (natural rock reservoirs for example) can help mitigate more variable rainfall and take advantage of extreme precipitation events, which appear to be more frequent. In addition, improvements in early warning and early action, water resource management, safety net and risk management systems, and agricultural development are offering and, will offer, pathways to improved climate resilience. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. In this file photo taken in July 2021 researchers work to excavate dinosaur bones and fossils during an expedition at the Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in Utah. Utah land rich in dinosaur fossils has regained protection stripped away by former President Donald Trump, easing fears that they would be ravaged by mining and other commercial activity. "Close to 10 percent of all dinosaurs known in the world are from Utah," said Jim Kirkland, a paleontologist who has explored Utah's Grand Staircase monument area for nearly 50 years. "It's pretty remarkable." Grand Staircase has a worldwide reputation for the quality and range of dinosaur fossils found. At the end of 2017, Trump's administration pulled back borders of three protected areas, two of them in Utah, opening previously safeguarded land to mining and fishing. The move was popular with industry groups but angered conservationists, researchers, and indigenous tribes. "When they cut the boundaries back, some sites that are near and dear to my heart, that I had discovered, were chopped out," Kirkland told AFP. He was left to hope that the remains of triceratops and other dinosaurs would not be obliterated in the name of corporate profit. President Joe Biden on Friday restored environmental protections for two wild Utah expanses linked to America's indigenous history, and also a biodiverse area of the Atlantic. Biden signed the proclamations at a ceremony on the North Lawn at the White House, restoring the full size and status at Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante monuments in Utah, as well as the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts area off the east coast. "After the last administration chipped away their protections, today I'm proud to announce the protection and expansion of three of our most treasured national monuments," he said. Bones vs Coal For paleontologists, few regions in the world come close to the Rocky Mountains, with the dinosaur treasures buried there. During the Late Cretaceous period 100 to 66 million ago years ago, just before the dinosaurs went extinctall kinds of dinosaurs and mammals inhabited the area. Researchers continue to be amazed by the diversity and abundance of dinosaur bones found here, along with how well they have been preserved. A few scattered vertebrae are not enough to identify a previously unknown species. To do that, scientists need many parts of a skeleton and, ideally, specimens from several of the creatures. "So many of our duck-billed dinosaurs, like this one, are still covered with the impressions of their skin; you can see their scales," said Joe Sertich, dinosaurs curator at the Denver Museum of Nature & Science. "The mudstone and sandstone of Grand Staircase preserve some of the best quality dinosaur bones you'll see anywhere in the world." But the land is also rich in minerals such as coal and it is of interest to the tourism industry and ranchers. Sertich believes the competing interests could co-exist, but taking away protected status opens the door to theft, vandalism, and destruction. "When you operate a coal mine... many of these fossils are lost forever," Sertich told AFP during a tour of the museum. The last dinosaur And while some may think that digging up dinosaur bones is not a priority, scientists say studying how they lived and died provides a better understanding of climate change threatening life today. "By going back into dinosaur ecosystems, we learn a lot about the world around us right now," Sertich said. "This is the only way we can learn how evolution works on millions-of-year time scales." He has been combing the Grand Staircase for fossils for 17 years. "Being able to find to find new dinosaurs every time you spend one or two weeks out in the field is unlike anything you can do anywhere," the museum curator said. Sertich pointed to bones from a new species of domed dinosaur that were unearthed just five meters from Trump's shrunken boundary line. "By preserving a place like this, we have this repository where dinosaurs can always be discovered," Sertich said. Explore further Mass fossil site may prove tyrannosaurs lived in packs 2021 AFP On October 12, William Shatner is set to become the first living member of the iconic show's cast to journey to the final frontier, as a guest aboard a Blue Origin suborbital rocket on the company's second crewed flight. When Star Trek first aired in 1966, America was still three years away from putting people on the Moon and the idea that people could one day live and work in space seemed like a fantasy. On October 12, William ShatnerCaptain James T. Kirk to Trekkiesis set to become the first member of the iconic show's cast to journey to the final frontier, as a guest aboard a Blue Origin suborbital rocket. For fans, the 10-minute hop from a West Texas base back to Earth will be a fitting coda for a pop culture phenomenon that inspired generations of astronauts. "I plan to be looking out the window with my nose pressed against the window, the only thing that I don't want to see is a little gremlin looking back at me," the 90-year-old Canadian, who will become the oldest person ever to go to space, joked in a video release. Blue Origin's decision to invite one of the most recognizable galaxy-faring characters from science fiction for its second crewed flight has helped maintain excitement around the nascent space tourism sector, as the novelty starts to wear off. This summer saw flamboyant British entrepreneur Richard Branson fly just beyond the atmosphere in a Virgin Galactic vessel on July 9, beating the Amazon founder Jeff Bezos by a few days in their battle of the billionaire space barons. Elon Musk's SpaceX sent four private astronauts to orbit the Earth for three days as part of the Inspiration4 mission in September, which raised more than $200 million for charity. "Bringing on a celebrity like William Shatner, who's related to space, brings a kind of renewed novelty, and creates media and cultural attention," Joe Czabovsky, an expert in public relations at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill told AFP. Pioneering show The original Star Trek was canceled after only three seasons, but went on to spawn more than a dozen movies and several spin-off series, including some that are ongoing. Shatner, as the plucky and decisive Kirk, commanded the USS Enterprise on a five-year-mission "to explore strange new worlds, to seek out new life and new civilizations, to boldly go where no man has gone before." His actual voyage to space will be far shorter, taking the crew just beyond the Karman line, 62 miles (100 kilometers) high, where they will experience four minutes of weightlessness and gaze out at the curvature of the planet. He will be joined by Audrey Powers, Blue Origin's vice president of mission and flight operations, Planet Labs co-founder Chris Boshuizen, and Glen de Vries, a co-founder of clinical research platform Medidata Solutions. Star Trek turned American attention to the stars as the US space program was in its offing, landing a man on the Moon towards the end of its run in 1969. It broke ground by tackling complicated moral questions, and was notable for its diverse cast at a time when the country was struggling through the Civil Rights era. The Enterprise crew included an Asian-American helmsman, a half-human half-Vulcan science officer, and a Russian-born ensign. Shatner made history in 1968 when he kissed Black co-star Nichelle Nichols, who played Lieutenant Nyota Uhura, in the first interracial kiss on American television. Influential The show is also closely intertwined with the US space program. In 1976 the first Space Shuttle was named "Enterprise" following a letter writing campaign by fans that swayed then-president Gerald Ford. NASA hired Nichols in the 1970s to help recruit new astronauts, and numerous other cast members have voiced official documentaries or given talks for the agency. Astronauts have returned the favor, posing in Star Trek uniforms for mission-related posters and embracing the show's motifs. "For 50 years, Star Trek has inspired generations of scientists, engineers, and even astronauts," NASA astronaut Victor Glover said in a 2016 video that drew parallels between research on the Enterprise and the scientific instruments on the ISS today. Another mega-fan: Bezos himself. Amazon's Alexa was said to be inspired by the conversational computer in Star Trek, and Bezoswearing heavy makeup sporting an egg-shaped headappeared in a cameo in the 2016 film "Star Trek Beyond." Shatner's star power and withe joked to CNN's Anderson Cooper that the New Shepard rocket, which has been mocked for its phallic appearance, was in fact "inseminating the space program"could provide a welcome distraction for Blue Origin. The company is under a cloud of allegations, made by a former senior employee, about a "toxic" work culture with rampant sexual harassment and decision making that prioritized speed over safety. Blue Origin denied the claims and said the employee was sacked two years ago for issues involving US export control regulations. 2021 AFP Russia Designates More RFE/RL Journalists As 'Foreign Agents' Russia's Justice Ministry has added more reporters, including five RFE/RL journalists, to its register of "foreign media agents." Said RFE/RL President Jamie Fly, "Today's targeting by the Kremlin of five Russian nationals who work for RFE/RL is just the latest attempt to silence independent media in Russia. We will continue to fight this absurd use of the 'foreign agent' law to control the information that the Russian people can access and engage with. Our commitment to serving our audiences in Russia will not waver." INCIDENTS AND THREATS Ukrainian Bank Chief Temporarily Resigns Amid Condemnation Of Assault On RFE/RL Journalists The chairman of Ukraine's state export-import bank has apologized for an assault on journalists with the RFE/RL Ukrainian Services Schemes (Skhemy) program during an interview earlier this week, and announced that he was stepping down until the completion of a criminal probe into the incident. "The situation around the bank is unacceptable. My overly emotional reaction and unrestrained behavior toward journalists have no justification," Ukreksimbank chief Yevhen Metsher said in a statement on October 6, two days after the incident that drew condemnation from Ukrainian journalists, politicians, the prosecutor-general, and President Volodymyr Zelenskiy's office. Read about the Schemes investigation that touched off the scandal . Who Is Russia's Dmitry Muratov, This Year's Nobel Peace Prize Winner? Dmitry Muratov, a co-winner of this year's Nobel Peace Prize, is chief editor of Novaya gazeta, a Russian newspaper that has repeatedly exposed corruption at the highest levels of government in the decades since its launch. The Nobel Committee described it as the "most independent newspaper in Russia today," and underlined Muratov's work to "safeguard media freedom" in his country. Also -- Novaya Gazeta Editor's Nobel Prize Seen As 'A Shield' For Embattled Russian Journalists , and Working For Novaya Gazeta Puts Its Journalists In The Crosshairs. RFE/RL Belarus Service Consultant Ihar Losik Marks 470 Days Behind Bars RFE/RL Belarus Service consultant and prominent blogger Ihar Losik has been on trial for over three months, in a closed-door process so shrouded in secrecy that even his relatives dont know what is happening to him. Moreover, his wife Darya told RFE/RL that her letters to Ihar were torn into pieces by prison authorities before being given to Losik. Losik is being tried alongside Belarusian video blogger Syarhey Tsikhanouski, the husband of opposition leader Svyatlana Tsikhanouskaya; former presidential candidate and political prisoner Mikalay Statkevich; and opposition figures Uladzimer Tsyhanovich, Artsyom Sakau, and Dzmitry Papou. All six are being tried on charges widely considered to have been fabricated by Belarusian authorities, who have in the past year faced protests against the continued rule of Lukashenka. (Belarus Service) Jailed Belarusian Journalist Charged Over Article On Deadly KGB Raid In Minsk A Belarusian journalist who has been held by police for four days is now facing charges over an article he wrote about a deadly raid by officers of the Committee of State Security (KGB) on a Minsk apartment a week ago that killed a KGB agent and the target of the raid, IT specialist Andrey Zeltsar. Henadz Mazheyka, a correspondent for the Belarusian edition of the Moscow-based Komsomolskaya Pravda newspaper, was indicted on charges of insulting a government official or inciting social hatred, the Interior Ministry said on October 4. The charges carry sentences of up to 12 years in prison. Belarus Launches New Criminal Case Against Independent Tut.by Journalists Belarusian authorities have launched a new criminal probe against independent news website Tut.by, amid a continuing crackdown on independent media and freedom of speech. An unspecified number of Tut.by staff members are suspected of jointly inciting social hatred or discord, the Investigative Committee of Belarus said on October 7. It did not provide further details. 'On The Verge Of A Mental-Health Crisis': Kabul School Administrator Speaks Out About Women's Education Under The Taliban Radio call-in programs focusing on women's rights, produced by RFE/RL's Radio Azadi, are continuing to reach listeners in Afghanistan, despite the Taliban takeover of the country. Hafiza Sadiqi, a deputy principal at a school in Kabul, spoke to Radio Azadi on October 3 about the difficult situation that female secondary-school and university students and teachers are facing in Afghanistan since the Taliban barred women from education. Russia Extends Journalist Safronov's Pretrial Detention To Early January A Russian court has extended by three months the pretrial detention of Ivan Safronov, a prominent former journalist accused of high treason in a case widely considered to be politically motivated. On October 4, the Moscow City Court ordered Safronov, who covered the defense industry for the newspapers Kommersant and Vedomosti, remain in custody until January 7. Safronov is a former adviser to head Russian space agency Roskosmos head Dmitry Rogozin, who was arrested on July 7, 2020 on allegations that he had passed secret information to the Czech Republic in 2017 about Russian arms sales in the Middle East. Fifteen Years After Her Murder, Journalists Say Politkovskaya's Fears Have Been Realized "We are hurtling back into a Soviet abyss, into an information vacuum that spells death from our own ignorance," Politkovskaya wrote in her 2004 book Putin's Russia. "All we have left is the Internet, where information is still freely available. For the rest, if you want to go on working as a journalist, it's total servility to Putin. Otherwise, it can be death, the bullet, poison, or trial -- whatever our special services, Putin's guard dogs, see fit." Fifteen years after her death, Putin remains firmly in control of Russian politics, and journalists say Politkovskaya's assessment of the situation for independent journalism was on the nose. Also, U.S., EU Call For Justice 15 Years After Russian Journalist Politkovskaya's Murder. Three Jailed Iranian Writers Honored By PEN America The advocacy group PEN America has honored three imprisoned Iranian writers during its annual gala in New York, awarding them the 2021 PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award. Keyvan Bajan, Baktash Abtin, and Reza Khandan Mahabadi are "celebrated writers who have been imprisoned by the Iranian authorities for their writing, their defense of free expression, and their peaceful opposition to state censorship," PEN America said on October 5. The group's chief executive, Suzanne Nossel, noted that the PEN/Barbey Freedom to Write Award is conferred on writers "whose courage prompts us to renew our collective vow to defend free societies." Non-Classified Information That Could Make You A 'Foreign Agent' In Russia In a move that adds further muscle to the Russian governments ability to designate individuals or organizations as foreign agents, the Russian Federal Security Service has published a list of 60 types of non-classified information that could justify the label if released to the public. Under the September 28, 2021 order, Russians would need to forget whatever they know about Russias armed forces or activities in outer space lest this information end up in the hands of foreign governments, international or foreign organizations, foreign individuals or those without citizenship. " " Grilled cheese and tomato soup make a delicious duo! LauriPatterson/Getty Images In the 1993 film "Benny & Joon", the illiterate, beguiling Sam, played by a young Johnny Depp, cooks a stack of grilled cheese sandwiches using a clothes iron. An appalling culinary technique, yes, but arguably a big moment for this down-home sandwich: anything Johnny Depp touches, after all, has to be important. And important it is: Some three-quarters of people who buy sliced cheese make at least one grilled cheese a month. While similar recipes are mentioned in Ancient Roman texts and, let's face it, the French have been making their famous croque monsieurs since the early 1900s today's notion of the grilled cheese is commonly traced back to the 1920s, when Otto Frederick Rohwedder, considered "the father of sliced bread," invented a bread slicer that made distributing white bread easy and affordable. Advertisement Shortly before that, processed cheese had been patented by James L. Kraft, an entrepreneur whose revolutionary pasteurizing process ensured that cheese wouldn't spoil, even when transported long distances. By 1914, J.L. Kraft & Bros. Company (the precursor to Kraft Foods) opened its first plant in Illinois; five years later, the company had already expanded into Canada. Of course, this "factory cheese" disparagingly termed "rattrap cheese" or "rat cheese" by the English who were fiercely proud of their cheddars was not considered a delicacy. It was, simply, a cheap and scalable product. From there on out, both sliced bread and processed cheese went full steam ahead. During World War II, Navy cooks prepared countless "American cheese filling sandwiches" as instructed by government-issued cookbooks in ships' kitchens. In the 1940s and '50s, these were usually served open-faced and consisted of one slice of bread topped with grated cheese. In 1949, Kraft Foods introduced Kraft Singles individually wrapped slices of processed cheese and supermarkets began stocking them in 1965. Also around that time, the second, perhaps most important, piece of bread was added on top, likely as a way to make the sandwich more filling, and the modern notion of a grilled cheese sandwich was born. It's also worth noting that the actual term "grilled cheese" doesnt make an appearance in print until the 1960s; before that it was always "toasted cheese or "melted cheese" sandwiches. Which speaks to a larger point: How you actually cook this sandwich doesn't really matter, and historically the methods have been all over the map. As early as 1902, a recipe for a "Melted Cheese," designed to be cooked in a hot oven, appeared in Sarah Tyson Rorer's "Mrs. Rorer's New Cook Book"; a recipe published in 1929 in Florence A. Cowles' "Seven Hundred Sandwiches" called to broil the ingredients to make "Toasted Cheese." "Toasted Sandwich" published in 1939 in "The Boston Cooking School Cook Book", encouraged preparers to broil the ingredients or even gasp! sautee them in a frying pan coated with butter. And in "The Joy of Cooking" (1953), Irma S. Rombauer wrote that bread and cheese should be heated in a commercial waffle iron an easy meal for even "the maidless host" to prepare. Fast forward to present day. Strange things have happened with the grilled cheese sandwich. In 2004, the online casino GoldenPalace.com paid $28,000 for a half-eaten grilled cheese with the likeness of the Virgin Mary depicted in the "burn" pattern. The sandwich had been sold to the casino by a Florida woman who had kept the sandwich intact for a decade no joke before trying her (ultimately successful) luck on eBay. Two years later, American competitive eater Joey Chestnut won the World Green Chile Grilled Cheese Eating Champion by devouring a whopping 34.5 grilled cheeses in one sitting. In 2007, Kraft Foods budgeted a record $1.4 billion to its marketing efforts, a large portion of which was slated to "get grilled cheese back onto the list of quick menu options" and revitalize Kraft Singles. A contest held on MySpace asked users to create and upload home videos celebrating grilled cheese for a chance to win $50,000. The goal? "Get people to make just one more grilled cheese sandwich a year," said the Kraft global executive creative director at the time. Kraft continued its tear the following year by asking fans to write about their favorite grilled cheese memory for a chance to win a free pack of Kraft Singles. And in 2009, Los Angeles hosted the world's first grilled cheese cooking competition: Thousands of people competed at and attended the National Grilled Cheese Invitational, which ended in 2014. " " There are several different types of people who are attracted to eating super-hot peppers. mikroman6/Getty Images You may have seen one of those crazed contests on YouTube or at a fair where people "compete" to eat as many hot peppers as possible. For instance, in May 2017, a competitive eater who goes by the name LA Beast set a Guinness World Record for eating the most ghost peppers in two minutes 13. Ghost peppers, for those of you that don't know, are some of the hottest in the world and rate 1 million per pepper on the Scoville heat scale (a scientific measure of how hot a pepper is). To put things in perspective, that's at least 100 times hotter than a jalapeno, which ranks anywhere between about 2,500 and 8,000 Scoville units. But ghost peppers aren't even the hottest. That honor officially belongs to the Carolina Reaper, which earned its title as the hottest pepper in the world beating out a pepper called the Trinidad Scorpion in 2013. Carolina Reapers rate 2.2 million on the Scoville heat scale. " " The hottest known pepper to date on the Scoville scale is the Carolina Reaper. Julie eshaies/Shutterstock In 2017, a new pepper, known only as Pepper X came on the scene, rating about 3.2 million Scoville units. It took 10 years to develop; as of 2020, Guinness World Records (which had earlier crowned the Carolina Reaper as the hottest pepper) had not yet confirmed that Pepper X was now the hottest pepper. Which brings us to these questions: Why this pursuit of developing hotter and hotter peppers? And who is eating them? For answers, it makes sense to go to the man responsible for developing both Pepper X and The Smokin' Ed Carolina Reaper (that's a trademarked name, by the way): Ed Currie. He goes by Smokin' Ed, and he describes himself as owner, president, mad scientist and chef at PuckerButt Pepper Company in South Carolina. "For the general public, [hot sauce] is a condiment," Currie said, when we spoke to him in 2018. "People start with sauces like Tabasco, and they are good sauces, but they aren't really hot. People develop a tolerance for them, and they want something more." Advertisement Who Eats This Stuff? Currie said there are three kinds of people who love eating super-hot sauces. The first includes the adventure seekers, people who see extreme eating as a kind of YOLO challenge. "Risk-takers, extreme bikers, those people who perceive eating super-hot peppers as an extreme sport. It's a challenge of something they want to overcome," Currie said. A second group is made of the challengers the people you see on YouTube or drawing a crowd at a fair. You'll often see them throwing up at the end of their videos. "What's making them sick is the gallon of milk they're drinking too fast, not the pepper," Currie said. "There's no actual heat in a pepper. The heat is a result of a chemical reaction that happens in your body, triggered by capsaicinoids in the peppers reacting with sensory neurons. Our bodies perceive the heat." The third group? Well they are often people who are actually recovering from drug addiction. Capsaicinoids, of which there are about 22 to 23 types, trigger your body to release dopamine and endorphins, both of which result in a sense of euphoria a rush. Advertisement Hot Peppers for Your Health Helping people face medical challenges, like overcoming addiction, is what drives Currie's pursuit of peppers that contain more capsaicinoids. He started growing peppers in the '80s after learning that, in cultures where people eat hot peppers regularly with meals, there are lower incidences of diseases such as heart disease and cancer. "That would be awesome if peppers could help people through withdrawal," said Currie, who's been asked to provide peppers for medical research. There are other potential medical benefits to hotter peppers, too, including improved sleep, vascular health, appetite control and improved metabolism. In fact, researchers in several countries are looking at how capsaicin and other compounds in peppers might even help fight obesity. With the hope that peppers might be able to help people live healthier, you can see why Currie hasn't stopped tinkering yet and he was vague about what's after Pepper X for PuckerButt. "We have a lot of surprises coming." Now That's Crazy A 34-year-old man was rushed to the ER with unusual "thunderclap headaches" after participating in a hot pepper contest where he ate one Carolina Reaper pepper. The high concentration of capsaicin in the pepper is thought to have constricted the blood vessels in the man's brain, causing the severe headaches. Advertisement Originally Published: Jul 10, 2018 Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. " " A batch of 59 StarLink test satellites heading into space, stacked atop a Falcon 9 rocket. SpaceX/Wikimedia Commons Star Wars is coming to life and right now, the corporate Empire is winning the battle. We're referring, of course, to SpaceX's StarLink project, which plans to use a massive satellite array 340 miles (550 kilometers) above Earth to provide high-speed internet access to every corner of the planet. On August 7, 2020, a two-stage Falcon 9 rocket carrying 57 SpaceX Starlink satellites, along with two smaller BlackSky Global Earth-observation satellites, lifted off into space from NASA's Kennedy Space Center. StarLink is a typically audacious project from Elon Musk's SpaceX, and it stands to benefit anyone who currently has an unsatisfactory internet service or perhaps no service at all. Whether you're on a remote island or mountaintop, an Antarctic base or congested city, a pizza-box sized terminal will help you work or (watch cat videos) at lightning speed, via satellites many, many satellites. Advertisement Not Everyone Is Thrilled Yet, everyone from astronomers to physicists to dark-sky lovers are skeptical if not horrified at the thought of tens of thousands of low-orbit satellites streaking across the night sky. Other companies, like Amazon and Telesat, are hoping to emulate StarLink's model, meaning there could be as many as 50,000 satellites mostly for the purpose of internet service. That's roughly double the number of satellites launched by humans in the previous six decades. Thousands of astronomers have signed a petition hoping to slow the rate of satellite deployment. They fear the satellites' low orbit, paired with their tendency to reflect sunlight at certain times, are 99 percent brighter than the other objects in the night sky, and likely to impede our ability to peer into the universe. "The StarLink satellites are relatively close to the Earth (only a few hundred kilometers high) and thus as they reflect sunlight they can appear quite bright," says Paul A. Delaney, a professor at York University in Toronto, via email. "Not so bright that you can see them with the naked eye but telescopes can see to the edge of the universe, so satellites close by are very easily seen." He says that the large number of satellites means they'll appear in long-exposure images made with ground-based telescopes, compromising the data that is collected from such images. That means wasted time, wasted money and less data for research related to our universe. With 50,000 satellites to work around, exasperated astronomers could find themselves going supernova as their work stalls. That's particularly true for astronomers who are pushing the limits of technology. They need wide, clear views to conduct their research. "Imaging the sky to detect faint and distant objects is the bread and butter of modern astronomy," says Delaney. "Pushing the limits of what we can see and detect is the calling of modern astronomy. Thousands of satellites passing through the fields of view of telescopes will reduce the efficiency and effectiveness of our observations." Delaney likens StarLink to someone plopping a high-intensity light onto your front lawn. You'd probably feel like you should have some input into that process that's how astronomers feel about StarLink. There was no real warning regarding the impact it could have on their work, he says, and that's a direct reflection on the lack of regulatory oversight regarding space-related projects. StarLink's engineers (and marketing team) are sensitive to the negative press regarding the project. They've assured researchers that they'll work with them to reduce any impact of StarLink, perhaps by routing the satellites around certain observatories at specific times. Engineers also tried to apply a dark coating to one series of satellites to reduce the effects unfortunately, it didn't work as well as hoped. "It is a step in the right direction but a little bit like an oncoming car at night switching their high beams to low," says Delaney. "Less dazzling for you, but the car lights are still easily seen. The 'darker' satellites will still be easily detected by large telescopes." Some StarLink proponents might argue that astronomers can simply take another picture once the array has passed their field of view. But timing is everything what if asteroid hunters miss clues to a potentially dangerous rock hurtling toward Earth because too many Bruce Willis fans thought it was more important to stream "Armageddon"? "No one knows in advance all the information available in any given image," says Delaney. "Working with communication providers before they launch such missions would be very helpful." Advertisement Musk Hopes For a Multiplanetary Society Astronomers have nothing against accessible high-speed internet. After all, it helps them conduct their research, share their results and advance collective human knowledge. They just don't want to sacrifice their insights to StarLink's commercial ambitions, even if Elon Musk is hoping it will help push humans toward a multiplanetary society. They're also not the only ones concerned about StarLink. Anyone who has, or wants to put, a satellite in orbit now has to contend with the idea that Musk could have tens of thousands of his contraptions circling the Earth for years to come. It all sounds like something out of a sci-fi movie of the future but it's happening right now, and it could impact generations of humans. "Bottom line: An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure," says Delaney. "A lot of smart people can do great things if they work and plan together. Space is a part of our lives today so we need to use it smartly so everyone benefits." NOW THAT'S INTERESTING StarLink will affect more than astronomy, it could also have major consequences with regard to geopolitical issues. To wit, how does an oppressive government clamp down on internet access if its citizens can snag a signal anywhere? It would have to outlaw the service, seize terminals and disrupt transmissions if it hoped to blind its citizens to global news and communications. Advertisement Originally Published: Aug 12, 2020 "The Democrats Shameful Legacy on Crime" | Main | California Gov Newsom commutes 21 sentences to make offenders eligible for parole September 13, 2019 Felicity Huffman sentenced to 14 days in college bribery scandal Especially in high-profile cases, I have a tendency to predict (i.e., guess) that a judge will be inclined to impose a sentence somewhere in the middle between the two sentencing recommendations put forward by the prosecution and the defense. Given that federal prosecutors in the Felicity Huffman case urged one-month sentence, and that her defense team sought no jail time, I suppose I should have predicted this result (as reported by ABC News): "Felicity Huffman sentenced to 14 days in prison for 'Varsity Blues' college scam." This USA Today piece provides some highlights from the sentencing hearing and the preliminary "loss" ruling made by by the District Judge that also should ensure a number of the other defendants in this case are feeling better about their likely fate in future sentencings: U.S. District Judge Indira Talwani sentenced Huffman to [14 days of] prison time as well as a $30,000 fine, supervised release for one year and 250 hours of community service in the case's first sentencing of a parent a defendant who is also one of the case's most famous. She was confronted in court by a prosecutor who argued for a prison term and said she had shown "disdain and contempt for the rule of law." But her legal team argued that she should not be treated "more harshly" because of her wealth and fame. Huffman also apologized again for her actions and reiterated her regrets to her family. "I take full responsibility of my actions and making amends with my crime," she said. "I will deserve whatever punishment you give me."... Assistant U.S. Attorney Eric Rosen argued forcefully in court, saying "the only meaningful and efficient sanction is prison" and "there is simply no excuse for what she did. "With all due respect to the defendant, welcome to parenthood," he said. "What parenthood does not do is it does not make you a felon, it does not make you cheat Most parents have the moral compass to not step over the line. The defendant did not." He noted that Huffman did not disengage from her conduct "until the very, very end. She showed disdain and contempt for the rule of law, Rosen said.... Huffman's attorney, Martin Murphy, argued for 12 months of probation and 250 hours of community service for Huffman. He disputed the governments argument that probation is not real punishment, calling that a penological joke. That is simply wrong and it is wrong as a mater of law. A sentence of [probation]is real punishment. Murphy called for a sentence that treats Huffman like other similarly situated defendants, "not more harshly or more favorably for her wealth....Unlike what the government says, that is not fair."... The judge issued an order Friday agreeing with the court's probation department, which found no financial losses, and thus no victim, as a result of actions by any defendant, including Huffman. It's a blow to prosecutors, who had argued universities and testing companies suffered damages. Still, Talwani said sentences will account for "consideration of all of the factors" outlined in federal guidelines. Prior related posts: September 13, 2019 at 03:47 PM | Permalink Comments What did she do? Change her kid's SAT score? Submit it to gain admittance to college? Fraud. When she gets her interview at the Pearly Gates there will be a stand in for Saint Peter. It will be a college kid's mom who is poor and her kid has a high SAT score and good grades. This kid could not get into a private school because of no money. The dead person will be sent to Hell in a handbasket. Posted by: Liberty2nd | Sep 13, 2019 5:00:57 PM Glad to see sanity prevail. Posted by: William C Jockusch | Sep 13, 2019 7:23:12 PM Just goes to show ya that if you have money,you dont get treated like us poor folks. My wife got set up by a FED CI. The FED CI didn't ratt out her real drug connection ,just set up a poor nobody who knew where to get some drugs. Wife is doing 3 years. She had never been in trouble her whole life. a non violent first time offender. They didn't give my wife any breaks, just the safety valve because she met all the requirements, but she still is doing prison time. The injustice system is a total joke. They just want to lock people up so they can get money from the inmates family. Posted by: Christopher Backoff | Sep 13, 2019 7:45:39 PM Post a comment With two defendants now convicted after trial, how steep might the "trial penalty" be in the Varsity Blues cases? | Main | California enacts new laws to reduce certain sentencing enhancements The title of this post is the title of this notable new article authored by Nicole Godfrey available via SSRN. Here is its abstract: As the COVID-19 pandemic wreaked havoc on American society in the spring of 2020, advocates for incarcerated people began sounding alarm bells alerting society to the impending devastation for incarcerated people once the coronavirus scaled the prison walls. For too many incarcerated people, the alarms fell on deaf ears and the COVID-19 pandemic has had life-shattering consequences for thousands of individuals locked inside American prisons. But to anyone with an understanding of the historical realities of and legal parameters around the American carceral state, the devastation came as no surprise. Since the 1980s, America has led the world in imprisoning its own citizens, and, to many, American justice means locking human beings in overcrowded cages and throwing away the key. This Article explores how American criminal justice has created a system wherein three interconnected strands of indifference render incarcerated people particularly vulnerable to devastating harms like those associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. First, the sheer enormity of the American carceral state has led to the creation of prison bureaucracies that operate with institutional indifference to the lives of the incarcerated. Sympathetic to the complex task of administering enormous prison systems, the federal judiciary has created a doctrine of judicial indifference to harms experienced to incarcerated people. Finally, the Article explores how a general societal indifference to the lives of incarcerated individuals in particular and marginalized groups in general has allowed the institutional and judicial indifference to develop and proliferate. The Article posits that the damaging consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic on the incarcerated population are directly tied to these interwoven indifferences and calls on widespread reform and decarceration to avoid future cautionary tales. A healthcare worker pulling COVID-19 vaccine liquid from vial to vaccinate a patient. (PHOTO: Getty Images) SINGAPORE Booster vaccination shots will be offered to persons aged 30 years and above who have completed their vaccination regimen around six months ago from Saturday (9 October), the multi-ministry taskforce on COVID said. An SMS with a personalised booking link will be sent to the mobile number that the persons had registered for their first two doses to book an appointment. They may receive their booster dose at any vaccination centre or participating Public Health Preparedness Clinic (PHPC). Similarly, booster shots will be offered to healthcare workers and frontline COVID-19 workers who have completed their vaccination regimen around six months ago. The authorities are working with various institutions to progressively roll out booster vaccinations to eligible persons in institutionalised settings. The announcement comes after the recommendations by the Expert Committee on COVID-19 Vaccination (EC19V) for persons aged at least 30, and healthcare and frontline workers to get their booster shots. The Ministry of Health (MOH) said in a statement that healthcare and frontline workers are more likely to come into regular contact with COVID-19 cases and are at greater risk of infection. Persons and staff in institutionalised settings, such as prisons and residential care facilities, are in settings predisposed to large outbreaks of COVID-19. Expanding the booster programme to persons aged 30 and above will also help to raise the overall level of protection in the population, MOH said. On 3 October, Singapore started the booster programme for persons aged 50 to 59 years, in addition to those aged 60 years and above. As of 7 October, almost 372,000 persons have received their booster dose. About 57 per cent of persons aged 50 to 59 years and 72 per cent of seniors aged 60 years and above who are eligible for their booster dose have either booked an appointment or already received their booster dose. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Representative image Rome [Italy], October 9 (ANI/Xinhua): Italy on Saturday began administering booster shots of COVID-19 vaccines to people over the age of 60, a day after the procedure was authorized by the Health Ministry. The decision followed the official green light earlier this month by the European Medicines Agency (EMA), which stated the booster shot could be considered for all people over 18 after six months from their second dose. "In the light of EMA's latest deliberation, we can go ahead with the third vaccine dose to people of all ages with a fragile immune system and to all people over 60, always six months after the second dose," the Italian ministry said. In late September, Italy had started administering third doses -- of either Pfizer/BioNTech or Moderna vaccines -- to immuno-compromised people such as transplant patients, elderly people over 80 and residents in care homes, and healthcare workers. The third dose will be offered as an option, since vaccination against coronavirus remains strongly recommended but not mandatory in Italy. Meanwhile, the pandemic situation appeared "under control," and the curve of coronavirus cases kept decreasing gradually, according to the latest weekly monitoring by the country's National Health Institute (ISS) updated to Oct. 3. The incidence stood at 34 cases per every 100,000 inhabitants. The data for hospital bed occupancy were also encouraging, according to Giovanni Rezza, Director of the Infectious Diseases Department at the ISS. "We register a 4.9 percent and 4.2 percent of bed occupancy in normal COVID-19 wards and intensive care units, respectively, which is well below the critical thresholds," Rezza explained in a video statement. So far, the vaccination campaign in Italy has reached 79.9 percent of the target population (over 12), with over 43 million people fully immunized, official data showed. To date, Italy has registered over 4.6 million COVID-19 cases, including more than 131,000 deaths, and over 4.4 million recoveries. (ANI/Xinhua) Employees work on an assembly line of the Russian companies' manufacturing plant. (Image credit: Reuters) Moscow [Russia], October 8 (ANI/Sputnik): Russia will begin exporting its premium car Aurus to the countries of the Middle East and North Africa next year, Adil Shirinov, the company's CEO, told reporters on Friday. "I think that it [export] will definitely start next year. A luxury brand, any luxury brand, is focused on export. The main foreign shareholder is Tawazun, it is the MENA region [Middle East and North Africa]. The Arab world has its peculiarities, but it is the main direction for our potential exports in the near future, and then we can talk about expanding to the East," Shirinov said. The company plans to export 70% of cars produced at the Yelabuga plant in the Russian Tatarstan republic, the CEO noted, with the remaining 30% supplied to the domestic market. The company also hopes to enter the Chinese and European markets in the future, Shirinov said. The production of Aurus cars is proceeding on schedule, he added. "As for the sales plan, all cars have already been distributed: quota is established not only for Avilon, but for all other dealers until the end of the year, and we are already heading for 2022," Shirinov said. Aurus Senat in improved configuration will cost an average of 24 million rubles ( USD 3,33,120). Aurus is the first Russian luxury car brand aimed at the international market. The brand offers limousines, sedans, minivans and off-road vehicles. (ANI/Sputnik) The Amoy Street Food Centre. (PHOTO: Dhany Osman / Yahoo News Singapore) SINGAPORE From next Wednesday (13 October), only up to two persons per group who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 can dine in at hawker centres and coffee shops, and enter shopping malls and attractions. The expanded vaccination-differentiated safe management measures (VDS) were announced by the multi-ministry taskforce (MTF) on COVID-19 at a media conference on Saturday. Epidemiological investigations have identified food and beverage (F&B) settings such as hawker centres, retail establishments, and shopping centres as settings frequently visited by a significant proportion of COVID-19 positive cases, including those who are unvaccinated, and later on fell very sick, said the Ministry of Health in a statement. Those who do not meet the criteria for regular F&B establishments can still buy take-away food. Children aged 12 years and below, recovered individuals, and unvaccinated individuals with a valid negative pre-event test result can be included in the group of two. Singapore returned to a two-person dining-in rule for a period of four weeks from 27 September, as it aimed to slow down community COVID-19 transmission. The MTF announced last month that groups of up to two persons are allowed to dine-in at certain F&B establishments, if all the diners are fully vaccinated. This was a reduction from the previous limit of five persons for dine-in. Stay in the know on-the-go: Join Yahoo Singapore's Telegram channel at http://t.me/YahooSingapore Dear Prudence is Slates advice column. Submit questions here. (Its anonymous!) Dear Prudence, Im a transgender guy in my late 20s, and for about five years after my transition, I wasnt included in holiday celebrations with my large religious family. Recently, my siblings and cousins (who all are great and have grown to support me) have demanded that I be included. Im grateful for this, but now I find myself in an awkward situation. The gift exchange is a big tradition where everyone is gathered in a large room. Often older family members will give me very feminine gifts. Its a bit humiliating to have to sit there and act grateful for gifts that are meant as a jab at my identity. Before transition, I was considered a tomboy, and I usually received fairly neutral gifts. The situation becomes extra embarrassing because some of the younger members of the family or new significant others have only ever known me as Johnny and so the absurdity of the gifts becomes a bit of a joke. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Ive tried telling people I dont need any gifts as well as asking for donations to a local animal shelter instead, but the pink frilly stuff keeps coming. (I donate those gifts to a local transgender support group who pass them on to trans feminine people in need, so they arent wasted.) What should I do? I love my family and my presence at these gatherings was a hard-fought victory. I just wish there was a way to participate with my dignity still intact. No More Pretty, Please Dear No More Pretty, Please, Im so sorry youre dealing with these really awful people. I cant tell you not to spend holidays with them anymoreif that felt easy to you, you would have made the choice already. But I just want to be one little voice saying being around them isnt a privilege, and you dont deserve to be treated this way! Advertisement I want you to ask yourself what you would tell a good friend in a similar situation. Say, a Black friend who was adopted into a white family whose older member intentionally gave them T-shirts covered in racist slogans every year. Youd be horrified, right? I just know you would tell that friend not to put up with it. Youd tell them they were worth so much more than that kind of treatment. There is no dignity to be had around people who dont respect you or care about youor at least pretend to. Advertisement A couple of ideas to make sure youre not exposed to this cruelty anymore: 1. Rally your siblings and cousins, who seem to be willing to stand up for you. Have them send out a message to the older people in the family that says in no uncertain terms Giving Johnny feminine gifts isnt funny. If it happens this Christmas, we are all going to get up and walk out IMMEDIATELY and the holiday will be ruined. Plan accordingly. Advertisement Advertisement 2. Host your own holiday celebration with only the people who have treated you with respect. Make it clear that people who have mocked you with feminine gifts are not invited because of their behavior. Whatever you do, I hope you go into this holiday season knowing that you are not the problem, that being around bigots is not a reward, and that they are the ones who are lucky that you even give them the time of day. Introducing the How to Do It podcast Your wildest sex advice questions are now being answered in your headphones. Listen to new episodes with Stoya and Rich every Sunday, with exclusive episodes for Slate Plus members on Mondays. Dear Prudence, I have been in a relationship with my partner for 11 years. When we first met, he was married, but he said he was going to divorce his wife. Shes been in a nursing home now for almost 10 years, with no divorce because his insurance cares for her. He keeps telling me that he loves me and asking me to hang in a bit longer. I moved several states and have lost all previous ties because of him. I take care of him in all ways, and yet he has secret lunches with his sisters, to which their significant others are invited, but not me. I am good enough to host a family holiday (a.k.a. me cooking), good enough to clean their house, good enough to help them move, but not good enough to be included. I feel like an unpaid maid. My heart and my head tell me to leave. Should I? Advertisement Advertisement Does Love Really Conquer All? Dear Conquer All, If your heart and head tell you to leave, you dont need any other input. (But for what its worth, I 100 percent agreeyouve held on to this untenable arrangement far longer than anyone should.) Advertisement Get Dear Prudence in Your Inbox We encountered an issue signing you up. Please try again. Please enable javascript to use form. Email address: Send me updates about Slate special offers. By signing up, you agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms Sign Up Thanks for signing up! You can manage your newsletter subscriptions at any time. Dear Prudence, I am going to be transferred across the country for my work this spring. It is a done-deal, and I am struggling with the process of selling my house and finding a suitable one over there. I have three children: 23, 19, and 18. My youngest graduated high school last spring. My oldest has graduated college and works, but still lives at home. My younger two dont attend school and only have part time jobs. I have told my childrenthey can move with me or move out. I offered to pay all the bills for an apartment for the first six months or year if they can find roommates. Advertisement My oldest already has plans to move in with their partner. My youngest hasnt decided if they are coming with me or moving in with their father and stepfamily here, but has been calm about the choice. My 19-year-old is acting like they are 9. Outbursts, accusations, and basic tantrumsI cant do this to them, and I am horrible mother for forcing them. This is their home. Advertisement My company is shutting down their services here after the pandemic killed the local business. A lot of people were laid off. I am very lucky to not only have my job, but to get a say in my new position. My new state has a much lower cost of living and a much less insane housing market. Selling here now will be funding my offer for my kids who want to stay. I have laid this all out to my kids. I cant just go out and find a new job here. Not at my age and not in my work area. Advertisement My 19-year-old will not accept it and either argues or ignores the situation. They arent looking for roommates or a full-time job. They dont want to go on the house-hunting trip I have planned in October. They whine and pick fights with me. I love my kid, but this is ridiculous. Baby birds need to leave the nest sometime, but this nest is going bye-bye. Id rather not force the issue, but if I have to, it needs to be now and not a month into a move. How do I handle this? Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Mama Bird Dear Mama Bird, Your 19-year-old isnt handling this very well, and Im sure thats incredibly annoying as you manage the stress of a big move. But I can see why theyre having a tough time. Im guessing theyve just barely finished high school, and probably spent the last year and a half of what should have been a transition from childhood to adult life, somewhat isolated and living through a pandemic, missing important events. Their world probably feels like its falling apart, and this is just one more major change. Its a lot to deal with! Advertisement Youre right about all the practical stuff here (the decision to make the move, the generous offer to cover rent if they decide to stay, etc.), but it might be helpful if you could acknowledge the emotional side of this transition a bit more. Yes, youre totally making the practical choice! That doesnt mean it isnt scary and unsettling. Let you kid know that you understand that. And instead of just throwing the options at them like an HR representative giving a laid-off employee a severance package, maybe you could tell them youd really love for them to come along and experience a new part of the country with you. Something tells me that some reassurance that theyre loved and wanted and that your familys life will return to normal will go a long way toward easing this transition. Advertisement Advertisement Catch up on this weeks Prudie. More Advice From Care and Feeding Im recently married and looking forward to having children within the next year or so. The problem is, so many of my friendsincluding the women whom I consider my bestiesare vehement about not having kids. This would be fine with mehey, its their choice!except they frequently make comments about finding children disgusting or repulsive. For example, when some neighborhood kids rang my friends doorbell to raise money for a school club, she was annoyed and referred to them as brats. This type of thing is typical with them. They know I want children, but these comments have started to make me feel pretty bad. What do I do? Do I need to find new friends? Chinas President Xi Jinping vowed Saturday that his country would achieve peaceful unification with Taiwan at a time when tensions between Beijing and the island have been particularly high. Xi didnt mention the possibility of using force to achieve the reunification but he spoke shortly after a record number of Chinese military jets conducted drills close to Taiwan. Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should stand on the right side of history and join hands to achieve Chinas complete unification, Xi said. Speaking at an even to commemorate 110 years since the revolution that overthrew Chinas last imperial dynasty in 1911, Xi said that Taiwan independence separatism is the biggest obstacle to achieving the reunification of the motherland, and the most serious hidden danger to national rejuvenation. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Xis words were slightly more conciliatory than in July, when he vowed to smash any efforts at formal independence for the island. But Taiwan still responded strongly, with Taiwans presidential office saying that the future of the island rests in the hands of Taiwans people. It also said Taiwan had clearly rejected the officer of unifying with China and instead supported defending our democratic way of life. Taiwans Mainland Affairs Council called on China to abandon its provocative steps of intrusion, harassment and destruction. Even though Chinas military exercises in recent days garnered lots of panicky headlines, the jets never crossed into Taiwans airspace. Chinese President Xi Jinping and his generals may be haughty, but they dont appear to be reckless., wrote Slates Fred Kaplan earlier this week, noting that the Chinese planes have never flown over Taiwans actual airspace. Still, the exercises led Taiwans Defense minister to say tensions with China are at their worst point in 40 years. These recent actions show how the balance of power around Taiwan is fundamentally shifting, pushing a decades-long impasse over its future into a dangerous new phase, notes the New York Times. Taiwan suddenly finds itself in the middle of the growing disagreements between China and the United States. The Taiwan issue has ceased to be a sort of narrow, boutique issue, and its become a central theaterif not the central dramain U.S.-China strategic competition, Evan Medeiros, who served on President Barack Obamas National Security Council, tells the Times. Dan Scavino, a former aide to Donald Trump, was finally served a subpoena from the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 riot at the Capitol after a long struggle to locate him. The subpoena was taken to Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort on Friday. Scavino, a former deputy White House chief of staff for communications, was actually in New York at the time but asked a staff member to accept the subpoena on his behalf. The serving of the subpoena ends a long saga after the Jan. 6 committee had been unable to locate Scavino for more than a week. The committee believes Scavino can have useful information because of his history of working closely with Trump. Specifically, the committee wants information regarding talks Trump had on Jan. 5 trying to convince lawmakers not to certify the election as well as what the president did on Jan. 6. Scavino will review the subpoena with his lawyers and decide what his next steps should be, a source tells CNN. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Scavino is one of several of Trumps former aides who received a letter from Trumps lawyer advising them to not provide any documents or testimony to the committee. He is one of four former Trump aides who had a Thursday deadline to hand over materials to the panel investigating the events of Jan. 6. Former Trump aides Mark Meadows and Kashyap Patel are so far engaging with the panel, Committee Chairman Bennie Thompson, a Democrat, and Vice Chair Liz Cheney, a Republican, said in a statement. Former Trump strategist Steve Bannon, on the other hand, has refused to cooperate with the subpoenas. Mr. Bannon has indicated that he will try to hide behind vague references to privileges of the former president, Thompson and Cheney said. They warned that we will not allow any witness to defy a lawful subpoena or attempt to run out the clock, and we will swiftly consider advancing a criminal contempt of Congress referral. President Joe Biden has decided not to invoke executive privilege to prevent White House records from being shared with the congressional investigation. The president has determined that an assertion of executive privilege is not warranted for the first set of documents from the Trump White House that have been provided to us by the National Archives, press secretary Jen Psaki said. Trump now has 30 days to challenge that decision in court before the records are released to the panel. https://sputniknews.com/20211009/beijing-moscow-urge-un-make-mobile-biomedical-teams-probe-us-biolabs-for-bwc-treaty-compliance-1089782976.html Beijing, Moscow Urge UN Make 'Mobile Biomedical Teams', Probe US Biolabs for BWC Treaty Compliance Beijing, Moscow Urge UN Make 'Mobile Biomedical Teams', Probe US Biolabs for BWC Treaty Compliance Amid continued US accusations that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, escaped from a Chinese biolab in Wuhan, the Chinese and Russian governments have... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T01:05+0000 2021-10-09T01:05+0000 2021-10-09T01:05+0000 russia us china biolab chemical and biological weapons control and warfare elimination act of 1991 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/06/1d/1083264798_0:26:1315:766_1920x0_80_0_0_933fd653472a5a517be0d364b6b5b201.jpg During a Thursday meeting of an arms control committee discussion of the United Nations Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production and Stockpiling of Bacteriological (Biological) and Toxin Weapons and on their Destruction (BWC), the foreign ministers of Russia and China called attention to the US absence from the BWC Treatys verification protocols regime.While recent events surrounding the search for the origins of COVID-19 have given the proposal additional relevance, it is by no means the first time its been pitched. Russia made the same suggestions in 2018, a year before the pandemic began.The treaty currently has no verification protocols and is little more than a gentlemens agreement not to build or test bioweapons. This is unlike other treaties, such as the 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, under which the US has destroyed much of its stockpiles of mustard gas, VX, and sarin projectiles - albeit years later than they agreed to. However, the US did destroy its existing bioweapons stock between 1971 and 1972, under orders from then-US President Richard Nixon - notably before the BWC came into existence in 1975.The Russian Federation and China note with concern that over the past two decades the BWC States Parties, despite the wishes of the overwhelming majority, have failed to reach an agreement on resuming the multilateral negotiations on the Protocol to the Convention, suspended in 2001 when the United States unilaterally withdrew from this process despite the fact that the consensus was almost reached, the China-Russia joint statement reads.The statement notes that the US operates more than 200 biological laboratories located in other countries, noting they function in opaque and non-transparent manner and raise serious concerns and questions among the international community over its compliance with the BWC.Given the fact that the United States and its allies do not provide any meaningful information on those military biological activities that could allay concerns of the international community, the Russian Federation and China urge the United States and its allies to act in an open, transparent and responsible manner, by informing properly on its military biological activities carried out overseas and on their national territory, and supporting the resumption of negotiations on a legally binding protocol to the BWC with effective verification mechanism, so as to ensure their compliance with the BWC.US Biolabs Once Drove Weapons ProgramLike many nations, the US vigorously pursued biological and chemical weapons programs during and after the First World War. By the time President Nixon ordered their destruction, the US had developed stockpiles of six biological weapons, including anthrax, botulism, tularemia, brucellosis, Q-fever, and Venezuelan equine encephalitis virus, as well as staphylococcal enterotoxin B, a toxin produced by staphylococcus aureus bacteria, as an incapacitating agent. However, it also had research programs into more than 20 other potential weapons, including smallpox, rinderpest, typhus, dengue fever, yellow fever, bird flu, and plague.Early in 2020, a conspiracy theory arose in the United States that SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, had been a test subject leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology in central China, calls for the World Health Organization to probe the Wuhan lab began, as well. The Biden administration also launched its own probe, which found in late August that the virus was most likely natural and entered the human population via natural means, not a bioweapon or escaped lab test subject.However, the conspiracy theory has persisted, helping to fuel anti-China attitudes in the United States by suggesting some kind of coverup. In response, Beijing began calling for the US many biolabs, which are located both in the US and scattered around the globe, to be probed as potential sources of the outbreak, as well. In particular, Fort Detrick, once the center of the Pentagons bioweapons program and today houses several agencies focused on biodefense and research into some of the worlds deadliest diseases, has had several problems with leaks, including the anthrax used in a series of mail attacks in late 2001. TruePatriot Bravo China and Russia. Make it happen. 6 WhatTheFishIsThis China and Russia is helping the World to be aware of US Biological Labs & Weapons development. 5 9 russia us china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Morgan Artyukhina https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/04/17/1082703728_0:0:800:800_100x100_80_0_0_0b6ce8daa7411284d60c8a0b6d84186d.jpg russia, us, china, biolab, chemical and biological weapons control and warfare elimination act of 1991 https://sputniknews.com/20211009/china-should-call-us-bluff-on-taiwan-1089793123.html China Should Call US Bluff On Taiwan China Should Call US Bluff On Taiwan Washingtons strategic ambiguity towards China and its breakaway territory of Taiwan seems to be more mercurial and menacing. Ironically, that mixed... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T12:59+0000 2021-10-09T12:59+0000 2021-10-09T12:59+0000 news world us opinion china diplomacy taiwan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/08/1083337542_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_d67aec6e2e236035d95e7f9fb82c2cee.jpg Chinas President Xi Jinping this weekend vowed to reunite Taiwan with the mainland. Xi said he preferred to do this peacefully. But there is a growing sentiment in China that the time has come for Beijing to impose its sovereignty over the island by military force.An editorial in the Global Times stated recently: Resolving the Taiwan question through military means has become an increasingly realistic option.The news outlet is viewed as airing the views of Chinas leadership.Following the civil war, which the communist side won in 1949 establishing the Peoples Republic of China, the rival nationalists fled to Taiwan to set up a renegade state. Most of the world recognises Chinas sovereignty over Taiwan. That includes the United States which declared a One China policy in 1979 in deference to Beijings authority.However, the US has also maintained a policy of strategic ambiguity whereby it provides military aid to Taiwan. Over the decades, Washington has sold billions of dollars worth of weapons to Taiwan, much to the irritation of Beijing which sees that as undermining its territorial integrity.Tensions over Taiwan have brought the US and China close to military confrontation in the past. Veteran whistleblower Daniel Ellsberg revealed earlier this year that the Pentagon even considered using nuclear weapons in the late 1950s to deter Chinese aggression towards Taiwan.Under President Donald Trump, the US policy arguably became less ambiguous with American support for Taiwan becoming more explicit. Administration officials visited the island and arms sales increased. This was against the backdrop of Trump waging a trade war with China.President Joe Bidens administration has in some ways continued where his predecessor left off. Arms sales for Taiwan are going ahead and US warships are busily sailing through the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait. The mysterious collision of a US nuclear-powered submarine last week in the South China Sea only underscores the traffic of American forces in the region.Though against that, the Biden administration has also signalled it is willing to engage diplomatically with Beijing to resolve tensions. President Biden last week appeared to affirm in a telephone conversation with Chinese counterpart Xi a commitment to the One China policy.Senior US and Chinese officials met in Zurich in recent days for productive talks on the need for cooperative dialogue in order to calm tensions and prevent all-out confrontation.There were also cordial bilateral negotiations between trade officials aimed at overcoming disputes engendered under the Trump administration.The deal by the US Department of Justice to not prosecute Meng Wanzhou, the chief financial officer of Chinas telecom giant Huawei who had been detained in Canada for nearly three years for allegedly breaking American sanctions on Iran, is another sign that the Biden administration is trying to tamp down tensions with Beijing.Nevertheless, these more conciliatory moves on the part of the Biden White House are contradicted by starkly hostile developments.The unveiling of the new military pact between Australia, the United Kingdom and United States AUKUS which is aimed at containing China and will see American nuclear-powered submarines supplied to Australia to patrol the South China Sea has alarmed Beijing.Then there are reports last week that the US has deployed dozens of special forces to Taiwan to help train the islands military in defence against a possible incursion from mainland China. That disclosure is particularly inflammatory as it is seen by Beijing as an invasion of its territory.This is while China sent over 150 warplanes near Taiwan over four days a record number.Tensions between the US and China are further heightened by American officials saying provocatively that their commitments to defend Taiwan are rock solid.The doubling down in ambiguity by the Biden administration may be intended to wrong-foot China. But the more Washington talks with forked tongue and double deals over Taiwan the more China may conclude that it has to lance the boil and take back full control of its territory once and for all.Legally, China has the right to resolve the Taiwan question on its own terms. Taking over the island by force may also be the most expedient option for the sake of long-term security and peace despite American bluster about defending Taiwan. The unstable existing situation only allows Washington to continue meddling in Chinas sovereign affairs. Beijing should call Americas bluff. https://sputniknews.com/20211009/chinas-reunification-with-taiwan-will-definitely-be-fulfilled-xi-jinping-says-as-tensions-grow-1089788152.html https://sputniknews.com/20210925/huawei-vows-to-keep-fighting-us-legal-claims-after-cfo-meng-wanzhou-freed-in-canada-1089397271.html netman Then there are reports last week that the US has deployed dozens of special forces to Taiwan to help train the islands military in defence against a possible incursion from mainland China.____ China should not be concerned at all knowing that the training of Taiwanese by US special forces would resemble the training of Afghan forces by Pentagon which resulted in Taliban marching to recapture the country with ease! 6 1 china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Finian Cunningham https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/01/0c/1081745381_0:429:2048:2477_100x100_80_0_0_02c0961b33c51d5d1a17db3237ef3811.jpg Finian Cunningham https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/01/0c/1081745381_0:429:2048:2477_100x100_80_0_0_02c0961b33c51d5d1a17db3237ef3811.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Finian Cunningham https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/01/0c/1081745381_0:429:2048:2477_100x100_80_0_0_02c0961b33c51d5d1a17db3237ef3811.jpg news, world, us, opinion, china, diplomacy, taiwan https://sputniknews.com/20211009/china-vice-premier-us-trade-representative-discuss-lifting-of-tariffs-sanctions-reports-say-1089785616.html China's Vice Premier, US Trade Representative Discuss Lifting of Tariffs, Sanctions, Reports Say China's Vice Premier, US Trade Representative Discuss Lifting of Tariffs, Sanctions, Reports Say BEIJING (Sputnik) Chinese Vice Premier Liu He on Saturday held an online conversation with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai to discuss the possible... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T05:59+0000 2021-10-09T05:59+0000 2021-10-09T06:18+0000 news world us china us-china trade war /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/107930/42/1079304231_27:0:3668:2048_1920x0_80_0_0_8b405ed52491e9b8cc3f4208cfbf3a3b.jpg According to China Central Television, Liu also explained the Chinese position on its pattern of economic development.The Chinese vice premier added that the parties had agreed to resume contacts based on equality and mutual respect to create good conditions for the normal development of trade and economic relations as well as global economic recovery.The US trade representative's spokesperson, Adam Hodge, has confirmed that the conversation was held and provided some other details.Tai stressed that she looked forward to following up with Liu in the near future.Relations between Washington and Beijing fell to their lowest point under Donald Trump, who started his term with a so-called trade war with the Asian country by slapping steep tariffs on Chinese goods. The former US president also repeatedly blamed Beijing for failing to stop the coronavirus pandemic from spreading around the world. In response, the Chinese authorities introduced reciprocal tariffs on US goods. https://sputniknews.com/20211007/us-china-agree-to-hold-virtual-biden-xi-meeting-before-end-of-2021--reports-1089728373.html china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 news, world, us, china, us-china trade war https://sputniknews.com/20211009/chinas-reunification-with-taiwan-will-definitely-be-fulfilled-xi-jinping-says-as-tensions-grow-1089788152.html China's Reunification With Taiwan 'Will Definitely Be Fulfilled', Xi Jinping Says as Tensions Grow China's Reunification With Taiwan 'Will Definitely Be Fulfilled', Xi Jinping Says as Tensions Grow China continues to perceive Taiwan as a breakaway province, while the authorities in Taipei have repeatedly rejected Beijing's proposal to stick to the "one... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T08:27+0000 2021-10-09T08:27+0000 2021-10-09T08:32+0000 xi jinping china tensions asia-pacific reunification taiwan interference /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/09/1089787943_0:153:3097:1895_1920x0_80_0_0_e0720c7598cae4142dfe97aacd621866.jpg Chinese President Xi Jinping has pledged that his country's peaceful "reunification" with Taiwan under a "one country, two systems" policy will "definitely" be implemented.He spoke at a meeting in Beijing on Friday to commemorate the 110th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution that ended the nation's last imperial dynasty and led to the establishment of the Republic of China.He urged Taiwan to "stand on the right side of history jointly to create the glorious cause of the full reunification and the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation"."No one should underestimate the Chinese people's determination and strong ability to defend [our] national sovereignty and territorial integrity. The historical task of the complete reunification of the motherland must be fulfilled, and it will definitely be fulfilled", Xi emphasised.Full-Blown Invasion of Taiwan by 2025?The remarks follow Taiwan's Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng telling reporters earlier this week that China could be capable of mounting a "full-scale" invasion of the island by 2025. He also argued that China-Taiwan tensions are now at their worst in 40 years.This comes after The Wall Street Journal cited unnamed sources as saying that about two dozen US special operations forces and marines have been secretly training Taiwanese troops "for at least a year".The sources claimed that the training started before Joe Biden took office as president in January 2021.In a sign of mounting tensions, the Chinese military sent almost 40 fighter jets to fly near Taiwan's air defence identification zone for two days in a row in early October. Taiwan's Prime Minister Su Tseng-chang responded by condemning the flights as "brutal and barbarian actions" allegedly jeopardising regional peace.Adding fuel to the fire is the US sending its warships to the Taiwan Strait, which separates the island from the mainland. China sees such missions as provocations, describing Washington as "the destroyer of peace and stability" in the Taiwan Strait and "a security risk creator in the region".Taiwan Issue Officially known as the Republic of China (ROC), Taiwan broke off all relations with mainland China in 1949, following the Chinese Civil War. At the time, Mao Zedong's communist forces of the People's Republic of China (PRC) defeated the Kuomintang nationalists and forced them to flee to the island.With both the ROC and the PRC claiming the country's territory, the UN recognised the PRC as the one and only legal China in 1971. Beijing considers the island an integral part of the country, and adheres to a policy of peaceful reunification under a "One China Two Systems" model.The US does not have formal diplomatic relations with Taiwan but maintains a representative office in the island's capital Taipei, and is its biggest supplier of military equipment. https://sputniknews.com/20210913/chinese-media-says-us-taiwan-to-be-taught-lesson-if-taipeis-washington-diplomatic-office-renamed-1089035987.html https://sputniknews.com/20211003/us-accuses-china-of-provocative-military-activity-near-taiwan-1089628558.html Wayne Johnson China will do what China wants regardless of what the United States Government thinks. They are not afraid of the U.S.A. The reunification will take place. 16 NikSput Lastname Taiwan is already part of China. 93 country's recognise this already! Even Sloppy Joe Biden does! 13 20 china asia-pacific Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg xi jinping, china, tensions, asia-pacific, reunification, taiwan, interference https://sputniknews.com/20211009/chinese-netizens-sneer-at-us-submarines-collision-with-unknown-object--1089787799.html Chinese Netizens Sneer at US Submarine's Collision With 'Unknown Object' Chinese Netizens Sneer at US Submarine's Collision With 'Unknown Object' While some experts claim a collision with another submarine was also possible, the injuries sustained by the crew show such an incident to be unlikely. If a... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T09:21+0000 2021-10-09T09:21+0000 2021-10-09T09:21+0000 asia news world us china submarine stealth /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/105395/27/1053952785_0:67:2001:1192_1920x0_80_0_0_c6372a240a7d4768e8a7df92f78e5c4a.jpg Chinese netizens have left numerous sardonic comments over an article about a recent incident involving the American Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut (SSN 22), which collided with an "unknown object" in the South China Sea on 8 October. In an article, published on the website Guancha, netizens could not help but laugh at the incident. "You are entitled to an administrative arrest for ten days and a fine of 200 yuan! Minus six points, the submarine must take six steps back! The next move is for China", one netizen said in a comment.Meanwhile, other users also voiced concerns about the environmental conditions in the sea in the wake of the incident. The US Navy said on 8 October that the Guam-bound nuclear-powered submarine was damaged in a collision with an unidentified object in the Indo-Pacific region. Later, US officials confirmed the incident had occurred in the South China Sea. Eleven sailors reportedly received minor to moderate injuries. The military added that the submarine was in a safe and stable condition, and remained fully operational. A probe has been launched into the incident. NthrnNYker59 LOL... c'mon.... it's likely the crew was drug-addled.... and given the new gay #woke rules and regulations issued by the Pentagon.... the crew was likely fornicating with each other when that sub was driven into the seabed. 9 Jay Lim Possible that China has seeded Seas with Sonar-proof or Stealth Unexplodable Metallic Objects to cause damage to subs on collision 7 6 asia china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 asia, news, world, us, china, submarine, stealth https://sputniknews.com/20211009/college-music-professor-reportedly-steps-down-after-showing-students-blackface-othello-1089801654.html College Music Professor Reportedly Steps Down After Showing Students Blackface Othello College Music Professor Reportedly Steps Down After Showing Students Blackface Othello Sheng was accused of rendering the classroom an unsafe space when he screened the 1965 version of Shakespeare's Othello in class as part of a lesson to show... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T22:37+0000 2021-10-09T22:37+0000 2021-10-09T22:37+0000 hollywood us racism movie professor viral college blackface /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/01/1089590212_0:146:1920:1226_1920x0_80_0_0_c567a11a96964f2b076fb15628903b73.jpg A renowned University of Michigan professor who has taught at the school since 1995 has been removed from his post after a student complained about him showing the 1965 film Othello starring Oscar-nominated acting legend Laurence Olivier in blackface, US media reported.Sheng, who has been at the university for 26 years, apologized for making his students feel uncomfortable, and recalled a list of occasions when he had worked with 'people of color' throughout his career in an effort to support diversity.Students loudly rejected his apology, reportedly demanding that the university fire him. As the administration looks into the matter, Sheng has stepped down from his role for the time being, which students considered 'the bare minimum that the professor should do.According to a report, Olivia Cook, a freshman student, said she thought there was something strange about the film after noticing the blackface portrayal played by Academy Award winner Olivier.I was stunned, Cook told The Michigan Daily.In such a school that preaches diversity and making sure that they understand the history of people of color in America, I was shocked Sheng would show something like this in something that's supposed to be a safe space.Blackface portrayal is considered by many to be akin to a racial caricature.David Leonard, chair of Washington State Universitys department of critical culture, gender, and race studies, explained blackface in his 2012 Huffington Post essay, "Just Say No To blackface: Neo Minstrelsy and the Power to Dehumanize," as a part of a history of dehumanization, of denied citizenship, and of efforts to excuse and justify state violence.The movie, which was only shown for two days after receiving backlash from American critics for Olivers blackface, later received eight Oscar nominations.Addressing his preliminary apology, Sheng reportedly acknowledged that his response could have been better.Bright Sheng, who teaches composition at the University of Michigan, was born in Shanghai, China in 1955. He is known to be a widely celebrated musician, pianist, composer and conductor. Sheng has earned many honors for his music and compositions, including a MacArthur "genius" Fellowship in 2001, and has twice been a runner-up finalist for the Pulitzer Prize. https://sputniknews.com/20210920/wait-again-new-photo-of-trudeau-wearing-blackface-emerges-on-social-media-1089223015.html us Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Adriana Montes https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/10/1089141767_0:89:1270:1359_100x100_80_0_0_83cb4d432e11a31f4608d8cb59ecf006.jpg Adriana Montes https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/10/1089141767_0:89:1270:1359_100x100_80_0_0_83cb4d432e11a31f4608d8cb59ecf006.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Adriana Montes https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/10/1089141767_0:89:1270:1359_100x100_80_0_0_83cb4d432e11a31f4608d8cb59ecf006.jpg hollywood, us, racism, movie, professor, viral, college, blackface https://sputniknews.com/20211009/congress-scrambles-to-boost-scrutiny-after-us-named-main-offshore-heaven-in-pandora-papers-1089799114.html Congress Scrambles to Boost Scrutiny After US Named Main Offshore Haven in Pandora Papers Congress Scrambles to Boost Scrutiny After US Named Main Offshore Haven in Pandora Papers Congress Scrambles to Boost Scrutiny After US Named Main Offshore Heaven in Pandora Papers 2021-10-09T19:36+0000 2021-10-09T19:36+0000 2021-10-11T07:07+0000 pandora papers business us offshore /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/04/1089654065_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_6a1e7da6e84c88d5ab1869d81c16fac6.jpg The Pandora Papers revealed that the British Virgin Islands and Panama are not the only places favoured by those seeking to move their assets offshore as it turns out, some US states have also become attractive "onshore offshores", including for foreign politicians.The millions of documents processed and verified by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) showed that at least 200 trusts were created in the US to hold assets for foreign investors without proper background checks on the legality of their income. While such checks are vigorously carried out by banks when foreign investors try to wire the money to them, lawyers, real estate agents, and accounting firms are not obligated to do that at least in some states.The Pandora Papers showed that South Dakota was the absolute leader among the states when it comes to being an "offshore" haven for foreign money 81 trusts were found only in those leaks that the ICIJ had in its hands. Some 37 and 35 such trusts were found in Florida and Delaware, while a total of 38 was found in Texas and Nevada.These trusts were used to store money coming from the Caribbean, Europe, and other places, with the real beneficiaries often being hidden from the view of the public or the authorities. Some of them were foreign officials, politicians, and in one case - King Abdullah II of Jordan. The latter bought 14 properties in the US via offshore companies, with at least one of them using a nominee director to hide the real beneficiary. The office of the king said it had been done partially for security purposes.The ICIJ investigation identified 35 global leaders and over 330 politicians and officials who thought to conceal their money in offshores. The investigators noted, however, that the sheer fact of someone using an offshore does not prove they were evading taxes. The offshores also allow people to hide their true wealth from the prying eyes of the public for personal comfort and not out of malign intentions.Lawmakers Call to End Domestic Offshore EnablersThe revelation that US laws have allowed the country to become a new offshore haven has prompted Congress to start developing legislation that would either change the situation or at least ensure that only "clean" money is invested in the nation this way. Lawmakers called for ending the practice of financial "enablers" in the country, where professionals in under-regulated areas could help foreigners to hide their assets without any accountability.The proposed legislation suggests mandating that due diligence be carried out for certain "middlemen" who can help create a limited liability company akin to those often used in offshore tax evasion schemes. The principle is proposed to be enacted and enforced by the US Treasury by the end of 2023. It would namely require lawyers to carry out due diligence of their clients' income in scenarios where they help them create a company to manage their US assets, such as real estate. https://sputniknews.com/20211004/jordanian-kings-office-confirms-information-shared-in-pandora-papers-1089644171.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg business, us, offshore https://sputniknews.com/20211009/eu-reportedly-mulls-lifting-number-of-n-ireland-border-checks-to-end-sausage-war-with-uk-1089785749.html End of 'Sausage War'? EU Reportedly Mulls Lifting Number of Northern Ireland Border Checks End of 'Sausage War'? EU Reportedly Mulls Lifting Number of Northern Ireland Border Checks Last month, London extended a "grace period" for implementing checks on goods travelling from the British mainland to Northern Ireland in the wake of the... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T06:18+0000 2021-10-09T06:18+0000 2021-10-09T06:42+0000 boris johnson european commission brexit proposals eu uk northern ireland protocol /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/09/1089785347_0:161:3066:1886_1920x0_80_0_0_6d847d84929d9e566a66b0caf4c047fc.jpg European Commission Vice President Maros Sefcovic has announced that the EU plans to brief the British government on new proposals pertaining to the pressing issue of the Northern Ireland Protocol (NIP) next week.The NIP, which came into force in early 2021, is an arrangement that ensures there's no need for checks along the land border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland.Sefcovic added that he thought "it is [in] the best interest of both of us that we will try to find a reasonable solution before the end of the year, early next year".British media reports said that the European Commission vice president is considering tabling four papers next week to improve the NIP, which will include measures to resolve the availability of UK-approved medicines and inspections on meat, dairy, and plant products.Unnamed senior EU sources, in turn, were quoted by Euronews as saying that the European Commission may announce a "bespoke" arrangement for Northern Ireland, which remains part of the bloc's single market, to prevent a hard land border with the Republic of Ireland."We obviously can't get rid of all checks; we need to protect the single market, so surveillance will still apply but we hope to simplify a lot of this", the source claimed.The head of the Irish government, Micheal Martin, argued that the EU "is in solution mode and will be coming forward with proposals in relation to this issue". According to him, the UK government is "solution-focused as well".The statement was followed by the UK government making it clear that "chilled meats is just one issue out of many that need to be resolved if the protocol is to be put on a sustainable footing".US Warns About NIP's Implications The developments come as US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan asserted that London's spat with Brussels over the Northern Ireland Protocol could create "a serious risk to stability".This followed UK Brexit Minister David Frost setting a November deadline for a solution to the NIP deadlock, warning that Britain "cannot wait forever" for border checks to be improved.Issue of Northern Ireland Protocol As part of the Brexit withdrawal agreement between Brussels and London, Northern Ireland remained in the European single market and customs unions after the UK left the EU on 31 December 2020. While there is no hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, all goods and animal-based products coming from elsewhere in the UK must be checked upon arrival in Northern Ireland to comply with EU sanitary regulations.As inspections take place at Northern Ireland ports, and customs documents have to be filled in, this has prompted criticism that a new border has effectively been created in the Irish Sea.Both sides agreed on a six-month "grace period", which has been in place since January, temporarily suspending the rules of the NIP, including on the deliveries of chilled meat to Northern Ireland. In early September, the "grace period" was unilaterally extended by London.After the UK voiced its intention to renegotiate the NIP, the bloc opposed the idea. Amid the ensuing deadlock in negotiations, Brussels warned that it could respond with legal action against Britain if it failed to honour the original deal. https://sputniknews.com/20210721/uk-minister-frost-calls-on-change-to-brexit-deal-over-northern-ireland-protocol---1083430441.html Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg boris johnson, european commission, brexit, proposals, eu, uk, northern ireland protocol https://sputniknews.com/20211009/ex-bodyguard-claims-he-has-evidence-fmr-president-ghani-fled-afghanistan-with-big-bags-of-money-1089792814.html Ex-Bodyguard Claims He Has Evidence Fmr President Ghani Fled Afghanistan With 'Big Bags' of Money Ex-Bodyguard Claims He Has Evidence Fmr President Ghani Fled Afghanistan With 'Big Bags' of Money In mid-August, Ashraf Ghani described claims that he left Afghanistan for the United Arab Emirates with a huge amount of cash as a "baseless lie". 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T12:41+0000 2021-10-09T12:41+0000 2021-10-09T14:29+0000 united arab emirates afghanistan ashraf ghani money evidence taliban militants /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/15/1083430028_0:163:3065:1887_1920x0_80_0_0_edc2f0ded0efa83258800d774762c2b4.jpg Brigadier General Piraz Ata Sharifi, ex-chief bodyguard to Ashraf Ghani, has accused the former Afghan president of fleeing the country with public money worth of hundreds of millions of dollars, shortly before the Taliban* seized power in the country on 15 August.In an interview with the Daily Mail, the general accused Ghani of abandoning and betraying him as he pledged to expose the alleged corruption of his former boss.He asserted that he had "a [CCTV] recording [from the palace] which shows that an individual at the Afghan Bank brought a lot of money to Ghani before he left" Afghanistan for the United Arab Emirates (UAE)."Hundreds of millions, perhaps billions of dollars. There were many big bags and they were heavy. It was not rice", the general claimed as he patted a bag of rice behind him in the cellar where he was interviewed.According to the Daily Mail, Sharifi is now hiding in "squalid cellars" from Taliban militants who earlier promised one million afghanis ($13,600) for informing the Taliban about the general's whereabouts. It remains unclear how the Daily Mail managed to interview the general, given the Talibans manhunt.The interview follows developments in late August, when US House Oversight Committee Republicans urged Attorney General (AG) Merrick Garland to investigate media reports that Afghan President Ashraf Ghani fled his country with over $169 million in US taxpayer money.In letters to the AG and Secretary of State Antony Blinken, James Comer and Glenn Grothman stressed that the Biden administration "must do everything in its power to seize any illicitly gained funds that were corruptly embezzled by President Ghani".Reports of Ghani having fled Afghanistan with millions in cash emerged as Nikita Ishenko, a spokesperson for the Russian Embassy previously told Sputnik that the Afghan president had departed with four cars filled to the brim with money.Ghani, for his part, rejected what he described as the "unsubstantiated and untrue accusations" related to him fleeing with vast sums of money, claims that were made amid the 18 August reports of the former Afghan president emerging in the UAE. He argued that he was in such a rush he was even forced to leave behind some confidential documents.The claims came on the same day the UAE's Foreign Ministry confirmed in a press release that Ghani and his family were allowed entry into the Middle Eastern nation on "humanitarian grounds". The ministry did not elaborate on any asylum conditions or the ex-Afghan president's exact location in the UAE.*The Taliban is a terrorist group banned in Russia and many other countries. https://sputniknews.com/20211003/at-gunpoint-for-31-hours-details-of-ashraf-ghanis-escape-revealed-1089627353.html https://sputniknews.com/20210822/afghan-govt-was-working-on-peaceful-power-transfer-ghani-resignation-ahead-of-kabul-fall---report-1083681182.html NthrnNYker59 And THAT, my friends... is what fascist amerika taught it's afghani stooges...... what they do best themselves.... cowardice and corruption 3 1 united arab emirates afghanistan Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg united arab emirates, afghanistan, ashraf ghani, money, evidence, taliban, militants https://sputniknews.com/20211009/ex-uk-envoy-to-moscow-rejects-bid-to-blame-putin-for-gas-price-rises-1089795387.html Ex-UK Envoy to Moscow Rejects Bid to Blame Putin for Gas Price Rises Ex-UK Envoy to Moscow Rejects Bid to Blame Putin for Gas Price Rises Vladimir Putin's assurances on Wednesday that Russian national energy firm Gazprom would ensure deliveries of natural gas to other European states burst the... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T17:42+0000 2021-10-09T17:42+0000 2021-10-09T18:12+0000 gordon brown russia vladimir putin britain gazprom angela merkel great britain uk boris johnson /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/09/1089795313_0:0:2397:1349_1920x0_80_0_0_82565b1703fef0d63c8147aee4eea412.jpg A former British ambassador to Moscow has dismissed claims that Russian President Vladimir Putin is to blame for the recent surge in natural gas prices.In a letter to The Times on Saturday, Sir Tony Brenton who served as envoy to Russia from 2004 to 2008 said Britain's problems were "self-inflicted" for failing to negotiate long-term supply contracts.He also expressed perplexity at the political rhetoric against a new Russian gas pipeline under the Baltic Sea to Germany that promises to relieve the European energy crunch that threatens unaffordable hikes in household bills. On Friday, The Times quoted un-named UK government ministers accusing Putin of choking off gas supply through other pipelines including one through Ukraine in order to pressure Germany into approving Nord Stream 2 to begin operation. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned on Thursday night of significant security implications from the new pipeline which is paradoxically set to solve a headache for his government by easing the continent-wide supply shortage.Although Nord Stream 2 will not directly impact the UKs energy security, it could have serious implications for Central and Eastern European countries", a Downing Street spokesman said. "Some European countries are nearly wholly dependent on Russian gas, which raises serious concerns about energy security.The former diplomat pointed out that reasons for the soaring gas prices included "a post-Covid surge in demand, less wind power, the cold 2020-21 winter and technical outages".The gas futures bubble burst on Wednesday after Putin announced that Russian gas giant Gazprom would honour all orders. Prices fell from peaks of around 4 per therm ($1,900 per 1,000 cubic metres) to 2.66 ($1,325 per 1,000 cubic metres) that day, and have since slumped to 2.13 per therm, or just over $1,000 per 1,000 cubic metres. One therm is the energy released by burning 100 cubic feet or 2.83 cubic metres of natural gas.Brenton said that as ambassador in 2006, he had seen then-Chancellor of the Exchequer Gordon Brown pestering Putin about "surging gas prices".Putin is not the only scapegoat for Western problems. The UK's Road Haulage Association and the parliamentary opposition have blamed a shortage of some 100,000 licensed Heavy Goods Vehicle drivers on Britain's exit from the European Union prompting recent panic-buying of petrol and diesel. But governing Conservative Party MPs have pointed out that the industry has refused for almost a decade to invest in training new drivers, amid a Europe-wide haulage labour shortage caused by low wages and an ageing workforce. https://sputniknews.com/20211009/putins-announcement-on-increased-gas-supplies-to-eu-gesture-of-cooperation-professor-says--1089788456.html Theodorebikel 61% of Europe's gas comes from sources other than Russia. No one is blaming them for reduced flows. It's easy to blame Russia. It fits the western narrative of blaming Russia for everything. It's also a deflection to offset the incompetence of the Brits and Europeans for not having secured gas contracts. They buy on the spot market and so are at the mercy of supply chain manipulation. Blame the Brits and the EU not Russia. 5 Tyke This information is pretty self explanatory that Russians are honouring all contracts. However media outlets like the Mail headline is Putin is holding Europe and the UK to ransom. Midwestern media is telling anyone that the Russians are not holding Europe and the UK to ransom. It would be good to hear sky news or the BBC television us the truth what's going on regarding gas prices 4 4 russia britain great britain Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 James Tweedie https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png James Tweedie https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 James Tweedie https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/08/1c/1080307270_0:3:397:400_100x100_80_0_0_7777393b9b18802f2e3c5eaa9cbcc612.png gordon brown, russia, vladimir putin, britain, gazprom, angela merkel, great britain, uk, boris johnson https://sputniknews.com/20211009/how-could-reports-about-us-training-taiwanese-troops-affect-washington-beijing-relations-1089790375.html How Could Reports About US Training Taiwanese Troops Affect Washington-Beijing Relations? How Could Reports About US Training Taiwanese Troops Affect Washington-Beijing Relations? A Thursday report by The Wall Street Journal suggested that American soldiers have been secretly operating in Taiwan and training its army for at least a year... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T12:20+0000 2021-10-09T12:20+0000 2021-10-09T12:20+0000 us china asia-pacific taiwan military us military opinion /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/01/12/1081799952_0:160:3073:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_9162f74d85eebf2ecaa044876a0419fe.jpg The reported clandestine US military assistance to Taiwan, which is considered by China as a rebellious part of the mainland, has stirred debates on both social media and in political circles. While Beijing, according to the WSJ, has called on Washington to comply with prior agreements pertaining to Taiwan, the US urged China to end what it believes is economic "pressure" and "coercion" against the island.The outlet asserted that some two dozen US special operations and support troops have been training small units of Taiwan's ground forces. While there were no official comments from the US concerning The Wall Street Journal's allegations, State Department spokesperson Ned Price in a Thursday remark said that the American commitment to Taiwan remains "rock-solid" as it "contributes [...] to the maintenance of peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and within the broader region as well".The feedback on the WSJ report was diverse, with some expressing outrage over the alleged "invasion" by the US, and others questioning the claims, particularly the number of American troops and the secrecy.Some, however, pointed out that the timing of the report is "interesting", given that it emerged right after the conversation between US President Joe Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, in which Biden reiterated America's commitment to the aforementioned Taiwan-related agreements.Dr Victor Teo, a project research fellow with the Beyond the Cold War & Asian Regionalism project based at the Centre for Research in the Arts, Social Sciences, and Humanities at the University of Cambridge, suggested that the speculations might be a message for both China and Taiwan."The call is a direct assurance to China that the US has not changed its position on the 'One China' policy. However, in view of Taiwan's concerns, as well as the looming mid-term Congressional elections in November, this news leakage of US Special Forces in Taiwan sends a message to everyone concerned that the US is still keen on helping Taiwan defend itself in the event the Chinese try to reunify Taiwan by force", Teo explained, pondering the goal of the report. "This leaks helps ameliorate those who might be enraged by the news that the Biden administration is not taking a harder line against China instead".Others argued that the subject of the report itself is questionable and somewhat obsolete, given that this is not the first time similar speculations have emerged. Dismissing The Wall Street Journal report as nothing but an "old rumour", Dr Chang Ching, research fellow from the Taiwan-based Society for Strategic Studies and a lead military expert on the People's Liberation Army and regional security in Taiwan, pointed at a resemblance to the situation in the Philippines as President Duterte suspended the Visiting Force Agreement that guaranteed United States military personnel judicial immunity when they engage in joint exercises and training programmes in the Asian country.Ching noted a lack of evidence to substantiate the claims about clandestine US military operations in Taiwan and recalled that Taipei has not granted judicial immunity to American military personnel since 1979 - a privilege that is required by the US Congress to allow any military deployment to foreign countries.When examining the possible motivation behind the claims, Ching suggested that resurfacing "old rumours" may be an attempt to undermine the efforts to stabilise relations between Washington and Beijing.What to Expect From Beijing?Given that bilateral relations between the United States and the People's Republic of China aren't exactly at a high point, Beijing will be "careful" in its response to Washington but at the same time will not give up on its Taiwan stance, according to Teo."At a minimum, we can expect strong political statements and diplomatic protests from China. Beijing would also likely keep its military pressure on Taiwan as it cannot be seen in any manner to be compromising on its sovereignty", he suggested. "It would, however, be careful as well as it does not wish for relations with the United States to get any worse".A similar sentiment, according to Teo, is shared by the Biden administration, since it is keen to ensure that Sino-American relations remain stable, and not escalate into a war.Ching also predicted the reiteration of Beijing's "bottom lines" and official positions, but argued that "nothing will actually happen".Taiwanese Concerns About Chinese 'Attack'On Wednesday, Taiwanese Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng claimed that Beijing might launch a full-scale attack on the island by 2025, with minimal losses. The claims were voiced amid heated tensions in the South China Sea, where China sent about 150 military aircraft close to Taiwan in the wake of the US and its allies conducting military drills in the region.As the situation in the Asian region continues to be a cause for concern for Washington and Taipei, the Chinese president stated on Friday that "the reunification of the motherland by peaceful means is most in line with the overall interests of the Chinese nation, including our compatriots in Taiwan".While Biden assured that the US adheres to the "One China - Two Systems" policy that Beijing follows with regard to Taiwan, Washington still refers to its commitments under the 1979 Taiwan Relations Act which envisages the US helping the island with its defence efforts should Beijing attempt to reunify it by force. And, according to Dr Teo, the US military operations in the region "should not come as a surprise, given that the Taiwanese and United States have always had military exchanges".Commenting on the capabilities of the Taiwanese Army, Teo said they "cannot be taken for granted". When elaborating on an unwitting comparison to the Afghan Army - which was also trained by the United States with the results widely known - he said that the Taiwanese military is "very different". https://sputniknews.com/20211007/chinese-journo-denounces-us-invaders-amid-news-of-secret-special-forces-training-on-taiwan-1089749963.html Jay Lim Open salvo of war of attrition against Taiwan: Ban All international airlines flying to Taipei / Kaohsiung. All airlines must fly to Taiwan via Mainland Chinese cities, HK or Macao. Or lose their flying rights to all mainland chinese cities 3 Lodi44 China has repeatedly stated that this would be a casus belli 1 4 china asia-pacific Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Daria Bedenko Daria Bedenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Daria Bedenko us, china, asia-pacific, taiwan, military, us military, opinion https://sputniknews.com/20211009/new-study-claims-covid-19-did-not-originate-in-a-chinese-cave--1089790809.html New Study Claims COVID-19 Did Not Originate in a Chinese Cave New Study Claims COVID-19 Did Not Originate in a Chinese Cave The world is in the second year of the coronavirus pandemic, but the origins of the disease, which according to Johns Hopkins University has left nearly 5... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T13:11+0000 2021-10-09T13:11+0000 2021-10-09T13:11+0000 world tech study coronavirus covid-19 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/18/1089360976_22:0:840:460_1920x0_80_0_0_2de7a8cca08d9896b62589adbf5c9e8c.jpg SARS-CoV-2 did not originate in a cave in the Chinese province of Yunnan, claims a group of French scientists. Last year, a group of Indian researchers published an article, in which they suggested that the Mojiang cave could be the birthplace of the novel coronavirus, as a virus similar to SARS-CoV-2 was discovered in Mojiang in 2012.At the time, six miners came down with a severe respiratory disease after cleaning the cave of bat faeces in order to mine copper. The men were aged between 30 and 60 and three of them succumbed to the disease. A subsequent examination revealed that the miners were infected with a coronavirus, which was named RaTG13. Samples of the virus were collected by the Wuhan Institute of Virology.Indian scientists suggested that RaTG13 was a close relative of SARS-CoV-2. Their French colleagues, however, have claimed the contrary. According to the preliminary findings of their study, which will be published next year, the individuals infected with RaTG13 displayed symptoms very different from those displayed by COVID-19 patients. They also questioned why the doctors and people the Chinese miners were in close contact with didn't fall ill.The retrospective study of the miners' medical reports showed that unlike COVID-19 patients they had coughed up blood and mucus. CT scans showed that the miners didn't have the lung scarring seen in many hospitalised COVID-19 patients.Lab Leak Ruled Out?At the beginning of the pandemic, scientists maintained that SARS-CoV-2 originated in bats then jumped to an intermediary animal (most likely a pangolin), before infecting humans. However, as the pandemic progressed another theory appeared that the outbreak began due to a laboratory leak in the Chinese city of Wuhan, where the first cases of the disease were reported, or that the disease was man-made. Both hypotheses were dismissed as a wild conspiracy theory, with the World Health Organisation stating that it is "extremely unlikely" that COVID-19 was man-made.Yet, since spring there has been a change in attitude towards the lab leak scenario, which began after the The Wall Street Journal wrote, citing previously undisclosed documents written by the US intelligence community, that three employees of the Wuhan Institute of Virology sought medical care for a disease similar to COVID-19, three weeks before Chinese authorities reported the first case of COVID.A subsequent investigation conducted by the Biden administration resulted in an inconclusive report, with experts divided over whether the pandemic began due to a spillover from nature or was leaked by accident. The inquiry, however, stated the disease was not developed as a biological weapon. The French scientists argue that the findings of their study refute previous allegations about the lab leak.However, the study was questioned by other scientists. Professor Lawrence Young, a virologist from Warwick University told the Daily Mail that the lab-leak theory "can't be ruled out". Professor David Livermore, a microbiologist at the University of East Anglia, said that although he believes the lab-leak theory is unlikely the origin of the virus there are "some remarkable coincidences". mandrake Of course not, but in a lab in fort detrick and it would be fair for moronistan (aka usa) to pay damages to the world! 9 bullwinkle George Soros! Follow the money not the Virus. 3 10 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Max Gorbachev Max Gorbachev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Max Gorbachev world, tech, study, coronavirus, covid-19 https://sputniknews.com/20211009/playing-with-fire-chinese-state-media-claims-deployment-of-us-troops-to-taiwan-might-prompt-war-1089795164.html 'Playing With Fire': Chinese State Media Claims Deployment of US Troops to Taiwan Might Prompt War 'Playing With Fire': Chinese State Media Claims Deployment of US Troops to Taiwan Might Prompt War 'Playing With Fire': Chinese State Media Claims Deployment of US Troops to Taiwan Might Prompt War 2021-10-09T17:02+0000 2021-10-09T17:02+0000 2021-10-09T17:02+0000 us asia & pacific china taiwan /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/0c/1083364254_0:161:3069:1887_1920x0_80_0_0_7b8592724fab1fd57d007fb9707c6120.jpg The reported deployment of American troops in Taiwan might accelerate the drift to a potential armed conflict between China and the island, Chinese state media outlet the Global Times, wrote in its editorial. The outlet, whose editor-in-chief Hu Xijin called on Beijing to "launch a targeted air strike" to kill American troops on the island, suggested that the move, initially reported by the Wall Street Journal on 7 October, serves as another step by Washington to undermine normal relations between the US and China.The Global Times alleged that the publication of unconfirmed information about the US troops' presence on the island, which Beijing considers a breakaway province, was released on purpose with Washington's approval. The Chinese media outlet claimed that this was done to provoke a conflict between China and Taiwan and to justify increasing the official and real US military presence in the region, which is already causing concerns and protests in Beijing.American warships routinely sail through the disputed waters of the South China Sea and the Taiwan Strait despite warnings and objections from Beijing. Washington claims that these moves are carried out in order to maintain freedom of navigation, which Beijing is purportedly hurting with its actions. China has condemned these missions as provocations directed against Beijing and cautioned that they could one day lead to an armed confrontation.The continued US presence in the region has sparked theories that Washington is preparing for a possible Chinese invasion of the island. These fears grew stronger as Taipei reported around 50 Chinese aircraft flying close to the island's air identification zone several days in a row last week. In addition, Washington vowed to respond to an invasion if one were to take place, but did not go into specifics or pledge to protect Taiwan against a possible attack by the Chinese military.US, Taiwan 'Playing With Fire'The Chinese newspaper went on to suggest that China must let both the US and the island know that they are "playing with fire" and that the potential result of this game will be "unbearable to both". The Global Times alleged that even though the US and the island are preparing for a potential military operation by Beijing, Chinese troops would be able to seize the island and the US forces would "be the first to be eliminated".While the Global Times editorial does not amount to official Chinese policy, the leadership of the state-run media in China are relatively close to the Chinese Communist Party and its Politburo Standing Committee. The views presented in these outlets are not only heard in the halls of power in the country, but could potentially represent some of the views circulating within the Chinese government. While President Xi Jinping has clearly stated that the unification of Mainland China and Taiwan is one of his goals, there has been no announcement from Beijing so far that a plan to achieve this has been set in motion. https://sputniknews.com/20211004/taiwan-calls-for-security-cooperation-with-australia-as-chinese-jets-perform-frequent-fly-bys--1089653796.html FeEisi The Daughter of Babylon will be destroyed. Trump must likely deployed US soldiers in Taiwan to force the Biden administration to continue his anti-China policy. 4 Emris Rex America needs to be very careful, they haven't won a war in decades and sending troop to Taiwan is without doubt an act of war. 3 4 china Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Tim Korso https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/0a/02/1080648312_311:168:1773:1631_100x100_80_0_0_5eb98a42f89fd860368dcd2ae2d9e403.jpg us, asia & pacific, china, taiwan https://sputniknews.com/20211009/putins-announcement-on-increased-gas-supplies-to-eu-gesture-of-cooperation-professor-says--1089788456.html Putin's Announcement on Increased Gas Supplies to EU Gesture of Cooperation, Professor Says Putin's Announcement on Increased Gas Supplies to EU Gesture of Cooperation, Professor Says MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Russian President Vladimir Putin's statement that energy giant Gazprom could increase gas supplies to Europe is a gesture to promote... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T08:18+0000 2021-10-09T08:18+0000 2021-10-09T08:33+0000 news world russia gas supplies /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/102356/93/1023569383_0:131:2499:1537_1920x0_80_0_0_3a618646378f6c56a9065808181339d8.jpg Earlier in the week, Putin held a meeting about the situation on the European energy market. The Russian president noted that Gazprom had always fulfilled its contractual obligations and assured the nation's international partners that it will continue to do so, while also considering the option of increasing supplies.The expert further compared Russia and Saudi Arabia, who has been increasing its oil production to curb global oil prices and ease economic pressure on its partners in the West.Europe needs to perceive Russia as a necessary partner given the decarbonisation trends and pressing climate change issues, the expert added. Accordingly, Europe should strike an agreement with all carbon fuel producers, including Russia, to mitigate environmental risks, Isbell concluded.On 8 October, chief economist Lukas Kovanda of the Czech financial institution, Trinity Bank, also said that Putin's statement might have a stabilising impact on the energy market and prevent gas prices from further growth. Max75 From the reporting elsewhere it seems Gazprom believes the price of gas export should be around 295 to 300. Who in the European trading circles in driving up the price? I wonder if Washington is involved. 3 NthrnNYker59 President Putin never made any such statement....... He said that Russia is fulfilling all contracts and SPECIFICALLY said no more gas beyond the contractual amounts would pass through uKRAPistan 0 2 russia Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 news, world, russia, gas supplies https://sputniknews.com/20211009/queen-elizabeth-has-secret-tunnel-in-palace-leading-to-top-london-bar-report-says-1089795941.html Queen Elizabeth Has Secret Tunnel in Palace Leading to Top London Bar, Report Says Queen Elizabeth Has Secret Tunnel in Palace Leading to Top London Bar, Report Says This is not the first time that local media has reported on secret passages used by the monarch. In 2015, the show Good Morning Britain revealed that a mirror... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T15:45+0000 2021-10-09T15:45+0000 2021-10-09T17:45+0000 queen elizabeth ii tunnel bar alcohol uk uk /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/07/03/1083300437_0:242:2598:1703_1920x0_80_0_0_2d2c1541e2792dbbce5b0ba1b3718420.jpg Have you ever sat tired on a cold and rainy evening wondering what it would be like if it were possible to instantly get to your favourite bar (restaurant) without spending an hour crammed inside public transport? Well, it turns out it is possible, you just have to be the Queen of the United Kingdom and 15 other Commonwealth realms, or her close friend.According Richard Eden, an editor at the Daily Mail, the monarch has a secret (not anymore, Your Highness) tunnel in a palace that leads straight to a top London bar, said to be her favourite. Mr Eden revealed he had learned this information while partying with Jack Brooksbank, husband of Queen Elizabeths granddaughter Princess Eugenie. The news left many users excited.While others criticised Jack Brooksbank for leaking the family secret.St Jamess is the most senior royal palace and although Queen Elizabeth II spends the majority of her time at Buckingham Palace as well as Windsor and Balmoral Castles, St Jamess is the monarchs royal court.Dukes Bar is located inside the Duke Hotel and is famous for its martinis, dubbed "one of the worlds best" by The New York Times.Reports say Her Majesty regularly drinks alcohol, with some outlets suggesting that the Queen drinks four strong cocktails a day. Royal insiders, however, suggest that the number is exaggerated. According to the Queens cousin Margaret Rhodes, the monarchs favourite drink is gin. Royal pundits have suggested that the Queens moderate use of alcohol might be one of the secrets to her longevity and mental wellbeing. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Max Gorbachev Max Gorbachev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Max Gorbachev queen elizabeth ii, tunnel, bar, alcohol, uk, uk https://sputniknews.com/20211009/russia-says-6-syrian-soldiers-hurt-in-latest-israeli-air-raid-1089799986.html Russia Says 6 Syrian Soldiers Hurt in Latest Israeli Air Raid Russia Says 6 Syrian Soldiers Hurt in Latest Israeli Air Raid MOSCOW (Sputnik) - Six Syrian soldiers were wounded in Israeli air strikes against Syrian government positions on Friday night, a senior Russian military... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T19:54+0000 2021-10-09T19:54+0000 2021-10-09T19:54+0000 syria israel air raid russian military israeli f-16 /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/01/0a/1081723714_0:166:3072:1894_1920x0_80_0_0_4431dff5a98a96fa4192bdc964d6487a.jpg Rear Adm. Vadim Kulit, the deputy chief of the Russian center for Syrian reconciliation, said that Israeli F-16 fighters crossed into Syrian airspace over the western Homs province to fire 12 missiles at the Althias airbase (also known as the Tiyas airbase, or the T-4 airbase).The Russian official said that Syrian military assets sustained insignificant damage. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) refused to comment on the reports after Sputnik made a query, but Israeli media reported, citing a UK-based military monitor, that the strike allegedly killed two foreign fighters, but their country of origin could not be confirmed. While Israel avoids discussing such attacks under the pretext that it doesn't comment on foreign media reports, the strikes usually come from the Golan Heights, which has been occupied by the Jewish State since the Six-Day War of 1967, and IDF fighter jets are spotted in the sky over Lebanon on a regular basis.In December last year, Israel did confirm it was behind the air raids, as IDF Chief of Staff Lt.-Gen. Aviv Kochavi said that Israel had conducted numerous operations in Syria targeting what he called Iranian entrenchment in the Arab Republic.Damascus has repeatedly called on the international community to denounce regular violations of its territories and hold Israel accountable. https://sputniknews.com/20210820/lebanon-demands-action-from-un-over-israels-blatant-violation-of-its-airspace-to-attack-syria-1083670858.html vot tak The main problem on this planet is israel. Kill israel and literally half the world's strife will quickly disapear. 5 Rhodium 10 12 missile and damage in T-4 are insignificant...Iran launched 12 missile vs US Al Assad base and caused 109 wounded and destroyed all US resources...it means that Syrian air defense work well. 4 8 syria israel Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Asya Geydarova https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/0b/1088970360_0:0:1003:1003_100x100_80_0_0_14c2d6564e4700bfb043d8338b3ba245.jpg Asya Geydarova https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/0b/1088970360_0:0:1003:1003_100x100_80_0_0_14c2d6564e4700bfb043d8338b3ba245.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Asya Geydarova https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/0b/1088970360_0:0:1003:1003_100x100_80_0_0_14c2d6564e4700bfb043d8338b3ba245.jpg syria, israel, air raid, russian military, israeli f-16 https://sputniknews.com/20211009/taliban-and-us-to-discuss-sanctions-inclusive-govt-formation-in-doha-over-weekend-source-says-1089789937.html Taliban and US to Discuss Sanctions, Inclusive Gov't Formation in Doha Over Weekend, Source Says Taliban and US to Discuss Sanctions, Inclusive Gov't Formation in Doha Over Weekend, Source Says KABUL (Sputnik) - The agenda of the upcoming talks between the Taliban* and a US delegation in Qatar's Doha will include sanctions, reopening of the US Embassy... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T09:32+0000 2021-10-09T09:32+0000 2021-10-09T09:32+0000 afghanistan doha us afghanistan asia-pacific qatar /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/08/0a/1083568381_0:127:3189:1920_1920x0_80_0_0_afa0d3d0f222732be5eb050af62eda37.jpg This will mark the first high-level contact between the sides since the Taliban takeover in mid-August.The delegations from the US and the Taliban are expected to meet in the Qatari capital this weekend to discuss Afghanistan, Reuters reported on Friday, citing two White House officials. The US delegation will be made up of officials from the Department of State and the US intelligence community.The movement seized control of Afghanistan in August, amid the ongoing US troop withdrawal. The last province to resist the militants, Panjshir, surrendered on 6 September. Later, the Taliban announced its interim government, headed by Mohammad Hasan Akhund, who was foreign minister during the previous Taliban rule.* Taliban is a terrorist organisation banned in Russia and many other countries Preterist-ADSeventy Who were you before you morphed into Tom Hanks? 1 Preterist-ADSeventy Its more like Marxist Bidens terrorist sunni Taliban and marxist-occupied US to Discuss Sanctions, Inclusive Gov't Formation discuss more mosque attacks? infiltration of central Asian nations and sabotaging their power plants? 0 4 doha afghanistan asia-pacific Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 doha, us, afghanistan, asia-pacific, qatar https://sputniknews.com/20211009/three-decades-later-german-mushrooms-still-contaminated-by-chernobyl-radiation-1089784005.html Three Decades Later, German Mushrooms Still Contaminated by Chernobyl Radiation Three Decades Later, German Mushrooms Still Contaminated by Chernobyl Radiation According to a German food safety regulator, those who may be tempted to rummage around Munich's countryside have been warned to avoid picking blueberries... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T02:03+0000 2021-10-09T02:03+0000 2021-10-09T07:55+0000 chernobyl germany contamination chernobyl nuclear disaster mushrooms /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/101837/11/1018371174_0:405:4643:3017_1920x0_80_0_0_3be501df4cf3c5b52bdb7492cd1d5dea.jpg As a result of the 1986 Chernobyl reactor accident, around 95% of wild mushroom samples collected in Germany are still highly contaminated with dangerous levels of radioactive material, the federal office for consumer protection and food safety (BVL) announced on Friday.Scientists tested 74 samples and confirmed that none of them exceeded the legal limit of 600 becquerels of radiation per kg.The contamination of mushrooms depends on both the caesium-137 level an unstable isotope with a half-life of 30 years near the mycelium and the special accumulation capacity of the respective mushroom species.The Chernobyl reactor, located in what is now northern Ukraine, emitted nuclear waste into the atmosphere after an uncontrolled nuclear chain reaction occurred, spreading a huge amount of airborne radioactive contamination across the continent and causing a spike in cancers in the immediate region.To this day, the Ukrainian government is working on dismantling and decommissioning the power station.Wild mushrooms are known to show contamination for much longer than other agricultural products. This is due to radioactive material that lingered in forests because their ecosystem recycled nutrients so efficiently, BVL said.The long-term impact of the nuclear disaster caused widespread fear of nuclear power and strengthened anti-nuclear sentiments. A majority of Germans were concerned about the risks of the technology, triggering a decision shortly after the accident at Japan's Fukushima plant in 2011 to abandon it altogether. Nevi'im What about he Southern Hemisphere? Nuclear Testing in the Pacific 1950s-80s From the beginning of the nuclear age, the Pacific islands were used for the development and testing of nuclear weapons. Between 1946 and 1996, the United States, Britain and France conducted Cold War programs of nuclear testing in the deserts of Australia and the atolls of the central and south Pacific. Over five decades, more than 315 nuclear tests were held across the region: From 1946 to 1958, the United States conducted 67 atomic and hydrogen bomb tests at Bikini and Enewetak atolls in the Marshall Islands. In the 1960s, there were 25 further US tests at Christmas (Kiritimati) Island and nine at Johnston Atoll.[15] "Starting in 1952, the United Kingdom tested nuclear weapons in Australia and UK Pacific colonies. There were 12 atmospheric tests at the Monte Bello Islands, Maralinga and Emu Field in Australia (195257). 1 Nevi'im Under Operation Grapple, the British government conducted another nine atomic and hydrogen bomb tests at Kiritimati and Malden islands in the Gilbert and Ellice Islands colony, in 1957-58.[16] For 30 years between 1966 and 1996, France also conducted 193 atmospheric and underground nuclear tests at Moruroa and Fangataufa atolls in French Polynesia.[17] In Australia and across the region, people protested against atmospheric nuclear testing, which spread radioactive fallout across inhabited islands and further afield by winds and ocean currents. Later underground testing fractured the base of fragile atolls, contaminating the marine environment. 1 2 chernobyl germany Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Adriana Montes https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/10/1089141767_0:89:1270:1359_100x100_80_0_0_83cb4d432e11a31f4608d8cb59ecf006.jpg Adriana Montes https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/10/1089141767_0:89:1270:1359_100x100_80_0_0_83cb4d432e11a31f4608d8cb59ecf006.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Adriana Montes https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/09/10/1089141767_0:89:1270:1359_100x100_80_0_0_83cb4d432e11a31f4608d8cb59ecf006.jpg chernobyl, germany, contamination, chernobyl nuclear disaster, mushrooms https://sputniknews.com/20211009/uk-businesses-urge-government-to-deal-with-energy-prices-or-face-shutdowns-and-chaos-report-says-1089786757.html UK Businesses Urge Government to Deal With Energy Prices or Face Shutdowns and Chaos, Report Says UK Businesses Urge Government to Deal With Energy Prices or Face Shutdowns and Chaos, Report Says According to the trade association Oil and Gas UK, wholesale prices saw a 70 percent spike in August and have seen a 250-percent jump since the beginning 2021... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T07:40+0000 2021-10-09T07:40+0000 2021-10-09T07:40+0000 energy prices christmas fuel shortage uk food shortages fuel supplies uk /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/104574/83/1045748304_0:254:4928:3026_1920x0_80_0_0_36ed186bf45de84e30557d08f003acdb.jpg UK businesses have urged the government of Boris Johnson to take action to reduce energy prices as well as support industry players, warning that a failure to do so will result in shutdowns of factories and chaos, local media has reported. Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng was told during a Friday video call that electricity costs were "not sustainable" for some companies, which risk irreversible damage if they are forced to turn the power off.The meeting was attended by representatives of energy-intensive sectors, including steel, chemicals, paper, glass, cement, and ceramics.According to The Independent, during the video call Mr Kwarteng said the government was "keen to help our industrial base", but industry sources told the newspaper that the official failed to announce any action or provide guarantees, with business representatives branding the video call a listening exercise.UK Steel Director Gareth Stace said the government has to take action now.Mr Stace's statement was echoed by that of the director-general at the Confederation of Paper Industries, Andrew Large, who said there are "serious risks of factory stoppages as a result of the costs of gas being too high to bear".'Crisis Made in Downing Street'The call for swift action was supported by several conservative MPs, who urged ministers to take action against soaring prices. Andrew Bridgen, Conservative MP for North West Leicestershire, said he would support government intervention to help industries affected by the ongoing crisis."However, what we need... is a sustainable long-term energy policy based on diverse sources of supply", he said. The development comes as the Office of Gas and Electricity Markets (Ofgem) warned of a "significant" rise in heating costs for Brits in spring. Ofgem has already raised the energy price cap (the maximum price that energy suppliers are allowed to charge customers) to 1,277 ($1,751). Industry sources told The Independent, that Britons may expect a massive 34-percent jump, with prices for an average household skyrocketing to 1,700 per year ($2,314).The ongoing energy crisis has been exacerbated by the shortage of heavy goods vehicle drivers (HGV) in the country, which in turn led to problems with fuel supplies and disruption of food deliveries to supermarkets. The opposition Labour Party has blamed Boris Johnson's government for the crises.Both the shortage of HGV drivers and the spike in energy prices have affected other industries. The UK's two largest fertiliser plants, which produce CO2 (a gas used in the food industry to extend the shelf life of products) have since suspended operations due to the hike in gas prices.Industry players have already warned that Christmas risks being cancelled if the authorities fail to find a solution to promptly deliver progress. But it appears that the situation has already become dire as the Office for National Statistics revealed that one in six adults in the United Kingdom have been unable to buy essential food items in shops in recent weeks.As mentioned earlier, the pricing crisis has affected all European nations as well as countries in Asia, but Britain has reportedly been the worst affected. Experts highlight several factors that have contributed to the problem.According to the BBC, which cited a government source, the authorities are now working with the industry "on their suggestions". Reports say that the introduction of a price cap for energy suppliers is among the suggestions being tabled. Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Max Gorbachev Max Gorbachev News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Max Gorbachev energy prices, christmas, fuel shortage, uk, food shortages, fuel supplies, uk https://sputniknews.com/20211009/uk-national-space-strategy-minister-wants-domestically-made-satellites-to-compete-with-us-china--1089790536.html UK National Space Strategy: Minister Wants Domestically-Made Satellites to Compete With US, China UK National Space Strategy: Minister Wants Domestically-Made Satellites to Compete With US, China The British government unveiled the country's National Space Strategy in late September, promising to build up "one of the most innovative and attractive space... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T10:57+0000 2021-10-09T10:57+0000 2021-10-09T10:57+0000 us russia china news strategy space world satellites uk /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/05/1d/1083029790_0:161:3071:1888_1920x0_80_0_0_e9438fff8c376b7c37b61839c9f9c18c.jpg In an interview with Sky News, UK Science Minister George Freeman touched upon the country's newly rolled out National Space Strategy, stressing that the government injecting half a billion pounds ($680 million) into Britain's space industry aims to help the sector compete with major rivals from across the globe.The minister insisted that injecting money into the space industry and collaborating with European allies would help the government increase its strategic clout worldwide and turn the country into a "science superpower".Freeman referred to part of the National Space Strategy which stipulates boosting the UK's ability to not only manufacture space satellites but also launch them."I want to make sure that when we do it [the satellite], that it's an exemplar of what we've got here in the UK. It would be a shame, I think, to hit the target date and rely on overseas providers", he pointed out.Sky News reported that the UK launching a space satellite will most likely depend on how much money is left for Freeman's department in the comprehensive spending review, which is due to be released later this month.Key priorities in terms of spending include health and social care, COVID-19 recovery, and cutting carbon emissions to net-zero by 2050.The comments come almost two weeks after the British government presented the UK's National Space Strategy which aims to turn the country into a major global space power.According to the government, the strategy outlines four "key pillars which will support the achievement of that ambition", such as "unlocking growth in the space sector, collaborating internationally, growing the UK as a science and technology superpower", and "developing resilient space capabilities and services".US Rolls Out New Defence Space Strategy Britain's push for space clout was preceded by the Pentagon rolling out America's new Defence Space Strategy, which, in particular, alleged that China and Russia "present the most immediate and serious threats to US space operations".The strategy is designed to maintain the countty's supremacy in space and provide relevant capabilities to US and allied forces, including the Space Force, the newest branch of the US Armed Forces. Its mission, according to its website, is to "protect US and allied interests in space and to provide space capabilities to the joint force".Sergei Savelyev, the deputy head of Russian State Space Corporation Roscosmos warned last year that Washington's plans to militarise space "may jeopardise the already fragile relations of the countries" in the space sector.He was echoed by the Russian president's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, who emphasised that Moscow has always been committed to the full demilitarisation of outer space. The Russian Foreign Ministry, in turn, warned against an arms race in space that it said could lead to the destruction of the existing security balance. https://sputniknews.com/20210618/us-space-force-operations-chief-confirms-working-on-space-based-directed-energy-weapons-1083178576.html 2ontrack Wants to build satellites but no rockets to launch them 0 1 russia china space Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Oleg Burunov https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e4/09/0b/1080424846_0:0:2048:2048_100x100_80_0_0_3d7b461f8a98586fa3fe739930816aea.jpg us, russia, china, news, strategy, space, world, satellites, uk https://sputniknews.com/20211009/weekly-news-roundup-key-assange-witness-arrested-are-the-pandora-papers-a-cia-scam-1089782330.html Weekly News Roundup; Key Assange Witness Arrested; Are the Pandora Papers a CIA Scam? Weekly News Roundup; Key Assange Witness Arrested; Are the Pandora Papers a CIA Scam? The Pandora Papers are being more closely examined, as the conspicuous absence of any and all US oligarchs generates considerable suspicion. 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T08:58+0000 2021-10-09T08:58+0000 2021-10-09T08:58+0000 julian assange gazprom pandora papers clinton eu russiagate the critical hour radio /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/09/1089782305_29:0:1273:700_1920x0_80_0_0_a33106b65d542d69e99d281c859c0533.png Weekly News Roundup; Key Assange Witness Arrested; Are the Pandora Papers a CIA Scam? The Pandora Papers are being more closely examined, as the conspicuous absence of any and all US oligarchs generates considerable suspicion. Caleb Maupin, journalist and political analyst, joins us to wrap up the important stories for the week. US efforts to broaden sanctions on Iran are counterproductive if the US is truly interested in returning to the nuclear agreement. Also, Caleb discusses moves to rein in Pentagon spending, America's labor crisis, and the likelihood of Trump's presidency in 2024.Dr. Linwood Tauheed, associate professor of economics at the University of Missouri- Kansas City, joins us to discuss the economic stories for the week. The Senate seems to have blinked and headed off the potential for an economic catastrophe. Also, weekly jobless claims are falling, Democrats haggle over the social spending bill, and the Manchin wing of the party works to decrease help for the working class.Chris Hedges, investigative journalist, joins us to discuss his latest article about Steven Danziger. In his article, "The Anonymous Executioners of the Corporate State," Hedges explains that the United States judiciary is a farcical operation that is "engineered to favor the interests of capital."George Koo, journalist, social activist, international business consultant, and chemical engineer, and K. J. Noh, peace activist, writer, and teacher, come together to discuss important news stories for the week. The Wall Street Journal is reporting a leak that the US military has soldiers located on the island of Taiwan training military personnel. Is this a red line crossed or a planned leak to stop the possibility of rapprochement between the world's preeminent economic powers? Also, the CIA has announced a reorganization to focus on China, and the PLA has dramatically increased sorties around Taiwan.Dan Lazare, author, investigative journalist and author of "America's Undeclared War," and Martin Sieff, senior fellow at the American University in Moscow, come together to talk politics. The FBI's principal witness against Julian Assange has been arrested after admitting that his claims were bogus. Also, the Pandora Papers are being more closely examined, as the conspicuous absence of any and all US oligarchs generates considerable suspicion, the Russia-gate investigation points directly to Hillary Clinton, and Russia may rescue the EU from its catastrophic fuel crisis.We'd love to get your feedback at radio@sputniknews.com Carolyn Bennett PhD Why does Wilmer Leon constantly talk over The Critical Hour guests? This habit is off-putting for listeners and rude to guests. If he wants to dominate with his positions or beliefs, he should establish a solo program featuring, exclusively, his ideas, positions, and beliefs. 0 Truth 101 Our most beloved, glorious and imperial Empire, is it going to hell in a hand basket? 0 3 Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Wilmer Leon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg Wilmer Leon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Wilmer Leon https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/02/12/1082114047_0:-1:238:238_100x100_80_0_0_4e3adef3e334e381bffe19d388f4b776.jpg julian assange, gazprom, pandora, papers, clinton, eu, russiagate, the critical hour, , radio https://sputniknews.com/20211009/where-is-the-border-czar-kamala-harris-skips-us-mexico-border-security-meeting-1089796734.html 'Where is the Border Czar?': Kamala Harris Skips US-Mexico Border Security Meeting 'Where is the Border Czar?': Kamala Harris Skips US-Mexico Border Security Meeting US Vice President Kamala Harris was tasked by President Joe Biden with coordinating the nation's response to the migrant crisis on the American southern... 09.10.2021, Sputnik International 2021-10-09T18:58+0000 2021-10-09T18:58+0000 2021-10-09T18:58+0000 us mexico migrant crisis vice president kamala harris /html/head/meta[@name='og:title']/@content /html/head/meta[@name='og:description']/@content https://cdnn1.img.sputniknews.com/img/07e5/0a/09/1089796893_0:0:3237:1822_1920x0_80_0_0_fc62cc02424d36a926df5362343e9845.jpg Vice President Kamala Harris was notably absent at the US-Mexico border security meeting in Mexico City, visiting a vaccination centre in New Jersey on Friday instead.Many other top officials from the Biden administration attended the meeting, among them Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, US Attorney General Merrick Garland, and US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar. Mayorkas described Friday's High-Level Security Dialogue as "an important new phase in the US-Mexico security partnership"; however, Kamala Harris, who was officially appointed to tackle the migrant crisis at the southern border, was not there to participate, nor did she provide any official comment in regard to the meeting.The only time the vice president paid a visit to the US border, which is currently seeing an increased number of migrants, was in late June, when Harris arrived in El Paso, Texas. Conservative critics, however, still slammed her for failing to visit Fort Bliss, where the government has erected the country's largest processing centre for unaccompanied migrant children, and other areas along the southern border hit by the unprecedented amount of migrants.Republican Senator Ted Cruz, for his part, said her visit took place 800 miles from the epicentre of the migrant crossings in the Rio Grande Valley, calling her border trip "nothing short of a glorified photo-op".At the time, Harris argued during a presser that the border crisis "cannot be reduced to a political issue", asserting that "we have to deal with causes, and we have to deal with the effects". Since then, however, she has not become a frequent guest at the southern border. She continues to keep a low profile, rarely offering comments or official statements in regard to the matter. In September, the US border saw yet another spike of migrants, this time from Haiti, with thousands of people flocking under a Rio Grande bridge in Del Rio, Texas. Harris only commented on the situation after footage emerged supposedly showing border agents on horseback whipping and pushing illegal migrants, with the vice president voicing her "grave concerns" and said it was "horrible" to watch. However, the photographer behind the pictures in question later clarified that the border agents never actually attacked the migrants in the way it initially appeared, and the border officers themselves decried the readiness of the Biden administration to throw them under the bus without the benefit of the doubt.Now, as yet another border-related meeting does not involve Harris, the vice president is seeing a decline in her approval ratings, with only 49 percent of respondents in a late September Gallup poll satisfied with how she is doing her job. Her boss, President Joe Biden, enjoys even less public support, with over half of voters, 52 percent, disapproving of his performance in the Oval Office. TruePatriot Just like JObama isn't allowed to take any questions, Giggles isn't allowed too much on camera. I sense Valerie Jarrett lurking in the background calling the shots. 1 1 mexico Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 2021 Daria Bedenko Daria Bedenko News en_EN Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 1920 1080 true 1920 1440 true 1920 1920 true Sputnik International feedback@sputniknews.com +74956456601 MIA Rosiya Segodnya 252 60 Daria Bedenko us, mexico, migrant crisis, vice president, kamala harris Despite staying parked when pressing for the lead around the final turn, Chris Ryder trainee Niki Hill powered to the lead and strode to a 1:51.2 win in the first of two divisions for the $254,000 International Stallion Stakes Two-Year-Old Filly Pace at The Red Mile on Friday (Oct. 8) to remain unbeaten from six starts. The Always B Miki filly landed in fourth while Sloopy set the pace to a :28.2 first quarter and soon yielded control up the backside to Cape Cod Hanover, who anxiously vacated the cones and swept to the top before a :56.4 half. Driver Dexter Dunn floated Niki Hill first over moving to the final turn with Lyons Serenity in tow and rolled to nearly clear the lead. Cape Cod Hanover accelerated to the inside and kept her wide to three-quarters in 1:25.1, but Niki Hill surged back to the lead off the turn with a wall of horses charging from behind. Queen Of Success stormed from third over to snag second, beaten two lengths, with A Girl That Twirls closing for third and Lyons Serenity finishing fourth. We had a minor hiccup before we qualified her she got a stone bruise in her foot, trainer Chris Ryder said after the race. We werent really concerned about it because a stone got literally caught in her foot and bruised her up. Im a lot happier to have six starts instead of nine or 10 by now because we have a couple races at the end of the year we want to concentrate on. Niki Hill paid $2.10 to win. She extended her unbeaten record while upping her bankroll to $322,064 for owner Tom Hill. A heated tempo poised 43-1 shot Frantasy Hanover to fire down the center of the course and nail her stablemate at the beam in the other division of the International Stallion, stopping the clock in 1:51.2. Southwind Java sped off the wings for the front with Galleria Hanover settling into second to a :27 first quarter. Galleria Hanover soon vacated the pocket to the backside and circled to the top as Dont Fence Me In got underway out of fourth and marched to clear the lead past a :54.4 half. Yes And Yes, the 4-5 favourite, followed her move and raced uncovered into the final turn, pressing pacesetter Dont Fence Me In to three-quarters in 1:22.1. Off the turn, Dont Fence Me In started to tire as Yes And Yes forged to the lead. But Frantasy Hanover, racing last through the mile, came widest of all and charged with open racetrack ahead for the lead to get a nose up just in time over Yes And Yes. Dont Fence Me In held third and Galleria Hanover took fourth. This filly here, obviously we really didnt know [what she had], winning driver Joe Bongiorno said after the race of the filly debuting for trainer Ron Burke. She was a longshot in this race. [Ronnie] did say she would be good, but shes got to step up to go with these horses today and thats just what she did. Frantasy Hanover, a filly by Always B Miki, scored her second victory from six starts, paying $89.60 to win. She has earned $74,218 to date for owner Christopher Nicol. Each division of the International Stallion Stakes for two-year-old pacing fillies was sponsored by the American Ideal Syndicate and Brittany Farms. Branded By Lindy on Top in International Stallion Stakes Sent the odds-on choice, Branded By Lindy lunged by his competition, including Peter Haughton champ King Of The North, to post a 1:53.2 victory in taking the first of four divisions for the $302,000 International Stallion Stake Two-Year-Old Colt & Gelding Trot on Friday (Oct. 8) at The Red Mile. Letsdoit S shot for the lead to a :28.4 first quarter while the two favourites lagged behind the leaders in a positional stalemate that eventually settled with King Of The North fronting Branded By Lindy towards the back. The pair recouped lost ground to a :56.3 half, where driver Yannick Gingras flushed cover for Branded By Lindy from King Of The North and rode a steady tow towards the front around the final turn. Gigondas circled to lead the field into the final turn and maintained control to three-quarters in 1:26.1 with King Of The North gradually gaining on the outside. Gingras angled Branded By Lindy to the centre of the course off the turn and promptly surged by his competition to win by a length past the beam. Letsdoit S shot through an opening at the pylons for second while King Of The North settled for third and Gigondas faded to fourth. Hes like racing a four-year-old really, Gingras said after the race. Hes really mature and you can do whatever you want with him. Hes obviously got the ability, the speed, but just being able to race him any which way you want, thats what makes him so strong. He had more too left. Mark [MacDonald and King Of The North] was backing up to try to get me in front of him, but that wasnt going to happen, Gingras also said. I wanted to follow him. Hes a great horse, King Of The North, and I figured hed get me where I need to go. I was just hoping to be a couple lengths off at the top of the stretch and I thought he could get the job done from there. Like I said, Im really impressed by him, I trusted him and he got the job done easily. A winner of seven races from nine starts, Branded By Lindy has banked $143,350 for owner/breeder Lindy Farms of Connecticut. Domenico Cecere trains the son of Chapter Seven, who paid $3.80 to win. Several of the top betting interests in the second split of the International Stallion went on gallops, but World At War Deo stayed flat and in a striking spot to pounce and score in a 1:54.1 mile. Keg Stand kicked off the car and quickly jumped off stride to the first turn while Rose Run Xtra slotted in behind early leader World At War Deo. Rose Run Xtra then moved for the lead through a :28 first quarter as Stride The Hill broke stride from fourth. Rose Run Xtra led unchallenged through a :56.4 half while Tachyon tipped first over and carried Classic Hill second over to the final turn. Rose Run Xtras advantage narrowed to three-quarters in 1:26.2 as Tachyon upped the pressure and Classic Hill fanned off cover before he then broke stride through the stretch. Tachyon took over a short lead as Rose Run Xtra drifted and faded between horses, but World At War Deo shot through the developed gap to the inside and coasted to a length victory over closing Majestic J to the finish. Tachyon took third and Rose Run Xtra settled for fourth. Owned by Steve Heimbecker, Blue Chip Bloodstock Inc., Michael Guerriero and Menary Racing Inc., World At War Deo collected his fourth win from 10 starts, pushing his earnings to $97,697. Dave Menary trains the son of Chapter Seven, who returned $10 to win. Of note, the win with World At War Deo vaulted driver Yannick Gingras over the US$200 million mark in career earnings, making him just the sixth driver in North American harness racing history to achieve that accomplishment. Gingras joins John Campbell, David Miller, Tim Tetrick, Ron Pierce, and Brian Sears as the only drivers to surpass that plateau. Rebuff rolled off a helmet to a comfortable 1-1/2-length victory in the third split of the International Stallion as the odds-on choice in a 1:52.2 effort. Periculum pushed for the front to a :28.3 first quarter with Villain sitting the pocket and Fast As The Wind in third. Rebuff raced fifth to the backside and managed to grab cover from Pretender to a :56.1 half, ranging to within two lengths of the lead to three-quarters in 1:24.2. Driver Tim Tetrick launched Rebuff off cover at the bottom of the turn and darted to the lead as Periculum scooted up the pylons to give pursuit through the final eighth, though settling for second to the finish. Global Pandemic rallied for third and Pretender held fourth. Co-owned by trainer Lucas Wallin with Kjell Andersen and Pieter Delis, Rebuff won his second race from nine starts, pushing his earnings to $131,595. The Muscle Hill colt paid $3.60 to win. The final split of the International Stallion went to Temporal Hanover, who tipped out of the pocket and cruised home a 1:53.2 winner. Grabbing command to a :29 first quarter, Temporal Hanover yielded control up the backside to 1-5 favourite Slay, who then took the field to the half in :56.4. Temporal Hanover stayed put until the bottom of the final bend when driver Brian Sears inched the Walner colt out of second by three-quarters in 1:25.3 and swiftly put away Slay through the straightaway. B A Superhero took second in a photo with Slay, beaten 4-1/4 lengths, with Golden Wall As finishing third. Hes been racing well all year, trainer Marcus Melander said after the race. He was a little bit sick in the final of the William Wellwood, but hes always showed up. Owned by AMG Stable Inc., Kenneth Kjellgren, Rick Wahlstedt and Heights Stable, Temporal Hanover won his fifth race from 10 starts, pushing his earnings to $198,666. He paid $8.80 to win. Each division of the International Stallion Stakes for freshman trotting colts was sponsored by the Six Pack Syndicate and Deo Volente Farms. Live harness racing resumes at The Red Mile on Saturday (Oct. 9) with stakes action including the $314,000 International Stallion Stakes for two-year-old trotting fillies and the $289,900 International Stallion Stakes for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings. Sundays card will feature a tribute to the late champion trainer Ron Gurfein, who passed away in May of this year. The memorial for Gurfein will be held after the second race, with horsemen leaving the paddock to come to the front stretch for a moment of silence and a memorial video. First-race post time at The Red Mile is 1:00 p.m. (EDT). (With files from The Red Mile) Heading into the final for the New Jersey Sire Stakes-Standardbred Development Fund series for two-year-old colt and gelding trotters at Freehold Raceway on Friday (October 8), the only question appeared to be if Delgado could set another track record. He lowered the mark for two-year-old geldings to 1:57 in leg one of the series, then matched the mark in victory in leg 2. As it turned out, a track record was set, but by Delgado's stablemate. Saverio Hanover, trained by Ron Coyne Jr, became the fastest two-year-old trotter in Freehold history, winning by half a length in a blazing 1:56. Leaving from post position one, driver Dan Dube blasted Delgado to the lead and opened up a huge advantage. No one tried to go with him, and as they moved past the half-mile point, it looked like Delgado was in a world of his own. He was 13-1/2 lengths in front, after setting the opening quarter in :27.3 and the opening half in :56. At this point, the world record for two-year-old geldings of 1:55.4 seemed within reach. As they neared three-quarters, Delgado began to tire. He still held a massive advantage, but his strides were shortening. Second choice Brave By Design and Saverio Hanover were there to pick up the pieces, and as they turned for home, they rolled by the exhausted leader. Saverio Hanover held off Brave by Design, and crossed the wire a winner. Delgado was third, beaten 1-1/2 lengths. Coyne co-owns the winner with Blair Corbeil, while Vinny Ginsburg had the winning drive. Saverio Hanover's now earned more than $46,000, with two wins from six starts. A few races earlier, Gertrude was the 1/5 favourite in the final for two-year-old filly trotters on the basis of impressive wins in the first two legs of the series. Leaving from post position two, Tyler Miller initially elected to tuck back into the pocket, and let Pretty Interesting set the early fractions. After an opening quarter in :28.4, Miller elected not to wait any longer, and popped Gertrude out of the pocket and retook the lead. Once he established control with his filly, Miller slowed things down dramatically, going the half-mile in :59.3. This backed up the rest of the field and gave Gertrude a big edge. As they turned for home, she pulled away from the others easily, and crossed the line 1-3/4 lengths in front. The final time was 1:57.3. Gertrude has now won five times from nine starts, with earnings of more than $139,000. She's owned by Andy Miller Stables Inc and trained by Julie Miller. Live harness racing continues at Freehold Raceway on Saturday (October 9), starting at about 12:30 p.m. (Freehold) Saturday, October 9, 2021 OECD, International Community Strikes a Ground-Breaking Tax Deal For the Digital Age: Major reform of the international tax system finalised today at the OECD will ensure that Multinational Enterprises (MNEs) will be subject to a minimum 15% tax rate from 2023. The landmark deal, agreed by 136 countries and jurisdictions representing more than 90% of global GDP, will also reallocate more than USD 125 billion of profits from around 100 of the worlds largest and most profitable MNEs to countries worldwide, ensuring that these firms pay a fair share of tax wherever they operate and generate profits. Following years of intensive negotiations to bring the international tax system into the 21st century, 136 jurisdictions (out of the 140 members of the OECD/G20 Inclusive Framework on BEPS) joined the Statement on the Two-Pillar Solution to Address the Tax Challenges Arising from the Digitalisation of the Economy. It updates and finalises a July political agreement by members of the Inclusive Framework to fundamentally reform international tax rules. With Estonia, Hungary and Ireland having joined the agreement, it is now supported by all OECD and G20 countries. Four countries Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have not yet joined the agreement. The two-pillar solution will be delivered to the G20 Finance Ministers meeting in Washington D.C. on 13 October, then to the G20 Leaders Summit in Rome at the end of the month. The global minimum tax agreement does not seek to eliminate tax competition, but puts multilaterally agreed limitations on it, and will see countries collect around USD 150 billion in new revenues annually. Pillar One will ensure a fairer distribution of profits and taxing rights among countries with respect to the largest and most profitable multinational enterprises. It will re-allocate some taxing rights over MNEs from their home countries to the markets where they have business activities and earn profits, regardless of whether firms have a physical presence there. Specifically, multinational enterprises with global sales above EUR 20 billion and profitability above 10% that can be considered as the winners of globalisation will be covered by the new rules, with 25% of profit above the 10% threshold to be reallocated to market jurisdictions. Under Pillar One, taxing rights on more than USD 125 billion of profit are expected to be reallocated to market jurisdictions each year. Developing country revenue gains are expected to be greater than those in more advanced economies, as a proportion of existing revenues. Pillar Two introduces a global minimum corporate tax rate set at 15%. The new minimum tax rate will apply to companies with revenue above EUR 750 million and is estimated to generate around USD 150 billion in additional global tax revenues annually. Further benefits will also arise from the stabilisation of the international tax system and the increased tax certainty for taxpayers and tax administrations. Todays agreement will make our international tax arrangements fairer and work better, said OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. This is a major victory for effective and balanced multilateralism. It is a far-reaching agreement which ensures our international tax system is fit for purpose in a digitalised and globalised world economy. We must now work swiftly and diligently to ensure the effective implementation of this major reform, Secretary-General Cormann said. Countries are aiming to sign a multilateral convention during 2022, with effective implementation in 2023. The convention is already under development and will be the vehicle for implementation of the newly agreed taxing right under Pillar One, as well as for the standstill and removal provisions in relation to all existing Digital Service Taxes and other similar relevant unilateral measures. This will bring more certainty and help ease trade tensions. The OECD will develop model rules for bringing Pillar Two into domestic legislation during 2022, to be effective in 2023. Developing countries, as members of the Inclusive Framework on an equal footing, have played an active role in the negotiations and the Two-Pillar Solution contains a number of features to ensure that the concerns of low-capacity countries are addressed. The OECD will ensure the rules can be effectively and efficiently administered, also offering comprehensive capacity building support to countries which need it. https://taxprof.typepad.com/taxprof_blog/2021/10/136-countries-agree-to-15-global-minimum-corporate-tax-rate.html Former Facebook data scientist Frances Haugen, center, departs after a hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, in Washington. Credit: AP Photo/Alex Brandon Facebook has recently taken a harsher tone toward whistleblower Frances Haugen, suggesting that the social network could be considering legal retaliation after Haugen went public with internal research that she copied before leaving her job earlier this year. U.S. law protects whistleblowers who disclose information about potential misconduct to the government. But that protection doesn't necessarily cover taking corporate secrets to the media. Facebook still has to walk a fine line. The company has to weigh whether suing Haugen, which could dissuade other employees who might otherwise speak out, is worth casting itself as a legal Godzilla willing to stomp on a woman who says she's just doing the right thing. Haugen may face other consequences. Whistleblowers often put themselves at risk of professional damageother firms may be reluctant to hire them in the futureand personal attacks from being in the public eye. Facebook did not respond to emailed questions. WHAT DID HAUGEN DO? Haugen secretly copied a trove of internal Facebook documents before leaving the company and subsequently had her lawyers file complaints with the Securities and Exchange Commission alleging that Facebook hides what it knows about the negative effects of its platform. John Tye, her lawyer, said the team gave redacted documents to Congress, where Haugen testified on Tuesday, and also informed officials in California. Haugen also shared documents with the Wall Street Journal, which she started talking to in December, leading to a series of explosive stories that began in mid-September. WHAT WAS FACEBOOK'S RESPONSE? The company says it has been mischaracterized. "I think most of us just don't recognize the false picture of the company that is being painted," CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote to employees on Tuesday. Some company officials have also begun using harsher language to describe Haugen's actions that could be interpreted as threatening. In an Associated Press interview Thursday, Facebook executive Monika Bickert repeatedly referred to the documents Haugen copied as "stolen," a word she has also used in other media interviews. David Colapinto, a lawyer for Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto who specializes in whistleblower cases, said that language was threatening. In the same interview, asked if Facebook would sue or retaliate against the whistleblower, Bickert said only, "I can't answer that." Former Facebook data scientist Frances Haugen speaks during a hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, in Washington. Credit: Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via AP, Pool A week earlier, Antigone Davis, Facebook's head of global safety, testified in the Senate that Facebook "would never retaliate against someone for speaking to Congress," which left open the possibility that the company might go after her for giving documents to the Journal. IS HAUGEN PROTECTED? Various laws offer whistleblower protection at both the state and federal levels. The federal laws applicable to Haugen are the Dodd-Frank Act, a 2010 Wall Street reform law, and the Sarbanes Oxley Act, a 2002 law that followed the collapse of Enron and other accounting scandals. Dodd-Frank expanded protections for whistleblowers and empowered the SEC to take action against a company that threatens a whistleblower. Protections exist for both employees and former employees, experts say. Asked about her risk because she went to the media, Haugen's lawyer, Tye, maintains that because Haugen went to the SEC, Congress and state authorities, she's entitled to whistleblower protections. He said any suit from Facebook would be "frivolous" and that Facebook has not been in touch. WHAT ABOUT HER LEAKS TO THE MEDIA? Courts haven't tested whether leaking to the media is protected under Dodd-Frank, but Colapinto said the U.S. Secretary of Labor determined decades ago that environmental and nuclear-safety whistleblowers' communications with the media were protected. He argues that the language of Sarbanes-Oxley is modeled on those earlier statutes, and Haugen should have the same protections for any of her communications with reporters. Facebook could allege that Haugen broke her nondisclosure agreement by sharing company documents with the press, leaking trade secrets or just by making comments Facebook considers defamatory, said Lisa Banks of Katz, Marshall and Banks, who has worked on whistleblower cases for decades. "Like many whistleblowers, she's extraordinarily brave and puts herself at personal and professional risk in shining a light on these practices," she said. Haugen effectively used leaks to the media to turn up the pressure on Congress and government regulators. Colapinto said her disclosures had a public-interest purpose that could complicate enforcing the NDA if Facebook chose to do so. COULD FACEBOOK FACE BLOWBACK? Facebook probably wants its veiled threats to unnerve other employees or former employees who might be tempted to speak out. "If they go after her, it won't be because they necessarily think they have a strong case legally, but sending a message to other would-be whistleblowers that they intend to play hardball," Banks said. But she said it would be a "disaster" for Facebook to go after Haugen. Regardless of potential legal vulnerabilities, Facebook might look like a bully if it pursued a legal case against her. "The last thing Facebook needs is to rouse the ire of governmental authorities and the public at large by playing the role of the big bad giant company against the courageous individual whistleblower," said Neil Getnick, whose firm, Getnick and Getnick, represents whistleblowers. Explore further Facebook exec: We do not prioritize engagement over safety 2021 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Policy & Funding 4 More States Get Approval for American Rescue Plan Funds, Receive $2.8 Billion The United States Department of Education has approved school plans from four more states and delivered a total of $2.817 billion in remaining American Rescue Plan funds to those states. The four states, whose awards were announced Friday, Oct. 8, and Thursday, Oct. 7, include: Wyoming, which received the remaining $101 million of its ARP funds, for a total of $303 million; Michigan, which is receiving its remaining $1.2 billion in ARP funds, for a total of $3.7 billion; Missouri, which received its final $654 million, for a total of $1.9 billion; and Arizona, which received its final $862 million, for a total of $2.5 billion. Those four join North Carolina, Nevada, Maine and Idaho, which had their plans approved last month and received $1.84 billion in remaining ARP funds. That's about $4.657 billion distributed since the start of the school year. A total of 41 states have had their plans approved since June, according to ED. ED distributed about two-thirds of ARP ESSER funds earlier this year and is now working with remaining states to distribute the final third. Information about the American Rescue Plan can be found at whitehouse.gov. Policy & Education Security K12 Cybersecurity Act Signed into Law On Friday, Oct. 8, President Biden signed the K12 Cybersecurity Act of 2021 into law. The act comes in response to growing data security incidents impacting K12 schools in recent years, including a dramatic rise in ransomware and other forms of malware. On its own, the legislation is fairly simple: It authorizes the director of the Cybersecurity and Infrastructure Security Agency (CISA) to conduct a study within 120 days of the specific risks impacting K12 institutions. Following that, the director will develop, within 60 days, recommendations for cybersecurity guidelines for K12 schools, based on the results of the study. And following that, within 120 days, will create an online training toolkit for "officials" at K12 schools. Doug Levin, national director for the nonprofit K12 Security Information Exchange (K12 SIX), noted that the new law is significant in several ways, not the least of which that it is the federal government's first formal foray into K12 data security. "In parallel with the rise of technology use in schools and classrooms, the cybersecurity challenges facing school districts are growing both more frequent and significant. The passage of the K-12 Cybersecurity Act of 2021 underscores the magnitude of these challenges and the importance of marshaling federal resources to address them," Levin told THE Journal. "While a handful of states including Texas, New York and New Hampshire have taken steps to shore up school district cybersecurity risk management practices, this act marks the first foray of the federal government into the issue. While we expect benefits from its passage, our hope is that this is only the first step in a longer legislative process to address the systemic issues that make cybersecurity risk management a particular challenge for school districts." Levin also expressed hope that, while much work has already been done in K12, this study will dig deeper into systemic issues in K12 data security. "Based on research that we and others have already done, we already understand a lot about K12 cyber incident trends and experiences. And, existing guidance from CISA, MS-ISAC, and the FBI targeted to school districts is useful for what it is. The opportunity for this study is to dig a layer deeper and shed light on the systemic issues responsible for the situation we find ourselves in issues such as the lack of K12 cybersecurity expectations and standards, uneven school cyber incident reporting requirements and a lack of resources to adequately protect schools from risks such as ransomware and phishing attacks. There are many common sense steps that the federal government can take that would be of help and we at the K12 Security Information Exchange stand ready to work hand-in-hand with Congress, CISA and all other parties to make real and lasting progress on the issue." The findings of the study, the recommendations resulting from it and the online toolkit are all to be made available through the Department of Homeland Security's website. The recommendations developed from the study, according to the text of the legislation, are to be adopted by schools on a voluntary basis. Said Levin: "It is our hope that the forthcoming study and recommendations from CISA help lay the foundation for more robust K12-specific cybersecurity legislation in future sessions of Congress." ASSET by asset, the liquidators of the CL Financial group are selling off the company that it took Cyril Duprey and his nephew, Lawrence, 73 years to build up. The liquidators are plodding through the sale of thousands of acres of land, millions of dollars worth of shares in a local conglomerate, a major local insurance firm, a manufacturer of resins and a security company. Sponsored: Ministry of Planning In previous articles weve covered a few of the most significant issues facing the environment today and how our Government is addressing these. A large part of our, and indeed many other countries, strategy to do this involves being part of Multilateral Environmental Agreements (MEAs) and a crucial factor for the successful implementation of MEAs is our youth. More here Looking on: Prime Minister Dr Keith Rowley, from right, Attorney General Faris Al-Rawi and National Security Minister Fitzgerald Hinds at yesterdays budget debate in the Lower House of Parliament, at the Red House, Port of Spain. Photo: Office of the Parliament More than 9,000 businesses in Ho Chi Minh City have resumed operations after COVID-19 social distancing measures were loosened last week. At a meeting on Thursday, Pham Duc Hai, deputy head of the municipal steering committee for COVID-19 prevention and control, stated that more enterprises have become active again in recent times. From October 1 to 3, a total of 5,279 businesses in the city returned to their normal operations, Hai stated. By October 6, the number had increased to around 9,200, the official continued. Before the fourth outbreak that hit the country on April 27, the southern city saw approximately 288,000 workers at local industrial parks and export processing zones. Prior to October 1, only 70,000 of them remained at work, accounting for 24.3 percent, while the remaining were laid off or ceased working due to stagnant business and production during the social distancing drive. However, the ratio of working staff had climbed to 66.9 percent by October 6. At the Saigon Hi-Tech Park in Thu Duc City, 88 out of 118 companies have also been back into operation. Many workers at industrial parks, export processing zones, and the hi-tech park have yet to return to work as they already left the metropolis for their hometowns, Hai elaborated. Ho Chi Minh City always appreciates the important contributions of workers, including internal migrant staff, in the citys development, the official continued. The local government has formulated many supportive policies and hopes that laborers will soon return and go back to work, he added. Vietnam had documented 831,643 COVID-19 cases by Friday night, with 759,482 recoveries and 20,337 deaths, according to the Ministry of Health. The country has recorded 827,033 local infections in 62 out of 63 provinces and cities since the fourth wave began on April 27. Ho Chi Minh City leads the table with 407,399 cases. The city had implemented social distancing measures at various levels since May 31 before relaxing multiple restrictions on October 1, as the majority of its adult population have been vaccinated with at least one dose. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Vietnamese Ministry of Transport has allowed 38 flights on 19 domestic routes, including those connecting such big cities as Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, and Da Nang, to resume operations on Sunday. The ministry reached an agreement with relevant localities on the flight resumption following a nationwide teleconference chaired by Deputy Prime Minister Le Van Thanh on Friday. Vietnamese airlines will operate 14 return flights between Ho Chi Minh City and other localities, two others from Hanoi, two from Da Nang, and one from Thanh Hoa Province every day on a trial basis from Sunday to October 20. Passengers will be required to present full vaccination record cards, with the second dose taken at least 14 days and no longer than 12 months before departure, or COVID-19 recovery certificates issued six months before departure time. In addition, passengers must show negative COVID-19 test certificates issued within 72 hours before boarding time. Upon arrival, they have to self-monitor their health at home or place of residence for seven days and will be tested for COVID-19 on the second and seventh days. Passengers will be prevented from boarding the flights if they have such symptoms as a cough, fever, shortness of breath, muscle aches, or a sore throat. The Civil Aviation Authority of Vietnam previously asked airlines to suspend regular domestic routes in July due to the worsening pandemic in the country. Only cargo services and some passenger flights primarily for officers performing public duties, people serving the fight against COVID-19, and those who have got approval from local authorities to travel are currently operating. Speaking at Fridays meeting, Deputy PM Thanh said the resumption of flights is necessary to gradually restore socio-economic development. Vietnam has found 827,033 community transmissions in 62 out of its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth and worst virus wave emerged on April 27. Ho Chi Minh City has been hit the hardest with 407,399 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 220,480, Dong Nai Province with 53,752, Long An Province with 33,092, Tien Giang Province with 14,433, Dong Thap Province with 8,539, and Khanh Hoa Province with 8,152. Infection rates have slowed down in Ho Chi Minh City, Hanoi, Da Nang, and the localities that agreed to the flight resumption in recent times. Since the COVID-19 pandemic first struck the country early last year, the national tally has reached 831,643 patients, including 759,482 recoveries and 20,337 deaths. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! PARIS -- A group of 136 countries on Friday set a minimum global tax rate of 15% for big companies and sought to make it harder for them to avoid taxation in a landmark deal that U.S. President Joe Biden said levelled the playing field. The deal aims to end a four-decade-long "race to the bottom" by setting a floor for countries that have sought to attract investment and jobs by taxing multinational companies lightly, effectively allowing them to shop around for low tax rates. The 15% floor agreed to is, however, well below a corporate tax rate which averages around 23.5% in industrialised countries. Some developing countries that had wanted a higher rate said their interests had been sidelined to accommodate richer nations, while NGOs criticized the deal's many exemptions, with Oxfam saying it effectively had "no teeth." The accord also promises to be a tough sell in Washington, where a group of Republican U.S. senators sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen saying they had serious concerns. Negotiations have been going on for four years, with the deal finally agreed when Ireland, Estonia and Hungary dropped their opposition and signed up. The deal aims to stop large firms booking profits in low-tax countries such as Ireland regardless of where their clients are, an issue that has become ever more pressing with the growth of 'Big Tech' giants that can easily do business across borders. "Establishing, for the first time in history, a strong global minimum tax will finally even the playing field for American workers and taxpayers, along with the rest of the world," Biden said in a statement. Out of the 140 countries involved, 136 supported the deal, with Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka abstaining for now. The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which has been leading the talks, said that the deal would cover 90% of the global economy. "We have taken another important step towards more tax justice," German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said in a statement emailed to Reuters. "We now have a clear path to a fairer tax system, where large global players pay their fair share wherever they do business," his British counterpart Rishi Sunak said. But with the ink barely dry, some countries were already raising concerns about implementing the deal. The Swiss finance ministry demanded that the interests of small economies be taken into account and said that the 2023 implementation date was impossible. In the United States, meanwhile, Republican senators said they were concerned the Biden administration was considering circumventing the need to obtain the Senate's authority to implement treaties. Under the Constitution, the Senate must ratify any treaty with a two-thirds majority, or 67 votes. Biden's fellow Democrats control only 50 seats in the 100-member chamber. And Republicans in recent years have been overwhelmingly hostile to treaties and have backed cuts in corporate taxes. Hungarian Finance Minister Mihaly Varga speaks to a business conference in Budapest, Hungary, March 10, 2020. Photo: Reuters The reaction to the deal from U.S. markets was muted, with investors focused instead on the latest payrolls data. Some of the Big Tech companies, often cited by critics for seeking to lower taxes through operations overseas, welcomed the accord. "We are pleased to see an emerging international consensus," said Nick Clegg, Facebook Inc vice president of global affairs. "Facebook has long called for reform of the global tax rules, and we recognise this could mean paying more tax, and in different places." An Amazon.com Inc spokesperson said the company supports the "progress towards a consensus-based solution for international tax harmonization, and we look forward to their continued technical work." Analysts at Morgan Stanley said that tech hardware, some media services, and healthcare appeared to be the most exposed to a 15% minimum tax rate. 'Increased prosperity' Central to the agreement is a minimum corporate tax rate of 15% and allowing governments to tax a greater share of foreign multinationals' profits. Yellen hailed it as a victory for American families as well as international business. "We've turned tireless negotiations into decades of increased prosperity for both America and the world. Today's agreement represents a once-in-a-generation accomplishment for economic diplomacy," Yellen said in a statement. The OECD said that the minimum rate would see countries collect around $150 billion in new revenues annually while taxing rights on more than $125 billion of profit would be shifted to countries where big multinationals earn their income. Ireland, Estonia and Hungary, all low tax countries, dropped their objections this week as a compromise emerged on a deduction from the minimum rate for multinationals with real physical business activities abroad. Graphics: Reuters 'No teeth' However, many developing countries have said their interests have been ignored and that wealthy nations were likely to continue dividing up the spoils of foreign direct investment. Argentine Economy Minister Martin Guzman said on Thursday that the proposals forced developing countries to choose between "something bad and something worse". Campaign groups such as Oxfam said that the deal would not end tax havens. "The tax devil is in the details, including a complex web of exemptions," Oxfam tax policy lead Susana Ruiz said in a statement. "At the last minute a colossal 10-year grace period was slapped onto the global corporate tax of 15%, and additional loopholes leave it with practically no teeth," Ruiz added. Companies with real assets and payrolls in a country can ensure some of their income avoids the new minimum tax rate. The level of the exemption tapers over a 10-year period. The OECD said that the deal would next go to the Group of 20 economic powers to formally endorse at a finance ministers' meeting in Washington on Oct. 13 and then on to a G20 leaders summit at the end of the month in Rome for final approval. Countries that back the deal are supposed to bring it onto their law books next year so that it can take effect from 2023, which many officials have said is extremely tight. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Paris would use its European Union presidency during the first half of 2022 to translate the agreement into law across the 27-nation bloc. Authorities in Ho Chi Minh City are set to begin the gradual restructuring of COVID-19 field hospitals this month as the citys infection rate has slowed down and its vaccination program is sped up. As per the road map set out by the municipal Department of Health, schools, dormitories, and apartment buildings that have been requisitioned for COVID-19 quarantine and treatment purposes will return to their original functions in three phases, starting at the end of this month and lasting until December. COVID-19 field hospitals No. 3, 6, and 8, which were equipped with oxygen supply and resuscitation beds in the Thu Thiem resettlement area, located in Thu Duc City, and COVID-19 field hospital No. 5 in District 5 will be the last to bite the dust. They will continue admitting coronavirus inpatients after other infirmaries of their class are shuttered. At the same time, 15 district-level COVID-19 field hospitals with a combined capacity of nearly 7,000 beds will receive patients whose houses fail to meet home quarantine requirements, as Vietnam quarantines suspected cases, patients, and their contacts both at home and centralized facilities. The health department requested districts without COVID-19 field hospitals quickly set up one with at least 300 beds, 30 to 50 of which must include oxygen tanks. Either district-level or city-level hospitals located in the same neighborhood will manage the newly-established field hospitals. In addition, district authorities must relocate field hospitals inside the premises of schools to new appropriate facilities. Three of the citys ten resuscitation centers managed by Viet Duc University Hospital doctors from Hanoi, Bach Mai Hospital staff from the capital, and Hue Central Hospital medics from Thua Thien-Hue Province will be respectively handed over to the University of Medicine and Pharmacy at Ho Chi Minh City on October 15, Gia Dinh Peoples Hospital on October 20, and 115 Peoples Hospital at the end of this year. Upon their handover, the three resuscitation centers will merge with the newly-established COVID-19 field hospitals No. 16, 13, and 14 to treat patients in three levels based on their severity. The health department will mobilize medical staff from general, specialized, and district-level hospitals across the city to work at those three field hospitals in rotation. Health authorities have established 16 city-level makeshift hospitals since early July, providing 37,000 beds for patients with no or mild symptoms. About 9,400 patients are being treated at such institutions. The restructuring of COVID-19 field hospitals in Ho Chi Minh City comes as the citys daily infections have been on a downward trajectory, from nearly 4,700 cases on September 29 to 2,215 on Friday. Over seven million of its nearly-nine-million population have been given at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose and above 4.9 million have been fully vaccinated, according to the national COVID-19 vaccination portal. The hardest-hit locality since the fourth virus wave struck Vietnam on April 27, Ho Chi Minh City has reported 407,399 local patients, accounting for half of the national tally of 827,033 community transmissions. Its death toll has reached 15,603 fatalities, according to the Ministry of Health's data. Vietnam has registered 831,643 patients, including 759,482 recoveries and 20,337 deaths, since the pandemic first struck it early last year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnam has basically kept the COVID-19 pandemic at bay, with new infections and deaths falling markedly nationwide, especially in the countrys epidemic epicenters, the Ministry of Health reported at a meeting on Saturday. The meeting was held by the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control to review the COVID-19 fight from September 25 to October 8, against the backdrop that the country has gradually reopened its economy to live safely with the coronavirus. The total number of community-based COVID-19 infections over the period decreased 47.3 percent against the preceding week and 44.7 percent from two weeks earlier, Minister of Health Nguyen Thanh Long told the meeting, chaired by Prime Minister Pham Minh Chinh, who heads the committee. The number of infections across the country sharply fell to 4,795 on October 8 from 9,682 cases on September 25, a drop of more than 50 percent, according to the ministrys data. During the past seven days, Ho Chi Minh City and its three neighbors Binh Duong, Dong Nai, and Long An, the four COVID-19 hotbeds in the Southeast Asian nation, have registered sharp reductions in both new infections and deaths, Minister Long said. The city documented 15,070 COVID-19 patients in the period, down 14,766 cases from the preceding week, while Binh Duong recorded 400 positive cases, down 559, and Dong Nai reported 41 patients, down 19. Similar considerable reductions have been seen in Hanoi, Khanh Hoa, Kien Giang, and many other localities. In Ho Chi Minh City, the daily COVID-19 fatality has declined drastically, from 340 cases on August 22 to 123 on September 25 and to 78 on Friday. Ten out of the countrys 62 pandemic-hit cities and provinces have not recorded new coronavirus infections for the past 14 days, Cao Bang Province continuing to be the only location with zero known cases, the ministry said. The number of serious and critical cases during the past seven days has reduced 16.4 percent compared to the previous week. Around 91 percent of coronavirus patients have been discharged from hospitals since April 27, when the pandemics fourth wave erupted in Vietnam, the ministry reported. The ministry emphasized that the pandemic is still unpredictable in Vietnam as well as in the world, and a new wave can strike anywhere and anytime. In the past week, a large number of people have spontaneously moved back to their hometowns in the Mekong Delta from Ho Chi Minh City and its three neighbors where they had been stuck during the COVID-19 movement restrictions, the ministry said, warning that such relocation can cause further virus spread. The meeting also discussed many important issues such as arranging for people to return to their hometowns, introducing guidelines on adaptation to COVID-19 developments and effective control of the pandemic, carrying out social security activities, restoring supply chains, and others. PM Chinh asked relevant agencies to forecast upcoming epidemic developments and identify tasks and solutions to be performed in the coming time. Since it erupted in the country in early 2020, the pandemic has caused 831,643 infections, including 759,482 recoveries and 20,337 deaths, the Ministry of Health reported on Friday evening. Except Cao Bang, the coronavirus has spread to 62 out of the countrys 63 cities and provinces, Ho Chi Minh City suffering the most with 407,399 infections and 15,603 fatalities. Health workers have administered over 50 million vaccine doses, including 1,498,557 shots on Thursday, since inoculation was rolled out on March 8. More than 13.6 million people have been fully vaccinated. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! An additional donation of 603,380 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine from the U.S. to Vietnam arrived in Ho Chi Minh City on Friday evening, the U.S. Consulate General said on its verified Facebook page. The U.S. has thus donated 9.1 million vaccine shots to Vietnam so far, according to the Facebook announcement. On Friday morning, the U.S. Consulate General in Ho Chi Minh City also announced that another 397,800 doses of Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine had safely landed in Hanoi, following the two previous donations of 608,400 shots on Thursday and nearly 1.5 million jabs through the COVAX Facility on October 2. The agency said more vaccine donations from the U.S. are on the way to Vietnam in a few days. The U.S. has committed more than US$26.7 million in related assistance to Vietnam, including 111 vaccine refrigerators, since the start of the pandemic. Vietnam has received COVID-19 vaccine donations from many other countries, including Japan, Australia, the UK, France, Italy, Russia, the Czech Republic, and China, among others. The Southeast Asian country has vaccinated around 36.9 million people with at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot. Above 13.6 million people have been fully vaccinated. Health authorities aim to immunize at least two-thirds of a population of nearly 98 million people against COVID-19 by the first quarter of next year. Vietnam has registered 831,643 patients, including 759,482 recoveries and 20,337 deaths, since the COVID-19 pandemic first struck it early last year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Vietnams health ministry added 4,513 coronavirus cases across the country on Saturday, while documenting 1,319 recoveries and 105 fatalities. The latest cases, including one imported and 4,512 local infections, were reported in 40 provinces and cities, the Ministry of Health said, noting 2,173 patients were detected in the community. Ho Chi Minh City recorded 1,662 of the new cases, Binh Duong Province 820, Dong Nai Province 575, An Giang Province 308, Soc Trang 192, Binh Thuan Province 122, Kien Giang 113, Dak Lak Province 85, Dong Thap Province 81, Khanh Hoa Province 41, and Can Tho City 18. Vietnam had detected 4,795 locally-transmitted infections on Friday. The nation has found 831,523 community transmissions in 62 out of its 63 provinces and cities since the fourth virus wave emerged on April 27. Ho Chi Minh City tops the caseload with 409,061 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 221,300, Dong Nai Province with 54,327, Long An Province with 33,226, Tien Giang Province with 14,477, Dong Thap Province with 8,620, Khanh Hoa Province with 8,193, Da Nang with 4,925, Hanoi with 4,268, and Ba Ria-Vung Tau Province with 4,306. Vietnam documented only 1,570 locally-transmitted infections in total in the previous three waves. The health ministry logged 1,319 recoveries on Saturday, bringing the total to 760,801. The toll has risen to 20,442 deaths after the ministry recorded 105 fatalities on the same day, including 74 in Ho Chi Minh City and 18 in Binh Duong Province. Vietnam has registered 836,134 patients since the COVID-19 pandemic first hit it early last year. Health workers have administered almost 52 million vaccine doses, including 1,055,502 shots on Friday, since inoculation was rolled out on March 8. More than 14.2 million people have been fully inoculated. Health authorities target to vaccinate at least two-thirds of a population of nearly 98 million people against COVID-19 by the first quarter of next year. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Peoples Committee of Khanh Hoa Province in south-central Vietnam has approved the resumption of procedures for handling repatriation flights carrying overseas Vietnamese returnees to its Cam Ranh International Airport after a three-month hiatus. The approval announced on Friday afternoon allows enterprises to register for organizing international flights to the airport to repatriate Vietnamese citizens from overseas. The provincial authorities are considering receiving 16 repatriation flights this month, equivalent to four flights per week. Each qualified enterprise or organization can conduct a maximum of four flights in the month, depending on the COVID-19 situation in the province and the local quarantine capacity. Repatriates will be quarantined at centralized facilities far away from residential areas. Enterprises and organizations that conduct such repatriation flights are responsible for preparing vehicles to transport returnees to their homes in accordance with applicable regulations after they complete compulsory quarantine. In March, the provincial Peoples Committee also allowed Cam Ranh International Airport to receive inbound repatriation flights. Following the emergence of the fourth wave of the COVID-19 pandemic in Vietnam in late April, in which Khanh Hoa has recorded 8,152 local cases, the provincial authorities have suspended the operations of those flights since mid-July. Vietnam has found 827,033 community transmissions in 62 out of its 63 provinces and cities in this fourth and worst virus wave. Ho Chi Minh City has been hit the hardest with 407,399 patients, followed by Binh Duong Province with 220,480, Dong Nai Province with 53,752, Long An Province with 33,092, Tien Giang Province with 14,433, Dong Thap Province with 8,539, and Khanh Hoa Province. Since the COVID-19 pandemic first struck the country early last year, the national tally has reached 831,643 patients, including 759,482 recoveries and 20,337 deaths. Vietnam closed its borders and canceled all international flights in March last year. Only Vietnamese repatriates, foreign experts, diplomats, investors, highly-skilled workers, and students are allowed to enter the Southeast Asian country, with stringent quarantine requirements in place. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Theres a scene in the opening episode of New Gold Mountain when a big grey kangaroo watches the headman boss of the Chinese camp as he secretly disposes of evidence in a billabong. As their eyes both meet across the bush its as if the roo is looking into the soul of Wei Shing (Yoson An). Its a poetic moment in the new SBS drama New Gold Mountain which portrays the Chinese experience during the Victorian gold rush of the 1850s. Worlds collide in this ambitious period drama from Goalpost Pictures. Wei Shing manages the Chinese camp of men seeking their fortune in this most inhospitable setting the heat, the bush, the animals, and the locals who largely resent their presence. When the 4 part series opens theres also a dead body, a new gold discovery and pressure from the white colonials. Wei Shing has his work cut out to appease the European authorities and manage his own community. Theres also young Chinese woman Cheung Lei (Mabel Li), daughter of Master Cheung of the Brotherhood who has arrived to investigate the camps finances. Meanwhile Belle Roberts (Alyssa Sutherland) who has inherited the local Ballarat newspaper from her dead husband, has ambitions to establish a local newspaper for the Chinese and wants Wei Shing to buy advertising. She commandeers Ballarat Commissioner (Rhys Muldoon) and his society wife (Alison Bell) to visit their local Mid-Autumn Festival to curry favour. Irish digger Patrick Thomas (Christopher James Baker), who has arrived from Bendigo, is harbouring a secret, while young Indigenous woman Hattie (Leonie Whyman) has streetmarts and bush medicine which give her considerable advantage. The cast also features Dan Spielman, Sam Wang, Chris Masters Mah, and supporting roles / cameos from Richard Davies, Mark Mitchell and John Orcsik. Naturally there are also leagues of Asian / Australian actors in minor and extra roles, which is but one of this dramas achievements. Its been some time since Aussie drama has attempted a colonial saga -once all the rage with dramas like Cash & Company, Tandarra, Against the Wind, All the Rivers Run, The Man from Snowy River, The Dirtwater Dynasty, Eureka Stockade, The Last Outlaw, Jessica, Sara Dane (was Wild Boys our last in 2011?). But none have attempted to offer the perspective from the Chinese experience and few have touched much on the Indigenous viewpoint. New Gold Mountain (which takes its name as the successor of the Californian gold rush as Gold Mountain) does both. It is also bilingual with English / Cantonese language. If viewers are happy to sit thought Squid Game in Korean, might they watch this on SBS? While it may be Deadwood-inspired (without the explicit language), the remarkable feat here is what has been achieved on a limited SBS budget. Yes touristy Sovereign Hill may double as Ballarat town, but it works. The series is bursting with period costumes and props. Director Corrie Chen has expertly put it all on the screen. Points also to cinematographer Matthew Temple for evocatively bringing Peter Coxs script to life. I would have welcomed a bit more momentum in the plot, but the performances are top notch, especially Yoson An as the handsome, complex and duplicitous Wei Shing. Part hero, part dark figure this all rests on his shoulders, which he carries off with aplomb. There are also big strides in bringing a female perspective to a male-dominated genre with resolute storylines and performances for Alyssa Sutherland, Mabel Li and Leonie Whyman -they all cut through a mans domain. At a time when we are constantly reminded of Chinese-Australian relations being at some sort of political low, its worth noting that this buried chapter of Australian history is given an insightful and sympathetic showcase by a public broadcaster. New Gold Mountain screens 9:30pm Wednesday & Thursday on SBS and SBS on Demand. Willow, Whyla and Wes return for a new series of The Wonder Gang on ABC KIDS. With the help of their quokka pals Quidget, Quinton and Quest, theyll do whatever it takes to answer questions for their wonder friends. Ever wondered if Dinosaurs still exist? Or why puppies wag their tails? The Wonder Gang will find the answer! Fact-finding friends Willow, Whyla and Wes run Wonder HQ, a question mark-shaped building brimming with glowing fact files. The trio are assisted on their fact-finding adventures by their inquisitive Quokka pals Quidget, Quinton and Quest. The Wonder Gang are determined to answer every kids question about Australian animals and nature, to keep curiosity and wonder alive! Luckily, each member of The Wonder Gang brings their own unique talents and perspectives to the process of finding facts. Every episode follows a new mission to answer an incoming question from their wonder friends, using their powers of observation, experimentation and analysis. Though they absolutely love finding facts, it is never as simple as it seems. But their flexibility and persistence always help them find a way to answer every question. Above all, The Wonder Gang celebrates the joy of asking questions and discovering answers through determination, deduction, and teamwork. The Wonder Gang is an ABC Original. Series Producer Natalie Robinson-Hurst. Story Producer Michael Drake. Director Karin Fitzhardinge. Supervising Producer Sarah Dabro. 7:40am Monday October 18 on ABC KIDS. James McCune Smith was the first African American to receive a medical doctorate from a university. Born in 1813 to a poor South Carolina runaway slave who had escaped to New York City, he went on to attend Glasgow University during the 1830s. When he returned to America, he became a leading black physician, a tireless abolitionist, activist and journalist. McCune Smith led an amazing life. He exposed false medical data in the 1840 American census. He supported womens suffrage alongside the noted feminist Susan B. Anthony. And he wrote the introduction to Frederick Douglasss sensational 1855 autobiographical slave narrative, My Bondage and My Freedom. Now, for the first time, my research has revealed that McCune Smith was also the first African American known to be published in a British medical journal and that he used this platform to reveal a cover-up by an ambitious medical professor who was experimenting on vulnerable women in Glasgow in the 1830s. I am a historian of science and medicine. I study how people learned scientific skills and I am especially intrigued by the history of how scientists and physicians made discoveries and how that knowledge then circulated between the academy and the public. One way to track this process is to compare what students learned in educational settings to how they used their scientific training to solve problems and make decisions later in life. My forthcoming book, Media and the Mind, for example, uses school and university notebooks to reconstruct how students historically learned to create, analyse and visualise scientific data in ways that helped them understand the human body and the natural world when they finished their education. Several years ago, I decided to investigate the history of how the testimony of hospital patients was transformed into scientific data by physicians. I eventually stumbled across the 1837 case of a young Glasgow doctor who sought to expose painful experimental drug trials that had been conducted on the impoverished women of a local hospital. Story continues That doctor was James McCune Smith. He had written articles detailing how the women of a local charity hospital were being subjected to a painful experimental drug. It was a career changing moment for me because I had not encountered this kind of activism in my previous research on medical education. Early life Who was this doctor? What led him to speak out? Where did he learn to place his knowledge of science and medicine in the service of equality and justice? Upon closer examination, despite his many accomplishments, virtually nothing had been written about McCune Smiths time in Glasgow or about his work as a practising physician in New York. Read more: Frederick Douglass: the ex-slave and transatlantic celebrity who found freedom in Newcastle Like the children of many runaway slaves in New York, McCune Smith grew up in Five Points, Lower Manhattan, one of the poorest and most densely populated urban areas of America at that time. Though the state fully emancipated all former slaves in 1827, when McCune Smith was a teenager, discriminatory educational policies, unsanitary living conditions, chronic illness and infectious diseases ensured that the prospects for a free African American teenager in the early part of the 19th century were limited. Indeed, in an article entitled Freedom and Slavery for African-Americans, published in the New York Tribune in 1844, McCune Smith observed that only six of the 100 boys who attended school with him from 1826 to 1827 were still now living. He noted further that they were all white. This story is part of Conversation Insights The Insights team generates long-form journalism and is working with academics from different backgrounds who have been engaged in projects to tackle societal and scientific challenges. Though technically free, the lives of African Americans in New York during the 1820s and 1830s were marred by the legacy of slavery and discrimination. Runaway slaves were openly hunted in the citys alleys, streets and wharves. McCune Smith reflected on these events in an essay that he wrote about the life of his school classmate, Henry Highland Garnet. An abolitionist and Presbyterian minister, Garnet was the first African American to speak before Congress. McCune Smith recalled the trauma experienced by Garnets family in 1829 when they were tracked by slave-hunters. They barely escaped by jumping out of a two-story building and hiding in the house of a local grocer. When they returned to their home they found, in the words of McCune Smith: The entire household furniture of the family was destroyed or stolen; and they were obliged to start anew in life empty-handed. Despite many challenges, New Yorks African Americans founded their own businesses, churches, political associations, printing presses and more. In addition to receiving support and encouragement from a community of relatives and friends, McCune Smiths path to becoming a doctor was significantly aided by his education at the African Free School. Older students were taught penmanship, drawing, grammar, geography, astronomy, natural philosophy and navigation. When American universities denied his medical school applications, the free school community played a role in raising funds for him to attend Glasgow University. Progressive Glasgow After sailing from New York to Liverpool, McCune Smith arrived in Glasgow in 1832. Thanks to maritime trade, it was one of the largest cities in the country and the universitys medical school was one of the best in Europe. Britain had prohibited the slave trade in 1807 and it fully abolished slavery the year after his arrival in 1833. Though there were not many African Americans in Glasgow, black writers had been operating in Britain since the 1770s. Then, in 1809 Edinburgh University admitted William Fergusson who was from Jamaica and was the universitys first student of African descent. Though he took medical courses at the university, Fergusson did not stay to complete a medical doctorate. Instead, he received a license from the Royal College of Surgeons in Edinburgh in 1813. He then practised as a surgeon in the British military and eventually became governor of the then-British colony of Sierra Leone. McCune Smith joined the ranks of these torchbearers and became the first African American known to graduate with a BA, MA and medical doctorate from Glasgow University. By the time McCune Smith began his studies in Glasgow, opposition to slavery had moved beyond the walls of the university. There was a active abolitionist community and it founded the Glasgow Emancipation Society in 1833. McCune Smith, still only an undergraduate, was one of the founding members. After he graduated, a number of black students attended the university over the course of the century. Despite living in a foreign country, McCune Smith excelled at his studies and received several academic awards. The Glasgow medical faculty placed equal emphasis on scientific rigour and hands-on clinical experience. In addition to learning chemistry, anatomy and physiology from some of Britains leading doctors, he witnessed cutting-edge experiments and new medical technologies being demonstrated in his lectures. He graduated with honours in 1837 and was immediately given a prestigious clinical residency in Glasgows Lock Hospital. He worked there alongside the eminent Scottish obstetrician and gynaecologist, William Cumin, treating women who had contracted venereal diseases. Missing records and racist medical theories The difficulty in pursuing a project of this nature is that many of the scientific papers and publications of black physicians have been lost to the sands of time. Unlike the many collections that university libraries have dedicated to preserving the legacy of white doctors who were alumni or donors, there is no James McCune Smith Medical Collection where scholars can go to study his medical career and scientific ideas. No one has yet told the full story of how African Americans like McCune Smith became doctors or how they used their knowledge of medical science to fight injustice and prejudice. The hidden histories of these black physicians based in countries spread around the Atlantic Ocean led me to start my current research project on how they used their scientific training to counter the rise of racist medical theories theories which erroneously suggested that black bodies were physically different from other bodies and could more easily withstand the stress, pain and labour of enslavement. Though a number of McCune Smiths articles were republished several years ago, the whereabouts of his personal medical library, clinical notebooks, patient records, office ledgers and article drafts are unknown. Likewise, his manuscript Glasgow diary and letters have been lost. Though aspects of his career have received attention from historians in recent years, a biography of his extraordinary life has not been written. This was the situation when I discovered his efforts to expose the harmful drug trials that were being conducted on the women of the Glasgow Lock Hospital. The evidence consisted of two articles that he had published during the spring and summer of 1837 in the London Medical Gazette, a weekly journal with articles about medicine and science. I originally came upon these articles by reading page after page of medical journals housed in the National Library of Scotland in Edinburgh. When I found them, they immediately stood out because they took the testimony of poor female patients seriously. When I realised that McCune Smith was the first African American to graduate from a Scottish university, I could not believe what I had discovered. New discoveries Discovering McCune Smiths articles was momentous because they are the first currently known to have been published by an African American medical doctor in any scientific journal. Scientists in the 19th century published articles for many reasons. Some wanted to popularise their research in a way that advanced their careers. Others hoped their research would benefit the general public. The fascinating aspect about McCune Smiths articles in relation to the historical emergence of the scientific journal is that they were published to expose the unethical misapplication of scientific experiments. This means that they offer new insight into how he learned to combine the power of the press with his medical training to fight inequality and injustice in Britain prior to returning to New York. The story they tell is extraordinary. The events occurred in the spring and summer of 1837 while McCune Smith was serving in the Glasgow Lock Hospital as a resident physician in gynaecology. The hospital was a charity institution set up by the city for impoverished women suffering from acute venereal diseases such as gonorrhoea and syphilis. After consulting the wards records and speaking with the patients, McCune Smith discovered that Alexander Hannay, a senior doctor in the hospital, was treating women suffering from gonorrhoea with an experimental drug called silver nitrate, a compound that a handful of doctors used as a topical treatment for infected skin tissue or to stop bleeding. But it was normally used in low concentrations mixed into a solution, with doctors emphasising that it should be applied with caution and as a last resort. But Hannay was administering the drug in a solid form, which meant that it was highly concentrated and caused a terrible burning sensation. He fancied this usage to be innovative and was relatively unfazed when his patients repeatedly asked for less painful forms of treatment. After speaking with the women and further consulting the hospitals records, McCune Smith realised that Hannay was effectively treating the women as guinea pigs as non-consenting participants in an experimental trial that involved a very painful drug. At that time, silver nitrate was a newly available substance and its long-term effects were relatively unknown. There were a handful of military doctors who used it experimentally to cauterise skin ulcers or wounds of soldiers that would not stop bleeding. But some medical books classified it as a poison. Glasgows medical students, particularly those who studied with Prof William Cumin, avoided using it on internal organs due to its unknown effects. Instead, when it came to gynaecological cases involving ulcers or infections, students learned to use an alum solution because its effects were generally considered to be effective and less painful. Hannay went beyond using the silver nitrate on the skin. He applied it to the internal reproductive organs of women, at least one of whom was pregnant. McCune Smiths article pointed out that the baby subsequently died through complications surrounding a miscarriage. It also intimates that a few women died after the application of silver nitrate. Since the drugs effect on internal organs was unknown, he believed that that the deaths could not be treated as a separate occurrence. In addition to being McCune Smiths superior, Hannay was a medical professor at Glasgows newly established Anderson University. The easiest thing for McCune Smith to do was to say nothing. The plight of the Lock Hospital patients would not have been a major concern for many medical men at the time. The patients were impoverished women and most doctors assumed they were former prostitutes. But McCune Smiths perspective was different. Unlike his peers, he had spent his early years in New York City witnessing the pain and suffering caused by poverty, inequality and exploitation. So he decided to place his knowledge of medical science in the service of these women. McCune Smith knew that there were other effective treatments for gonorrhoea. This allowed him to see that Hannay was more interested in bolstering his reputation with a pharmaceutical discovery than helping his patients. But his studies had given him another equally powerful tool data analysis. His ability to use this tool can be seen in his London Medical Gazette articles. The gazette was a journal of some repute, serving the British medical community as well as physicians based in Europe and America. In his article, he wrote: The materials of my paper on the subject of gonorrhoea of women were collected whilst I held the office of clerk to the Glasgow Lock Hospital. He made his case against the experiments by extracting figures from handwritten registers that recorded the condition of patients being treated in the hospital over an entire year. He had learned to collect, categorise, and analyse data in the clinical lectures that were required for graduation. This method was part of the new science of vital statistics that used medical data to predict or prevent disease in people, cities and even countries. Known as medical statistics today, it was becoming more commonly used in journals that published articles on medical science. The cover-up McCune Smiths articles showed that the drug trials were ineffective and presented an unwarranted risk. They also revealed that Hannay and his team of assistants had attempted to cover up data in the hospital records that damaged their claims about the drugs efficacy and their position that its side effects were minimal. McCune Smith did not mince his words. He wrote: By this novel and ingenious mode of recording the Hospital transactions for 1836, [Prof Hannays team] keeps out of view the evidence of the severity of the treatment, and the amount of mortality, while, at the same time, the residence of the patients in the house seems shorted, the cost of each diminished, and the treatment made to appear more than usually successful. Accordingly, he called for the trials to stop immediately. But McCune Smith was not happy to simply cite statistics. He wanted to give these women a voice too. To achieve this, he emphasised the extreme pain that they were experiencing. Their suffering had been played down by those conducting the experimental trials. Hannay even suggested that the women were dishonest and unreliable witnesses. To counter this suggestion, McCune Smith quoted the women themselves, some of whom said that the drug felt like it was burning their inside with caustic. This was strong language. They were effectively saying that the drug felt like a flame being applied to their bodies. Hidden gem in library archive McCune Smiths decision to use this kind of visceral language on behalf of impoverished women in a scientific article was rare at the time. Nor was it common in the lengthy, fact-laden lectures given at Glasgows medical school. So where did McCune Smith learn to write like this? Finding an answer to this question has been difficult because hardly any of McCune Smiths manuscripts from his Glasgow years are known to have survived. But thanks to a recent discovery that I made with the rare books librarian Robert MacLean in the Archives and Special Collections of Glasgow University, a better picture is starting to emerge. Robert MacLean, with the permission of University of Glasgow Library ASC. , Author provided Based on my previous research on Scottish student notekeeping, I knew that Glasgow University kept handwritten registers of books borrowed by students from its libraries during the 19th century. Luckily, it turned out that McCune Smiths manuscript library borrowing record did, in fact, still exist. It was a gem that had remained hidden for the past two centuries in the dusty pages of Glasgows library registers. The discovery was historic because it revealed that he definitely took the universitys moral philosophy class. The course was taught by James Mylne and it encouraged students to judge the accuracy of statistical data when making moral decisions. The registers also showed that McCune Smith consulted the Lancet, the leading medical journal of research and reform that promoted the same kind of public health activism evinced in his 1837 Gazette articles. Finding the student reading record for any historical figure is like striking gold. In McCune Smiths case it was doubly exciting because so little is known about his intellectual development. In addition to literature relevant to his studies, he checked out several 1835 issues of the Lancet which regularly identified links between pain and maltreatment. It is likely these accounts inspired him to use a similar approach in his gazette articles. But even the Lancets references to pain and cruelty barely addressed the plights of impoverished women, let alone those who had been regularly subjected to experimental drugs. In this respect McCune Smiths concern for the Lock Hospital patients surpassed the reform agenda promoted by Britains most progressive medical journal. Legacy Further investigations have revealed that there were many other black physicians who lived in America in the decades after McCune Smith became a doctor. As revealed in research by the Massachusetts Historical Society, there was, for example, John van Surly DeGrasse. He studied at Bowdoin College in Maine, received a medical doctorate in the 1840s, set up a practice in Boston and became the first African American member of the Massachusetts Medical Association. There was also Alexander Thomas Augusta, who, despite Virginia laws that banned free blacks from learning to read, was educated by a minister, moved to Toronto and graduated from Trinity Colleges medical school in 1856. Notably, both Augusta and DeGrasse served in the union army as physicians with the rank of major during the American Civil War. After McCune Smith returned to America in the autumn of 1837, he served as a professional role model for African Americans who studied medicine from the 1840s onward. By the time younger black physicians such as DeGrasse and Augusta began their studies, McCune Smith had already opened a practice that served patients from both sides of the colour line and had published several scientific articles. For the rest of his career his name was a frequent byline in articles about health and society published by the African American press, as well as larger newspapers with mixed readership, like the New York Tribune. An excellent example of McCune Smiths later medical activism is the collection of articles that he published during the 1840s about the national census. The main issue was that slavery advocates had noticed that the mortality rates of African Americans in northern asylums were higher than those of black people in the southern states. This led them to conclude, erroneously, that freedom somehow damaged their mental and physical health. Rather than engage with their desire to co-opt convenient data, McCune Smith used his knowledge of medical statistics to skillfully undermine their attempts to find scientific data that fit their discriminatory world view. He conducted his own investigation and proved that the original collection of the figures on site in the northern asylums had been flawed and that, as a result, the data was incorrect and could not be used to accurately determine the health of black asylum patients. McCune Smith did not stop there. He turned the tables on slavery advocates by transforming the new accurate mortality statistics into a tool that could be used to fight inequality. His 1844 New York Tribune article about the census concluded: These facts prove that within 15 years after it became a Free State, a portion of the Free Black Population of New York have improved the ratio of their mortality 13.28% a fact without parallel in the history of any People. Put simply, the correct data revealed that the health of African Americans unburdened by the deprivation and forced labour of slavery thrived once they left the south and lived lives as free citizens in the north. McCune Smiths publications are a significant early chapter in the history of how black activists have worked tirelessly over the past two centuries to disentangle erroneous interpretations of scientific data from discriminatory claims about poverty, gender and race. They provide crucial historical insight into the relationships between race, science and technology that exist today. Read more: Honouring the slaves experimented on by the 'father of gynaecology' In many respects McCune Smiths desire to locate and publicise correct data about asylum patients built on the approach that he had developed in his articles about the mistreatment of women in Glasgows Lock Hospital. He continued to publish articles throughout his career that challenged those who sought to use science to justify discrimination and inequality. In 1859 he even went so far as to challenge former President Thomas Jeffersons discriminatory racial assumptions when he wrote: His arrangement of these views is so mixed and confused, that we must depart from it. McCune Smiths activism showed aspiring African Americans that becoming a professional black physician could be more than simply treating patients. For him, being an expert in medical science also included using his training to fight injustice and inequality. His publications are an indispensable chapter in the American history of science and medicine. But they are an important part of British history too. Because it was in Britain where he first published articles that placed his knowledge of medicine in the service of equality and justice. It was the libraries of Glasgow University which now has a building named in his honour and the wards of the Lock Hospital which fed his towering intellect and fired his passion for medical knowledge, as well as the pursuit of justice for the powerless and oppressed. For you: more from our Insights series: To hear about new Insights articles, join the hundreds of thousands of people who value The Conversations evidence-based news. Subscribe to our newsletter. This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. The Conversation Matthew Daniel Eddy does not work for, consult, own shares in or receive funding from any company or organisation that would benefit from this article, and has disclosed no relevant affiliations beyond their academic appointment. By Karen Lema MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine Nobel Peace Prize winner Maria Ressa got accustomed to working against a backdrop of violence early in her career, having cut her journalistic teeth reporting from conflict zones. But the 58-year-old said even that experience failed to prepare her for the torrent of threats, hatred and abuse she has faced from supporters of her country's authoritarian president since she co-founded investigative news site Rappler in 2011. "There were so many hate messages ... Ninety hate messages an hour, 90 rape threats per minute," the first Nobel laureate from the Philippines told Reuters in 2017. "When I was younger I was a war correspondent. That was easier than this." Currently free on bail as she appeals a six-year prison sentence handed down last year for a libel conviction, Ressa expressed "shock and disbelief" on Friday after sharing the Prize with Russian investigative journalist Dmitry Muratov. "We are caught in a battle for facts," she said. "...I've never lived through anything like that, and I guess there's justice." The Nobel committee said their award was an endorsement of free speech rights under threat worldwide, and Rappler has been in a legal tussle with the government to have its license, revoked https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-media-idUSKBN1F40TE in 2018 for alleged violations of laws on foreign ownership, reinstated. Rappler said it "remains 100% Filipino-owned" and its foreign investors had no say in its operations. 'WE HOLD THE LINE' A journalist for 35 years, Ressa launched the site after working for CNN as bureau chief in Manila and Jakarta, and then becoming the U.S. broadcaster's lead investigative reporter in Southeast Asia, focusing on regional conflicts including an insurgency in the Southern Philippines. She has also written two books "Seeds of Terror: An Eyewitness Account of al-Qaeda's Newest Center of Operations in Southeast Asia" and "From Bin Laden to Facebook". Story continues Rappler has grown prominent through investigative reporting, including into mass killings during a police campaign against drugs masterminded by President Rodrigo Duterte, who has labelled the site a "fake news outlet" https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-media-idUSKBN1F50HL and a tool of the U.S. Central Intelligence Agency. Since the site was launched, Ressa has had to post bail 10 times to stay out of jail in response to a string of lawsuits accusing her of everything from defamation to tax evasion, and that have stoked international concern about media harassment in a country once seen as a standard-bearer for press freedom in Asia. Duterte's government said it does not target news outlets for their reporting. But Ressa, convicted of libel https://www.reuters.com/article/us-philippines-media-idUSKBN23M03B and sentenced in June last year over a 2012 article that linked a businessman to illegal activities, says the lawsuits are designed to intimidate media and promote self-censorship. "We're going through a dark time, a difficult time, but I think that we hold the line," she said on Friday. "We realise that what we do today is going to determine what our tomorrow is going to be." (Additional reporting by John Chalmers; Editing by Kay Johnson and John Stonestreet) Islamic State attacks in the Syrian desert have escalated over the past two weeks, causing heavy losses among the Syrian government forces and their allied militias. As Al-Monitor reports, Russia has intensified airstrikes on IS positions in support of regime forces as they attack IS positions and hideouts in the rugged desert areas. A tribal official told Al-Monitor on condition of anonymity, The Russian air raids have significantly increased since the beginning of October, targeting IS sites in the Ithriyah-Khanaser-Rusafa triangle. [Russian] planes also bombed IS sites in the rugged hills surrounding the Sukhnah area on the Deir ez-Zor-Homs road, killing 10 IS fighters and destroying several hideouts and fortifications used by the militant group. The official added, The regime forces launched a counterattack against the organization in several areas of the Syrian desert, backed by heavy Russian air support and with the participation of allied militias. Chief among them are the tribal Tiger Forces led by Suheil al-Hassan, a brigadier general in the Syrian army who is backed by Russia; Liwa al-Quds; groups affiliated with the Lebanese Hezbollah; and a number of groups affiliated with Iranian militias such as the Baqir Brigade and the Afghan Fatemiyoun Brigade. On Oct. 1, Col. Tammam Khaddour of the Syrian armys Fourth Armored Division commanded by Maher al-Assad, the brother of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, was reported killed along with five other members of the division in an IS attack in the Hama desert. On Sept. 26, Liwa al-Quds made a Facebook post mourning six of its members who were killed during clashes with IS fighters in the Jabal al-Amour area between the cities of Sukhna and Palmyra, east of Homs. On Sept. 22, eight Liwa al-Quds members were killed and 11 others wounded in an IS ambush. On Sept. 18, Liwa al-Quds said five other fighters were killed by IS. On Sept. 18, Suleiman Kuntar, a first lieutenant in the Syrian regime's Republican Guard, was killed when his car was targeted in the southern Deir ez-Zor province. Also in September, Liwa al-Quds in Aleppo arrested several of its members after they refused to join its affiliated groups both in the desert and in the vicinity of Sukhnah and Deir ez-Zor to fight IS cells. Suhaib al-Jaber is a journalist for the Euphrates Post, a Syrian opposition website that covers news of Deir ez-Zor province and eastern Syria. He told Al-Monitor, IS continues to launch surprise attacks from its hideouts in the Syrian desert. It hides in rugged terrain that is very difficult for any organized army to confront. The organizations fighters hide in caves, trenches and mobile tents. They never stay in one place for more than a day or two, which makes the task of finding such cells almost impossible. He added, This is what has caused heavy losses to the Iranian militias, the Assad regime and Russia over the past two weeks in the desert. The regime forces and Russia are desperately trying to break the control of IS in the desert with indiscriminate air raids. [Russia] is trying to limit the organizations power by providing air support to ground attacks. The Russian military forces recently organized joint Russian-Syrian exercises near the city of Palmyra following an ambush against fighters of the Syrian regime forces. On Sept. 7, Syrian MI-24 helicopters participated in the drills alongside Russian MI-8 and KA-52 helicopters, Russia Today TV reported. Commander of the Russian forces in Syria Andrei Yermakov told the Russian TASS news agency on Sept. 7 that the drills marked the first joint training of Russian and Syrian helicopter pilots in the Syrian desert. Muhammed al-Sukari, a researcher of jihadist groups in Syria, told Al-Monitor that IS' activity reflects Russias inability to tighten its control over the desert and contradicts Russian claims that the Syrian regime now controls 90% of Syria. He added, Moscow has escalated its airstrikes as it seeks to eliminate the remnants of IS once and for all and protect its forces and the regime forces. Russia is also keen to secure and protect international roads as these attacks undermine its efforts. Sukari continued, Russias task in controlling the Syrian desert remains problematic as it is unable to maintain control of this strategic region" despite its efforts in Operation White Desert. Growing integration of national energy systems across the five nations of Central Asia is helping to ease congestion and power outages arising from peak power usage, Uzbekistans First Deputy Energy Minister Azim Ahmedkhadzhayev said. According to Uzbekistans Energy Ministry, Ahmedkhadzhayev addressed the Tashkent Economic Forum on September 30 where he noted that increased regional cooperation over the past five years was making joint investment projects possible. He cited as an example Uzbekistans continuing construction of high-voltage power lines linking its power grid to those of its neighbours, New Europe writes. Regional integration in the field of energy will allow the development and implementation of investment projects that will serve not only the good of the host country through energy generation, but will also benefit neighbouring countries by covering peak overloads as a result of coordination and interconnections of energy systems, he said. He noted that Uzbekistans geography, at the centre of both Eurasia and Central Asia, made it a convenient location as a strategic and geopolitical hub. A significant factor was existing infrastructure linking Uzbekistan with all its neighbours, he said, pointing out that the energy systems of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan and Turkmenistan have long been guided by a control centre located in Tashkent, even since the breakup of the Soviet Union. Ahmedkhadzhayev outlined the steps Uzbekistan has been taking to achieve energy security and expand production, including reforms intended to double power generation by 2030, with 25% to be derived from renewable sources. The process began with the formation of the Ministry of Energy and the restructuring of Uzbekenergo, the state-owned energy provider from which a series of stand-alone specialist enterprises have been created. He listed a series of laws, decrees and presidential resolutions which have introduced market principles into the system, allowing private companies, including several international firms, to enter the market, Uzbekistans Energy Ministry said in a press release. The First Deputy Minister, appointed recently after serving as Deputy Governor of the Jizzakh Region, also discussed major efforts to expand the pool of energy industry specialists in Uzbekistan, through expanded educational programs. He listed investments by ACWA Power of Saudi Arabia and Air Products and Chemicals, Inc. of the United States into a special curriculum and training program at Shirin Power College, a specialist institution located near the Syrdarya Thermal Power Plant and Farkhad hydroelectric station, and a Memorandum of Agreement signed recently between Germanys Siemens and Tashkent State Technical University. According to the Uzbek Energy Ministry, the new generation of home-grown specialists educated to international standards is expected to bring enthusiasm and expertise required for implementation of new vision in the field of exploitation of the countrys natural resources. The Republic of Uzbekistan in all sectors is moving from the export of raw materials to the export of finished products, he said. We have sought to develop clusters and deepen gas processing. A good example would be the GTL (gas-to-liquids) project, which has already been completed and will be launched at full capacity in the near future. We have also committed ourselves to developing the MTO (methanol to olefins) cluster in the Bukhara region. In related news, Uzbekneftegaz, the state-owned holding company of Uzbekistans oil and gas industry, supervised by Ministry of Energy announced that at the economic forum event Uzbekistan: Achievements of Economic Reforms and Their Prospects held recently in Tashkent, significant financial cooperation agreements were signed with three of Europes leading banks. The cooperation agreements relate to 1.1 billion of capital to finance the expansion of the Shurtan Gas Chemical Complexs production capacity, Uzbekistans Energy Ministry said, adding that the agreements were signed with Deutsche Bank for 500 million; Landesbank Baden-Wuerttemberg for 300 million; and Landesbank Hessen-Thuringen Girozentrale (Helaba) also for 300 million. As the Shurtan GCC Upgrade Project is being financed on an export finance principle, with no state guarantees, the participation of prestigious European banks is a significant endorsement of Uzbekistans attractiveness as an investment. The total cost of the project is $1.8 billion, of which $1.2 billion will be contributed by a consortium of foreign banks and financial institutions, and $600 million from Uzbekneftegaz. Todays announcement is yet another example of high-quality, international investment capital being allocated to Uzbekistan to help finance our exciting energy reforms, Uzbekistans Energy Minister Alisher Sultanov said on September 30. We have set ambitious energy targets, and activated strategies at great speed to achieve those targets, but attracting substantial international capital is one of the best measures of our progress. It is a proud day for Uzbekistan, and we thank our new European partners for their considerable support. Uzbekneftegaz Chairman Mehriddin Abdullaev said the expansion of production capacity at the Shurtan Gas Chemical Complex, which is the countrys flagship of Uzbekistans gas chemical industry and a key polymer producer in the region, is another step towards achieving Uzbekistans goal of increasing volumes of deep processing of hydrocarbon raw materials to produce petrochemical products with high added value. We are hugely grateful for the financial support and confidence shown by some of the most renowned banks in Europe. It is a significant endorsement of Uzbekistans progress and Uzbekneftegazs role within that, Abdullaev said. The funds will be raised under the insurance coverage of Euler Hermes (Germany), SACE (Italy), Atradius (Netherlands) and other European export credit agencies. A further agreement was signed at the economic forum, between Uzbekneftegaz JSC and the New York-headquartered, international law firm White & Case LLP which has many years of successful advisory experience in Uzbekistan on investment projects and project financing. The expansion in production capacity at Shurtan GCC will annually contribute 280,000 additional tons of bimodal polyethylene, 100,000 tons of polypropylene and 50,000 tons of pyrolysis distillate, the Uzbek Energy Ministry said, adding that the raw material base for the projected expansion facilities at Shurtan is synthetic naphtha, which will be produced from Uzbekistan GTL Plant. A new general plan for Shusha envisages the return initially of 2,020 residents symbolizing the year that Azerbaijan rewon control over the city living in new residences congruent with the citys historic character. As Eurasianet writes, since the plan was rolled out, Azerbaijanis have been wondering what jobs these would-be returnees will be able to hold. The new plan, developed by British firm Chapman Taylor, was presented to Azerbaijani officials at the end of August. The plan itself has not been released but official media has reported it calls for the construction of six new neighborhoods with 25 new apartment buildings, and 18 kilometers of new roads. It also emphasizes the preservation of the city's historic magnificence. The city is regarded by Azerbaijanis as their cultural capital in Karabakh, and has been the home of many of Azerbaijans great musicians, poets, and other artists. Azerbaijan lost control of Shusha in the war with Armenia in the 1990s, but regained control of it as a result of the second war last year. The city has since become the focus of Azerbaijans reconstruction efforts in the newly retaken territories. The development plan also seeks to preserve greenery of the city and build green corridors, or park spaces throughout the city. As a result, we will preserve the ecological purity of the city, ensure pedestrians comfortable movement, and attract tourists, Ramiz Idrisoglu, spokesperson of the State Committee on Urban Planning and Architecture, told BBC Azerbaijani. The plan is very comprehensive, beautifully-written, President Ilham Aliyev said during a recent visit to Shusha, where he laid the foundation for the first apartment building to be built according to the plan. These works show that Shushas revival is going rapidly and Shusha residents are coming back to Shusha, Aliyev added. They not only come to pay a visit to their native city, but also are provided with jobs at newly opened businesses here. While the reconstruction of the city has begun, questions have arisen regarding the prospects of employment and economic prospects when a civilian population begins to return. Talking about the businesses already operating in Shusha, Aliyev gave the example of one hotel, Karabakh, which has a capacity of 150 rooms. A handful of other businesses also operate, serving the military officers and their families who are now in the city, as well as visitors. On October 5, the first post-war restaurant in Shusha, a branch of a local chain, started serving customers. Previously, a BBC Azerbaijani dispatch from Shusha in September reported that two supermarkets belonging to large local chains had opened. A bakery has been operating there since shortly after the end of the war. Gubad Ibadoglu, an economist and opposition politician, told Eurasianet that he does not doubt that the government will manage to meets its goals of construction of Shusha residences, as its biggest experience since gaining independence is in dismantling and building. Ibadoglu added: However, resettlement wont be that easy, because as long as there isnt a special program to provide jobs for people to be resettled, their stay wont be stable. An RFE/RL report from September profiled two families who had been displaced from Shusha and who now are hesitant to move back to their home city. While one insisted that they would move to live only in a house with a yard, like the home from which they were displaced, one woman said they would need well-paying, reliable jobs in Shusha to look after the 10-member family. The State Committee on Refugee and IDP Affairs told RFE/RL that the government will take all necessary measures to develop the economy in the liberated territories. Abolhassan Banisadr, who became Iran's first president after the 1979 Islamic Revolution before fleeing into exile, has died at the age of 88, BBC reports. Elected president in 1980, Banisadr was impeached 16 months after taking office for challenging the growing power of clerics. He fled to France, where he was briefly part of a group dedicated to trying to overthrow the clerical authorities. His family say he died at a Paris hospital after a long illness. The Azerbaijani Army launched a counter-offensive operation, later called the "Iron Fist", on September 27, 2020 in response to the large-scale provocation of the Armenian armed forces along the frontline, Trend reports. The erupted 44-day Second Karabakh War ended with liberation of Azerbaijans territories from nearly 30-year Armenian occupation. Trend presents the chronicle of the 13th day of the Second Karabakh war: - President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev addressed the people. The Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces announced that the Azerbaijani army liberated the village of Hadrut and several villages from occupation and destroyed a large number of military equipment of the Armenian armed forces. - The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan announced the destruction of another headquarters of the Armenian army, the elimination of the chief of artillery of the regiment, and also presented a list of destroyed and captured equipment. - The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan has disseminated a video of the Jabrayil region liberated from occupation. - The Armenian armed forces continued shelling the Goranboy, Tartar, Aghdam and Fuzuli regions of Azerbaijan. As a result of the Armenian shelling in Fuzuli, an employee of ANAMA (Azerbaijan Mine Action Agency) was seriously injured. - The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan reported on the destruction and seizure of a large number of military equipment of the armed forces of Armenia. - The Armenian armed forces subjected to intensive shelling the territory of Mingachevir, Agjabadi, Barda and Aghdam regions. - The Azerbaijani army captured several more units of military equipment from Armenia. Military equipment abandoned by the Armenian armed forces is being repainted according to the standards of the Azerbaijani army. - The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced the destruction of many Grad MLRS of the Armenian armed forces. - The Defense Ministry of Azerbaijan has disseminated information about the destruction in the air of a missile launched from the territory of Armenia in the direction of Mingachevir. - The Ministry of Defense of Azerbaijan has distributed video footage from the liberated villages of Sugovushan and Talish, Terter region. - The Prosecutor General's Office of Azerbaijan reported that four civilians were injured as a result of rocket fire at Aghdam by the Armenian army. - The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry announced the destruction of the enemy Prima MLRS and a military vehicle carrying 25 people. - The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry again made a video report, this time dedicated to the destruction of the Armenian armored vehicles brought to firing positions. People will be required to wear face masks and maintain physical distance in public places as from 9 October, BelTA learned from Belarusian Deputy Healthcare Minister, Chief Sanitary Inspector Aleksandr Tarasenko, BelTa reports. Starting 9 October citizens will be required to wear face masks and maintain distance in shops, public catering outlets, consumer service outlets, theaters, movie theaters, during visits to mass events, stadiums, enterprises, healthcare institutions, drugstores, and other places. Aleksandr Tarasenko said that the Healthcare Ministry had updated sanitary norms and rules concerning the prevention of flu and COVID-19 due to the unfavorable epidemic situation in all parts of the country. The updated rules will come into force on 9 October. The new rules will hold natural persons (citizens) liable for breaking them. People will be required to observe the rules in public transportation of all kinds, including taxi. The sanitary rules also specify how face masks are to be worn: masks have to cover the nose, the mouth, and the chin. The sanitary and epidemiological service will work together with government agencies concerned, primarily the Internal Affairs Ministry and the Transport and Communications Ministry, to audit the observance of the new rules. We are going to initially check how corporations and individuals observe these rules. We are going to convince the population to maintain distance and wear medical masks or gauze bandages. Other measures may be employed later on. We are not talking about fines for now, Aleksandr Tarasenko noted. Abolhassan Bani-Sadr, the first president of Iran after the country's revolution, died Saturday in France, his family announced. He was 88, UPI informs. A statement on his website said he died "after a long battle with illness" in Paris' Salpetriere hospital. Bani-Sadr served as president for less than two years, 1980-81, at the conclusion of the Iranian Revolution. He was the first person elected to lead the country after the abolishment of the monarchy. He was impeached in 1981 after attempting to overthrow the country's clerics. He opposed their participation in the country's politics, UPI reports. The leaders of the ruling Georgian Dream - Democratic Georgia party stops preparations for the second round of local elections to be held on October 30 until October 12. The decision was made due to the collapse of a residential building in Batumi. The ruling party expressed condolences to the relatives of the victims, saying that "every Georgian mourns with them." "In honor of the memory of the victims, Georgian Dream will cease all electoral and political activity until October 12," the message posted on Facebook reads. The global significance of the Baku-Tbilisi-Kars (BTK) railway line is constantly growing, Turkeys President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said at a meeting of the Transport and Communications Council, Trend reports. According to Erdogan, colossal work is being done in the field of transport and communications and many positive changes are taking place. Noting the growing importance of the BTK as an alternative line in the context of global trade, Turkeys President said that thanks to the BTK, uninterrupted railway communication between Western Europe and the most remote regions of Asia has become a reality. "We are expanding these opportunities using the resources at our disposal. We want everyone to benefit from these projects," Erdogan added. Georgia's Prime Minister visited rescue operations at the site of the collapse of a seven-storey apartment block in the Black Sea port of Batumi on Friday, promising to do "everything to help the situation", Republic World reports. Irakli Gharibashvili said around 300 rescuers were working at the site, and that they "have all the equipment and are working intensively". The exact number of people stuck under rubble is unknown but official sources say there could be up to 15 residents trapped.Earlier on Friday an infant was pulled from the debris with minor injuries. Meanwhile, an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the collapse. Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic complained that he was wiretapped more than 1 800 times in order to find incriminating evidence and force him to resign. "It is clear to everyone that there were 1 882 cases of illegal wiretapping, but it is absolutely proven that there is nothing criminal in these conversations," he told reporters. Earlier, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Serbia reported many cases of wiretapping of the country's president by criminal gangs. The president also spoke of the "constant pressure" being exerted on him and his brother, including through the publication of their personal contacts. Senior Taliban (prohibited in Russia) officials and United States representatives have discussed opening a new page in their countries relationship as they kicked off talks in Qatar, Al Jazeera informs citing Afghanistans acting foreign minister. Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi, Afghanistans acting foreign minister, said the focus of the Afghan delegation was humanitarian aid, as well the implementation of the agreement the Taliban signed with Washington last year which paved the way for the final US withdrawal. A spokesperson of the US State Department said on Friday evening that the talks were not about recognising or legitimising the Taliban as Afghanistans leaders, but are a continuation of pragmatic talks on issues of national interest for the US, Al Jazeera reports. The U.S. administration is not telling the truth while sending letters to Congress or informing its people, Turkey's foreign minister said on Oct. 9 in response to Washington's decision to extend the national emergency executive order in Syria, Harriet daily news reports. "Instead of blaming Turkey, the US should abandon its own wrong policies, and should be more honest with the American people and its Congress," Mevlut Cavusoglu said in a joint news conference with his visiting Venezuelan counterpart Felix Plasencia. The U.S. on Thursday extended the state of emergency decree issued in 2019 for another year, claiming that Turkey's activities in Syria pose a threat to national security. "Nike is leaving Vietnam" has been confirmed as misinformation. Nike does not own any factories in Vietnam, but only hires partners in Vietnam to process its products. A source from the Ministry of Industry and Trade confirmed this with VietNamNet. Experts say that it is unlikely that foreign partners will completely stop placing orders in Vietnam because Vietnam ranks second, after China, in exporting leather and footwear and is often in the top 5 in the world in terms of textile exports. However, Nike temporarily moved its orders to another country. In 2019, Nike Vietnam General Director Mike Shepard revealed that 50% of global Nike products were made in Vietnam. Normally, orders for Christmas and the year-end season are usually confirmed in June or early July. That time this year many fashion brands like Nike, Adidas ... had to wait for an answer for the question "when will Vietnam open for production" and in order to proactively keep up with year-end orders, they had to move orders to other countries. For industries such as textiles and garments, leather and footwear, transferring orders is not difficult. Experts say that it is unlikely that foreign partners will completely stop placing orders in Vietnam because Vietnam ranks second, after China, in exporting leather and footwear and is often in the top 5 in the world in terms of textile exports. Many fashion brands also have R&D (research and development) centers in Vietnam. In recent months, over 60% of textile, garment and footwear enterprises located in 19 southern provinces have implemented strict social distancing measures to prevent the Covid-19 epidemic. Only medium-sized enterprises, or those with highly automated production chains and few workers, are allowed to operate the '3 on-site' model. The textile and garment, leather and footwear industries make modest profits, while costs are higher, so they have to suspend production. To have goods for the Christmas season, fashion firms have had to transfer orders to other countries, said an expert. This is not about only Nike, but the whole Vietnamese textile and footwear industry. In fact, Nike asked authorities in Vietnam to gradually resume production activities. A source said that the draft interim guidelines on "safe, flexible adaptation, effective control of the COVID-19 epidemic" developed by the Ministry of Health has many similarities with Nikes proposals. However, this draft has not been issued yet. Warnings Vietnam is one of the world's top exporters of textiles, garments and footwear. The epidemic has been gradually controlled, and many localities are rushing to reopen production and business. However, some southern provinces are forecasted to face a labor shortage as many workers had left the city to return to their hometown. According to Vu Duc Giang, Chairman of the Vietnam Textile and Apparel Association (Vitas), the lack of human resources when reopening the economy is a problem for businesses, especially those in Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces that implement social distancing according to Directive 16/CT-TTg of the Prime Minister. This is a huge challenge for the business community when the economy is reopened. There is no really optimal plan to recruit workers in new conditions. If Ho Chi Minh City and southern provinces reopen in October 2021, it will be difficult for workers to return, because there are only a few months left until the New Year and the Lunar New Year. In addition, Directive 16 is still being applied in many localities, which is a barrier in finding alternative labor sources. "I think the labor deficit from now to the end of the year will be around 35-37%," the Vitas Chairman said. Phan Thi Thanh Xuan, Vice President and General Secretary of the Vietnam Leather - Footwear - Handbag Association, also said that businesses would not be able to resume production at high capacity immediately because in addition to the labor shortage, the number of orders has dropped. According to the Vietnam Leather - Footwear - Handbag Associations statistics one month ago, the rate of orders withdrawn from Vietnam was about 20%, which has increased to 40-50% at present. It usually takes about six months from negotiation to signing of leather and footwear orders, so it will take at least six months more for these orders to return. I don't think fashion orders will leave Vietnam because of the fact that Vietnam's production capacity is still good... The large workforce and many other factors are still there, so foreign partners will still take advantage of these factors," an expert said. However, it is important to continue to improve the management quality of central and local governments so that Vietnam can attract high-quality, high-tech FDI inflows. Luong Bang Lefaso rejects rumours on Nikes moving production out of Vietnam Recent rumours spreading on social media on Nikes moving production out of Vietnam to China and Indonesia are incorrect, stated Phan Thi Thanh Xuan, Vice Chairwoman and General Secretary of the Vietnam Leather and Footwear Association. According to a new study by Cisco, 59% of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) in Vietnam experienced network problems in the past year. As a result, information of many customers was stolen by hackers. Cisco has just announced the study "Cybersecurity for SMEs: Asia Pacific Businesses Prepare for Digital Defense". Accordingly, 59% of small and medium enterprises in Vietnam experienced network problems in the past 12 months. As many as 86% of businesses lost customer information to hackers in cyberattacks. This situation makes small and medium enterprises more concerned about cybersecurity risks. Up to 71% of businesses said they were more insecure about cybersecurity than they were last year, and 67% felt threatened by cybersecurity threats. The research shows that businesses are taking many strategic measures such as conducting simulation campaigns to improve their cybersecurity. Cisco said that cyberattacks with malicious code and malware are the most common form, affecting 89% of small and medium enterprises in Vietnam. These incidents are having a significant impact on the business situation. Thirty percent of businesses affected by cyberattacks said they lost about $500,000 or more, of which 4% said the loss could be more than $1 million. Around 39% of small and medium-sized enterprises in Vietnam who have experienced cyberattacks emphasized that cybersecurity solutions that are not strong enough to detect or prevent the attack is the top cause of these incidents. Meanwhile, 32% cited the lack of cybersecurity solutions as the main reason. General Director of Cisco Vietnam Luong Thi Le Thuy explained small and medium enterprises have accelerated the pace of digitization in the past 18 months. This process motivates businesses with special needs to invest in solutions and capabilities that help them protect themselves on the cybersecurity front. Faced with the cybersecurity challenge, SMEs in Vietnam are planning to approach to understand and improve their cybersecurity posture through a number of strategic initiatives. Cisco research indicates that 88% of SMEs have completed scripting and/or simulating potential cybersecurity incidents in the past 12 months, with the majority having a response and recovery plan in place. The good news is that SMEs are investing more in cybersecurity. Around 87% of Vietnam's SMEs have increased investment in cybersecurity since the Covid-19 pandemic began, with 39% of enterprises increasing investments by more than 5%. Investments are evenly distributed across areas such as cybersecurity, compliance or monitoring, human resources, training, and insurance that demonstrate an understanding of the need for an integrated and multi-dimensional approach in building a solid cyberspace posture. Duy Vu What better way for a literary festival to celebrate its return than with a pun? San Francisco's esteemed Litquake kicked off Thursday night with a "masked ball" at St. Joseph's Arts Society, a repurposed Catholic church in SoMa. Reduced capacity, a vaccine requirement and, yes, masking, were among the precautions taken. In a space that regularly holds more than 700, the gathering of roughly 200 local literary figures felt intimate rather than sparse, thanks to the shared sense of celebration and community. (Nicole Henderson for Orange Photography) The bombastic brainchild of interior designer Ken Fulk, the hallowed halls of St. Joseph's are a deluge of floral patterns and leopard print and sculptures of live-size bears standing guard. While the church has been seriously redecorated, the original architecture remains, full of alcoves and secret rooms for smaller groups to congregate. Pop-art paintings and sculptures filled the space thanks to the Society's current art exhibition of works by Ashley Longshore. St. Joseph's might be a secular, even iconoclastic institution now, but there was a sense of reverence and awe with which the community came together to celebrate literature. "We wanted to make a festival for the writers and the readers," said cofounder and executive director Jack Boulware, speaking to the history of Litquake. The spirit of community that fuels the festival was palpable at St. Joseph's and the event felt like a triumph in itself. "We had to jump through hoops to get here," said cofounder and artistic director Jane Ganahl. "I'm very happy that it's going so well." (Nicole Henderson for Orange Photography) From left: best-selling authors Daniel Handler, Andrew Sean Greer, and Michelle Richmond. "Litquake is all about folks congregating," said Zyzyvva managing editor Oscar Villalon. "It's a little unreal because it gives you a sense that things may finally get better. It's part of a whole general easing into life again." "This place is beautiful and so are the people in it," said local bestselling author Daniel Handler. "I'm very happy to be out and about in a fancy suit talking to people." In the evening of carousingcomplete with free wine, tacos, and live musicSan Francisco's third poet laureate Devorah Major performed an invocation to officially commence the festival. In her poetic speech, Major celebrated the diversity of the local literary community while acknowledging rampant cultural and historical issues, from racial discrimination and the lack of reliable education to the twisting of truth and celebration of ignorance, finishing out her declamation with a rallying cry. "In this America," Major proclaimed, "we do indeed need wordswords and books, authors and readersand need to observe which words we celebrate, which authors we acclaim, and which readers we acknowledge, and why. In the midst of this earthquake of literature, let us look, let us see, let us listen, let us hear, and let us act." As a performance poet, Major told me she relies on audience and the ability to connect with people in-person. "You have to be in the world," she said. "We are an interconnected, interdependent species. We don't do well in our little caves by ourselves." If you're still playing it safe but want to get involved, Litquake's schedule can accommodate. The festival runs for two weeks with talks online as well as outdoor and indoor live events. Litquake culminates with another party: the annual Litcrawl on October 23rd will feature live readings in bars and bookshops throughout the Mission. // For the full schedule of events, visit litquake.org. DURANGO, Colo. A Colorado father has been sentenced to a maximum 48 years in prison after being convicted of second-degree murder and child abuse resulting in death in the disappearance of his 13-year-old son nearly a decade ago. Mark Redwine, 60, was sentenced Friday by La Plata County District Court Chief Judge Jeffrey Wilson, The Durango Herald reported. Redwine was indicted in 2017 in the disappearance of Dylan Redwine, who was reported missing in November 2012 while on a court-ordered Thanksgiving visit to his fathers home outside Durango in southwest Colorado. Dylan Redwines remains were found a few miles from his fathers home in 2013, and hikers found his skull in 2015. A jury convicted Redwine in July after less than a day of deliberations. The case drew national attention when Redwine and the boys mother, Elaine Hall, leveled accusations at each other over their sons disappearance on the syndicated Dr. Phil television show in 2013. I have trouble remembering a convicted defendant that has shown such little remorse for what theyve done, the judge said Friday. Redwine didnt speak during the sentencing hearing. But he did maintain his innocence in comments he wrote for a pre-sentencing report. Judge Wilson read those comments aloud Friday. Innocent of all charges. Miscarriage of justice. Fake conviction. Sham trial, Redwine wrote. I take this circumstance very seriously and want to make clear that I too have lost a child I love more than life itself. I will fight for true justice, not for myself but for Dylan. Prosecutors argued at trial that Redwine killed Dylan after Dylan discovered embarrassing photos of Redwine wearing womens lingerie and eating feces from a diaper. They presented evidence that Dylans relationship with his father was in long decline and that Dylan told family and friends he dreaded the court-ordered visit. A forensic anthropologist testified at trial that Dylan suffered a fracture above his left eye and that two marks on his skull were likely caused by a knife or sharp tool at or near the time of death. Fred Johnson, special deputy district attorney, testified that investigators found traces of Dylans blood in Redwines living room. Hall testified that she sent Dylan to his fathers house on Nov. 18, 2012, learned he was missing the next day and suspected her ex-husband wasnt telling the truth about their sons disappearance. Redwine didnt testify at trial. But he told investigators he left Dylan alone at home to run errands and that Dylan was missing when he returned. Defense attorneys suggested Dylan ran away and may have been killed by a bear or a mountain lion. Public defender Justin Bogan also suggested that Halls appearance on national TV turned public opinion against her ex-husband and influenced the direction of the police investigation. District Attorney Christian Champagne addressed Redwine during Fridays hearing. After the passion of whatever caused you to act the way you did subsided, you didnt think about Dylan. You thought about yourself, you sanitized the crime scene, you hid Dylans body and you went so far as to remove his head from the rest of his body, Champagne said. Hall said Friday that her ex-husbands sentence was justice for as far as justice can go. There will never be enough time for taking Dylans life, but at least he hopefully wont get out. Hopefully hell die in prison. Redwine, a truck driver, was arrested in Bellingham, Washington, following the 2017 grand jury indictment. FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. No one saw Sasha Krause being taken from a Mennonite community in northwestern New Mexico where she worked in the publishing ministry, dominated in card games and ping pong, and where her poetry became song. No one saw the woman with a quiet and passive demeanor killed hours away in northern Arizona, a gunshot wound to the back of the head, her wrists bound by duct tape and left in the bitter cold among the pine needles. Prosecutor Ammon Barker argued Friday that cellphone data, receipts, financial records, repeated lies and a cover-up scheme point to Mark Gooch, a U.S. Air Force airman stationed in metropolitan Phoenix. Barker said Gooch was driven by a resentment for the faith he grew up around in Wisconsin. If you look at the evidence through reason, common sense and experience, you will know beyond a reasonable doubt that this defendant is guilty, Barker told jurors in closing arguments. Goochs attorney, Bruce Griffen, argued there is reason to doubt that Gooch killed Krause. He pointed to a lack of forensic evidence, another car seen in the Mennonite community and differing opinions from ballistics experts about whether the bullet taken from Krauses skull was fired from a .22-caliber rifle that Gooch owned. Wrong gun, wrong bullet, wrong car, Griffen said. How does it add up? Wrong guy. Youve got to deal with the objective evidence we have that creates reasonable doubt. You cant ignore reasonable doubt. The 12-member jury did not immediately reach a verdict Friday and will resume deliberations Wednesday. Gooch faces life in prison if hes convicted of first-degree murder and kidnapping in Krauses death. Her disappearance on Jan. 18, 2020 set off a frantic search. A camper eventually found her while gathering firewood near Sunset Crater Volcano National Monument in the same clothing that Krause had on when she went missing a gray dress, white coat and hiking shoes. Theres no indication that Krause and Gooch knew each other or that Krause put up a fight. Their families are part of a conservative group of Mennonites that dress modestly, reject some most forms of technology, and practice nonviolence and nonresistance. Gooch never officially joined the church. Both of their parents have been in the courtroom for the trial. Krauses mother grimaced and turned away as Barker displayed photos of her daughter for the jury during closing arguments. Goochs parents have had emotional exchanges with their sons attorney. The 27-year-old Krause was teaching in Texas where her family still lives before she moved to the Farmington Mennonite community where Lamp + Light are spelled out in painted white rocks on the side of a mesa. Krause worked in the publishing ministry bearing that name. One of her sisters previously lived in Farmington. Krause was gathering items for Sunday school when she went missing. Gooch, 22, told a sheriffs detective that he was in Farmington that day to check the times for church service because he missed the fellowship of Mennonites. His estimates on how long he spent on the trip werent consistent with the cellphone data, financial records and surveillance video, Barker said. Gooch didnt simply swing by the church as he said, Barker argued. He spent more than three hours near the church and detoured off the interstate for two hours in the area where Krauses body was found. Gooch later deleted the location history from his phone, bought bleach, had his car detailed and asked a buddy to store his rifle, Barker said. Goochs phone was the only device that communicated with the same towers as Krauses phone before her signal dropped off west of Farmington, prosecutors said. Barker displayed text message exchanges between Gooch and his brothers that he said show Gooch had a general disdain for Mennonites. By all accounts of what weve heard in trial was Sasha Krause was a light, a light to her family, her community, the world. Barker said. And this defendant snuffed it out. Griffen told jurors that Gooch voluntarily cooperated with a detective and is nonviolent. He argued that cellphone data is scientifically weak and cannot point to specific activities. He said two text messages exchanges mentioning Mennonites in recent years do not mean Gooch is guilty of murder. And Griffen posed a question to jurors about whether someone who was trying to pull off a covert mission would have used a cellphone or credit cards that leave tracks. He doesnt do any of those things, he doesnt try to avoid any of those things, Griffen said. Its all inconsistent with the states suggestion that hes the guy. Copyright 2021 Albuquerque Journal OptumCare New Mexico alleges in a lawsuit that two of the companys former employees used a personal email account to obtain confidential medical information for more than 24,000 Optum patients for the benefit of a competitor. The lawsuit alleges that Giancarlo Martinez accepted a job with Cano Health New Mexico while still employed by Optum. While dually employed by both companies, he allegedly emailed numerous patient rosters and internal reports to his personal email account, according to a lawsuit filed Sept. 30 in 2nd Judicial District Court. The data obtained by Martinez contained a significant volume of highly confidential and proprietary personal and medical information including protected health information of more than 24,000 Optum patients, the suit alleges. Martinez and his supervisor at Cano, Shaun Burns, used the information to recruit Optum physicians and patients to switch to Cano Health, the suit alleges. As a result, several Optum employees have resigned from Optum to join Cano Health and were directed by Martinez to solicit the patients they had treated at Optums clinics to move to Cano Health, the suit alleges. Andrew Schultz, an Albuquerque attorney representing Cano Health and Burns, declined comment on Friday. Martinez did not immediately respond Friday to phone and email messages seeking comment. Martinez and Burns began recruiting Optum employees and patients before Martinez resigned in July as site administrator for Optums family medicine clinic in the 2900 block of Coors NW, the suit alleges. Burns had resigned in September 2020 as Optums director of clinical operations for primary care. The suit identifies him as Cano Healths regional operations director for New Mexico. Martinez sent an email from his Optum email address on May 13 containing a voluminous Excel file with detailed information about 23,904 Optum patients, the lawsuit alleges. The file contained patients physical and mental health issues, conditions and disorders, treatment histories, prescription spending, insurance plan information and other personal data, the suit said. The lawsuit seeks the destruction of all Optum records allegedly obtained by Cano Health. Optum takes the security of patient and company information very seriously and is taking all appropriate actions to safeguard the data, Optum spokeswoman Amy Knapp said in a written statement. The lawsuit sets out a timeline of the alleged actions by Martinez and Burns. It includes: On May 14, a day after Martinez sent himself the email containing detailed patient data, he accepted a job at Cano Health with a start date of June 1. On May 19, Martinez sent eight emails from Optum to his personal email address containing additional personal information for 8,339 Optum patients, including their physicians, future scheduled visits and specified illnesses. Martinez took family leave from Optum from June 7 through July 5 without informing the company that he was actively working at Cano Health during this time. Martinez resigned from Optum on July 8. OptumCare New Mexico offers primary and specialty care at 12 clinics in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, according to Optums website. Florida-based Cano Health LLC has 108 medical centers throughout New Mexico, Florida, Texas and Nevada specializing in senior care, according to its website. It identifies three clinic locations coming soon in Albuquerque and Los Ranchos. The New Mexico Secretary of States office lists Cano Health New Mexico as a domestic limited liability company in good standing. The lawsuit asks a judge to order Cano Health to search its computer servers and databases for any Optum data and to destroy it. Optum also is seeking a restraining order that would prevent Martinez and Burns from soliciting Optum employees and patients to switch to Cano Health. The suit also seeks unspecified damages as determined at trial. A nonprofit leader, two educators and a chief financial officer are all vying for the open District 3 Albuquerque Public Schools Board of Education seat in the Nov. 3 election. Currently represented by board Vice President Lorenzo Garcia, who declined to seek reelection after serving three terms, District 3 encompasses the North Valley, Downtown and midtown Albuquerque. Garcia said he chose not to seek reelection because it was time for someone else to join the board. He said the incoming board member will face a variety of challenges including rising temperatures caused by climate change, political division and perennial issues relating to the budget and capital expenditures. I think one big challenge for the board will be if they can come together and try to govern in a way that hopefully reflects the best interests of the district and doesnt fall into partisan trappings, he said. This is the most packed race for the board with four candidates running to replace Garcia. Jinx Baskerville, 60, is no stranger to APS, with 25 years of experience working as a principal, assistant principal and special education teacher for the district. Ali Ennenga, 57, the other educator in the election, is similarly familiar with APS, having worked for the district between 2009 and 2015 before leaving to start Color Clarity LLC, a business that focuses on child and adult literacy. Ennenga last ran for the District 3 board seat in 2017 but ultimately lost to Garcia. Though Danielle Gonzales, 42, doesnt have ties to APS as an educator, she has firsthand experience with the district as a graduate of Valley High School and worked as an elementary teacher in Texas before leaving to work with education nonprofits. Lucas Gauthier, 43, the only candidate without professional ties to education, worked as the chief financial officer for the New Mexico 13th Judicial District Court for 12 years and previously worked as a deputy city clerk in Espanola. All of the candidates agree the current school boards performance is either lacking or leaves room for improvement. Baskerville said the board has not done enough outreach into the community, while Gonzales said the current boards performance has been poor due to low proficiency scores and declining enrollment. Ennenga said the current boards performance has been on the decline, and Gauthier said the board needed more experience with budgeting and procurement. There is universal support among the candidates for making superintendent applications public. But the candidates split when it comes to vaccine mandates and masking requirements for students. Gauthier and Ennenga disagree with vaccine requirements with both saying that vaccines are a personal choice, while Baskerville and Gonzales support a vaccine requirement. Ennenga is the only candidate for the District 3 seat to disagree with required masking and said children and adults should have the choice to wear a mask or not. Baskerville, Gonzales and Gauthier all agree on some form of masking requirements. Albuquerque police have identified a gray pickup they believe was used during the fatal road rage shooting of a man who was driving his 7-year-old grandson to school Wednesday morning. Nelson Gallegos Jr. was shot around 8:40 a.m. in front of the Central Grill and Coffee House on Central, near Rio Grande. In the car with him was his grandson, an Albuquerque Police Department spokesman confirmed Friday. It was Gallegoss 52nd birthday. His death comes a year and a half after his cousins son was also killed in a suspected road rage shooting. Alexandra Jaramillo describes Gallegos as a father figure and said she had lived with him for about 13 years since she was about 7 years old. He had been married to her aunt and the couple raised her. We went to church every Sunday and Wednesday, he was super into church, Jaramillo said. He always had a smile on his face. He was involved in the lowrider community. He just had open arms to everybody around him. Gallegos was a former Marine and worked at the Albuquerque Bernalillo County Water Utility AuthorityJaramillo said when he wasnt working or at church he loved to go camping at a spot up in the Jemez. She said he was also an advocate against gun violence. Family and friends held a candlelight vigil at the scene of the shooting Thursday night. Kyle Martinez, the son of Gallegos cousin, was also the victim of a suspected road rage shooting. Martinez was 15 when he was shot and killed while driving on Central and Unser in April 2020. Kevin Metzgar has been charged with murder in that case. On Friday, police released photographs taken from security camera footage showing a gray pickup they believe was being driven by the person who shot Gallegos. Witnesses had told investigators there had been a confrontation between at least two people in different vehicles. Security camera video obtained by the Journal shows Gallegos out of his car walking around and standing in the street next to the passenger side of a car. A gray truck passes by him. Thats when, an APD spokesman confirmed, the suspect opened fire from the cab of the truck, striking Gallegos. He fell to the ground. Gallegos died at the scene. Jaramillo said Gallegos grandson doesnt quite understand what happenedm but has been telling family, Grandpa got shot and now grandpa is in Heaven. He gave a description of what kind of car and how many people were in the car, Jaramillo said. Tourists and everybody came by right away, and saw he was in the car and took him to a nearby restaurant. If you have information Police ask anyone with information about the case to call Albuquerque Metro Crime Stoppers at 505-843-STOP. LAS CRUCES New Mexico is preparing to welcome 400 refugees who fled Afghanistan amid the withdrawal of U.S. troops in August, and groups are seeking volunteers and donations to help with the effort. About 100 of those refugees are expected to resettle in Las Cruces, according to officials with Lutheran Family Services Rocky Mountains, the states primary nongovernmental refugee resettlement organization. The remainder are expected to relocate to Albuquerque and Santa Fe. Andrew Byrd, the southern New Mexico coordinator for LFS, told the Las Cruces Sun-News that Afghan refugees are expected to relocate to the southern New Mexico city by March 2022. He said the numbers for the state and each city are projected capacities submitted by his group to the federal government. Some Afghan refugees are being sheltered at nearby military installations as they are connected with resettlement organizations. At Holloman Air Force Base, Fort Bliss Dona Ana Range Complex and other military installations around the country, officials have said refugees are tested for COVID-19 before arriving. Once on base, they undergo further medical screening and can apply for immigration status and work authorizations before resettlement organizations place them into communities. The LFS Las Cruces office partnered with the Muslim Student Association at New Mexico State University to help refugees once they arrive. The groups have asked for volunteers who can serve as translators and to transport donated goods. Theyve also asked people to donate money, furniture, electronics such as phones and laptops and school supplies. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) California high school students will have to take a course in ethnic studies to get a diploma starting in the 2029-30 school year. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Friday that makes California among the first in the nation to list ethnic studies as a graduation requirement for all public high school students. Assemblyman Jose Medina authored the legislation and says schools are ready to offer courses that are more reflective of social justice. The new law requires all public schools in the state to offer at least one ethnic studies course starting in the 2025-26 school year. Students graduating in 2029-30 will have to complete a one-semester course. REDDING, Calif.- Redding Electric Utility (REU) celebrated its 100th anniversary servicing the City of Redding by hosting a free fair downtown. The fair ran from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., giving out free food, showing presentations, and letting the community engage with the utility and first responders. At the event, people could go up in the bucket crane, see presentations about what different voltages can do, and enter a raffle. REU Program Supervisor, Shawn Avery, was glad so many people enjoyed the event because it was important for REU to give back to the community they've serviced for a century. "They can express their needs; they can also see whats available to them but also see some of the tools that we all utilize in the field to make sure that we provide the best service we can for the city of Redding," Avery said. The event was a part of the nationwide celebration called Public Power Week, where community-owned utilities, like REU, are honored. REU is proud to be community-run and hopes they can continue to keep Redding safe for one hundred more years. "Our goal is to provide safe, reliable electricity to the customers we serve and we serve approximately 45,000 households, residential, commercial, and industrial organizations here in the community," Avery said. "So, its really about focusing on the needs right here in Redding." One of the main attractions at the event was the Mobile Command Center. The Mobile Command Center is a mobile base of operations for first responders, like the Redding Fire Department and Redding Police Department, to use in an emergency. REU works closely with first responders to keep everyone in Redding safe during an emergency, recently using the center during the Fawn Fire. Avery was glad first responders could take part in the festivities, talking and sharing the Mobile Command Center with the community, REU will continue to celebrate Public Power Week and is glad they could share this event with the whole community. CHICO, Calif. - Many local businesses are still having a tough time staffing up enough to stay open, even with pandemic unemployment cash ending last month. Taming Tangles, a childrens salon in Chico, is one of the local businesses on the verge of closure. The short staff is strategizing any way to keep their business alive. "We've had to cancel people multiple times. Yesterday I was calling and I said I have to cancel and they said this is the third time, Melissa Farmer, a hairstylist at Taming Tangles said. I said I am sorry, there is nothing I can do. I feel really bad about it. Right now, the shop is down to just two hairstylists and the owner. "I already called our landlord and let her know that we might be closing in the next month or two if we can't find any employees, said Taming Tangles owner Tammie Harvey. Pre-pandemic Taming Tangles had at least two to three hairstylists during the week and three on Saturdays, their busiest day. Now, they have closed on Saturdays altogether and operate at just 50% of their regular hours. "Some of the stylists moved out of state, Harvey said. Some of the recent employees we have had just had a lot of issues of randomly calling in sick or just not showing up for work." They have served the community for two years at their current location. Being one of the only children's salons in the North State, they are used to seeing families traveling from all over to get their haircut here. We get kids with all different needs. I will sit on the ground with them and cut their hair, I will let them play video games and cut their hair, Farmer said. Its a scary thing to get your haircut as a kid, so we try to make them as comfortable as possible and have fun. To calm kids down before a haircut, they will let them come into a play area or maybe even take a seat along the wall so they can get a pedicure in before a haircut. The salon is not alone in its short staff. Action News Now spoke with Phil Feser from Rush Personnel about what employers are doing to get workers back. "We're seeing a lot of employers offering a lot of things like increases in wages, better benefit plans, flexibility in work schedules and anything they can do to attract workers, Feser said. "It is good pay and it's a great atmosphere and it is very comparable to other places and we do get raises, Farmer told Action News Now. Taming Tangles is different than other salons because hairstylists do not rent a booth to cut hair. My employees here are guaranteed an hourly wage and they make a commission on top of what they do and tips as well, Harvey said. Farmer and Harvey said one of the challenging parts is that it is already harder to find stylists who want to work with kids, but it has never been like this. I get a lot of people saying that their hairstylist doesnt want to do their kids, or certain atmospheres arent appropriate for kids, Farmer said. So I just dont know where we are going to go if we close. It might still be a challenge moving forward to find employees, as Feser told Action News Now that it is already a very competitive job market, but with the holidays right around the corner, seasonal workers are going to be even harder to find this year. "I am finger crossed that something happens in the next week or two or else we'll be forced to close, Harvey said. Murray McCann MSM, CPA, B.Sc.N (Hon.) "When you think someone should do something about that, recognize that you are someone." Murray McCann is a visionary entrepreneur and community leader who reinvests his success into organizations that combat hunger, homelessness, fear and violence. His programs that honour fallen soldiers and support homeless veterans continue to grow as word spreads. Widely recognized for his selfless generosity, he continues to make a difference here at home and abroad. James Murray McCann was born in Ottawa, Ontario, on December 31, 1938, the second of six children. When he was 13, his family moved to Calgary, lured by the growing oil industry. A few years later, his father died unexpectedly, leaving his mother as the sole provider for the five children still at home. She took what little funds she had and started a business that soon thrived, setting an entrepreneurial example for her young family, calling it only common sense. Murray attributes his ingrained values of responsibility, hard work and compassion to his close, loving family. He specifically remembers a bitterly cold February day when his father removed his overcoat, which the family had given him the previous Christmas, handed it to a shivering street person, and said, He needed it more than I did. For the rest of the winter, my father went without an overcoat. No act of unconditional love for your fellow man has impacted me more than the act of love I witnessed on that cold winter day, says Murray. After high school graduation, Murray enrolled at Saint Josephs seminary in Edmonton with the intent of becoming a priest. It soon became apparent to him that this was not his vocation, but he was uncertain which way to turn. His mother suggested that he article at an accounting firm, so he joined Price Waterhouse as an articling student. After five years of intense study, combined with accounting and auditing experience, Murray earned his professional Chartered Accountant designation. With his newfound credentials, he began his career with Revenue Canada as a corporate tax assessor, then moved to an oil well drilling firm as comptroller. At the age of 28 with five children, Murray started his own chartered accounting firm, which became an immediate success. Its merger with a major accounting firm three years later provided the capital to acquire his first operating company. Murray would add, nurture, expand and divest 32 more operating companies in Canada, USA, China, India and Malaysia over the next 50 years. Those companies presently employ over 2,500 people. A few of the local businesses include Main Plumbing and Heating, Winroc Corporation, The Bolt Supply House, Steels Industrial Products, Ormiston Mining and Smelting, and Airborne Technologies. Murrays business acumen and willingness to take risks have earned him recognition and the respect of his peers in Alberta and beyond, as he has been involved in a diverse range of sectors, including mining, plumbing and heating, oil and gas exploration, web development, real estate, international training and building materials distribution. Regardless of the sector, he has always encouraged his companies to support the needs of communities in which they operate. While directly supporting local initiatives, they also match employees personal donations to the same initiatives. Today, Murray is still active in business, but spends most of his time leading philanthropic activities through both the McCann Family Foundation and his own private generosity. His support of local and international initiatives are as diverse as his business interests. Wherever a need is identified, and a group gathers with a willingness to donate their time, then we provide capital to offer assistance, he says. I am overwhelmed by the goodness of people and their support for their less fortunate fellow man. In 2008, Murray was deeply moved after seeing 23 white crosses along the road outside Menlo, Georgia, commemorating the villages fallen soldiers. He understood how fortunate he had been to live his life in freedom, because thousands of Canadians had given their lives the ultimate sacrifice to make that freedom possible. He knew southern Alberta needed a similar tribute. The very next year, the first Field of Crosses stood in military cemetery formation from November 1 to 11 along Calgarys Memorial Drive. Each cross bore the name, rank, age and date of death of a service man or woman from southern Alberta who had been killed. Over 20,000 people visit the five-acre park each November to quietly walk among more than 3,600 crosses or attend one of the 23 memorial services. After funding the annual memorial for 11 years, Murray donated it to the public as a registered charity to ensure it will endure long after he is gone. After reading that an estimated 2,500 military veterans live on the streets in Canada, Murray was again moved to act. He established the Homes For Heroes Foundation, which provides housing, services and training to help homeless veterans successfully transition back into civilian life. Each village of 15 affordable tiny homes is paired with professional and compassionate services provided by The Mustard Seed. The first village opened in Calgary in 2019, with another in Edmonton in 2021. More are in the works across Canada. Its payback time by a grateful nation. Soldiers dont leave their wounded on the battlefield, says Murray. In 2006, Murrays family foundation worked with World Vision to build a student residence and a youth vocation and skills centre in Namuso, Zambia. While on a trip to the centre, Murray met Ranji Chara, known as the Mother Theresa of Zambia. He was so impressed with the good she was doing with the hope she offered to the children in her orphanage and to the poorest children in her school that he offered to be her financial support. A residence for girls was built and dedicated to Murrays late wife as the Myrna McCann Residence for Girls. His foundation covered all salaries for the school and orphanage for 10 years until Mrs. Chara passed and her brothers large church congregation took over responsibility for the operation. Shortly before her sudden death, Mrs. Chara wrote, God bless you dear Murray. Today because of you, many children are able to go to school and even to university, and many poor families are supported, because staff are earning a fair income. A long-time financial supporter of The United Way, Murray funded a quarterly breakfast for its 150 major donors to learn about and strategize big issues like poverty and homelessness. This helped The United Way build a culture of shared responsibility and collaboration with Calgarys civic and corporate leaders. In 1995, Murray purchased the 18,000-square-foot former Basilian Fathers Residence overlooking downtown Calgary and donated it to Hospice Calgary. Now called the Rosedale Hospice, more than 2,000 patients have received specialized, compassionate end-of-life care in the home-like environment of the hospice. As an original and ongoing supporter of Bettys Run for ALS for more than 25 years, the McCann Family Foundation has helped the ALS Society of Alberta raise millions for research, equipment and client support. Grants from the foundation also helped the Bob Glasgow Grief Support Centre relocate and expand its grief support operations in Calgary. In addition, as a Patron of the Arts of the Vatican Museum, Murray has assisted financially in the restoration of masterpieces, as well as encouraging and supporting the historic organization to create a web presence and update its systems. Murrays many community contributions have not gone unnoticed. In 2012, he received Queen Elizabeth IIs Diamond Jubilee Medal. His Field of Crosses initiative was recognized when he received a Minister of Veterans Affairs Commendation in 2015 and a Meritorious Service Medal in 2016. In 2017, Calgary named him Citizen of the Year and in 2018, the Calgary Stampede honoured him with the Western Legacy Award for Sustained Contribution by an Individual, recognizing his leadership with western values as he created a legacy for southern Alberta. In 2018, Mount Royal University recognized his work with an Honorary Bachelor of Nursing degree. For more than 50 years, Murray has consistently reinvested proceeds from his entrepreneurial ventures into the community. Entrepreneurialism, he says, is the Alberta Advantage. It is the key to Albertas future. Weve got to encourage and nurture entrepreneurialism, because it makes things happen. And if things arent happening, you make them happen, says Murray. Weve always been a province of entrepreneurs. You dont need to go to elsewhere to pursue your dreams. You can achieve them right here in Alberta. Murray and his wife Carol have seven children, 19 grandchildren and one great granddaughter. When not exploring faraway places, they divide their time between Calgary, Alberta, and Rome, Georgia. We need to defund the school committees. In this context, defund is a term used to denote a lack of respect. Defund the police means that Woke progressives do not respect the police and would like to see their involvement and influence on society lessened. However, that definition of defund needs to apply to the many school committees around the country who are ruining our childrens education with their stubborn, misplaced backing of Critical Race Theory (CRT). Lets face it, every day in President Joe Bidens America, some new proposed legislation or government-mandated edict comes along that the average person just cant believe is really happening. Personal freedoms and the daily quality of life in this country are spiraling downward at an alarming rate. Our personal freedoms and the norms weve come to expect and rely on are at a tipping point now, in real danger of being permanently wrested away from the average citizen as a result of hyperpartisan progressive government overreach. No issue encapsulates the attack on the values and the foundation of our society and culture like the phenomenally destructive concept of Critical Race Theory. Directly contradicting the elemental American ideal of an equal opportunity color and ethnicity blind society, CRT seeks to give credence to the absurd notion that Caucasians are guilty of a longstanding oppression of minorities and therefore their undeserved white privilege needs to be addressed with punitive action, reverse discrimination (against whites) and a drastic reteaching of American history. The goal is to assign the requisite blame to slave-owning Founders, remove credit for their so-called accomplishments and recast the entirety of American history into a new wokeist light where whiteness is exposed for the grievous crime against American culture that it supposedly is. We all know what CRT is, what groups support it, and why. Its bad enough in the workplace when major corporations like Coca-Cola send out official memoranda telling their employees to be less white. Its bad enough when major colleges and universities have safe space cultural centers where only students with the newly approved cutaneous pigmentation are allowed to go. But the real danger to the long-term health and normalcy of our society occurs when CRT becomes part of the official public school curriculum when teaching impressionable kids from ages 5-18 that ones arbitrary skin color matters more in life than an individuals personal character, honesty, work ethic, compassion, and generosity. Because of the controversial introduction of CRT into the public schools, the previously lowly office of school committee member has suddenly burst into the limelight. Being on ones local school committee used to be nothing more than an initial launching point for a persons political ambitions. Its an easy first step, a way to get your name out to the town. From there, you might aspire to something a bit higher, perhaps serving on the towns housing committee or the board of health. After that, maybe town selectman. Then, after four or six years, you have a name, a local following. You could make a run for town manager or mayor or even state representative. But the school committee was often the entry point, the start. Nowadays, of course, the school committee is front and center in the CRT controversy. Irate parents who never before attended a town meeting in their lives are now packing local committee meetings, voicing their opposition to what they see as a wildly distorted presentation of American values and a disastrous end to giving students an accurate and balanced view of traditional American history. Instead, CRT deems that whiteness is bad and whites need to atone to the specific benefit of government-approved minority groups for the supposed crimes of their forebears. Note that CRT completely ignores the ever-increasing population of mixed-race children. Most parents -- of all colors and ethnicities -- oppose CRT with a fervent intensity. There are countless viral social media videos of impassioned parents expressing their vehement displeasure with the hundreds of emotionally and intellectually detached, clueless school committee members masquerading as informed public servants. That the woke progressives are trying to label these parents protests as domestic terrorism reveals exactly how scared the Left is that the anti-CRT sentiment resonates strongly with a majority of the public. CRT is just another way that woke progressives are trying to punish traditional-thinking people, shape the minds of future voters towards the progressive side and convince themselves that they are accomplishing a societal good, correcting a historic injustice -- all the while safe in the knowledge that all of their spiteful actions will affect other people, not themselves. Like all woke progressive acts, CRT never negatively affects them. They already have theirs and their intent is to simply hurt their targeted political adversaries. The heretofore innocuous office of school committee member has now risen to a position of about the highest visibility and importance at the local level. When someone attends a local school board meeting for the first time under this new reality, the likelihood is that he will be struck by the singularly unimpressive nature of the school committee members, the majority of whom seem to be nothing more than unqualified political rookies, hoping for anonymity as they snake their way up the local political ladder. (There are unquestionably some dedicated, level-headed members. But it doesnt seem like there are anywhere near enough.) In video after video, viewers see that school committee members are completely tone-deaf when it comes to how CRT worsens, not improves, race relations and transactional outcomes, while at the same time, CRT diminishes students knowledge of American history and contributes to a markedly lower standard of social skills, national pride, and awareness among young people. The new meaning for defund -- lacking respect for and wanting a diminution of involvement and influence -- definitely applies to the out-of-touch, bollixed woke revisionists who seem to populate far too high a percentage of many local school committees. Image: Manassas High School Alumni Association To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. I dont want to live in a country where friends of powerful politicians get preference in receiving medical care, but Joe Biden evidently thinks thats an appealing vision of the future he is building. He is actually so proud of doing his part to make that a reality in practice that he bragged about it in public. Kyle Morris reports for Fox News: President Joe Biden said Thursday he personally reached out to a hospital the night before to ensure the wife of his "good friend" received immediate care because the "waiting room was so crowded." "Last night, I was on the telephone with a person at an emergency hospital ward in Pennsylvania because a good friend had called, and he had rushed his significant other to the emergency room because this woman was having trouble breathing, had a high fever, and could not catch her breath," Biden said during a speech in Illinois promoting COVID-19 vaccine mandates for businesses. "They got her into the hospital. The waiting room was so crowded, things were so backed up they couldn't even get her to be seen initially. So, because I knew this person, I called. I called the desk receiving nurse and asked what the situation was." "To make long story short, it took a while because all of the not all the vast majority of the emergency rooms and docs were occupied taking care of COVID patients," Biden added. "I bet every one of you can name somebody who got sent to the hospital with something other than COVID and couldn't get it taken care of." Dont believe he really would say something so repellant to anyone who doesnt expect to benefit from favoritism? Here is video of it: Did the President of the Unites States just admit to personally pressuring a hospital to let a friend's significant other skip ahead in the line at the ER? pic.twitter.com/CVUCq3oity Michele Blood (@BloodBrief) October 7, 2021 Biden probably thought he was illustrating how important it is for people to get vaxxed since his speech was at an event promoting vaccine mandates. But of course, fully vaxxed people also get hospitalized for Covid. More importantly, the real problem with crowded emergency rooms is that they are where many illegal immigrants go for basic medical care, since they may not be enrolled in any health insurance plans without legal status to work. And Biden is allowing hundreds of thousands more illegals per month into the country, many of them ill and requiring treatment at you guessed it! emergency rooms. Photo credit: Twitter video screengrab Hat tip: Mary Chastain To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Almost from the onset of COVID, we have seen both policy and personal choice couched in largely moralistic terms. Politicians and public health officials who sought to keep us safe at whatever cost have deployed to the moral high ground, where they have remained under the protective cover of both social and legacy media. The pre-vaccination symbol of virtue and compliance with the dictates of public health experts, was of course the face covering. Masks of less than operating room quality were of questionable efficacy in controlling viral spread but made a personal statement. The mask was the symbolic projection of caring, and a statement of faith in what I like to call the COVID industrial complex. And with that faith came affirmations of ones belief in Science, as if science were the consensus of public health officials as opposed to a rigorous process of research and experimentation. Omnipresent yard signs in expensive neighborhoods proclaimed that Science is Real and Water is Life (maybe these signs should have read Carbon is Life, but thats another issue). Fortunately, the mask talisman yielded to real rather than symbolic scientific advancement. From the desperation of lockdown orders and grasping for answers came the manna of vaccines. Initially, the professed belief in science and the anticipation of a vaccine were not inextricably linked, since the impetus for vaccine development came from a purportedly unscientific administration. But with the new year, skepticism among the elites gave way not just to a warm embrace of vaccines but a public health and governmental offensive to immunize everyone from one to beyond 92. I should point out that I have both suffered from COVID and been double vaccinated. While I think it would be beneficial for most adults to get the injection, I reject the idea that everyone, particularly those who have been previously infected, must be vaccinated -- and especially reject the idea that vaccine resisters should be shamed or labeled as morally deficient. In some instances, the line between vaccine advocacy and quasi-religious zealotry has been blurred if not crossed. Newly sworn-in New York Governor Kathy Hochul put it this way: " Yes, I know you're vaccinated. they're (sic) the smart ones, but you know, there are people out there who aren't listening to God and what God wants. you know, this, you know who they are. I need you to be my apostles. While delivering her sermon on a Brooklyn mount, Hochul was wearing a necklace that read Vaccinated. I have yet to hear of a necklace that proclaims ones natural immunity from a prior COVID infection, which may confer greater immunity than an actual vaccine. Like many, Hochul does not seem content to merely receive the vaccine and the resistance that it confers. She must demonize and castigate those who have made a different decision. Vaccine virtue signaling is insufferable on its own, but the seeming imperative to shame and marginalize other Americans for a medical decision, however well-reasoned, seems both vindictive and morally ostentatious. If you have been vaccinated then you are protected from the serious ramifications of COVID (albeit not a minor infection), so why all the vitriol aimed at the unvaccinated? President Biden, once touted as a voice of conciliation, has also chosen to blame the unvaccinated for whatever COVID harm strikes us in the future. Coming amid the failure of the Afghanistan withdrawal, his us vs, them proclamation bears the scent of a politically motivated strategy. We should be celebrating the fact that approximately 76% of American adults, and 87% of senior citizens, have received at least one dose of the COVID vaccine. Those who have gotten the shot are far, far better off than they were last year, despite the vicissitudes of the Delta variant. If those who have gotten the vaccine want to feel superior, hey, thats human nature. But they should resist the urge, despite prompting from politicians and the media, to blame their fellow citizens for making a different choice. Joe Pearlman is a retired administrative hearing officer for the state of North Carolina. Image: Jernej Furman To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Some Republicans roll their eyes regarding Trumps ongoing efforts to prove claims that massive election fraud won Biden the presidential election. They shouldnt. Even if Trump never forces accountability, it is imperative to broadcast vast pushback to perceived Democrat political hijinks. After all, the corporate medias focus on Trumps mean tweets, ofttimes crude objectification of women, incessant bragging, refusal to hew to the DC playbook, and Covid gave them the cover to mostly ignore his systemic greatness. Trump crashed through the bureaucracy and for a while successfully diminished its reach; then the bureaucracy viciously smashed back. .Despite Republican squish and betrayal, they have made a huge miscalculation in failing to heed Trumps repeated warning: the Democrats werent just after him -- they are after us -- all of us. The Democrats have an ugly and off-putting social history. Along with ownership of and membership in the wretched KKK, Obama heightened divisive racial conflict. Hillary Clinton called conservatives, patriots, and religious Americans a basket of deplorables. Biden has furthered anti-American trash talk by weaponizing the bureaucracies and ominously setting the FBI against parents who reject the odious critical race theory and untrue intersectionality memes being taught in government schools. Equally horrific is the sudden withholding of organ transplants from the unvaccinated. And yet we have the moral chutzpah to criticize Chinas purported organ harvesting? Pennsylvania is one of the election fraud suspect states and, as a long-time elected committee and state committeewoman, I personally witnessed many bona fide acts of fraud - previously chronicled in American Thinker articles. Paraphrasing President Ronald Reagan: there they go again. The election fraud accusations, replete with documented proof that somethings happened in many somewheres, have not reached critical mass or gained serious resolution. Accordingly, the Democrats have not just successfully tarnished the last presidential election, they have also set a marker for other bad political actors to follow. And follow they have. In my hapless Democrat-saturated Montgomery County, the Democrat-run Board of Elections recently announced they had sent out 16,000 mail-in-ballots. However, their vendor, experiencing a computer glitch, had forgotten to print the backs of the ballots. The Board canceled the 16,000 irregular ballots. However, they did not call for a recall. Instead, a second batch of mail-in ballots will be distributed to the same recipients. The Democrats have also set up at least ten stand-alone unmanned drop boxes in which voters can deposit their ballots. These boxes blatantly circumvent legal voter accountability requirements but follow the Democrats impromptu Covid-induced shenanigans implemented in the last election cycle. The contrasts between Trump and Biden are heart-rending. Trump loved America. He embraced the American people and worked like a man on a mission to improve all sectors. Biden is sequestered from the American people and enjoys truncated workdays and ice cream cones. He has aligned with the most radical progressives of the Democrat party, thereby accepting critical race theory, anti-Semitism, harmful educational memes, and a decided anti-American stance. Pre-Covid, President Trump fostered a rollicking national economy, focused on good-paying jobs, and delivered. Against all the naysayers, he implemented the Abraham Accords between Israel and multiple Arab nations. He opened the American Embassy in Jerusalem. He worked arduously to defend our Southern border with Mexico. His policies created an energy-independent, free America. Moreover, he saved countless American lives by allowing big Pharma to create Covid fighting inoculations at warp speed. To date, Biden has done the reverse. He has shut down the Keystone Pipeline, thereby eliminating Americas energy independence. He has attempted to blow up Jerusalems Jewish identity by introducing a Palestinian presence in our Jerusalem premises. Bidens open border policy has created a virtual invasion of our national sovereignty. With Bidens approval rating at a dismal 38%, and the stomach-lurching knowledge that things will get worse, the security of our voting processes gains heightened import. Elections have consequences. Stolen elections have dire consequences. Regardless of Trumps ultimate findings, nothing will overturn the disastrous outcome. But the fight is worth fighting -- to ultimately ensure oversight and hoped for deterrence. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. There comes a time when you do have to give up what you consider your individual right of making your own decision for the greater good of society. That was Dr. Anthony Fauci in an October 1 virtual lecture for McGill University in Montreal. For the White House medical adviser there were no two ways about it. You do have to give up only what you consider your right of making your own decision. This is not a man with a strong attachment to liberty and the rights of the individual. As Dan Gelernter noted, Until recently, no one in American public life could have survived making such a statement. The ideas Fauci expressed were found only on the tongues of state spokesmen in North Korea, China, Stalins Russia, or Hitlers Germany. Faucis words are the intellectual kernel of and justification for totalitarianism. Fauci was speaking in the context of a pandemic thats killing millions of people. Embattled Americans have a right to wonder about his qualifications on the medical and scientific side. Anthony Fauci earned a medical degree in 1966 but in 1968 he took a job with the National Institutes of Health. Faucis bio shows no advanced degrees in molecular biology or biochemistry, but in 1984 he became director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID). The late Kary Mullis, who earned a Ph.D. in biochemistry from UC Berkeley and won a Nobel Prize for the polymerase chain reaction (PCR), believed that Fauci was unqualified for the job. Back in the 1990s, Mullis went on record that Fauci doesnt understand electron microscopy and he doesnt understand medicine. He should not be in a position like hes in. Fauci was hopelessly wrong about the spread of AIDS in the general population, but he remained at the helm of NIAID. Faucis NIAID funded the Wuhan Institute of Virology (WIV) for dangerous gain-of-function research that makes viruses more lethal and transmissible. Fauci has been evasive about the origin of the virus that causes COVID-19, and the NIAID boss has reversed himself on many aspects of the pandemic. Even so, Dr. Fauci claims that to criticize him is to criticize science itself. If embattled Americans called that megalomania it would be hard to blame them. Dr. Anthony Fauci wields enormous power but during 53 years in government, he has never once had to face the voters. Fauci is the public face of white coat supremacy, an unelected, unaccountable bureaucrat overriding the rights of the people. The late Angelo Codevilla, familiar with the intelligence community, quickly pegged Fauci as a deep state fraud. He needlessly locked the economy, avoided hard data, and made projections based on meaningless numbers from computer models. At the same time, the NIAID boss showed little if any concern for the suffering of Americans. Fauci now seeks to cancel Americans right to make their own decisions about their own health. To paraphrase the NIAID boss, there comes a time when embattled Americans need to stand up to this man, for their own good and the benefit of society. Meanwhile, as Fauci justifies totalitarian rule, signs are emerging of what white coat supremacy means in practice. A Colorado woman named Leilani Lutali, with stage 5 renal failure, needed a kidney and found a donor in Jaimee Fougner. Now UCHealth says the pair are non-compliant by not receiving the COVID-19 vaccine. If the donor and recipient fail to begin the vaccine series, they will be removed from the kidney transplant list. As this power play demonstrates, white coat supremacy holds little regard for Americans health and even their right to life. If America as we know it is to survive, white coat supremacy has to go. Lloyd Billingsley is a policy fellow at the Independent Institute in Oakland, California. Image: PxFuel To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. Business Insider is reporting that it's got the hottest of insider scandals. No, not the tens of thousands of illegal aliens from more than a hundred countries now surging across our border. Here's the notorious scandal: Amazon, Google, and Microsoft have repeatedly used third parties or act as subcontractors to sidestep public scrutiny and work with US immigration agencies, despite employee backlash and some company policies against doing such work.https://t.co/1FMwOUU8NT Business Insider (@BusinessInsider) October 8, 2021 The story about Amazon, Google, and Microsoft contracting with ICE and the Border Patrol through intermediaries is a premium subscriber item, so it's impossible to read without a subscription. But Business Insider couldn't help itself. It tweeted out 11 more tweets crowing about its scoop, with each tweet adding more of the story content. Who needs a premium subscription when the content is all there? Twitter featured the story on its sidebar with a summary, so the promotion was even better. In these tweets, we learned that the companies were using intermediaries to reap big ICE and Border Patrol contracts. Apparently, that was a no-no. Leftists within these big tech companies complained about it because apparently there shouldn't be any Border Patrol interfering with illegals or ICE surveillance of transnational crime and cartels. Via Wikipedia, here are what ICE and its sister agency do: These agencies are perfectly legal; they're even funded by Congress. Congress can get rid of them any time it likes by defunding them, but somehow, it does not. That might be because they do important and necessary work that benefits the American people. But to Business Insider and all the tech creeps it quotes, this is a total scandal. Amazon, Google, and Microsoft shouldn't be contracting with them? Even as Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp basically contract with human-smuggling cartels, by allowing them to operate freely on their platforms, and with their leaders (such as Mark Zuckerberg) openly enabling illegals and advocating for DACA recipients and thereby encouraging more illegal immigration? One of these things is a scandal, and it's not the one with Amazon's name on it. Now, nobody likes Google, Amazon, or Microsoft very much, but there's nothing wrong with their contracting with ICE or the Border Patrol to use their data-mining and other expertise, to help them catch law-breaking criminals. These companies have brought this phony-scandal situation upon themselves by trying to hide the contracts and sometimes making politically correct statements about the wonderfulness of illegals. What they should be doing is openly contracting with these agencies and telling the open-borders mob to shove it. They should be sanctioning Facebook, WhatsApp, and Instagram for enabling human-smuggling cartels, given that these big-tech companies overlap with each other in services and they can probably do that, as well as standing for law and order. We often speak of illegal immigrants as lawless, but this situation shows a greater problem of lawlessness. Those who contract lawfully with law enforcement shouldn't be hemming, hawing, apologizing, and pretending they aren't as if they're the lawless ones. Nor should they be apologizing. Companies that enable cartels and illegal immigrant rackets are the ones that belong on the hot seat. They promote untold human misery with these acts and need to be held responsible. They deserve a few visits from ICE now that we think of it. Nobody, but nobody, whether at Amazon, Google, Microsoft, or anywhere else should have to apologize or explain that they have contracted with lawful agencies serving the American public. Image: Twitter screen shot To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. During the 1980s, I compared my beloved South Africas situation in Africa to that of the U.S. in its global position (with about 5% of the world population). But I didn't know much about the latter. Parameters such as demographic size, population diversity, infrastructure, economy, education, and health care services, etc., have made the Republic of SA (to this day) the mini-America of Africa. Of course, the 1980s was the time of utmost white privilege in SA, over and above Apartheid attempts to establish a multi-state solution for its profoundly serious social and political problems. Media coverage then (in newspaper clippings as I tabulated them) described SAs issues in disjointed African proportions: 70% of printed news focused on SAs 36 million inhabitants (5% of Africa) and had very little or nothing to say about the circumstances of the other 630 million lives of people living in Africa north of the Limpopo River, all the way up to the Mediterranean Sea. Dictator Moammar Gadhafi of Libya was then almost regarded as a progressive mentor of leaders in Sub-Saharan Africa. I wrote to the main Chicago Tribune reporter for Africa at the time, and the journalist wrote me back saying maybe only his mother knew more about his reporting than me but it was editorial policy to focus on SA in such a manner. The WSJ did print one of my letters to the editor, in 1985 or so, surprisingly titled Not all of SAs problems caused by Apartheid. Lately, serious South African issues, 30 years post-Apartheid, get little mainstream media attention and if any do, most problems are still blamed on Apartheid! Nevertheless, post-colonial Africa, be it Belgian, French, English, or Portuguese, is in deep doo-doo while Africas population has more than doubled. You research by measuring the parameters. During the 1990s I became a U.S. citizen after being recruited as a medical professional in critical care medicine with computer expertise, discovering that with my born and bred white privilege conservative background I was more American before I really knew much about the U.S. Constitution and, about exceptionalism. Pardon my demonstration of such a supposedly racist view. In Chicago, I got folks' attention by calling myself of African origin when only descendants of slaves, who arrived in America long after my forebears did in Southern Africa, could do so. I love the person-centered U.S. Constitution with passion, in contrast to the new SA Constitution, with socialistic society bias. However, I also love my country of birth and appreciate the eight or nine generations before me who gave their best. My father was born in 1918 and was a contemporary of Dr. Christiaan Barnard (b. 1922, performed first human cardiac transplant 1967). He grew up in rural Karoo sheep farming towns but graduated from different medical schools. Earlier Afrikaans-speaking generations of mine were mostly farmers (Boers). My for-family (sic) protested, trekked away from, and fought Dutch and British imperialism politics and governance from the late 1600s, pre-U.S. Declaration of Independence 1776 America, pre-French Revolution 1789, and through the 1800s (the U.S. Civil War 1861-1865), with an Afrikaner nationalistic reformed (religious) conservative passion, making the best of caring for themselves. In the new post-Apartheid SA, fending for yourself and not expecting the government to do it for you, as well as not plundering, are Boer values and individual attributes not appreciated much. (Thus, my inbred American sentiments before my geographic relocation). My grandparents survived the Anglo-Boer War of 1899-1902 when the British attempted to force Afrikaners on how to better rule and dig (for diamonds & gold). In the process, thousands of women and children died in the concentration camps, created in (yet) a slash-and-burn fight for control of what was to become South Africa. Not funny how the British kept on doing what England could not accomplish in America, pre-1776-1789. My instinctive South African African-perspective sense during the 1980s and 1990s was that the U.S.s global relationships could deteriorate and serious external threats could develop so the U.S. had to be ready for the challenges. Today, little did I know, the biggest threats to my now-beloved U.S. are internal. The speculative 1980s statements I made about future double trouble for the U.S. have come to haunt me. To paraphrase a recent AT article: No nation has done better at trying to cultivate and safeguard the unalienable freedoms of every person over time and through hardship. That alone is has made the U.S. exceptional. However, woke, anti-white privilege and racism politics, and associated actions or inaction (problems of commission and omission) now seriously endanger the U.S.s stability, and things may well get worse before they get better. Who could have imagined? May the Lord shine His light upon us and help us all to intellectually cultivate, safeguard and fight for principles which made America great and, the world a better place! Image: Library of Congress, via Picryl / public domain To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. We have vastly different responses to our current master disease (pun intended), the COVID virus, versus our more mundane diseases. Of course, COVID is contagious, like the flu or chickenpox, and the others are not. Yet COVID is far from being the worst killer. Cancer and cardiovascular diseases vie for that honor. The American Cancer Society projects that 1,898,160 people will get cancer in 2021, and 608,570 will die from it. Cardiovascular disease deaths in this country number over a million per year, between heart attack and stroke. We have far less panicked reactions to cancer and cardio, compared to COVID. Were told COVID death totals to date are a bit over 700,000. Thats in the last 20 months, so about 400,000 in a year. To believe that number, you must accept all the people who died with COVID those who tested positive within 28 days of their deaths, whatever the actual cause of death. When Alameda County, California, looked at its death stats a few months ago, it reduced the COVID totals by 25%. Then there are all the people who might have been saved had they gotten early treatment. See India, where you can note the dramatic decline after introducing the ivermectin protocol at the height of their Delta surge. The charts tell quite a story. Maybe, if they let us get treated when we got sick, the death count would be down by another 25% or 50% or even more. Check all the flu cases that never happened last winter: there was no flu season, and one explanation is that it was counted as COVID. Unless you think masks made the difference. Flu routinely kills upwards of 30,000 people a year. The biggest risk factor for all COVID deaths has been age, plus physical fragility from one or another of our mundane afflictions, including diabetes and obesity. The vast majority of people who have died from COVID are over 75 years old. That leaves few probable COVID deaths within the under-75-year-old, healthy demographic, although we dont know the real number, because were not meant to know. If we knew, we might stop panicking, stop vaccinating, and live our lives normally. Remember that kind of life? We have our American Cancer Society and the American Heart Association, but no COVID association. The two associations act as clearinghouses for data and fundraisers for research. The US government doesnt direct them. Within both diseases, weve therefore made great strides in improving treatment, life expectancy, and quality of life. That is the aimand theres an open dialog, for the most part, within the scientific community as we go about achieving it. The systems not perfect, but its way better than government-directed tyranny. COVID is new, its novel, and perhaps not enough time has passed to create a non-government entity. But everything that has been done to date by our bungling CDC has caused us to be terrified of COVID, and inordinately preoccupied with it. We all know its a mess. Our governments response has been destructive, rather than constructive, through the Trump administration and even worse, in the Biden era. Its turned otherwise normal people into virus-fearing zombies, to the point of irrationally imposing admittedly useless masks and dangerous experimental biologics on children, despite everyone knowing this blatant hocus-pocus does zilch, and that both can be terribly dangerousto my non-medical mind, far more dangerous than the virus to the younger population. Its all kind of similar to drowning witches was way back in the day. You remember the tropethrow the witch in the lake and, if she can float, shes a witch and must be burned; if not, shes a normal human but, alas, now a dead one. Right now our government is turning the obedient of us into drowning victims while attempting to burn us skeptics at the metaphorical stake. Reports from the countries with high vaccination rates include myriad new hospitalizations for severe disease, with a preponderance of vaccinated victims. Predictions of new variants the vaccine cant touch abound, and loud voices are telling us the vaccine caused this. If only they would listen. Instead, as of May, weve conveniently stopped counting breakthrough cases here. Even the British are asking us why that is. The media and government drive the narrative of evil COVID, without ever weighing the harm they are doing to society and our general health. The statistic Ive been trying to find, to no avail, is how the vaccine is affecting the rate of death from other diseases. Do we have a dramatic increase in heart diseases? As it seems, yes. Especially in the very young whove gotten the jab. Do we have an increase in cancers? Reports from other countries say yes. What about dementia? Is anyone paying attention? Image: COVID virus (public domain), edited in befunky. To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. As expected, a federal judge came to the rescue of the Biden administration and stopped the Texas heartbeat law. This is the story from The Texas Tribune: A federal judge temporarily blocked Texas near-total abortion ban Wednesday as part of a lawsuit the Biden administration launched against the state over its new law that bars abortions as early as six weeks of pregnancy. But its unclear how U.S. District Judge Robert Pitmans order may affect access to abortions in the state or if it will at all. The state of Texas quickly filed a notice of appeal and will almost definitely seek an emergency stay of Pitman's order in the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, which is known as perhaps the nations most conservative appellate court. In a press release, the ACLU of Texas pointed to the uncertainty on how Wednesday's order and the state's appeal will affect procedures in the state. So here we are. Everybody expected a judicial opinion like this and that Texas would appeal it. Surprise surprise surprise! Is the law dead or is this like a rain delay? We will know soon when the next court writes an opinion. My hope is that the Supreme Court will settle this for once and for all next June. The Court will write an opinion on a Mississippi case, Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization. This is the 15-week case of no abortions after 15 weeks. In my opinion, the Court will decide 5-4 or 6-3 that states can regulate abortion, as most countries do today. It will leave an open window for abortions but limit availability or something like that. In the meantime, we will go from court to court in Texas. We pray that the Big Court comes through. Maybe we can look forward to a future when judicial nominations are not all about abortion anymore. Wouldnt that be a refreshing change of pace? UPDATE: The Fifth Circuit has reversed the order staying the ban, so it's now reinstated. However, given that the case will inevitably appear before the Supreme Court, that ruling does not change this analysis. P.S. You can listen to my show (Canto Talk). Image: Pixabay / PIxabay License To comment, you can find the MeWe post for this article here. (ANSA) - ROME, OCT 6 - Premier Mario Draghi and French President Emmanuel Macron had bilateral talks at the EU-Western Balkans summit in Slovenia on Wednesday. An Elyseee sources said the meeting "was a chance for the two leaders to discuss the issues that will be discussed at the G20 in Rome at the end of the month". Among the topics discussed, the source said, were "vaccines and solidarity with Africa", as well as the conference on Libya on November 12. "There is a common will to go forward together on these priority issues," said the French president's office. Sources said, on the Libya conference, that "coordination is close between France, Italy and Germany to achieve the application of the commitments made in Berlin which must be developed in Paris". Macron, the French presidential sources added. "took the opportunity to express his support for the Italian initiative to organise a G20 on the Afghan crisis". (ANSA). The Education Secretary has vowed to tackle persistent absenteeism of children head on in a drive to escape the quicksand of disadvantage. Nadhim Zahawi will say the pupils who lose out the most from not being in school are likely to be vulnerable, disadvantaged and cope least. Ahead of the spending review later this month, the minister will pledge to not stop making the case for investing in children and young people. His commitment will come in a speech to head teachers on Saturday. Mr Zahawi will say: Another key priority for me will be getting to the root of what is causing children to be persistently absent and then tackling it head on. Because the children who lose out the most from not being in school are likely to be the ones who can cope least, the vulnerable, the disadvantaged. You cant help them if they arent there. I will be tireless in pursuing all these issues, to deliver a world-class education for all children, because it is the only way we can escape the quicksand of disadvantage. For all these reasons, we will continue to invest record sums in our childrens education. Speaking at the conference of the NAHT school leaders union in London, Mr Zahawi will say mental health must be better understood and support provided where its needed in a bid to do the best by every single child. He will add: I want us to put wellbeing at the centre of everything we do in schools alongside a drive for rigorous standards and high performance. But, of course, we cant do this if children are not at school. It comes after the latest Government figures show the number of children out of school for Covid-19 related reasons in England has increased by two-thirds in a fortnight. Mr Zahawi will say: I am not going to provide a running commentary on the spending review but I want to make one thing absolutely clear: I will not stop making the case for investing in children and young people. He will add: Our job is to make sure that we have a skilled and agile workforce who can help us power through the aftermath of the pandemic. So, that means no easing up on our plans to ensure any child who fell behind during the pandemic makes up their lost learning, as we build on the recovery programmes already in place. The Education Secretary will tell school leaders that he will listen and work with them, and he will say he will be honest with them. Mr Zahawi will say: This will not always be an easy journey for us, I know that leadership can be a lonely place at times. There will have been sleepless nights, worrying about the children in your schools. I know all about sleepless nights, having just worked as vaccines minister. His comments come after Paul Whiteman, NAHTs general secretary, called on the Education Secretary not to exhaust school leaders goodwill by making engagement with the profession nothing more than window dressing. Mr Whiteman highlighted the false and damaging narrative that some policymakers used amid the pandemic which suggested teachers were lazy. The union chief called for the Governments goals for education recovery for children who have missed out on schooling to be more ambitious. In June, the schools catch-up tsar Sir Kevan Collins quit with a stinging condemnation of the Governments new 1.4 billion education recovery fund. Addressing education recovery at the conference on Friday, Mr Whiteman said: When you think of what young people really need from schools and colleges in the coming months and years we need more, not less. Knowing how much school leaders have given during the crisis, and how difficult circumstances were in many ways before the pandemic, what Ive heard so far from policymakers is very meek. Recovery implies a return to what we had before, which is simply not good enough. Mr Whiteman also highlighted concerns about school funding and the public sector pay freeze which he described as a slap in the face. Addressing the Education Secretarys comments, Mr Whiteman said: There is ambition contained in his address but unsurprisingly after only two weeks in office we are yet to see the detail. Our plea to the new Secretary of State is to enter into genuine collaboration with us so that we can bring the ambition of his speech to life free of dogmatic philosophical barriers. Now he has had the chance to address school leaders directly at our conference, we hope this will be the springboard for the type of education system we know this country needs. Dame Diana Riggs co-stars have paid tribute to the late actress at a screening of Last Night In Soho. The film, directed by Edgar Wright, was Dame Dianas final movie appearance. She died in September 2020 at the age of 82. The psychological horror was screened on Saturday as part of the London Film Festival. Paying tribute to The Avengers star Dame Diana, Wright told the PA news agency: Her not being here any more, I have to not be sad about it. I have to tell myself I was lucky that I was fortunate to work with her in the first place. Im so happy that I got to work with Dame Diana Rigg and be friends with her before she passed away. Last Night In Soho tells the story of a young fashion designer named Eloise, played by Thomasin McKenzie, who goes back to the 1960s while on a trip to central London. Dame Diana Rigg (Yui Mok/PA) Dame Diana plays Eloises landlady, Miss Collins, in the film. Elizabeth Berrington, who starred alongside Dame Diana, said the late actress was an important figure in the era in which the film was set. She was so talented and sophisticated and had been such a star at the time in such important films, she told PA. She was also an incredibly bright and brilliant woman, and dry and witty. Elizabeth Berrington (Yui Mok/PA) Dame Diana was such a huge loss to film and also to theatre as well, where she was such a great star, Berrington added. Synnove Karlsen said the cast are all remembering her today. Synnove Karlsen (Yui Mok/PA) She was just an amazing person yo work with and I feel so privileged that I got the chance to work with her and I think its a really great thing for her to be in as her last thing. She added that Soho was such an amazing, cinematic place to shoot. Theres something about the 60s that has that dark undercurrent to it, which really lends itself to the movie, she said. Matt Smith said the film is set in a beautiful period. Matt Smith (Yui Mok/PA) London really was swinging and I think Edgars evoked that just brilliantly. Its fabulous, he added. The film sees Smith play the villainous character Jack. Its always good fun to play a villain, he said. The film will be released in cinemas on October 29. Judge: Sentence in Capitol riot case should send message A federal judge said Friday he hopes a three-month sentence behind bars in a U.S. Capitol insurrection case will send a message to other defendants who dont seem to be truly accepting responsibility. U.S. District Judge Thomas Hogan spoke as he sentenced Robert Reeder, a Maryland man who had originally described himself as an accidental tourist before video emerged of him grabbing a police officer. Its become evident to me that many of the defendants pleading guilty do not truly accept responsibility. They seem, to me, to be trying to get this out of the way as quickly as possible, stating whatever they have to say ... but not changing their attitude, Hogan said. He said he believed Reeder is sorry now and sentenced him to half of the six months prosecutors had wanted, but the judge said some of Reeder's previous statements had been disingenuous and self-serving. Hogan said he hopes the sentence sends a signal that people convicted in the riot will face jail time. This was an attack on the operations of Congress and the Capitol of the United States, a really sacrosanct building, he said. Reeder had been expected to get probation last month, after pleading guilty to a misdemeanor and saying he had not been involved in any violence that day. Then armchair detectives who call themselves Sedition Hunters unearthed the video online. Prosecutors said the recording captured an assault on an officer, though they opted not to file new charges. Reeder said he touched or grabbed the officers shoulder, and forgot to mention it in previous FBI interviews where he voluntarily shared video with agents. Immediately after the interaction with the police officer I just wanted to get out of there. It just wasnt me, he said. Ive always been regretful and ashamed of being there, not because Im in trouble but because I saw what happened and it was disgusting. More than 630 people have been charged in the insurrection, where a pro-Trump mob beat and bloodied police in an effort to disrupt the certification of Joe Biden's victory. The throng sent lawmakers running for their lives and caused $1 million damage. Marysville, CA (95901) Today A mix of clouds and sun early followed by cloudy skies this afternoon. High 59F. Winds light and variable.. Tonight Overcast with rain showers at times. Low near 50F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Misak Khachatryan, a contract soldier of the N military unit of the Ministry of Defense of Armenia, was injured by a shot fired by the units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces in the direction of the Armenian positions in the Ararat region of the Armenian-Azerbaijani border, precisely in the Yeraskh section. The incident took place on October 9 at about 12:50. The Defense Ministry informed ARMENPRESS that the servicemans life is not under risk. YEREVAN, OCTOBER 9, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan met with Georian PM Irakli Garibashvili, who is in Armenia on a working visit. Welcoming his Georgian counterpart, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia once again offered condolences on the tragic incident in Batumi and expressed solidarity with the Government of Georgia and the Georgian people. Nikol Pashinyan thanked Irakli Garibashvili for not canceling his visit to Armenia despite that emergency situation. The Prime Minister of Georgia thanked the Armenian PM for his words of support. Nikol Pashinyan and Irakli Garibashvili stated that the high-level intensive bilateral contacts testify to the dynamic development of the Armenian-Georgian relations and the high level of political dialogue. The interlocutors discussed the agenda and prospects of Armenia-Georgia cooperation. The sides exchanged views on the regional situation and developments. The parties reaffirmed their readiness to further deepen friendly ties and agreed to continue the active dialogue. Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. EV If anyone ever thought it was going to be an apocalypse when automakers like Rolls-Royce go outside their comfort zone, they had better look away from the Cullinan and Spectre. After all, neither Hell froze, nor the ultra-luxury brands sales dropped. Actually, they soared to new heights.And if anyone thinks for a single moment this approach will fail, well, guess again. According to Automotive News Europe, the CEO even says Rolls-Royce's age bracket has further extended... downwards. That means the British automaker now has the youngest clients among all BMW Group brands even MINI.And with the average now being just 43 years old, it makes sense for Rolls-Royce to push into new territory. After all, the House of Luxury is now pushing in every direction, as long as its expensive and posh . So, why not give Tesla a run for its electron-sipping money, just as one of the founding fathers predicted way back in 1900?Rolls-Royce's first official foray into electric powertrains kicked off back in 2011 when the company presented its experimental Phantom 102EX prototype. With just a pair of electric motors, the luxobarge had a tiny amount of power according to Plaidstandards of today: a combined 389 hp.That idea was followed in 2016 by the 103EX, which was much more experimental-looking. The futuristic design and huge dimensions showed that Rolls-Royce was serious about going into EVs, which is going to become a reality during the last quarter of 2023.Until then, we can all scratch our heads as to what the Rolls-Royce Spectre looks like. Its a coupe, that much is clear. But the company doesnt see it as a Wraith successor, just its replacement. So, instead of just taking out the oily bits and giving the Wraith a few electric motors and a hulking battery, this is an all-new vehicle from the get-go. Or so they say because theres a lot of time from now until late 2023.Hopefully, Rolls-Royce will peel off the camouflage one layer at a time and give us the full rundown of the technical specifications ahead of the official series-production introduction. Right now, the camouflaged prototype is probably just a neat way to look both into the future and the glorious past.After all, during the teaser reveal, the CEO mentioned that it was the most important day in Rolls-Royce history since Charles Rolls and Sir Henry Royce, our founding fathers, first met and agreed that they were going to create the best motor car in the world. As a further reference, the head honcho also gave us a little history lesson.It seems the use of electric motors is not a new concept for Rolls-Royce. Sir Henry Royce was fascinated by all things electrified, and his first venture (...) created dynamos, electric crane motors and patented the bayonet-style light bulb fitting. But thats not all, because in April 1900 Charles Rolls was intrigued by an early electric car and gave out an interesting prophecy.According to Rolls, the electric car is perfectly noiseless and clean. There is no smell or vibration, and they should become very useful when fixed charging stations can be arranged. But for now, I do not anticipate that they will be very serviceable at least for many years to come. Spot on, if he really gave this exact speech.Well, it seems that the future is coming in two years for Rolls-Royce. With BMW bits and pieces like electric motors and batteries most likely. Although perhaps the Goodwood-based brand will feel its a clever idea to strike out on its own to make sure the fat paychecks are eagerly signed... Anyway, were waiting for what comes next with massive interest! Beyond the limits pic.twitter.com/HIcui9Iqlw Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 8, 2021 A lovely Proper Twelve weekend I am going to have. Tonight and tomorrow. Enjoyment. Relaxation. Optimism! My last weekend in the U.S before I head to Italy to christen my son Rian in the Vatican and to take delivery of my new Lamborghini yacht too. Fun times! Conor McGregor (@TheNotoriousMMA) October 8, 2021 This includes getting to enjoy material stuff of the most exclusive and impressive kind. Like the new Lamborghini Tecnomar speedboat slash yacht, of which only 63 units will ever be made. McGregor is getting ready to take delivery of his personalized unit, and it will happen in Italy next week.Earlier reports claimed that he took delivery of the Tecnomar 63 in July this year, but this was probably due to the fact that he had posted a photo of it at the shipyard, with the caption my Lamborghini yacht is ready. Ready it was, but not for delivery , which wont happen until next week.My last weekend in the U.S before I head to Italy to christen my son Rian in the Vatican and to take delivery of my new Lamborghini yacht too. McGregor now writes on Twitter. Fun times!The Lamborghini Tecnomar 63 speedboat is also known as the Lamborghini of the Sea and was introduced in the summer of 2020. Its an instantly recognizable Lamborghini product, built by Tecnomar at The Italian Sea Group HQ in Italy, with pricing starting at $3.5 million. McGregor ordered his shortly after the official presentation, and it is believed he packed some $500,000 worth of customization in it. If he did, he never said so publicly: the only personalization he publicized is the fact that it will have his Proper Twelve branding in there as well.And this brings us to McGregors most recent post, which shows a first proper look at the yacht. Indeed, it features Proper Twelve under the throttle, a very on-brand move for the MMA fighter who also happens to be selling the worlds most popular Irish whiskey right now, which bears the same name. Its painted green, a variation on McGregors all-time favorite Irish green.McGregors is the 12th unit in a limited series of 63 such speedboats. Each comes with 4,000 hp from twin V12 MAN engines, and a top speed of 63 knots a true Lamborghini on water if there ever was one. Design-wise, the Tecnomar 63 is heavily inspired by the Sian FKP 37, and shows plenty of exposed carbon fiber and sharp angles. Make that a former Lamborghini Huracan owner. Police seized his car and will auction it off because he got caught speeding. Adding insult to injury, he only got to enjoy it for several hours.Local publication Nordjyske says the man is a resident of Norway, and he traveled to Germany to pick up his brand new Huracan. He paid some 2,000,000 Norwegian Krone (approximately $240,000 at the current exchange rate) for the car and was on his way to catch the ferry to Norway when he was pulled over. He could be in the running for the shortest Huracan ownership in history, and hed probably win.His bad luck or his complete ignorance of local laws made it so that he decided to test the car in Denmark, where reckless driving is liable to get you a heavy fine and an impounded car as of March this year. The Danish Traffic Act allows police to seize and auction off any roadworthy vehicle used for reckless driving, even if the owner is not present. Instances of reckless driving include drunk driving and, you guessed it, speeding.The Huracan in question was clocked at 236 kph (147 mph), with the new law mentioning a threshold of 200 kph (124 mph) that separates regular speeding from reckless driving.Jess Falberg, duty officer at North Jutland Police, confirms the story for the publication and adds that the speeding gentleman was none too pleased to hear that his car, which hed owned for mere hours when this happened, was no longer his. I do not assume that there will be any problems with that confiscation, Falberg says of the upcoming court hearing.Heres to hoping feeling the rush at 236 kph (147 mph) was worth it , because it doesnt look like this man will see his Huracan again. Movies seldom portray robots as the ultimate evil (see Avengers: Age of Ultron). But the technology around us teaches us the reality isnt that grim. Artificial Intelligence is here to stay, and it has lessened our chores, getting one task done after another. Some examples include the virtual assistants from high-tech giants, Amazon, Google, and Apple, amongst the most famous ones. While physically they dont occupy much space, they ease your work, reminding you tasks, creating reservations, ordering stuff, or just controlling devices in your household.But theres another kind of robot out there, that physically gets things done the Serve. Created by Serve Robotics , the semi-autonomous rover makes deliveries easier, and safer, under the current conditions. In a race to create self-driving cars that dont need a human person to physically be behind the wheel, there are ways with less environmental impact that do the job just as well, and heres where the company really shines.So, whos Serve? It started out inside the food delivery service Postmates. After Uber purchased the company in late 2020 for around $2.65 billion, their robotics division split from its original brand, and in March 2021, they announced they created an independent company, now called Serve Robotics.The new startup included having the rights over the two-eyed semi-autonomous robot, Serve. The goal is to provide accessible and sustainable deliveries to everyone, and the robot gets the company closer to it.According to Dr. Ali Kashani, co-founder and CEO of Serve Robotics he thinks that over the next two decades, new mobility robots will enter every aspect of our lives, first moving food, then everything else.Despite the fact that we know technology advances fastly, its still surprising to encounter a robot nowadays. Rapper Saweetie was one of the celebrities to see Serve in the natural habitat , crossing the street all by itself towards its destination. Drew Barrymore also had an encounter with the rover, and people are still taken aback by this technology.But I bet that wont last long, and people would get just as accustomed to delivery robots as they do with just about anything else.Whats particular about Serve is that its two eyes help him use cameras and Ouster's 3D Lidar sensors to navigate its four wheels. In the past, San Francisco banned delivery service robots , because they kept bumping into people. And we get that. It could be scary to walk and have a robot hit you, be it as small as it is.But Serve Robotics jumped in and created the semi-automated rover, which can drive on sidewalks along with pedestrians, and can avoid fire hydrants. Im saying semi-automated because Serve does need a human brain behind all the technology so the robots still need us. For now. In case it encounters any issues, an employee from Serve Robotics team monitors the rover and can take over, and control it from afar.In the companys pursuit of sustainability, Serve is also all electric, and has less environmental impact than a larger vehicle. It also had an interesting and appealing appearance. Designed to look like a futuristic shopping cart, Serve comes with a 50 lb (22.7 kg) storage capacity, and a total length of 30 (76.2 cm), an estimated width of 21 (53.3 cm), and a height of 40 (101.6 cm). Given the prior issues with other robots bumping into people, Serve has a top speed 3 mph (4.8 kph). It can also travel 30 miles on a single charge, and customers receive their meals by using a touchscreen on the rover.There are also several other companies who jumped on the opportunity to create the best delivery experience. Among the most famous theres Nuro, Amazons Scout robot, the Starship delivery robot, Eliport, AutoX (which, as the word implies, is not a robot, but a driverless car) and Robomart.Other benefits for the semi-autonomous rover are that it reduces delivery costs for companies, and it lessens traffic while increasing local restaurant sales. Considering traffic is an issue everywhere, creating a robot that delivers goods faster and safer sounds like a great idea. But thinking about peoples fear that robots would end up stealing our jobs, where do delivery people fit? AWD FWD I can honestly say that the 2008 CTS was easily the most impressive American-made four-door sedan that I had ever reviewed back when it came out. To this day I remember walking into what was basically an Opel dealership in order to get the keys to a deep blue CTS 3.6 V6model.Stunning, I thought to myself as soon as I saw it. Those angles, that stance, the elegance of it. Just superb and not just by 2007 standards, but today's as well. It hasnt aged badly at all, is what Im trying to say, although to be fair not every single angle is 100% brilliant.Overall, though, everything from the vertical light pipes to the horizontal spline lines, dihedral-shaped hood and sculpted fenders was there to grab your attention. To me, the car looked just as modern, if not more so than an E60 BMW 5-Series , a first-generation Jaguar XF, W211 Mercedes E-Class, Audi A6 C6, Volvo S80 or an S190 third-gen Lexus GS.Ill admit, I was still skeptical even after loving the styling of the second-gen CTS . I thought theres no way Cadillac could get anywhere near any of those rivals in terms of build quality. But then it happened. I opened the door, got behind the wheel and realized it was up there with the best of them.Objectively speaking, maybe the E-Class and the A6 would have had noticeably better materials inside, but the CTS was never too far behind. Then there were the specs, where that particular test car came with full leather upholstery, heated seats, Bose 5.1 surround sound system, Bluetooth connectivity, HDD, sat-nav, power windows, dual-zone climate control, cruise control, bi-xenon adaptive headlights, ambient lighting, plus the carmakers StabiliTrak electronic chassis control system, and these are just to name a few.I remember all this because I found the original document where I had written my review after spending a few days with the CTS.This brings us to yet another impressive accomplishment regarding this car, namely its driving dynamics. Its unbelievable to think that the second-generation CTS went into production just three years after Cadillac discontinued the fifth-generation Seville. It was as if they were from different planets, although technically they occupied the same segment (mid-size sedans).What's relevant to our story though is how the CTS compared to its European rivals. I would say the E60 5 Series felt sharper and the Audi A6, Mercedes E-Class and Volvo S80 trio more comfortable. As for the Jaguar XF, the CTS was easily on par with it where it mattered most, and then vastly superior to the ever-popular Lexus GS.Its hard to rank them in an absolute way, because the Caddy was just so good overall. Sure, European buyers were crazy about turbo diesel engines back then, so the CTS couldnt really compete in terms of fuel economy, but U.S. buyers didnt face such issues.As for straight-line performance, that 3.6-liter V6 engine had a little over 300 hp and could get you from zero to 60 mph in about 6.5 seconds, slower than the rear-wheel drive variant. Nowadays, if you buy an AWD sedan, chances are it will always accelerate faster than its RWD orequivalent.In the end, the reason why I said the second-gen CTS is underrated is because it was literally the first American four-door premium sedan to beat most of its European rivals at their own game. Think about that for a second. It would have been the equivalent of an MLS team going over to Europe and making the Champions League semi-finals alongside the likes of FC Barcelona, Chelsea and Manchester United , which in 2009 were joined by Arsenal to form that final four, so to speak.Of course, thats never going to happen. Cadillac, on the other hand, has already punched Mercedes, BMW and Audi in the mouth and hasnt looked back since, although as previously stated, for some reason the third-gen CTS and now the CT5 dont really match up as well against the latest and greatest German sedans . I have my suspicions why, but thats a story for another day. Following the introduction of the K series back in the early eighties, BMW decided to bid a proper farewell to their legendary boxer-twin mill by releasing the Last Edition variants of the R lineup. However, riders who purchased these pricier 1984 models were bound for an unpleasant surprise, as Motorrad ended up resurrecting the iconic engine layout just two years later.The House of Munich did offer a free helmet as compensation, but it still wasnt enough to make everyone forgive this unorthodox act. Although their reputation had been stained, Bavarias 84 MY rarities tend to capture a fair bit of attention whenever they emerge at online auctions. If you were to browse the BaT (Bring A Trailer) website right now, youd eventually run into a pristine R100CS Last Edition, which is one of only 150 copies in existence.This sexy thing was owned by a single individual for the past 34 years, and were genuinely thrilled to see just how well its been preserved! For the time being, a little over 4,000 bucks would be enough to bring this handsome Beemer into your garage, and youve got until October 12 to place your bids.Ill tell you what; lets proceed with a quick analysis of the predators main powertrain specifications, so that you may get a clear idea as to what were dealing with here. Within its steel double cradle skeleton, the R100CS carries an air-cooled 980cc boxer-twin fiend that packs dual constant-depression Bing carbs and a compression ratio of 9.5:1.The engine is paired with a single-plate dry clutch and a five-speed transmission, which spins the rear wheel via an enclosed driveshaft. At about 7,000 rpm, the four-stroke mill is good for up to 70 ponies, while a peak torque output figure of 56 pound-feet (76 Nm) will achieved at 6,000 revs. Ultimately, this whole ordeal enables the R100CS to hit a top speed of 124 mph (200 kph). Ever since it hit production back in 2004, enthusiasts have pinned it against countless machines , including many exotics. In this instance, it tried its luck in a quarter-mile sprint next to a Ferrari F8 Tributo. At the end of the run, you could fit a small house in the gap, but were not surprised.As hot as the M5 E60 is, even by todays standards, the 5.0-liter V10, shared with the era's M6, and paired to a seven-speed SMG in global markets and an optional six-speed manual transmission in North America, is showing its age.Back in the day, the German four-door needed 4.7 seconds from rest to 62 mph (0-100 kph), and could top out at 155 mph (250 kph), aided by the 500 hp and 384 lb-ft (520 Nm) of torque. But thats pretty much stock hot hatch territory these days, as the best of them, like the Mercedes-AMG A 45 S , can do it in 3.9 seconds, with a 168 mph (270 kph) top speed.Described as a celebration of excellence on the official Ferrari website, the F8 Tributo retired the 488 two years ago, and shared some of its exotic DNA to the SF90 Stradale.The turbocharged 3.9-liter V8 feeds 710 hp and 568 lb-ft (770 Nm) of torque to the rear wheels through a dual-clutch seven-speed automatic transmission, rocketing it to 62 mph (100 kph) in 2.9 and to 124 mph (200 kph) in 7.8 seconds. Top speed is set at 211 mph (340 kph), but good luck finding a long straight where you could legally make the supercar run out of breath. President Biden announced Friday the protection of the expansion of the Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante national monuments in Utah and the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts off the New England coast. Why it matters: The decision reverses a Trump-era policy that reduced the Bears Ears Monument's size by 85% in 2017. It also comes after a coalition of Native American tribes urged Biden to restore the monument. Driving the news: "This may be the easiest thing I've ever done so far as President," Biden said before signing legislation to restore protections for the three national monuments. "These protections provide a bridge to our past, but they also build a bridge to a safer, more sustainable future. One where we strengthen our economy, and pass on a healthy planet to our children and our grandchildren," Biden said. The moves are consistent with recommendations from Interior Secretary Deb Haaland, per the White House. They are supported by the Departments of Agriculture, Commerce and Justice as well as the White House Council on Environmental Quality. The White House said administration officials met with members of Congress, state and local government officials, representatives of Tribal Nations and other stakeholders before coming to a decision. Haaland also visited Utah to directly meet with local residents and tour the area. Bears Ears and the Northeast Canyons and Seamounts were established by former President Obama in 2016. Grand Staircase-Escalante was created by former President Clinton in 1996. What they're saying: "Today's announcement, it's not just about national monuments. It's about this administration centering the voices of indigenous people and affirming the shared stewardship of this landscape with tribal nations," Haaland said Friday. "The President's actions today writes the new chapter that embraces indigenous knowledge, ensures tribal leadership has a seat at the table and demonstrates that by working together, we can build a brighter future for all of us." The other side: "The President's decision to enlarge the monuments again is a tragic missed opportunity it fails to provide certainty as well as the funding for law enforcement, research, and other protections which the monuments need and which only Congressional action can offer," wrote Utah Gov. Spencer Cox in a statement. Go deeper: Tribes urge Biden to restore Bears Ears National Monument after Trump-era cuts Pope Francis is no longer planning to attend the critical United Nations climate summit that begins in three weeks in Glasgow, Scotland, the Vatican announced Friday. Why it matters: Francis' attendance, given his global stature, could have helped provide momentum to what are expected to be difficult talks aimed at spurring more aggressive steps to cut greenhouse gas emissions. Emissions and finance pledges under the Paris climate agreement are non-binding and at each nation's discretion, so diplomacy and persuasion are important to securing stronger action. Driving the news: The Vatican's delegation will be lead by Cardinal Pietro Parolin, the secretary of state, according to Matteo Bruni, director of the Vatican Press Office. What we're watching: The rest of the RSVP list for the heads of state portion that occurs early in the two-week summit that starts Oct. 31. President Biden is slated to attend along with many other leaders, but plans by heads of some key nations remain unclear. In particular, officials in China the world's largest greenhouse gas emitter have not said whether President Xi Jinping will go. The big picture: The summit, known as COP26, comes as global emissions are nowhere close to beginning the steep downward path needed to meet the goals of the 2015 Paris climate agreement. The economic recovery in 2021 has been faster than anticipated, and the economy is likely to return to pre-COVID output levels by mid-2022, the bank said in a report released this week. Following a faster-than-expected recovery in [the first half of the year,] the projected GDP growth rate for 2021 has been revised to 6.1 percent, up from 3.4 percent in April 2021, it said, adding that the economic upswing will continue to be primarily driven by private consumption. The International Monetary Fund has also signaled a significant improvement of its economic outlook for Armenia. A senior IMF official, Nathan Porter, forecast last month a 6.5 percent growth rate after holding virtual talks with Armenian officials. The Armenian economy shrunk by 7.6 percent last year due to the coronavirus pandemic and the war with Azerbaijan. The Armenian government had projected modest economic recovery until this spring. It now expects much faster growth not only in 2021 but also in the coming years. The governments five-year policy program approved by the parliament in August says GDP should increase by 7 percent annually. And a draft state budget unveiled by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinians cabinet last week commits Armenian tax authorities to increasing state revenue by as much as 25 percent in 2022. This would not only finance a 15 percent rise in public spending but also cut the countrys budget deficit that widened significantly during last years recession. The World Bank report says, however, that Armenian growth will likely slow down to 4.8 percent next year and only slightly accelerate in 2023. It also lists downside risks to this scenario: limited progress in COVID-19 vaccinations, rising COVID-19 cases, geopolitical tensions, and a delayed recovery among major trading partners. The IMFs Porter sounded a similar note of caution: Downside risks remain elevated, including from geopolitical tensions, a slowdown in external demand, and heightened global financial market volatility. Executive Editor Christine Peterson answers your questions and takes your complaints about The Californians news coverage in this weekly feedback forum. Questions may be edited for space and clarity. To offer your input by phone, call 661-395-7649 and leave your comments in a voicemail message or email us at soundoff@bakersfield.com. Please include your name and phone number; they wont be published. Nine cities across Kern County could face increased costs for fire services after a vote by the Board of Supervisors on Tuesday. In this weeks news, United is adding capacity in expectation of a busy holiday travel season, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asks unvaccinated people to stay home this year; the agency also adds more countries to its do not travel list; a major U.S. bank wont allow unvaccinated employees to travel on business; Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and French Bee add flights at San Francisco International; American plans to revive LAX-Sydney flights; Air New Zealand sets a vaccine mandate for all passengers; Canada will start enforcing a vaccine rule for air travelers later this month; international route news from United, Aer Lingus, ITA, Volaris El Salvador and Alaska/Iberia; Oakland will get a new Delta route this spring, and winter routes ramp up at Palm Springs; Delta fights back at the AA-JetBlue alliance with an expansion at Boston; PayPal gives United customers a new in-flight payment option; Hawaiian Airlines moves its LAX operations; and new lounges open at Washington Dulles and Phoenix Sky Harbor. Its starting to look like domestic air travel over the November/December holidays will be booming this year although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesnt recommend it for unvaccinated people. United Airlines said this week that flight searches for holiday trips are up 16% this year not from 2020 levels, but from 2019, before the pandemic hit. Based on current booking trends, United said the busiest travel days for Thanksgiving will be Wednesday, Nov. 24, and Sunday, Nov. 28, and the most crowded days for the end-of-year holidays will be Thursday, Nov. 23, and Sunday, Jan. 2. The carrier said its December schedule will include 3,500 daily flights just 9% below its December 2019 capacity and its busiest schedule since the pandemic began. Uniteds vice president of network planning and scheduling, Ankit Gupta, said the company is seeing a lot of pent-up demand for year-end trips. We know families and friends are eager to reunite this holiday season, which is why were thrilled to add new flights that will help them connect and celebrate together. But the CDC, in an update this week to its web page of travel advice, urged Americans to delay travel until you are fully vaccinated. People who do complete their COVID-19 vaccinations can travel safely within the United States, the agency said. Those who arent fully vaccinated but must travel should get a viral COVID test one to three days before departure, the CDC said, and should practice social distancing, avoid crowds, get another viral test three to five days after traveling and self-quarantine at home for seven days after returning. And it reminded all travelers, vaccinated or not, about the federal rule requiring a mask for all travel on airlines and other public transportation. Meanwhile, the CDC continues to add more European nations to its Level 4 list of Do Not Travel destinations, based on risk levels from the latest COVID data. New on the list this week are Austria, Croatia and Latvia. Other European nations added to Level 4 in recent weeks include Norway, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Lithuania, Switzerland, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Spain and Cyprus. But the CDC this week also eased the travel advisory from Level 4 to Level 3 (dont visit without a full vaccination) for France, Iceland and Portugal as well as Morocco, Argentina, Nepal, South Africa and Lesotho. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images Weve noted before how foreign governments and even the U.S. are starting to treat vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals differently when it comes to travel i.e., making it easier for the former and more difficult for the latter. And now the private sector is moving toward a similar distinction. In a policy decision that could impact the recovery of corporate travel, the financial giant JPMorgan Chase said this week its employees will not be allowed to travel on business if they are not vaccinated or have not revealed their vaccination status to the company, according to a Reuters report. It will also require unvaccinated workers to be tested twice weekly and to pay more for health insurance. The travel news website Skift.com commented that the big banks new policy may trigger other companies to follow suit a trend that would set back the timeline for an already fragile corporate travel sector recovery even further. Robert Alexander/Getty Images With the U.S. set to reopen to vaccinated foreign visitors next month and with travel to many overseas destinations getting easier for vaccinated Americans, airlines are starting to ramp up their international schedules. At San Francisco International, Virgin Atlantic last week resumed service to London Heathrow, which had been suspended since the pandemic started. Virgin, a trans-Atlantic partner of Delta, is operating 787-9 flights three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) and plans to add a Sunday departure as of Oct. 24. In November, Virgin plans to revive service from London to Las Vegas and Orlando and from Manchester to New York and Orlando. British Airways said it will increase its San Francisco-London schedule to two flights a day starting next month and will operate two daily London flights from several other U.S. gateways including Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Washington Dulles, Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami. BA plans to offer daily departures to Heathrow from Phoenix, Philadelphia, Seattle, Denver, Atlanta and Houston. The airlines New York JFK-LHR schedule will get five daily departures starting next month and BA will resume flying to London from Austin, Orlando, San Diego, Tampa, Las Vegas and Baltimore/Washington. In December, the airline expects to bring back flights to Nashville and New Orleans. British Airways is seeing so much demand that it plans to bring four of its Airbus A380 super-jumbos out of storage this winter for use on select routes, including LHR-LAX and LHR-Miami. The Paris-based low-fare carrier French Bee plans to return to its Paris Orly-San Francisco-Papeete, Tahiti, route Nov. 2 after a lengthy hiatus when it operated via a stop in Vancouver instead of California. The airlines A350 flights will operate twice a week. According to French Bees website, one-way fares between San Francisco and Tahiti start at $329, with SFO-Paris beginning at $189. French Bee has already restarted its Newark-Paris flights and is due to increase frequencies on that route from three a week to four in December. With Australia tentatively planning to start reopening its borders to foreign arrivals in the months ahead, American Airlines expects to revive its Los Angeles-Sydney service in early January. The route has been suspended since late August. Australia is adopting a phased reopening, beginning with Australian citizens and residents in November, followed in subsequent months by skilled migrants and students; international tourist arrivals probably wont begin before March of 2022. Qantas said last month that as it gradually resumes long-haul international flying, it will require all passengers to be vaccinated against COVID, and now Air New Zealand is following suit. Effective Feb. 1, 2022, the company said, it will require customers traveling anywhere on its international network to be fully vaccinated. Air New Zealand said it is working with the International Air Transport Association to start using IATAs Travel Pass app, which will check customers' health information against flight details to ensure they are meeting entry requirements for that destination, and the airline. In August, the Canadian government said it planned to start requiring proof of COVID vaccinations for all international and domestic airline passengers, and now it has set Oct. 30 as the effective date for that new policy. The policy also applies to seagoing vessels like cruise ships and to interprovincial trains. For travelers who are in the process of being vaccinated, there will be a short transition period where they will be able to travel if they can show a valid COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours of travel, but that transition period will end on November 30, the government said. The requirement does not apply to children under age 12. Individuals who violate the rule could be fined up to $5,000. In other international route developments, United has set Nov. 13 for the resumption of service from Houston Bush Intercontinental to Rio de Janeiro, operating three flights a week with a 767-300ER, and expects to bring back Washington Dulles-Sao Paulo flights in mid-December. Aer Lingus plans to resume service from Dublin to Newark on Nov. 14 with four weekly flights, increasing to daily in December, and will put Orlando back on its schedule Nov. 27 with three flights a week. ITA (Italia Trasporto Aereo), the new Italian carrier that is replacing Alitalia, is set to begin its first U.S. service Nov. 4, offering three flights a week from New York JFK to Rome with a three-class A330. In March of next year, ITA will add Boston-Rome, Miami-Rome and JFK-Milan flights, followed by Los Angeles-Rome next summer and routes from Rome to San Francisco, Washington Dulles and Chicago in 2023. In Central America, a new low-cost affiliate of Mexicos Volaris called Volaris El Salvador has applied for U.S. permission to launch routes starting in March from San Salvador to Los Angeles, New York JFK and Washington Dulles. Mike Siegel/TNS That new code-sharing agreement between Alaska Airlines and Spains Iberia took effect this week, putting the latters code onto 40 Alaska routes via connections at San Francisco and Los Angeles. Both carriers are members of Americans Oneworld global alliance. The partnership with Iberia enables our Mileage Plan members to earn miles on Iberia flights and features reciprocal elite benefits, including preferred seat selection; priority check-in, security clearance and boarding; lounge access; and extra baggage allowance, with further enhancements coming over the next several months, Alaska said. In domestic route news, Oakland International announced that Delta will start flying between OAK and its Detroit hub on April 20 of next year, operating one daily flight with a 737-900ER. Delta already flies from OAK to Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Southwest this week introduced new service from Sacramento to Palm Springs the first of several new Palm Springs routes coming in the weeks ahead as winter approaches. American this week kicked off seasonal PSP-Chicago OHare flights and Alaska Airlines introduced seasonal service from Palm Springs to Portland, Oregon, and Everett, Washington. On Oct. 14, JetBlue begins seasonal flights from Palm Springs to New York JFK. Elsewhere in California, Canadas WestJet this week launched twice-weekly flights from San Diego to Calgary, Alberta. In the northeast, Delta Air Lines is fighting back against the threat to its market share posed by the American/JetBlue alliance at Boston and the three New York City-area airports. Delta said this week it will add several new routes out of Boston in 2022, including international service to Athens and Tel Aviv three times a week beginning in late May the same two destinations where American launched new service this year from New York JFK as part of its JetBlue partnership. Delta also plans to add new domestic flights from BOS to San Diego, Denver and Baltimore/Washington starting in July. The airline said that by next summer, its Boston schedule will offer 3,800 more seats per day than it did in summer of 2019. Delta also took a poke at American by starting new twice-daily A220 flights this week from Boston to AAs Dallas/Fort Worth hub. United Airlines is partnering with PayPal to give its customers another touch-free option for onboard purchases, allowing them to show a QR code in the PayPal app to the flight attendant. It should first be available in November on select flights from Chicago OHare and will be rolled out in the following weeks on other flights across Uniteds network. Fliers who want to use it should download the PayPal app and set their preferred payment method for QR code before leaving the gate. To buy a meal or drink, click the Pay with QR codes button in the app, then click the In-flight Purchase button and show the QR code to the flight attendant to scan. The user will get an emailed receipt upon landing. In airport news, Hawaiian Airlines is moving its operations at Los Angeles International on Oct. 12 from Terminal 5 to the Tom Bradley International Terminal, where its flights will depart from the new West Gates extension. The carrier has six flights a day at LAX. Guests departing to Hawaii from LAX should set aside approximately 15 minutes to transit from the third-floor check-in counters inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal to its West Gates via an underground walkway, the airline said. Hawaiians guests arriving at LAX from Hawaii will pick up checked bags at the first-floor baggage claim. Travelers can also connect between the West Gates and Terminals 4-8 through a sterile corridor without the need to clear additional security. United is reportedly planning to open a new Polaris Lounge later this month at its Washington Dulles hub, according to the Liveandletsfly.com blog. The IAD Polaris Lounge, open to international first and business class travelers, was almost finished a year and a half ago when the pandemic intervened and United closed all its airport lounges. This one is in Dulles C Concourse with space for 355 travelers; it will offer a private dining room, a bar and shower suites. Elsewhere, the new American Express partnership with Escape Lounges has just opened a new lounge in Terminal 3s mezzanine level at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. PHXs Terminal 4 already has an AmEx Centurion Lounge and a separate Escape Lounge. Tesla is officially coming to Texas. But theres just one problem: Texans cant buy Tesla vehicles from factories in the state. CEO Elon Musk announced at an annual shareholder event Thursday that he is moving the electric car companys headquarters from Palo Alto, California to Austin, Texas, citing housing affordability and long commutes for the move from its current location. Our factory is like five minutes from the airport, 15 minutes from downtown, and were going to create an ecological paradise here because were out on the Colorado River, the CEO said. Its going to be great. Greater Austin Chamber of Commerce President Laura Huffman called the company's decision a "home run" and projected the move would bring 10,000 jobs to the city, per CBS Austin's Jessica Taylor. The announcement drew big welcomes from Gov. Greg Abbott and Austin Mayor Steve Adler on Twitter. Despite the announcement, it may be premature for Texans to begin celebrating the dawn of the electric vehicle revolution in the state. Texas franchise laws will require the electric car maker to ship its Texas-made vehicles out of state before they can be sold and shipped back to Lone Star buyers. State statutes prohibit automakers from making direct sales and requires them to instead sell their cars through independently owned car dealerships, according to a report by Business Insider. House Bill 4379 would have applied a loophole for companies like Tesla, but the measure failed to pass in the state legislature, according to the Austin American-Statesman. The bill, authored by state Rep. Cody Harris would have allowed makers of vehicles powered solely by electricity or batteries to act as their own dealers under state law, allowing them to sell directly to customers. Texans can order a car from the companys website but wont be able to place an order in the new Texas facility, according to Business Insider. Residents would also be required to drive to another state to buy the Tesla, or have paperwork sent to another state for processing. In May, Musk tweeted that he would "sure appreciate changing the law so that this is not required." With the next regular Texas legislative sessions scheduled in distant 2023, this complication may stick around some time for Texansbarring a special session courtesy of the governor. Cristo Rey Catholic Church parishioners plan to march to the cathedral of the Diocese of Beaumont ahead of its 100-year-old Southeast Texas pastors ordered return to Spain. We are letting go of someone who has been a grandfather figure to hundreds and hundreds of people, said Jacqueline Hernandez, who has been a parishioner at the church since she was 5 years old and is also a Sunday School teacher. Cristo Rey Church parishioner Patty Chael told The Enterprise that protesters plan to meet at the Beaumont Event Center on Crockett Street at noon on Sunday and start the march at 12:30 p.m. to St. Anthony Cathedral Basilica on Jefferson Street. The protest follows the unexpected news recently reported by The Enterprise that the founder of Cristo Rey, Rev. Luis Urriza, must return next Sunday to his native Spain to live and work with his religious order, the Order of St. Augustine, according Bishop David Toups. Related: Father Luis to leave Diocese of Beaumont Over 650 people, including 500 from the Golden Triangle area, have signed an online petition to keep Father Luis in Beaumont. A second hard-copy petition has also been started by other members and has over 150 signatures, Chael said. It just feels like an injustice, what happened to poor Father Luis, Chael said. It seems like he has been caught by surprise, basically being blind-sided of a forced retirement and a move to another country within two weeks. The petition letter written from Parishioners of Cristo Rey Church, Beaumont, TX & Supporters addresses Toups and describes Urriza, the churchs lead pastor, as instrumental to the Latin community. We cannot imagine Cristo Rey Church without him, the letter said. Even while being over 100 years young, his commitment and passion to our parish is still second to none. He has always prioritized us over his own needs, but now it is our turn to come together to prioritize him. The letter said removing Urriza from the tight-knit and intimate parish would have a detrimental effect on everyone. The supporters said he is still capable of performing his duties and described his energy and humor, including to teach the word of God, observed at his recently centennial birthday celebration. With Father's age, we understand that change is inevitable, but we feel that time is not now as it should be done under his own terms, the letter said. Given Father Luis' longstanding and rich history with the church, lives he has forever changed over the years (and continues to do so), and his impact on our Hispanic community, we strongly ask that you please reconsider your decision to allow Father Luis to continue serving our church. Cristo Rey is his home and this is where he belongs. The goal of the march has changed out of consideration for Urriza and the church, which the core group does not wish to divide. Instead of a call for the pastor to stay at Cristo Rey, the group met and decided that the protest will aim to show love and support for Father Luis by bringing awareness to what they feel is an unjust situation. Chael and others believe that Urriza should be given more time and had a choice in the matter. Instead, she said the decision was made for the senior. Chael hopes the situation can be helped from Beaumont. It could have been handled in a much better way, Chael said on Friday. Urriza previously told The Enterprise that he was told that St. Peter, one of the founders of the Roman Catholic Church and an apostle of Jesus Christ, said he had to retire given his age. People are really crying and crying. They are worried, he said in the previous article, adding, Im really sorry to have to leave. I dont want to retire. This is my home, but theres nothing I can do. The deadline is next Saturday, but Chael remains uncertain that the petition will make a difference. I dont know what it would take to convince the Bishop and the order to change their mind, Chael said Thursday. Parish Pillar Hernandez said there are parishioners who speak only Spanish and have concerns, but are challenged by language barriers. She said that when Father Luis joined the community in the 1950s that there was not a Spanish speaking church in the area. He was able to create a safe space for Spanish speakers, she said. She shared that that this helped unite the Hispanic Catholic community in the area. As a whole, she feels that same community feels at a loss because of how quickly the transition is happening. Hernandez said the parish is ready to move forward regardless of the results of the petition and the protest. She said the supporters do not wish to cause any trouble or divide the church. They are not trying to stop the change with a new priest coming in, who they intend to welcome as much as possible, she said. However, she said the group wants to raise awareness that the still-sharp Father Luis is being taken away too quickly from the community who holds him dear. She believes the middle ground would be to provide more time for both him and the community to cope with the change, even if he stayed in a different role at the church where he has been for generations. Youre taking pillar from the community and what all pillars do is that they support for what is above them to continue to go further up, Hernandez said. By removing such a strong pillar from the community, of course, it is going to effect us. Of course, it is going to make us feel some type of way. Bishop Responds In a statement emailed to The Enteprise, Toups said he realizes and understands that this is not an easy moment for many at Cristo Rey who have loved Urriza and have been inspired by him throughout many generations. The whole diocese is very grateful for all that Urriza has done for our Spanish-speaking community since his arrival and founding of Cristo Rey in 1951, Toups said in an email. He will always be remembered as an excellent pastor and example for our entire community. The retirement of Fr. Luis at 100 years of age has come at the request of the Provincial of the Augustinian Order in Spain, Toups continued. Since he is not a diocesan priest, but rather a religious order priest, it is also up to his superior and Augustinian community as to where he lives upon retirement. Toups said it is his understanding that there is a wonderful parish outside of Madrid, with a priest with whom Urriza is very close, in which he will reside and assist the local community. I can assure you that both the Augustinians and the diocese have the best of intentions for Fr. Luis and the community of Cristo Rey, Toups said. But at the same time, I understand people have to grieve and that is their choice to express themselves in whatever way they see fit. I thank the whole community for loving Fr. Luis all these years. Farewell Event Urriza started the parish in 1951 and originally joined the order in Spain 85 years ago. The church will celebrate his time in Beaumont and his commitment with a mass for Urriza at Cristo Rey at 6 p.m. on Oct. 17. That is so we can thank him and give the people he has ministered to a chance to say goodbye, Toups previously told The Enterprise. meagan.ellsworth@beaumontenterprise.com twitter.com/megzmagpie If you'd like to leave a comment (or a tip or a question) about this story with the editors, please email us We also welcome letters to the editor for publication; you can do that by filling out our letters form and submitting it to the newsroom. Greg Sukiennik has worked at all three Vermont News & Media newspapers and was their managing editor from 2017-19. He previously worked for ESPN.com, for the AP in Boston, and at The Berkshire Eagle in Pittsfield, Mass. You are the owner of this article. A year after Alex Morse challenged U.S. Rep. Richard Neal in a widely followed Democratic primary, no one has stepped up to run against Neal in 2022. LEE A federal appeals court has upheld the extortion conviction against former Lee Police Chief Joseph Buffis, calling him "full of bull."In a colorfully written decision, the First Circuit Court of Appeals last week said Buffis used a Reporter Heather Bellow, a member of the investigations team, joined The Eagle in 2017. She is based in the South Berkshire County bureau in Great Barrington. Her work has appeared in newspapers across the U.S. James Brooke, of Lenox, has traveled to about 100 countries reporting for The New York Times, Bloomberg and Voice of America. BOISE - An inmate in the Idaho Department of Correction, who is already serving prison sentences for rape and lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen, has been sentenced to an additional 20 years (240 months) in federal prison for attempted coercion and enticement of a child. According to court records, 30-year-old Cole Alexander Pipkin, originally of Kellogg, used a prison e-mail account to send messages to an adult woman living in Idaho between February and May 2019. In the messages, Pipkin attempted to persuade, induce, and entice three children, ages 8, 7, and 5, to engage in sexual activity with him upon his release from prison. In the e-mails, Pipkin promised the adult money and other incentives to persuade the adult to permit him to have sexual contact with the children. Pipkins e-mails graphically described the sexual acts he wanted to commit with the children, requested that the adult send him sexually explicit images of children, and included messages intended for the children referencing sexual acts. Pipkin is a repeat sex offender, currently serving state prison terms for a 2009 conviction for rape from Shoshone County, and a 2010 conviction for lewd conduct with a minor under sixteen from Kootenai County. Chief U.S. District Judge David C. Nye ordered Pipkins federal sentence to run consecutively to the state sentences. Judge Nye also ordered that Pipkin be placed on lifetime supervised release upon completion of his federal term of imprisonment. Pipkin will be required to register as a sex offender upon release. MECOSTA COUNTY Since the retirement of the Mecosta County Development Corporation director Jim Sandy in May, the executive committee for the organization has been looking for a new director. After reaching out to different economic development organizations, the committee initially decided to keep things in-house, developing a new job description and advertising for the position. Following several weeks of interviews, however, the committee changed gears and decided to go with an outside vendor. County administrator Paul Bullock told the Mecosta County board of commissioners during its meeting this week that the committee made the decision to contract with The Right Place, Inc. out of Grand Rapids. Since (Jim) Sandys retirement, the executive committee has been looking and trying to figure out what to do and what is going to work for us, Bullock said. We advertised the position, they interviewed some people, they decided that was probably not going to work. Pretty quickly we determined we wanted to go with someone who knew what they were doing. Mecosta Township supervisor Michelle Graham, who headed the search for a new director, told the Pioneer that the decision to go with an outside vendor rather than hiring an in-house director resulted from being unable to find the right person to fill the position. MCDC interviewed several individuals and could not find the right fit, Graham said. After some time, we decided to contact The Right Place, and we believe they are a good fit for MCDC. Graham said The Right Place, Inc. will provide services such as marketing and branding; business attraction, retention and expansion; site location support; workforce development; community education and outreach; community development support; regional leadership and support; and competitiveness initiatives statewide. One person cannot provide all of these services that The Right Place offers, she said. Bullock added that The Right Place is the gold standard for economic development in the area. They currently work with several surrounding counties including Newago, Mason, Oceana, Montcalm and Lake counties. The Right Place, Inc. is a regional economic development organization funded through investments from the private and public sectors, which drives regional economic development initiatives to stimulate economic growth, wealth creation and operational excellence by focusing on productivity, innovation, and the retention, expansion and creation of quality employment and companies, the companys website states. The mission of the company is to drive sustainable economic growth and shared prosperity for all, it said. We have done this on our own for 26 years, and for that I would give us an A for some years and others we didnt get to a C, because we were trying to do what we were trying to do without support and often times without people that really understood what they were doing, Bullock said. What they (The Right Place) will do is hire a development professional and assign them (sic) to our county. We think this is our best option at this point. Bullock said the executive board decided to request a two or three year contract proposal, which would cost up to $100,000 per year. Between our contribution, the citys contribution and the FSU contribution those are the big three and then there is Big Rapids Township and Mecosta Township, we bring in $80,000, Bullock said. Because we have been without a director a few times, we have enough money in the bank that we can do this and be fine, and then three years from now, we can come up with some additional revenue. At that point, we show you the value of the contribution, or we pull the plug. Graham said she did not believe the financial responsibilities of the different entities would need to change by going with The Right Place. Inc. The cost of contracting with The Right Place compared with the cost of an in-house director is very comparable, Graham said. If we were to hire in-house, we would need to provide a benefits package and training. Finding qualified candidates, along with offering wages and benefits and staying within our budget were some of the issues we faced. The Right Place provides all the benefits and includes the support of their 35-plus professional team. I dont believe the contracts for the city of Big Rapids, Mecosta County, Big Rapids Township and Mecosta Township will change, she continued. We do hope that more municipalities will partner with the MCDC. Bullock told the board that although they were not being asked to vote on anything, he wanted to let them know about the decision of the executive committee. This is the direction that the development corporation is looking at going, he said. After watching this for a long time, I think this is the way we take the steps to the next level. Some board members questioned how a company based in Kent County could be good for promoting economic development in Mecosta County, considering the differences between the two. Commissioner Linda Howard told the board that she had heard from commissioners in Montcalm County that were not happy with the services they had received. I dont want to throw cold water on this, but I have talked to a couple of commissioners that were not impressed, Howard said. I think we really need to get a handle on those counties that are out there on the fringe and assess the value they (The Right Place) have brought for those counties. Lets go in with our eyes open. Bullock responded that they will keep our eye on it, but so far, they have gotten very positive feedback from people that belong to The Right Place. I am going to continue to ask you to fund this for the life of whatever contract they decide on, whether it is two years or three years, he said. That will give us a baseline for our own evaluation and opinion of their services, rather than depending on someone elses opinion. OUT OF THE LOOP The MCDC is a collaboration between the county, the city, Ferris State University, Big Rapids Township and Mecosta Township. They work with the Michigan Economic Development Corporation to bring new businesses to the area and grow those that are here. When Sandy announced his retirement plans, several MCDC board members decided it would be a good time to re-evaluate the structure of the organization. The executive committee entertained several options for moving forward hiring a new director, contracting with an economic development organization and collaborating with Osceola County for economic development purposes. Initially, the decision was made to collaborate with Osceola County, whose economic development director Dan Massy had also recently retired, and hire a director who would work with both counties. The option that we are pursuing at this point is for Mecosta County and Osceola County to cooperatively try to fill the vacancy with someone who can work for both counties, Bullock said at the time. We are going to tailor it so that the resources we have available will allow us to do it even if Osceola County doesnt join. Osceola County board of commissioners chairperson Mark Gregory told the Pioneer at the time that they were also considering different options and would wait to hear from MCDC regarding a collaboration before moving forward. Gregory recently told the Pioneer that they had kind of fallen out of the loop with what the MCDC was doing and had not made any decisions regarding economic development. I just learned today that Mecosta went with The Right Place, Gregory said. I am not honestly sure at this point what we will do now that they have chosen to go with The Right Place. The thing for us, now, would be to talk to them and see what we can do in collaboration with them, he continued. It will probably come down to dollars. If we cant afford to go along with them for The Right Place, then we obviously will have to come up with something different. Bullock told the board that the initial proposal to contract with The Right Place was just for Mecosta County. Graham concurred, saying there were no plans, at this time, for Osceola County to be a partner in the contract. Looking for something to do? Heres a list of local community and nonprofit events. Please check with your club or organization to be certain of meetings, outings and classes, as they may be canceled due to bad weather or COVID-19. If any listing is inaccurate or to submit an event, contact Julie Norwood at 231-592-8358 or julie.norwood@pioneergroup.com. Stuff a Police Vehicle: 9 a.m.-noon Saturday, Oct. 9 at Meijer, 15400 Waldron Way; Walmart, 21400 Perry Ave.; and Aldi, at 21481 Perry Ave. Our car will be at Aldi. Law enforcement officials from Mecosta County Sheriff's Office, the Ferris State DPS and the Big Rapids DPS will be collecting nonperishable food items for Manna Pantry. Craft/Vendor Show: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at Mecosta Township Hall, 19729 11 Mile Road, Big Rapids. Contact: 231-796-8935 Wheatscouts: 11 a.m.-2:30 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, at the Gladys Wernette Classroom Building, 7251 50th Ave., Remus. Kids and their parents are invited to join Wally and Rachel Ewing for Ole Time arts, crafts and interactive music activities using nature. Bring a sack lunch. Water and snacks will be provided. Wheatland Jamboree: 2-5 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 9, outside of the Cabin at Wheatland Music Festival site, 7251 50th Ave., Remus. Jam with other acoustic musicians at this informal gathering. All levels and abilities are welcome. Little Women: 7 p.m. Oct. 8, Oct. 9; and 2 p.m. Oct. 10; at CrossRoads Theatre, 249 W. Upton Ave., Reed City. Tickets are $10 each and can be reserved by calling 231-465-4044. Perspectives on How to Heal a Divided Nation: 6:30-8 p.m. Tuesday, Oct. 12, at Artworks, 106 N. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids. Dr. Tracy Busch, a professor of history at Ferris State, offers a historical overview on past periods of political and cultural polarization in the U.S. Event is free, but seating is limited. Face masks required. Contact: Leah Monger at AAUWBIgRapids@gmail.com, 231-287-7022. Wine & Canvas: 6-9 p.m. Friday, Oct. 15, at Artworks, 106 N. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids. A unique social painting experience. Bring your own beverage and snack. Cost: $40. Register at www.artworksinbigrapids.org/painting-drawing or by calling 231-796-2420. St. Paul WELCA Fall Festival: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday and Saturday, Oct. 15-16, at St. Paul WELCA, 22275 4 Mile Road, Reed City. Craft, bake, book sale and raffle. Luncheon from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Friday ONLY. Raffle drawing at 1 p.m. Saturday. Need not be present to win. Basket Weaving: 9 a.m.-3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16, at Artworks, 106 N. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids. Learn to make a large laundry basket. Cost: $80. Register at www.artworksinbigrapids.org/basket-weaving or by calling 231-796-2420. Mimosas, Muffins, Mix & Mingle: 12:30 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17, at Artworks, 106 N. Michigan Ave., Big Rapids. A fundraisers benefiting Artworks and featuring world renowned guitarist Trevor Gordon Hall. Tickets are $25 each, available at www.artworksinbigrapids.org/tickets. Tuba Bach Festival: 4 p.m. Saturdays, Sept. 11-Oct. 17, outside at Immanuel Lutheran Church, 726 Fuller Ave., Big Rapids. A separate concert will be livestreamed online only, as well as on Sunny 97.3 FM at 4 p.m. Sundays. Visit www.tubabach.org. for links. Corn Maze/Haunted Maze: Noon to 5:30 p.m. Saturdays and 2-5 p.m. Sundays, Sept. 26-Oct. 31 for Corn Maze; 8-10:30 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, Oct. 8-30, for Haunted Maze; at Four Green Fields Farm, 15693 Wilson Road, Rodney. Cost: $3 for corn maze, ages 5 and under free; $2 for wagon rides; and $4 for haunted maze. Swiss Steak Dinner: 4-6:30 p.m. the last Friday of every month, April-October, at the Barryton Senior Center, 71 Northern Ave., Barryton. Includes dinner and dessert. Everyones welcome. Tai Chi: Noon on Wednesdays at Hemlock Park. Improve muscle tone, flexibility, balance and coordination. Newcomers welcome. brpr.org. Mecosta Co. Genealogical Society: Open 5-7 p.m. Wednesdays and 10 a.m.-2 p.m. every second Saturday, at 424 N. Fourth Ave., Big Rapids, next to Recycle. Thousands of obits and hundreds of books with history and genealogy for the Mecosta Co. area. Stop by or call Maureen Nelson at 231-250-5555 to set up an appointment. Mecosta County Sheriff Posse: 7 p.m. the second Thursday of each month at the Mecosta County Jail basement training room, 225 S. Stewart Ave., Big Rapids. This volunteer group is always looking for more members. For more info call 231-250-9241 Lords Table Food Pantry: 3-5 p.m. Wednesdays at Faith Community Church, 610 Green St., Big Rapids. Everyone is welcome. Reed City Food Pantry: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tuesdays, beginning Sept. 7, at St. Philip Neri Catholic Church, 831 S. Chestnut St., Reed City. Morley Community Center: The center, at 151 7th St., Morley, hosts weekly pickleball, open gym, indoor garage sales and outdoor market, in addition to monthly ancestry class, craft night and blood drive. For a list of activities, visit morleycenter.org/events or call 231-856-4496. ARTWORKS ONGOING CLASSES, EXHIBITS 106 N. Michigan Ave. in Big Rapids / 231-796-2420 / artworksinbigrapids.org After School Arts: 3:45-5:15 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 1-29. Drop-ins welcome on a first come, first serve basis, but registration recommended. Register at Artworks gift shop or by calling 231-796-2420 the Monday before each session. Open Pottery: 5-8 p.m. Tuesdays. Cost: $10 per session, $60 for an eight-session punch card. (Additional firing fees apply. Clay may be purchased in bulk for $20 per 25 lbs.) Call 231-796-2420 to schedule your session. Hand Built Pottery Fall Session: 6-8 p.m. Mondays, Sept. 13, 20, 27, and Oct. 4, 18, 25. Cost: $150. Register by calling 231-796-2420 or online at www.artworksinbigrapids.org/pottery. Beginning Wheel Fall Session: 6-8 p.m. Wednesdays, Sept. 15, 22, 29, and Oct. 5, 12, 26. Cost: $150. Register by calling 231-796-2420 or online at www.artworksinbigrapids.org/pottery. Fundamentals of Photography Beginner Course: 5:30-7:30 p.m. Tuesdays, Sept. 15-Oct. 19. Cost: $75. Register by calling 231-796-2420 or online at www.artworksinbigrapids.org/photography. Forged in Fire for Beginners: 8 p.m. Tuesdays, Oct. 5-Nov. 9, at The Forge, 5710 18 Mile Road, Barryton. Learn the basics of bladesmithing by doing. Everything will be provided. Closed toe shoes are required. Cost: $150. Register at artworksinbigrapids.org/specialty-workshops. Exhibit Art in the Time of COVID: 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Monday-Saturday, Oct. 12-Nov. 14. Featuring creations from Dan Kaminsky, Kym Nicolas and other artists. 100 per cent of the population have received the first dose Sikkim is declared to be the first fully vaccinated state of India, where 100 per cent of the population have received the first dose of vaccine and 74 per cent of the population has received the second dose as well. On average, till now 9,12,325 people were vaccinated. From health workers, front line workers, 45 years and above, to 18 to 44 years all the categories were well taken care of. In addition to this, 4770 doses were provided to the Indian army. The Government of Sikkim took aggressive measures to ensure the welfare of its people. The vaccination drive was taken very seriously. A team of senior officials and members from the health department was put together to monitor the vaccination status daily. The topmost priority was to vaccinate the maximum population possible. The members collectively worked towards immunising the whole Sikkim and achieved it in no time with proper planning and teamwork. The government of Sikkim received 11, 32, 740 doses of Covishield vaccine from the Indian Government out of which the balance at the Universal Immunization Programme (UIP) store is 1,78,390. Currently, the stock in East are 36,640, West- 25,670, North - 7,390 and South - 20,090. WINNIPEG - Manitoba's elections commissioner says the governing Progressive Conservatives did not violate campaign rules when they filmed part of an ad inside the premier's office. Advertisement Advertise With Us Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister announces that he will not seek re-election in front of the Dome Building in Brandon, Man., on Tuesday, Aug. 10, 2021. THE CANADIAN PRESS/David Lipnowski WINNIPEG - Manitoba's elections commissioner says the governing Progressive Conservatives did not violate campaign rules when they filmed part of an ad inside the premier's office. The complaint came from the Opposition New Democrats and concerned an ad during the 2019 provincial election. The ad showed then-premier Brian Pallister talking to people at various locations, including a brief portion where he was shown in his office with some fellow Tories. The New Democrats said the use of the premier's office violated a ban on using government resources in advertisements leading up to an election period. The NDP also said the use of the office was an improper contribution to a campaign. Elections commissioner Bill Bowles rejected both allegations and said the shot of the premier's office was a brief look at Pallister with a wall near him. "The whole scene lasts less than two seconds and, unless the viewer is watching carefully, might be missed altogether," Bowles wrote in his letter to NDP headquarters and a lawyer for Pallister. Pallister did donate to the campaign by allowing his office wall to be shown, but did the same by allowing family photos to be used in the ad, Bowles wrote. "I note that the purpose of the advertising and contribution limits in the (Election Financing Act) is to ensure a reasonably level playing field between the parties and candidates in an election," he said. "None of these donations ... can reasonably be seen to have given the PC party or any of its candidates an unfair advantage. "Childhood pictures, a car, an office wall, etc., are all the type of assets to which other candidates likely have access." The Tories won a second consecutive majority in the 2019 election, which Pallister called a year ahead of the scheduled date. He stepped down as premier last month. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2021 The Manitoba NDP introduced a new private members bill on Friday which would prohibit anti-vaccine mandate advocates from demonstrating directly outside of hospitals, COVID-19 testing centres and vaccination injection sites if passed. Advertisement Advertise With Us FILE Raquel Driedger, one of the organizers of the World Wide Walkout, leads marchers towards 1st Street near the Brandon Regional Hospital on Sept 1. On Friday, the Manitoba NDP introduced a new piece of legislation that would prohibit anti-vaccine mandate advocates from protesting directly in front of hospitals if passed. The Manitoba NDP introduced a new private members bill on Friday which would prohibit anti-vaccine mandate advocates from demonstrating directly outside of hospitals, COVID-19 testing centres and vaccination injection sites if passed. According to the measures laid out in Bill 239, titled "Protest Buffer Zone Act," protesters who come within 50 to 150 metres of any of these facilities could face a variety of legal repercussions, from a $5,000 fine to a year in jail. RUTH BONNEVILLE/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS NDP MLA Nahanni Fontaine. Protest exclusion zones would also be created outside educational institutions and child-care centres, as well as the residences of health-care workers. NDP justice critic Nahanni Fontaine formally introduced this new bill on Friday, and told the Sun it is a direct response to the country-wide protests that emerged on Sept. 1, where anti-vaccine mandate demonstrators gathered outside of hospitals all over Canada. This includes Winnipegs Health Sciences Centre, where protesters slowed traffic and confronted people as they tried to enter the building. Fontaine described these events as a "kick to the gut" and profoundly disrespectful to the health-care workers and patients who are still under tremendous strain 19 months into the COVID-19 pandemic. "You can protest all you want, but those individuals got in the way of citizens accessing health care," she said over the phone. "Those individuals got in the way of those Manitobans that are on the front lines, actually saving anti-vaxxers lives." Winnipeg wasnt the only Canadian city to deal with this kind of disruption throughout September, with similar protests taking place outside of hospitals from Vancouver to Toronto. Even Brandon hosted its own anti-vaccine mandate demonstration on Sept. 1, although this group of around 100 people did not get that close to the Brandon Regional Health Centre. Still, because of these events, government officials in British Columbia, Ontario, Quebec and Alberta are all introducing or in the middle of passing legislation that would crack down on these kinds of protests in some capacity. Fontaine believes it is about time for Manitoba to follow suit, especially with the fourth wave of the pandemic already underway in the province. "We have a responsibility as legislators to protect those individuals, to protect citizens who are trying to access health care and protect citizens who work in health care or in a variety of different fronts," she said over the phone. The MLA for St. Johns also told the Sun that she doesnt view this bill as an infringement on Manitobans freedom of speech, stating they are more than welcome to protest outside of the Manitoba Legislature or any other government building of that nature. "You are more than welcome to come to the Leg," she said. "Well put out the welcome sign for you. This is where protests need to happen, not at hospitals. Thats irresponsible, its selfish and its quite disrespectful." Interim Premier Kelvin Goertzen told reporters on Friday that he wants to thoroughly read through the bill before voicing his opinion, since he wants to make sure the measures outlined in the bill dont go too far. "There are often unintended consequences of legislation ... so before we take any action on this particular issue, wed want to make sure that were doing due diligence on the bill itself," Goertzen said. During the winter of 2020, the Progressive Conservative Party put forward Bill 57 the Protection of Critical Infrastructure Act which would have allowed the operators of pipeline developments, food-production centres, financial institutions and other facilities like that to obtain a court order for a similar protest buffer zone. Bill 57 was one of five controversial pieces of legislation the PCs withdrew this week following much opposition from the NDP. However, Fontaine views her new bill as being "entirely different," saying Bill 57 was specifically designed to crack down on Indigenous demonstrators trying to protest what they saw as government-sanctioned environmental degradation. "If you understand the history of Bill 57, youll understand that Brian Pallister and the PCs constructed that bill in February of 2020 in response to land defenders across the country protecting the environment," she said. "Theres a fundamental difference between land protectors protecting the environment and anti-vaxxers who dont believe in science, protesting in front of a hospital." The "Protest Buffer Zone Act" isnt the only piece of legislation that Fontaine has introduced to try and protect health-care workers from protesters. Over the past couple years, the St. Johns MLA has attempted to get a similar bill off the ground that prevents demonstrators from picketing around facilities that provide abortion services. While the bill was voted down several times by the PCs, Fontaine told the Sun that a new version of this legislation Bill 207, the Abortion Protest Buffer Zone Act is finally going to a vote in the legislature on Thursday. The NDP justice critic said her party will approach passing Bill 239 with the same kind of tenacity in the hopes of ensuring that Manitobans can safely access health care on multiple fronts. "Its my hope that they will pass," she said. "Its my hope that the PC government would do whats in the best interest of Manitobans and protecting Manitobans right to access health care without being intimidated, harassed or molested on the way into a provider." with files from the Winnipeg Free Press kdarbyson@brandonsun.com Twitter:@KyleDarbyson A year after a mental health crisis led Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to declare a state of emergency, the Nation is looking for federal support in establishing long-term mental health solutions in the community. Advertisement Advertise With Us TIM SMITH/THE BRANDON SUN Sioux Valley Dakota Nation Chief Jennifer Bone (centre) walks with other community members to raise suicide prevention awareness in this file photo. A year after a mental health crisis led Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to declare a state of emergency, the Nation is looking for federal support in establishing long-term mental health solutions in the community. The Nation called a state of emergency on Oct. 10, 2020, due to what Chief Jennifer Bone described as a mental health crisis in the community after multiple deaths by suicides were reported. Establishing a healing centre and hiring four additional mental health workers has been a key part of addressing the crisis, she said, but little headway has been made since the state of emergency was declared. "We do the best we can with the funding thats provided to offer those programs and services to the community," Bone said. "Were always having discussions around mental health and supporting our families and healing, addictions, strengthening our family units and how we can do better." A healing centre or treatment centre is essential for the well-being of the community, she said, because it is important to establish a dedicated healing space for Dakota people struggling with addictions or mental health. Bone said the Nation wants to be able to provide space for programs and services to enable community members to receive long-term care plans. When the state of emergency was declared in October 2020, The Brandon Sun reported a band council resolution cited concerns including "regarding the proliferating effects of suicide within the community," as well as "compounding and escalating addictions and mental health problems" and "ongoing grief and trauma that has ultimately impacted the community collectively." In 2020 the Nation saw approximately six suicides in the community between March and October, including three within one week, Bone told the Sun in October 2020. The band council resolution and a corresponding message posted to Sioux Valleys website cites the COVID-19 pandemic as a contributing factor to the crisis. "Pandemic safeguards are hindering the communitys ability to conduct traditional and cultural grief and trauma practices for the health and safety of the community," said the resolution. Bone said the crisis remains ongoing in Sioux Valley and it can be challenging gauging how people are feeling, especially with the fluctuation of COVID-19 public health measures. She is grateful that 2021 saw more opportunities for community members to visit, connect and take part in traditional ceremonies and events. "We were able to host a small community pow-wow and some events where we were able to visit and not be on lockdown," Bone said. "People were able to enjoy themselves and be with friends and family, those are always good things and good supports to have in place." It is difficult to say when the state of emergency will come to an end, as the mental health piece remains a focus for Chief and Council. Prior to declaring the state of emergency, $141,000 had been committed to supporting mental health in the Nation. Bone reached out to Health Canada for additional aid to address the crisis but little headway was made. Health Canada referred Sioux Valley to Manitoba Keeewatinowi Okimakanak, the non-profits crisis unit provided support to Sioux Valley until March 2021 and Bone said they can still utilize their services when needed. "We built a relationship with them and we can reach out to them and theyll come out to support in the community for a number of days to support in whatever area they are requested," Bone said. Sioux Valley also hired an additional mental health worker in March. Federal support for these initiatives remains imperative because the community continues to work towards healing from the trauma from residential schools, Bone said. She referred to the 94 calls to action listed by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission and the importance of acting on those related to health, mental health, well-being and healing. She added the Nation wants to see initiatives established that are Indigenous-led because community members know what is best for themselves and the community. "Thats for us to decide whats best for healing and for mental health," Bone said. In an email statement provided to the Sun, Indigenous Services Canada spokesperson Megan MacLean said they are continuing to work closely with leadership in Sioux Valley Dakota Nation and Indigenous partners to access and augment mental health resources for the community. MacLean added in November 2020 the department provided additional funding of $141,818 to Sioux Valley Dakota Nation for mental wellness programming as part of the COVID-19 response. "Regarding a healing lodge proposal for the community, regional officials are available to work with Sioux Valley Dakota Nation to determine potential funding for a business proposal, and any proposal for a healing lodge would be carefully reviewed," she said. "In addition, the department is working with several communities and First Nation organizations to examine a number of options to support mental wellness and treatment for Indigenous members." The Government of Canada recognizes the seriousness and scope of the health and mental health challenges First Nations face, MacLean said, including those who die by suicide. Work is underway with Indigenous partners to advance Indigenous-led approaches to mental wellness, she added. Indigenous Services Canada invests more than $580 annually to address the mental wellness needs of First Nations helping provide services that include community-led suicide prevention projects, community-based mental wellness teams, emotional and cultural support services for residential school and day school survivors and their families and a network of 45 substance use treatment centres. "While the issues of mental wellness and suicide are complex, we know that part of improving mental wellness in First Nations and Inuit communities means providing better access to effective, sustainable and culturally appropriate services. We are committed to working together with First Nations and Inuit leadership to address critical needs and to develop long-term solutions, such as enhanced approaches to social services for families and youth." The Hope for Wellness Help Line provides immediate, culturally competent, crisis intervention counselling support for all Indigenous peoples, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, by phone and online chat (1-855-242-3310 or hopeforwellness.ca). If you are experiencing suicidal thoughts or having a mental health crisis contact the Manitoba Suicide Prevention and Support Line toll-free at 1-877-435-7170 (1-877-HELP170), or the Kids Help Phone at 1-800-668-6868 or by texting CONNECT to 686868 The Canada Suicide Prevention Service is also available at 1-833-456-4566 (phone) | 45645 (text, 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. or at crisisservicescanada.ca). ckemp@brandonsun.com Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp Brandons Victoria Landing Retirement Residence will be one of 33 Seniors Care residences across the nation celebrating iconic Canadian artist Bill Reid on Oct. 21. Advertisement Advertise With Us Brandons Victoria Landing Retirement Residence will be one of 33 Seniors Care residences across the nation celebrating iconic Canadian artist Bill Reid on Oct. 21. It was important to explore the legacy of Reids work with a series of special events, said Ronna Goldberg, regional event planner, community engagement at All Seniors Care Living Centres. Goldberg said she is excited about the upcoming event, adding it was made possible through close collaboration with the educational director of the Bill Reid Gallery of Northwest Coast Art in Vancouver. CP Haida artist Bill Reid, shown carving a sculpture in this 1990 file photo. (CP PICTURE ARCHIVE/Chuck Stoody) "Everything that were doing is honourable, and wonderful, and educational," Goldberg said. "[Reid] reintroduced Haida art in a classical form to the world, and through that, bridged cultures; everyone is excited to learn about this most significant artist and immerse themselves in Indigenous culture." It was essential to showcase Reid, she said, adding she hopes the artist will become a household name in Canada. Reid was known for his work as a master goldsmith, carver, sculptor, broadcaster, writer and community activist. Goldberg said she works to organize about 10 special events a year, and October is typically earmarked for arts programs. Her programs are planned more than a year in advance and it feels timely that celebrating Reid takes place so close to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation that took place at the end of September. Goldberg said it will serve as a great opportunity for the 200 residents at Victoria Landing to engage in conversations about reconciliation. "Were just really honoured and excited to be bringing this event," Goldberg said. In the lead-up to the special art day, residents will collaborate on their own unique art project, adornments replicating the totem poles of the Northwest Coast. In celebration of Reids art a totem pole will be constructed at Victoria Landing with the official colours of the Haida: black, red, yellow, green and blue. "Our residents will be making those totem poles with those colours in mind, and also of course their own interpretations," Goldberg said. The totem poles are an especially meaningful activity because of the icons significance in Reids life, Goldberg said. The artists mother was Haida and his father had Scottish German roots. However, Reid did not know about his Haida heritage until his early 20s because his parents wanted to protect him from the Indian Act, she said. Upon discovering his background he returned to his moms village and connected to his granddad who was a jewelry maker. Reid became interested in the totem poles when he saw them for the first time in the village. His art would go on to capture Haida culture and traditions, celebrating the rich history and culture of the Nation. Reid is a legendary Canadian, Goldberg said, and it is an honour being able to commemorate his legacy with the more than 6,000 residents of Seniors Care residences across Canada. After the totem poles are unveiled at Victoria Landing, residents will be able to participate in a day featuring several educational and fun activities, Goldberg said. Programs include learning Haida words and dice games to stimulate cognition, a lunch featuring Indigenous cuisine followed by a dance and drumming presentation. Residents will also virtually cycle across the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park in North Vancouver, an area rooted in Indigenous history, using specially adapted exercise bikes. The virtual experience will create the sensation of being "right there", virtual technology encourages older people and people with cognitive decline to take part in a sport while seeing the world and sharing stories about their life experiences. Goldberg added it was an important area to explore as the bridge features the famous Haida totem poles. "Its almost like were going to be there," Goldberg exclaimed. ckemp@brandonsun.com Twitter: @The_ChelseaKemp OTTAWA - Canada's chief public health officer shot a dose of optimism into the fight against COVID-19 Friday, saying measures introduced to stem the worst of the spread in Saskatchewan and Alberta appear to be working. Advertisement Advertise With Us Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam listens to a question during a news conference, Tuesday, January 12, 2021 in Ottawa. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld OTTAWA - Canada's chief public health officer shot a dose of optimism into the fight against COVID-19 Friday, saying measures introduced to stem the worst of the spread in Saskatchewan and Alberta appear to be working. And while Dr. Theresa Tam said she's encouraged by how more people there are choosing to get vaccinated, her message to the provinces was clear: "You still cannot rely on the vaccinations alone at this point." Her comments came as the Public Health Agency of Canada released new modelling showing an average of more than 3,700 new daily cases being reported across Canada this week a far better situation compared to the more than 8,500 daily cases the country was initially projected to hit by mid-September. The more transmissible Delta variant, which has caused more people to fall ill, sending them into hospital and intensive care units, has been the country's latest enemy in its 19-month battle against the pandemic. Nationally, Tam said, cases have started levelling off as more people get vaccinated and after public health measures were reintroduced in August and September to slow transmission. It's the first time since July where the pandemic does not appear to be in a growth pattern for the country, she said. "The curve is just bending." Although Canada's national struggle against COVID-19 is looking up, provinces are still immersed in their own challenges. Public Health Agency data shows those hit hardest were ones that eliminated rules on mask wearing and gathering sizes too quickly, while not enough of the population was fully vaccinated against COVID-19. Alberta, followed by Saskatchewan, boasts the highest rate of active cases out of all the provinces. Officials in both places have spent the past several weeks trying to shore up hospital resources and introducing vaccine passport programs in hopes of incentivizing those not yet immunized to roll up their sleeves. "I guess time will tell as to whether individual provinces have learned from the fourth wave while the vaccine coverage is increasing," Tam said on Friday. "You can't just rely on the vaccinations alone." Heading into Thanksgiving, Tam and Dr. Howard Njoo, deputy chief public health officer, advised people to only gather indoors with family members and friends who have been fully vaccinated and even then try opening a window to improve ventilation. They recommend those who are not immunized to stick to gathering with their own household and consider moving outdoors. People should ask their guests whether they have been vaccinated and "take that into account," Tam said, acknowledging that may feel difficult. Both Tam and Njoo shared a bit of their personal plans for the holiday, with Tam saying she doesn't have firm plans to gather in person but could with her fully vaccinated parents and Njoo planning for a small gathering, where those going are immunized. "I've had conversations with friends who are having a tougher time with especially members of their family who are not vaccinated at all or are only partially vaccinated," Njoo added. "Let's say it's a family member who is not vaccinated, you should politely explain your situation and your discomfort level and if they choose not to be vaccinated that's their choice, but there are consequences in terms of even family dynamics and others feeling safe about getting together." Tam said it's promising to see more than 80 per cent of Canadians eligible to receive a shot be fully vaccinated against COVID-19, however, there are still some six million eligible Canadians who are not properly immunized. The health agency's modelling warns Canada faces the risk of another COVID-19 surge later in the fall and winter if "basic protective measures" like masking and physical distancing are not maintained while vaccination rates are not higher. "It is important to stress that even as the fourth wave recedes, COVID-19 is unlikely to disappear entirely and there could continue to be bumps along the way," Tam said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published Oct. 8, 2021. THE MANOR Amazon Prime (81 minutes), MA 15+ Picture this: you arrive in a new community, which seems pleasant and welcoming at first. Gradually it dawns on you that this is a special kind of hell, where everyone is constantly monitored, no one can leave and deaths are so frequent theyre taken for granted. Desperately, you try to sound the alarm but the louder you protest, the more youre told you must be losing your mind. Barbara Hershey as Judith in Axelle Carolyns The Manor. Credit: This is horror movie stuff. But not entirely far-fetched if you happen to be a resident of an aged care facility like Judith (Barbara Hershey), the heroine of Axelle Carolyns The Manor, a former dancer who collapses at her 70th birthday party and opts to make the move to assisted living. Judith has also been diagnosed with Parkinsons disease, letting the film keep us in suspense after the fashion of Gaslight and Rosemarys Baby. Is she justified in her belief that the staff at Golden Sun Manor are plotting against her, or are her suspicions early symptoms of dementia? And which option is the more unsettling? Linda Jackson discusses her upbringing, career and the men who have influenced her. Linda Jackson: When you move a lot, like I did, it becomes tricky in relationships. Credit:Hugh Stewart Occupation: Fashion designer Age: 71 Relationship status: Single Best known for: Founding Flamingo Park Frock Salon with Jenny Kee My maternal grandfather, Fred Hewitt, was born in 1889 in Manchester, England. He worked in a coal mine at 11, made cobblestone streets and served in World War I in France before migrating to Australia with my nanna, Sarah Jane, in 1929. Mum [Edith] was four when they arrived on a ship called Barrabool with the Salvation Army Migration Scheme. My grandfather loved photography and had his own dark room. My dad [William Charles Jackson] was born in Warwick, Queensland, in 1920 and left school at 13 to become a printer. He was also an ambulance driver in the war in New Guinea stationed there for two years from 1941 and in Cairns for two years after that. He met my mum in 1945 and they married. Mum said he used to wake from nightmares in the years that followed. Dad loved swimming and both he and Mum were members of Mentone Life Saving Club. For Australian workers, having a child is often seen as a sacrifice. With meagre parental leave and caregiving entitlements, career and starting a family can sometimes feel incompatible. But for the 60 Australian staff at music streaming giant Spotify, that isnt the case. The company this year introduced new family-forming benefits, giving every employee globally access to a lifetime allowance to use for IVF, donor services, adoption, fertility preservation or fertility assessments and education. The allowance amounts to several IVF cycles in the relevant country (one cycle in Australia costs $10,000). Sydney-based Michael Kim is Spotifys head of HR for Japan and Asia Pacific, and he helped develop the companys family benefits. Credit:James Brickwood This is on top of Spotifys parental leave policy, which grants its 7000 staff access to six months fully paid regardless of gender or how they become a parent, with the time able to be split into separate periods up to a childs third birthday. Yes, we can lament the loss of the 70-metre Australian-made double-ended vessels that carry 1100 passengers, compared to the 35-metre, 400-passenger Emerald class ferries made in Indonesia and China that will replace them. Sydneysiders and foreigners alike will all get misty-eyed about farewelling the first of the final four Freshwater class ferries, our citys trademark form of transport and tourism. As we begin the process of sending them all back to the Balmain dock, emerging for weekend-only trips, lets hope their fate is not the same as the Dee Whys, which in 1976 was scuppered off the coast at Long Bay reef. For me, it is the trips of my teens, sitting on deck outside, the scent of saltwater and freedom from the suburbs in my nostrils, getting soaked by sea spray as the huge vessel manoeuvred the swell of the heads. For former prime minister Paul Keating, it was catching the red rattler from Bankstown and boarding the double-ended Freshwater class ferry and jumping off the back of it when it got to Manly. When the Queenscliff sets sail this Wednesday for its final weekday passenger service , we will all wax lyrical with our favourite Manly ferry moment. Cue music: Australian Crawls James Reyne singing: As the Manly ferry cuts its way to Circular Quay. No doubt Transport for NSW and TransDev, which operates our government-owned ferries, will claim there is a good business case for replacing old diesel-fuelled ferries with new diesel-fuelled ferries. But rather than take a sentimental journey to nowhere, why dont we look to other seafaring cities the world over for some inspiration. Like the Finnish city of Turku and its fight to save the 117-year-old ferry, The Fori. Built in 1904, it was steam-driven until 1955, when it was converted to diesel. By 2015, it was deemed too dirty and noisy and was ordered to be decommissioned. However, a huge backlash ensued: the people of Turku banded together to save their beloved ferry. State authorities reversed their decision and instead of scrapping the vessel, replaced its polluting diesel engines with electric motors fuelled by batteries. Says Andrew Westwood, the global senior vice-president of Det Norske Veritas, the worlds largest global marine classification society and former merchant navy chief engineer: The vessel was back in service by 2017 and has exceeded expectations of both passengers and operators as well maintaining maritime history. Westwood has prepared a paper on how electrification could save the freshwater class of Manly ferries, outlining how the vessels could be recharged at Circular Quay and Manly and how Cockatoo Island could be used as a source of renewable energy. He sets out examples from all over the world of how similar double-ended ferries have been converted to electricity while slashing operating costs. He presented it to the NSW government but he feels the government gave his work not much consideration at all. He has spoken often of how Sydney designers and boat builders have been working on electric vessels for London and San Francisco yet they have not turned to those that ply the harbour at our doorstep. Our city is home to one of the best naval architecture schools in the world at the University of NSW, he said, but instead of harnessing that brain power, we looked overseas to replace our trademark ferries. The noise puts Lynden Albiston in a state of perpetual anxiety. Nick Maddock calls it soul-destroying. Angela McGuire lives in constant fear the drilling is about to resume. Mr Albiston has come across neighbours crying in the hallway. His blood pressure is up. Many residents of 1 Studio Walk, part of the Studio 9 precinct in Richmond, complain about disrupted sleep, frayed nerves and a feeling of being trapped inside their own home. Residents in Richmond have found it nearly impossible to work while construction goes on in the lot next door. Credit:Joe Armao For six days a week over the course of three months, a project to build apartments has been taking place just metres from their balconies. The low frequency, guttural moan of a hydraulic rock-piercing drill reverberates and echoes through their apartment complex. At its loudest, it permeates every aspect of their lives. So that we can continue this important work, it is vital our employees are vaccinated in-line with the governments recent mandate. This ensures that their colleagues and the community are not at risk from the spread of the virus by police. State government minister Danny Pearson, who served as acting police minister for six months from February of this year, praised police for their work during the pandemic and said he had not heard complaints similar to those raised in Ms Mitchells interview. Acting Senior Sergeant Krystle Mitchell during the interview. Credit:Discernable Victoria Police officers have done a fantastic job. These last few months, theyve worked tirelessly, theyve put themselves on the front line, he said on Saturday. Another protest against COVID-19 restrictions and vaccine mandates was planned in Melbourne on Saturday, but less than a dozen people turned up at nominated locations and were moved on by police. Loading It is highly unusual for police to talk without the permission of their superiors, especially when voicing concerns held by serving members. Ms Mitchell appeared in the interview published on social media in her full uniform, with her name badge and rank clearly visible on camera. She said instances of police aggression was, in her opinion, partially attributable to the enforcement approach taken by Premier Daniel Andrews. I think that the reason, or the issue, in why perhaps police either feeling more emboldened to act the way they are in relation to these harsher actions is because of the messaging that comes from Dan [Andrews], she said. Everybody listens to Daniel Andrews, hes the premier of our state and he tells us what to do on a daily basis. Ms Mitchell, who says she worked in the gender equality and inclusion command, said it was not easy for her to make the decision to speak publicly about the concerns of some of her colleagues within the force because doing so would probably cost her job. How I see my organisation being used during this pandemic troubled me greatly. The stories that they tell me, and the stories that they share privately on our union Facebook page about their experiences in dealing with the community during the pandemic ... its really tough on them, she said. In part, the reason that I wanted to do this whilst still serving and wearing the uniform today is so that the community can see that it isnt all police that are against them, and for police to see that it isnt all protesters that are coming there to fight with you its a minority, theres a minority on both sides. The way in which we police now has completely changed, and a vast majority of the focus of policing is on CHO directions that you know are infringements on your everyday liberties. On Friday police officers expressed anger and dismay at what they say were major tactical and communications errors from police command that led to several injuries during a violent protest last month. Their concerns were outlined in a Police Association review that has recommended urgent changes to how the force handles demonstrations following the September 18 protest, which saw hundreds march through the streets of Richmond and Kew and clash violently with lines of general duties police officers. Police in Richmond during a large anti-lockdown protest in September. Credit:Luis Enrique Ascui The review, finalised this week, found many members felt let down by Victoria Police and that the force failed to protect them at the violent demonstration, during which 10 officers were injured. The union said it had heard from 1000 members about the incident, many of whom were angry or distressed. A Police Association spokesman said the organisation was busy supporting police and protective services officers during the pandemic which had brought health risks and enormous workload and responsibility. The timing is in the hands of Pfizer, they are already working with the TGA, priority will be given by the TGA on this. Its a matter for them as to when. This is up to an independent company and an independent regulator. The government has paved the way for it to be done as quickly as possible. Infectious diseases paediatrician with the University of Sydney, Robert Booy, said it may be that Australia follows the same path it did with children aged 12 to 15 by first offering a COVID-19 vaccine to vulnerable younger children, including those with medical conditions that put them at higher risk. Eligibility later expanded, and ATAGI now recommends two doses of the Pfizer or Moderna vaccine for all children in the 12-15 age group. Professor Booy said children who needed intensive care or have died from COVID-19 in Britain commonly had Down syndrome, cerebral palsy or major medical problems involving the heart, lungs or immune system. But the doctor said he and many of his colleagues experienced in treating infectious diseases in children were still cautious about giving a COVID-19 vaccine to young children without these conditions. Loading He said it made sense to wait for the data from the US, where he anticipates younger children could start being vaccinated as early as this month or next. Pfizer this week announced it had applied to US regulators requesting it to allow the use of its product in children aged between five and 11, submitting data from a study of 2268 participants which according to the company showed the vaccine was safe, well tolerated and showed robust neutralising antibody responses. There are 28 million US children between five and 11, so if we can get data on the safety in millions of US children, then we can say lets do this safely, Professor Booy said. ATAGI would make a recommendation on any plans to expand eligibility to Australians younger than 12. Dr Cheng said its possible an application by Pfizer could be assessed by the TGA and ATAGI within a few months. The applications are being assessed much more quickly than they usually are, he said. If we got an application within a couple of weeks, if it was simple and there wasnt any issues, then the TGA could say yes within three or four weeks. He said ATAGIs deliberations would probably take a similar period of time. Obviously theres lots of ifs and maybes but if they submit and all the stars aligned, it is possible it would be by the end of the year. Loading Professor Cheng said one of the issues that would have to be examined by ATAGI was cases of myocarditis, a heart inflammation condition that has affected a small number of young men and boys who have taken the Pfizer vaccine. He said questions around dispensing the vaccine for this age group would also have to be answered. The dose is a third of the usual dose. Thats actually a bit of an issue because the dose of the Pfizer vaccine is already pretty small, so a third of a normal dose is actually going to be quite tiny. A day after the rollout of third doses to severely immunocompromised Australians was approved a group of up to 500,000 people Mr Hunt said that the rollout of booster shots to a broader cohort of people was now being planned, subject to the approval of medical regulators later this month. Supply and distribution is sorted. The assessment process from ATAGI is simply how long there should be between the second shot and the third shots, based on their assessment of international evidence, he said. Loading Unlike in the initial rollout, which was broken down into different phases that saw frontline workers, the elderly and people who were immunocompromised prioritised, the booster shot program will not be divided up in this way. We wont need to give priority to one group over another now, its just about the time frame [how much time should pass between the second and third dose] and Im not going to speculate on that, he said. One of the first conversations to have with teenagers is about who they are and that who they are online should match who they are in person. This is a lesson many adults dont understand, given social media was handed to them once they were fully formed. I was speaking once to someone about their social media use and tendency to mock people on Twitter, to which they responded: Its just Twitter. What you say on Twitter doesnt really matter. Loading But it does, and therein lies the fundamental problem. Too many people have a social media persona and a different persona in real life. They forget that social media is real life. Who they are on social media is who they are as a human. People read the hurtful, nasty and derogatory comments and it affects them just as much, probably more, than if you had said it face to face. This is the mindset we need to change. Its changing mindsets rather than laws that will improve social media discourse. This is not to say teenagers cannot make jokes online, or get into debates, or post selfies, but we need to talk to them about where those debates go (online, forever) and that they reflect their personality, even if they dont believe so. It comes down to their own integrity, and their understanding of personal responsibility. Who they are online not only reflects who they are; it shapes who they are. Being trolled online is a horrible experience. Ive had it happen occasionally, for short periods of time. Seeing people you love trolled online is even worse, especially when you cant defend them publicly because to throw yourself into the fray is neither helpful nor good for you. It is a strange world we live in where people feel they can attack people online, thinking the screen between them, the internet, their victims screen, and their victim means it wont affect them so much. Look at how Twitter trolls attack Leigh Sales on a nightly basis for doing her job as the ABCs 7.30 host. Loading Many send vile abuse because they can hide behind a username, but theres no hiding from the fact that sending the abuse is abhorrent. While the Prime Minister is talking about changing legislation, our eSafety Commissioner, Julie Inman Grant, is working on changing mindsets, where it matters most, in schools. She is talking to the Australian Curriculum, Assessment and Reporting Authority to advocate that online safety become a more prominent part of the education curriculum. Successfully educating students will lead to an improved discourse on social platforms. In many ways, social media became a cesspool because adults today were never taught digital literacy. Social media emerged when I was in school in the late 1990s and early 2000s. Digital footprints didnt exist until I was already in the workplace and had years of Facebook statuses clumsily constructed in the third person. Were now paying for that. Its important we make up for it with the next generation of adults. Today, students are very aware of digital literacy programs, and the e-Safety Commissioner continues to be the best resource for any teacher or student. Loading We also need to discuss who we compare ourselves with. It can be depressing to sit at home on the couch in the final days of lockdown and see influencers telling us all their routines for staying gorgeous when they are in their 20s. By virtue of biology, they are going to be at their most gorgeous. It can be impossible to leave a social media scroll feeling good about oneself. That doesnt mean well stop doing it, but it might be good to remind ourselves, and our teenagers, that we neednt compare our Sunday night, tracksuit-donning, Netflix-watching version of ourselves with that gorgeous influencer a filtered version of reality. Social media has also become the place where so many of us house our inner lives. Our thoughts, our book lists, our scrapbooking of inspiration, and our moments of joy. During lockdown, its how we have connected with people far and not so far away. It is where communities have been formed, where friendships have been made. There is goodness there, amid the carnage. We just need to show the next generation that who they are online is who they are. On Thursday, Morrison - who has endured months of criticism for a slow rollout of the vaccine - held a press conference to mark NSW passing the 70 per cent double vaccination mark, in the latest of his sunlit uplands press conferences that strike a strongly optimistic note. NSW will be able to begin the process of opening safely, and stay safely open. Thats whats different this time ... when you hit those vaccination rates, you can open with certainty again, and you can open safely with certainty again, and you can stay open, he said. To all those still in lockdown, you can look at this day and say, well be there soon, and I know you will be. It wont be long. And as the days get warmer, then I think Australias prospects will continue to get brighter. Opposition Leader Anthony Albanese. The ALP will once again take an Australian-made procurement strategy to a federal election through a 10-point plan. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Morrisons framing of the current moment was designed to place him front and centre as the national figure who is leading Australia through to the other side of the pandemic and, in so doing, put the recent difficult months behind him and burnish his credentials ahead of an election that is due no later than May next year. Political observers close to Morrison insist that, as the PM has said publicly, the prospect of an election late this year is now remote because the government just has too much to do between now and the nation fully reopening. That includes opening state borders, letting Australians travel overseas again, then letting skilled migrants and students back into the country in a COVID-safe way, as well as landing a climate deal with the Nationals and kick-starting the economy. The risk of individual states going their own way and remaining walled off, or going back into lockdown when cases spike, is a major concern for the federal government too - which is why the PM hammers, time and again, the fact that the national plan sets out that lockdowns will permanently become a thing of the past. A politico close to Morrison, who is not authorised to speak publicly, says the election window is slightly ajar but youd need a very good reason to go early. Loading Weve turned a serious corner on vaccines, Labors they had two jobs line on quarantine and vaccines was a good line for a while, but it always had a use by date. It was tactical, not strategic, he says. If people say they know what will happen in the next three months, theyre bulls---ting you. What does matter is us articulating a sense of stability and certainty. Its that sense of certainty, of continuity, that will form part of the bedrock along with getting the economy restarted of Morrisons re-election pitch. But Labor believes the government still has significant anchors weighed around its neck in the shape of the climate deal, discord in National Party ranks and state premiers lining up to demand more funding for their health and hospital systems. As one key player in opposition ranks puts it: Morrisons hoping liberation and freedom [from lockdowns] will wipe out his negatives, but I dont think he can bank on that. There are also ongoing issues like corruption and misbehaviour by ministers; there are four weeks of [federal] Parliament left and he doesnt do well there. Ryan Liddell, a former senior adviser to then opposition leader Bill Shorten and treasurer Wayne Swan, who also worked in NSW politics and is now a consultant, says the speed with which lockdowns are eased and the impact that has on the health system will be critical. Because the country hasnt experienced the pandemic in a uniform way, it makes it much harder for either side to present a unified message - look at the different experiences of Victoria and NSW versus WA, Queensland and SA, he says. The other interesting dynamic is the role of the premiers. There are lots of positives from national cabinet, but it has also reshaped the role of the PM. The premiers have a bigger platform and theyre not as prone to listen to the direction of the PM as they may have been in times past. So the challenge for Scott Morrison is to try and carve out credit for the good times when things open up, but the premiers will also try to claim that credit. Its a pretty precarious balancing act between opening up in those states, the pressure on hospitals and whether people have tolerance for easing restrictions if things really do go south when things open up. New dynamic: Dominic Perrottet with Scott Morrison and then NSW Premier Gladys Berejiklian. Credit:Wolter Peeters Dominic Perrottet taking over the premiership of NSW from Berejiklian will change the national cabinet dynamic. Just months ago Morrison and the then treasurer were at loggerheads over NSWs share of federal financial support with strong words exchanged. But when questioned this week on the Nine Networks Today show about the pairs combative history, Morrison said, we have a good, robust relationship ... So when we disagree, we disagree and the next day were straight back to it... He stands up for NSW. I look after the national interest. According to Liddell, Labor has to tag Morrison with the hard times that people have been through this year. But Morrison has the advantage of incumbency during a pandemic and Albanese has to ask people to reflect on a period the most people will want to forget, that makes them uncomfortable. Rachel Obradovic, a former adviser to Julie Bishop who also worked in Victorian politics and is now head of public affairs for the Liberal-aligned CT Group, suggests that as vaccination rates reach world-leading levels and health concerns subside, voters will turn their attention to the economic recovery, cost of living and jobs. The Coalition will seek to refocus the agenda back on its core equity of strong economic management, she says, adding that certainty for businesses about reopening and operating during COVID and for domestic and international borders to reopen and remain open is likely a position the Coalition will hold firm. The challenge for the opposition will be around demonstrating they are better equipped to manage the economy at a time the Coalition will be leading the economic recovery, Obradovic says. Work is well advanced on the mid-year economic and fiscal outlook, known as MYEFO and handed down in December, with the governments Expenditure Review Committee meeting regularly. The December budget update will provide crucial clues as to whether government will hand down one more budget before a May election, or go earlier in March or April. Morrison is likely to campaign at least in part with a message that asks voters: Who do you trust to run the economic recovery? As one minister puts it: Every election is hard, you have to find the path through and thats all about delivering for communities. We will go to the election with a strong economy, strong national security and with no new taxes. Singapore: Cast as a test case for nations trying to make the jump from a COVID-zero approach to living with the virus, Singapore remains intent on reaching a new normal. Yet it may be as long as six months before the south-east Asian city state returns to the kind of freedoms being experienced in Europe. In a national address on Saturday, Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong defended last months tightening of restrictions in response to soaring infections, saying it was needed to avoid the health system being overwhelmed. Singapore is broadening international travel with the addition of quarantine-free lanes with nine more countries. Credit:Bloomberg Singapore is further opening up international travel, announcing quarantine-free corridors to welcome vaccinated passengers from the United States, United Kingdom, Canada, South Korea and several more European countries after a successful trial with Germany and Brunei. Singapore: Indonesia hopes to see Australian travellers return to Bali by the end of the year and is ready to talk to the Morrison government about how to get them back. The holiday island and Aussie playground will finally begin welcoming back foreign tourists from select countries including China, Japan and New Zealand this week as virus numbers ease on the island and across the Indonesian archipelago. The initial intake wont include travellers from Australia because of Canberras tough border measures but in an interview with The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, Indonesian Minister of Tourism and Creative Economy Sandiaga Uno said Australia was very important to Balis reopening plans. If you guys are ready to discuss [travel to Bali] Im ready in 15 minutes. You are our No.1 tourist market and we need to make sure that you guys are comfortable before we initiate the discussions. But were ready anytime, he said. The Great Subway Tuna Debate is dead. Or at least it would seem after a US federal judge dismissed a lawsuit that had originally claimed Subways tuna sandwich was made from anything but tuna. The plaintiffs in the case, Karen Dhanowa and Nilima Amin, residents of Alameda County in the Bay Area of California, had sued the worlds largest sandwich chain alleging fraud, intentional misrepresentation, unjust enrichment and other claims under federal and state laws. The Subway tuna melt - a source of controversy. Credit:Internet A melt is a US term for a hot sandwich containing cheese and meat or vegetables which is heated until the cheese is melted. When Ian Fleming started writing his novels in the early 50s, little would he have known that his scintillating brainchild will be singularly responsible for reviving commercial cinema in the world, which has been comatose owing to a pandemic for 18 months. In the latest iteration, No Time To Die, we see Bond (an utterly charming Daniel Craig) living a tranquil life in Jamaica before his old friend Felix Leiter from the CIA turns up asking for help. The seemingly simple mission to rescue a kidnapped scientist sends Bond down a rabbithole where he encounters a villain armed with dangerous new technology. What is Project Heracles that Bond has to shut before it obliterates every human being forms the crux of the movie. Is the movie, whose release got delayed thrice, worth the wait? First things first, Craig is in full form as the dapper, intrepid spy who is entrusted with foiling the evil plans of a creepy, riveting villain (Rami Malek as Lyutsifer Safin). After spending 15 years as a Bond hero, Craig does show some weariness but also a satisfaction that this is his last movie as the world's most known fictional spy. While No Time To Die is not as highly entertaining as Casino Royale, it still stands on its feet when compared to near duds like Spectre, Skyfall. The pre-credits fight sequence in Matera where Bond fights with the baddies was the welcome I needed at the IMAX after 20 months or so. The expertly shot fight sequence in an Italian town with bikes and bullets flying all around is well worth your entry fee. Sadly, the movie goes downhill from there with only tiny, intermittent bursts of excitement to be felt during the inordinately long 161-minute duration. Cary Fukunaga's choice as a director, at least on paper, looked very exciting to me. For someone who burst onto the international film stage with a quietly monumental movie like Sin Nombre, I expected to sense some frisson in No Time To Die. However, the movie looked adroitly silly at best. The whole episode in Cuba, involving the feisty Ana de Armas, where we see the typical Bond slambang violence felt empty and oddly hip. Fukunaga was stunning and ingenious as a director in the True Detective series but we rarely get to see that talent on display in No Time To Die. Proceedings get livelier when Lea Seydoux is on screen as Bond's love interest. As Madeleine Swann, the French actress comes out of the movie with her reputation unscathed because she simply can't do any wrong. As someone with a dark childhood, Seydoux gives it all to her properly layered character. Ralph Fiennes as M and Ben Whishaw as Q do their bit to keep the illusion of a post-Brexit UK still being in the thick of geopolitical happenings. Lashana Lynch as Nomi, a new "00" agent, makes us believe that the next Bond can very well be a woman and it's high time that happened. Hans Zimmer's propulsive background score keeps the movie pulsating, especially in the stunning Norway sequence in the pre-climactic part. All said, it was a truly wonderful experience to return to the cavernous IMAX screens and let ravishing visuals take me over into another world at least for fleeting moments of sheer stupefying brilliance. What more, PVR has cut down on its number of ads during a screening, which has been a constant pet peeve of mine with regard to this particular multiplex. It took a pandemic for a multiplex to stop bludgeoning its viewers with 40 minutes of advertisements. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. 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Digital Editor Denmark's pump solutions and water tech company Grundfos has signed a memorandum of understanding with Tata Projects to cooperate and explore projects jointly in the area of environment, sustainability and water. This will be done through cooperation and joint ventures in the areas of technology, identification of market and joint business development. This MoU is aligned to the ongoing Green Strategic Partnership between Denmark and India. The company also unveiled innovative drinking water and dispensing solution in Delhi. This affordable solution consists of intelligent pumps that control a membrane treatment system and a dispenser that provides clean and safe drinking water. The deal was signed by both the in the presence of Prime Minister of Denmark, Mette Frederiksen and Danish Ambassador to India, Freddy Svane. Svane said: This MoU is a good example of how sustainable technology and collaboration can help strengthen the Green Strategic Partnership between Denmark and India. Both countries are working on a government-to-government level in the strategic sectors of energy, water and environment, urbanisation and Intellectual Property Rights. This mutually beneficial arrangement enables Denmark to deliver sustainable solutions to India that will help both countries. Stephane Simonetta, Group Executive Vice President, COO, Grundfos added, Grundfos is proud to be partnering with TATA Projects to deliver innovative and green solutions to address Indias water and environmental challenges. With TATA Projects expertise in water and waste-water management solutions in the country and our intelligent solutions, this collaboration has the potential to strengthen Indias water security and create jobs. Once again, we collaborate to pioneer solutions, improving quality of life for people. Rahul Shah, COO Urban Infrastructure, Tata Projects Ltd, said, While this solution is providing clean water to our construction staff and workers, we see a potential to scale the reach of this type of solution to communities that need decentralised drinking water solutions. will resume operations in the first quarter of 2022 and have over hundred aircraft in five years, the Kalrock-Jalan consortium said in a statement on Monday. The airline will be headquartered in Delhi and operate its first flight on the Delhi-Mumbai route, it added. The National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT), on June 22, approved the Kalrock-Jalan plan to revive the airline, which shut operations in April 2019. The consortium has hired around 150 employees and is in discussion with aircraft lessors. Process for revalidation of the airlines operating certificate is under way and the consortium is also in talks with airports for night parking facilities and slots. The consortium will, however, have to seek additional time from the NCLT for implementing the revival plan as the 90-day period stipulated in the June 22 order will end this month. Also, even as the revival plan is facing a legal challenge from employee unions and Punjab National Bank, the consortium is confident of meeting the timeline. 2.0 aims at restarting domestic operations by Q1-2022 and short haul international operations by Q3-Q4 of 2022. Our plan is to have 50 plus aircraft in three years and over 100 aircraft in five years. This also fits perfectly well with the short-and long-term business plans of the consortium. The aircraft are being selected based on a competitive long-term leasing solution, said Murari Lal Jalan, the consortiums lead member. Jalan will take up the post of non-executive chairman. will now be headquartered in Delhi-NCR with its senior management working from the corporate office in Gurugram. However, Jet Airways will continue to have a strong and significant presence in Mumbai, said acting CEO Sudhir Gaur. The airlines training centre will continue to function out of Mumbai. Pilots and cabin crew would have to undergo refresher training upon joining the airline. In the case of pilots, this includes ground classes and simulator training. The airline is in discussion with both and and is initially looking to induct around 20 aircraft, according to industry sources. The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has detained a drug peddler during a raid in Santa Cruz on Friday night. According to the NCB, the drug peddler has alleged links with Arbaaz Merchant and Aryan Khan, accused in the cruise party raid case. Further investigation is underway. Earlier, an NCB team busted an alleged party on the Cordelia Cruise ship which was on its way to Goa at mid-sea on October 2 night. A total of 18 people, including a Nigerian national, have been arrested in the case related to the seizure of following a raid at a party on a cruise ship off the coast. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The (NCB) on Saturday said all the allegations levelled against the agency in connection with the cruise ship raid and alleged recovery of drugs, in which actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan was arrested, are "baseless, motivated afterthoughts and prejudicial". NCB Director, Zone, Sameer Wankhede said the anti-drugs agency works professionally. "We do not see any political party and religion. We do our job professionally," he added. Based on a tip-off, an NCB team raided the Goa-bound cruise ship last Saturday and claimed to have recovered banned drugs. A total of 18 persons have been arrested in the case, including Aryan Khan. The incident took a political turn when Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) leader and Maharashtra minister Nawab Malik on Wednesday claimed that the raid was "fake" and that "outsiders" were involved in it. On Saturday, Malik alleged that the NCB had initially detained 11 persons from the Goa-bound cruise ship, but let off three of them, including the brother-in-law of BJP leader Mohit Bharatiya, a couple of hours later. A senior NCB official told media persons on Saturday that the two men, whom Malik had claimed as "outsiders" involved in the raid, were actually among the nine independent witnesses involved in the operation. He said the duo was not known to the NCB before October 2, when the raid was conducted. NCB Deputy Director General Gyaneshwar Singh told reporters that such statements are based on conjecture and assumptions. "These assumptions are frivolous and malicious in view of documents and records of procedures duly followed by the NCB that can subject to legal verification. The NCB reiterates that its procedure has been and will continue to be professionally and legally transparent and unbiased as all the suspect/accused persons have been treated at par and in accordance with the law," he said. When asked about allegations, Singh said he will not comment on what other people are saying about the NCB. "The NCB is a responsible organisation. Whatever we say, we say it based on the proofs and evidence. We are doing our work honestly and dedicatedly," he said. Singh said independent public witnesses are mandatorily required to be present during any seizure operations as per the set legal procedure. Malik had claimed that a man named (K P) 'Gosavi', who is seen escorting Aryan Khan in one of the videos, was not an NCB official, and his social media profile states that he is a private detective based in Kuala Lumpur. He had also said that two men were seen escorting Arbaaz Merchant, also arrested in the case, in another video, and one of them is a member of the BJP, (later identified as Manish Bhanushali). Singh said the NCB strongly adheres to the legal procedure and involves at least two independent witnesses in all its seizure operations. "As the operations are conducted on a real-time basis, so the field verification of independent witnesses is not possible as the main focus is on drug recovery," he said. Singh said a total of nine independent witnesses were involved in the whole operation (cruise ship raid) and Manish Bhanushali and K P Gosavi were among them. "None of the Independent witnesses, including the two (Bhanushhali and Gosavi) were known to the NCB before October 2," he said. Later in a statement, Singh said a total of 14 persons were brought to the NCB zonal office (in Mumbai) for examination. "All of them were served notice under section 67, examined thoroughly and their statements were recorded," Singh said. Eight persons were arrested and the remaining six persons were let off since no incriminating evidence was found against them, he stated and added that the other six "can be associated if the need arises in the investigation as per law". As panchnamas were made at the respective spots, hence the place, timing, situation and resources may differ, he added. Singh stated that these documents are a matter of court record and have been produced in the court and will be part of a charge sheet in future. "Hence all such documents are part of a transparent legal procedure open to scrutiny at appropriate fora," he added. Meanwhile, Sameer Wankhede said those are the independent witnesses. "Whatever they (who are raising allegations) want to say let them say. We will speak before the court," he said without taking any names. Wankhede said the case is sub-judice and the investigation is underway. The NCB will follow the orders of the court, he added. "The NCB is an independent and professional agency. We did not see any political party and religion and we do our job professionally," he added. On Friday, a metropolitan magistrate's court in rejected bail applications of Aryan Khan and two others, following which he was sent to the Arthur Road prison. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and will hold another round of high-level military talks on Sunday with a focus on making some forward movement in the disengagement process in the remaining friction points in eastern Ladakh, government sources said. The talks are scheduled to start at 10:30 AM at the Moldo border point on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh, the sources said on Saturday. The Indian side is expected to seek disengagement as soon as possible in the remaining friction points besides pressing for resolution of issues in Depsang Bulge and Demchok. The 12th round of talks had taken place on July 31. Days after the talks, the two armies completed the disengagement process in Gogra, which was seen as a significant forward movement towards the restoration of peace and tranquillity in the region. The 13th round of talks is taking place in the backdrop of two recent incidents of attempted transgressions by the Chinese troops -- one in the Barahoti sector of Uttarakhand and another in the Tawang sector in Arunachal Pradesh. Indian and Chinese troops were engaged in a brief face-off near Yangtse in the Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh last week and it was resolved within few hours following talks between commanders of the two sides as per established protocols, people familiar with the development said on Friday. Last month, close to 100 soldiers of China's People's Liberation Army (PLA) transgressed the LAC in the Barahoti sector. The transgression took place on August 30, and the Chinese troops returned from the area after spending few hours. Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravne on Saturday said the military build-up by in the eastern region and new infrastructure development to sustain the large-scale deployment are a matter of concern. He also said if the Chinese military maintains the deployment through the second winter, then it may lead to an LoC-like situation (Line of Control) though not an active LoC as is there on the western front with Pakistan. The Indian delegation at Sunday's talks is to be led by Lt Gen PGK Menon, the Commander of the Leh-based 14 Corps. The border standoff between the Indian and Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year following a violent clash in the Pangong lake areas and both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry. As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in the Gogra area in August. In February, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in line with an agreement on disengagement. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) For the second time in less than two weeks, heavy battered Hyderabad, inundating several residential areas, disrupting vehicular traffic and electricity supply. Dozens of colonies in and around remained inundated on Saturday following heavy overnight. At least 50 bikes were damaged when compound wall of Shiv Ganga cinema theatre collapsed in Dilsukhnagar area. No one was injured in the incident, which occurred when people were coming out of theatre after the first show. Rain water had entered the theatre and apparently weakened the compound wall. Residents spent a sleepless night as flood water entered houses in Saroornagar, Champapet, Hayatnagar, Chandrayangutta and other areas areas. Dozens of colonies in Saroornagar, Champapet, Meerpet, Hayatnagar, LB Nagar, Abdullahpurmet, Rajendranagar, Chandrayangutta and other areas were inundated. People in the affected colonies complained that the municipal authorities were not taking steps to improve the drainage system and that they have been facing the problems every year. The heavy downpour affected the vehicular traffic and disrupted electricity supply in many areas in the city and outskirts. A bus was caught in flood water at Majidpur in Abdullahpurmet mandal on the city outskirts. Roads turned into cesspools, throwing traffic out of gears. At few places, two-wheelers were washed away while cars were partially submerged. People returning from work places had a harrowing time due to waterlogging. Citizens were caught in traffic jams for 2-3 hours. A 37-year-old had a narrow escape after he was washed away along with his bike in flood waters in an open drain at Chintalakunta in LB Nagar. He was rescued by some people by throwing a rope. Movement of vehicles on Hyderabad-Bengaluru national highway was once again badly affected as water from overflowing Appacheruvu lake submerged the road at Ganganpahad. Cyberabad police diverted the traffic going to International Airport at Shamshabad via Outer Ring Road. Breakdown of a truck near the site of an underconstruction bridge on the highway also caused traffic jam. Traffic also came to a standstill under PVNR Expressway near Rajendranagar crossroads as the road was inundated due to an overflowing drain. Thousands of vehicles were caught in 2-3 km long traffic jams on either side. Chaitanyapuri to Bibi Nagar road still remained under water on Saturday. Several areas on either side of the road were without electricity since last night. Disaster Response Teams of Greater Municipal Corporation (GHMC) were battling to pump out the water from inundated colonies. GHMC has put out phone numbers -- 040-21111111, 040-29555500 of control rooms for citizens to contact for any rain-related issues and assistance. Maheshwaram on the city outskirts received maximum rainfall of 14 cm. Lingojiguda in Saroornagar recorded 13 cm rainfall followed by Kurmaguda, Saidabad (12 cm) and LB Nagar (11.2 cm). The met office has forecast more on Saturday. GHMC has alerted the citizens. "Various models predicting moderate to heavy sporadic rainfall at short notice. Citizens are requested to plan their commute accordingly. DRF teams have been alerted," said director, disaster management, GHMC. --IANS ms/skp/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The cyber cell of Police on Saturday summoned director and former Maharashtra DGP Subodh Kumar Jaiswal in a phone-tapping and data leak case, a senior official said here. Jaiswal has been asked to be present to record his statement on October 14, the police official said. The case relates to the 'leak' of a report prepared by IPS officer Rashmi Shukla about alleged corruption in police transfers in Maharashtra when she headed the state intelligence department. Jaiswal was the director general of police during this period. It was alleged that phones of senior politicians and officials were tapped illegally during the inquiry and the report was leaked deliberately, but the FIR registered in this regard by the cyber cell does not name Shukla or any other official. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The (NCB) on Saturday questioned the driver of actor Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan who was arrested in connection with a drug seizure on a cruise ship off the coast. A Magistrate court had on Thursday sent Aryan Khan and seven others to judicial custody for 14 days. The bail plea of Aryan Khan who was arrested on October 3 was denied by the court yesterday. An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship which was on its way to Goa at mid-sea on October 2. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a first major privatisation move in over 2 decades, carrier was sold to at an enterprise value of Rs 18,000 crore. The Maharaja will return to the Tatas after 68 years More on this and other top headlines of the day returns to Tatas after group puts in winning bid of Rs 18,000 cr More than three years after it failed to get even a single bid for Air India, the government on Friday announced the sale of the carrier to the salt-to-software conglomerate at an enterprise value of Rs 18,000 crore. This is the first major privatisation step in about two decades. United States Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm Mike Gilday is scheduled to travel to India next week where he will meet with Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh and other senior leaders from the Indian Navy and the government. Gilday is visiting India to reaffirm the growing level of naval cooperation between the two nations. During meetings, security challenges in Indo-Pacific region would be deliberated upon at length. "Make no mistake, India is one of our closest strategic partners, and our relationship is a stronghold of a free and open Indo-Pacific," said Gilday. "This visit is a great opportunity for me to meet with my counterpart in India and discuss areas for continued mutual cooperation. No doubt, there are many areas where we can partner and collaborate," he said. There is no better signal of the US Navy's desire to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific than operating in the region. "I am grateful for our navies' continued cooperation in the Indo-Pacific to create an inclusive, free and open rules-based order," said Gilday. "And by continuing to work closely with the Indian Navy, we will increase our interoperability for decades to come as well as maintain security, stability, and prosperity." This visit will also underscore the growing strength of the US-India Defence partnership as the two countries work in concert with like-minded partners to promote shared goals. The United States designated India as a Major Defence Partner in 2016. Michael Martin Gilday is the 32nd chief of naval operations serving since August 22, 2019. He has commanded two destroyers, served as Director of the Joint Staff, commanded the Tenth Fleet/Fleet Cyber Command, and led Carrier Strike Group 8. His visit comes in the backdrop of US Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman's statement on the importance of a "free, open, and inclusivea Indo-Pacific region. --IANS sk/jw/skp/ (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested 11 people from East Medinipur in connection with incidents of violence following the assembly elections earlier this year. The agency said it probing the matter and numerous cases have been registered. Earlier in August this year, the Calcutta High Court ordered a court-monitored probe into incidents of post-poll violence in The High Court also ordered to set up Special Investigation Teams (SIT) for investigation of relatively less serious crimes. A seven-member committee set up by the Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had earlier looked into the incidents of violence following the assembly elections in the state and recommended a court-monitored probe. Several incidents of violence were reported at various places after the announcement of the Assembly poll results on May 2, after which a four-member team deputed by the Ministry of Home Affairs also visited the violence-affected areas. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India may have to withdraw digital services tax or the and give a commitment not to introduce such measures in the future if the global minimum tax deal comes through. In a major reform of the international tax system, 136 countries, including India, have agreed to an overhaul of global tax norms to ensure that multinationals pay taxes wherever they operate and at a minimum 15 per cent rate. However, the deal requires countries to remove all digital services tax and other similar measures and to commit not to introduce such measures in the future, as per the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) implementation plan released late on Friday. "No newly enacted digital services taxes or other relevant similar measures will be imposed on any company from October 8 and until the earlier of December 31, 2023, or the coming into force of the MLC (multilateral convention)," the OECD said. The proposed two-pillar solution of the global tax deal consists of two components - Pillar One which is about reallocation of additional share of profit to the market jurisdictions and Pillar Two consisting of minimum tax and subject to tax rules. Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman had earlier this week said that India is "very close" to arriving at the specifics of the two-pillar taxation proposition at the G-20 and is in the last stage of finalising the details. The Finance Ministers of G-20 countries are scheduled to meet on October 13 in Washington and finalise it. Nangia Andersen Partner Sandeep Jhunjhunwala said the statement released by the OECD on Friday weighed against the one in July 2021 brings out some interesting observations, on which taxmen and taxpayers had their eyes laid on. "As a significant move, the OECD has sought for an immediate and upfront withdrawal of unilateral digital services tax and a commitment not to introduce such measures in the future. No newly enacted digital services taxes or other relevant similar measures would be imposed on any company from October 8 and until the earlier of December 31, 2023, or the coming into force of the multilateral convention," he said. The modality for the removal of existing digital services taxes and other relevant similar measures needs to be appropriately coordinated, Jhunjhunwala added. "Pillar Two which was initially proposed to be brought into effect from 2023 has now been deferred to 2024," he added. Deloitte India Partner Sumit Singhania said the two pillar solutions finally agreed will result in redistribution of USD 125 billion taxable profits annually, and ensure global MNEs pay minimum 15 percent tax once these measures are implemented in 2023 through a multilateral convention to be signed next year. Consensus on global minimum tax will practically make tax competition amongst nations rather unfeasible by narrowing down any such opportunities to rarest circumstances, he said. "In reaching final Two-pillar solutions, OECD Inclusive Framework has tied up several loose ends and drawn the roadmap to its implementation. The final solution offers 25 percent share in super normal profits (i.e. profits in excess of 10 per cent) sought to be reallocated to market countries," Singhania said He said the signing of MLI will also lead to consistent withdrawal of digital Services tax and any such similar taxes /levies, and will prevent any future enactment of such order. "In the end, two pillar solutions ought to be reckoned as enduring overhaul of the century old international tax regime, that's here to change the rule of the global profit allocation amongst taxing jurisdictions completely," Singhania added. Shardul Amarchand Mangaldas & Co. Partner Gouri Puri said a consensus on Pillar 1 and Pillar 2 are key to secure a more certain and stable tax regime for multinationals and governments. "While the fine print is awaited, India is balancing its interests both as an importer and an exporter of capital, goods and services. The deal will prevent a race to the bottom amongst countries," Puri added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Power Minister on Saturday held a meeting with the representatives of power distribution companies (discoms) in to discuss "power crisis" in the national capital and said that there is only one-day stock of left in the thermal power station from where gets electricity. Speaking to ANI after meeting, Jain said, "There is an acute shortage of in coal-fired power plants across the country. There is only one day's stock left in the plants from which Delhi gets electricity, there is no at all." Appealing to the Centre to transport coal to the national capital, the Delhi Power Minister said, "There is an appeal to the central government to transport coal soon using railway wagons." He further informed that all the plants are already running on only 55 per cent capacity, instead of the full 3.4 lakh megawatt (MW) capacity. "Today, only 1 lakh MW demand is left instead of 3.4 MW demand, but still, the power plants are not able to meet this demand," he said. Jain said that Delhi does have any coal plant of its own, the national capital has only small plants which produce gas. "We have a 1300 MW plant in Bawana, which runs on gas, where the gas supply was stopped yesterday. And the national capital does not have any coal plant of its own. Only three small plants are there which produce gas," he said. He stated that at present Delhi is dependent upon the Centre's plant which is provided when we demanded power supply. "After two days, there will be a complete blackout in the whole Delhi, if we do not receive more power supply from the Centre," Jain added. There is a possibility of politics as it appears to be a man-made crisis similar to the oxygen crisis. We have 3.5 times more production capacity than what we require & still, we aren't able to produce power: Delhi Power Minister Satyendar Jain ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2021 In order to resolve the power crisis in Delhi, Jain said that the government is ready to buy expensive electricity at present. "The capacity of our hydroelectric plants has also reduced from 45,000 MW to 30,000 MW. But, we want the plants to generate 45,000 MW of electricity during this peak hour. We have also made power purchase agreements with NTPC of 35,000 MW-45,000 MW. Still, we are ready to buy the expensive electricity today at the cost of Rs 20 per unit, Jain added. Further, Jain called this power crisis a 'man-made crisis'. "It seems that this power crisis is a man-made crisis, just like oxygen-crisis took place during the second wave of COVID-19 was also man-made," he said. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) and financial institutions are lagging behind international financial institutions in helping control the climate crisis, research shows. and financial institutions, including the State Bank of India (SBI), ICICI, Axis Bank, the Trust Group and HDFC, are among the largest global financial institutions funding projects. Meanwhile, several in other countries, including the Spain-based Banco Santander and the Commonwealth Bank of Australia, have promised to phase out financing of coal-powered plants and mining by 2030. Banks play an important role in financing sustainable sectors such as renewable energy and in stopping financing of fossil fuels. But in India, banks have yet to implement policies to reduce their own emissions, or ask it of the companies that they finance, according to reports and an IndiaSpend analysis. Out of the eight that were assessed, only IDFC Bank (now called the IDFC First Bank) demonstrated a policy commitment to mitigating climate change, shows a 2019 report by Fair India, a coalition of civil society organisations working towards ensuring a sustainable financial sector in India. This is the situation five years after India, along with 191 other countries, signed the Paris Agreement to limit greenhouse gas emissions and control the rise in world temperatures to 1.5-2 degrees Celsius. "Some countries, clearly, have not focused on the banking sector as something they need to deal with as they phase out fossil fuels and transition to a renewable energy economy," Alison Kirsch, lead researcher at the Rainforest Action Network, a US-based environmental organisation, and co-author of the report, 'Banking on Climate Chaos', told IndiaSpend. "Commercial banks are not ready to take action unless Central banks do not lead the way." In this story, we look at why the financial sector needs to help mitigate and what the Indian financial sector is doing. Why banks must get involved in climate action India has no plans to pull out completely from coal--the transition to clean energy will take a couple of decades. In May 2020, the government pushed for private investment in the costly, debt-ridden and highly polluting coal sector, which would mean financing from banks and financial institutions, and delay the sector prioritising the transition to renewable energy, IndiaSpend had reported in June 2020. The United Nations Environment Programme issued Principles for Responsible Banking in 2019 to guide banks to consider the environmental and social impacts of the projects they lend to. These are also meant to help banks align their visions with the Sustainable Development Goals of 2015 and the Paris Climate Agreement. Currently, 252 banks are signatories to these principles, with Yes Bank being the only one from India so far. Separately, some non-banking institutional investors have signed on to a different set of principles, the Principles for Responsible Investment, to incorporate environment, social and corporate governance (ESG) into investment practices. SBI Funds Management Private Limited, Equicap Asia Management Private Limited and Indus Environmental Services Pvt. Ltd. from India became signatories in 2019. The Reserve Bank of India's role The Bank of England and the European Central Bank have already formulated monetary policy addressing climate change, and central banks around the world are under pressure from civil society groups to take into account in formulating monetary policy. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) supervises all commercial banks, financial institutions and non-banking financial companies, and performs a wide range of functions to support national objectives, such as offering 'priority sector lending' to sectors such as renewables, agriculture and small and micro enterprises. In 2007, it issued a directive encouraging commercial banks to incorporate sustainability and corporate social responsibility into their business strategy. "RBI has guidelines, which includes the amount they can lend, for banks to infrastructure projects like housing, renewable energy projects," Anirban Chatterjee, former senior manager of Canara Bank, told IndiaSpend. For instance, the RBI included renewable energy in priority sector lending in March 2015 and increased the limits of lending in September 2020, which means that renewable energy developers can avail more loans than developers in other sectors. "But there are no guidelines limiting funding for projects," Chatterjee added. While issuing credit guidance to support renewable energy projects, the RBI has not taken any action, such as monetary policy or regulation, over tilting financial flows away from fossil fuels, as per the report titled 'How Central Banks are fueling Climate Crisis' by Oil Change International, a Washington D.C.-based research and advocacy organisation working to facilitate transition to renewable energy. We have reached out to the RBI for a response, and will update this story when we receive a response. In April 2021, the RBI also joined the Network for Greening of the Financial Systems, a group of central banks seeking to mobilise finance to support the transition to renewable energy projects and sustainable businesses. "The RBI has signalled that it is waking up to the risks that climate disruption poses to the Indian economy, that should be a precursor to stronger oversight on Indian banks," Ashish Fernandes, CEO at Climate Risk Horizon, a Bengaluru-based organisation working on the impact of the climate crisis on financial systems, told IndiaSpend. Banks should assess their vulnerability to risks and to long term disruptions because of the transition from fossil fuels to renewable energy, Fernandes explained. "But, it is important that banks should not wait for the RBI to move, given the urgency" of controlling the climate crisis. Indian banks' role in financing fossil fuels Globally, banks have started taking harsh decisions when the companies they finance do not meet sustainability standards. In 2019, Citibank cancelled $140 million (about Rs 998 crore) of funds lent to Indonesian food giant Indofood after the company violated provisions of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. Goldman Sachs has said it will not fund new Arctic drilling for oil and gas. Yet, both these banks were also among the largest investors in projects between 2016 and 2020, according to another August 2021 report, 'Banking on Climate Chaos', by Oil Change International. Until now, over 100 financial institutions have announced their divestment from coal mining and/or coal-fired power plants, according to the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis, a US-based organisation working on energy markets, trends and policies. None of these are from India. "Financing new fossil fuel infrastructure is going to be extremely risky going forward for Indian banks, both from a reputational point of view and because of the gathering pace of the transition to renewable energy and electrification of transport," Fernandes said Indian banks rank fourth globally in financing coal plants, providing $155.6 billion (about Rs 11.1 lakh crore, per 2019 rates) in loans between 2012 and 2019, according to the report, 'How Central Banks are Fueling Climate Crisis', by Oil Change International. The report used data of the 60 largest banks and 12 central banks from the Bloomberg Terminal that provides real-time data on financial markets. As of March 2020, outstanding bank credit to the non-conventional energy sector was around Rs 36,543 crore, which is 7.9% of the outstanding bank credit to the power generation sector, compared to 5.4% in March 2015, according to the January 2021 RBI bulletin. The State Bank of India (SBI), India's largest public sector bank, in which the government holds 56.92% of shares, is one of the top 12 banks in the world to finance coal plants, the report said. It has provided $21.5 billion (Rs 1.57 lakh crore) in fossil fuel finance between 2016 and 2020 and has not made any net-zero emissions commitment, according to the report. Earlier, in 2020, the SBI was in the news for bankrolling the Adani Group-owned Carmichael coal mine in Australia's Galilee Basin that threatens to increase carbon emissions, harm the fragile ecosystem of the Great Barrier Reef, and disrupt the water table. While 40 banks had ruled out the possibility of financing the project, the SBI had reportedly sanctioned $678 million (Rs 500 crore). It is unclear if the loan has been processed. "Indian banks can finance an offshore fossil or coal project as long as the bank has a positive viability report of the project and the government of the country of origin of the project approves of it, according to the RBI rules," Chatterjee told IndiaSpend. "SBI could finance the Adani project because the Queensland government had approved the Carmichael coal project." We reached out to the Chief General Manager (Credit Policy and Procedure Department) at the SBI's corporate centre. We will update the story when we receive a response. Apart from public banks, major private banks have also financed coal plants since 2015. For instance, in 2019, EXIM Bank financed a Rs 150 crore coal project. We have also reached out to EXIM bank, HDFC, ICICI, and the Trust group for their comments on what they are doing to limit fossil fuel financing and push renewable energy financing. We will update the story when we receive a response. Slow change and the path ahead Indian banks are changing, albeit slowly. The Indian Renewable Energy Development Agency (IREDA), a government-backed agency for promoting clean energy investments, announced plans to become India's first 'green bank' in May 2016, the RBI said in a bulletin in January 2021. In May 2021, the SBI and the European Investment Bank together launched a new initiative of 100 million (Rs 885 crore) to finance high-impact climate action and sustainable businesses in India. Banks need to accelerate green financing of sustainable businesses like electric vehicles, sustainable waste management etc., and should undertake structural changes to traditional lending approaches, Dinesh Khara, the SBI chairperson said at an event on October 7. SBI aims to become carbon neutral by 2030 and has taken a number of initiatives to reduce its carbon impact, by installing solar plants, tree plantations, organic farming etc., Khara added. India's seventh largest commercial bank, Federal Bank Limited, made a commitment to terminate funding of new coal, according to a new report released on October 7, 2021. Federal Bank had earlier provided $14 million (Rs. 104 crores) in loans to JSW Energy, which runs coal plants, imports coal from Indonesia and South Africa, and has shares in coal and lignite mines in India and South Africa, the report said. The bank's commitment could be in part because of the International Finance Corporation, which has invested in the Federal Bank and has said that it would end equity investments in financial institutions that do not have a plan to phase out investments in coal-related activities, the report said. Indian banks' coal financing decreased in 2019 as compared to earlier years, according to a November 2020 report by the Centre for Financial Accountability (CENFA) and Climate Trends. In 2019, banks lent Rs 1,100 crore ($190 million) to two coal-fired plants, unlike 2018 when they lent Rs 6,081 crore ($850 million) to five coal-fired projects. The report analysed 43 coal-fired and renewable energy projects that had received Rs 24,071 crore ($3.41 billion) in loans--95% to renewable energy projects and 5% to projects. Yet, "there are important segments of the renewable market that are starved of finance, such as financing for rooftop solar for the small and medium scale enterprises, community and agricultural solar etc", said Fernandes of Climate Risk Horizon. IndiaSpend had reported from Maharashtra in July 2021 on how the high cost of rooftop solar systems and the patchy implementation of its subsidy schemes are holding the sector back. "It's safe to say the Indian banking system is not serving these areas well right now, as compared to large-scale utility solar," said Fernandes. There is a real need for banks to innovate by financing projects such as roof-top solar and 'de-risk' or reduce their exposure to fossil fuel projects, Fernandes added. Twelve of India's thermal power plants--reviewed in December 2019 by the Institute of Energy Economics and Financial Analysis--owe $40-60 billion (Rs 2.9 to Rs 41.3 lakh crore) in non-performing assets or bad loans (loans that have not been repaid within the mandated time). Further, a cumulative Rs 22,917 ($3,220 million) was loaned to 41 renewable energy projects, including solar and wind projects, in 2019, according to the CENFA and Climate Trends report. But the single largest lender was L&T Finance Holdings (21%), while state-owned banks collectively provided for 24% of renewable financing. With little information about Indian banks' lending practices available in the public domain, analysts depend on disclosures such as those made under the Basel III framework, a global, voluntary regulatory framework that seeks to ensure banks have enough capital and liquidity. Considering the global climate urgency, it is important for banks to make all the information on lending available to all stakeholders, said Sreedhar Ramamurthi, managing trustee of Environics Trust, a New Delhi-based research and community development organisation. This is vital to inform the public if banks' funds are being channeled into sectors responsible for environmental damage, he said. Inc. is angling to delay making the most significant change to its App Store business model since the platform was launched in 2008, an overhaul that could cost the tech giant a few billion dollars annually. The maker gave notice Friday that will appeal a judges ruling in its fight with Epic Games Inc. ordering the Cupertino, California-based company to stop blocking developers from letting users complete in-app purchases on the web. It also asked the judge to put her Dec. 9 deadline for App Store rule changes on hold during the appeal, which if allowed could keep business as usual for for at least a year. The Sept. 10 ruling largely vindicated Apples business model that charges commissions on developers for App Store transactions, but the judge said must allow direct communication between users and app makers and permit links to the web to complete transactions. Bloomberg Intelligence has said that pressure on Apple to lower its commissions, which currently run as high as 30%, could squeeze revenue by $2 billion to $4 billion in a worst-case scenario. Apple said in its filing that it wants to maintain the status quo as theres no reason to expend resources on App Store changes during the appeals process. It also argued there could be unintended downstream consequences for consumers and the iOS platform if the judges order goes into effect Dec. 9. A postponement would give the company time to address concerns in a way that could potentially do away with the need to let developers allow consumers to make web purchases, Apple said. Apple is working hard to address these difficult issues in a changing world, enhancing information flow without compromising the consumer experience, the company said. A hearing on Apples stay request has been set for Nov. 16, but the company said in a briefing its seeking to move the proceeding to Nov. 2. If U.S. District Judge Yvonne Gonzalez Rogers refuses to grant the stay, Apple said, the company could go to the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. When the ruling came out, following a three-week trial in May, Apple hailed it as a victory because the judge didnt find that the company violated federal antitrust law. Tim Sweeney, Epics founder and chief executive officer, said in a tweet the ruling isnt a win for developers or for consumers and his company promptly filed notice that it will appeal. Epic declined to comment on Apples appeal Friday but Sweeney tweeted an image of Agent Peely, a banana action figure in Epics popular battle-royale game Fortnite who briefly became a source of controversy in the trial. Apple has announced that it plans to keep Fortnite off of the App Store until appeals are exhausted, a process that could take as long as five years if the fight goes all the way to the U.S. Supreme Court. While Gonzalez Rogers said Apple can no longer ban developers from pointing users to the web to complete transactions -- bypassing the App Stores in-app-purchase system -- the judge didnt state outright that Apple cant collect its commissions. That has led some observers to believe that Apple could still take its cut of revenue via other means, but lawyers and analysts say doing so poses logistical hurdles and risks political blowback. Why App Store Fees Are Drawing Fire Worldwide: QuickTake Paul Gallant, an analyst at Cowen & Co., has said Apple would want to put off changing App Store rules because things could get messy if developers get to do workarounds starting in December. Gallant said in a research note last month that Apple has a good chance of winning a stay at the Ninth Circuit. That would prevent developers from using non-Apple payment mechanisms (and avoiding the 30% commission) until at least late 2022, he wrote. Before the September ruling, Apple announced two App Store changes in settlements with small U.S. developers and the Japan Federal Trade Commission. Both concessions are similar to the courts injunction. Apple is letting developers directly communicate with users about alternative payment methods, and next year it will begin allowing so-called reader apps -- those that deal with media like video, photos, and news -- to point users to the web to subscribe, bypassing Apples fees. The company highlighted those changes in Fridays filing. The case is Epic Games Inc. v. Apple Inc., 20-cv-05640, U.S. District Court, Northern District of California (San Francisco). US President wants to address the delays in the processing system, the has said. The inordinate delay in the procession of hundreds and thousands of talented Indian technology professionals, at times running into several decades, is one of the major issues of concern among the Indian-Americans and their dependent children living here. "The president absolutely wants to address the delays in the processing system as well," Press Secretary Jen Psaki told reporters at her daily news conference on Friday. She was responding to a question on the waste of some 80,000 unused employment-based numbers, which is officially called Legal Permanent Residency on October 1, as the US Citizenship and Immigration Services are unable to allocate them to several millions waiting in line for green card. Indian technology professionals, for thousands of whom the wait is running into decades, had urged the Biden Administration and the US Congress to make necessary legislative changes to not let those Green Card slots expire. Earlier this week, Congresswoman Mariannette Miller-Meeks introduced the Preserving Employment Visas Act that would allow the USCIS to preserve unused employment-based visas for use in Fiscal Years 2020 and 2021. The legislation is the House companion to S. 2828, introduced by Senator Thom Tillis in September. "Ensuring that our immigration system is fair and orderly is one of my top priorities in Congress. These visas are already authorised by Congress and would have been used if not for the COVID-19 pandemic," said Miller-Meeks. "My legislation would fuel the American recovery from COVID-19, contribute to long-term economic growth, and provide relief for healthcare providers by reducing the Green Card backlog," she said. In fiscal 2020; a total of 122,000 family-preference visas went unused. This caused the number of employment-based visas available in FY21 to rise to 226,000. This dramatic increase in employment-based visas represents a unique opportunity to reduce the Green Card backlog and improve American competitiveness through legal immigration. Processing delays at USCIS could put these much-needed employment-based visas to waste. According to recent court filings, USCIS is currently at risk of wasting almost 83,000 employment-based visas, which expired on October 1 this year. This is in addition to 9,100 unused employment-based visas from FY20. Wasting these visas would be a major loss to American economic competitiveness and to the healthcare industry. American businesses and healthcare providers were already struggling to fill both skilled and unskilled jobs before COVID-19 and continue to face labour shortages during recovery from the pandemic, said the Congresswoman. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A group of 136 countries on Friday set a minimum global tax rate of 15% for big companies and sought to make it harder for them to avoid taxation in a landmark deal that U.S. President Joe Biden said levelled the playing field. The deal aims to end a four-decade-long "race to the bottom" by setting a floor for countries that have sought to attract investment and jobs by taxing multinational companies lightly, effectively allowing them to shop around for low tax rates. The 15% floor agreed to is, however, well below a corporate tax rate which averages around 23.5% in industrialised countries. Some developing countries that had wanted a higher rate said their interests had been sidelined to accommodate richer nations, while NGOs criticized the deal's many exemptions, with Oxfam saying it effectively had "no teeth." The accord also promises to be a tough sell https://www.reuters.com/world/us/after-eu-tax-win-yellen-will-try-sell-us-republicans-global-tax-deal-2021-07-14 in Washington, where a group of Republican U.S. senators sent a letter to Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen saying they had serious concerns. Negotiations have been going on for four years, with the deal finally agreed when Ireland, Estonia and Hungary dropped their opposition and signed up. The deal aims to stop large firms booking profits in low-tax countries such as Ireland regardless of where their clients are, an issue that has become ever more pressing with the growth of 'Big Tech' giants that can easily do business across borders. "Establishing, for the first time in history, a strong global minimum tax will finally even the playing field for American workers and taxpayers, along with the rest of the world," Biden said in a statement. Out of the 140 countries involved, 136 supported the deal, with Kenya, Nigeria, Pakistan and Sri Lanka abstaining for now. The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), which has been leading the talks, said that the deal would cover 90% of the global "We have taken another important step towards more tax justice," German Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said in a statement emailed to Reuters. "We now have a clear path to a fairer tax system, where large global players pay their fair share wherever they do business," his British counterpart Rishi Sunak said. But with the ink barely dry, some countries were already raising concerns about implementing the deal. The Swiss finance ministry demanded https://www.reuters.com/article/global-tax-oecd-swiss-idAFL8N2R44EZ that the interests of small economies be taken into account and said that the 2023 implementation date was impossible. In the United States, meanwhile, Republican senators said they were concerned the Biden administration was considering circumventing the need to obtain the Senate's authority to implement treaties. Under the Constitution, the Senate must ratify any treaty with a two-thirds majority, or 67 votes. Biden's fellow Democrats control only 50 seats in the 100-member chamber. And Republicans in recent years have been overwhelmingly hostile to treaties and have backed cuts in corporate taxes. The reaction to the deal from U.S. markets was muted, with investors focused instead on the latest payrolls data. Some of the Big Tech companies, often cited by critics for seeking to lower taxes through operations overseas, welcomed the accord. "We are pleased to see an emerging consensus," said Nick Clegg, Facebook Inc vice president of global affairs. "Facebook has long called for reform of the global tax rules, and we recognise this could mean paying more tax, and in different places." An Amazon.com Inc spokesperson said the company supports the "progress towards a consensus-based solution for tax harmonization, and we look forward to their continued technical work." Analysts at Morgan Stanley said that tech hardware, some media services, and healthcare appeared to be the most exposed to a 15% minimum tax rate. 'INCREASED PROSPERITY' Central to the agreement https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/what-is-global-minimum-tax-deal-what-will-it-mean-2021-10-08 is a minimum corporate tax rate of 15% and allowing governments to tax a greater share of foreign multinationals' profits. Yellen hailed it as a victory for American families as well as business. "We've turned tireless negotiations into decades of increased prosperity - for both America and the world. Today's agreement represents a once-in-a-generation accomplishment for economic diplomacy," Yellen said in a statement. The OECD said that the minimum rate would see countries collect around $150 billion in new revenues annually while taxing rights on more than $125 billion of profit would be shifted to countries where big multinationals earn their income. Ireland, Estonia and Hungary, all low tax countries, dropped their objections this week as a compromise emerged on a deduction from the minimum rate for multinationals with real physical business activities abroad. 'NO TEETH' However, many developing countries have said their interests have been ignored and that wealthy nations were likely to continue dividing up https://www.reuters.com/business/finance/big-investment-hubs-dodge-bullet-global-tax-overhaul-2021-10-08 the spoils of foreign direct investment. Argentine Minister Martin Guzman said on Thursday that the proposals forced developing countries to choose between "something bad and something worse". Campaign groups such as Oxfam said that the deal would not end tax havens. "The tax devil is in the details, including a complex web of exemptions," Oxfam tax policy lead Susana Ruiz said in a statement. "At the last minute a colossal 10-year grace period was slapped onto the global corporate tax of 15%, and additional loopholes leave it with practically no teeth," Ruiz added. Companies with real assets and payrolls in a country can ensure some of their income avoids the new minimum tax rate. The level of the exemption tapers over a 10-year period. The OECD said that the deal would next go to the Group of 20 economic powers to formally endorse at a finance ministers' meeting in Washington on Oct. 13 and then on to a G20 leaders summit at the end of the month in Rome for final approval. Countries that back the deal are supposed to bring it onto their law books next year so that it can take effect from 2023, which many officials have said is extremely tight. French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire said Paris would use its European Union presidency during the first half of 2022 to translate the agreement into law across the 27-nation bloc. (Reporting by Leigh Thomas; Additional reporting by Christian Kraemer in Berlin, Elizabeth Piper and Mark John in London and David Lawder and Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Megan Davies in New York and Chavi Mehta in Bangalore; Editing by Alexander Smith and Rosalba O'Brien) (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Monetary Fund (IMF) will request additional details of the ongoing probe into the activities of the organization's Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva when she was the World Bank's CEO. "The Executive Board remains committed to a thorough, objective, and timely review. While the Board has made significant progress in its assessment, it agreed at today's meeting to request more clarifying details with a view to very soon concluding its consideration of the matter," the said on Friday, as quoted by Sputnik news agency. The started a probe against allegations that its staff had altered an index that measures the ease of doing business. Following the initial investigation, it was found that bank officials pushed the team developing the index to manipulate it in several cases, most notably to improve China's ranking. Last month, Georgieva said that the authors of the report made "wrong conclusions" and emphasized that she had not engaged in any corruption at her former workplace. Earlier, the decided to discontinue publication of its Doing Business report following allegations of irregularities. The decision was taken after a probe of data irregularities due to pressure by some top bank officials to boost China's ranking in 2017 came forth. The Doing Business report assesses regulatory environments, ease of business startups, infrastructure and other business climate measures. Georgieva, a key adviser reportedly pressured staff to 'make specific changes to China's data points' and boost its ranking at a time when the Bank was seeking China's support for a big capital increase. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Some European governments on Friday backed to remain Monetary Fund managing director as the IMF board debated her alleged role in a World Bank data-rigging scandal, people familiar the matter said. A French finance ministry source told Reuters that France planned to voice support for Georgieva at the board meeting. Britain, Germany and Italy were also expected to back Georgieva, another source briefed on the matter said. Officials at the French, British and German embassies in Washington had no immediate comment. The Italian embassy did not immediately respond to request for comment. But hopes for the board to reach consensus quickly on her future at the global crisis lender appeared to be fading amid uncertainty over the U.S. position. An IMF executive board meeting continued for hours behind closed doors. Some officials wanted more time to review documents and discrepancies between accounts by Georgieva and the WilmerHale law firm, people familiar with the effort said. WilmerHale's investigation report prepared for the World Bank board alleged that when Georgieva was World Bank chief executive in 2017, she applied "undue pressure" on bank staff to make data changes to the flagship "Doing Business" report to boost China's business-climate ranking. The IMF board was reviewing the claims and this week conducted lengthy interviews of both Georgieva and lawyers from WilmerHale. Georgieva has strongly denied the allegations. Her lawyer claims that the WilmerHale probe violated World Bank staff rules in part by denying her an opportunity to respond to the accusations, an assertion that WilmerHale disputes. VOICING SUPPORT Georgieva also has received a statement of support from African finance ministers. But the U.S. Treasury, an important IMF power, declined to comment on Friday. Treasury spokesperson Alexandra LaManna said earlier this week that the department has "pushed for a thorough and fair accounting of all the facts" in the ongoing review. "Our primary responsibility is to uphold the integrity of financial institutions," she said. The IMF chief has traditionally been chosen by European governments, with the U.S. administration nominating the World Bank's president. France in 2019 backed Georgieva, a Bulgarian economist who has served in senior European Commission posts, as a compromise candidate to break a deadlock over the successor to Christine Lagarde, now European Central Bank president. ANNUAL MEETING CLOUDS The IMF board deliberations occurred as the Fund prepares for its biggest policy event next week, the IMF and World Bank annual meetings in Washington. The issue is expected to dominate the meetings. Current and former staff from both institutions said that no matter who is to blame for the altered data, the scandal has dented their research reputations, raising critical questions over whether that work is subject to member country influence. Anne Krueger, a former World Bank chief economist and IMF first deputy managing director, on Thursday argued in a blog post that Georgieva must step down to restore the Fund's credibility. "Should Georgieva remain in her position, she and her staff will surely be pressured to alter other countries' data and rankings," Krueger wrote. "And even if they resist, the reports they produce will be suspect. The entire institution's work will be devalued." (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India and the US have discussed their flourishing defence partnership and opportunities for enhanced cooperation with like-minded partners to sustain a free and open as officials from the two countries held a meeting to lay the groundwork for the key 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue later this year, the Pentagon has said. The meeting was co-chaired by Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and US Under Secretary of Defence for Policy Colin Kahl on Friday. The Pentagon said that the 16th US-India Defence Policy Group meeting laid the groundwork for an important 2+2 Ministerial Dialogue later this year, as the US and India opened a new chapter in the Major Defence Partnership. "The Dialogue advanced an ambitious set of bilateral priorities -- including information-sharing, high-end maritime cooperation, logistics and defence trade -- reflective of the flourishing defense ties between the United States and India," said Defense Department Spokesman Lieutenant Colonel Anton T Semelroth. US and Indian officials exchanged views on regional issues of shared interest, including in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region, he said. They also discussed opportunities for enhanced cooperation with like-minded partners to sustain a free and open Indo-Pacific, the official said. "The leaders reinforced their commitment to deepening joint cooperation and interoperability between the US and Indian militaries to work more seamlessly together, including strengthening cooperation in new defence domains, such as space and cyber," Semelroth added. The 2+2 dialogue between India and the US would be held in November this year, Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla had said last month. The last meeting of the 2+2 was held in New Delhi and the next meeting is to be hosted by the US. The dialogue takes place between foreign and defence ministers of both sides. On September 24, US President Joe Biden hosted the first-ever in-person summit of Quad leaders that vowed to strive for an region that is free, open, inclusive, anchored by democratic values and unconstrained by coercion, sending an apparent message to China. China claims sovereignty over all of the South China Sea. Vietnam, Malaysia, the Philippines, Brunei and Taiwan have counter claims. China is engaged in hotly contested territorial disputes in both the South China Sea and the East China Sea. Beijing has built up and militarised many of the islands and reefs it controls in the region. Both areas are stated to be rich in minerals, oil and other natural resources and are also vital to global trade. At President Biden' invitation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his counterparts Scott Morrison from Australia and Yoshihide Suga from Japan attended the first in-person Quad summit during which they announced a slew of new initiatives to take on common challenges, amidst muscle flexing by an assertive China in the strategic region. In 2016, the United States designated India as a Major Defence Partner. Commensurate with this designation, in 2018, India was elevated to Strategic Trade Authorisation tier 1 status, which allows India to receive license-free access to a wide range of military and dual-use technologies regulated by the Department of Commerce. US-India defense trade cooperation continues to expand with the Logistics Exchange Memorandum of Agreement, Communications, Compatibility and Security Agreement and the Industrial Security Agreement now in place. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tata Sons subsidiary Talace emerged as the winning bidder for the debt-laden national carrier after quoting an enterprise value of Rs 18,000 crore. The Cabinet Committee on Economic Affairs (CCEA) - empowered Air India Specific Alternative Mechanism (AISAM) approved the highest price bid of Talace Pvt Ltd, a wholly owned subsidiary of Tata Sons for sale of 100% equity shareholding of Government of India in Air India. The winning bid is for Rs 18,000 crore as enterprise value of the air carrier. Consequent to the acquisition, the Tatas will own a 100% stake in Air India (a full-service airline operating in domestic and international markets) as also 100% in its subsidiary Air India Express (AIXL) (a low-cost carrier airline that focusses on short-haul international operations especially in the Middle East market) and 50% in the joint venture Air India SATS (airport services on ground and cargo handling). The total permanent and contractual employee strength of Air India and AIXL is 13,500. The transaction does not include non-core assets including land and building, valued at Rs 14,718 crore, which are to be transferred to GoI's Air India Asset Holding (AIAHL). Commenting on the development, N. Chandrasekaran, chairman, Tata Sons said, "At the Tata group, we are delighted to be declared as the winner of the bid for AIR INDIA. This is a historic moment, and it will be a rare privilege for our group to own and operate the country's flag bearer airline. It will be our endeavour to build a world-class airline that makes every Indian proud. On this occasion, I would like to pay tribute to JRD Tata, pioneer of Indian aviation, whose memory we cherish." The Tatas will get ownership of iconic brands like Air India, Indian Airlines & the Maharajah. Air India has a fleet of 117 wide-body and narrow-body aircraft and AIXL has a fleet of 24 narrow-body aircraft. A significant number of these aircraft are owned by Air India. The entire disinvestment process was carried out in a transparent manner. The next step will be to issue the Letter of Intent (LoI) and then sign the share purchase agreement following which, the conditions precedent would need to be satisfied by the successful bidder, the company and government. The transaction is expected to complete by December 2021, India's Ministry of Finance said in a statement. More than 2/3rd of Air India's consolidated revenues come from the international market. It has a strong footprint across geographies like North America, Europe, and the Middle East with attractive slots & bilateral rights. The Air India frequent flyer program has more than 3 million members. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Route Mobile (UK), a wholly owned subsidiary of Route Mobile, has signed definitive agreements to acquire Latin America-based Masivian. The company will acquire 100% equity stake in Masivian for a total purchase consideration of $47,500,000, along with an earn-out consideration of upto $2,500,000. The acquisition is expected to be completed within the next 60 days. Masivian is a cloud communications platform service provider, with strong presence in Colombia and Peru. Masiv offers multichannel notification services through SMS, OTT business messaging, email, as well as voice. Masiv platform orchestrate and automate A2P messaging and multichannel conversations for marketing and operations. The acquisition is aligned to Route Mobile's global growth strategy to be a recognized global CPaaS (communications platform as a service) player and to solidify its presence in Latin America. The acquisition will help expand the company's business in new markets - particularly Colombia and Peru, and further expand across the Latin American market over the near term. The acquisition will also unlock cross-sell opportunities for the company to offer its comprehensive suite of CPaaS solutions (email, RCS, OTT business messaging, etc.) to the Masivian's existing client base. "Masiv presents a sizable opportunity that can be tapped from local enterprises as well as with global OTT's, leveraging its added geographical strengths like direct connectivity, cost efficiencies and local presence in the Andean region," Route Mobile said in a statement. Masiv, primarily based in Colombia and Peru, also presents an excellent near-shore talent pool and operational hub for supporting customers in the Americas, it added. In the year ended 31 December 2020, Masivian reported revenue of $11.53 million and profit after tax of $1.59 million. Route Mobile's consolidated net profit jumped 27.4% to Rs 34.32 crore on 21.9% increase in net sales to Rs 377.52 crore in Q1 June 2021 over Q1 June 2020. Route Mobile is a cloud communications platform service provider, catering to enterprises, over-the-top (OTT) players, and mobile network operators (MNO). RML's portfolio comprises solutions in messaging, voice, email, SMS filtering, analytics, and monetization. The company is headquartered in Mumbai, India with a global presence in the Asia Pacific, Middle East, Africa, Europe, and North America. Shares of Route Mobile jumped 3.04% to settle at Rs 2114.70 on Friday. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An international consortium of journalists has unearthed the Pandora list of secret stashes in tax havens. In this context,in his weekly column notes that the overall money stashed away in tax havens is estimated at between $5.6 trillion and $32 trillion, numbers to make your eyes pop. An International Monetary Fund paper some years ago quoted estimates of lost tax revenue at $500-700 billion. That is big, but less than 1 per cent of global GDP. Read here... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. 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Digital Editor A young lady in her early thirties appeared for a virtual job interview for the India position of senior data scientist in one of the largest technology firms in the world. The interviewers were impressed with her educational background and experience and offered her a salary they thought she just cant refuse. All was well until one of the interviewers asked whether she had any questions. There was no question, but the lady said she wanted to continue working from home (WFH). That stumped the HR director as the company was planning to ask all employees to report to the office in ... Ahead of the 2022 Assembly polls, Samajwadi Party president will embark on a 'Samajwadi Vijay Yatra' from October 12. Earlier, Yadav had expressed confidence about winning the next year's elections in and said that the people of were disappointed with the BJP government in the state. "We are again getting an opportunity to hold rath yatra and this time, it is a 'Vijay Yatra' of Samajwadi Party. The people of are disappointed with the BJP government," Yadav had told ANI. He also said the party will field popular faces in the upcoming elections. "We will field popular faces in the upcoming Assembly elections. We are working on it and will announce the names of the candidates as soon as the election dates are out," he had said. Yadav also said that his party is optimistic about getting 400 seats and securing a landslide victory. "The way BJP is running the government in the state and at the Centre, it is not for the people and they are unhappy with the party. As a result, the Samajwadi party is very optimistic about 400 seats in the upcoming elections," he added. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Haryana Chief Minister met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Saturday, here in the national capital to discuss the issue of reopening of Singhu and Tekri border. CM Khattar also briefed the Home Minister on the farmers' protest going on in various parts of the state. "I met with Ji today, we briefed him on the issue of opening of Singhu & Tikri borders. I have also told him about farmers' protests being held at several locations in the state. I am hopeful that borders will be opened soon," said CM Khattar. Khattar also said a delegation of people from different villages met him and demanded that the road to Singhu border should be opened. "A delegation of people from the villages around the Singhu border of Sonipat dist came to meet me and demanded the road to the Singhu border be opened. SC has also taken cognizance of it and we're hopeful that the problem will be solved soon," said Khattar. "We have appealed those people (farmers) should conduct the agitation peacefully, the Home Minister has said that this appeal should be kept that they should protest peacefully, we have no objection," Khattar added. Earlier in September, the Haryana government formed a special committee to talk with the farmers, who are protesting against the three farm laws, for removing the blockade at National Highway-44 at the Singhu border. The Supreme Court on September 6 refused to hear a plea filed by residents of Sonipat in Haryana, facing difficulties due to the Singhu border being blocked by farmers and asked them to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court for relief. "There is no need for us to intervene when High Courts are well versed with the local conditions and what is happening. We should trust High Court," said Justice DY Chandrachud. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress' supreme body Working Committee (CWC) will hold a meeting on October 16 in New Delhi to discuss the current political situation, forthcoming Assembly polls, and organisational elections. The meeting will be held in person at the party headquarters at 24, Akbar Road. It will be attended by CWC members, permanent invitees and special invitees of CWC. The meeting is crucial because organisational polls will be discussed in the meeting, which is a long pending demand of the Group of 23 (G-23) leaders of the party. The G-23 leaders have demanded elections for CWC members, Central Election Committee (CEC) members, and Parliamentary Board Elections. Ghulam Nabi Azad had recently written a letter to interim president Sonia Gandhi for holding an urgent meeting of the CWC. Meanwhile, MP Kapil Sibal in a press conference had said, "We don't have a permanent president in the party. We don't know who is taking decisions in the party." His remarks sparked controversy and party workers protested outside his residence. It seemed it was G-23 leaders versus team Rahul Gandhi. All India Congress Committee (AICC) General Secretary Ajay Maken told ANI that Sibal should not be degrading the organisation that gave him an identity. "Sonia Gandhi had ensured that Kapil Sibal becomes a minister in Union Cabinet despite not having organisational background. Everyone in the party is being heard," he said. In the last CWC meet, it was decided that internal polls would be postponed in wake of the second wave of COVID-19 infections in the country but no timeline was given. So the question now is whether the ambiguity over the organisational polls ends after the meet? A senior functionary of the party said that as the assembly polls in five important states are due in a few months, it is likely that internal polls will be postponed till then but the final decision will be taken with the consensus of all CWC members. It remains an unanswered question whether prior to that Rahul Gandhi will take over the post of party president or will contest for party president post. But the Youth Congress, Students' Union of India (NSUI), Mahila Congress and Social Media's Executives have passed a resolution to make him party president. On the question of whether Rahul should be the president, the G-23 leaders just said that the party should have a full-time president. Sonia Gandhi was made interim president by CWC after Rahul Gandhi stepped down as the president of AICC accepting the responsibility of poll debacle in the 2019 general elections. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu ended his hunger strike on Saturday after the son of MoS Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni, Ashish Mishra, appeared before the crime branch in Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Sidhu on Friday had started a hunger strike in Lakhimpur at the house of journalist Raman Kashyap, who died in the violence on October 3. Sidhu was demanding the arrest of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish Mishra. As many as eight people died in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident on October 3, said police. The Police on Monday filed an FIR for murder against Ashish Mishra. Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of several farmer unions, alleged that Ashish Mishra Teni, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni arrived with three vehicles around the time that farmers were dispersing from their protest at the helipad and mowed down farmers and towards the end also attacked SKM leader Tajinder Singh Virk directly, by trying to run a vehicle over him. However, Ashish Mishra refuted SKM's allegations and said he was not present at the spot where the incident took place. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister should for once express grief in over the death of around 750 farmers during the months-long anti-farm law protests on Delhi's borders, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said on Saturday. He slammed the BJP-led Centre over the minimum support price (MSP) issue, and alleged that the government's assurance that the system would continue is "only on paper" and the farmers want it in reality. Participating in a discussion titled 'Seeds of Wrath: Fears and Facts: How to address the farm crisis' at the India Today Conclave 2021, BJP MP Rajendra Agarwal countered Tikait alleging the protest against the three Central agri laws appeared to be politically motivated. At the conclave, Tikait said, "Farmers are protesting to get an appropriate procurement price for their crops. The government claims the MSP has been there, is there and shall remain in place but the farmers want that in reality and not just on papers." "The protest by farmers has its entered 11th month. The government and the prime minister should for once speak in about the 750 farmers who have lost their lives during the protest," he said. The PM should express grief at the loss of the lives of farmers, said Tikait, who has been leading hundreds of BKU members and protestors at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border since November 2020. However, Agarwal said Prime Minister Modi always speaks about the farmers and has spoken about them in "The protest has entered its 11th month but there has been confusion about it all the time. There could be misunderstandings about the laws, but those have been debated on various platforms. The issue even reached the Supreme Court," the Lok Sabha MP from Meerut said. "I want to know just one point in the laws that they have an objection to. It (the protest) therefore appears to me not motivated by the interest of farmers but political agenda or political ambitions. The protest can be linked to some political parties," Agarwal said. All discussions about the laws have taken place and the government is sensitive towards the farming community with a proven track record since 2014, he added. To a question that MSP has not been a legal guarantee during previous governments, Tikait replied that is why those parties are not in power now. "In 2011, a financial committee was set up with Narendra Modi, then chief minister of Gujarat, as chairman. It had recommended to the Centre that a law should be enacted guaranteeing MSP," the BKU leader claimed. "Today, Modi is betraying the country over something he had recommended," he alleged. Agarwal, the BJP leader from western UP, referred to Rakesh Tikait's father Mahendra Tikait, to highlight the woes of farmers and claimed the new laws have liberated them from mandis, allowing them to sell their crops anywhere. Tikait, however, insisted if Agarwal could define "anywhere". Hundreds of farmers are encamped at Delhi's borders points of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur since November 2020 with a demand that the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 be rolled back and a new law made to MSP for crops. The protests are led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers unions. The Centre, which has held 11 rounds of formal dialogues with the farmers, has maintained that the new laws are pro-farmer. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Ahead of Assembly elections in scheduled to be held next year, Union Home Minister will visit the state for two days, that is, October 16 and 17 to meet Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers for the discussion of upcoming polls, said sources on Saturday. "Home minister will visit Uttrakhand for two days, that is, October 16 and 17 and meet party workers for the discussion of upcoming state assembly elections," sources from BJP said. According to sources, the party has also prepared a 20 points programme which includes 15 days door to door campaign, addressing communities, scholars, people benefitted by government schemes, new voters etc. This programme will be completed by November end of this year. "We will discuss these programs with the Home Minister when he will visit the state and responsibilities will be given to leaders accordingly," sources further added. BJP will also distribute 100 campaign kits including 50 flags, 100 BJP scarfs, pamphlets of works done by the government from every poll booth in the state. Earlier, Prime Minister Narendra Modi also visited Uttrakhand on October 7 and inaugurated the Oxygen plant at AIIMS, Rishikesh. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Farmer leaders on Saturday demanded that Union Minister Ajay Mishra and his son be arrested in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, and said the incident was a pre-planned conspiracy. Ajay Mishra should also be removed from the government as he started this conspiracy and is also protecting the culprits in the case, Sanyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Yogendra Yadav alleged during a press conference here. He also said that the SKM on October 15, which is Dusshera, will burn the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to protest against the violence. In the incident on Sunday in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri, eight people were killed, including four farmers. The incident was part of a pre-planned conspiracy and the attackers tried to terrorise farmers, farmer leader Darshan Pal said at the press conference of the SKM, an umbrella body of farm unions, spearheading the stir against three agri laws. He also claimed that the government has adopted a violent approach against protesting farmers. But we won't take the path of violence, Ugrahan asserted. Four of the eight people who died in the violence on Sunday were farmers, allegedly knocked down by a vehicle carrying workers. Angry farmers then allegedly lynched some people in the vehicles. The other dead included two workers and their driver. Farmers claimed that Ashish Mishra was in one of the vehicles, an allegation denied by him and his father who say they can produce evidence to prove he was at an event at that time. We demand Union Minister Ajay Mishra and his son Ashish be arrested, Ugrahan said. The SKM also said that on October 18 it will call 'rail roko' to protest the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) It is a little-known fact that humans have not one but two immune systems. The first, the biophysical immune system the one weve all heard much about responds to infections as they enter the body, detecting and eliminating intruders such as the The second is the behavioural immune system, which adapts our behaviour to preemptively avoid potentially infectious people, places and things. The behavioural immune system is the first line of defence against infectious disease. It prompts people to socially conform with known traditions and to avoid foreign, dissimilar and potentially infectious groups. In a recently published study, my colleagues and I at the University of Cambridge examined the impact of the behavioural immune system on our attitudes towards obedience and authority. We found that high rates of infectious diseases and the disease-avoidance they promote may fundamentally shape political opinions and social institutions. Infection drives authoritarianism We collected data from over 250,000 people across 47 countries and looked at the relationship between the (pre-COVID) infection risk where they lived and their authoritarian attitudes the degree to which they endorsed conformity and obedience to authority. We were curious as to whether high risk of infection would activate the behavioural immune system in ways that promoted authoritarian beliefs. We made sure to measure authoritarianism in a politically neutral way, to avoid our results reflecting peoples religious beliefs or commitments to certain political parties. We found a clear relationship between peoples authoritarian attitudes and their regions levels of infectious diseases: areas with a higher prevalence of infectious diseases had more authoritarian citizens. Additionally, areas with high infection rates tended to vote conservatively and were governed by more authoritarian laws laws that are imposed on some members of society but not all. Examples of authoritarian laws include legal restrictions surrounding LGBT civil liberties or extreme criminal punishment. Infection rates were specifically related to these vertical hierarchical laws, and not to horizontal laws that affect all citizens equally suggesting rates of infectious disease uniquely affect peoples preferences for hierarchical power structures. Strikingly, the pattern of results was consistent when comparing the 47 countries as well as US states and US metropolitan regions and cities. These effects persisted even after accounting for regional demographic variables such as educational attainment, wealth and inequalities, suggesting direct and significant relationships between infectious diseases and authoritarian beliefs and behaviours. We further discovered that the relationship between infection rates and authoritarianism was specific to infections that can be acquired from other humans, such as measles or cholera. The effect was absent for infectious diseases that can only be acquired from nonhuman species, such as rabies or Lyme disease. These results support the idea that there is a social and behavioural mechanism connecting infection risk and authoritarianism. A high prevalence of human-to-human infections appears to lead to conformist and obedient social arrangements that potentially reduce the risk of people being infected by those who do not conform or resemble the majority. Social diseases like COVID-19 may therefore sculpt social ideologies and institutions. How to overcome COVIDs influence In the COVID-19 era, we have all been living with overactivated behavioural immune systems. We have changed how we socialise and relate to other people; who we allow to enter our countries; and how we calculate the balance between personal freedom and collective safety. What does this mean for our political futures? Will the fear of COVID-19 push us towards living in more authoritarian societies? How do we restore a psychological balance and a preference for political anti-authoritarianism without endangering ourselves and others? The first inevitable step is to decrease real infection risks. Without a reduction in real health risks through effective vaccination programmes and health policies, our all-too-human bodies will naturally tend towards defensiveness, conformity and an aversion to threat. Indeed, COVID-19 has brought about a global wave of authoritarian policies that have justified the tightening of national borders and limitations of everyday rights. In our study, we found that even historical infection rates from decades earlier predict what citizens believe, who they vote for and how they are governed today. Pandemics may have long-lasting and profound ramifications for politics. However, while our instincts to avoid infection are inbuilt the behavioural immune system has been documented in species as varied as mice, frogs and chimpanzees humans are endowed with magnificent mental capacities to overcome biases and flexibly adapt to change. If it is our highly evolved imagination that facilitates the behavioural immune system, then it is also our rich and compassionate imagination that can pull us out of its toxic side-effects. Safe contact with those who we are instructed to avoid even imaginary, intellectual or virtual contact, through film or literature or or friends is a powerful antidote to the xenophobia that can emerge when we fear infection. These forms of nonphysical touch can remind us of all we have in common and all we can lose if we shun contact and care. Perhaps the way forward lies in adopting anti-authoritarian stances that champion openness, inclusion and scientific reasoning rather than mythical, ideological or conspiratorial thinking. Overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic and the contagious divisions within our politics may thus be intertwined tasks. The health of society the collective body politic requires the health and resilience of our bodies and minds. Immunity is fundamentally political. Leor Zmigrod, Research Fellow in the Psychology of Ideologies, University of Cambridge This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra was quizzed here on Saturday by an SIT of police in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence on October 3, a day after the Supreme Court expressed dissatisfaction over the state government's action in the case. Ashish Mishra appeared before the special investigation team (SIT) at around 11 AM after a second summons was served to him the previous day when he did not turn up for interrogation. The questioning by the SIT team headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police (Headquarters) Upendra Agarwal in the crime branch at the Police Lines was continuing even after 5 PM, sources said. Meanwhile, additional security personnel were deployed at the site in the evening. Ashish Mishra was named in an FIR following allegations that he was in one of the vehicles that mowed down four farmers protesting over UP Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya's visit last Sunday. Ashish Mishra and his father had denied the allegation, saying they can produce evidence to prove he was at an event at that time. Two BJP workers and their driver were then allegedly lynched by angry farmers. Local journalist Raman Kashyap also died in the incident, which has triggered a political storm and put the BJP government on the back foot in poll-bound The Supreme Court had Friday questioned the non-arrest of the accused, directed preservation of evidence and mulled transferring the probe to another agency. Without mincing words, a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana had said, the law must take its course against all accused and the government has to take all remedial steps in this regard to inspire confidence in the investigation of brutal murder of eight persons. Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu ended his "silent protest", which he started at 6.15 PM on Friday outside the home of Kashyap in Nighasan tehsil, after the minister's son turned up for questioning. "This is the victory of truth. A person may be a king, but no one is bigger than justice. If there is justice, there is 'shaasan' (governance), and if there is no justice, there is 'kushaasan' (misgovernance). This is the victory of the families of farmers. The family of Lovpreet Singh and the family of Raman Kashyap," he said. Lovepreet Singh of Palia village of Lakhimpur was among those who died in the violence. Opposition and farmer leaders continued to step up pressure on the ruling BJP, demanding the sacking of Ajay Mishra from the Union Council of Ministers and the arrest of the minister and his son. Ajay Mishra should be dismissed from the cabinet and arrested on charges of spreading disharmony, murder and conspiracy. He is also protecting the culprits in the case, Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Yogendra Yadav alleged during a press conference in Delhi. SKM is spearheading the agitation against the Centre's three farm laws. His son Ashish Mishra and his associates, who have been accused of murder, should be arrested immediately, he said. Attacking the Government over the handling of the probe in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, Samajwadi Party chief Akhilesh Yadav alleged it was giving "bouquet" to culprits instead of bringing them to book. "The way farmers were crushed, now preparations are on to crush the laws. This government has pulverised the Constitution. "You have seen how a vehicle ran over farmers who were fighting for their rights. The guilty persons are yet to be caught. Instead of giving summons, a flower bouquet is being given. The summon is only in name, and (in reality) 'samman' (honour) is given," he told reporters in Lucknow. SKM leader Yogendra Yadav said an antim ardas (prayer meeting) will be held on October 12 at Tikonia, Lakhimpur Kheri to pay tribute to the four farmers and the journalist killed in the incident. All farmer organisations should organise prayer meetings at their places on October 12, he said and appealed to citizens to light candles outside their house on that evening. "If the government does not accept our demands by October 11, we will take out a 'Shaheed Kisan Yatra' from Lakhimpur Kheri with the 'asthi' of slain farmers," he said. The SKM also gave a call for a rail roko across the country from 10 am to 4 pm on October 18 and a mahapanchayat in Lucknow on October 26. Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait said that he doesn't consider those who killed BJP workers in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri as culprits as they only reacted to SUV running over protesters. "The killing of two BJP workers in Lakhimpur Kheri after a convoy of cars mowed down four farmers is a reaction to an action. I do not consider those involved in the killings as culprits," Tikait said in reply to a question. Yadav said that on Dusshera on October 15, the SKM will burn the effigies of the prime minister and the home minister to protest against the violence. Members of the Indian Youth Congress (IYC) staged a protest in the capital. The protesters, led by IYC president Srinivas BV, assembled at Sunehri Bagh Road to march towards Union Home Minister Amit Shah's residence on Krishna Menon Marg, but were stopped by the police, which erected barricades at the protest venue. A nine-member team headed by DIG Agarwal has been formed to investigate the FIR lodged against the minister's son and others in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. After two men were arrested on Thursday in the case, police had put up a notice outside Ashish Mishra's house asking him to appear before it in connection with the violence that claimed eight lives. (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bangalore (Karnataka) [India], October 9 (ANI/NewsVoir): Cycle Pure Agarbathi, from the agarbathi to aerospace conglomerate NR Group, has launched a social media challenge called #KumkumBindiChallenge, in which the brand invites women to participate via its Instagram handle, (https://www.instagram.com/p/CUrmAOkoyo9/?utm_medium=copy_link). On the occasion of Navaratri, the brand announced this fun initiative with its newly launched Om Shanthi Gold Class Pure Kumkum, India's first certified 'safe on skin' Kumkum. It's made with pure turmeric and only BIS-approved colours, so it's gentle on the skin and perfect for rituals. Kumkum has long been revered in our culture for its social and spiritual significance. The campaign invites women from all over the world to participate in order to revive the tradition of wearing a kumkum bindi. The #KumkumBindiChallenge encourages women to make Kumkum Bindi fashionable while reaping its benefits. To participate in the challenge, participants must post photos of themselves wearing the OS Gold Class Pure Kumkum with the provided hashtags and tag five women on Facebook and Instagram. The challenge started from October 7 and will continue till 15, 2021. For this campaign, the brand has enlisted the help of renowned Bharatanatyam dancer, actor, and choreographer Rukmini Vijayakumar. Commenting on this special product, Arjun Ranga, Managing Director, Cycle Pure Agarbathi, said, "Our culture and traditions have long recognised the significance of Kumkum for women and in our puja rituals. Om Shanthi Gold Class Pure Kumkum is our country's first 'safe on skin' traditional Kumkum that has been prepared to the highest purity and safety standards. It is ideal for an auspicious start to any puja and for daily use by women." Licensed under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, OS Gold Class Pure Kumkum is available in the market as well as on . The Mysuru-based NRRS was founded by N Ranga Rao in 1948. A true visionary and philanthropist, Shri Ranga Rao created the ubiquitous Cycle Pure Agarbathi which has, today, become the largest selling incense stick brand in the world. From a home-grown enterprise, NR Group has evolved into a successfully run business conglomerate with an established presence in India and abroad. The Group has diversified into various business categories like functional air care products (Lia brand of room fresheners and car fresheners), wellness home fragrance products (IRIS) under Ripple Fragrances, floral extracts (NESSO), and Rangsons Technologies. Today, it is truly an Agarbathi to Aerospace conglomerate as it is also involved in making parts for defence helicopters. The organization has largely committed towards social responsibilities and fulfills them, through its charity arm 'NR Foundation'. NR Group today is managed by the third generation of the Ranga family. For more information on NR Group, please visit (https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.nrgroup.co.in/ & source=gmail & ust=1633854067782000 & usg=AFQjCNHEzPSBH6RtpaKDUzEEMpOiMY6ebw). This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) New Delhi [India], October 9 (ANI/NewsVoir): With India celebrating 75 years of Independence, the Government of India has launched "Azadi ka Amrit Mahotsav" for various outreach activities on financial services, with focal theme of 'Janta Se Jodna'. In line with the above Government's initiative, Punjab National Bank, as the country's second largest Public Sector Bank, has launched a "6S Campaign" encapsulating different schemes such as - Swabhiman, Samruddhi, Sampark and Shikhar, Sankalp and Swagat. The objective is to drive special awareness campaign for development of financial services in the country and to accelerate credit growth, improve penetration of social security schemes and drive digital banking push. Through Swabhimaan, the Bank aims to aggressively push the financial inclusion agenda by deepening penetration of the three Jan Suraksha or Social Security Schemes pertaining to the insurance and pension sector namely, Pradhan Mantri Suraksha Bima Yojana, Pradhan Mantri Jeevan Jyoti Yojana, and Atal Pension Yojana. PNB plans to leverage its extensive physical footprint in rural areas, through branches and banking correspondents. Under Samruddhi scheme, Bank aims to drive credit outreach for the agricultural sector which is the cornerstone of Indian economy. The scheme will cover all agricultural credit products like KCC, Gold Loans, Investment Credit, etc., and the Bank aims to leverage multiple strategic partnerships made in this sector to drive impetus. Under Shikhar, Sankalp and Swagat schemes, the Bank has devised special rates of interest to drive credit offtake in retail and MSME sector. In addition, focussed products and customer segments have also been identified for targeted outreach in line with the Bank's broader strategic agenda. Specifically for MSME sector, the Bank has formed specialized teams in select districts for credit delivery. Further, the Bank has deepened concessions for select products in line with "One district one product" policy to ensure access to affordable credit for MSMEs in the country. Within the ambit of Digital Outreach and Service Delivery, Bank would run a Sampark campaign, aimed at driving penetration of its flagship mobile application, PNB One. Bank will also focus on improving adoption and activation of debit cards as well as improving overall experience of customers at different banking touchpoints such as branches, ATMs, etc. This story is provided by NewsVoir. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/NewsVoir) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) WIMU is attempting to combat the daunting barrier that exists in the field of quality international medical education, including the MBBS / MD degrees. Saint John's (Antigua), October 9 (ANI/PNN): The Western Imperial Medical University, Antigua (WIMU) shall Provide Free Medical Education across the Globe to combat the shortage of Doctors, Nurses and other healthcare professionals due to the global pandemic of Covid 19. This was announced today by Gaston Browne - the Prime Minister of Antigua, in a glittering function to mark the opening ceremony of the University. WIMU is attempting to combat the daunting barrier that exists in the field of quality international medical education, including the MBBS/MD degrees. In keeping with the publicly maintained Universities in Europe, it is the goal of WIMU to make financial access to the discipline of medicine easier for one and all. With a plan to bypass the exorbitant capital required to pursue medicine as a career, Western Imperial Medical University is going to waive its tuition fees for all students. The aim is to democratize the reach of knowledge and prevent it from being concentrated in the hands of the rich few. The advent of COVID 19 put this particular plan in motion. The pandemic's arrival put an already precariously positioned global economy into a tizzy. Livelihoods were lost, and the process of education was heavily compromised for both students and teachers. The Prime Minister of Antigua, having recognised the need for swift affirmative action, has lauded this path-breaking effort by the Western Imperial Medical University. Along with making access to medical education affordable, Western Imperial Medical University harbours the vision of teaching every aspect of the discipline with love and detail. Its diverse group of students are to be competently trained in medicine, clinical practice, research, and patient care while residing in a well-maintained air conditioned and the amenity-filled campus in Antigua. With its efforts in the medical education sector, WIMU is looking forward to a more holistic and affordable education model without compromising the quality of service provided. Here's hoping for the success of its innovative approach. This story is provided by PNN. ANI will not be responsible in any way for the content of this article. (ANI/PNN) DISCLAIMER (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Heavy fog enveloped cities across China Thursday morning, causing low visibility in several regions. The fog started to appear in cities like Wuhan in Central China and Urumqi in Northwest China earlier this week, creating traffic jams. On Thursday, Beijing authorities shut down multiple highways to avoid accidents, while the northeastern city of Shenyang issued the highest-level alert as visibility reduced to less than 20 meters in some areas Nov 18, 2021 06:18 PM Open letter to the Central Okanagan School District superintendent, deputy superintendent and SD 23 board of education I am a 41-year married man living in Kelowna. My wife and I cannot express strongly enough our objection to going forward with a mandatory vaccine mandate for school staff, or for students for that matter. That would be so very wrong and is not the solution we are looking for. We need you to hear our voice and perspective along with the many that share it but are afraid to speak out as this spectre of fascism creeps across this great country. We thank you for your time and we pray that you have courage to stand up against the surge of voices in B.C. calling for it right now. We do not agree that coercion is the answer in our beautiful free country of Canada. Encourage yes, coerce no. Please don't be a part of wrecking or tearing down freedoms. Have the strength to do what is right but may not be popular. We and many folks in the Okanagan, B.C. and Canada are with you vaxxed and unvaxxed. Think of the kind of country your decisions, and those in your position across the province, will lead to please. I humbly thank you for you time and consideration. Be strong and very courageous! Garret Wowchuck Photo: CTV News A restaurant in the Fraser Valley that is openly disobeying the vaccine passport system is shrugging off a closure order from the District of Hope. Rollys Restaurant had its business license pulled on Thursday by the municipality, but on Friday, was operating as usual. Its ridiculous, what they're asking us to do, said Muriel Young, co-owner of the restaurant, told CTV News. Young says they have followed all other health orders, but refuse to ask customers for their vaccination status. This isn't about health anyway, it's about control, said Marlene Abling, another owner. The mayor of Hope told CTV News the decision to rescind the business licence was not a quick one. It was very difficult. Its a small community and we all know each other; our neighbours are working there and Ive known the owners for a long time, said Mayor Peter Robb. They're taking a stance. I don't agree with the stance they're taking, but hopefully we can get through this. Rollys can now be fined $100 a day for operating without a business license. Fraser Health has yet to issue a closure order. In Kelowna, Interior Health ordered the closure of Renegade Kitchen & Craft Bar this week for failure to comply with the passport system. with files from CTV Vancouver Photo: Twitter Federal prosecutors announced Friday that they wont file charges against a white police officer who shot Jacob Blake in Wisconsin last year. Officer Rusten Sheskey shot Blake, who is Black, during a domestic disturbance in Kenosha in August 2020. The shooting left Blake paralyzed from the waist down and sparked several nights of protests. An Illinois man shot three people, killing two of them, during one of the demonstrations. State prosecutors decided not to file charges against Sheskey earlier this year after video showed that Blake had been armed with a knife. He was wanted on a felony warrant. The U.S. Department of Justice launched its own investigation days after the shooting. The agency announced Friday that a team of prosecutors from its Civil Rights Division and the U.S. attorneys office in Milwaukee reviewed police reports, witness statements, dispatch logs and videos of the incident, and determined there wasnt enough evidence to prove Sheskey used excessive force or violated Blakes federal rights. Accordingly, the review of this incident has been closed without a federal prosecution, the Justice Department said in a news release. The Blake familys attorney, Ben Crump, didnt immediately reply to a message seeking comment. Blakes uncle Justin Blake, who has been acting as the familys spokesman, also didnt immediately respond to a message. The Justice Departments findings mirror Kenosha County District Attorney Michael Graveleys determination in January that Sheskey could successfully argue that he fired in self-defense. Investigators found that Blake had fought with three officers for several minutes before he was shot, at one point shrugging off a shock from a stun gun, and was trying to get into an SUV when Sheskey tried to stop him by pulling on his shirt. Graveley said video shows Blake turning toward Sheskey with a knife and made a motion toward the officer with the knife. Photo: The Canadian Press The Canadian Coast guard's medium icebreaker Henry Larsen is seen in Allen Bay during Operation Nanook near Resolute, Nunavut, August 25, 2010. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick The Canadian Coast Guard signed an agreement Friday with Britain's Royal Navy to train its sailors on Arctic icebreakers in Canada's Far North. The memorandum of understanding follows a 2020 agreement between the two NATO countries that saw officers from Britain's HMS Protector train aboard a coast guard vessel. The Canadians will work with British sailors in icy northern waters to break up ice sheets while exchanging information from their Royal Navy counterparts. The British High Commission in Ottawa announced the new agreement on behalf of the Royal Navy and the coast guard. The statement noted that Canada operates fleet of about 20 icebreaking vessels that helps smash ice, keep frozen sea lanes open and assist other ships through unfavourable waters. Britain has a renewed interest in the Arctic region and has trained annually with Norway's navy. "The sharing of the Canadian Coast Guard's wide experience and expertise will mean British sailors are better-equipped when sailing to the frozen region," the Royal Navy statement said. Mario Pelletier, the commissioner of the coast guard, said in the statement that the Canadians would benefit from the Royal Navys "operational experience and expertise." Photo: VPD Ekene Anigbo Vancouver police have announced the arrest of a young man the department considered one of its top six most-dangerous Lower Mainland gang members. Ekene Anigbo, 22, was arrested Thursday (Oct. 7), according to the VPD. Anigbo was wanted B.C.-wide for multiple outstanding arrest warrants for breaching his probation and assault. VPD investigators from the force's Organized Crime Section, working under Taskforce Threshold, located and arrested Anigbo in Richmond. Charges were subsequently approved against Anigbo. At the time of his arrest, Anigbo had a rifle, a handgun, and ammunition in his possession, said Constable Tania Visintin of the VPD in a media release. Today, he has been was charged with four new firearms offences related to these weapons and he remains in jail pending his next court date. In May, the VPD listed Anigbo as one of its "Dangerous Six," a list of men connected with gang activity in the region who were not necessarily "wanted" at the time, but whom police felt could soon be perpetrators of crimes or targeted in a shooting. With gang conflict on an uptick at the time, the VPD announced they were upping its focus on these six men and others who were known participants in gang activity. Every day these same gangsters are going to our grocery stores, theyre going to our restaurants, theyre going to our public spaces and they pose a significant threat and risk to the public and thats why weve taken these extraordinary measures, said Deputy Chief Constable Howard Chow at the time. It was at that same time the VPD announced a new task force, called Taskforce Threshold, to tackle the current gang situation. The purpose of the task force is to bring together resources and expertise from the VPDs investigation and operations divisions for an immediate response to gang violence, explained Deputy Chief Constable Fiona Wilson. Photo: Unsplash/Taylor Wilcox The B.C. Teachers Federation is urging members to get vaccinated as it calls for a government mandate to ensure an equitable policy across the province, where some of the largest employers are requiring staff to be protected against COVID-19. Union president Teri Mooring said Friday that it's up to the provincial government to take leadership at a time when cases among schoolchildren are climbing instead of relying on 60 school districts to come up with their own vaccine mandates. Mooring noted vaccination rates are lower in some parts of the province, like the Peace region in the north, so trustees there may face "a high level of pushback" about requiring teachers to be vaccinated as a condition of employment. "We could have a situation where the parts of the province that need mandates the most would be the least likely to implement them," she said, adding a patchwork approach could affect any unvaccinated teachers working in multiple districts. Premier John Horgan said Thursday that it's up to elected trustees to decide on vaccine mandates rather than having them enforced by the province and that school districts are the employers for school staff. However, Mooring said a legislative solution or a public health order is needed to protect schoolchildren who aren't eligible to be vaccinated. That group makes up half the unvaccinated residents in B.C., according to a report this week by an independent group analyzing pandemic data in the province, where cases among five-to-11-year-olds are rising sharply in three of six health authorities. The teachers union sent its 45,000 members a letter Thursday night saying its leadership is planning to meet with the BC Public School Employers' Association and the Education Ministry to ensure that a provincial vaccine mandate would include a process to accommodate teachers and protect their rights through grievances if necessary. Mooring also said teachers should get vaccinated because the union may not be able to help them unless they have a legitimate exemption, should the province require them to be vaccinated. "You need to go ahead and do it," Mooring said in an interview Friday. "There are consequences that could impact member pay, member pensions, member benefits." The province announced this week that about 30,000 public-sector workers would have to be vaccinated by Nov. 22 or risk losing their jobs. Mark Thompson, professor emeritus of industrial relations at the University of British Columbia's Sauder school of business, said the government may ultimately stay out of intervening with any legislation on vaccines. "If I were the government, I'd let Dr. Bonnie Henry carry the water, frankly," he said of the provincial health officer, adding she has routinely connected with the public using scientific data to justify public health orders, including the recent extension of a mask mandate for kindergarten-to-Grade 3 children. "If you look at some other jurisdictions, it's a different story," Thompson said, referencing the approach in Alberta, where Premier Jason Kenney has been accused of overruling some experts in that province. British Columbia recorded 743 cases of COVID-19 on Friday, along with five more deaths, amounting to 2,001 fatalities since the pandemic began. TransLink, Metro Vancouver's transportation network, and the Insurance Corporation of B.C. announced the same day that their workers must be fully vaccinated by November. A statement from ICBC says its directive applies to all employees and contractors and that the auto insurer believes having a mandatory vaccination program is an extra safety measure. TransLink said its policy affects 8,300 workers employed by TransLink, Coast Mountain Bus Company, BC Rapid Transit Company and Transit Police. Its chief executive Kevin Quinn said in a written statement that the decision is important as more people return to using transit. Photo: Twitter - @XRVancouverBC A group of demonstrators calling on the B.C. government to take urgent action on the climate emergency plans to block multiple major bridges, intersections and highways over a two-week period. Extinction Rebellion's Vancouver chapter says it demands "commitment from the provincial and federal governments to end fossil fuel subsidies before COP 26, in Glasgow," explains a news release. If no action is taken, the group will move forward with several nonviolent climate change protests that will include an attempt to shut down Vancouver International Airport. Janice Oakley, a local Extinction Rebellion organizer, says: This is the fight of our lives. By engaging in civil disobedience in the streets, we are confronting the criminality of the federal and provincial governments and our inability so far to act proportionately by rebelling. This is why I will rebel. The group highlights that the government spends billions on fossil fuel subsidies despite the alarming advice from the scientific community on climate change. This behaviour ultimately condemns humanity to "social collapse." Zain Haq, another organizer, adds, If the elected officials in power refuse to do whatever is necessary to avoid social collapse, they are committing treason, and we will exercise our legal and moral obligation to nonviolently bring this government down." Group outlines full plan and dates for Vancouver traffic disruptions: Photo: Contributed The Liberal opposition and local teachers say the province needs a blanket policy that will make COVID vaccinations mandatory for all K-12 schools in the B.C. and are fearful of the provincial governments plan to leave it up to individual school boards to make that decision. On Thursday Premier John Horgan said vaccine mandates should be a last resort for workers in B.C. schools and that local school board trustees know better than the government whats best for their communities. But Liberal interim leader Shirley Bond says with infection rates continuing to be problematic across the province and vaccines proven to be effective it should not be left up to the 60 school boards to set the policy on whether school staff should be vaccinated. Certainly, were seeing the number of cases in school-aged children increase and we have parents that are concerned, we have staff that are concerned and from our perspective having a patchwork approach to whether or not vaccination should be required will be a problem, said Bond Friday morning. This is a decision that the government needs to make. It has certainly looked at provincewide policies when it comes to mask use, the vaccine pass, all of those issues, and this should be treated the same. We need to have a consistently applied set of expectations. There needs to be a provincewide approach to ensure that children and staff feel safe in school and that parents have a clear understanding of what the expectations are no matter where you live in British Columbia. Bond, the MLA for Prince George-Valemount and a former SD 57 trustee who chaired the local board before she entered provincial politics, pointed to some areas of the province with multiple school boards, such as the Fraser-Nicola riding, which has four school boards within its boundaries. She says four separate decisions by school trustees on vaccination policy in one region will lead to confusion if differing policies are adopted by each board. On Oct. 1, with infection rates continuing to rise across the province, the government revised its mask policy to include all students from kindergarten to Grade 3. Bond says the governments lack of a comprehensive return-to-school policy is putting the health of students and school staff at risk. They had to back up on the mask mandate, they had to back up on notification of COVID exposures and outbreaks for parents, and we still are waiting for answers on (school building) ventilation and what was done during the summer, and now we see confusion and lack of clarity and lack of leadership when it comes to vaccination requirements in schools, said Bond. We need the education minister and the premier to show leadership and to make sure that the Number 1 priority is the health and safety of students and parents across the province. Parents want certainty and now they are going to have to wait to reach out to their local school boards to sort out whats going to happen across the province. This is a public health issue and it needs to be treated that way. Daryl Beauregard, first vice-president of the Prince George District Teachers Association, says the pandemic is a real threat to the health of teachers, students and parents and needs to be treated that way. He says it is the governments responsibility to set policy on staff vaccination and how that would be enforced. I personally support mandatory vaccination and I worry that not all of my members will make it through the pandemic, and vaccination is the best way I can recommend protection said Beauregard, who heads the PGDTA health and safety committee. Im quite concerned for school boards to be left on their own to make these decisions. There could be some resistance in the community, there could be some fears. I think thats a very serious decision to be put on a group of people who I dont know of any who have any medical experience, versus having the provincial health office working with the government and the Ministry of Education that could be implemented everywhere in all of our districts. Our members deserve to have equitable, equal opportunities to be safe everywhere. The B.C. Teachers Association president Teri Mooring, in an email sent Friday to BCTF members, the teachers' union it supports a mandatory vaccination policy be put in place by the provincial government and that it should not be left up to individual school boards. Earlier this week, CUPE BC president Karen Ranalletta spoke out in favour of a vaccination requirement for CUPE members working in K-12 schools. The CUPE union has nearly 1,000 members employed in Prince George district schools. School District 57 board chair Sharel Warrington, who took over the position in September after Trent Derrick resigned, said no decision will be made until after the SD 57 board has had time to discuss the guidelines and recommendations of a provincial advisory committee formed after Horgans announcement on Thursday. Warrington admits she and the board were blindsided when suddenly thrust into the role as vaccine mandate decision-makers and no decision will be made until after the legal, contractual and operational ramifications of such a policy have been determined. Its concerning because for the whole pandemic weve been following the protocols based on provincial health officer direction and weve done that in consultation with our local health authorities, so having this decision shifted to boards of education is a challenge because we need to seek legal guidance and a common framework, said Warrington. Thats what were doing now to ensure theres some consistency throughout out K-12 sectors. We need to have the understanding of how a mandate like this should be implemented before we consider implementation. We need to have guidance there. We are a board of education that does not have that expertise. The advisory group includes representatives from the B. C. Teachers Federation, CUPE, BC School Trustees Association, BC Public School Employers Association and the First Nations Education Steering Committee and the Ministry of Health. By sometime next week, Warrington said she expects the committee will have the framework in place to show how school boards will enforce mandatory vaccinations to deal with school staff who refuse to get vaccinated and how to address privacy concerns. Until that framework is in place and trustees have met to discuss the details, the board will reserve its decision. It does require that we are on the ball and we are careful, that whatever decisions we make, we get them right, said Warrington. Tuesday would probably be the earliest we get something to guide our decisions, then we would have to have our meeting and move from there. We continue to encourage all our employees to get vaccinated. Its wise. Its their decision, but we do encourage it. A vaccine mandate now applies to the BC governments 30,000 public service workers, who will have to be vaccinated by Nov. 22. BC Hydro will make proof of COVID vaccine mandatory for all employees of all the Crown corporations worksite, including Site C, by Nov. 22, and all contractors and their employees working at those sites will have to meet that requirement by Jan. 10. Beauregard says a vast majority of local teachers are in favour of a vaccine mandate and he says hes heard from only three or four PGDTA members who are against it, either for concerns about privacy or personal-choice reasons. We want to make sure that any process that is implemented for mandatory vaccination does respect privacy, he said. Your medical information should be private and also if someone medically cant be vaccinated we would hope and expect there would be accommodations put in place for the employer to follow. If members do refuse, we also would be working with the federation to ensure the employer treats those members fairly and that theres a process when that situation arises. Beauregard said a COVID-19 exposure this week at Southridge Elementary School was not reported on the Northern Health website and he and other teachers learned about it through the news media. He says that has created a high level of anxiety among teachers. Theres a lot of absenteeism with students and teachers, a lot of illness right now and we are aware when there is COVID infection because our members tell us when parents tell them that there is COVID infection, but were not hearing from Northern Health on school exposures, which scares me, said Beauregard. I fear that we dont know how much COVID is out there. We know, in our community, we have the highest vaccination rate in our region and we can take some comfort in that, but its not the same everywhere and people are working under fearful conditions a lot of the time. The word is spreading about MicrobeTrace, CDCs web-based platform for visualizing disease outbreak data. The number of CDC partners using MicrobeTraceexternal icon has gone up sharply during the COVID-19 pandemic. Unique users of the platform grew from fewer than 400 in 2018, when it launched, to more than 2,100 in 2020. With over 2,500 unique users in just the first 9 months of 2021, this year has already surpassed last year. Weve seen quite a bit of usage of MicrobeTrace for contact tracing with COVID-19, says Frank Ambrosio, a bioinformatics specialist who worked with the development team in CDCs Division of HIV/AIDS Prevention. MicrobeTrace illustrates genetic and epidemiological links among cases in an outbreak, helping investigators identify connections among the data. That can be especially valuable for tracing contacts, Ambrosio says. The program uses open-source code and works with a variety of data formats. While it runs in a web browser, the user controls whether the data can be transmittedan important consideration for people working with sensitive information. MicrobeTrace was originally developed to help CDC track outbreaks of HIV and TB. But when COVID-19 began to spread rapidly in early 2020, the MicrobeTraceexternal icon team began training other users to assist with the pandemic response, says Bill Switzer, who leads the development team at CDC. We realized users could use COVID-specific MicrobeTrace training materials, Switzer says. So, we built COVID-specific datasets, a user guide, and then prepared a training video for the AMD COVID-19 Genomic Epi Toolkit. Researchers in Arizona used this MicrobeTrace diagram to visualize the links between infected people and places based on a combination of epidemiological and genomic data to investigate a COVID-19 outbreak. When COVID-19 struck a complex of group homes for adults with developmental disabilities in Arizona, investigators there used MicrobeTrace to illuminate a web of connections among staff and residents. They also found connections to several cases at a hospital and in the surrounding community. The findings prompted new precautions within the facility and interventions by public health officials that helped control that outbreak. MicrobeTrace was useful for us to visualize person-place linkages of infected staff and residents connected to the developmentally disabled group homes, says Hayley Yaglom, a genomic epidemiologist at the Translational Genomics Research Institute in Flagstaff. The resources available to get started were very helpful, and the CDC MicrobeTrace team went above and beyond to assist us in understanding how to navigate the tool. Dont be afraid to reach out to the team at CDC for guidance, Yaglom says. Working through case studies together is so beneficial. Who We Are CDCs Division of Global Migration and Quarantine (DGMQ) focuses on activities that lessen the public health risks of rapid global travel because diseases and outbreaks can quickly cross international borders. The Immigrant, Refugee, and Migrant Health (IRMH) Branch, within DGMQ, partners with agencies, governments, and organizations to strengthen health systems at country borders and promotes and improves the health of immigrants, US-bound refugees, and migrants. What We Do IRMH prevents the importation of infectious diseases by safeguarding the health of US-bound immigrant and refugee populations. IRMH achieves this by: Tracking and responding to disease outbreaks in refugee populations overseas and in the United States in host countries when the outbreak may cross an international border Developing Technical Instructions and training healthcare providers who perform mandatory overseas pre-departure medical exams to ensure that health conditions are documented and treated as required Overseeing the required medical examination of refugee and immigrant visa applicants before they travel to the United States Promoting, monitoring, and improving the health of children adopted outside of the United States Educating immigrant and refugee groups and partners about disease prevention and good health practices Coordinating with domestic health departments, foreign health agencies, and nongovernmental organizations to develop, implement, and evaluate programs that improve health outcomes in globally mobile populations Partnering with other governments to provide technical assistance at points of entry, along informal cross-border movement, and for cross-border collaboration building to strengthen surveillance, preparedness, and response among mobile populations Promoting preventive treatments for and vaccination of refugees and immigrants before departure for several communicable diseases Providing technical assistance and training to regional medical and public health officials allowing them to identify, treat, and track diseases that threaten the health of refugees, immigrants, and US residents Where We Work IRMH promotes and improves the health of immigrants, US-bound refugees, and migrants, as well as any mobile and cross-border population, through domestic and overseas programs. Domestically, IRMH collaborates with state and local health departments to improve the healthcare and monitoring of medical conditions in these populations after their arrival in the United States. IRMH operates regional field programs in Kenya and Thailand, which oversee work in Africa and Asia, respectively, and participates in active partnerships and projects in more than 50 countries. Four pedestrians were struck while in a crosswalk at 300 West Main St. on Thursday night. All four were taken to a hospital by Hamilton County EMS. Police said the status of the injuries was not yet available. The driver who struck the pedestrians fled the scene prior to the arrival of police. CPD's Traffic Unit is investigating and working to identify and locate the driver. The Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals has ruled that Unjolee Moore did not file his post-conviction appeal too late as claimed by the prosecution. However, the panel said Judge Don Poole had correctly dismissed the appeal. The Appeals Court said, "Unjolee Moore filed a petition for post-conviction relief in the Hamilton County Criminal Court, claiming that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel. After an evidentiary hearing, the post-conviction court filed an order denying relief, and the Petitioner filed a motion to reconsider. The post-conviction court granted the motion, vacated its order denying relief, and reopened the proof. Subsequently, the post-conviction court filed a second order denying relief. "On appeal, the Petitioner maintains that he received the ineffective assistance of counsel. The State argues that this appeal should be dismissed because the Petitioners notice of appeal was untimely. The State also argues that the timely filing requirement should not be waived and that even if this court waives timely filing, this court should disregard the evidence presented at the second evidentiary hearing because it is not part of the record. Based upon the oral arguments, the record, and the parties briefs, we conclude that the Petitioners notice of appeal was not untimely and that the evidence from the second evidentiary hearing is properly before us. However, we also conclude that the post-conviction court correctly denied the petition for postconviction relief. "Accordingly, the judgment of the post-conviction court is affirmed." Moore, who was convicted of a 2010 murder, claimed that he made a confession after being beaten by a detective and held for over 13 hours while handcuffed behind his back. Moore also said he had ineffective assistance of counsel. His current lawyer, Daniel Murphy, said he was able to obtain a jail medical record showing he had lacerations around the hands and swelling at the left eye after the encounter with former Detective Michael Wenger and another officer. Moore had asked Judge Poole to grant him a new trial. Attorney Murphy said phone records show that Moore could not have been at the murder scene. Prosecutor Cameron Williams noted that a female that Moore was with said he had a gun when he left driving her Nissan Maxima. He said a Maxima was seen at the British Woods Apartments where Bernard Hughes was killed and Timothy Westfield was left for dead. The group Concerned Citizens for Justice took up Moore's cause, claiming he should not have been convicted. Here is the upcoming City Council agenda for Tuesday: I. Call to Order by Chairman Henderson. II. Pledge of Allegiance/Invocation (Councilwoman Coonrod). III. Special Presentation. IV. Minute Approval. V. Ordinances Final Reading: (None) VI. Ordinances First Reading: LEGAL a. An ordinance amending Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 25, Section 25-2, curfew for minors. PLANNING b. 2021-0140 Richelle London (M-1 Manufacturing Zone to R-2 Residential Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1312 East 36th Street, from M-1 Manufacturing Zone to R-2 Residential Zone. (District 7) (Recommended for approval by Planning and Staff)c. 2021-0138 Ben Hagaman c/o Pointe Property Group (R-1 Residential Zone to R-4 Special Zone with conditions and C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone with conditions for Parcel 3). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone parts of the properties located in the 7200 and 7300 blocks of Bonny Oaks Drive, from R-1 Residential Zone to R-4 Special Zone with conditions and C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone with conditions for Parcel 3. (District 6) (Recommended for approval by Planning and denial by Staff)d. 2021-0141 Mehdi Malekzadeh (R-1 Residential Zone to O-1 Office Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 6701 Shallowford Road, from R-1 Residential Zone to O-1 Office Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 6) (Recommended for approval by Planning and Staff)2021-0141 Mehdi Malekzadeh (R-1 Residential Zone to O-1 Office Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 6701 Shallowford Road, from R-1 Residential Zone to O-1 Office Zone. (Applicant Version)e. 2021-0142 Pat Neuhoff c/o Neuhoff Taylor Architects (R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 2618 and 2620 Carr Street, from R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 7) (Recommended for approval by Planning and Staff)2021-0142 Pat Neuhoff c/o Neuhoff Taylor Architects (R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 2618 and 2620 Carr Street, from R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version)f. 2021-0154 Asa Engineering (R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General CommercialZone). AnordinancetoamendChattanoogaCityCode,PartII,Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 2603 Williams Street, from R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 7) (Recommended for approval by Planning)2021-0154 Asa Engineering (R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General CommercialZone). AnordinancetoamendChattanoogaCityCode,PartII,Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 2603 Williams Street, from R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (Staff Version)2021-0154 Asa Engineering (R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General CommercialZone). AnordinancetoamendChattanoogaCityCode,PartII,Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 2603 Williams Street, from R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version)g. 2021-0137 John Hetzler (R-2 Residential Zone and M-2 Light Industrial Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1620 Watauga Street, from R-2 Residential Zone and M-2 Light Industrial Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 8) (Recommended for approval by Planning)2021-0137 John Hetzler (R-2 Residential Zone and M-2 Light Industrial Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1620 Watauga Street, from R-2 Residential Zone and M-2 Light Industrial Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (Staff Version)2021-0137 John Hetzler (R-2 Residential Zone and M-2 Light Industrial Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1620 Watauga Street, from R-2 Residential Zone and M-2 Light Industrial Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version)h. 2021-0150 EAD Holdings, LLC (M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General CommercialZone). AnordinancetoamendChattanoogaCityCode,PartII,Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1024 East Main Street, from M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 8) (Recommended for approval by Planning and Staff)2021-0150 EAD Holdings, LLC (M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General CommercialZone). AnordinancetoamendChattanoogaCityCode,PartII,Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1024 East Main Street, from M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version)i. 2021-0151 EAD Holdings, LLC (M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General CommercialZone). AnordinancetoamendChattanoogaCityCode,PartII,Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located in the 1000 block of East 16th Street and 1690 Fagan Street, from M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 8) (Recommended for approval by Planning and Staff)2021-0151 EAD Holdings, LLC (M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General CommercialZone). AnordinancetoamendChattanoogaCityCode,PartII,Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located in the 1000 block of East 16th Street and 1690 Fagan Street, from M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version)j. 2021-0152 Lee Helena (R-1 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1495 East 14th Street, from R-1 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 8) (Recommended for approval by Planning)2021-0152 Lee Helena (R-1 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1495 East 14th Street, from R-1 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (Staff Version)2021-0152 Lee Helena (R-1 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1495 East 14th Street, from R-1 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version)k. 2021-0144 VCRB Enterprises c/o Charles Ankar (R-3MD Moderate Density Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1314 Duncan Avenue, from R-3MD Moderate Density Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 9) (Recommended for approval by Planning and Staff)2021-0144 VCRB Enterprises c/o Charles Ankar (R-3MD Moderate Density Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1314 Duncan Avenue, from R-3MD Moderate Density Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version)l. 2021-0157 Robby Robinson (R-2 Residential Zone to C-2 Convenience CommercialZone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 513 Dodds Avenue, from R-2 Residential Zone to C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone. (District 9) (Recommended for approval by Planning and Staff)m. An ordinance amending Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Article VI, Height and Other Special Exceptions, Division 1, Height and Area Exceptions, Section 38-502, Lots of Record, (3) Single-Family Dwellings and Section 38-504, Projections over Yard.VII. Resolutions:ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTa. 2021-04 Derek Taylor. A resolution considering Short Term Vacation Rental Application No. 21-STVR-130 for property located at 1454 Jefferson Street. (District 8) (Deferred from 10-05-2021)b. 2021-05 Elaina Smith. A resolution considering Short Term Vacation Rental Application No. 21-STVR-150 for property located at 1450 Jefferson Street. (District 8) (Deferred from 10-05-2021)c. A resolution authorizing the Mayor or his designee to enter into Amendment No. 1 to Lease and a Second Agreement to Exercise Option to Renew with Forgotten Child Fund, Inc., in substantially the forms attached, for lease of office space at 1715 E. Main Street, identified as Tax Parcel No. 156B-D-011, for the consideration of $1.00 for the additional term of three (3) months through January 31, 2022. (District 8)d. A resolution to allow the Administrator for the Department of Economic Development to apply for, and if awarded, accept the Tennessee Opportunity Pilot Initiative Planning Grant from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, for an amount not to exceed $500,000.00, and to apply for, and if awarded, accept the Tennessee Opportunity Pilot Initiative Implementation Grant from the Tennessee Department of Human Services, for an amount not to exceed $25 million.PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKSPublic Workse. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Public Works to approve Change Order No. 6 (Final) for CH2M Hill Engineers, Inc. relative to Contract No. W-15-002-101, Friars Branch South Chickamauga Creek 5 Interceptor Rehabilitation, for a decreased amount of $28,050.23, for a revised contract amount of $1,201,255.77. (Districts 5 & 6)f. A resolution authorizing the renewal of Contract No. E-20-011-401, the on-call blanket contract(s) for Resident Project Representative (RPR) Services, with (1) ASA Engineering and Consulting, Inc.; (2) Barge Design Solutions; (3) Civic Engineering and Information Technologies, Inc.; (4) CTI Engineering, Inc.; (5) D. Martin & Partners, LLC; (6) Franklin Associates Architects, Inc.; (7) Ragan Smith Associates, Inc.; (8) S&ME, Inc.; (9) Southern Environmental Technologies, Inc.; (10) Thompson Engineering; (11) Volkert, Inc.; and (12) Woods Environment & Infrastructure Solutions, Inc., in the services categories as applied, for year two (2) of a five (5) year term, with these twelve (12) firms for $2 million total annually, for use by all departments.VIII. Purchases.IX. Committee Reports.X. Recognition of Persons Wishing to Address the Council.XI. Adjournment.TUESDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2021 CITY COUNCIL AGENDA 6:00 PM1. Call to Order by Chairman Henderson.2. Pledge of Allegiance/Invocation (Chairman Henderson).3. Special Presentation.4. Minute Approval.Order of Business for City Council5. Ordinances - Final Reading:LEGALa. An ordinance amending Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 25, Section 25-2, curfew for minors.PLANNINGb. 2021-0140 Richelle London (M-1 Manufacturing Zone to R-2 Residential Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1312 East 36th Street, from M-1 Manufacturing Zone to R-2 Residential Zone. (District 7) (Recommended for approval by Planning and Staff)c. 2021-0138 Ben Hagaman c/o Pointe Property Group (R-1 Residential Zone to R-4 Special Zone with conditions and C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone with conditions for Parcel 3). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone parts of the properties located in the 7200 and 7300 blocks of Bonny Oaks Drive, from R-1 Residential Zone to R-4 Special Zone with conditions and C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone with conditions for Parcel 3. (District 6) (Recommended for approval by Planning and denial by Staff)d. 2021-0141 Mehdi Malekzadeh (R-1 Residential Zone to O-1 Office Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 6701 Shallowford Road, from R-1 Residential Zone to O-1 Office Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 6) (Recommended for approval by Planning and Staff)2021-0141 Mehdi Malekzadeh (R-1 Residential Zone to O-1 Office Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 6701 Shallowford Road, from R-1 Residential Zone to O-1 Office Zone. (Applicant Version)e. 2021-0142 Pat Neuhoff c/o Neuhoff Taylor Architects (R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 2618 and 2620 Carr Street, from R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 7) (Recommended for approval by Planning and Staff)2021-0142 Pat Neuhoff c/o Neuhoff Taylor Architects (R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 2618 and 2620 Carr Street, from R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version)f. 2021-0154 Asa Engineering (R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General CommercialZone). AnordinancetoamendChattanoogaCityCode,PartII,Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 2603 Williams Street, from R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 7) (Recommended for approval by Planning)2021-0154 Asa Engineering (R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General CommercialZone). AnordinancetoamendChattanoogaCityCode,PartII,Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 2603 Williams Street, from R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (Staff Version)2021-0154 Asa Engineering (R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General CommercialZone). AnordinancetoamendChattanoogaCityCode,PartII,Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 2603 Williams Street, from R-3 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version)g. 2021-0137 John Hetzler (R-2 Residential Zone and M-2 Light Industrial Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1620 Watauga Street, from R-2 Residential Zone and M-2 Light Industrial Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 8) (Recommended for approval by Planning)2021-0137 John Hetzler (R-2 Residential Zone and M-2 Light Industrial Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1620 Watauga Street, from R-2 Residential Zone and M-2 Light Industrial Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (Staff Version)2021-0137 John Hetzler (R-2 Residential Zone and M-2 Light Industrial Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1620 Watauga Street, from R-2 Residential Zone and M-2 Light Industrial Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version)h. 2021-0150 EAD Holdings, LLC (M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General CommercialZone). AnordinancetoamendChattanoogaCityCode,PartII,Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1024 East Main Street, from M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 8) (Recommended for approval by Planning and Staff)2021-0150 EAD Holdings, LLC (M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General CommercialZone). AnordinancetoamendChattanoogaCityCode,PartII,Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1024 East Main Street, from M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version)i. 2021-0151 EAD Holdings, LLC (M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General CommercialZone). AnordinancetoamendChattanoogaCityCode,PartII,Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located in the 1000 block of East 16th Street and 1690 Fagan Street, from M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 8) (Recommended for approval by Planning and Staff)2021-0151 EAD Holdings, LLC (M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General CommercialZone). AnordinancetoamendChattanoogaCityCode,PartII,Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located in the 1000 block of East 16th Street and 1690 Fagan Street, from M-1 Manufacturing Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version)j. 2021-0152 Lee Helena (R-1 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General CommercialZone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1495 East 14th Street, from R-1 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 8) (Recommended for approval by Planning)2021-0152 Lee Helena (R-1 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1495 East 14th Street, from R-1 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (Staff Version)2021-0152 Lee Helena (R-1 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1495 East 14th Street, from R-1 Residential Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version)k. 2021-0144 VCRB Enterprises c/o Charles Ankar (R-3MD Moderate Density Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1314 Duncan Avenue, from R-3MD Moderate Density Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone, subject to certain conditions. (District 9) (Recommended for approval by Planning and Staff)2021-0144 VCRB Enterprises c/o Charles Ankar (R-3MD Moderate Density Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 1314 Duncan Avenue, from R-3MD Moderate Density Zone to UGC Urban General Commercial Zone. (Applicant Version)l. 2021-0157 Robby Robinson (R-2 Residential Zone to C-2 Convenience CommercialZone). An ordinance to amend Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Zoning Ordinance, so as to rezone property located at 513 Dodds Avenue, from R-2 Residential Zone to C-2 Convenience Commercial Zone. (District 9) (Recommended for approval by Planning and Staff)m. An ordinance amending Chattanooga City Code, Part II, Chapter 38, Article VI, Height and Other Special Exceptions, Division 1, Height and Area Exceptions, Section 38-502, Lots of Record, (3) Single-Family Dwellings and Section 38-504, Projections over Yard.6. Ordinances - First Reading: (None)7. Resolutions:ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENTa. 2021-07 James & Tuba Warden. A resolution considering Short Term Vacation Rental Application No. 21-STVR-149 for property located at 1802 Knickerbocker Avenue. (District 2)FINANCEb. A resolution authorizing the Interim City Treasurer to amend by extending Purchase Order No. 526211 to Harris Computer Systems for an eight (8) month renewal period, November 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022, for the purpose of billing and collection of property taxes, for an amount not to exceed $75,775.00.MAYORS OFFICEc. A resolution confirming the Mayors appointment of Jamileh Zurkiya as City Treasurer.PARKS AND PUBLIC WORKSd. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Public Works to enter into an agreement for grant administration services with Southeast Tennessee Development District for technical and professional administrative services for three (3) City projects financed through the Clean Water State Revolving Loan Fund, for a total project cost not to exceed $22,500.00. (Districts 1 & 8) (Consent Decree)e. A resolution authorizing the Administrator for the Department of Public Works to purchase a permanent sanitary sewer easement from Athens Distributing Company located at 2735 Kanisita Drive, Hixson, TN, Parcel No. 110B-B-001, Tract #4 Athens Dist., relative to the Wet Weather Storage Facility Phase 6 Hixson #1 Pump Station, Contract No. W-19-007, for an amount not to exceed $28,350.00. (District 3) (Consent Decree)f. A resolution authorizing the renewal of Blanket Contract No. D-19-002-201, Demolition Services for the Department of Community Development (Resolution No. 30056), with Tower Construction Company, of Chattanooga, TN, for year three (3) of a three (3) year blanket, for an amount not to exceed $500,000.00.g. A resolution authorizing the renewal of Contract No. W-16-011-101, the On-Call Blanket Contract(s) for Landscape Architect Design Services (Resolution No. 30534), with (1) ASA Engineering & Consulting, Inc.; (2) Barge Design Solutions; (3) Alfred Benesch and Company; (4) CDM Smith, Inc.; (5) Croy Engineering; (6) HDLA; (7) Ragan Smith Associates, Inc.; (8) Ross/Fowler, P.C.; (9) Stantec Consulting Services, Inc.; and (10) WMWA Landscape Architects, for year two (2) of a five (5) year term, with these ten (10) firms at $1,250,000.00 total annually, for use by all departments.h. A resolution to amend Resolution No. 30716 to increase the annual not to exceed amount by an additional $800,000.00, for a revised not to exceed amount of $1.5 million for the remainder of year three (3) of a four (4) year term for the On-Call Blanket Contract(s) for Structural Engineering Services, Contract No. E-18-008-101 (Resolution No. 29704), for the following seven (7) consultant firms: (1) Allen and Hosall, Inc.; (2) Alfred Benesch and Company; (3) CTI Engineers, Inc.; (4) Estes Russell Engineering, Inc.; (5) Integrated Structural Services, Inc.; (6) March Adams and Associates, Inc.; and (7) Volkert, Inc.8. Purchases.9. Committee Reports.10. Recognition of Persons Wishing to Address the Council.11. Adjournment. Hooray for the Saturday Funnies! Every week we gather the funnies we find on the Internet and produce our weekly laughs. Please understand they are not written nor originate here; it is rather a collection of what we find or is shared by our readers. If you come across any funnies that we worthy and tasteful for a general audience, please share them us at royexum@aol.com . Blessings * * * WHY WE OUGHT TO BE PATIENT WAITING ON THE MIXING He began by asking one of the impressive older farmers in attendance to say grace that morning. After all were standing before their plates, the old farmer began A visiting Catholic priest was the guest preacher at a mens breakfast in Ohios farm country.He began by asking one of the impressive older farmers in attendance to say grace that morning. After all were standing before their plates, the old farmer began Lord, I hate buttermilk. I cannot abide it. The Priest opened one eye and wondered to himself where this was going. Then the farmer loudly proclaimed, And, Lord, you know that lard repulses me every time I spoon some out of its tub. Now the Priest was worried what would come next, the old man didnt skip a beat when he added, And Lord, you know I dont care a bit in this world about the flour that sits in the big jar next to the stove . At this point, the Priest quietly got up and approached the podium but seconds before the priest could interrupt, the farmer tied it all in a bow. But Lord, we know when you mix those three things and bake em up just right, there aint nothing finer than putting a load of fruit preserves and a dollop of butter on a fresh, hot biscuits and I do love a biscuit. My point being, When things come up in way we dont like, when life gets hard and confusing, we may not understand what you are trying to tell us right away, we just need to relax and wait until youre done with the mixing, and probably something will transpire that will be better that those breakfast biscuits Amen * * * AMONG THIS WEEKS BEST ONE-LINERS * -- I don't have a short attention span, I just... Oh, look a squirrel. * -- It is as bad as you think and they are out to get you. * -- Don't spell part backwards. It's a trap. * -- How come psychics and fortune tellers never win the lottery? * -- If attacked by a mob of clowns, go for the juggler. * -- The funniest thing about this, is by the time you notice this isn't about anything, you can't stop reading it. * -- I'm pretty sure I'm going to die without knowing what 95% of a scientific calculator is used for. * -- The good Lord didn't create anything without a purpose, but mosquitoes come close. * -- I found a rock yesterday which measured 5,280 feet in length. Must be some kind of milestone. * * * CAN I GET A RAISE? I asked the boss if I could get a raise, and he said, "Because of the fluctuational predisposition of your position's productive capacity as juxtaposed to the industry standards, it would be monetarily injudicious to advocate an increment." I said, "I don't get it." He said, "That's right." * * * HOW THE BLONDE GOT A NEW JOB A blonde walks into the police department looking for a job. The officer wants to ask her a few questions... Officer: What's 2+2? Blonde: Umm... 4! Officer: What's the square root of 100? Blonde: Umm ... 10! Officer: Good! Now, who killed Abraham Lincoln? Blonde: Umm ... I dunno. Officer: Well, you can go home and think about it. Come back tomorrow. The blonde goes home and calls up one of her friends, who asks her if she got the job. The blonde says, excitedly, "Not only did I get the job, I'm already working on a murder case!" * * * LITTLE JOHNNY DIGS A LARGE HOLE Little Johnny was digging a hole in his yard. The next-door neighbor saw him and asked; "Why are you digging a hole, Johnny?" "My goldfish died, and I have to bury it." "Oh, Im so sorry! But, isnt that hole too big for a small goldfish?" "Yes sir, it is! But my goldfish is inside your stupid cat!" * * * A PHOTOGRAPHERS LAST MISTAKE A photographer from a well-known national magazine was assigned to cover the fires at Yellowstone National Park. When the photographer arrived, he realized that the smoke was so thick that it would seriously impede or make it impossible for him to photograph anything from ground level. He requested permission to rent a plane and take photos from the air. He arrived at the airport and saw a plane warming up near the gate. He jumped in with his bag and shouted, "Let's go!" The pilot swung the little plane into the wind, and within minutes they were in the air. The photographer said, "Fly over the park and make two or three low passes so I can take some pictures." "Why?" asked the pilot. "Because I am a photographer," he responded, "and photographers take photographs." The pilot was silent for a moment; finally, he stammered, "You mean you're not the flight instructor?" * * * A BRIGHT COLLEGE GRADS NEW JOB A young man hired by a supermarket reported for his first day of work. The manager greeted him with a warm handshake and a smile, gave him a broom and said, "Your first job will be to sweep out the store." "But I'm a UCLA graduate," the young man replied indignantly. "Oh, I'm sorry ... I didn't know that," said the manager. "Here, give me the broom I'll show you how." * * * AN OLDIE BUT STILL A FUNNY! WHAT HAPPENED WHEN SHE SAID, DO YOU KNOW WHO I AM? The radio station America FM was doing one of its 'Is Anyone Listening?' bits this morning. The first question was; Ever have a celebrity come up with the 'Do you know who I am? ' routine?' A woman called in and said that a few years ago, while visiting her cattle rancher uncle in Bozeman, MT, She had occasion to go to dinner at a restaurant that does not take reservations. The wait was about 45 minutes. Many local ranchers and their wives were waiting. Ted Turner and his ex-wife Jane Fonda came in the restaurant and wanted a table. The hostess Informed them that they'd have to wait 45 minutes. Jane Fonda asked the hostess, 'Do you know who I am?' The hostess answered, 'Yes, but you'll have to wait 45 minutes.' Then Jane asked if the manager was in. When the manager came out, he asked, 'May I help you?' 'Do you know who we are?' both Ted and Jane asked. 'Yes, but these folks have been waiting, and I can't put you ahead of them.' Then Ted asked to speak to the owner. The owner came out, and Jane again asked, 'Do you know who I am?' The owner answered, 'Yes, I do. Do you know who I am? I am the owner of this restaurant and I am a Vietnam Veteran. Not only will you not get a table ahead of my friends and neighbors who have been waiting here, but you also will not be eating in my restaurant tonight or any other night. Good bye.' Only in America, is this a great country or what? To all who received this, this is a true story and the name of the steak house is: Sir Scott's Oasis Steakhouse, 204 W. Main, Manhattan , MT 59741 (406) 284-6929 THIS WEEKS BEST VIDEOS * -- The Patriot, by Former President Ronald Reagan CLICK HERE * -- The Man in the Arena Teddy Roosevelt (A Powerful Speech from History) CLICK HERE * -- I adore Senator John Kennedy of Louisiana. Here he grills a political nominee about COVID gathering restrictions in California for places of worship but not strip clubs. CLICK HERE. * -- The same day, the Senator: 'I've Got To Read You This': John Kennedy Reads Biden Nominee's Controversial Writings Back To Judicial Nominee. CLICK HERE. * -- 'See, I Don't Believe You': John Kennedy Tears Into Biden Nominee Over Past Statements About Judge Kavanaugh CLICK HERE. --- Angelina Jolie is one of Hollywoods leading ladies. Her acting career and humanitarian works speak volumes for her and are equally impressive. But they arent the only things the Maleficent star is known for. Jolie has been in the limelight for a while now and had her share of romances, with some receiving extra public attention than others. One of the people the famous actor reportedly once dated was her onscreen son. Angelina Jolie | Getty Images Whenever actors work together for months and even years together on set, feelings begin rearing between them. Some of these actors act on their emotions and form relationships with others ending up in successful marriages. One of the pairs that met while working on a project was Jolie and Colin Farrell. According to Insider, the couple met on the set of Alexander. Farrell played the titular character Alexander who grew up under the tutelage of the great Aristotle. Jolie played Farrells characters mother, Queen Olympias. Although their relationship on screen was purely maternal, Jolie and Farrell had explosive offscreen chemistry that sprouted from working together on the show. In 2004 as they worked on Alexander, rumors began making rounds that the two heartthrobs were an item. The pair relentlessly denied any allegations of them being a couple even after they were spotted spending the holidays together in Egypt. The pair never confirmed their romance, but many blind items claimed there was more to them than just being colleagues. Buzzfeed published an excerpt from Crazy Days and Nights detailing the affair between Farrell and Jolie. The piece read in part, They hooked up while filming a movie, but the problem was she could not get him to commit to her. He was off screwing everyone and anyoneShe just could not get much more out of himWhen the movie ended, so did the relationship. In 2019 after Jolie parted ways with her husband Brad Pitt, Farrell seemed to reconnect as an insider claimed that the pair have always had a deep connection with one another. Other significant others Jolie has met on the set Jolie met her first husband, Jonny Lee Miller, in 1995 while they were filming the movie Hackers. The pair casually dated for some time, with Jolie being involved with actor and model Jenny Shimizu at the time. The Girl, Interrupted star and Miller tied the knot in a bizarre ceremony involving a bloodied t-shirt won by Jolie herself. The pair broke things off after 18 months of marriage. Jolie also met her then-girlfriend Shimizu on the set of Foxfires in 1996. Although the pair split after Jolie married Miller, The Tomb Raider actor has always spoken fondly of Shimizu, even saying that she probably would have married (Jenny) Shimizu if she hadnt gotten married. In 1999 Jolie met Billy Bob Thornton on the set of Pushing Tin and had an instant connection that saw Thornton leave his fiance Laura Dern for Jolie. The duo separated in 2002 and divorced in 2003. Perhaps the most infamous name on this list has to be Jolies current ex-husband Pitt whom she met while working on Mr. and Mrs. Smith in 2005. At the time, Pitt was married to Jennifer Aniston, and although he and Jolie denied their involvement, they ended up making it official later that year. Jolie and Farrell arent the only onscreen parent-child duo to have dated. David Tennant and his wife Georgia Moffett met on the set of Doctor Who when she played his daughter. John Travolta famously dated his onscreen mother Diana Hyland, with her death marking the end of their relationship. Nip/Tuck stars John Hensley, and Joely Richardson also dated after playing mother and son. Michael Emerson also dated his Lost mother, Carrie Preston, although they never shared the screen. RELATED: Angelina Jolies Dating History Involves More Than One Attached Man, Regardless of What She Says The late former Beatle John Lennon may be gone but hes hardly forgotten. Still considered by many to be one of the greatest influences in modern popular music, on his birthday today we pause to reflect on his legacy and on the years hes been missed. The late former Beatle John Lennon | Michael Putland/Getty Images Lennon would have turned 81 today When John Lennon was murdered in New York City in 1980 at age 40, he had just released a new album, Double Fantasy, with his wife Yoko Ono. Their son, Sean, was the delight of his life. Johns death left so much potential untapped, so much left undone. The New York Times, at The Beatles arrival in New York City in 1964, couldnt help but report on the marvel that was Lennons wit. At the press conference welcoming the band at Kennedy International Airport, a reporter asked, Will you sing for us? Mr. Lennon replied, We need money first. More applause. How do you account for your success? Mr. Lennon again: We have a press agent.' His widow Yoko Ono created the Imagine Peace Tower in Lennons memory In commemoration of Lennons birth, Ono tweeted, the Imagine Peace Tower which she designed and erected in Iceland in 2007 will be illuminated. TODAY Oct 9 we relight @IPTower to celebrate @JohnLennons birthday at 8 pm Reykjavik, 9 pm UK, 4 pm NY, 1 pm LA, 5 am Tokyo. Join us for the live stream at http://imaginepeacetower.com as we watch it light up together and listen to Imagine, Ono said in her tweet. The Imagine Peace Tower is illuminated annually to honor Lennons birthday. Ono chose Iceland as the location for the tribute to Lennon because, according to Icelands official tourism site, Iceland is a magical and beautiful country. The electrical energy source for the country and for the Imagine Peace Tower is geothermal water, instead of oil. No pollution. No war. This is just one of the incredible situations that creates the magic of Iceland, Ono was quoted as saying. TODAY Oct 9 we relight @IPTower to celebrate @JohnLennon's birthday at 8pm Reykjavik, 9pm UK, 4pm NY, 1pm LA, 5am Tokyo. Join us for the live stream at https://t.co/6WZvRFjbuv as we watch it light up together and listen to Imagine. More info https://t.co/TFSeKkUhck#IMAGINE50 Yoko Ono (@yokoono) October 9, 2021 Lennons legacy Just as Lennon sang in his 1970 hit Instant Karma, we all shine on, like the moon and the stars and the sun, and John Lennons legacy has indisputably continued shining on. It was announced just before Lennons birthday this week that his signature song, Imagine, (marking its own milestone with a 50th anniversary this year), was certified triple-platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. In his 2005 book, John Lennon: In His Own Words, author Ken Lawrence points out that Lennons legacy lives on not only in the hearts of fans but in the music industry as well. [Twelve years] after his death, he was awarded the Lifetime Achievement Award at the 34th Grammy Awards, and in 1998, John Lennon Anthology, a four-CD set of his unpublished song and performances, was released. In 1992, Ono told USA Today: John tried to change the world with his songs. By any measure, he succeeded. RELATED: John Lennon Claimed He Saw a UFO and Was So Spooked, He Had a Friend Call the Police My Hero Academia Season 5 concluded in September 2021, but fans of the anime have more to look forward to this year. The series characters are returning to the big screen in a movie called My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission. And it looks to ramp up the excitement surrounding the popular anime ahead of its sixth season, which will focus on My Hero Academias most action-packed manga arc yet. What should fans expect from the upcoming film, and when does it release in the U.S.? When does My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission release in the U.S.? Official poster for My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission | Crunchyroll My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission debuted in Japan back in August, but the movie has yet to come overseas. That changes soon. Moviegoers in the U.S. and Canada will be able to experience Dekus latest adventure in October. Specifically, the film hits theaters on Oct. 29. The third My Hero Academia film releases in the U.K. and Ireland on the same day, but it lands in Australia and New Zealand on Oct. 28. The film will only be playing in select theaters in each region, so fans will need to search for where its available. The original Japanese film will be released with English subtitles, but a dubbed version of the movie will also hit theaters on the same date. The trailer for the new My Hero Academia movie focuses heavily on Deku, Bakugo, and Todoroki Speaking of the dubbed movie, Funimation recently released the English dubbed trailer for My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission. It features much of the footage shown in the original Japanese trailer with a few new shots and the first look focuses heavily on Deku, Bakugo, and Todoroki. That makes sense after My Hero Academia Season 5, which saw the three U.A. High students interning at Endeavors hero agency together. It looks like theyll be going undercover in the new film and the reason for that is somewhat surprising. Whats the plot of the upcoming anime film? Per Crunchyroll, the official synopsis for My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission teases a dangerous group of villains and some serious trouble for Deku: When a sinister organization threatens to wipe out all superhuman powers, the fate of the world is on the line. With two hours until the collapse of civilization, Deku, Bakugo, and Todoroki manage to work as a team, but theres still one problem. Dekus on the run for murder. Thats in line with the trailer, which sees the films villain giving a long speech about why Quirks are detrimental to humanity. His rhetoric may even turn the public against hero society, which would explain why Deku and his friends are incognito. Of course, Deku being a wanted criminal in the new My Hero Academia movie comes as a surprise especially since fans know hed never kill someone. The villain could have set him up somehow. But viewers will need to wait until the film hits theaters to get more answers. How to watch My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission when it arrives NEWS: My Hero Academia: World Heroes' Mission Ticket Sales Go Live! MORE: https://t.co/3fowZq2UdP pic.twitter.com/QR1fF35MlW Crunchyroll (@Crunchyroll) October 3, 2021 RELATED: Fall 2021 Anime Which Shows Should You Watch? Whatever unfolds in the new My Hero Academia movie will test Deku and his friends in new ways and allow them to showcase what they learned during their hero internships. Although its not considered canon and wont be necessary to understanding season 6, fans wont want to miss out on its release. Tickets for My Hero Academia: World Heroes Mission are available on Fandango. The film will play exclusively in theaters at first. However, its likely to stream on Funimation when its theatrical run is through. The anime streaming platform has the first two My Hero films in its catalog. Its likely to get the third as well, so fans will want to keep an eye on the platform. Anthony Bourdain was a culinary master who helped American households make healthy scrumptious meals while also bringing awareness to other delicious cuisines worldwide through his show. Throughout his career, Bourdain published about a dozen cookbooks and wrote several articles. Anthony Bourdain | Emma McIntyre/Getty Images Although he made several dishes in his entire career, the star chef had a signature dish that is a French classic. Find out what it is and if the French people make it the same way as Bourdain. Bourdains signature dish was a boeuf bourguignon Bourdain loved amplifying the taste and flavor in various dishes, and his take on the boeuf (beef) bourguignon speaks to how much the chef loved cooking. Bourdain put his own spin on the classic dish of beef stewed in red wine. Although the dish doesnt require complicated or expensive ingredients, it needs patience and time for it to take in the red wine to create incredible flavors. If done the right way, the reward is a hearty, satisfying stew with rich and tender meat, silky red sauce, which highlights the entire plate. The dish can be found in Bourdains Les Halles Cookbook published in 2004. The chef advises anyone making the boeuf bourguignon that if they want to enjoy the meal, even more, they should let it sit until the second day after cooking. The Washington Post quotes the stars instructions as Just cool the stew down in an ice bath, or on your countertop. The publication also quotes Bourdain as making a joke about the Health Department not being likely to get a call to your kitchen if you leave out one pot of stew. The quote continues, Refrigerate overnight. When time, heat and serve. Bourdain recommends pairing the boeuf bourguignon with a few boiled potatoes and also suggests adding a nice bottle of Cote de Nuit Villages Pommard in the setup. If youre considering making this tasty meal, its best to make it ahead to maximize the flavor. The stew holds well in the refrigerator for three days and can stay in the freezer for approximately two months. How to make Anthony Bourdains boeuf bourguignon When making Bourdains signature dish, youll need 2 pounds of boneless beef shoulder cut into 2 inch thick pieces, kosher salt, freshly ground black pepper, a quarter cup of olive oil, and four medium thinly sliced onions. Youll also require two tablespoons of all-purpose flour, a cup of red wine, six medium carrots cut into one-inch pieces, a clove of garlic, a bouquet of herbs (thyme parsley and bay leaves), and water. Before preparing your meal, its best to pat it dry and season it generously with salt. Set the oven on high heat and heat your olive oil until it shimmers. Put the meat in batches, avoid moving it around much, searing it until well browned, and then transfer it to a plate. Reduce the heat and cook the onions until they turn golden brown before adding your flour and letting it thicken. Add wine and return the meat once the wine begins to boil. Then add your vegetables, herbs, and water and leave uncovered. If it starts to stick, add some water and let it create a thick, rich sauce. Once its done, get rid of the bouquet garni, taste for correct seasoning, and adjust if desired. Finish off with a parsley garnish and serve. Boeuf bourguignon is a French dish Boeuf bourguignon has a long history that extends to the Middle Ages. The dish originates from the Bourgogne region in France, which roughly translates to Burgundy. The area is known for its good wine, which provides the perfect combination for this dish. Bourdain suggests cooking the meal with Pinot Noir, which is the same wine the French usually use while making the boeuf bourguignon. The dish has undergone several modifications over the years, but Bourdains recipe tries to stay true to its origin. RELATED: Roadrunner: How Anthony Bourdain Went From Unknown Chef to Cultural Icon Oscar Isaac is a popular name now, but before his big break, he was looking for a way to slip through the industry. Like how some actors do, Isaac once thought changing his name would be key to getting the work he desired. But there was a time when the name-change did more harm than good to his career. How Oscar Isaac became a star Oscar Isaac | Rich Fury/Getty Images Oscar Isaacs full name is Oscar Isaac Hernandez Estrada. He was born in Guatemala City, where his father moved to for medical school from Washington DC. It was there Isaacs father, Oscar senior, met his mother in Eugenia. A couple of months after his birth, Isaac moved with his family back to America so Oscar senior could complete his residencies. His father would later go on to become a pulmonologist. The acting bug first got a hold of him at age 11, where he was featured in a biblical play. According to his interview with Esquire, Isaac loved acting because of the extreme nature of putting yourself out there in front of a bunch of people. After toying with the ideas of joining the Marines, and a musical career, Isaac fully committed to acting after applying for the prestigious Juilliard. He attended the school with Oscar nominee Jessica Chastain, but even when he got into Juilliard, Isaac faced his fair share of hurdles. In the second year they would do cuts, Isaac said. If you dont do better they kick you out. All the acting teachers wanted me on probation because they didnt think I was trying hard enough. But this only inspired Isaac to do better. Eventually, he graduated from Juilliard and was able to land an agent. As he started getting roles, however, Isaac realized his full name was impeding his success. This meant it was time for a change. Oscar Isaac had to change his name to get more roles In the same interview with Esquire, Isaac revealed that he dropped Hernandez from his name when he arrived at Juilliard. The name change was significant, as it helped Isaac avoid getting typecasted because of his heritage. When I was in Miami, there were a couple of other Oscar Hernandezes I would see at auditions, Isaac said. All casting directors would see me for is the gangster or whatever, so I was like, Well, let me see if this helps. Although shortening his name to Isaac did, in fact, afford him more opportunities, it also helped squander one as well. In particular, he lost a chance to feature in a movie directed by Barry Sonnenfield, who also filmed the hit Men In Black. A casting director wanted to bring in Isaac to audition for one of Sonnenfields movies. But Isaac leaving off the Hernandez in his name cost him the chance. And he was like, No, no, no! I just want Cubans, Isaac said about Sonnenfield. I saw Barry Sonnenfield a couple of years ago and I told him that story I dont want a Jew, I want a Cuban! Whether its because of the name change or not, the actor may have succeeded in avoiding being typecasted. His parts in Star Wars, Ex-Mechina, Annihilation, have been roles that werent based on race or ethnicity. His variety in characters not only shows off his acting range, but his innate ability to become one with any character. Is Oscar Isaac still married to his high school sweetheart? Oscar Isaac has kept his love life close to the chest. Yahoo once reported back in 2007 that Isaac proposed to Maria Miranda, who was his childhood sweetheart. In Esquire, Isaac also briefly mentions being in a long-distance relationship with a girlfriend back in his days at Juilliard, who might have been Miranda. Its unclear when and how the couple broke up, but he and Miranda are no longer together. Isaac has been linked to his current wife Elvira Lind as far back as 2015. According to Bustle, Lind and Isaac might have first met at least two years before that. The only clue to this is Linds musical website, Staircase Sessions.com, where Lind describes her, Oscar, and someone named Bruce starting the website in 2013. Isaac eventually married Lind, and the two welcomed a child in 2017. Isaac, who lost his mother around the same time his son was born, was profoundly affected by his fatherhood. In a matter of three months my mother passed and my son was born, Isaac told Esquire. It was really tough because for me she was the only true example of unconditional love. Its painful to know that that wont exist for me anymore, other than me giving it to him. RELATED: Oscar Isaac Chose to Be in The Card Counter Because He Was in Green Screen Space Land Too Long If Saturday Night Live alumnus Chris Farley had not died before completing his part in Shrek, the prickly albeit lovable green ogre would have sounded a whole lot different. The movie itself would have cost millions less to make, as well. How much dialogue did Farley finish before he died, and why did the production price increase? Heres what we know. Farleys demise changed Shrek forever Prior to his idiotic overdose in 1997, Farley had completed somewhere between 80 and 90 percent of his dialogue, explains Consequence Film. If the computer-animated movie turned out to be successfuland it wasDreamWorks expected to make at least one sequel. A change in voice might not have fared well, so producers recast Mike Myers in the starring role. Myers did a remarkable job giving voice to everyones favorite ogre, but he wasnt DreamWorks casting director Leslee Feldmans first choice. Instead, shed selected rotund funnyman Farley who came close to completing the part before tragically passing away. Writers Ted Elliot and Terry Rossio actually had Farley in mind when they came up with the character of Shrek. In fact, the hilarious relationship between Shrek and Donkey was based on the pairing of Farley and David Spade in the 1995 comedy, Tommy Boy. After Farleys premature demise, the script was rewritten with an older, crankier character that wasnt so similar to the late comedian. DreamWorks wanted a voice actor skilled in comedy and found Myers, who co-starred on SNL with Farley, to be a perfect fit, explains Screenrant. Shrek | Getty Images Myers knocked it out of the park, according to Farleys brother, Kevin who said he holds no ill will toward DreamWorks for recasting the part despite the fact that the Farley family never got the chance to hear Chris final work, explains Yahoo Finance. Farleys original dialogue was done with a slight New York tinge to his native Wisconsin accent. When Myers took over, he voiced the part with a distinctly Canadian twist. Then, Myers changed his mind and asked to re-record every word with a Scottish accent, says The Independent. Upon hearing Myers new take on Shrek, producer Jeffrey Katzenberg said, It was so good we took $4 million worth of animation out and did it again, says Fandom. Who is Chris Farley? Born in Madison, Wisconsin on February 15, 1964, Farley used comedy to deflect childhood bullies who mocked him for his weight. The 58 actor used his considerable girth to his advantage and was invited to join Chicagos Second City comedy troupe after graduating from Marquette University. In 1990, producer Lorne Michaels welcomed Farley to join the cast of Saturday Night Live where he kept audiences rolling in the aisles for six years. Farleys many TV and film accomplishments include Waynes World, Coneheads, Dirty Work, and Billy Madison. Interestingly, Farley was almost cast as the lead character in the holiday romp, Elf, but the part eventually went to Will Ferrell. How did Chris Farley die? Farley thought about shedding his excess poundage but worried that if he were thinner, people wouldnt find him as funny. Nonetheless, Farley periodically attended Overeaters Anonymous meetings and often relapsed. Food wasnt Farleys only addiction, though. Like his comedic hero, John Belushi, he did a lot more than merely dabble in drugs and (unlike Belushi) did a brief stint at Hazelden Detox Center shortly before his death, according to Silver Lining Recovery. Farleys friends and co-workers were aware of his drug problems, and many, including Dan Aykroyd, Tom Arnold, and David Spade tried to help him break his addiction. Sadly, their efforts were to no avail, and Farley died the same way Belushi died, from a combination of cocaine and heroin called a speedball. The brilliant man that made the world all laugh as motivational speaker Matt Foley was found dead in his Chicago apartment on December 18, 1997. RELATED: Better Call Saul Star Bob Odenkirk Wrote Chris Farleys Motivational Speaker Saturday Night Live Sketch Dueling quinceaneras take center stage in South Beach Love, a new Hallmark Channel movie premiering Oct. 9. In the Miami-set rom-com, competing chefs duke it out as each caters a relatives 15th birthday celebration. But will their rivalry eventually lead to romance? What is South Beach Love about? William Levy and Taylor Cole in South Beach Love | 2021 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Rod Millington South Beach Love stars Taylor Cole as Sara, a woman who has agreed to cater her nieces quinceanera. Her ex-boyfriend Tony (William Levy) has recently returned to Miami to cater his own nieces party, which will take place the same weekend. Things get sticky when both Sara and Tony find themselves in the running to be featured on the cover of a local magazine. Their families who were once close are also now at odds over the competing celebrations. Sara and Tony both try to outdo the other and put on the most impressive party, but will their rivalry end up leading them back into each others arms? South Beach Love is based on a book by author Caridad Pineiro. South Beach Love is set in Miami, but it wasnt filmed there South Beach Love is set in Miami. But filming for the movie actually took place in a different Florida city St. Petersburg. Levy spoke to Fox 13 about filming in the Gulf Coast city, saying he didnt have much time to explore the area while working on the movie. The Dancing With the Stars alum also revealed that he and his character have some similarities. When I heard about Hallmark offering me this movie, I got really excited because it was a channel that I used to watch a lot when I came from Cuba to learn English, the actor said. I havent done anything like this in my career. This is very close to being who I am in real lifeCuban, and I own two restaurants here in Miami. I love food. I love eating. Giselle Torres and Ariel Yasmine talks about representing Latinx culture on the Hallmark Channel Jessica Pacheco, Giselle Torres, Ariel Yasmine, and Miranda Roldan in South Beach Love | 2021 Crown Media United States LLC/Photographer: Rod Millington Giselle Torres and Ariel Yasmine play Teresa and Lola, the two girls whose birthday celebrations are at the heart of South Beach Love. In a Facebook Live chat on Oct. 8, Torres talked about what made the movie special. Since were celebrating our quinceaneras, I think were telling a story thats so relevant to Hispanic and Latinx culture, so its really cool to be able to represent that on screen, she said. Im Mexican, so quinceaneras are kind of like the biggest deal its really cool to tell that story. Yasmine agreed, saying she was excited to be part of a movie highlighting Cuban-American culture. I think a lot of people dont really realize how diverse Hispanic culture is, she said. Cuban culture is just so different its fun to bring awareness to all the different cultures that we have. South Beach Love airs Saturday, Oct. 9 at 9 p.m. ET on Hallmark Channel. Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook! RELATED: You Had Me at Aloha: Was the New Hallmark Movie Filmed in Hawaii? Article Highlights: Director Hwang Dong-hyuk said the main characters were named after his childhood friends The Squid Game cast had a hard time breathing during a scene from episode 1 Hwang Dong-hyuk said theres still story to tell for a possible Squid Game Season 2 Squid Game | Youngkyu Park/Netflix The Squid Game cast and director are experiencing major success after the hit Netflix shows release. The show follows a group of 456 debt-ridden South Korean residents who hope to win a series of six childrens games for cash but losing leads to instant death. According to director Hwang Dong-hyuk, a few of the actors had difficulty breathing in one of the first scenes of the show. Is Squid Game based on a true story? Director Hwang Dong-hyuk has personal ties While the events that happen in the Netflix series certainly arent real, is Squid Game based on a true story at all? Director Hwang Dong-hyuk took personal experiences to bring the characters to life. And the Squid Game cast continues to receive praise for their excellent, true-to-life acting. CNN reports Hwang called the lead, Seong Gi-hun, and his childhood friend, Cho Sang-woo, his inner clones, as theyre named after his childhood friends he had in real life. They represent the two sides of me, Hwang noted. Like Gi-hun, I was raised by a single mother in a financially troubled environment in Ssangmun-dong, he explained. At the same time, like Sang-woo, I went to Seoul National University and my entire neighborhood praised me and had high expectations of me. Hwang Dong-hyuk said the Squid Game cast had difficulty breathing in 1 scene Director Hwang Dong-hyuk sat with a few members of the Squid Game cast to discuss filming the show. And he noted the cast had difficulty breathing during one scene in the beginning of the series. In episode 1, the group of 456 players all gather together in their new living quarters. A confrontation breaks out between Kang Sae-byeok, the North Korean pickpocket, and the villainous Jang Deok-su. Then, Gi-hun steps in to also point out that Sae-byeok stole a ton of money from him after he gambled on horse racing. I remember you really struggled in there, Hwang told Gi-hun actor Lee Jung-jae. He then pointed out the green tracksuits the actors had to wear. That outfit is not made for sports. Its like the material of old gym clothes. So, with 300 people, it got really dusty in there. It was hard to breathe. Some actors faces even turned red because of allergies. Will season 2 happen? Actor Lee Jung-Jae as Seong Gi-Hun in Netflixs Squid Game I Youngkyu Park/Netflix Fans want to know if Hwang has any plans for Squid Game Season 2. Initially, Hwang said hed have to think long and hard before inviting the Squid Game cast back for another run. I dont have well-developed plans for Squid Game 2, the director told Variety. It is quite tiring just thinking about it. But if I were to do it, I would certainly not do it alone. Id consider using a writers room and would want multiple experienced directors. With that said, it seems Hwang is now considering the possibility even more. Writing, producing and directing a series alone was really such a big task, he told CNN. When I think about doing the same for season two, Im personally kind of worried. Theres nothing confirmed at the moment, but so many people are enthusiastic that Im really contemplating it. Check out Showbiz Cheat Sheet on Facebook! RELATED: Is the Squid Game a Real Korean Childrens Game? Viewers who have become fans of Wi Ha-joon from the Netflix Korean drama Squid Game got a special treat. The actor was featured on the cover of the Oct. issue for Mens Health Korea, displaying his washboard and impressive physique. Fans have gotten a sneak peek of Wis chiseled abs in another K-drama, but his Mens Health photoshoot gave fans more than they could have imagined. Wis social media and global fame are thanks to his role and the success of what Netflix co-CEO calls their most successful K-drama. Gracing the cover of Mens Health Korea is a huge accomplishment as previous actors and K-Pop idols include Wonho, Taecyeon, and more. Squid Game actor Wi Ha-Joon for Mens Health Korea | via Mens Health Korea Wi Ha-hoon makes the transition from romance to suspensful Squid Game Wi Ha-joon is aware his K-drama fan base recognizes him for his romantic roles on the small-screen. He starred in Romance is a Bonus Book and 17 Again, two popular K-dramas for their romance storylines. His Netflix Squid Game character is a deviation that he wanted to see happen. In an interview with Variety, Wi explains he is more grounded and serious in real life. Im a fan of the darker genres, so the transition to Squid Game was the time for me to take advantage of my strength, explained Wi. The actor also explains he does method acting and reflects the genre he is working on in real life. If it is a romance, he will become more lively. When it came to Squid Game, he remained more reserved and neutral. Wi also had to get used to a shift in his fan base that have developed a crush on the actor. Wi Ha-joon shows off his physique in Mens Health Korea RELATED: Squid Game: Wi Ha-Joon Explains What Round He Would Be Eliminated In Actors and K-Pop idols who are well-known or have amassed significant buzz on social media will likely land on the cover or in the pages of Mens Health Korea. In 2021, solo artist Wonho shocked fans with his Captain America style physique on the cover of the March issue. Like many before him, Wi had fans picking their jaws off the floor with his Mens Health Korea photoshoot. Talking to Variety, the actor is overjoyed with the photos but also feels a level of shame. Wi never expected social media and fans to become so enamored by them. If I had known that it would blow up as much as it has, I wouldve worked out more and put in more time to appear better, physically, in front of fans, explains Wi. The actor had the same blushing reaction to the photos as his fans. But he explains there is a sense of pride behind them. I was actually born a very skinny kid; before joining the military. I was at about 125 pounds, said Wi. Anyone into psychical fitness would understand the dedication and training required to put on muscle and maintain it. The Squid Game actor is a fan of Netflixs D.P. RELATED: D.P.: Jung Hae-In Teases a Second Season Is in the Works The Swoon gathered the cast of Squid Game and had them play a fun game of Netflix Bingo. The actors had to guess each others favorite Netflix original series and hopefully win with a loud Bingo! The game revealed that Wi is a fan of another Netflix original K-drama. Wi had recently watch D.P. starring actor Jung Hae-in. The actor explains he, too, had served in the military and felt a connection to its storyline. Regarding the graphic displays of mistreatment by superiors in the K-drama, Wi explains he could have only imagined what it was like for soldiers who served before him. In the military, Wi served as an MP (military police). The Handmaids Tale stands as one of Hulus most popular shows and one of the biggest streaming successes of all time. Based on the novels by Margaret Atwood, the show follows Elisabeth Moss June, a woman forced into slavery as a Handmaid within the totalitarian theocracy of Gilead, which replaced the United States. Over the course of four seasons, weve seen June and others struggle to fight back against the overwhelming power of the Gilead government while dealing with the irreversible trauma inflicted upon them by the agents of the state. Now, as The Handmaids Tale prepares for its fifth season, the chief creatives are starting to hint that this may be the end of the line for the series. Reportedly, the shows next season might be its last Digital Spy and Radio Times both have word from Hulu head, Jordan Helman, indicating that the series might be coming to an end in the near future. Helman recently made a statement talking about how he and the people behind The Handmaids Tale are now actively in discussions about how the show should end. This comes less than a year after the Christmastime confirmation of a fifth season, which is currently in production and without a release date. While Helman did not specifically state that season 5 would end the show, the timing would indicate its at least on the table. That, plus the rather harrowing end to season 4, could mean the series is prepared to go out with a bang. That said, the potential for more seasons after the fifth is still possible, as Helman himself was quoted as saying they could make one season, two seasons or more so long as the story had a satisfying conclusion. The Handmaids Tale producers say that figuring out how to end the show right is whats most important Elisabeth Moss in The Handmaids Tale | Sophie Giraud/Hulu One of the reasons Helman and others havent given a definitive answer as to whether season 5 will be the end is that they want to avoid committing before the story is fully over. Everyone on the production side of the series has centered the integrity of the show as opposed to ending it for the sake of ending it. Helman has said theyre trying to find a way to do the ending in a creative fashion that feels organic, a sentiment echoed by showrunner Bruce Miller not long before. Rather than cancel it after season 5 or keep it going for years past its natural conclusion, theyre letting the writing process determine when it would be best to call it quits. As a result, no one is sure if the fifth season will be the finale just yet, though Helman did add, I imagine were going to be able to answer that question in the coming months. Right now, the series has well surpassed Atwoods original book and its recent sequel in terms of story events, so theyre not a good place to look for a conclusion. The writers and other creatives are working on their own to continue and eventually finish the series, so the conclusion will ultimately be in their hands. Season 5 is set to be big enough for a finale What do you think Commander Lawrence has up his sleeve for Season 5? pic.twitter.com/JJM6ZemxCI The Handmaid's Tale (@HandmaidsOnHulu) August 20, 2021 While details are sparse so far, it stands to reason that what could be the final season of The Handmaids Tale will have a lot lined up in the coming episodes. For many, the most pressing thing to address is Junes violent decision that capped off the last season and how everyone will deal with the fallout. Theres also the strong possibility of a return to Gilead after a season spent primarily in Canada, as well as some major shake ups to the Gilead governments power structure. RELATED: The Handmaids Tale Season 5: When Could the New Season Premiere? This March 6 photo shows vials of Johnson & Johnson COVID-19 vaccine at a pharmacy in Denver. Johnson & Johnson has asked U.S. regulators to allow booster shots of its COVID-19 vaccine as the U.S. government moves toward shoring up protection in more vaccinated Americans. J&J said on Oct. 5 it filed data with the Food and Drug Administration on giving a booster dose between two to six months after vaccination. The island of Haiti is in crisis. In the past year, a devastating earthquake, Tropical Storm Grace, COVID-19, and the assassination of the Haitian President Jovenel Moise on July 7 has led to dire circumstances in the hometown Les Cayes of a Cheshire pastor and he is reaching out to his fellow neighbors for help. Pastor Lubin Jean Beaucejour of White Oak Baptist Church has made over 20 trips back down to his hometown in Haiti in the past few years, and each time he is devastated to see the tragedy unfold around him. More-developed countries forget that, when they are struggling, places like Haiti have it even worse, he explained. With my most recent trip, (we saw that) there isnt even a group on the ground like the Red Cross or something like that because some of the villages are just so remote. Theyre cut off from what little help they can get. At the beginning of September, Beaucejour and his wife were in Les Cayes to provide much-needed medical attention to victims of the August 24 earthquake, which registered a 7.2 magnitude, and Tropical Storm Grace, which followed shortly after. The epicenter of the earthquake appeared to be very close to Les Cayes. The storm and earthquake are estimated to have taken over 2,000 Haitian lives, according to Beaucejour. Its dire down there, he explained. I thought they would have something set up, some kind of national response, but we were it. We went from just trying to support the efforts down there to literally being all that they had. His most recent trip to the island lasted a week, during which he and other members of his team helped establish medical units, built hospitals, and provided necessary medical care to those who have been suffering. When Beaucejour goes to Haiti on his various mission trips, he is sure to bring a team of dedicated individuals, many from Cheshire, who can assist him in bringing much-needed aid to the area. The money that Cheshire residents donate is going straight to building hospitals and providing aid to everyone who needs it, he explained. Normally, there is a middle-man, or sometimes 60% of the money will go to the cause (and the rest) will go to administrative costs, but that isnt the case with me. All of the money we collect goes directly to Haiti and what they need down there. Beaucejours organization, called BEM (Bethesda Evangelical Mission) Haiti, was established in 1984 with its home base in Cheshire. BEM Haitis goal is to provide Haitians with life skills and education, and to prevent disease and malnutrition from spreading throughout many communities. Beaucejour has seen the generosity from Cheshire residents firsthand, and hopes that they are willing to help his community out once more. The Cheshire community has been amazing to us, he said. We couldnt thank them enough for what they have already provided, and we hope to continue the life-saving work down there. To donate, or for mission trip info, visit bemhaiti.org or call White Oak Baptist Church at (203) 272-6344. This week, Francis Collins, the director of the National Institutes of Health, announced that he would retire at the end of the year. An evangelical Christian who previously worked as the head of the Human Genome Project, Collins 2009 appointment still drew scorn. From a 2010 profile in the New Yorker: Collins read in the Times that many of his colleagues in the scientific community believed that he suffered from dementia. Steven Pinker, a cognitive psychologist at Harvard, questioned the appointment on the ground that Collins was an advocate of profoundly anti-scientific beliefs. P. Z. Myers, a biologist at the University of Minnesota at Morris, complained, I dont want American science to be represented by a clown. Nevertheless, Collins served under three presidential administrations. During the pandemic, Collins has spoken out a number of times in his efforts to dispel misconceptions about the virus and vaccine. Prior to his term at the NIH, Collins was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. He also wrote the best-selling book, The Language of God: A Scientist Presents Evidence for Belief, which won a CT Book Award. Elaine Howard Ecklund joined global media manager Morgan Lee and editorial director Ted Olsen to discuss Collinss legacy in the scientific and Christian communities. What is Quick to Listen? Read more. Rate Quick to Listen on Apple Podcasts Follow the podcast on Twitter Follow this week's hosts on Twitter: Morgan Lee and Ted Olsen Music by Sweeps Quick to Listen is produced Morgan Lee and Matt Linder The transcript is edited by Faith Ndlovu Highlights from Quick to Listen: Episode #283 Your books are very good especially about questions about what religious people, particularly conservative Christians think about science and what scientists think about religion including conservative evangelicals like Francis Collins. How often did Francis Collins's name come up in your research? Did it come up more among Christians interested in science or among scientists interested in talking about religious folks? Elaine Ecklund: Francis Collins is a prominent figure in the scientific community. He's had many years as we know of the NIH, which is the National Institutes of Health, the largest biomedical research agency in the world. But before that, he was head of the Human Genome Project and had a major part in mapping the human genome. He is a prominent scientist, not even just in the US but globally, but I didn't set out to ask people what they thought about Francis Collins. My broader research initially was about what scientists in the US in different disciplines think about religion, ethics, and values and how they thought religion conflicted or didn't with what they understand of science. I was surprised when scientists themselves mentioned such prominent, scientific figures like Collins, often both scientists who were not themselves non-religious and scientists who were religious and specifically scientists who are committed Christians. They mentioned Francis a lot and the other scientist that they mentioned a lot is Richard Dawkins, who is the very well-known former Oxford university professor who is the author of The God Delusion. When they talked about scientists did the religious people have a concept of folks like Francis Collins operating in the making of major breakthroughs like the human genome project, or some of the work that he had done on Cystic Fibrosis and genes and all that kind of thing. Was he prominent in Christians talking about science? Elaine Ecklund: I wish he was more so. I did this study of scientists and what they think about religion. They knew all kinds of scientists including other famous scientists and they had a lot to say about Francis in particular and what he thinks in terms of his faith. Article continues below That led me to another interesting research question, which is, what do religious people think about science and specifically, what do Christians think about science and scientists? My colleague, Christopher Scheitle, and I set out to understand that set of questions and we did a little survey experiment. We introduced information about Francis Collins who's a very committed Christian and we introduced information to our respondents about Richard Dawkins, who is a very committed and outspoken atheist, and champion of what some called the new atheist. We found that actually, most people didn't know of either Francis Collins or Richard Dawkins. We were very surprised. So I thought there are people in the general public who don't know about Richard Dawkins or Francis Collins. But another layer of findings was that when they did get information about these two and their backgrounds and particularly their views on religion, the general public thought that Dawkins was much more typical than Collins. So they thought Dawkins is what they see as a typical scientist, a very committed outspoken atheist, and Collins is fairly atypical and further yet when they were introduced with information about Collins, they then were a bit less likely to see a conflict between religions and science. So most people don't know about these famous scientists, most people who when they do hear about them, think Dawkins is more typical, but Collins does have some power in helping people see less of a conflict between science and religion. Ted Olsen: Learning about Dawkins doesn't change people's perception of the relationship between science and religion and that's largely because people maybe have a slightly negative view of the religion and science relationship but talking about Collins does say I guess that there is more collaboration possible with religion and science. Is that right? Elaine Ecklund: Exactly. This is something that has a lot of public input, potentially, especially both in the science and the faith community. The public trust in science is really important and we see that with the vaccine and some of my research has shown that it's not so much that the public doesn't trust science it's that they don't trust scientists as a people group. They think that they might not share the same values that the general public does and especially religious people and particularly evangelical Christians are especially hesitant about trust and scientists. My colleagues and I started thinking, how could you start to solve that? Maybe based on these Collins findings, if there are scientists we share an identity with, where we're both Christians and I'm a scientist and you're not, maybe because we share that Christian identity, you will be likely to trust what I have to say scientifically. So I started thinking about the possibility of using these social science findings to do some more intervention work within particular kinds of faith communities. When someone becomes a star or a celebrity scientist, does that necessarily reflect on how mainstream they are within the scientific community themselves? Elaine Ecklund: With relationship to Collins in my first study of scientists, attitudes towards religion, when Collins was brought up without me even priming people or asking them directly about him, he was brought up mostly in a neutral or positive light. He's done amazing scientific work, but he also has this Christian personal private thing on the side. So the sort of independence model of seeing the science and faith relationship. I may think he's kind of kooky personally, but I'm fine with his scientific work, I respect him. Or people thought that Collins was able to relate to a piece of the general public, the religious general public that other scientists were not and they were kind of pleased by that so were grateful for someone out there like Collins who relates to them when they could not. When Richard Dawkins was brought up, his scientific work was also very much respected by other scientists as far as I could tell but some scientists, even atheist scientists themselves wondered about Dawkins' relationship to the public and especially if it potentially was harming the public's relationship to the scientific community, Article continues below Because of his faith? Elaine Ecklund: Because Dawkins is so outspoken in his atheism, giving scientists a bad name, thinking that all atheist scientists are out to eat young Christians for lunch, that they are totally against religion and religious people. That was partly why I wrote the book with David Johnson, The Varieties of Atheism in Science because I think the stereotypes the public has of atheist scientists are not true either according to our research. Going back to that first research you did on the perceptions of religious folks by scientists, you found that in biology and somewhat in physics, there is some religious discrimination in the biology world of the sciences where people say that isnt just imagined by religious people. But then that also seems to be happening in some of the academies? Elaine Ecklund: Chris Shuttle and I do have a couple of journal articles where we're talking about forms of religious discrimination or perceived religious discrimination in the academy. There are different kinds of professions in society and some professions might preference religious people. We find that in some other research, but academic science, in particular, doesn't appear to preference religious people and people who are religious, particularly in Muslims and evangelical Christians who are in the US science community, do perceive that they are sometimes experience othering or discrimination when compared to more secular scientists or atheist scientists. Connecting your research earlier, where you introduced information about Francis Collins to religious folks and said, what are your views now? And they kind of moved along that spectrum to say, maybe these things are not in as much conflict, do you think the attention on Francis Collins has had over the years as head of NIH has moved the dial in terms of scientists' perceptions of evangelicals in especially biological sciences? Elaine Ecklund: I do think in the science community he's moved the dial that people that I have interviewed for my research now say, at least those who know of him say, it seems possible to be a committed Christian, a scientist even if they think those things should be kept strictly separate. You should never talk about your faith in the workplace. I think it's another question to ask about religious people and particularly evangelical Christians who seem to have entrenched stereotypes of scientists and who they are and are so convinced that they make such a strict boundary; some types of Christians between scientists and themselves, and just can't even conceive that scientists could also be persons of faith. I know Francis Collins himself has tried so much to convince people otherwise, to convince kids who are Christians to go into science, to convince people in churches that they should have talks about science. He started this amazing organization; Biologos, which is now run by Deb Haarsma. The whole purpose of that organization is to show the Christian Church that science is completely compatible with the Christian faith. There's so much that he's done personally, but I think the social science research would show that everyday people probably are going to be most influenced by the scientists in their congregations. Article continues below Francis is kind of out there. He can be seen as a kind of atypical compare because he's so elite and has done so much but everyday people need to know someone who's in their relational circle, who's a scientist. That's where the rub is and so maybe Francis makes other scientists who are in congregations more courageous, but it's the scientists in the pews, next to people who are non-scientists who need to learn how to talk more about their work and the compatibility between their faith and their scientific work. When do you first remember Francis Collins coming on your radar? In what ways do you remember that happening? Was that from his Christian bent or do you remember him because of his work in the scientific? Elaine Ecklund: That's hard to tell because I've been studying the interface between the scientific and religious communities for about 15 years and it's hard for me to remember when I didn't know about Francis Collins. I also picked up his book, The Language of God when it first came out and read it right through because I was already starting to study the scientific community and their views on faith and ethics and values so he was very much a part of that as well. What do you remember when you read that book? What stood out to you? Elaine Ecklund: Francis is very good at telling a compelling story. Ted is right, that he has a kind of shocking humility about him and I think that comes through in the book. He does tell the story about his journey towards faith through a patient who was dying and just the impact that the patient he was caring for had on his consideration of faith. There was a kind of winsome humility about that that stuck out for me and the book. I didn't come to that book because I have personal struggles with what I think about evolution. I've never really struggled with whether or not evolution is the best way to explain the development of life on earth and don't find it incompatible for me personally, with the Christian faith. But his story and his ability to connect with others, it's clear that he is comfortable in his humanness and doesn't need to be viewed as above others or better than others. I think that that came out in the book and connected to me in a very personal way. He has a kind of genuineness about him that I'd like to model in my own life. So I think that's kind of what came through to me in the book. Looking at Collins work around evolution, what type of impact has that had on how he has been viewed? Maybe you can start by sharing what his convictions about evolution are and what he's done in that work and then give us a better sense of the public reception, both from Christians and from his fellow scientists. Ted Olsen: Yeah, a magazine covered Francis Collins resignation as director of the National Institutes of Health, and part of the article mentioned that Collins professes faith in Jesus Christ but also in evolution as God's means of creating the world and it talked about his views of Genesis as lyrical, allegorical and ahistorical. What is his legacy as a guy eager to promote evolution especially to evangelicals? Elaine Ecklund: When he started Biologos, this was a major issue in Christian circles, there were a lot of books about evolution written by Christian thinkers during that time. This was when we were really in the whole debate about intelligent design and evolution, the 2005 school board decisions, and things like that. This was a major piece of the culture wars at that time. So I think Francis coming out in the way that he did and speaking openly about his Christian faith and relationship to his work as a scientist and his perspective on evolution, that evolution is compatible with his Christian faith, drew both praise and ire from both the Christian community and the scientific community. Article continues below So there are ways in which particular folks in the scientific community have placed a lot of stake in seeing Christians as being against evolution, against scientific work. But then there also were folks in the Christian community who met him with suspicion and said, is he a real Christian? I'm not embedded in the kind of science circles that of course Collins is embedded in but I have surveyed over 40,000 scientists globally. So, I've maybe talked to more scientists than many scientists themselves have through my work as a social scientist and I have never heard anyone say anything negative about Collins scientific work, so I do think that he is the kind of scientific elite that doesn't draw much criticism for his scientific work. I have heard folks say negative things about his faith in both scientific and Christian circles. Talking a little more about Francis Collins story, did he succeed in part because he was able to establish some creds and that set him apart from some of the hot button issues that people identify with among other evangelicals? For instance, he has been known for his work with Biologos. He was also outspoken about his Christian faith but at the same time, he pushed for a loosening of the rules on stem cell research or on fetal tissue research which seems like it may have put some folks at ease and may have distanced himself from some. Elaine Ecklund: Yeah, he is an interesting mix of what one could think of is having liberal and conservative political views in some ways. There is a sense where he is so atypical that one has to stand up and take notice. I also know that from interviewing many scientists. that he has been a real champion for increasing the diversity of people who enter science and outspoken that he wouldn't be on any normal panels with just men. People sadly do not expect Christian leaders to be a champion for the rights and the full humanness of people who are outside of their Christian faith and that's very sad because I think our faith compels us to be a champion for all. So, I was always so happy when scientists said that when I wasn't even asking them what Collins thinks about issues of diversity. I talked with several African-American scientists who had known Collins and these black scientists were one in particular who talked about Collins's pain of racial injustice within the science community. I'm certain he's not perfect, but in the era in which he was coming up, I think he was trying to push boundaries in ways that are distinctively Christian. If you've met him personally, the way he interacts with people is kind of shocking. He just immediately puts the person speaking to him at ease. I don't mean to imply that being a Christian, it doesn't matter what we think about moral issues, but he has a kind of broad set of moral issues that he's concerned about that makes him distinctive. Ted Olsen: For sure and just for some of our listeners to understand, when he came in there was a study about NIH that said that black scientists were 13 percentage points less likely than whites to get first-tier awards for grants. Elaine Ecklund: Yeah. The early investigator awards. Ted Olsen: Yeah, and he just poured millions of dollars into a mentoring program, into an undergraduate program for minorities and a science journal says that the annual number of black investigators, more than doubled from 2013 to 2018 to 113 and he says we've got a lot further to go, but people are saying there's actual movement here and Collins helped to push it. As you mentioned, he also has said he will not be on any panel that has only men which is remarkable. He says it's not just a nice thing to do, we have to have more diversity in sciences because that's how science progresses with greater productivity and greater creativity. Article continues below We had a colleague here who has a son who's interested in going into the hard sciences and he had read Collins' book and he just sent Collins a letter saying, I read this book. I was inspired by it. I want to be a scientist when I graduate. He got like a personal letter from Collins, a very busy guy who works at the NIH, very busy guy. You just hear this from person after person that he takes the time for individuals. Forget the jumps he has made with the human genome and attacking cancer cell genes and all these things. How does he have the time to take the time for people while he's doing all of these things? Any insight you have on that at all? Elaine Ecklund: I don't know him at that level. I've talked to him several times and I joined what must be a large group of people I'm to infer from what you said, who've received a personally written letter from Francis. I do think that his ethic leads him to prioritize personal relationships. I'm imagining he also has a very capable staff and knows how to delegate. He's mentioned just adoring his staff and you get the sense that he treats the people who work with him very well and honors them. He prioritizes these kinds of personal communications and connections over other things. If you're only about making your name for yourself in scientific work, obviously you might think it's important that others go into science, but that one kid who's interested in science is not the way you're going to make a name for yourself by writing that person a letter and so I can't help but think part of it is because of his particular ethic of regarding others as highly as himself frankly. What type of controversies or blind spots you have seen in Collins career and how has he handled those? Elaine Ecklund: It's hard for me to know. I don't know that I have followed his career well. I do think I too am aware of particular kinds of Christian outlets wondering whether Collins had done the right kind of moral reflection on human embryonic stem cell research. But then again, I've also been in seminars with him and heard him speak openly and say that Christian reflection and theological reflection on the future of human repair and genetic technologies and human embryonic stem cell research is so needed and a place where the church can make a real distinctive contribution. So, I don't think, I know I've heard him say these things publicly, so he does seem to know that just because we could create something scientifically does not mean that we should use it or advance it or push it. He understands that our moral reflection very rarely has caught up to what we're capable of doing with the kinds of scientific technologies that we have available. I've heard him make that point publicly several times, but I think that certain groups of Christians critiqued Collins for not being more outspoken against certain kinds of scientific technologies. Talking about the pandemic, which has made a number of folks who work in science and public health rather polemic, and Collins has been very much out in front speaking in many ways toward Christians in particular about the truth about the virus, the vaccine, he spoke through some platforms that were here at CT. Did you observe at all what type of message he was pushing and the extent to which it was being received by Christians? Article continues below Elaine Ecklund: I think Collins has been saddened that white evangelical Christians have been one of the groups that have been most resistant in the US to getting vaccinated and so I think in some ways that that has saddened him, and he has been part of some efforts that I know of to try to reach out to Christians in particular. That saddened me as well. I've been part of efforts to reach out to two Christian groups and try to encourage them to get vaccinated. Collins has openly expressed this. We do have a history of the scientific community and the US government being involved in the Tuskegee syphilis experiments and things like that. So, there is a sense where certain types of communities, particularly black communities, and to some extent, Hispanic communities seem to have less trust in science and scientists, but Christians in those communities are not leading the way in resistance to vaccination. So, I think Collins has tried hard to get into Christian communities or speak to them when he can. Morgan Lee: Yeah. I just know, Fauci has been someone else who's been at the forefront of these conversations as well and I didn't know, perhaps there had been any difference in the reception that you've seen someone like Fauci get compared to someone like Collins specifically within the Christian community. Elaine Ecklund: One effort I know of Collins tried to make videos and be part of efforts to reach the Christian community in particular. Fauci at least, as far as I know, has not said that he's a Christian or anything as far as I know maybe you all know something different than I do. He hasn't talked from that perspective. So, I do think given what I know that Collins would have perhaps a better chance of reaching the Christian community than someone like Fauci would. I keep wondering though if research would point to that it's the everyday scientist, the kind of scientists that a person knows in the congregation that needs to be the one to speak up, the scientists you have a relationship with or share a very intimate connection with, rather than the scientist that is kind of the elite out there. There's a kind of mistrust of elites right now in our society broadly and I wonder, especially in scientific leads if part of the response to the vaccine has something to do with that. It's very hard to tell this for sure, through scientific social scientific research, but I keep wondering that. Ted Olsen: What has Francis Collins done as the head of the NIH? Everyone seems to talk about him being a really big idea guy, whether you're talking about the cancer moonshot under Biden, or you're talking about the human genome project before it went to the NIH or the brain research work that he's done that is pretty significant in terms of tools to figure out how neural circuits work, he's done a lot of work at NIH across a lot of different sciences. A lot of big scientific projects are built on smaller-scale research. Is there a lesson from Collins, especially when you're talking about public funding when you're talking about what the NIH should do, how the government can accelerate, empower, or fund sciences? Is there some sort of indication that the role of the NIH and the role of government funding of science has changed in the last decade under Collins? Elaine Ecklund: I don't know that I would know for what I do, whether or not historically how the role of government funding has changed, but they're certain is outside involvement and we're like a sort of entrepreneurial science, which I think you've got like the Elon Musk types and stuff like that, that's a whole other separate conversation but corporate interests in science, science, and funding, but for the point of view of some in the scientific community there is a sense that there's not enough emphasis on small bench science and startup grants and things like that, that it's kind of go big or go home. Article continues below So, the big projects are the ones that maybe people are more likely to fund and how do we think about basic research that is not as applicable to very practical things that are going on, not as applicable to medicine, the national institutes of health have a very specific mission. So I don't think that's something we can critique Collins work because that's the type of thing that he does is health-based research so it necessarily has to have some kind of practical application, but there is perhaps a kind of devaluing in some of these government agencies of the type of basic research that leads to these big breakthroughs that have an impact on everyday people's health outcomes. That's something that many scientists do say I know for my research. Ted Olsen: The reason that came to mind was just thinking about the big dramatic programs contrasting with what we were mentioning before about humility. I've never worked with Collins my way but just reading everyone saying he is humble, he treats his people well. I just kept being struck by how he did a lot of big things but he also was focused on the people. Especially those who were not in the room and also the people who were in the room, making sure that they're taken care of. So I thought that was something to emulate at least. Elaine Ecklund: I hear what you're saying. The structure of big science is stacked against cultivating the virtue of humility. So there is a sense where succeeding in science can be about making a name for oneself but the best and biggest science always involves teams. It's never really just one PI It's always the tons of people who work with that principal investigator. So I can't help but think that's where Collins was perhaps distinctively Christian in his terms, his way of understanding his faith, that he seemed to understand how to connect with others in a way that also elevated them. Again, I say that not knowing everyone Collins has worked within any kind of deep way, but when I interviewed people who have worked with him, I don't think they would need to want to try to impress me with that or anyway. The interviews were confidential, that did seem to come out that that was just the kind of ethics of care that he has. As we close this conversation, you know, science is not the only industry or environment out there where Christians are challenged to build the trust of their colleagues and others in that world. What would you like people who do work in those spaces to take away either from your research or from the example of Collins about what they can do to build trust with folks? Elaine Ecklund: If you're a Christian working in an environment with people who don't share your faith, to have a real ethical influence, you have to believe in the potential goodness of the institution and of the people who work in that environment. I've done some other work with Denise Daniels about faith in the workplace broadly and in different kinds of occupations and there is the sense where you can't just think of yourself as calm kind of subversive agent. You have to think there's already good going on in the institution. There are already people who could be aligned partners in a more ethical and just workplace. So as Christians we need to look for those partners rather than assuming that there are people who are always against us that there's nothing good going on until we get there. There's a redemptive mindset that one needs to have. 6K make professions of faith at Greg Laurie's 1st SoCal Harvest since COVID-19 Evangelist pays tribute to Marine killed in Afghanistan Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment More than 6,000 people made professions of faith as evangelist and megachurch pastor Greg Laurie resumed his ministry's annual outreach event in Southern California, SoCal Harvest, Sunday after a gap of one year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. SoCal Harvest drew over 40,000 people to Angel Stadium in Anaheim and 200,000 online, according to a statement released by Harvest. The night featured performances from Christian artists for King & County and Phil Wickham and a Gospel message from Laurie, the senior pastor of the multi-campus Harvest Christian Fellowship. Preaching on the empty promises of fame, Laurie's sermon underlined that fulfillment could only come from being known by God. "The reason so many seek fame is because deep down inside, we have a desire to make our mark and distinguish ourselves," Laurie told the crowd. "We want our life to count for something. We are seeking significance. The answer is not in fame or more followers on your social media account. The answer is in knowing and following Jesus." The pastor paid tribute to Marine Lance Cpl. Kareem Nikoui, one of the 13 soldiers killed in a terror attack in Afghanistan on Aug. 26. Nikoui attended a Harvest Crusade in 2016, where he and his family gave their lives to Christ. Nikoui's funeral was held at Harvest's Riverside campus and officiated by Laurie. "Kareem went to Heaven because he put his faith in Christ," Laurie said during the evangelistic event. "And that's the hope that the Christian has." After his sermon, Laurie invited attendees to make a public profession of faith. "You're noticed by God. You're loved by God. And your life can have significance," said Laurie. "No matter what sin you have committed, God will forgive you tonight if you will ask for his forgiveness." Over 600 radio outlets nationwide broadcasted the event livestreamed on over 100 Facebook pages. The event was aided by volunteers from over 170 Southern California churches. Laurie, who came to faith as a teenager during the Jesus Movement of the '60s and '70s, founded the large outreach events called Harvest Crusades in the 1990s with Pastor Chuck Smith. Since then, Harvest has held crusades in large stadiums worldwide, seeking to bring people to Christ. It has become the longest-running crusade outreach in the U.S. According to the ministry, over 8 million have attended those crusades in person, while millions more have participated online. The ministry reports that over 700,000 people have made professions of faith in Christ through Harvest outreaches. After a long year filled with lockdowns and restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, Laurie told The Christian Post last month that resuming SoCal Harvest as an in-person event "means a lot to everybody." "With this pandemic, all the wrong things are up. Drug use is up, alcohol use is up, self-harm is up, suicides are up, divorce is up, and it's because people feel down," he said. "And Jesus said, 'Look up because your redemption is drawing near.' I think it's important for us to get together in person because we're better together." 'Pandemic of narcissism': Seminaries respond to the evangelical church leadership crisis Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment This is part 3 of The Christian Post's article series on the crisis of leadership in American evangelicalism. Read part 1 here, read part 2 here and part 4 here. The last few years have seen multiple instances of well-known evangelical leaders entrenched in scandals and misconduct. Some have questioned if seminaries are doing enough to train future pastors to lead churches and disciple their congregations virtuously. Darvin Wallis, a pastor and founder of Mission U Online, an online biblical education resource group, penned a provocative op-ed piece published by The Christian Post earlier this year about the problems facing American evangelical pastoral leadership. "For about three decades now, the evangelical church has embraced corporate leadership paradigms. This has worked wonders for the bottom lines of attendance, giving and the number of reported conversions. Yet, it has also created a crisis in leadership," asserted Wallis, the pastor of Mission Lakewood Church in Colorado. "Church scandals like Bill Hybels, Mark Driscoll and James [MacDonald] are not random anomalies. Scandals are a natural part of the risky corporate leadership structure. We have accepted the corporate, bottom-line goals for the church. We have accepted the corporate personality traits for our church leaders." As part of his critique, Wallis suggested that seminaries which aim to prepare students to become pastors, missionaries and religious leaders are not providing adequate leadership training. "While seminary prepares pastors for scholarship, we graduate with nearly no knowledge on how to practically lead a church," continued Wallis, who received a master of divinity from Denver Seminary. In its place, he argues, things like books and conferences are "helping to create" a "church leadership industry" that is "forming the ethos of the American church." As part of this series on the church leadership crisis, The Christian Post interviewed seminary leaders about how their institutions prepare pastors to lead churches and their take on Wallis' criticism. 'Evangelicalism is in a very problematic place' Mark Labberton, president of Fuller Theological Seminary in Pasadena, California, was ordained in the Presbyterian Church (USA) and had about 30 years of pastoral experience before becoming head of the academic institution founded in 1947 by radio evangelist Charles E. Fuller. Fuller is based in Pasadena and has satellite campuses in Arizona and Colorado. Labberton, who has led the seminary since 2013, believes that the "cultures of many churches and denominations or networks" will often deprioritize a "transformative life" and focus more on "cleverness and shiny objects." "The caverns that exist between the mind, the heart and the hands of many Christians reflect the Church's failure to disciple people deeply and holistically," he said. Labberton said he finds the arguments of Wallis' piece merited. "Evangelicalism is in a very problematic place, and the issues Pastor Wallis names are among the reasons," he said. Labberton said Fuller seeks to provide "formational education for diverse Christian leaders." That means "measuring and retuning ourselves to be aware of the personal formation of our students" and to provide "the knowledge and formation needed on the ground to best minister to those God is calling our alums to serve." "The whole of the Scriptures need to inform a pastor's life and vision," the former senior pastor of the First Presbyterian Church of Berkeley, continued. "In this particular season of the Church's internal and external crises, I feel like we should never be more than five minutes away from reading the Gospels." "Our central identity comes from the life and ministry of Jesus, not the forms, structures, strategies, budgets and technology of our ecclesiastical industrial complex to which we have yielded," he added. 'Pandemic of narcissism' and 'cardinal vices' Missiology professor Scott W. Sunquist, who serves as president of multi-site Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary based in Massachusetts, had extensive pastoral experience overseas, serving in the Republic of Singapore. Sunquist said that in Singapore, "we had to negotiate government regulations and restrictions, languages and cultures" and wanted to make sure that the Church there "did not simply parrot American evangelical words, music and even liturgy." "The big lessons I learned about church leadership had to do with being attentive to diverse cultures and leadership training," he said. "In some ways, the Singaporean experience encourages me to challenge U.S. seminary students to take their devotions more seriously, to be more committed to cross-cultural mission work and to freely witness to their friends and neighbors." Sunquist, who became the seminary's president in 2019, brings expertise on Christianity in the non-Western world. He believes that being a missionary can be "excellent preparation for seminary leadership." He observed that through such work, people learn "some resilience and courage, both of which are important characteristics of a pastor or even a seminary president." When it comes to the problems in the American evangelical church, Sunquist believes that the lead issue is not "learning from non-Christians," but rather "our unwillingness to confront what the Church Fathers called the cardinal vices." The "three core vices" that the early Church was concerned about, according to Sunquist, were greed, passions such as "food and sex," and pride. He said leadership failures are the result of "succumbing to these three vices." "We have a pandemic of narcissism today. Social media feeds our small self-esteem appetite until it becomes a narcissistic monster. Most leaders fall into this trap," he said. "We see leaders fail because they did not name the demons, and they did not have strong people around them to guide them toward holiness." Sunquist also told CP that he believes it is "troubling when we reduce seminary presidential leadership to a secular model of business leadership." "A pastor can learn a lot from secular leaders I know I have but they also need to have actually been a pastor to lead pastors," said Sunquist. The president of Gordon-Conwell noted that his seminary focuses more attention on "discipleship and virtue formation in theological education," including "communal formation." He said the seminary is "trying to be attentive to the culture while providing the best in classical theological education." "This is intentional, personal and communal formation that is not detached from academic formation," he said. "Thus, we are working hard at biblical contexts as we always have but we are now working harder than we previously had to understand contemporary contexts: social, political, economic, etc." "Thus, we are adding virtue formation, in the form of discipleship, to the lives of all of our students while they are students at Gordon-Conwell," Sunquist added. 'Unnecessary dichotomy' Angie Ward is the assistant director of the doctor of ministry program at Denver Seminary in Colorado, where Wallis attended. She has about three decades of experience in church and education ministries. She is also the author of I Am a Leader: When Women Discover the Joy of their Calling. "Whether at the master's or the doctoral level, our pastoral leadership courses are taught by instructors with a wealth of field experience," she told CP. "We believe that leadership flows out of the person of the leader; it's not just a skill. Therefore, we strive for holistic formation: not just education in the classroom, but experience in the field and formation through an integrated training and mentoring component." Ward said she is concerned that there is a "growing but unnecessary dichotomy between 'pastoring' and 'leadership.'" "But to view the pastor as a shepherd a theme that is repeated in Scripture in the words of Jesus and the writings of the Apostles Paul and Peter means that pastoral leadership involves both caring for individuals, and tending to and moving the overall 'flock' toward maturity and mission," she explained. "The Church is or should be more than merely an educational institution or even a mission center. It should be a center for formation again, moving people toward individual maturity as disciples of Christ, and the gathered community toward public witness of God's love." Ward said she "would agree wholeheartedly that the American church, broadly speaking, has over-focused on leadership, and on drawing from corporate models." "I believe the issue is that we again, the Church, broadly speaking do not have a clear or robust ecclesiology. We don't understand the nature and purpose of the Church and how it is unlike any other organization in the world," she said. "Therefore, we default to what we know, which is a 'corporate' model. We need to look not only for different answers; we need to start by asking different questions about Church." Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Tuesdays Senate hearing with Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen was part of a slick, well-produced rollout of a former Facebook employee, complete with a prerecorded and well-timed expose on CBS 60 Minutes, harmonious media cheerleading, and paid Democratic consultants. With this razzle-dazzle, the witness and her handlers want the audience to use the pretext of child protection to increase government power over Facebook, resulting in increased censorship, which likely will inure to the detriment of conservatives in the long run. To identify and avoid the key takeaway of the hearing, members of Congress and the American public need to see through the glossy performance and focus on Haugens former role at Facebook and what she advocated for in the hearing; namely, more censorship of misinformation. On the plus side, Haugen released Facebook documents and described troubling issues at the tech giant that are important for Americans to know and understand. In its never-ending quest for growth, Facebook preys on younger children to set their eyes on the Instagram and Facebook platforms and to keep them there, despite knowing the dangerous and even deadly mental and emotional downstream effects on children, particularly girls. Facebook has called teens creating Instagram accounts without parents knowledge a unique value proposition. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn. chairman of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Committees Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security Subcommittee, which held yesterdays hearing called the effects of Instagram on teens an addicts narrative. He added, The damage to self-interest and self-worth inflicted by Facebook today will haunt a generation. Hes right. While members of Congress and Americans can agree that social media companies should not prey on children, what members of Congress propose to address the many forms of abuse that such companies commit would result in drastically different consequences. Investigating Facebook and other Big Tech companies for misleading consumers and advertisers, and for deceptively misrepresenting their products, is an available course of action for the Federal Trade Commission under current authorities, and the FTC should utilize them. Blumenthal and Sen. Maria Cantwell, D-Wash., both spoke at Tuesdays hearing in favor of investigating and penalizing Facebook for such deception. Facebook and other Big Tech companies warrant such scrutiny, transparency, and consequences based on any deceptive business practices. A second overdue change discussed at the hearing was reforming Section 230, which provides internet service providers overbroad liability immunity for removing legal content that they consider objectionable from their platforms, and giving them a free pass for altering content posted by others by adding truth banners and the like while still claiming falsely, in our view that they are not publishers of the content on their platforms. Since the 1996 government-provided protection, companies such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube have accelerated and expanded content removal, labeling, and ranking beyond illegal activity and into content that should be distributed to encourage free speech and debate. Companies should not be immune from lawsuits against this behavior when they are clearly acting as publishers. Haugen testified as much when she stated that Facebook builds algorithms based on intentional ranking decisions. She correctly stated that Facebook should be held responsible, and not get a pass, for its ranking decisions and algorithm designs. But the government should not encourage or expand the current favorite tool of the left, companies such as Facebook, and Haugen herself; namely, identifying and removing misinformation. Haugen was the lead product manager for Civic Misinformation at Facebook. She explained that Facebook changed its content defaults in the summer of 2020 for health (COVID-19) and civic (election) content because it knew dangerous content related to those issues was on the platform. Haugen complained that after the election, Facebook returned to its prior content default settings to resume platform growth. She testified that Facebook betrayed its commitments to keep elections safe when it dissolved her civic integrity unit after the 2020 election. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., advocated for her legislation to hold digital platforms accountable for health misinformation posted online. Haugen lamented that Facebook does not have the capability to prevent COVID-19 misinformation because it over relies on artificial intelligence to catch such content, and AI only catches a small fraction of it. Americans should have visceral reactions against efforts to label and censor misinformation. COVID-19 and the 2020 election have shown that such labels are often proven wrong and that misinformation is a euphemism for content the left does not like or want shared. Two prime examples were the Wuhan, China, lab being the source of COVID-19 and the Hunter Biden laptop. News of the latter was likely suppressed by Haugens own team. Haugen testified that Facebook wants to trick Congress into making limited changes and that company representatives use false choices such as divisive content or losing free speech to scare off significant reform. Yet Haugen seeks to perpetuate dangerous censorship of lawful content regarding issues in need of open debate on all platforms. Americans need to see through this setup of a whistleblower hearing and avoid being tricked into weaponizing so-called misinformation labeling and censorship. Haugen testified that free speech-respecting social media are possible. It deserves more than just her lip service. Originally published at The Daily Signal. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As utterly despicable as it is to sexually abuse a child, it is even more despicable to do so in the name of God. And religion. And the church. What could be a greater profanation of the name of the Lord? And what could do more lasting damage to an innocent child? In that light, these recent headlines from France, detailing the sexual abuse of minors by Catholic leaders since 1950, are beyond staggering. Who can imagine the real-life implications? French report: 330,000 children victims of church sex abuse. Nuns Raped Girls With Crucifixes as Female Pedophilia Was Covered Up by the Church. Words fail when it comes to speaking about something so horrible, so ugly, so hypocritical, so Really, words do fail. And who can calculate the tears that have been shed, the suicides that have been committed, the self-destructive lifestyles that have been lived, the extended circle of victims that has grown, all as a result of these terrible acts of abuse? It would be one thing if a drunken neighbor abused the child who lived next door. That would be a crime, and that neighbor should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law. But when it is priests and nuns and other ministers of the Gospel, people who have ostensibly pledged their lives to serve Jesus and His peoplehow can this be? And how is it possible, with such large numbers involved, that Catholic leaders in France were not well aware of this for years? Really now, 330,000 children abused? And this was not widely known? I am not Catholic, and there are more than enough sexual scandals in the evangelical and charismatic circles in which I travel (although, to be sure, not on this scale, and not targeting children in this way). Accordingly, it is normally the scandals within my own camp that I focus on. But is it any wonder that in France in particular there is so little trust in the Catholic Church? As reported by AP News, Francois Devaux, head of the victims group La Parole Liberee (The Liberated Word), said it was a turning point in our history. He denounced the coverups that permitted mass crimes for decades. But even worse, there was a betrayal: betrayal of trust, betrayal of morality, betrayal of children, betrayal of innocence, he added. Indeed, as noted by Reuters, The church had shown deep, total and even cruel indifference for years, protecting itself rather than the victims of what was systemic abuse, said Jean-Marc Sauve, head of the commission that compiled the report. The head of the victims association Parler et Revivre (Speak Out and Live Again), Olivier Savignac, spoke of his own abuse at the age of 13: I perceived this priest as someone who was good, a caring person who would not harm me, he said. But it was when I found myself on that bed half-naked and he was touching me that I realized something was wrong ... Its like gangrene inside the victims body and the victims psyche. Only a victim could express it so well and with such agony. Could it be that abuses of this magnitude have occurred with greater frequency in Catholic circles because of their rule of celibacy for priests and nuns? Could that contribute to the problem, since all Catholic clergy must pledge for life to be sexually abstinent? And with the open secret that a disproportionate percentage of Catholic priests are gay, does that explain why, according to the report, roughly 80% of the victims were boys? (The majority were said to be between the ages of 10 and 13.) To be clear, every gay man I have ever talked to about this subject finds any form of the sexual abuse of minors to be deplorable. And to be sure, the vast majority of priests and nuns are not abusing children. But crimes of this magnitude must be addressed, accompanied by calls for radical reformation (including changing the Catholic Churchs rule of mandatory celibacy, along with weeding out those who are habitual sexual sinners). Nothing less will do. In Matthews Gospel, Jesus said, If anyone causes one of these little ones those who believe in me to stumble, it would be better for them to have a large millstone hung around their neck and to be drowned in the depths of the sea. Woe to the world because of the things that cause people to stumble! Such things must come, but woe to the person through whom they come! Woe indeed. And he added these sobering words: See that you do not despise one of these little ones. For I tell you that their angels in heaven always see the face of my Father in heaven (Matthew 18:6-7, 10). What have these angels reported to the Father over the last 70 years? I tremble at the thought. And may God have mercy on the victims. 6 killed, 3 wounded in Fulani attacks on Christian communities in Nigeria: NGO Community in Plateau state attacked during church service Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment Radical Fulani militants reportedly killed six and wounded three others in attacks on two predominantly Christian farming communities in Nigeria's Plateau state this week as violence and death continue to increase in the African country, according to a report. The deaths and injuries occurred between Oct. 1 and Oct. 5, the U.S.-based persecution watchdog International Christian Concern reported, adding that herders also destroyed more than 13 hectares of farmland worth millions of naira. ICC said it had sponsored eight hectares of the farmland that was destroyed. "I received a distressed call from the local zone chairman that, while they were in their place of worship that morning, it came to their notice that Fulani pushed their herds on the farm and grazed eight hectares of soybean [sic] crop," an ICC farm manager identified only by the name Paul was quoted as saying. "I assessed what happened to be deliberate, because if it was not well planned it would have been impossible to destroy eight hectares of farmland within that short of a period." ICC hasn't disclosed the name of the exact area in Plateau State where the violence took place. ICC quoted the community leader of one of the attacked communities saying that "the attackers came during our church service." "They grazed their cattle inside our farms, including the community farm," the community leader added. "Three of our vigilantes went to stop them without knowing that the attackers came with sophisticated weapons. Sadly, three of the vigilantes who guard the farm paid the price of becoming Christians and were killed that day." About 11 miles from that village, Fulani militants also killed two Christian farmers on Oct. 1, ICC noted. On Oct. 2, two more Christians were ambushed. One sustained gunshot wounds and is in critical condition. The Global Terrorism Index ranks Nigeria as the third country most affected by terrorism in the world. A new report by Anambra-based nongovernmental organization International Society for Civil Liberties and Rule of Law (Intersociety) estimates that 4,400 Christians have been killed in the first 270 days of 2021 in Nigeria. The report claims Fulani radicals were responsible for killing no less than 2,540 Christians in the first nine months of 2021. The organization also states that at least 20 religious leaders have been killed or abducted during that time frame. The organization, headed by Christian criminologist Emeka Umeagbalasi, called the ongoing violence "untamed anti-Christian genocidal killings and property violence." Intersociety's estimates rely on what the organization deems to be credible local and foreign media reports, government accounts, reports from international rights groups and eyewitness accounts. Because of the lack of adequate government record keeping, death tolls reported by media outlets or government entities are estimates and can be skewed. Global human rights activists continue to raise the alarm about the troubling trend of deadly attacks on communities in the farming-rich Middle Belt of Nigeria by radicalized Fulani herders and in the country's northeast by Islamic extremists. "The Nigerian Government has continued to face sharp criticisms and strong accusations of culpability and complicity in the killings and supervision of same," a previous Intersociety report read. "The country's security forces have so fumbled and compromised that they hardly intervene when the vulnerable Christians are in danger of threats or attacks, but only emerge after such attacks to arrest and frame up the same population threatened or attacked." Advocates warn that insurgent groups often experience no accountability for their actions or receive ransoms for kidnappings, though the government denies paying ransom to terrorists. Nigeria is Africa's most populous country and is ranked No. 9 on Open Door's 2021 World Watch List of countries where Christians face the most severe persecution. Last December, Nigeria became the first secular democracy to be added to the U.S. State Department's list of countries of particular concern for engaging in or tolerating "systematic, ongoing, egregious violations of religious freedom." The government has maintained that the violence in the Middle Belt is the result of decades-old clashes between farmers and herders. Activists contend that the government is overlooking the religious factors at play in the violence. The Nigerian government pushed back on claims that there is a "genocide" against Christians occurring in the country. Last June, the Nigerian presidency accused separatists of launching an international smear campaign through nongovernmental organizations and media outlets. U.S.-based advocacy groups refuted the government's claim. The Jubilee Campaign USA argued that the government is trying to distract "from their own incompetence or collusion with the perpetrators of genocide on the Christian communities in the North and Middlebelt parts of Nigeria." Spanning across more than a dozen countries in the Sahel and West Africa, the Fulani people are the largest nomadic ethnic group in the world and are predominantly Muslim. The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom reported last year that in recent years, Fulani communities have faced recurrent cycles of resource conflict and intercommunal violence. That violence has "escalated religious tensions in a region home to many Muslim and Christian communities that have peacefully lived side-by-side for centuries." An important church and state battle in Seattle Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment We have all seen the horrible violence in Seattle in the last year or so. But now theres a new battle, virtually under the radar. In 1932, the Union Gospel Mission began serving the poor and downtrodden in Seattle. But now this ministry which has been serving millions of meals through the years and providing many other services, may have to shut its doors because of a decision by the Washington Supreme Court. The Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) is defending the mission. They write: A Washington Supreme Court decision forces a religious nonprofit, Seattles Union Gospel Mission, to hire employees who do not share the organizations religious beliefs. The mission chose not to hire a potential candidate to work for them, who by his own profession does not share their beliefs. He is not a Christian. So he sued. Yet, Christianity is at the core of what they do. Scott Chin, the president of the mission, told Virginia Allen of Heritage Foundations Daily Signal: We are 89 years old and [at] Seattles Union Gospel Mission, we exist to love and serve and share the Gospel with our homeless neighbors. We do that by providing food and shelter, addiction recovery services, job placement services, and legal services. For example, their website explains one aspect of their mission: 11,751 of our neighbors in the greater Seattle area are homeless. Every night, Search + Rescue vans drive to the darkest places in the greater Seattle area to hand out life-saving supplies and care to men and women. Who knows how many homeless they might have spared from freezing to death? But all of their good works for Christ might grind to a screeching halt because the Washington Supreme Court is ignoring the true meaning of the First Amendment. On June 12, 1788, James Madison, a key architect of the Constitution, declared: There is not a shadow of right in the general government to intermeddle with religion. The founders did not intend for the state to run the church, nor did they intend for the church per se to run the statehowever, thats a far cry from saying the church would have no influence in the state. A month after he was sworn in as our first president, George Washington wrote to a group of Baptists: If I could have entertained the slightest apprehension that the Constitution framed in the Convention, where I had the honor to preside, might possibly endanger the religious rights of any ecclesiastical society, certainly I would never have placed my signature to it. In short, if you believe that the Constitution allows for government to interfere with religious organizations, youll find no support from the father of our country. The legal battle is an important one, says Chin: And so weve asked the U.S. Supreme Court to weigh in on this critical issue, Does the government have the power to punish religious organizations for living and operating consistently with their faith in this way? Appealing to the U. S. Supreme Court is always a long shot. But the irony is that the Supreme Court has even spoken on this type of issue. Imagine a Supreme Court decision in which both the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg and the late Antonin Scalia agreed upon. Ginsburg was on the left and Scalia was on the right. But they both agreed on this: A religious organization has the autonomy under the Constitution to hire according to its religious beliefs. This was a 2012 case out of Missouri involving a Lutheran school, Hosanna-Tabor Evangelical Lutheran Church & School v. EEOC. In the unanimous decision (9-0), Chief Justice Roberts wrote: The interest of society in the enforcement of employment discrimination statutes is undoubtedly important. But so too is the interest of religious groups in choosing who will preach their beliefs, teach their faith, and carry out their mission. When a minister who has been fired sues her church alleging that her termination was discriminatory, the First Amendment has struck the balance for us. The church must be free to choose those who will guide it on its way. Jeremy DysSpecial Counsel for First Liberty Institute, which fights for religious liberty told me: No one should be surprised when a religious organization acts religiously. It is only surprisingand unconstitutionalwhen the state insists a religious institution shed its faith commitments or be punished. If the mission loses this case, imagine the potential impact on the hungry and downtrodden of Seattle. But for the Left, this isnt about suffering people. Despite First Amendment protections and clear Supreme Court rulings, these dedicated secularists are wholly devoted to undermining the influence of religion and religious organizations in Americaand we see the results as our society comes unglued around us. George Barna shares 4 ways Christian parents can combat medias influence in childrens lives Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A prominent Christian researcher is urging parents to take an active role in combating the influence of the media on their children, which he believes has led Americans to embrace teachings that run contrary to the biblical worldview. The third day of programming for the Family Research Council Action's Pray, Vote, Stand Summit, formerly known as the Values Voter Summit, was held on Friday. The annual gathering of social conservatives took place at the Cornerstone Chapel in Leesburg, Virginia, this year. The first panel of the day discussed the crisis in the church that has developed because Christians dont have a biblical worldview. Moderated by David Closson, the director of the Family Research Councils newly launched Center for Biblical Worldview, the panel included George Barna, director of the Cultural Research Center at Arizona Christian University, Joseph Backholm of the Center for Biblical Worldview and Nancy Pearcey, professor and scholar in residence at Houston Baptist University. While much of the discussion focused on problems that've resulted from the decline in the number of Americans who hold a biblical worldview, the panelists also provided advice to parents and faith leaders about how to instill a biblical worldview in their children. The most significant influence on the development of a worldview in America today is what we absorb from the media," Barna contended. "And if thats the case, then that says to me as a parent or a grandparent or somebody who cares about the development of the worldview of children that Ive got to pay attention to what media is investing in those childrens minds and hearts. Barna then listed four Ms that parents should employ to combat the harmful influence of the media on their children. He first advised parents to monitor what these kids are being exposed to because our research shows that most parents are happy to buy their children every device the kids want, and then they leave the kids up to determine what theyre going to take in through all those devices. They dont even know what their kids are being exposed to. Barna also suggested that parents minimize it because our research also shows that in America, the biggest addiction in our country is media. We spend more time literally absorbing messages from media than anything else we do except for sleep. Illustrating the need to limit the enormous exposure that we have to that kind of information, Barna maintained that parents do not tell their children to eat everything in the house, but rather eat a certain amount of things three times a day. He told parents that we need to do the same kind of ingestion methods with media. Introducing mediate as the third M, Barna called on parents to serve as the mediator between what the media is trying to get you to believe and what we, as followers of Jesus, believe based on what the scriptures teach. He remarked that if parents are watching a show with their children that exposes them to an idea that runs contrary to the biblical worldview, they should tell them: We know thats a lie because the Scriptures teach us this. The final M Barna urged parents to rely on was moralize. In other words, helping them to understand the difference between right and wrong. He predicted that if parents simply did that in the lives of their kids, it would revolutionize America today. Setting the stage for the conversation, Barna pointed to research that found only 6% of adults have a biblical worldview, a number that rises to 9% among people who call themselves Christian. Another statistic that's particularly concerning is that only 19% of born-again Christians have a biblical worldview. Barna further noted that only 21% of those who attend evangelical churches have a biblical worldview. He implied that the small share of Americans who have a biblical worldview stems from the fact that a large proportion of our senior pastors dont have a biblical worldview. Describing worldview as a critical element, he explained that a persons worldview begins forming at 15 to 18 months of age and is almost fully formed by the age of 13. Acknowledging the important role that pastors have in shaping peoples worldview, Pearcey advised faith leaders to teach apologetics from the pulpit, specifically any time you introduce a biblical doctrine, you tell people how to defend it. Pearcey added: We need to be equipping people with the tools to face the attack that theyre going to face as soon as they go out of the sanctuary. She stressed that the exposure to the media and internet alone are not the only factors causing many children to develop a non-biblical worldview: What youre seeing now is a trend toward I got it at school. Pearcey also emphasized that young children are given the idea that gender is a social construct from schools as well as from childrens programming, saying, "Our kids are being exposed to secular worldviews from a very young age from the Saturday morning cartoons. Panelists also elaborated on what constitutes a worldview. Backholm defined a worldview as assumptions about origin, meaning, morality and destiny. He indicated that a persons worldview is formulated by answers to questions asking where did I come from, does my life have meaning, yes, no and why, who determines what is right and wrong and what happens when I die? Backholmattributed the lack of Americans who actually subscribe to a biblical worldview to the fact that we dont take those assumptions and then connect the dots to everything that we believe in public policy. He pointed to pressure to believe the correct things politically about gender, about human sexuality [and] about marriage as the reason why rather than making sure their worldview forms their politics, many people allow their politics to form their worldview. As Christians, were supposed to start with the foundation of this is what God said is true about the world. I know thats true, therefore Im going to make sure everything I think about X,Y and Z is actually based on these assumptions about what God said is true, but most of us arent doing that, he lamented. We have all this pressure to be good people and to prove were good people by thinking the correct things about X,Y and Z, and we know we have to think these things to prove that were good people, and so were going to form a worldview deductively after weve concluded, after weve formed our political opinions and made sure our worldview fits our political conclusions rather than make sure that our political conclusions are based on our worldview. Noting that there are 16,000 hours between kindergarten and 12th grade, Backholm proclaimed that you cannot overcome the impact of those 16,000 hours by taking them to church on Sunday and maybe taking them to youth group on Wednesday night. He also elaborated on the effects of what children learn at school on their worldview: Theyre cucumbers that are becoming pickles. And the brine that they soak in has a lot to say about what they become. Backholm warned that even if children are not introduced to pagan lies by their teachers, Theyre still soaking things in from the culture thats around them thats influencing what they love, which the research tells us, what they love determines what they ultimately believe is true. Barna added that children experience 32,000 hours during that same period of time of media exposure. He accused schools of laying a foundation that the media then supports, exposing children to 48,000 hours' worth of content that runs contrary to the biblical worldview. Atheist group FFRF demands NC school district stop holding Christian prayers at meetings Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The atheist group Freedom From Religion Foundation has demanded that a school district in North Carolina quit the practice of beginning meetings with Christian prayers. The Union County Board of Education received a letter from the Madison, Wisconsin-based atheist organization demanding that it stop offering Christian prayers at school board meetings. The Union County Board of Education has received the letter from the Freedom from Religion Foundation and is evaluating the request, read a statement from school district spokeswoman Tahira Stalberte to The Christian Post. Last week, FFRF sent a letter to Michele Morris, general counsel with Union County Public Schools, expressing opposition to the boards practice of allowing Christian clergy to open meetings with prayer. We write to remind the Board that opening school board meetings with prayer is unconstitutional and to request that it end this practice immediately, wrote FFRF staff attorney Christopher Line to Morris. Board members are free to pray privately or to worship on their own time in their own way. The school board, however, ought not to lend its power and prestige to religion, amounting to a governmental endorsement of religion which alienates non-religious Americans. In 2014, the United States Supreme Court ruled 5-4 in Town of Greece v. Galloway that prayers, even sectarian ones, could be given at government meetings. The Court must decide whether the town of Greece, New York, imposes an impermissible establishment of religion by opening its monthly board meetings with a prayer. It must be concluded that no violation of the Constitution has been shown, wrote Justice Anthony Kennedy for the majority. As practiced by Congress since the framing of the Constitution, legislative prayer lends gravity to public business, reminds lawmakers to transcend petty differences in pursuit of a higher purpose, and expresses a common aspiration to a just and peaceful society. However, in 2018 a three-judge panel of the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit upheld an injunction against a California school districts practice of allowing school-sponsored Christian prayers at meetings. The Board's prayer policy and practice violate the Establishment Clause. The invocations to start the open portions of Board meetings are not within the legislative prayer tradition that allows certain types of prayer to open legislative sessions, read the panel ruling. This is not the sort of solemnizing and unifying prayer, directed at lawmakers themselves and conducted before an audience of mature adults free from coercive pressures to participate, that the legislative-prayer tradition contemplates. Racism and police: What a father of a black officer has to say Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment When telling my story, I often begin by explaining that I was raised in a diverse family. Both of my grandfathers were black, while one of my grandmothers was white and the other was black and Chinese. I also grew up in two very racially distinct neighborhoods. The area that I lived in was 95% black, but the neighborhood in which I attended school was 100% white. I found myself subjected to racist actions and sentiments in both environments. I was criticized for both being black and for not being black enough. Something I talk less frequently about but has still greatly shaped my life is that both my father and my son have served as police officers. Because of this, I have been given a front-row seat to many of the challenges and responsibilities that law enforcement face. This was especially true in 2020. My heart was broken as I witnessed the chaos and division that our nation experienced. The racial brutality was almost too much to process, but I was also deeply grieved as I watched our police officers suffer threats and violence at the hands of hurting and scared people. Not surprisingly, my background has profoundly shaped my perspective regarding racism and cultural division. I have learned a great deal about the social complexity and cultural influences surrounding these topics, and I am grateful for the ways that God has used my experiences to teach me about the appropriate Christian response to any kind of division. As Christians, we are called to stand up against our cultures us vs. them mentality and to actively honor the image of God in all people whether they are black, white, yellow, or blue, or whether they are a police officer, someone experiencing homelessness, a child, or a political figure. We are called to love and see the potential in all people even people who do wrong things. That is why my book, The Third Option, isnt just about hope for a racially divided nation. It is about hope for a divided nation in general. How do we actively and practically honor that image of God in all people? Where are some places we can start? During the month of October, I want to encourage you to start by honoring the men and women who serve in law enforcement in your neighborhood. Some people may not be aware of this, but the weekend of October 9th has actually been named Faith and Blue Weekend by people committed to facilitating safer, more just, and more unified communities by enabling local partnerships between law enforcement professionals and local faith-based organizations. Faith and Blue Weekend and the month of October, in general is an opportunity for us to intentionally and actively show the love of Jesus to police officers in our communities. For many of us, police officers tend to blend into the background of our lives. We may notice them when we are accidentally speeding on the freeway and have to quickly press our foot on the brakes to avoid getting a ticket, but they dont tend to be at the forefront of our minds. We may have a sense that they are there to keep us safe, but it is easy to forget that they are actively working behind the scenes on our behalf. Some of us may even have a measure of distrust for the criminal justice system that causes us to functionally dishonor the people who are serving us. But while it is appropriate to pray for reforms in the criminal justice system at large, we also need to pray for a change of heart. And we need to pray for the men and women who are pillars of safety in our community. They need our love and support. One of the ways that my church has chosen to honor the police officers in our city is by working with the San Diego Police Department to create the Henwood Break Room. It is named in honor of Officer Jeremy Henwood who was killed in the line of duty seven years ago. The purpose of this space is to provide a safe and comfortable location for law enforcement officers to rest for short periods during their 24-hour shifts. The break room includes restrooms, internet, phones, access to news channels, and plenty of comfortable seating, and it is always fully stocked with coffee, water, and snacks. It is a place for our police officers to refresh and regroup in a safe and controlled environment. During the peak of the pandemic, we also worked to serve law enforcement in our community by providing over 2,200 meals to police officers. These meals went to the San Diego Police Department, the 911 Call Center, the East County Police Department, and the San Diego Harbor Police. I share these examples out of the hope to inspire you toward practical action this month. As a Do Something Church, we always want to make sure that we are measuring and understanding the needs of our community. One of those needs, especially right now, is to provide encouragement and practical support to law enforcement professionals. As we learn to actively and practically honor the image of God in all people, we will step further into our role as agents of reconciliation in the world. And as we actively and practically honor the image of God in our police officers this month, we will be acting as agents of hope and healing in the midst of divisive and damaging narratives. However you choose to participate in Faith and Blue Weekend, I want to encourage you to pray and ask the Holy Spirit how you can best show the love of Jesus this month. Texas abortion law temporarily reinstated by appeals court 2 days after being blocked Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment A federal judge Friday temporarily reinstated a controversial Texas law that bans abortions as early as six weeks of gestation, striking down a lower federal court ruling that temporarily blocked the state from enforcing the legislation. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals granted a request from the Texas Attorney General's Office to temporarily suspend a judge's order blocking the Texas Heartbeat Act. The two-page ruling gives the U.S. Department of Justice until Oct. 12 to reply. The Texas Heartbeat Act, which took effect on Sept. 1, bans most abortions after a fetal heartbeat can be detected. It also allows private citizens to take civil action against anyone who "performs and induces an abortion" or "knowingly engages in conduct that aids or abets the performance or inducement of an abortion, including paying for or reimbursing the costs of abortion through insurance or otherwise." "Tonight the Fifth Circuit has granted an administrative stay in the #SB8 case. I will continue to fight to keep #Texas free from federal overreach," Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton tweeted Friday night. The progressive legal organization American Civil Liberties Union called the 5th Circuit's order "deeply alarming" because it allows the law to go back into effect when "abortion providers were quickly starting to resume abortion care for all patients." "Today's order means that the havoc that this law has created is allowed to restart," Deputy Director of the ACLU Reproductive Freedom Project Brigitte Amiri said in a statement. "Make no mistake: The devastating impacts of this ban will be just as bad this time around." Kimberlyn Schwartz, the director of media and communications for the pro-life advocacy group Texas Right to Life, said the 5th Circuit's order is an "answered prayer." "The Texas Heartbeat Act saves approximately 100 lives from abortion per day, and we're grateful that this tremendous impact will continue," she said. "We expect the Biden administration to appeal to the Supreme Court of the U.S., and we are confident Texas will continue to defeat these attacks on our life-saving efforts." The ruling comes two days after a federal judge granted a request from the Justice Department for a temporary restraining order against Senate Bill 8, drawing swift praise from the Biden administration and abortion providers and criticism from pro-life advocates. U.S. District Court Judge Robert Pitman, an appointee of former President Barack Obama based in Austin, had argued in Wednesday's ruling that the law "violates the Constitution and has a widespread effect." Chelsey Youman, Texas state director of the pro-life organization Human Coalition Action, called Pittman's ruling "a shameless example of unfettered judicial activism." "[Pittman's] historic injunction has no regard for the rule of law and is more about partisan politics than a fair judgment of the law," she said in a statement to The Christian Post. The DOJ has argued that the U.S. Supreme Court's 1973 Roe v. Wade decision recognizes the "constitutional right to terminate a pregnancy," which legalized abortion nationwide. Last month, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services introduced a "three-pronged Department-wide response" to the Texas Heartbeat Act aimed at protecting "reproductive health care for Texans" and improving "access to safe and legal abortions in Texas." HHS Secretary Xavier Becerra said that "every American deserves access to health care no matter where they live including access to safe and legal abortions." A Texas obstetrician and gynecologist who began his career before abortion became a constitutional right publicly stated last month that he violated the law by providing an abortion to a woman whose pregnancy was "beyond the state's new limit." "I acted because I had a duty of care to this patient, as I do for all patients, and because she has a fundamental right to receive this care," Dr. Alan Braid wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post. John Seago, legislative director for Texas Right to Life, told The Wall Street Journal at the time that his organization was looking into whether Braid's claims are anything more than a "legal stunt." He said that the new law provides a four-year statute of limitations for people to sue violators. "It definitely seems like a legal stunt and we are looking into whether it is more than that," Seago was quoted as saying. Progressive pro-life group ready to wage battle with Biden, Democrat Party to save lives Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment WASHINGTON A pro-life activist has launched a new organization seeking to reclaim progressivism for life as the abortion movement continues to hold immense power and influence in the Democratic Party and the progressive movement. Terrisa Bukovinac, the former president of Democrats for Life of America who also serves as founder and president of Pro-Life San Francisco, launched the Progressive Anti-Abortion Uprising, also known by its acronym PAAU, on the steps of the U.S. Supreme Court Friday night. The event took place the evening before pro-abortion protesters descended on the District of Columbia and cities across the country for the far-Left Womens March. Bukovinac addressed a crowd of dozens of pro-life activists, most of whom identified as Democrats and progressives, though conservative pro-lifers were also at the event. She made the case that contrary to what abortion activists claim, the pro-life position aligns with other priorities that progressives hold near and dear to their hearts. To be progressive, you must stand with the oppressed, never the oppressor. To be progressive, you must be in solidarity with low-income people and trust that they know their own needs. And to be progressive, you must stick up for the marginalized. But the abortion industrial complex twists all of that on its head, she said. Theyll tell you that to be progressive, you must advocate for mass acts of violence against children in the womb who are utterly incapable of defending themselves, Bukovinac added. Theyll tell you that to be progressive, you must ignore the voices of low-income people who are more anti-abortion than the wealthy by huge margins. If it were up to those who make less than $40,000 a year, Roe v. Wade would be in the ash heap of history. In this twisted version of progressivism, its the rich who know best, she continued. And theyll tell you that to be progressive, you cannot, under any circumstances, advocate for the most marginalized among us. Bukovinac also accused corporate America of engaging in pro-abortion activism in an effort to advance their economic self-interests. When I see giant corporations signing onto pro-choice letters, I have to wonder, what are their parental leave policies really like? How much are they counting on abortion to save them a buck and pad their bottom line? she asked. Abortion is not progress, she asserted. Abortion is a regress to the pseudo-morality of might makes right and as progressives, we will not stand for it. We are reclaiming progressivism for life, Bukovinac declared. The launch of PAAU followed by the Womens March on Saturday come as the implementation of a pro-life law in Texas that bans abortions after a baby's heartbeat can be detected is spurring outrage in progressive circles. The Supreme Court declined the request of abortion providers to block the law, which has now been in effect for over a month. The justices are scheduled to hear oral arguments in the case of Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization on Dec. 1. In this case, the court will rule on the constitutionality of Mississippis 15-week abortion ban. A ruling in favor of the state of Mississippi, which is seeking to uphold the ban, would significantly weaken the precedent set by the 1973 Supreme Court case Roe v. Wade and affirmed by the 1992 case Planned Parenthood v. Casey. A decision is expected sometime next year, most likely by the end of June 2022. In the aforementioned cases, the court determined that states cannot prohibit abortions before the point of viability, where the unborn baby can survive outside the womb. Courts at all levels have frequently used those Supreme Court decisions when justifying the invalidation of states' pro-life laws regulating abortions or implementing health and safety standards at abortion clinics. CP interviewed some of the PAAU launch attendees to ask why they felt called to attend the rally and to share their views on the pro-life movement in the U.S. Michael New, a research associate at the Catholic University of America and a scholar at the pro-life Charlotte Lozier Institute, spoke at a Democrats for Life of America rally earlier this year that Bukovinac also attended. He went to the launch of PAAU to show solidarity with Bukovinacs efforts. I think what shes doing is very important. I think the pro-life movement needs to leave no stone unturned. I think that there are a lot of people out there who are politically liberal, who are pro-life, and I think her efforts to amplify and highlight those voices is a great project and Im happy to support her. Caroline Smith of Grand Rapids, Michigan, a pro-life Democrat who works with the group Protect Life Michigan, told CP that its important to show the world that being pro-life is not equal to and always just being conservative. I think its important to show that theres a lot of diversity in the pro-life movement and we need to acknowledge that and be able to accept everybody who believes abortion is wrong. Characterizing abortion as the most important issue of our day, Smith reflected on the crucial moment the pro-life movement finds itself in: Im feeling excited but also nervous because I know that theres going to be a lot of work to be done. Whatever happens next, weve got to keep pushing and fighting for the unborn. Smith briefly spoke at the event, detailing how she drove over 11 hours to take advantage of the opportunity to expand the pro-life movement and make some noise for the unborn. Fr. Frank Pavone, director of Priests for Life, added: I have, for a long time, stood side-by-side with people who are of different political persuasions, religious persuasions and all kinds of philosophical persuasions to stand against the killing of babies because Im convinced ... one criterion alone is needed to be pro-life and that is to be alive. Pavone, who traveled to the nations capital from Florida, shared his desire to support any of the efforts in the pro-life movement to show how diverse it is. During his speech, Pavone slammed President Joe Biden as the most pro-abortion president ever and a sign of the problem that PAAU is proudly standing against. He also accused Democratic leaders of having abandoned the people that they claim to represent on this issue. Braedon Eckert from Indiana, one of many young activists who spoke before the crowd, told CP it was important for him to attend the event as a self-described pro-life feminist and someone who believes in the right to life from conception until natural death. Speaking about the state of the pro-life movement, Eckert contended that the pro-life movement is ... almost like a cup of tea. Its like brewing right now and were ready. ... Were just waiting for that moment when we just know its time to take action. We are taking action. Eckert characterized the national Democratic Partys overwhelming pro-abortion bent as an example of how members of the party dont even stand for their own Democratic views. Maintaining that every party does something to violate the right to life, he contended that both the Republican and the Democratic Party violate human beings in some way. [For] the Republican Party, its the dehumanization of immigrants in ... some cases. [For] the Democratic Party, its abortion. Bukovinac also spoke with CP, elaborating on what motivated her to start the new organization and shared her thoughts about the state of the pro-life movement: Pro-abortion Democrats control the presidency, the Senate and the House, and I felt like its the right time that we ... have lost every Democratic pro-life member of Congress and that we need real direct action in this movement on the Left to address this extremism. Were in a position of strength, she added, expressing optimism about the pro-life movement. "Weve known all along that the abortion industry was going to come after us once they felt truly threatened. I think that were seeing that happen. But what were seeing in the stats is that people are just as anti-abortion now as they were before the Texas law and that they will continue to be anti-abortion. PAAU is coming for the Biden-Harris administration and those that enable that kind of discrimination, she warned. This discrimination is lethal for a million human children every year and we recognize that the issue is between the Democratic establishment and the abortion industry, and our intention is to break that relationship. The relationship between the Democratic establishment and the abortion industry, specifically abortion provider Planned Parenthood, was a major focus of Bukovinacs remarks. She vowed that Wherever you find fake progressivism bought with blood money, we will be there and we will be loud. It is time for a progressive anti-abortion uprising! People matter more than profit! Bukovinac exclaimed. Human lives matter more than money. That is the heart of progressivism. Against the backdrop of the sun disappearing below the horizon, Bukovinac remarked that the sun is setting on the American abortion industrial complex and the world is watching. She assured the crowd that PAAU is taking our message to every blue city in America, every Democratic leader in Congress and to the Biden-Harris administration and ultimately, to the Democratic National Convention. Randall Terry, founder of the pro-life group Operation Rescue, who also spoke at the event, had a few choice words for Planned Parenthood. After telling the crowd to have a reaction that is equal to the crime, he insisted that you must set out to create social tension. Pointing to Martin Luther Kings Letter from the Birmingham Jail as a source of inspiration, Terry recalled that he, himself, spent time in jail because he created the social tension that helped give birth to a revitalized pro-life movement that helped bring about political change that helped give birth to crisis pregnancy centers. Lamenting that we still have not prevailed, he declared: I do not want a place at the table with Planned Parenthood. I want to take their table and turn it into firewood. The firewood reference caused the crowd to erupt into applause. Terry doubled down on his remarks, restating his desire for total, unequivocal victory. He stressed that if abortion really is murder, if it really is the destruction of an innocent human life, if someone was going to be killed standing right next to you, you wouldnt say Oh wow, can we dialogue about this? Terry suggested that rather than engage in dialogue in such a scenario, it would make more sense to scream bloody murder. Another speaker, Catherine Glenn Foster, the president and CEO of Americans United for Life, cited the formation of PAAU as evidence that we are coming together in solidarity to end legalized abortion. We are coming together to make the Congress and the court stand for life, she continued. We are coming together to end a discriminatory, ageist, ableist, racist, sexist regime that tells us that for us to be equal in society, that we have to resort to legalized abortion, to killing our own children. Echoing Fosters rhetoric about the pro-abortion narrative, Bukovinac emphasized that her organization was about speaking truth to power, not destroying the powerless and about investing in families and children and not telling women and people who can become pregnant that they have to kill their babies to succeed in a cis-mans world. Texas high school shooting suspect turns himself in after wounding 4 Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The suspect in a Texas high school shooting that reportedly wounded four people turned himself in to authorities. The 18-year-old suspect in the Wednesday morning shooting at Timberview High School in Arlington wounded three students and one person believed to be a teacher. According to CBS DFW, Arlington Assistant Police Chief Kevin Kolbye reported that the suspect turned himself in with an attorney. He faces three counts of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. Kolbye said at a press conference that the shooting appears to have started in a classroom as the result of a fight with another student. Concluding that it was not a random act of violence, Kolbye said that three people were sent to a local hospital while the fourth injured person refused medical treatment. According to the police department, one of the victims is recovering and listed in critical condition. A second victim is listed in good condition, while a third was treated for minor abrasions. By afternoon, the Arlington Police Department announced that they were looking for the suspect, Timothy Simpkins, whom they described as armed and dangerous. Officers arrived on scene quickly and secured the school. They determined the shooter left the building after the incident, stated the APD in a Facebook post. Officials have set up a reunification center at the Mansfield Independent School District Center for the Performing Arts, where Timberview students will be bussed and parents can pick up their kids. Our thoughts are with the victims, the students, and staff at Timberview High School and be assured that APD and all of our law enforcement partners will do everything in our power to bring the suspect to justice, concluded the police department's statement. Ed Young, the senior pastor of Fellowship Church, which has campuses in Texas and Florida, offered support for those affected by the shooting in a Facebook post. Pray for the families and friends of the students and teachers involved in the shooting this morning at Timberview High in Arlington, Texas, he wrote. Its so important that we pray for, care for, and guide our youth more than ever before. Wednesdays shooting is not the only act of violence to take place at a Texas school in recent years. In May of 2018, a shooter entered Santa Fe High School near Houston, killing 10 people and wounding several others. A 17-year-old student who had written in a private journal about his plans to shoot up the school and then kill himself surrendered to authorities soon after. In November 2019, the student was declared incompetent to stand trial. In February, he was ordered to remain in a mental health facility for another 12 months. Vatican diplomat warns US leaders against exploiting God at Red Mass Email Print Img No-img Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment As the U.S. Supreme Court began a new term in which it will be hearing an abortion case that could overrule Roe v. Wade, Archbishop Gabriele Caccia, permanent observer of the Holy See to the United Nations, warned U.S. leaders against exploiting God and justice for selfish means like the Pharisees in the Bible. Caccia made the call in his homily at the 69th Red Mass at the Cathedral of St. Matthew in Washington D.C. The Red Mass, which is an annual service marking the opening of the Supreme Courts new term, is traditionally held on the Sunday before the first Monday in October to invoke Gods blessings on those responsible for the administration of justice, as well as on all public officials. While Chief Justice John G. Roberts Jr. was the only member of the Supreme Court who attended the event, Caccia told the audience that justice has to do with something sacred. It is a powerful reminder that justice has to do with something sacred and that those who practice its administration are at the service of something larger and greater than themselves, the diplomat said. This is an important perspective because today, like at the time of Jesus, there is a reason to exploit justice instead of deliver it. He then pointed to an earlier reading from the book of Mark in the Bible highlighting how the Pharisees tried to use the law to trap Jesus. In the Gospel (Mark 10: 2-16) today, Jesus was approached by the Pharisees with a question: Is it lawful [for a husband to divorce his wife]? Immediately afterward, St. Mark tells us, they were testing Him, Caccia said. Justice is being used as a pretense to challenge and condemn. Or we could say, to do injustice. Jesus nevertheless enters into discussion with them. They confront Him with another question about the Law of Moses. Jesus, however, tries to lead them on an exodus from what He calls the hardness of their hearts, he added. Caccia urged officials to take the advice of Jesus and place themselves in the presence of God with an openness to understand what is Gods plan. If you do not place yourselves before God in this way, there is the risk to use even God for our own ends instead of serving Him. This is the very attitude that distinguishes a truly religious person from an apparently religious man like the Pharisees in the Gospel today, he said. There are in the end only two kinds of persons those who try to grasp God and take Him in their hands for their own goals like little children grasping for water only to have it escape through their fingers; and those who ask and welcome God with open cupped hands, allowing them to retain water and imbibe it, he continued. We can ask ourselves. What kind of person am I? Someone who tries to grasp God or someone who asks and receives Him? Those who receive God and draw near to Him, draw near to His justice which is one of His biblical attributes. This term, the Supreme Court is expected to hear arguments in the case, Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization, to determine the legality of Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban. The National Rifle Association, is also challenging a New York law that requires law-abiding citizens who want a permit to carry a concealed firearm outside their home to demonstrate a proper cause. Newlyweds in Kauai may soon find it harder to obtain romantic shots of them posing in front of a ravishing waterfall or sunset-drenched cove, after the state government issued cease-and-desist orders to two photography companies on the island. Both Bradyhouse Photographers and The Foxes Photography have been told to stop taking photos without permits at several iconic state parks, reports the Hawaii Star. The locations in question include Kalepa Ridge, Wailua Falls, Hanakapiai Beach, Waimea Canyon and Kokee State Park, all of which require permits for commercial photography. Working without a permit there can lead to fines or even jail time. Sue Kanoho, executive director of the Kauai Visitors Bureau, told the Hawaii Star that she has seen photographers charter boats to photograph wedding parties along the stunning Honopu Valley coastline. That is 100% illegal and culturally inappropriate, she said, adding that when she attempted to talk to the photographers, she was met with threats. One caption on the Foxes Photography website, under a wedding photo taken under Wailua Falls, may even have promoted law-breaking behavior. One of the biggest waterfalls in Kauai is also one of the easiest to access. You can get a great view of it from the road, but the steep hike down to the base is 100% worth it. If you want elopement photos here though, wed strongly recommend going early in the morning because its a popular spot, the caption read, according to the Hawaii Star, although it now appears to have been removed. The waterfall, featured prominently in the opening credits of the television series "Fantasy Island," is located in Wailua River State Park, a region that requires a permit for any commercial activity. In a statement to Hawaii News Now, Bradyhouse Photography said it had in fact been closely following all of the Department of Land and Natural Resources rules, and that it had previously obtained a permit. However, DLNR denied that the company had applied for permits, saying that it had no records of applications from Bradyhouse. Many of these places are both naturally and culturally sensitive and we would not be issuing permits for commercial drone operations or wedding photos in these sensitive locations, DLNR Division of State Parks Administrator Curt Cottrell told Hawaii Star. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, R, asked an appeals court Friday to suspend a judge's order blocking the nation's most restrictive abortion law, which bars the procedure as early as six weeks into pregnancy with no exceptions for rape or incest. State officials want the appeals court to reverse the ruling from U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman, who sided with the Biden administration Wednesday night and characterized the law as an "unprecedented and aggressive scheme to deprive its citizens of a significant and well-established constitutional right." In an appeal filed Friday afternoon, Paxton told the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit that the Justice Department has no legal authority to sue the state and said the appeals court must intervene immediately to lift the injunction. The lower court judge overstepped, Paxton said in his filing, by halting a law that is enforced by private citizens, not state government officials. "A court 'cannot lawfully enjoin the world at large' let alone hold Texas responsible for the filings of private citizens that Texas is powerless to pre- vent," the filing states. It asks the court to rule on that issue by Tuesday morning and to suspend Pitman's injunction even before that ruling. It was not immediately known which three judges on the conservative-leaning appeals court would review the state's request, or how quickly the court will act. Any decision from the 5th Circuit could put the issue back before the Supreme Court - which declined to block the law when it took effect Sept. 1 but said it raises serious constitutional questions. The legal uncertainty has left abortion providers in Texas scrambling to decide whether to restore access to abortion after the six-week mark - a point at which many patients do not yet know they are pregnant. At Whole Woman's Health, one of the state's largest abortion providers, the decision has been left to individual doctors. Some resumed offering the procedure after Pitman's order, but many say they will comply with the ban until the appeals court acts. Six-week abortion bans have been blocked in several other states by federal judges because they are at odds with the Supreme Court's landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which guarantees the right to abortion before viability, usually around 22 to 24 weeks. But the Texas law is different because it is not enforced by state officials. Instead, it relies on private citizens, who can sue anyone who helps someone in Texas get an abortion. The Supreme Court cited that enforcement mechanism when it declined to block the law from taking effect. In his ruling late Wednesday, Pitman - a nominee of President Barack Obama - also took issue with the law's enforcement mechanism, among other things. Instead of directly banning abortion after the six-week limit, Pitman said, the state had contrived a "transparent statutory scheme" that allows citizens with no connection to the person seeking an abortion to interfere with a constitutional right through the state's judicial system. Pitman's injunction on enforcing the ban extends to state court judges and courthouse clerks to block any proceedings in civil suits filed under the law. Abortion providers, however, could still be liable for performing the procedure while the litigation is underway. If Pitman's injunction is reversed on appeal, lawsuits can be filed up to four years after the abortion at issue is performed, according to the statute - a provision that critics say also raises legal concerns. In his filing Friday, Paxton said federal judges do not have the power to interfere with state court operations. Pitman's injunction "grossly and irreparably interferes with Texas state-court operations. It also places state courts and their employees under imminent threat of contempt based on the actions of third parties that they cannot control," the attorney general's office said. Pitman's injunction lifting the ban came in response to a lawsuit the Justice Department filed against Texas after the Supreme Court allowed the law to stand. The high court was responding to a separate challenge to the ban filed by abortion providers. The justices said last month that the providers"raised serious questions" about the constitutionality of the law. But in a 5-to-4 decision, the high court's conservative majority said opponents had not shown they were suing the proper defendants. All of the dissenting justices wrote separately, with the court's three liberals characterizing the Texas law as an end run around the Constitution and court precedent. The lawsuit filed by abortion providers is scheduled to be reviewed by the 5th Circuit in December. Providers have asked the Supreme Court a second time to intervene in the case and to rule before the appeals court considers it. A three-judge panel of the 5th Circuit previously called off a hearing Pitman had scheduled in that case to consider blocking the law before it took effect Sept. 1. The Supreme Court is separately scheduled in December to review Mississippi's 15-week abortion ban. State officials in that case are directly asking the justices to overrule Roe. - - - The Washington Post's Caroline Kitchener contributed to this report. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) Commission on Human Rights chairman Chito Gascon has succumbed to COVID-19, his brother confirmed Saturday. He was 57. Sa dami mong laban, sa COVID pa tayo na talo! Love you Kuya! RIP Chito Gascon, his brother Miguel Gascon said in a Facebook post. [Translation: Of all the many battles you have fought, you lost to COVID. Love you, big brother! RIP, Chito Gascon.] Gascon has served the CHR for six years. Prior to his leading the CHR, he was a member of the Human Rights Victims Claims Board, the body tasked to receive, evaluate, and investigate reparation claims made by victims of human rights violations during Martial Law. The human rights lawyer and political activist was also the youngest member of the Constitutional Commission that drafted the 1987 Constitution, as well as the 8th Congress. Gascon graduated from the University of the Philippines with an undergraduate degree in philosophy, then obtained a Bachelor of Laws from the same school. Inspiration to many His death was met with a flood of tributes from former colleagues and friends. "His leadership in the Commission has inspired and nurtured a culture of enabling, empowering, and safe environment that move CHR personnel to always serve with genuine compassion... utmost integrity, and excellence," CHR spokesperson Jacqueline Ann de Guia said in a statement. CHR vowed to "continue the human rights work with equal fervor and sincerity that Chair Chito exemplified in his work." Commissioner Karen Gomez-Dumpit will serve as officer-in-charge, following Gascon's passing, de Guia said. Meanwhile, Vice President Leni Robredo honored Gascon as someone who "touched many lives" and "was a constant light in these dark times." It is now up to all of us to tend to this light. May we all honor his legacy by following his example of compassion, courage, and integrity, she said in her message. Supreme Court (SC) Associate Justice Marvic Leonen said Gascon stood his ground and "inspired many." Former SC spokesman Ted Te described the rights chief as a "giant for human rights." The Armed Forces, for its part, called the CHR chairman a human rights champion who further pushed the AFP to advocate and abide by the principles of human rights and International Humanitarian Law. Senators Risa Hontiveros and Richard Gordon Gordon also mourned the passing of their fellow public servant and friend. Our thoughts and prayers go out to Melissa and Ciara Sophia and the Gascon family, Gordon posted on Twitter. My heart goes out to Chitos family and friends in these tough times, and most especially to his beloved Melissa (they were my inaanak sa kasal) and to Ciara, the apple of her Papas eyes. Please accept our sincerest condolences. He will be missed, Hontiveros said in a statement. French Republic to the Philippines Ambassador Michele Boccoz and European Union Ambassador to the Philippines Luc Veron remembered Gascon as a friend in upholding human rights in the country. Liberal Party vice president Teddy Baguilat said Gascon was one of his "idols as a young activist." Gascon has been a human rights defender since the Marcos regime. He was also a vocal critic of the Duterte administration's bloody drug war. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) World leaders and international organizations have congratulated Philippine journalist Maria Ressa for winning this years Nobel Peace Prize labeling the feat as a win for press freedom globally. In a statement on Friday (Saturday in Manila), US President Joe Biden lauded the Nobel Committee for recognizing Ressa CEO of online news organization Rappler and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, saying they have worked tirelessly and fearlessly to pursue the facts. They have worked to check the abuse of power, expose corruption, and demand transparency. They have been tenacious in founding independent media outlets and defending them against forces that seek their silence, Biden said. Ressa, Muratov, and journalists like them all around the world are on the front lines of a global battle for the very idea of the truth, and I, along with people everywhere, am grateful for their groundbreaking work to hold the line, as Ressa so often says, he added. Human rights group Amnesty International welcomed the victory, saying it is also important for the fight for justice, accountability, and freedom of expression all around the world. The European Union also commended Ressa for the dedication in her field despite cases lodged against her. Her work offers hope not only to the people in the Philippines, but across South-East Asia and the world, the EU added. The United Nations and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations likewise extended their congratulatory messages for the journalists. Stop the attacks, drop the cases Following the Nobel award, Amnesty International Secretary General Agnes Callamard called on authorities in the Philippines and Russia to stop the attacks on press freedom. READ: Nobel winner Maria Ressa vows to fight for facts and the rule of law Ressas legal team headed by Amal Clooney also reiterated their call to immediately drop all outstanding cases against Ressa and Rappler. She has sacrificed her own freedom for the rights of journalists all over the world and I am grateful to the Nobel Committee for shining a light on her incredible courage. I hope the Philippine authorities will now stop persecuting her and other journalists and that this prize helps to protect the press around the world, Clooney said in a statement, citing the cyber libel cases earlier filed against the veteran journalist. Ressa is the first Filipino to receive the award and the first woman to be awarded a Nobel Prize this year. Her co-winner, Muratov, heads the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta. Some local officials and groups including Vice President Leni Robredo, some senators, and the National Union of Journalists of the Philippines also congratulated Ressa on the award. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, October 9) The country received a fresh shipment of more than 1.3 million Moderna COVID-19 vaccines. The plane carrying the American-made doses procured by both the government and the private sector arrived at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport Saturday afternoon, state media reported. Of the newly-delivered shots, 885,700 will be allocated for the government while 477,600 will go to the private sector. Vaccine czar Carlito Galvez, who was among the officials who welcomed the shipment, thanked Moderna and the local private sector for the "very successful tripartite agreement." This is the 11th delivery that the country has received in a span of nine days, according to Galvez. With more doses expected to arrive, the task force official called on fellow government workers to "set aside political differences" to focus on the vaccine rollout. "We call on our local leaders, including our regional directors and offices and IATF to set aside political differences and focus on our efforts to inoculate as many people as possible," Galvez told reporters. "Ngayon, ang ating challenge (Our challenge now) is more on administration and demand." "'Wag po nating gamitin ang bakuna sa pulitika (Let's not use the vaccines for politics)," he added. (CNN) On this sizzling exoplanet hundreds of light-years from Earth, droplets of iron rain fall from the sky at night. Now, researchers have also detected sodium and ionized calcium in the planet's atmosphere, based on observations from the Gemini North Telescope, which is located near the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. The new findings suggest the planet, named WASP-76b, is even hotter than scientists expected. The research is part of a Cornell University-led project called ExoGemS, or Exoplanets with Gemini Spectroscopy survey. The project brings together scientists who study the diversity of atmospheres on exoplanets, which are planets located outside of our solar system. The results published on September 28 in the Astrophysical Journal Letters and were presented Tuesday at the annual meeting of the Division for Planetary Sciences of the American Astronomical Society. "As we do remote sensing of dozens of exoplanets, spanning a range of masses and temperatures, we will develop a more complete picture of the true diversity of alien worlds -- from those hot enough to harbor iron rain to others with more moderate climates, from those heftier than Jupiter to others not much bigger than the Earth," said Ray Jayawardhana, study coauthor and the Harold Tanner Dean of the College of Arts and Sciences and a professor of astronomy at Cornell University, in a statement. "It's remarkable that with today's telescopes and instruments, we can already learn so much about the atmospheres -- their constituents, physical properties, presence of clouds and even large-scale wind patterns -- of planets that are orbiting stars hundreds of light-years away," Jayawardhana said. Discovered in 2016, the ultra-hot planet -- which is about the size of Jupiter -- orbits a star in the Pisces constellation 640 light-years away from Earth. Because of its close proximity to the star, WASP-76b completes one orbit around it every 1.8 Earth days and soaks up thousands of times the radiation that Earth receives from the sun. "We're seeing so much calcium (in WASP-76b's atmosphere); it's a really strong feature," said Emily Deibert, study coauthor and doctoral student at the University of Toronto, in a statement. "This spectral signature of ionized calcium could indicate that the exoplanet has very strong upper atmosphere winds. Or the atmospheric temperature on the exoplanet is much higher than we thought." The planet is tidally locked, meaning the same side of the planet always faces the star. This is similar to how our moon orbits Earth. On the so-called dayside of the planet, which faces the star, temperatures exceed 4,400 degrees Fahrenheit (2,426 degrees Celsius). The dayside's blazing temperatures, which are hot enough to turn molecules into atoms and metal into vapor, create iron vapor. Rapid winds carry this over to the nightside, where relatively cooler temperatures hover around 2,400 degrees Fahrenheit (1,315 degrees Celsius). The iron vapor condenses into clouds, causing rain that consists of liquid iron, and this creates the iron observed in the atmosphere. The ExoGemS survey, which will ultimately study about 30 exoplanets, is led by Jake Turner, a Carl Sagan Fellow in NASA's Hubble Fellowship program and research associate in Cornell University's department of astronomy. "Our work, and that of other researchers, is paving the way for exploring the atmospheres of terrestrial worlds beyond our solar system," Turner said. Understanding the chemistry of an exoplanet's atmosphere will help astronomers understand its weather, climate and environment. Ultra-hot gas giant exoplanets like WASP-76b, "which have day-side temperatures commensurable with the surface of cool stars, are an emerging class of exoplanets," according to a previous study about the planet. Previous examples of these extremely hot exoplanets include KELT-9b, WASP-121b and WASP-12b. And other types of unusual rain have been suggested on other planets, like HD 189733 b's wicked winds that send glass-like silicates raining sideways around the planet and even diamond rain on Neptune. This story was first published on CNN.com Planet with iron rainfall is even more extreme than scientists thought Republican Giulianna "Jewels" Gray, a candidate in Colorado's new 8th Congressional District, is formally kicking off her campaign next week with an event in the north metro area featuring a conservative author and the woman who will represent Colorado in the 2022 United States of America Pageant. Gray, a wedding photographer who says she decided to get involved in politics after the 2020 election, is the only Republican so far running in the new district, which is expected to cover parts of Adams and Weld counties stretching north of Denver to Greeley. A single mother of two young children, Gray describes herself as "pro-freedom, pro-constitution, pro-common sense, pro-American." "Our freedoms are at stake, and we cannot let socialist policies or government over-reach strip us of our rights," Gray said in a statement. "Through positive solutions and teamwork, We The People can make a difference in Colorado and return our country to the things that make America the greatest nation on Earth! Her campaign kick-off is set to include an appearance by Jessica Jay Dee, who travels the country speaking about constitutional ideas and encourages Americans to "take a stand against tyranny," according to Gray's campaign. Also on hand will be Sarah Marie, the reigning United States of America's Ms. Colorado, who "empowers business owners with tools to capture their brands and be seen so that they can share their message and purpose with the world," Gray's campaign said. The campaign also plans to auction off a Mossberg short barrel, 12-gauge shotgun. The kick-off party is scheduled 6-8 p.m. Wednesday, Oct. 13, in Westminster, with the address provided to supporters who RSVP on Gray's campaign site. Two Democrats have launched campaigns for the seat state Rep. Yadira Caraveo, a pediatrician, and Adams County Commissioner Charles "Chaz" Tedesco, a machinist and former president of a local union. Republicans who are considering a run in the new district are state Sens. Kevin Priola, John Cooke and Barbara Kirkmeyer. The 8th CD will likely be Colorado's most competitive congressional district, pending approval of a map submitted last week to the state Supreme Court by an independent redistricting commission. Welcome to ComedyNerd, Crackeds daily comedy vertical. Sign up for the ComedyNerd newsletter below. SIGN ME UP The sitcom is dead! When an esteemed publication like Entertainment Weekly makes that proclamation, one has to sit up and take notice. Call the comedy coroner! The only problem is that EW handed down the same sitcom death sentence in 1999. Like Nostradamus sitting atop a pile of old TV Guides, TV pundits love nothing more than predicting the death of the situation comedy. The conventional thinking among the entertainment press was that the half-hour comedy was dead, lamented NBC honcho Warren Littlefield. That was in 1983, just months before The Cosby Show took over the world. Critic Andy Greenwald deemed the state of the sitcom downright disastrous in 2014. One year later, Diamondback predicted the network sitcom will become totally obsolete. In 2018, Decider asked are network comedies dead? All of this gloom, by the way, came during a time when Big Bang Theory was the number one show on television. HBO Max Smart people are socially awkward when interacting with the opposite sex. Bazinga, the sitcom is alive and well! Like news of its spiritual forefather Mark Twain, reports of the sitcoms death have been greatly exaggerated. But if you keep predicting something often enough, odds are youll be correct at some point. What if in 2021 the doomsayers are actually right? Continue Reading Below Advertisement Pour one out for the network comedy Sitcoms have proven to be one of televisions more durable forms of entertainment, but their popularity over the past 25 years has been receding faster than Matthew Perry's hairline. A little historical perspective: During the 1995-96 season, six sitcoms took roost in the Nielsen top 10: Seinfeld, Friends, Caroline in the City, The Single Guy, Home Improvement, and Boston Commons. Six additional comedies landed in the second half of the top 20. Thats a whopping 60% of the countrys most popular shows. Continue Reading Below Advertisement When boiled down to base elements, pee yields not gold, but phosphorous, the so-called "devil's element." Bad news for alchemists' bank account, but good news for science. French chemist Nicolas Lemery is the demarcation point between charlatans and real chemists. Before him, playing with pee was merely a get-rich-quick scheme. He made it the pursuit of classy men of learning. Living up to its nickname, the resulting chemical product almost burned down Lemery's house when the condensed piss got misplaced in a guest's bed. From that humble, if traumatizing experiment, we have the life-improving wonders that are white phosphorous and yellow phosphorous. Okay, bad examples, but we're guessing in 360 years something good came out of phosphorous. Continue Reading Below Advertisement The anti-septic viability of urine was never established, though ammonia-based compounds are good disinfectants. So, that's like half credit. Science never gave up its interest in bodily fluids. The bounds of scientific knowledge were greatly expanded by the first synthesis of urea, in layman's terms, fake pee. We told you eggheads were really into urine. The act of creating organic substances from inorganic elements in the 1820s by Friedrich Wohler is a moment we can't take for granted. In one lab test, he destroyed the prevailing scientific idea of his time. It's why today colleges force you to take boring courses in organic chemistry, not boring courses in vitalism. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Pee was always the secret to mankind's development. Saltpeter from churchgoers was used to manufacture gunpowder. Your piss is worth gold even it can't be made into it. Yorkshire, located in the UK, was once so dependent on the substance for the production of fabric that it started to pay for it in bulk. Think of a milkman going door to door with a wagon full of bottles, only in reverse. On second thought, don't think of that. The list of horrible Victorian-era occupations truly never ceases. The Romans did them one better and taxed it, greedily seeking out a source of ammonia, which so happens to be the active ingredient in blue-tinted window cleaners. We're still not sure why it's blue, though. Nevit Dilmen "We assure you Windex is p ainstakingly harvested from only premium-quality Smurf latrines." Continue Reading Below Advertisement Science's obsession with urine never pe(e)tered out. In 2017, the US Army announced pee could be used as a source of raw material to harvest energy. Don't look now, but pee batteries might be the new, hot tech fad. We're not saying Elon Musk is going to make a car that runs on pee cells, but it wouldn't be a shock if someone found a novel use for urine and tech gurus began stockpiling it like gold bullion before the government revives the urine tax. Stranger things have happened, and pee is hotter than ever; look no further than the 7,000 #urinetherapy posts. Top Image: frolicsomepl/Pixabay Continue Reading Below Advertisement "Coming from Chappelle, a joke like that felt like a dare," Deggans wrote in his article, entitled For Dave Chappelle, punchlines are dares. His new special, 'The Closer,' goes too far, referencing another quip in the special with the punch line Space Jews." He knows, in the moment, that such a punchline will briefly break the spell he has on the audience, make them rethink their allegiance to him, at least for a second. And he'll have to work a little to get them back on his team again which he does, he continued, adding in parentheses that He also knows reviewers like me will quote the joke and criticize him for it, which I am. I don't really care what point he's trying to make; a joke that sounds like antisemitism gets a hard pass from me." Continue Reading Below Advertisement The writer also notes the ways in which Chappelle has addressed those who have called him out. And the message Chappelle has for those who have criticized him about transphobic, homophobic or any other phobic jokes seems to be: Race trumps all. However Deggans is not alone in seemingly raising an eyebrow at some of the special's concerning punch lines. Others online have spoken candidly about taking a hard pass on the special entirely, including Jaclyn Moore, a writer and showrunner for Dear White People. In a recent social media post, Moore accused Netflix of providing a bigger platform for anti-trans rhetoric and as a result, Moore says she will no longer work with the platform. Continue Reading Below Advertisement After the Chappelle special, I cant do this anymore, she explained. I wont work for @netflix again as long as they keep promoting and profiting from dangerous transphobic content. Continue Reading Below Advertisement Although Moore recognizes Chappelle's importance in the comedy scene, ranking him among her comic heroes" she says she is less-than-thrilled with the joke included in his special. His shadow is huge, she told NBC News earlier this week. Hes a brilliant goofy comedian, hes brilliant as a political comedian. He has been brilliant for so so long, but I also dont think because youve been brilliant means that youre always brilliant." So, folks, take it from Dave Chappelle and JK Rowling don't spew TERF-y nonsense, unless you have a thing for pissing off pretty much everyone. For more internet nonsense, follow Carly on Instagram @HuntressThompson_ on TikTok as @HuntressThompson_, and on Twitter @TennesAnyone. Microsofts June security update is light on details but heavy on possible long-term impact to network environments. It updates a patch fixing an issue for a DCOM Server security feature bypass (CVE-2021-26414). What exactly is it fixing? A Japanese security bulletin offers some hints. According to the bulletin, an attacker would first exploit a vulnerability by directing a DCOM client to connect to a specially crafted server in some way, typically by sending a phishing email to a user to gain a hold on the system. Next, the attacker will use that information to access and then compromise the DCOM server. The patch fixes and strengthens the authentication used between DCOM clients and servers. Specifically, it phases in stronger authentication ( RPC_C_AUTHN_LEVEL_PKT_INTEGRITY ) on the DCOM client. This level of integrity ensures that none of the data transferred between the client and server has been modified. What is DCOM? Distributed Component Object Model (DCOM) is a Microsoft technology for communication between software components on networked computers. Many of us dont truly understand it, nor can we diagnose DCOM errors in our event logs that dont appear to have major impact to our networks. This technology is a protocol for exposing application objects using remote procedure calls (RPCs). As a result of CVE-2021-26414, changes are needed for RPCs to harden them to ensure they are protected against a security feature bypass vulnerability. The results of the 2020 Census confirmed what had already been underway for many years: In Connecticut, the growth of the Hispanic and Latino population is the most striking of any group in the state. As Hispanic Heritage Month comes to a close this week, an analysis of answers that people who identified as Hispanic or Latino gave to the U.S. Census Bureau shows that as their numbers have grown at a rapid pace, this community in Connecticut has become increasingly diverse. The states Hispanic and Latino population comprises people from a wide mix of origins. The largest group by far are residents who hail from Puerto Rico, followed by Mexicans, Dominicans, Ecuadorian, Colombians, and Guatemalans. There are concentrations of Hispanic and Latino residents in large cities and some smaller towns across the state. The Hispanic and Latino populations are expected to continue to grow in size and political power in Connecticut and nationwide, according to the Center for Puerto Rican Studies in New York. But a study from the center notes the communitys below average economic status, fewer citizens eligible to vote and a population that trends younger translate into under-representation in Connecticut. This year, 12 out of 151 legislators in the Connecticut House of Representatives are Hispanic or Latino, and just one of the 36 senators are. But members of Connecticuts Hispanic and Latino population including some in its booming cohort of young adults have been working to change that landscape. Take for example, Mariza Davila-Madwid whose family moved from Peru to Connecticut under a work visa when she was 13. That visa expired as she was graduating from Danbury High School, leaving her undocumented and without the right to in-state tuition. She took a gap year to fund her first semester of college, and continued to work through school. She also became an activist alongside peers in similar situations to hers. We were lobbying, we were going to a lot of rallies, she said. I got very involved, because I knew that this was the only way that we could make a change. The Connecticut legislature passed a law granting Dreamers like her the right to in-state tuition in 2011, and Davila-Madwid earned her undergraduate degree from Western Connecticut State University in 2012. She met her now-husband, an American citizen, while in college, and now teaches Spanish at Bethel High School, where she is also overseeing a new Latino Awareness Club. Davila-Madwid, who is pregnant, plans to speak Spanish with her children at home. Still, Hispanic and Latino residents said they continue to face misconceptions about who they are and where they come from. One such assumption people seem to have is that most of the Hispanic or Latino population is undocumented, said Valeriano Ramos, director of strategic alliances for Hartford-based Everyday Democracy. In 2017, about 116,000 residents of Connecticut were likely unauthorized, according to the Migration Policy Institute. Around 62 percent came from Central and South America. But the majority are citizens, and many more are either naturalized or were born in Puerto Rico or another U.S. territory. Ramos, for example, was born in New York City and grew up in Puerto Rico. Another misconception: Melia Bensussen, artistic director of the Hartford Stage, said a shared language often implies there is one community that fits the description of Hispanic. For instance, Bensussen, who grew up in Mexico City, might use the terms Latinx and Latinidad to describe much the same populace that the Census categorizes as Hispanic or Latino. In Bensussens experience living in several large cities, the reality is much more complex than that. Hispanic and Latino residents are also urging for more support to be provided to the states growing population of youths who belong to a Hispanic or Latino family. In the last decade, about 32,000 Hispanic or Latino children were born in or moved to Connecticut, the most of any racial or ethnic group. The state and its schools have an imperative to provide those children with opportunities as well as Spanish-language classes, Ramos said. While some children live in neighborhoods where theyll hear Spanish at the bodega or from their neighbors, many others are scattered across communities less dense with Hispanic language and culture, he said. It's up to the schools to try to encourage them to continue learning the language, Ramos said. Schools are making some effort, but they could do more. Community based-organizations, I think, are doing a lot these days to try to preserve the culture. Some are also working to boost economic and business ownership opportunities for Hisapnic and Latino residents. Per capita, Hispanic and Latino people on average earned roughly $27,000 less in Connecticut than whites in 2019, according to Census surveys. That figure has increased by about 26 percent since 2010. Opportunity is exactly what Ruth Alustiza is trying to provide through the business she works as an executive director for, Newington-based Latin Financial. The company specializes in business loans and cash advances particularly for people from Puerto Rico. Alustiza, who is Puerto Rican, said many of the customers she works with lack financial opportunities or the know-how to start their own businesses. Latin Financial funds all kinds of companies, she said, naming pharmacies, gas stations and spas as a few common ones. Others, like Bensussen, are trying to help people to understand themselves and their communities better through the arts, theater and storytelling. The theater that Bensussen oversees is putting on its first live performances since the beginning of the pandemic in the coming week. This is the great gift of being mostly out of the pandemic, she said. It allows us to breathe and commune and hear stories together, that help to enlighten us about all aspects of our humanity. Gov. Ned Lamont fired a dozen newly hired state employees still within their six-month probationary periods on Friday after they defied his order that 31,000 state agency employees either prove they were vaccinated for COVID-19 or agree to weekly testing. The actions are the latest salvo in the campaign between a governor, who has ordered inoculations and testing, and rank-and-file workers who are either hesitant or opposed to vaccines. The employees, who were not identified by name or department, were technically suspended, not fired. But probationary employees under suspension can lose their jobs immediately without contracted steps of discipline, making the moves terminations in effect. Lamont, speaking after an unrelated event in Windsor Locks, said the 12 workers were among the 671 unionized state workers who did not comply with the order as of late Thursday. The governor said that since then, more employees have reported they would inoculate or test. Lamont did not say Friday when or whether he would order suspensions for regular employees who defied the order. The suspensions come as metrics used to track the virus are trending downward in Connecticut, mirroring a general decline in the rest of the country. The 7-day rolling average of new cases has fallen around 34 percent in the last four weeks to an average of around 420 newly reported infections per day, according to state data. Hospitalizations for the virus, at 234 Friday, are down from a peak of a little under 400 in mid-August but are unchanged from a week ago. On Friday, the state recorded 509 new infections with a daily positivity rate of 1.52 percent. Statewide among all residents eligible for the COVID inoculation, 76 percent were fully vaccinated as of Wednesday, compared with 79 percent of state employees. For each employee who had not been vaccinated or agreed to weekly testing, Lamont said, I do know that we reached out and made sure it wasnt a matter of misunderstanding...If it was, work with us, or work with us now. PATRICK T. FALLON /AFP / TNS Similar orders are in effect for state employees in higher education and the Judicial and Legislative branches. Republicans, including House Minority Leader Vincent Candelora, R-North Branford, said Lamont didnt have to carry out the suspensions to keep the state safe and Connecticut doesnt need to mandate vaccinations. What I would hope is the governor would be more respectful of peoples personal health care decisions and try to balance them not getting the vaccine or potentially tested versus sacrificing their livelihood, Candelora said Friday. There needs to be a case-by-case conversation on why these individuals are not complying. Connecticut is in such a good position with its infection rate, hospitalization rate. There is no urgency, Candelora said, considering the declining illness. Why do we need to achieve a greater than 96 percent vaccination rate? Many workers are working remotely. There are workers who have natural immunity..People working on the highway picking up litter, Im not sure what vested interest there is in getting them vaccinated. Lamont said the state is working with each employee who is not compliant. We reached out to them more than once and you get vaccinated or you get tested....If you say no, you cant work here. Its unsafe. On Thursday, Lamont released agency-by-agency details that show Department of Correction employees have the lowest rate of vaccinations at 57 percent of 5,290 employees. By contrast, workers in the Department of Public Health, for example, have a 93 percent inoculation rate among more than 670 employees. SEBAC, the state union coalition, has been negotiating terms of the suspensions, such as where and when free testing will be available. Its unclear whether the unions will oppose the actions of Friday, as state workers in their probationary period do not have the same protections as regular union members. I think within less than a week weve been reaching out to people, you know, making sure there is no confusion, making sure that they know this is what the rules are, Lamont said. One more chance if you want to play by the rules: vaccination or testing, otherwise you cant work for us for now. Workers in state hospitals and congregate housing facilities have less flexibility, with the order to vaccinate or risk suspension, amid union warnings that state-run healthcare facilities are understaffed. I think were going to be in good shape, Lamont said. I think the overwhelming majority got vaccinated and the president doesnt suggest we compromise on that and neither do I, especially when youre dealing with the elderly, especially when youre dealing with those who are sick, youve got to be vaccinated. Otherwise, its not safe. Lamonts staff has been in negotiations with the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition over exact terms of the vaccinate-or-test orders and will likely win more than four weeks of free testing. In a late afternoon statement, the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition, representing about 30 bargaining units, announced that an agreement on testing and suspensions was reached with the Lamont administration that will allow free testing for employees until at least Feb. 15 2022, when the current emergency declaration expires. In addition, during the first 30 days of a unpaid, 45-day suspension period, employees can resign in good standing, with a year-long option to rescind their resignations and return to work. Those who do not choose resignation will lose their jobs permanently after 45 days. While we are pleased with the progress that has been made, the new agreement does not adequately address our concerns that strict enforcement of the vaccine requirement in state hospitals and long-term care facilities could exacerbate the staffing shortages that existed long before COVID-19, SEBAC sasid in a statement. We continue to urge the State to allow the unions and the state to meet to discuss remedies in the event the mandate exacerbates critical staffing shortages in particular facilities and to temporarily allow a testing option in those facilities to prevent harm to clients/patients or staff. Staff writers Julia Bergman and Peter Yankowski contributed to this report Unpaid suspensions will begin on Friday for as many as 671 unionized state workers who have not complied with Gov. Ned Lamonts vaccination-or-test order, as new data showed the Department of Correction lagging, with 57 percent vaccinated. The suspensions could turn into job terminations in 45 days under an order by Gov. Ned Lamont, who said Thursday he could wait no longer before taking action several days after the deadline he imposed. The first to be suspended will be new state employees who are still within their six-month probationary periods. Under the order, state employees had to either show they were vaccinated for COVID-19 or consent to weekly testing for the illness. Those directly working in long-term housing or hospitals did not have the option of testing instead of vaccinations. The 671 people, or 2.2 percent of 30,220 affected employees, were those who had not registered their vaccination proof or weekly testing consent in an online system. At some point you have to hold people accountable, if theyre not responding, Lamont told reporters during an early afternoon online news conference. Later Thursday, Lamont issued a larger picture of the employee population, with an agency-by-agency breakdown showing that 78.5 percent of workers 23,711 said they are fully vaccinated; 19.3 percent 5,838 people will accept weekly testing; and the remaining employees had not responded or had declined the options. The Department of Correction, by far the states largest department with 5,290 employees including prison guards, had the lowest vaccination rate, at 57 percent. But 40.5 percent of that department agreed to weekly testing, leaving 122, or 2.3 percent, out of compliance and in danger of suspension. Four state agencies had at least 93 percent of employees vaccinated, the largest of those being the Department of Public Health, at 93 percent, with 44 people agreeing to testing and only one noncompliant. The highest was the Workers Compensation Commission at 95 percent of 105 employees fully vaccinated. Other agencies with more than 90-percent vaccination compliance include a group of small agencies with a total of 614 employees; the Department of Economic and Community Development; the Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station; the office of the Attorney General; the Division of Criminal Justice; and the Office of Policy and Management. The agencies with vaccination rates less than 80 percent include the state Department of Transportation, the Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection, which includes the State Police; and the Department of Motor Vehicles. All three were over 75 percent, leaving th Department of Correction with by far the lowest vaccination rate. The statewide vaccination rate for eligible residents was 76 percent as of Wednesday, the states public database showed. That was also the vaccination rate for adults ages 25 to 64. It was still unclear late Thursday how many of the 671 noncompliant employees would be suspended Friday. Under Lamonts orders, regular state employees had until this past Monday night at 11:59 p.m. to either document that they have been vaccinated or agree to begin weekly testing. The ones who remain noncompliant have not necessarily actively refused vaccinations or testing, as they may have had trouble accessing the system or other technical issues, or theey may simply have not responded. I think a lot of those are inadvertent, Lamont said. In a lot of those theyve got the wrong ID numbers and such in there. Were going after them. Personnel is talking to them, making sure theyve got that corrected. And then those few outliers who just dont want to participate either vaxxing or testing, theyre going to have to take some unpaid leave. The state Department of Public Health on Thursday said 38 COVID-related deaths occurred over the last week, bringing the total number of fatalities in the pandemic to 8,667. Last week, 53 deaths were announced and the week before that, 36. State agency vaccination rates % Fully % Number Agency Employees Vaccinated Testing Non-compliant Total 30,220 79% 19% 671 Dept of Correction 5,290 57% 41% 122 Mental Health/Addiction Svcs 2,990 84% 13% 112 Dept of Transportation 2,885 78% 21% 51 Dept of Children and Family 2,788 83% 16% 34 Dept of Developmental Services 2,313 81% 18% 38 Source: See More Collapse The number of people hospitalized with COVID, 230 as of Thursday, was four fewer than the week before, after a decline of 48 in the prior week. The positive test rate continues to fall. It was at 1.7 percent Thursday, with 548 new cases. The 7-day positivity rate was 1.93 percent, with 3,154 new cases. Lamont said during the week that he wanted to avoid suspensions for people who had intentions to comply with the order, but the order gives him only until Monday to suspend people and that is a state holiday. The umbrella group for more than 30 state employee unions argues that the state already has a critical shortage of workers in some areas, especially in mental health and other services at state-owned hospitals, which is endangering clients and employees. The union coalition, the State Employees Bargaining Agent Coalition, or SEBAC, on Thursday declined comment on the imminent suspensions. Last week the coalition asked for a 20-day extension on Governor Ned Lamonts vaccination deadline for those employees not permitted to opt out through testing. Lamont on Thursday said that an eventual agreement with SEBAC will likely include the costs of weekly testing beyond the current four-week limit. kdixon@ctpost.com Hospitals and pharmacies across Connecticut are now offering booster shots or third doses of COVID-19 vaccines to those who qualify. Gov. Ned Lamont has promised the process of getting an additional shot of vaccine will be easier than in the spring, when high demand led appointments to fill up within minutes. He reiterated that point on Wednesday. You can go to any of our pharmacies virtually no questions asked, you can get that booster if its been more than six months and you think youre eligible, the governor said, speaking to reporters after an event in Bethel. Booster versus additional dose Federal regulators announced last month that a limited number of Americans would be eligible to receive booster shots of the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine. The announcement was narrower than the Biden administrations stated goal of allowing anyone who had received the vaccine to get a booster six months after their initial series of shots. Moderna and Johnson & Johnson have also submitted data to the Food and Drug Administration to allow boosters of the two other federally authorized COVID-19 vaccines, but neither has been approved by the agency yet. Vaccine providers also make a distinction between booster shots and additional doses. In August, the FDA authorized third doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech and Moderna vaccines for people with compromised immune systems. The difference comes down to immunity. A booster is meant to address waning immunity, while a third shot is intended for those with compromised immune systems who need more than two doses to achieve maximum effect. Eligibility People eligible for a booster shot of the Pfizer BioNTech fall into three basic categories, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. They include people 65 and older, adults over the age of 18 with underlying medical conditions, and adults over the age of 18 who are at increased risk of exposure due to their job or living conditions. The list of underlying medical conditions includes cancer, chronic kidney disease, chronic lung disease, dementia, down syndrome, heart conditions, HIV infection, obesity, liver disease, pregnancy, sickle cell disease or thalassemia, smoking, being a solid organ or blood stem cell recipient, stroke, substance use disorders and patients who are immunocompromised. Jobs that might put someone at increased risk of exposure to the virus include first responders like health care workers, firefighters, police and staff of congregate facilities; educators, including teachers, school staff and day care workers; food and agricultural workers; people who work in manufacturing; prison guards and staff; postal workers; grocery workers and people who work in public transit. However, the CDC said people should talk with their health care provider about their personal risks to determine if their job puts them at increased risk. Dr. James Cardon, Hartford HealthCare's chief clinical integration officer, admitted those categories are a little vague, and said the hospital systems inclination is to administer the booster if someone feels they qualify, rather than policing who is eligible. We tend to take a liberal view of people who say gee I think I qualify and I feel safer with a vaccine, Cardon said. As long as its Pfizer and they have it in the right time interval. Scheduling a shot Cardon said the hospital system is handling around 3,000 booster shots every week, and people can either walk up or schedule an appointment for their shot. During the sign-in process, people must attest that they qualify for a booster. People should bring documentation from their previous shots. We are adhering to just Pfizer and not cross-matching the different (mRNA) vaccines, Cardon said. Large pharmacy chains, including CVS, Walgreens and Walmart, are accepting appointments for booster shots. During the online scheduling process, people must to attest that they qualify for a booster under one of the categories outlined by the CDC. The systems also require users to enter the date of their last vaccine dose, and will not let them proceed if they received their last dose within the past six months. CVS, Walgreens and Walmart locations around the state all showed readily available appointments for Pfizer booster shots within the next week. Flu shots People can also now safely get a flu shot at the same time as their booster. When COVID vaccines first became available, many recipients were told to wait to get other vaccines. The CDC has since clarified the two can be taken together. You can get them at the exact same time, Cardon said. With the flu shot, timing is important because getting it too early can cause immunity to wane before flu season ends, he pointed out, but from this point on, youre pretty much in good shape to get both if thats what you need. Thats important, because the colder weather headed into the fall could see COVID-19 infections rise, but also cases of other respiratory illnesses as well. We are also seeing some increases in respiratory illnesses and flu-related illnesses right now, said Dr. Ajay Kumar, Hartford HealthCares chief clinical officer. So we might actually have a different type of problem in terms of different types of respiratory infections in late winter. Those could impact hospital capacity later in the winter, he said. FAIRFIELD A man was arrested Thursday after police say he threatened to shoot a restaurant employee in the face. Orlando Torres, 55, was arrested by Fairfield Police just after noon on Thursday. He was charged with first-degree threatening and second-degree breach of peace, police said. According to police, Torres had been calling and harassing the employees at the Southport Diner at 3350 Post Road. When a female employee told Torres to stop calling, he threatened to come down and shoot her in the face, police said. Fairfield Police Lt. Eddie Weihe said Torres is familiar to employees at the diner. Torres allegedly has a history of being a problem customer of the Southport Diner, and according to employees, had been asked to stop calling for this reason, Weihe said. Weihe said that after hearing of the incident, police contacted Torres by phone and he voluntarily came to police headquarters to be interviewed. He did not have a firearm with him, and stated he does not own any firearms. He admitted to calling the Southport Diner but denied making any threats. Torres was released on $1,000 bond. He is scheduled to appear Friday in state Superior Court in Bridgeport, according to the state judicial department website. Conservative Party co-chairman Oliver Dowden put it best when he said thousands of civil servants still working from home should get off their exercise bikes and back into the office. I agree our public servants should lead by example, and the rest of us should join them. Yet Mr Dowden's comments caused an outcry last week, which is telling in itself. Today, more than 18 months since the first lockdown, our great city centres are half empty. Restaurants, cafes, shops of all kinds are being choked to death. Sir Iain Duncan Smith says working from home is damaging hundreds of thousands of small businesses, the wider economy and the UK's social fabric And none are more at risk than businesses located in the streets and districts once populated by our army of civil servants. Streets which today lie silent. Working from home is rapidly emerging as a new 'right', one vigorously championed by many in the comfortable classes not least Sarah Healey, Permanent Secretary of Mr Dowden's former department, Digital, Culture, Media and Sport. She has certainly led by example, boasting about preferring to work from home as that allows her to spend more time astride her Peloton an upmarket exercise bike. Whitehall, pictured in May 2020 during the height of the pandemic, still remains empty months later as thousands of civil servants work from home rather than return to the office Never mind the damage all this does, not just to hundreds of thousands of small businesses, but to the wider economy and our social fabric. Mr Dowden was immediately attacked as 'anti civil servant' for his remarks. Getting to work: Civil servants from the Ministry of Pensions continue their duties even after being evacuated out to a Blackpool hotel during the Second World War The Blitz spirit meant not even the threat of bombings would stop people getting back to work Work as usual: A sandbag barricade outside the Treasury Office in London's Whitehall at the the beginning of the Second World War As it happens, nothing could be further from the truth. In my time in government, I had some quite brilliant civil servants without whose dedication I could not have developed the Universal Credit system. These highly driven colleagues worked long hours at their desks and my respect for them is unending. Yet there are good reasons why all civil servants who remain at home should now return. We are social beings, after all. We work at our best when connected with others, and with new and different ideas. We thrive on laughter with colleagues or unexpected discussions at the coffee machine. The awkward pantomime of a video conference call is no real substitute, let alone the narrow echo chamber of social media. There can be no question that being together makes us more productive, particularly in the face of complex or seemingly intractable problems. Nurses and students at Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital bring up a wheelbarrow full of sandbags for a lookout post while off duty during the Second World War Civil servants were determined to do their bit and get back to work even with the threat of war Meanwhile, studies now suggest that social isolation during the pandemic has led to a troubling increase in depression and other forms of mental illness. For the sake of government itself, our civil servants must get back into the office after this terrible Covid hiatus. There are other reasons, too, why I believe everyone should be back and one concerns those who work for some of the lowest wages in the private sector. A couple of weeks ago, I went to a restaurant in Westminster for dinner. It wasn't late, yet I was surprised to see the place was only one quarter full. I spoke to the restaurateur who also, I recalled, owned a very good Italian coffee shop nearby. Yet when I asked how the cafe was doing, he replied that business was dire so he'd decided to close it down. This particular coffee shop had been near to a number of government departments and had long relied on custom from the civil servants working there. That trade had all but vanished since the Covid-19 crisis, and now he fears the restaurant could go the same way. His experience rings true with thousands in the hospitality trade in London and beyond. The people who work in shops, hotels, restaurants and theatres live off relatively low pay. Yet they are essential. Without a thriving workplace, their livelihoods are in jeopardy and so is the eco-system of our cities. This is a problem well beyond the all-too-quiet streets of Westminster, of course. Around the country, government agencies have behaved in the same sort of way. Rather than attempting to work out how to deliver the best possible service during the crisis, they simply closed their doors. Some agencies finally reopened up in the late spring of this year. Among the most notable offenders are the Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency, the DVSA, and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA). More than a year ago, I decided to take the DVSA-run motorcycle test. However, I found it was impossible to organise because the whole system had simply ground to a halt. I was astounded. Thousands use motorbikes and scooters for work and this shutdown affected them badly. When, after a long wait, I eventually managed to sit the test, the examiners started moaning about the rapidly growing backlog because the DVSA didn't train examiners. When I asked their managers how this had come about, they trotted out the wearisome mantra that social-distancing requirements were to blame. Never mind that there are few driving experiences quite so self-isolated as riding a motorbike in the open air. There are more serious questions facing the DVSA and DVLA, too. Who in these agencies was thinking about the growing shortage of lorry drivers, for example? It didn't take Brain of Britain to understand that after a year of no training or testing for the drivers of heavy goods vehicles, we would be heading for a crisis after lockdown. Didn't anyone think of ways to conduct training with masks and regular Covid tests? The fact that we are now desperately trying to get more drivers was wholly predictable. Yet they failed to predict it, let alone to act. All too many civil servants and government employees, like those in the DVSA, have failed to see Covid as a challenge. And instead of rising to that challenge, as the wartime generation would have done, they have thrown their hands up in despair before locking the doors and scuttling off home, of course. As one Minister told me recently, so few civil servants now come to work it feels positively spooky in the evenings. When I think of all the brave civil servants who went to work in the 1940s, determined to do their bit regardless of the threat from falling bombs, I wonder what has happened to us as a nation. I realise that civil servants are not alone in their reluctance to return to the office. Businesses up and down the land have faced the same problem and they still do. But I have always thought that the role of the government and the Civil Service was to give a lead, now more than ever. Only today are we beginning to feel the true results of shutting down our economy on three separate occasions. It has been devastating. Repairing this terrible destruction requires a superhuman effort from us all. Yes, getting people back to their offices is difficult, yet it is vital for all of us that we do so. A Holocaust survivor has told the story of how she found the strength to live through the horrors of Auschwitz in an eye-opening new memoir. Lily Ebert, 97, was on one of the last trains carrying Hungarian Jews to enter Auschwitz in 1944, enduring months at Birkenau before being transported to Altenburg, a sub-camp of Buchenwald. She made headlines last year when, with the help of her great-grandson Dov, she was reunited with the American soldier who penned her a heartfelt note on a German banknote after she was liberated from a Nazi Death March in 1945. The survivor has told her story in a heart-wrenching new book, tiled Lily's Promise: How I Survived Auschwitz and Found the Strength to Live, which details the horrific reality of life in a concentration camp. Lily tells how she came was forced to sort through victim's belongings for valuables to sell to fund Nazi death camps, and how she came face to face with the Angel of Death, Josef Mengele - who she once saved her sister from after he chose her to die in a random 'selection'. In one moving extract, Lily recalled making a promise to herself to educate the world about the Holocaust on Yom Kippur in 1944, after reading prayer books which had been smuggled into the concentration camp. Lily Ebert, 97, (second from right in 1945 after being liberated by US soldiers) was on one of the last trains carrying Hungarian Jews to enter Auschwitz in 1944, enduring months at Birkenau before being transported to Altenburg, a sub-camp of Buchenwald Lily was born in December 1923 in Bonyhad, a town in southwestern Hungary which at the time had a Jewish population of nearly 7,000. She had a happy childhood as the eldest of six siblings in a middle-class family. She was a bright child whose parents valued her education, and when in 1936 she went to a Catholic school, Lily says her religion was respected - insisting 'nobody ever made me feel different, or teased me for being Jewish'. 'I'm not sure we even knew there was such a thing as antisemitism when we were very young. It would have seemed a ridiculous idea', she writes. But after Hitler's rise to power in Austria, Hungary's autocratic government passed a series of anti-semitic laws and by the time the Second World War had broken out in Europe, Hungary shared a border with Germany. Lily (pictured at 97 after recovering from Covid) tells how she came was forced to sort through victim's belongings for jewels to sell to fund Nazi death camps, and how she came face to face with the Angel of Death Josef Mengele From 1938, laws were passed barring Jewish people from professions including law, medicine, journalism or engineering - and the majority of Jews lost their right to vote. In April 1941 Hungary joined a German-led attack on Yugoslavia. Two months later Hitler occupied various eastern European countries following his attack on the Soviet Union. The social media campaign led by her great-grandson that helped Lily find her liberator 75 years on Lily first hit headlines in July 2020, after successfully searching for the family of the American soldier who gave her a banknote with a message wishing her 'good luck and happiness'. She previously showed it to her great-grandson Dov, explaining to BBC's Today programme: 'I even didn't know what I have with this note, how interesting it is and how interesting it will be for the whole world. 'I got something from a soldier who did not have a piece of paper to write on... so instead he took out this banknote and he wrote good luck for future life.' The words written on the banknote dated April 1945 read: 'A start to a new life good luck and happiness' (pictured) Taking to Twitter to try and track down the US solider, Dov shared a selection of photos of the note and penned: 'Yesterday my great-grandma showed me this bank note given to her as a gift by a soldier who liberated her. Inscribed, it says 'a start to a new life. Good luck and happiness,' Later on, she met up with those who freed her'. The post was retweeted by the Auschwitz Museum's account which has over one million followers, and went on to receive over 14.5 thousand 'likes' - before the US solider's identity was finally revealed. It was learned that the note was given to his great-grandmother by Private Hayman Shulman from New Jersey. He was an American soldier and assistant to Rabbi Herschel Schacter, who was the first US Army Chaplain to participate in the liberation of Buchenwald concentration in April 1945. The Hungarian-born survivor later spoke over Zoom with the family of the US soldier, Private Hayman Shulman, who died seven years ago. To Jason Shulman and his wife Arlene Lily said: 'Your father showed me that there was good in humanity and gave me hope for a better future.' Advertisement Lily says that the 'systematic massacre of Jewish civilians immediately followed', with Jews in Hungary's territory in southeastern Poland handed over to Nazi German death squads. By August 1941 Jewish men between 18-48 were sent to become slave labourers for the army and it become illegal in Hungary for Jews and non-Jews to marry or have sex. The German army took over Budapest on 19 March 1944 and within weeks Lily and her family felt their 'freedom slipping away'. They were given curfews, forced to wear the yellow Star of David on their clothing and made to hand over their cameras and radios. Soon came the order to move into the ghetto, where over 700 friends and family moved into a narrow street where they would live crammed into small buildings, only allowed to leave twice a week. Lily heard rumours of an elderly jeweller who found the state of dread and uncertainty he was living in so unbearable, he took his own life. She only spent one night in the ghetto before being sent away to a farm called Juhe-Manor, where she and other young Jewish women were forced to spend weeks doing hard physical labour. After a brief return to the ghetto, in July 1944, Lily was told they would be leaving again eventually travelling to Pecs, where they were marched to Lakics army barracks and eventually - onto the train that would take her to Auschwitz. 'We were all so tightly packed inside that at first we could only stand, trapped, overwhelmed by the worst smell in the world, except for one. Human excrement, sweat and terror and vomit, fresh and stale at once. You had to fight for each breath. I had never felt such panic', she writes. 'Of course, people died. The heat was suffocating. There was so little to drink. Dry lips. Dry throats. People were sickening and ill before the journey started.' She recalled being 'locked in with corpses, a few more each day' before eventually crossing the boarder into occupied Poland. Lily and her family were told to leave their belongings on the train before being divided into two lines of women and men and being presented to a man she later discovered was Josef Mengele, the angel of death. Just moments later, Lily's mother and her little brother and sister Bela and Berta were sent left to be murdered in the gas chambers, while she and her sisters Rene and Piri were sent right, to the work camp. Lily and her sisters, along with their cousins Hilda Magda, Jolan and Boriska, were told to strip and prepare for a shower - where they were lined up naked and shaved of their hair and public hair. 'For some these assaults were too much to bear', writes Lily', A girl in the line front of us was driven insane, there and then. She lost all control. She couldn't take the shame and fear and horror. They took her away.' Unusually, they were able to keep their shoes but were forced to put on clothing that had belonged to other Jews before going back out into the lager where they noticed the smell of burning bodies. 'What kind of factory is that?' I asked one of the women prisoners who had arrived before us. 'What are they making here? What's this horrible smell?' 'They're burning your families there,' she told us. 'Your parents, your sisters, your brothers. They're burning them'',' she recalled. Lily recalled her first roll call, which began in the middle of the night and could last for hours, where prisoners had to stand completely still, alongside corpses, while the SS counted them. She remembered a young girl whose sick mother could barely stand encouraging her mum to sit down and rest during roll call. When a Jewish prisoner functionary noticed, both mother and daughter were forced to kneel for so long the mother fainted. She was later 'taken away' never to be seen by her daughter again. The survivor has told her story in a heart-wrenching new book, tiled Lily's Promise: How I Survived Auschwitz and Found the Strength to Live She recalled an 'unrecognisable black liquid' with a 'chemical' smell for breakfast, which was called coffee but was suspected contained a sedative called bromide, and was served in one container for five people. Lunch was soup, again served in one container to five people while dinner was 'dark brown lumps they called bread' which had a 'funny sour smell'. She would later tell how neither three sisters would have a period in the concentration camp, and how she stole raw vegetables from outside the kitchens to share with her sisters. Five or six hundred women slept in a place made to house fifty horses and Lily says people were so desperate for water they drank from the tap used to wash in the open latrines. They would have to endure selections, which an SS overseer would order where prisoner-functionaries, assigned by the SS, would line up prisoners and German officers would appear to choose who would get work and who would die. Lily recalled one day when the Angel of Death had called a selection which was 'no question' for prisoners to be sent to the gas chambers, where her little sister Rene was called. Her sister began to leave the line, but when Lily grabbed her hand to stop her, the SS guard didn't notice she hadn't followed orders and simply left her in the line. 'He kept going as if she were behind him, and soon enough the next girl was there in her place', Lily said. 'I suppose they didn't look at our faces as we didn't look at theirs. They were accustomed to obedience at the selections. He never knew, never noticed our defiance.' She made headlines last year when, with the help of her great-grandson Dov, she was reunited with the American soldier who penned her a heartfelt note on a German banknote after she was liberated from a Nazi Death March in 1945 Lily was once told by another prisoner that she should be wary of Mengele - insisting that despite being six years apart, she and her sister looked similar enough they could be at risk of becoming the subjects of one of his experiments on twins. In August 1944, the sisters were all chosen for work at another part of the camp, Sector BIII, where they became friends with a young Hungarian girl called Margot, who came from a village near Bonyhad. They worked sewing in the Nastube, mending military uniforms or making clothes from scratch - but from time to time was made to work in the huge storehouses they called Kanada. It was in these warehouses the stolen goods from murdered Jewish people were sorted and eventually sold on to fund the death camps. In late August 1944, Lily fell ill with scarlet fever - describing how most of the women in their camp had dysentery, while 'typhus came and went, spread by lice and fleas on rats and humans'. One day, Lily heard that her cousin Magda had taken her life by running into the fence - admitting that while in Judaism the prohibition on taking your own life is very strong, she had often considered it. Lily's great-grandson Dov (right) started a social media campaign to reunite Lily with the soldier who wrote her a note after she was liberated in 1945 'Yes, secretly, we all thought about it, all the time,' she said. 'We lived with death. If the very worst happened, I was ready. Lily said that on holy days in the Jewish calendar the guards would try and 'break us further' - saying the lead up to Yom Kippur in September 1944 was the most 'relentless time for selections we had ever experience.' She recalled the women gathering around 'one or two of the hundreds and thousands of prayer books that had arrived with all the transports' to pray, revealing that this was the day she made 'an important decision.' 'I had survived. So far. All that time I had survived, and so many had not, and I thought there must be some reason for this. My life could not have been preserved for nothing', writes Lily. 'My mother and my little sister and my brother could not have died for nothing. So, on Yom Kippur 1944, I made myself a promise. 'If I ever came out of that place, I was determined to do something that would change everything. I had to make sure that nothing like this could ever happen again to anybody. 'So I promised myself I would tell the world what had happened. Not just to me, but to all the people who could not tell their stories. And on the day I made that promise, I thought the world would listen.' Lily's 'miraculous' recovery after her battle with Covid in January this year Lily celebrated first walk outside in a month after making a 'miraculous recovery' from Covid-19 in January this year. The 97-year-old contracted the virus in early January this year and was treated at her home in north London by her relatives who were able to use oxygen supplies. After Dov posted a picture of the survivor's first walk, hundreds of Twitter users were quick to offer their well-wishes to Lily. Mayor of London Sadiq Khan wrote: 'What an inspiration. Wishing Lily a continued safe and speedy recovery, and best wishes to all the family.' Another said: 'Thats amazing. Go Great Grandma Lily. An inspiration to us all,' while a third added: 'Bless her. Fans my small flame of optimism into fire.' Speaking to The Guardian, Dov confessed his family 'have no idea' how Lily contracted the virus because they had all been careful throughout the pandemic. 'She was able to have her first dose of the vaccine on 17 December but some time afterwards she was feeling ill. We kept her at home because we were worried about seeing her again if she went to hospital,' he explained. Lily's local GP regularly checked in on her and relatives who were able to use oxygen supplies looked after her. Dov admitted that there were some 'dark moments' during Lily's recovery, but that his great-grandmother is now '100%'. 'She has always been very positive. She is just a real survivor and a fighter and has been from a young age,' he added. Advertisement In October Lily was tattooed with the number A-10572 before being moved with around 500 of the strongest other girls to Altenburg, where slaves keep a munitions factory running - working 12 hour shifts around the clock with even less food than in Auschwitz. Initially, she worked inspecting bullets with her sisters, revealing that in an act of defiance she would occasionally add faulty bullets to the supply in the hope a German soldier would be unable to fire his gun. Later she was tasked with cutting steel, but managed to get herself promoted a job on the line inserting the blades into the machinery and doing paperwork. As they worked in the factory, the girls could sense the course of the war changing and in February, Leipzig came under heavy attack. In April 1945, their factory was forcibly evacuated - with over 2,000 women and girls marched by the SS away from the Allies with no food, no water, no warm clothing or footwear. 'It soon became clear that there would be no mercy,' said Lily. 'Weak and enfeebled though we were, if anyone lagged behind for a moment, they were shot.' She went on: 'We began to pass through villages and small towns. It was so strange to see people who actually lived in houses. Again, that sense that the whole world had changed and yet here, for these families, life seemed almost normal. 'People came out of their houses and they looked at us. We looked at them. Nobody did anything to help. Nobody gave us food. Nobody gave us water. We just stared at each other, as though we were from two different planets.' One afternoon after days of marching, with several dying on the journey, the women and girls noticed that the SS guards had simply disappeared - moments later being discovered by US soldiers who didn't have 'the faintest idea what had happened to us.' US soldiers gave survivors food they had, sweets, chocolate and corned beef, out of kindness - but many Jews died a few hours or days after liberation after eating the food they had been deprived of for so long. Lily and her sisters were soon taken to a small town called Schonberg and placed under the care of a German aristocratic family - who followed orders to feed and house them, but 'didn't lend us fresh clothes or offer to wash our squalid garments'. On May 4th, US soldiers took Lily and her family to the Town Hall, where they were given new identity papers, and in June men from the Third Army's VIII Corps arrived. They warned Lily and her sisters Russian forced were approaching and they would be safer in the American Zone, eventually being placed back in Buchenwald freely as 'displaced persons'. The group slept in the room of a former SS guard, but struggled to shake off the horrors of the camp - being forced to drink out of the same communal soup containers used at Auschwitz-Birkenau. A rabbi told Lily of the chance to go to Switzerland, who had offered to take hundreds of Jewish child survivors under 16 and give them shelter. Lily forged a new age on her papers and agreed. Lily, her sisters and Margot chose to stay under the care of Agudat Yisrael, an ultra-Orthodox Jewish political party in Israel who provided for them as they stayed at the Hotel Alpina in the Swiss Alps. Eventually, at the age of 22 and 16 on her official documents, Lily decided to start a new life in Israel with the help of Agudat Yisrael. A mother has made a poignant tribute to her stillborn son after he died at 24 weeks. Annabel Bower, from Adelaide, South Australia, was 'heartbroken and devastated' when she was handed still, silent young Miles on December 29, 2018. Little Miles was Annabel's fourth pregnancy, and so she knew the joy of meeting your newborn baby for the first time, but had never experienced the other extreme. The 38-year-old cradled her son for the first and last time in a photo she shared alongside the words 'life ends before it's even had a chance to begin'. 'It almost felt surreal and I was utterly devastated that he couldn't stay with us,' Annabel told Daily Mail Australia. After the grief of losing her newborn, Annabel wrote a book titled 'Miles Apart' dedicated to her son - a 'stillborn survival guide' for parents experiencing similar heartbreak. Mum Annabel Bower, from Adelaide, South Australia, (pictured) was excited to welcome her fourth child Miles to the world but he tragically died after she gave birth on December 29, 2018 'It almost felt surreal and I was utterly devastated that he couldn't stay with us,' Annabel told Daily Mail Australia A few weeks before labour, Annabel and her husband were told something was 'very wrong' with Miles's brain and he had a low chance of survival due to a 'one in a million' blood clot. Seeing Miles for the first time was a confronting experience for both Annabel, now 40, and her husband who were preparing to say their last goodbyes. Annabel recalled the feeling of hearing the cries of other babies in the hospital when she and her husband had just lost their fourth child. 'I felt stuck in time and I didn't want to leave the hospital because I knew once I did, that would be it,' she said. 'I had to set a time limit for myself until midday the next day and stayed overnight with Miles.' Annabel said she had taken in blankets which she used to nurse her previous children and wrapped Miles in one, popped him in a hospital cot, then left. 'I couldn't bear the thought of handing him over to someone,' she said. The 38-year-old can be seen cradling Miles for the last time in a photo shared online alongside the words 'life ends before it's even had a chance to begin' At times Annabel wasn't sure what to do, how to act or how long the difficult mourning period would go on for Not only did Annabel need to cope with the grief of losing Miles, but her body started changing postpartum - as her milk came in, she was coping with post-birth hormones and became emotionally exhausted. 'It felt cruel and confusing because normally you have a baby to care for who isn't there,' she said, adding: 'It's just so confronting and a constant reminder of what you don't have.' Soon after returning back home from the hospital the family went away to a coastal town by the beach to get away. 'I couldn't function, I was an absolutely wreck and just cried for days looking out to sea,' she said. At times Annabel wasn't sure what to do, how to act or how long the difficult mourning period would go on for. 'I really didn't know if I could ever be happy again. I would ask myself so many times "Is this what the rest of my life will be like?",' she said. But she soon realised despite the horrific circumstances, life will go on and she can give herself permission to do so. Along with support from family, Annabel decided to announce the sad news on her social media pages where she was met with a humbling and overwhelming amount of support from her online community. 'I really didn't know if I could ever be happy again,' she said, but she soon realised despite the horrific circumstances, life will go on Her agony and grief led to writing 'Miles Apart' - a heartfelt guide to surviving miscarriage, stillbirth and baby loss Three months on Annabel fell pregnant for the fifth time and gave birth to Tom on December 19, 2019 - almost a year after losing Miles. She was determined to have another baby but was 'traumatised and terrified' from her previous pregnancy that she had regular checks every fortnight from weeks 16 to 24. 'I had to learn to live with grief and joy side by side and accept that I could be super happy about something with a hint of sadness,' she said. When asked what advice she would give to other parents going through similar situations, Annabel said it's important to be patient and 'don't force yourself to bounce back into regular life'. 'Give yourself the time you need to grieve,' she said. Her agony and grief led to writing 'Miles Apart' - a heartfelt guide to surviving miscarriage, stillbirth and baby loss. The book explores how to navigate the heartache after the loss of losing a baby at any stage of pregnancy. Annabel also interviewed a group of women for the book to share their stories and situations. 'It's a topic not enough people talk about, even though so many women experience the trauma and heartbreak of losing a child,' she said. For miscarriage, stillbirth and newborn death support 24/7, please call SANDS on 1300 072 637. Prince Albert has made yet another solo appearance as he unveiled a bust of Empress Eugenie in Monaco today - after Princess Charlene underwent her 'final' surgery in South Africa. Charlene, 43, who is originally from Cape Town, has been in her native South Africa for at least six months since contracting a 'serious sinus infection' making her unable to travel and forcing her to miss key events, including her 10-year wedding anniversary in July and her children's first day of school. The father-of-two gave a speech as he joined Prince Jean-Christophe Napoleon and his wife Olympia von Arco-Zinneberg to unveil the bust on the occasion of the commemoration of the centenary of the death of Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III. It comes as special commemorative coins marking Prince Albert of Monaco's 10th wedding anniversary to Princess Charlene were released last week. Prince Albert has made yet another solo appearance as he unveiled a bust of Empress Eugenie in Monaco today The father-of-two gave a speech as he joined Prince Jean-Christophe Napoleon and his wife Olympia von Arco-Zinneberg to unveil the bust on the occasion of the commemoration of the centenary of the death of Empress Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III According to the Monaco Tribune, 15,000 commemorative coins featuring the faces of Albert and Charlene were released last week to mark the couple's anniversary. The coins feature an image of Prince Albert and Princess Charlene together, alongside the words '2011 Princely Wedding 2021' underneath, and 'Monaco' above. Days ago, Charlene underwent further surgery in South Africa, further delaying her return to Monaco. The release came after it was announced the mother-of-two had undergone a surgery in South Africa. Princess Charlene, 43, who is originally from Cape Town, has been in her native South Africa for several months since after contracting a 'serious sinus infection' making her unable to travel This bust of Princess Eugenie, wife of Napoleon III, friend and neighbor of the Principality of Monaco, was placed in the gardens of the Rock It was yet another solo appearance for Prince Albert earlier today as he unveiled the bust in Monaco while his wife Princess Charlene remains in South Africa Empress Eugenie of France, wife of Napoleon III Empress Eugenie of France, wife of Napoleon III, was Empress until the Emperor was overthrown on 4 September 1870 As Empress, she used her influence to champion 'authoritarian and clerical policies'; her involvement in politics earned her much criticism from contemporaries. Napoleon and Eugenie had one child together, Napoleon, Prince Imperial (1856-79). After the fall of the Empire, the three lived in exile in England; Eugenie outlived both her husband and son and spent the remainder of her life working to commemorate their memories and the memory of the Second Empire. She died in July 1920, aged 94. Advertisement A statement from her foundation read: 'Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene of Monaco will be placed under general anaesthetics for her final procedure taking place today. 'The Princess Charlene of Monaco Foundation wishes her the best with this final operation and her recovery process.' The exact nature of yesterday's procedure has not been revealed, and it's not clear how long she will remain in hospital. Last week, Prince Albert's assertion earlier this week that she is likely to be back in the principality by the end of the month, telling RMC Radio: 'She will be back very soon, we have to talk to the doctors in a few days.' He added: 'She is better, although it has been very complicated for her because she has suffered different problems.' Charlene has not been seen in Monaco since January. The couple have denied rumours of a rift and said Charlene's absence from the country is due to her health. The former Olympian underwent a 'four-hour operation under general anaesthesia' in August - although it was not made clear whether this was linked to the sinus infection. Charlene and Albert reunited shortly after for the first time in months after the monarch and their children - six year old twins Jacques and Gabriella - flew to South Africa, but photographs of the pair embracing were branded 'awkward' by a body language expert. Prince Albert II unveiled a bust of Empress Eugenie alongside Prince Jean-Christophe Napoleon and his wife Olympia von Arco-Zinneberg today (pictured together) Both Prince Jean-Christophe Napoleon and Prince Albert said a few words after the unveiling of the statue earlier today (left and right) Olympia von Arco-Zinneberg opted to wear a stunning blue floral gown as she joined her husband for the event in Monaco today The couple posed for pictures alongside Prince Albert, who attended the event alone this afternoon (pictured) How Charlene and Albert made solo outings in South Africa and Monaco during nine months apart January 27 - Charlene is pictured with Albert for the Sainte Devote Ceremony in Monaco. March 18 - Charlene is pictured at the memorial for the late Zulu monarch, King Goodwill Zwelithini at the KwaKhethomthandayo Royal Palace in Nongoma, South Africa April 2 - Charlene posts an Instagram picture of herself, Albert and their twins Jacques and Gabriella for Easter. It is unknown where the image was taken. May 8 - Albert, Jacques and Gabriella attend a Grand Prix event in Monaco without Charlene May 10 - Albert attends Monaco Gala Awards in Monaco without Charlene May 18 - Charlene shares her first picture from her conservation trip in South Africa June 1 - Prince Albert II, Jacques and Gabriella attend event at Oceanic Museum in Monaco June 3 - New photos emerge of Charlene on her conservation trip June 5- Charlene puts on a united front as she shares a photo with her family to mark her niece's fifth birthday with her brother's family and Albert and the twins in South Africa June 7 - Albert and the twins attend the World Rugby Sevens without Charlene June 17 - Prince Albert attends Red Cross Summer concert in Monte Carlo with his sister Princess Caroline of Hanover June 18 - Prince Albert appears alone Monte Carlo TV Festival June 24 - Charlene's foundation releases a statement saying the royal is unable to travel and is undergoing procedures for an ear, nose and throat infection July 2 - Charlene and Albert mark their 10th anniversary separately. 'This year will be the first time that I'm not with my husband on our anniversary in July, which is difficult, and it saddens me,' Her Serene Highness Princess Charlene said in a statement. July 3 - Albert appears with glamorous niece Charlotte Casiraghi at the 15th international Monte-Carlo Jumping event, which is part of the Longines Global Champions Tour of Monaco, July 27 - Prince Albert attends Olympics alone in Tokyo August 13 - Charlene undergoes a four-hour operation. The reason is not announced August 25 - Charlene shares photos of Prince Albert, Gabriella and Jacques visiting her in South Africa August 31 - Speculation mounts in the media about couple's relationship September 1 - Charlene is admitted under an alias to the Netcare Alberlito Hospital after suddenly 'collapsing' September 2 - She is discharged, with a statement from the Palais Princier reading: 'Her Highness is closely monitored by Her medical team who said that Her condition was not worrying' September 23 - Prince Albert attends the 2021 Monte Carlo Gala for Planetary Health September 29 - Prince Albert is joined on the red carpet by actress Sharon Stone for a first look at the eagerly anticipated James Bond release September 30 - Charlene releases a stylish video promoting her anti-poaching campaign from her South African bolthole October 3 - Princess Charlene shares a photograph of herself smiling in front of a bible in her first snap since being discharged from hospital following her health scare October 5 - Prince Albert attends Sportel Awards Ceremony in Monte Carlo with nephew Louis Ducruet October 6 - Albert tells RMC radio Charlene is 'ready to come home' October 8 - Princess undergoes surgery in South Africa. The reason is not announced. Advertisement After returning from the trip, Albert told People magazine Charlene was 'ready to come home.' Despite Charlene being admitted to hospital after a 'sudden collapse' rumours are rife that a rift with Prince Albert, rather than health issues, is what's keeping her away from Monaco. Last week, Prince Albert was joined on the red carpet by actress Sharon Stone, 63, for a first look at the eagerly anticipated James Bond release - Daniel Craig's fifth and final outing as the cult classic secret agent. It was their second joint appearance in less than a week, with both having previously attended the 2021 Monte Carlo Gala for Planetary Health on 23rd September. Charlene was noticeably absent from the event. It comes just weeks after Prince Albert hit back at rumours marital woes insisting Charlene 'didn't leave in a huff' and remains in South Africa only because of 'medical complications' following a 'severe ear, nose and throat infection'. The royal told People that the speculation over the state of his relationship with the Olympic swimmer has 'affected' them both, but that he didn't address it early because he 'was concentrating on taking care of the kids' This week, she shared a photograph of herself smiling in front of a bible in her first snap since being discharged from hospital following her health scare. In the snap, which was shared to Instagram on Sunday, the former Olympian can be seen putting on a casual display in a black jumper and rosary bead necklace as she sits at a wooden table. The royal, who was born and raised Protestant but converted to Roman-Catholicism 'of her own free will and choice' in April 2011, simply captioned the post, 'God Bless,' followed by a heart emoji. In recent weeks, lifestyle magazines across Europe have speculated feverishly that the royal couple could be headed for divorce. French magazine Madame Figaro stated the images 'failed to convince the Monegasques' amid reports Charlene is looking for a house in Johannesburg. The magazine asked: 'How long can she remain away from her children, her duties?' 'How long will the fight against rhinoceros poaching remain the Princess of Monaco's top priority? 'How long will Albert II of Monaco go on bearing this affront, which is becoming ridiculous?' Historian Philippe Delorme said that 'lots of people got the impression it was an arranged marriage' between Charlene and Albert, adding: 'Albert chose a wife who resembled his mother, and Charlene clearly felt very ill at ease in this Grace Kelly role they wanted her to play' The mounting speculation about the couple's marriage comes after Charlene shared professional photographs of her reunion with Prince Albert online, saying she was 'thrilled' to have her family back. She shared a series of photos cuddled up with her kids in South Africa with the caption: 'I am so thrilled to have my family back with me (Gabriella decided to give herself a haircut!!!) Sorry my Bella I tried my best to fix it,' referring to her daughter's choppy fringe. However a body language expert told FEMAIL Charlene showed 'no emotional bond' towards her husband Prince Albert in the images. Judi James said that rather than being the loved-up reunion photo one would expect of a couple surrounded by split rumours, the royals' poses suggested 'no signs of connection between awkward-looking Albert and Charlene'. Charlene has been in South Africa since at least March, with media reports suggesting she is looking for a house there. The prince, who already supports two illegitimate children, is alleged to have been in a relationship with a Brazilian woman which resulted in a daughter in 2005. The claim, which his lawyers dismissed as a 'hoax', is particularly painful as he was dating Charlene at the time, having met in 2000. However, Charlene has publicly supported her husband, and the palace have reiterated she is only in South Africa because she's unable to fly. Special commemorative coins marking Prince Albert of Monaco's 10th wedding anniversary to Princess Charlene have been released - after the couple spent their big day apart amid rumours of a rift between the two The coins feature an image of Prince Albert and Princess Charlene together, alongside the words '2011 Princely Wedding 2021' underneath, and 'Monaco' above Prince Andrew was pictured making the most of the autumnal weather this morning, enjoying a horse ride around the grounds of Windsor Castle. The Duke of York, 61, who lives at the Royal Lodge just three miles away from the Berkshire residence, appeared in good spirits as he donned a blue coat and helmet for his journey, accompanied by a female groom. His early morning ride comes after a royal expert claimed sheltering Prince Andrew at Balmoral and 'privately funding his fight against US sex abuse lawsuit' is damaging the Queen's image. The Duke is being sued in New York by Virginia Giuffre, now 38, who claims he sexually abused her on three separate occasions when she was 17 in London, New York and on billionaire paedophile Jeffrey Epstein's Caribbean island. Prince Andrew was pictured making the most of the autumnal weather this morning, enjoying a horse ride around the grounds of Windsor Castle The Duke of York, 61, who lives at the Royal Lodge just three miles away from the Berkshire residence, appeared in good spirits as he donned a blue coat and helmet for his journey, accompanied by a female groom Prince Andrew appeared to put his worries to one side today as he rode around Windsor atop a black horse. The eighth in line to the throne was spotted where his mother, the Queen, 95, is currently living. Andrew, the Queen's second son, who is not facing any criminal charges, 'categorically' denies Ms Giuffre's allegations against him. The royal, who is now back at his 30-room mansion at Royal Lodge in Windsor, had spent three weeks at Balmoral with his mother and his ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, allegedly to avoid having papers notifying him about the bombshell sex case. His early morning ride comes after a royal expert claimed sheltering Prince Andrew at Balmoral and 'privately funding his fight against US sex abuse lawsuit' is damaging the Queen's image Her Majesty, 95, also agreed to pay for the duke's legal defence last year shortly after his disastrous interview on BBC Newsnight, according to the Daily Telegraph. But royal correspondent Katie Nicholl told True Royalty TV's The Royal Beat that the Queen 'so publicly supporting Andrew', who has 'no accessible money', is 'damaging her image' - particularly in America. Ms Nicholl said: 'Andrew hasn't got any accessible money. They've just had to sell their chalet in Verbier - there was a massive mortgage. I don't think there's the money you would associate with a dukedom. '[The Queen] is giving him shelter. She is allowing him at Balmoral and allowing him to sort of hide in her skirts. And I think that is for the Queen's image, particularly in America, it is damaging for her. The Duke of York was later seen driving on the estate wearing a pair of white ear buds (pictured) The royal was in good spirits as he drove through the estate after enjoying a short ride earlier today in Windsor Prince Andrew appeared to put his worries to one side today as he rode around Windsor atop a black horse The eighth in line to the throne was spotted riding through the grounds of the castle where his mother, the Queen, 95, is currently living 'People are concerned that the Queen is so publicly supporting Andrew,' Ms Nicholl concluded. It comes after it was revealed that Andrew's legal team will be allowed to review a previously secret settlement which his lawyers hope will shield him from the sex abuse lawsuit in the US. A US District Judge granted permission for the Duke of York's lawyers to receive a copy of a confidential agreement between the late financier Jeffrey Epstein and Virginia Giuffre on Wednesday. Ms Giuffre, who has also accused Epstein of abuse, signed a settlement deal with the financier in 2009 as part of a Florida state case - to which the duke was not a party. Royal correspondent Katie Nicholl (pictured) told True Royalty TV 's The Royal Beat that the Queen 'so publicly supporting Andrew', who has 'no accessible money', is 'damaging her image' The deal between her and Esptein, who died in his jail cell in 2019 while awaiting trial for sex trafficking charges, has remained confidential. Sarah Ferguson 'is likely to be subpoenaed' if Prince Andrew fails to get Virginia Roberts' case thrown out of court in New York Relatives, aides and even ex-wife Sarah Ferguson could be forced into courtrooms to answer questions about Prince Andrew should the Duke's sex abuse case get the green light to go ahead in New York later this month. The Duke is privately preparing to hand over 'personal documents' in an intrusive process that could see relatives and Royal aides dragged into proceedings, reports the Telegraph. That could include ex-wife Sarah Ferguson, who has remained fiercely loyal to the embattled Duke, who is likely to face subpoena if Andrew fails to get his case thrown out. Royal insiders fear any such move would be a 'pretty traumatic' process that Andrew's lawyers would only ever enter with 'due caution', the Sunday Telegraph reports. The Duke has until October 29 to respond to the civil suit, with a remote hearing scheduled for November 3. Advertisement Epstein's estate had agreed to let Prince Andrew's legal team review the legal document, but court approval was needed. At a hearing in Manhatten yesterday, District Judge Loretta Preska granted the approval. At a hearing last month, Andrew Brettler, a lawyer for the prince, told the judge overseeing Ms Giuffre's lawsuit that he believed the agreement 'absolves our client from any and all liability.' During the first pre-trial hearing of the case last month, he said: 'There has been a settlement agreement that the plaintiff has entered into in a prior action that releases the duke and others from any and all potential liability.' However, David Boies, one of the lawyers representing Ms Giuffre, said in a court filing last month that he believed the settlement was 'irrelevant' to her case against the prince. He said: 'Although we believe that the release is irrelevant to the case against Prince Andrew, now that service has been accepted and the case is proceeding to a determination on the merits, we believe that counsel for Prince Andrew have a right to review the release and to make whatever arguments they believe appropriate based on it.' Mr Brettler said in an email he expects to receive the agreement soon from Ms Giuffre's lawyers. Ms Giuffre is accusing the prince of having sex with her knowing she had been trafficked by Epstein and she was underage. She alleged this took place at the London home of Epstein's longtime associate Ghislaine Maxwell. She also said the prince abused her at Epstein's mansion in Manhattan, and on Epstein's private island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. She claims she was trafficked by Epstein, the duke's former friend, to have sex with Andrew when she was aged 17 and a minor under US law. She is seeking unspecified damages, but there is speculation the sum could be in the millions of dollars. Andrew faces an October 29 deadline to formally respond to Giuffre's lawsuit. At a hearing last month, Andrew Brettler (pictured right), a lawyer for the prince, told the judge overseeing Ms Giuffre's lawsuit that he believed the agreement 'absolves our client from any and all liability.' However, David Boies (pictured left), one of the lawyers representing Ms Giuffre, said in a court filing last month that he believed the settlement was 'irrelevant' to her case against the prince Epstein, a registered sex offender, killed himself at age 66 in a Manhattan jail in August 2019 while awaiting trial on sex trafficking charges. Maxwell has pleaded not guilty to helping recruit and groom underage girls for Epstein to abuse. Her trial in Manhattan is scheduled for November 29. The news comes as it was claimed the Queen is spending millions of pounds funding Andrew's fight against the sex abuse allegations. Royal courtiers are said to expect the final legal bill to run into millions as the civil case against Andrew lingers for months or even years. And a potential settlement or damages payout would cost millions more on top of the overall bill. A young retail worker has purchased her first home by herself at the age of 25 after exploring 26 countries around the world. Jess Prior, from Brisbane, bought a $486,000 two-bedroom townhouse last month after she managed to save a $55,000 deposit. However, the 25-year-old had luck on her side. Jess - who worked as a educational coordinator for travel company Flight Centre - said she received a five-year redundancy payout of $14,000 due to the Covid-19 pandemic, which helped fast-track her way onto the property ladder. Jess Prior (pictured), from Brisbane, bought a $486,000 two-bedroom townhouse last month after she managed to save a $55,000 deposit The young retail worker purchased her first home by herself at the age of 25 last month after exploring 26 countries around the world 'It put me way ahead, put me a year or two ahead of my (home) buying journey. I never would have expected it,' Jess told news.com.au. 'When I started saving for the house, I already had random savings, it's not like I started from scratch.' Before Covid hit, she was putting aside $400 to $500 a month. Jess worked for the travel company for nearly five years, which made it possible to sustain her adventures around the globe. In 2019, she visited Bali for a holiday in January, headed to California in August for a business trip, jetted off to Morocco in September and wrapped up the year in Canada. She knew about the best travel deals that were 'heavily discounted' and she received work perks like free trips when she was required to go overseas for business. Jess worked for the travel company for nearly five years, which made it possible to sustain her adventures around the globe (pictured in Morocco in September 2019) She knew about the best travel deals that were 'heavily discounted' and she received work perks like free trips when she was required to go overseas for business (pictured in Singapore in January 2020) However, everything came to a halt when she lost her job amid overseas travel bans. Jess said she started receiving JobKeeper payments of $750 every week, which helped her put more money aside for a home deposit. With travel put on hold, she ended up saving between $1,000 to $2,000 per month. Shortly after, she landed a full time job at a property company and she was able to get a home loan on her own after she saved a 13 per cent deposit. Pregnant women who contract symptomatic cases of COVID-19 are much more likely to suffer emergency complications or have babies who need intensive care, a new study suggests. Researchers from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, looked at more than 100 mothers-to-be who were diagnosed with the virus. More than half of pregnant women who developed symptoms had emergency deliveries compared to about four in 10 women without symptoms. Additionally, babies born to symptomatic mothers were more likely to need respiratory support or be admitted to neonatal intensive care units (NICUs). A new study from the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, Texas, looked at 101 pregnant women diagnosed with COVID-19 of whom 31 had symptoms (file image) Symptomatic expectant mothers were more likely to have emergency deliveries or have babies who need oxygen support or be admitted to NICUs 'Given the evolving nature of COVID-19, it is critical for hospitals to share their experiences of how patients with COVID-19 are treated and how it affects patient outcomes,' the authors wrote in a statement. 'We wanted to provide insight into a single institution's experience on how labor and delivery may be affected by the virus as well as the baby's condition after birth.' As of October 2, the latest day for which data is available, only 33.1 percent of pregnant people have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine dose, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). This is despite several studies finding that expecting mothers are at increased risk of contracting COVID-19 compared to the general population. And, once they do fall ill with the virus, they are more likely to develop severe cases or die from it. One study from the University of Washington in Seattle found pregnant women infected with Covid were 3.5 times more likely to be hospitalized with complications and nearly 14 times more likely to die than younger Americans. Expectant mothers who have COVID-19 also more likely to experience complications with their pregnancies. Another study from the University of Oxford in the UK, found mothers-to-be had a 76 percent higher risk of developing preeclampsia - a pregnancy complication characterized by high blood pressure - and 59 percent more likely to give birth prematurely. Last month, the CDC encouraged pregnant women to get vaccinated against COVID-19 after previously saying pregnant women were just 'eligible.' For the new study, presented at the Anesthesiology 2021 annual meeting on Saturday, the team looked at 101 pregnant women between ages 18 and 45 who tested positive for COVID-19 between March 2020 and September 2020. Nearly one-third of the pregnant women, 31, were symptomatic with symptoms such as fever, cough, shortness of breath, muscle pain, chills and chest pain. Researchers found that symptomatic mothers-to-be were more likely to have emergency deliveries at 58.1 percent compared to 46.5 percent of asymptomatic mothers. The CDC urges pregnant women to get vaccinated because they are at an increased risk of severe disease and death due to COVID-19 but only 33.1% are vaccinated (dark blue line) This included babies being born in the breech position or with too little amniotic fluid. Additionally, babies born to women with Covid symptoms were more likely to need respiratory support at 31.2 percent compared to 29 percent for asymptomatic women. And 43.8 percent of babies born to symptomatic women were admitted to NICUs in comparison with 36.2 percent of infants born to asymptomatic women. 'COVID-19 has severe systemic effects on the body, especially symptomatic patients,' said co-author Kristine Lane, medical student at the University of Texas Medical Branch, Galveston, in a statement. 'It is possible that these effects are amplified in pregnant mothers, who have increased fetal and maternal oxygen demands. 'The decreased oxygenation could contribute to the increase in cesarean deliveries, as well as the possibility that physicians caring for symptomatic patients are cautious of the virus' unpredictable nature, so they proactively recommend a cesarean delivery for medium- to high-risk deliveries.' Transplant patient Steve Harrison has barely left his house since the end of February last year, because hes terrified of catching Covid. And with good reason. The 38-year-old logistics manager suffered kidney failure, and in December, after a torturous ten-month wait, he finally underwent a kidney transplant. But the drugs Steve takes to ensure his body does not reject the new kidney suppress his immune system and, unfortunately, this has rendered the Covid vaccine ineffective on him. Hes not alone. About half a million Britons with similar conditions are in the same boat: expected to produce few Covid-fighting antibodies despite being double-jabbed. Steve Harrison, 38, from Lincolnshire, pictured right with his wife Donna, suffered kidney failure and had a life-saving transplant in December. However, the anti-rejection drugs he needs to take suppress his immune system leaving the Covid-19 vaccine ineffective Transplant recipients receive far less protection from the Covid-19 vaccination because of the drugs they take to suppress their immune systems to prevent their body from rejecting the organ And so, at the beginning of last month, the Government announced extra top-up doses for this group officially called a third primary dose in a bid to give their immune systems a fighting chance. Studies show that in 60 per cent of these cases, a third dose does have the desired effect. And if it does, Steve will finally be able to start living a normal life again. But theres been a problem. Charities and campaigners say scores of patients across the country who are eligible for third primary doses are yet to be given one, or worse, have been told they cant have one. And thats because many GPs, and even hospital consultants, arent aware of the programme. Part of the confusion has come from the timing of the announcement. The third primary dose plan was launched on September 1. Two weeks later, on September 14, the Government announced that all over-50s would get a booster shot which is something different entirely. Boosters are being offered because the latest evidence suggests the effect of the vaccine is beginning to wane in those who had their shot at the start of the year. Its confusing, to say the least, says Dr Michelle Willicombe, transplant lead at Imperial College NHS Healthcare Trust and an immunology researcher: There is a large group of highest-risk patients who we now know need three doses of the vaccine, not two, in order to mount an immune response. Unfortunately it seems the message has got confused by the introduction of the booster programme. It means, experts say, that healthy over-50s are being offered an extra boost of protection just in case the immunity from their first two doses has worn off, while others who are genuinely vulnerable are being left without any protection at all. Charities including Kidney Care UK and Blood Cancer UK have reported an influx of calls from anxious, sick patients who feel theyre being left behind as they havent been invited for their third primary dose and dont qualify for the booster as they are under 50. Charities including Kidney Care UK and Blood Cancer UK have reported an influx of calls from anxious, sick patients who feel theyre being left behind as they havent been invited for their third primary dose and dont qualify for the booster as they are under 50 Last week we had about 500 calls from people struggling to access their third jab, says Fiona Loud, policy director at Kidney Care UK. Everyone is saying the same thing: help, my GP hasnt heard about the third primary dose. Last week The Mail on Sundays GP columnist Dr Ellie Cannon wrote about the baffling situation and weve been inundated with letters from readers who are facing similar battles. Now, in an effort to clarify the situation, weve spoken to some of Britains top experts to find out whats going on, and explain what patients should do. For Steve, from Lincolnshire, accessing his vital third primary dose has proved to be a battle after his hospital consultant, GP and clinic reception staff looked clueless, he says, when he asked about a third primary dose. They pretty much all said, Sorry, we dont know what youre on about and batted us around between the hospital and the GP. Frustrated, Steves wife, civil servant Donna, emailed a copy of the Government guidance for extra doses to his GP, hospital consultant and their local clinical commissioning group. He says: They replied saying I didnt yet qualify for a booster, because of my age, but I tried to explain this wasnt a booster its something different. Letters were sent to all GPs and hospital consultants in England a day after the third primary dose programme was announced, explaining the plan. But experts say that many healthcare professionals are yet to send out invitations to eligible patients. Third primary doses are supposed to be given eight to 12 weeks after second doses. Boosters, on the other hand, are set to be given at six months after your last dose The Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation introduced the scheme in early September following research by the Medical Research Council showing that 40 per cent of patients with conditions such as cancer and kidney disease and those taking powerful immune-suppressing drugs do not make enough antibodies to fight the virus after two doses. Early US and Canadian studies have found that, in immuno-compromised people, giving a third dose two months after the second significantly increased the antibodies produced. Why don't my Covid tests match, and is a super-cold on the way? Q: My lateral flow test was positive but my PCR came back negative. Should I isolate? A: If you have Covid symptoms, then yes. Government guidance states that anyone who gets a positive lateral flow test should then get a PCR test to confirm whether they have the virus and should self-isolate. But last week, public health authorities said they were investigating why a high number of lateral flows were testing positive, only for the follow-up PCR test to come back negative. While the cause is unknown, scientists have urged the public to heed the result of their initial test. Both lateral flow tests the rapid result tests that can be done at home and PCR tests the gold standard used by NHS Test and Trace are accurate at detecting the virus, but they are not perfect. Dr Meaghan Kall, a Government epidemiologist, said: If you have symptoms, plus either a positive lateral flow test or PCR, you have Covid and should stay home even if your next PCR test is negative. Q: Is there really a super-cold going around? A: To add to the confusion, it appears the UK is currently experiencing a wave of infections from the common cold that have serious Covid-like symptoms. GPs have reported a rise in severe coughs, colds and viral infections, and studies suggest the symptoms of the dominant Delta Covid variant are more like a cold than any previous version. According to Professor Tim Spector, an epidemiologist at Kings College London, these include muscle aches, runny noses and sore throats. Many scientists predicted that common respiratory infections would bring severe symptoms this autumn and winter. Prolonged social distancing over the past 18 months during the pandemic means that people have not been exposed to viruses as they usually are, which has left their immune systems weaker. The UK Health Security Agency (formerly Public Health England) confirmed a clear rise in cold cases last week. Professor Martin Hibberd, an infectious diseases expert at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, said: These things are more likely to knock you down for a while than they did before Covid. Advertisement It seems the news has been slow to circulate in the medical world. Third primary doses are supposed to be given eight to 12 weeks after second doses. Boosters, on the other hand, are set to be given at six months after your last dose. Patients eligible for a third primary dose will also need a booster, say experts. Yet this may cause further problems. Kidney Care UKs Fiona Loud says: Were hearing reports that the NHS system, for some reason, doesnt recognise the third primary dose, so doctors have to record it as a booster. This is exactly what happened to Steve, who finally got his third shot yesterday. But Ms Loud warns: It means that in six months time when these patients need their booster which they will need they wont be called up for one, because the system will say theyve already had it. Another patient to fall victim to this logistical nightmare is 43-year-old Jonathan Weinberg, a journalist from Essex, who finally received his third primary dose at the start of October following a month-long battle with his GP and hospital staff. But after receiving the jab, Jonathan, who takes immune-suppressing drugs for Crohns disease, checked his NHS Covid app which is used to display a patients vaccine pass, required for attending some events and travelling. It stated his vaccination record was incomplete. My second dose was suddenly missing. When I tried to download my vaccine passport, an error message appeared telling me I wasnt fully vaccinated. Thankfully I have no holidays booked right now, but Id like to be able to travel if I need to. Jonathan got in touch with a work contact from NHS England, who advised him to call the NHS Covid helpline on 119. Someone was supposed to call me back, and I was told the issue would be resolved in five working days, but that didnt happen. The good news is that things may be about to improve. We have learnt that the NHS has sent an urgent letter to all GP practices and NHS Trusts instructing them to invite all patients eligible by tomorrow. NHS England has told us it is currently battling to resolve technological issues as a matter of urgency, and aims to enable GPs to correctly categorise third primary doses in the coming weeks. So what should worried patients do in the meantime? Transplant expert Dr Willicombe says that if patients cant get an official third primary dose, they should try to wangle a booster shot. Its not ideal, but at a time when infection rates are high, any extra protection is better than no protection. Hopefully, in six months time NHS England will have solved the logistical problems and these patients will be offered their booster too. Some have argued that any extra jabs ought to be prioritsed for this group rather than given to healthy over-50s. Last week, a study of three million Americans, published in The Lancet, showed that protection against infection after two jabs dropped to roughly 50 per cent after five months however, protection against hospitalisation remained high at 93 per cent. Dr David Strain, a public health expert at the University of Exeter Medical School, says: The original two doses that we gave are still really effective at keeping people out of hospital. And if patients are unfortunate enough to catch Covid despite being double-vaccinated, they have a very different disease because they get better quickly. So even if they come into hospital, theyre only in there for a couple of days. There is no doubt that the effect of the vaccine seems to wane after about six months, says Dr Penny Ward, visiting professor in pharmaceutical medicine at Kings College, London. However, that is in terms of infection and mild to moderate illness. It seems protection against severe disease stands up a bit further, with very few vaccinated people ending up in hospital even six months after their first course. You could say, whats the point in boosting when the effect on hospitalisations is likely to be very small? Good question. However, despite this, the consensus among experts is that boosters are a good idea to avoid extra pressure on the NHS, if nothing else. Although immunity seems to be holding steady in the UK, hospitalisations in the vaccinated are creeping up, says Dr Strain. A sign, he says, that the effect of the jabs may be waning. Scientists point to worrying patterns seen in Israel back in August, as what could be in store if the Government were to hold back on extra jabs. As the effect of vaccination began to wane Israel was among the first to begin jabbing large proportions of its population back in early December hospitalisations began to rise steadily, increasing by 30 per cent week-on-week. And roughly 60 per cent of new admissions were in fully vaccinated people. The country launched its booster programme in July first in the over-60s and later in everyone 12 and older. By the end of August, hospital admissions had dropped 20 per cent. Subsequent data published in the New England Journal of Medicine showed those who had the booster were 11 times less likely to be infected with the dominant Delta variant. Earlier this year, many experts argued against giving boosters at all. Professor Dame Sarah Gilbert, the co-creator of the Oxford AstraZeneca jab, said immunity from the two jabs was lasting well and boosting everybody wasnt necessary. Other leading vaccine experts, including Professor Adam Finn, virus expert at the University of Bristol who sits on the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, said boosters would have only a minimal effect on reducing the scale of Britains epidemic. He suggested the priority should be driving up numbers of unvaccinated Britons at last count, there were 18 million of them. The World Health Organisations health emergencies director, Mike Ryan, likened booster shots to handing out extra life jackets to people who already have them. However, it seems the mood has now shifted. I think the Government has taken a pre-emptive strike, says Dr Strain. Ministers have seen what happened in Israel and thought, rather than wait until people are dying again, lets go ahead and get boosters in now for extra protection. Dr Strain adds that its a move that also allows life to continue as normal, despite very high rates of infection in the community. Meanwhile, Steve Harrison hopes his third jab will be the key to getting his life back. Ive been locked inside for the best part of 18 months, now finally I might be able to get out and about again, he says. Steve and his wife Donna plan to take antibody tests two weeks after his jab to check if it has, at long last, delivered that vital protection. Fingers crossed it will it has to, says Steve. Ill still be careful. But at least I can relax a bit. Hamlet Young Vic, London Until November 13, 3hrs 10mins Rating: The Mirror And The Light Gielgud Theatre, London Until January 23, 2hrs 30mins Rating: As a British actress who found fame in the US, starring in The Good Fight, Cush Jumbo now makes a glorious return to our stages. From the start, her verse-speaking is supple and direct, bringing biting wit and exhilarating energy to a modern-dress production that is unusually funny. But this is a scornful, cynical Hamlet too, riddled with disgust at the moral failings of others as well as his own inaction. Jumbo seems itchy all over; hands twist at her clothes, scrabble over her shorn head (Hamlet remains an androgynous he, not a woman). As a British actress who found fame in the US, starring in The Good Fight, Cush Jumbo (above) now makes a glorious return to our stages Greg Hersovs direction brings out a destructiveness that genuinely seems to bewilder and exasperate Hamlets family and friends not least poor Ophelia. Norah Lopez Holden gives a detailed performance of touching guilelessness. Elsewhere Hersovs staging lacks oomph. Anna Fleischles set of imposing gold reflective pillars suggests a political world of smoke and mirrors, but doesnt give the cast much to play with. Adrian Dunbar (above), of Line Of Duty fame, is leaden as Claudius, but in general the pace sags whenever Jumbo isnt on stage Adrian Dunbar, of Line Of Duty fame, is leaden as Claudius, but in general the pace sags whenever Jumbo isnt on stage. And sometimes, even with her Hamlets murder of Polonius is so poorly staged youd barely know it happened. To another royal court full of intrigue: the stage version of the third part of Hilary Mantels trilogy arrives in the West End, directed by Jeremy Herrin. Unmoored from its previous parts, The Mirror And The Light is perhaps inevitably bogged down by heavy exposition. But once the plot gets going charting the rise and fall of Thomas Cromwell it proves a solidly absorbing tale. Ben Miles returns as the ambitious Cromwell, suave, smooth, and with impeccable timing for a tart retort. Elsewhere, there are some overdone, pompous performances, although the humour in Mantels script leavens what can be somewhat stodgy fare. Deepest Somerset Fanny Charles and Gay Pirrie-Weir Deepest Books 25 from deepestbooks.co.uk - quote 'MoS-DS' when ordering to get 5 off Rating: Say Somerset and the chances are someone else will come straight back with Its all a bit Notting Hill these days, isnt it? With plenty of celebrity second-homers and more restaurants than you can shake an artisanal bread stick at, its easy to imagine the county as nothing more than a picture-perfect rural playground for the rich and famous. But as Fanny Charles and Gay Pirrie-Weir show in this lusciously illustrated deep-dive into one of Britains most ancient counties, theres a lot more to Somerset than Glastonbury. Right through the 20th Century, Somerset has drawn internationally renowned artists including Bernard Leach, the most famous potter of post-war Britain, whose studio continues to produce the hand-thrown, wood-fired pots and pans that have pride of place in kitchens around the world. The secret to James Keen's international, award-winning clothbound cheddar which takes its name from the village at the edge of Cheddar Gorge (above) is unpasteurised milk Then there is the Coates family, who for generations have run a willow farm near Taunton. Not only do they harvest the willows from the water-logged moor, but they craft them into a range of goods, from traditional baskets to coffins for green funerals. And they make the frames on which the British Armys bearskins keep their shape when not in use. Perhaps most famously, Clarks shoes was set up by Somerset Quakers in the early 1800s. Their first invention was furry slippers, made from offcuts of sheepskin. Since then theres been everything from school shoes to the iconic Desert Boot, created in 1950 by Nathan Clark. The coastline veers from the dramatic cliffs of Exmoor (above) at Porlock Weir to the holiday sands of Weston-super-Mare Less well known is the fact that Somerset produces some of the finest machine lace in the world. Sixty-five bobbinet operators produce two million square metres of material a year. Its not just for wedding dresses and high couture, either. The fabric is also used to make parachutes, wig webbing and medical dressings. What of the food? Somerset is synonymous with cider and cheddar, and in recent years both have gone global. The authors interview James Keen, a fifth-generation cheddar-maker at the 16th Century Moorhayes family farm. As Fanny Charles and Gay Pirrie-Weir (above) show in this lusciously illustrated deep-dive into one of Britains most ancient counties, theres a lot more to Somerset than Glastonbury The secret to his international, award-winning clothbound cheddar which takes its name from the village at the edge of Cheddar Gorge is unpasteurised milk, which gives it a complex, nutty flavour that qualifies it as what the authors call one of the worlds great artisan foods. Other makers have branched out into soft cheeses, while one, a former music industry pro, has invented a new cheese called Renegade Monk, based on techniques practised by medieval monks in France and Belgium (clue: it involves adding beer). Then there is the landscape itself, which has never looked lovelier than in the beautiful photographs in this book. Youll find everything here, from the famously lush Somerset Levels to the heathlands of the Quantocks, where the Romantic poets Wordsworth and Coleridge met and learned to love nature, and not forgetting Glastonbury Tor, the conical hill whose origins remain mysterious. The coastline veers from the dramatic cliffs of Exmoor at Porlock Weir to the holiday sands of Weston-super-Mare. Deepest Somerset is crammed with interviews from local people explaining what the county means to them (theres even an introduction from the Prince of Wales, lauding those in the county committed to traditional farming practices), and their love and enthusiasm bounces off every page. Eating To Extinction Dan Saladino Jonathan Cape 25 Rating: Journalist and broadcaster Dan Saladinos book about the increasing homogenisation of our food is packed with breathtaking facts. There are 1,500 varieties of banana but we eat only one of them; the worlds seeds are controlled by just four corporations; global pork production is based on the genetics of a single breed of pig. Saladino takes us on a worldwide journey to discover foods that are in danger of extinction. Some of the stories we may already be aware of, such as the decline of the wild salmon population due to dam-building and over-fishing. Others will be new to many readers such as the bird that leads hunters in Tanzania to honey. Some of the stories we may already be aware of, such as the decline of the wild salmon (above) population due to dam-building and over-fishing The authors knowledge and skill as a food writer bursts out in sensuous description: a sip [of perry] will fill your mouth with the bittersweet taste of ripening orchard fruit, tinged with the acid of lemon drops, the bone-dry tannins of tea leaves and the sugar of candy floss. Among the chapters on, for example, a medicinal root in Colorado, a red pea in Georgia and wild coffee in Ethiopia are vignettes about those attempting to preserve diversity: the vault chiselled into a mountain in the Norwegian archipelago of Svalbard with a million seeds, or the Danish company that stores 40,000 different bacteria, which can be bought as starters to create the cheese of your choice. Saladino moves seamlessly from the political We cannot afford to carry on growing crops and producing food in ways that are so violently in conflict with nature to the personal: My uncle... would prove to me that oranges possessed hidden magical powers by taking a piece of peel and bending it over a lit match, each squeeze creating a burst of miniature fireworks. My uncle... would prove to me that oranges possessed hidden magical powers by taking a piece of peel and bending it over a lit match, each squeeze creating a burst of fireworks From the romantic Bite into a traditional piece of cheese and you will be eating into history, culture and an ecosystem to the rallying: By preserving diverse cheeses, we can save living diversity from the ground up. Although the book is broad-ranging in its sweep of foods, cultures and countries, Saladino manages to put a lot of himself into it, too the orange peel quote is from a chapter on the vanilla orange from Ribera, the Sicilian town in which his father was born and the book is at its best when he has journeyed to meet the farmers and producers passionately trying to keep these dying foods alive. At one point he references Rachel Carsons Silent Spring, the 1962 book which revealed that 200 new chemicals had been invented since 1940 to kill weeds and pests. Carsons book contributed to the banning of DDT. Lets hope that Eating To Extinction can change the world, too. Antonia Windsor Your daughter Evie is going blind and theres nothing we can do. When actress VICTORIA SMURFIT discovered her eldest child had only a few years of sight left they picked all the places she wanted to see while she still could. Julia Llewellyn Smith hears about their heartbreaking adventure It was a Friday evening when Victoria Smurfit took the call. It was from an optician shed visited earlier that day. Her daughter Evie, then 12, had complained that at school she couldnt see the board and glasses werent helping. The optician said, I want you to go and see this eye doctor first thing on Monday. Call him now before the office shuts for the weekend, recalls actress Victoria, 47, a household name for more than 20 years since she starred as barmaid Orla OConnell in the BBC hit drama Ballykissangel. The optician wouldnt tell Victoria why she was making this urgent referral. I said, You cannot let me go into the weekend thinking my daughter has eye cancer. If you dont tell me what you think is wrong with Evie Im going to go to your office and follow you home and every three minutes Ill knock on your door until you tell me. So the optician confessed she suspected Evie had Stargardt macular dystrophy. She said, Please dont google it, Victoria says. So obviously I did. Within seconds, Victoria learned her eldest daughter might have a rare genetic eye condition that leads to blindness. Theres no treatment and no cure. I sat on my bedroom floor and broke down. I was hyperventilating as quietly as I could so the kids couldnt hear me downstairs. It just didnt seem real. The following week, Evies diagnosis was confirmed. Evie, now 16, says, Id had an entire day of tests and I was tired, so I wasnt actually listening when the doctor broke the news. I remember seeing my parents crying and being like, Oh, what did I miss? Evie began to grasp how drastically her life would change when she returned to school with an iPad so she could take photos of what was on the board and zoom in on the writing. I was immediately teased and thats when it sank in there was something really wrong with me, she says. As a mum, how did Victoria feel about the bullying? Violent. In my head. Four years on from that terrible evening in 2017, mother and daughter are sitting in a West London cafe laughing and teasing each other. Victoria comes from one of the wealthiest families in Ireland they made their fortune via paper packaging but struck out on her own, starring in films such as About a Boy. Evie is charming and gentle, and happens to have the most stunning green eyes. Youd never know she is perceiving the world differently to the rest of us. My retina cells are dying at a rapid speed, she explains calmly. Im losing sharpness in my central vision and also my tolerance of light. In bright places I have to wear sunglasses. I see a lot of yellow lights; its like there are fireworks in the middle of my vision all the time and I have to look through them. Im sitting right next to her, but she says she can see only dark shapes where my eye and nose are. As a parent, one of the most appalling things is being told you cant fix whats wrong with your kid, Victoria says. In fact, theres no way even to slow down Evies condition. The optician said "please don't google it" I had a year of being up at 3am every night, googling, thinking, There must be something [a solution]. Youre absolutely convinced its out there somewhere stand on one leg, sing Kumbaya, stick a candle in your ear but theres nothing. It took me about two years to be able to say out loud what Evie had without choking up. But more was to come. While Stargardt disease which affects approximately one in 10,000 people is genetic, unluckily both Victoria and Evies father Doug Baxter (the couple are divorced) carried the gene. It meant their younger two children, Ridley, 14, and Flynn, 12, would need to be tested. Waiting for those results was the longest of my life. When I got the call to say they didnt have it I fell to the ground. I told Evie first, because I knew for her it was such a 50:50 thing between having company if they did have it and being grateful if they didnt. But she just said, Im so pleased they dont, because I feel so lonely and I dont want them to feel that way. No one can be sure how long it will be until Evie loses her vision completely sight tends to plateau before suddenly worsening. I have days when I have good eyes, and then the next day my sight will have completely dropped. And once its gone, its gone, Evie says. Usually, when theres a drop we literally drop too on to the floor, have a big cry, hug and try to talk through it, says Victoria. Evie says, Whenever I see a beautiful view, I think, Wow, this is really cool, but then, immediately, I am hit by fear because I wonder, Is this the last time Ill be able to see it? What if this memory is all Ill have left? She adds, Its horrible. There are times when I am just consumed thinking about it. Victoria and Evie in Portugal earlier this year Victoria continues, Thats why its important she sees as much of the world as she can while she can, so these memories are burned into her brain going forward. Two years ago, Victoria decided to move her family back from Los Angeles (where theyd been based for Victorias work) to the UK because it would be easier for Evie to enjoy an independent teenage life in London where she could get around without the need to drive. The pair intended to spend every school holiday seeing as much of the world as possible a visual bucket list but then came the pandemic and everything stopped and Evies sight got worse. There was a time during lockdown when her vision dropped. Evie took a real hit and said to me, Mum, I only have a certain amount of time with my sight and now all I have are the same four walls. Victoria says. It was shocking. I went, Er while my brain was skipping, trying to work out what to do. I made her a promise that as soon as we were allowed to travel, wed go. Sure enough, once the travel restrictions eased in May, the pair were off to Portugal, driving across the country in a camper van. They walked with wild horses, drove around Lisbon in a tuk-tuk, went surfing and (legally) spray-painted a wall with graffiti. Predictably enough, I drew an eye, Evie says. Shes a great travelling companion, Victoria says. Were like Thelma and Louise without the deaths at the end. Spend any time with them and it is clear that joking helps them cope with this nightmarish situation both mother and daughter share a deliciously dark sense of humour. Yet there were bittersweet moments such as when they climbed a hill to view the capital. On the way up Id been thinking, Oh, theres going to be a beautiful view, but when we got there I couldnt see it, Evie says. So Mum described it to me: You see that big brown splodge over there? Its a castle. Now, more trips are planned, first to Kenya this month, then Evie hopes to Japan. Also on the long list are pretty much every European capital, Mumbai, St Petersburg, North and South America and Australia. Id like to spend time on a Greek island and visit Greenland to see the Northern lights, or Canada and live in an igloo, Evie says. Victoria and Evie in Malibu, California, 2014 Their travels are being recorded for a documentary film The Sightseers by award-winning director Hernan Zin, and Evies also discussing writing a book. The aim isnt just to make memories but also to push fundraising for research and give hope to others in her position, something she already does in her role as ambassador for the charity Fighting Blindness who are partnering with Specsavers to research the impact the pandemic has had on eye health. I want some other kid who has been diagnosed to be able to look at me and see Im OK and know they will be too, she says. When I was diagnosed, I spent days googling Stargardt disease to find people, or celebrities, who have it, and when I got no results I felt the loneliest person in the world. This determination to make a difference has stopped Victoria and Evie sometimes being overwhelmed with despair. As a kid its all super hard, Evie says. Youre only just discovering the world and now, all of a sudden, theres this new factor and you think, Do I let this disease consume me as a person or do I become someone stronger than my vision and stronger than the endless dread when it comes to wondering what I will be able to see tomorrow or the next day? For now, Evies happy at sixth form in her London school, to which she can travel alone on the bus and where shes made great friends. Ive found people that I can truly be myself with, even with the disease, and that can be very rare because sometimes people get uncomfortable with disability, or see you in a different light. Do I let this disease consume me? Or do I become stronger? Like all teenagers, Evie hates the idea of being singled out. People often fail to understand her condition, since its not visible, with one woman recently bawling her out on the bus for sitting in a disabled seat. Victoria says, Instead of going, Yes, I can sit here, Evie was mortified and got up and moved. But Evie says a white stick or a badge would be my worst nightmare. I know it would be convenient but I also dont want people treating me differently because then theyll think Im different to them. And I dont want people calling me brave. I know its meant as a compliment, but it just sounds so condescending. My favourite reaction is when someone just says, That sucks. You can see Victoria struggling both to protect her daughter and let her spread her wings. When Evie goes to the bathroom, she hurries after her to check she can find it down a dark corridor; returning, she realises Evie has it sussed. Dealing with the emotions can be very hard, Victoria says. Sometimes she gets cross with me, which is fair enough, but she can be as mean as she wants because its my job to love her unconditionally. I never know is it the frustration of what shes going through or is it just normal hormonal stuff? I wont say brave, but I still cant imagine a family dealing better with the horrible blow lifes dealt them. Well, either youre a victim or youre Superwoman, Victoria says. You let your perceived flaw be your superpower. Evies a rock star. To learn more about Evie and Victorias journey, about Stargardt disease and Fighting Blindness, visit thesightseersfilm.com or fightingblindness.ie Picture Director: Ester Malloy. Stylist: Sophie Dearden. Stylists Assistant: Stephanie Sofokleous. Hair: Kristy Tigre at John MacPherson Hair using ORIBE. Make-up: Emma White Turle at The Wall Group Do things that scare you (like singing), walk away from anger and binge-watch decorating shows. The Oscar-winning actress tells Elizabeth Day how she makes ageing glamorously look easy Julianne Moore, Hollywood superstar and legendary beauty, kicks off our conversation by telling me how she has spent the morning clearing up dog vomit. She and her husband, the film director Bart Freundlich, have two dogs a ten-year-old chihuahua-mix called Milly and a labrador, Hope, whom they adopted as a puppy last November. Usually, Julianne says, the dogs bark when they wake, but today they were suspiciously quiet. Finally, I went to check on them and the little one had thrown up and pooped. She shakes her head, as if she cant quite believe shes telling me all this. So I spent the whole morning taking out the dog crates, washing off the dog, cleaning up everywhere. Thats what its been like. Its not exactly how you expect an interview with an A-lister to start, especially not one who has become a byword for a specific kind of glamour over her 36-year career. On screen, Julianne is a magnetic presence whether shes playing a 1970s pornstar in Paul Thomas Andersons Boogie Nights, a struggling Alzheimers patient in Still Alice a part that won her a Best Actress Oscar in 2015 or, in her latest role as Heidi Hansen, the mother of a socially anxious teenager in the film adaptation of the hit musical Dear Evan Hansen. On the red carpet, she exudes classic style. She regularly tops lists of the worlds most beautiful women and, at 60, claims to have had no work done. How does she feel about her looks? I still struggle with all the freckles, she admits. I would give anything to not have them. But you know, this is what you have. And sometimes I think that about my hair Im so closely identified with my red hair, it would feel weird not to have it, but then I wonder whether it might be so much easier to get dressed if I had dark or blonde hair, you know? It seems anathema to me that Julianne Moore, the most famous redhead since Anne of Green Gables, should say this, but its also revealing that even the most beautiful people have their own insecurities. Today shes speaking to me from her beach home in Long Island, New York State, her famous hair tousled, her face make-up free, and its almost shocking how good she looks. By her own admission, shes grateful for her colouring: her fair skin means she has always kept out of the sun, and her lack of wrinkles and seemingly magical age-defying ways have led journalists to ask her what her secret is. To be honest, she tells me, shes getting a bit sick of being the unofficial spokesperson for getting older. Its enough! Julianne says. Lets all live, not talk about dying. My family moved a lot. As A child I adapted to fit in by watching people and how they talk I agree. Lets talk about nicer things, like dog vomit. The anecdote about her beloved dogs is, I will discover, classic Julianne. Although she might look unapproachably other-worldly, what makes her compelling to watch and, indeed, to talk to is her abiding fascination with what makes other people tick. She is the rare celebrity who asks me almost as many questions as I ask her about everything from my marriage to my yoga studio. Her interest in others, she says, stems from her upbringing. She was born on a military base in North Carolina, the eldest of three siblings. Her father, Peter, was a paratrooper, colonel and later a military judge, which meant the family travelled a lot when she was young. Her late mother, Anne, was a psychiatric social worker from Scotland. Over dinner, her parents would each talk about their cases, so there was a lot of discussion about behaviour Julianne says. As the child of a military family, she changed schools frequently and learned early on how to adapt her behaviour to fit into new environments. I think it teaches you to look, to watch. You always want to fit in, so youre like, Well, how does everybody talk here? How does everybody move? What are the cool things, what are the not-cool things? Just trying to fit in. So you learn to adapt according to where you are and what is happening in that culture. She can remember that real anguish of feeling like you dont have any friends at school. It was a memory that served her well in her latest role. In Dear Evan Hansen she plays the mother of the titular lead. Her son is portrayed by actor Ben Platt, who played Evan Hansen in the original stage production of the Tony-award-winning musical about a socially awkward high-school student whose classmate dies by suicide. The film tackles important issues around mental health, isolation and bullying. I tell Julianne I was sobbing within the first ten minutes. Part of what makes it so moving is that, unusually for a film musical, the actors were asked to sing live, so you hear all the raw emotion and cracking fissures of their voice. How did she find that? It was terrifying! she laughs. The last time I sang was in high-school productions. So it was a big thing for me. It was a steep learning curve to sing this song, to work with this level of musical talent and try to deliver it. Usually you have a track and you lip-synch to it. But they were insisting that we sing live; it was so scary. Julianne in her role as Heidi with her co-star Ben Platt as Evan, in Dear Evan Hansen Her one song was also the last scene she filmed, so I spent two months keeping my fingers crossed, hoping Id survive. For Julianne, filming was particularly emotional because of how it reflected her own experiences as a parent. Her children have recently moved out of the family home. Her son, Caleb, 23, is studying for a postgraduate qualification and her 19-year-old daughter Liv is starting her second year of college. It meant that Juliannes empty nest coincided with the pandemic and led to a bigger kind of re-evaluation. She and her husband downsized from the family home in Manhattan to an apartment and bought a place on the beach in Long Island. They split their time between beach and city. She is still surrounded by boxes and hasnt yet unpacked her Oscar statuette. Its downstairs somewhere, she says nonchalantly. This new phase of life has taken some getting used to. With kids, it feels like its the same for such a long time. Between birth until they are, I dont know, 13 or something, it feels like its childhood, childhood, childhood. Adolescence is so fast because youre talking about four years or something. And then, suddenly, theyre in college and thats another stage. Its like, Wow, how did that happen? As if on cue, Juliannes daughter FaceTimes her and she breaks off momentarily to text her back. Sorry, she says. For Julianne, family life has always been a priority. She says that she found it bizarre that her generation of feminists were taught to work hard at a career with an assumption that their personal lives would just fall into place. It was so very antiquated. You wait for some guy, or some romantic partner to come along. For me that happened when I was 31 or 32, I was like, I want to be married. I want to have kids. So I want to invest in that, too. When you say you have to work at a marriage, people always go, Oh, it shouldnt be that hard. But its a construct, you know, everyone has to participate in it. In fact, she has been married once before. She tied the knot first in her early 20s to stage director John Gould Rubin but, she says now, I was very young. I remember my mother said to me that I was too young and I was like, No, Im not! Then, of course, yes, I was. I didnt take the time to think about what I wanted or what I needed. They separated in 1993 and three years later Julianne met her second husband, Bart, on the set of the film The Myth of Fingerprints, which he was directing and she was starring in. I tell her that I like the fact his surname means friendly in German. He is very friendly, Julianne says, smiling. Hes a great person. Hes a really wonderful person. She admits that her husband doesnt like it when she films sex scenes. He hates it which I love about him. It is funny because I have to say, It literally is work But I understand it and I think its healthy. If you felt it was OK for people to kiss your wife it would be sort of weird. But yeah, he doesnt love that. He sounds like a grounding influence. If Im really angry Ill stop talking and do that thing where I get up and leave the room She tells me a story about how she never believed she took her characters home with her until Bart put her straight. My husband has said to me he noticed that the whole time I was doing Boogie Nights I didnt wear a bra. Then I did The Lost World [the second movie in the Jurassic Park franchise] right after and he goes, Now youre dressing like a palaeontologist and wearing cargo pants. Given the range of her roles and her ability to disappear into them in recent years she has portrayed everyone from a corrupt politician (The Hunger Games) to a narcissistic rock star (What Maisie Knew) I ask her whether she sees any link between the parts she gravitates towards? The people that Ive been drawn to playing are not heroic, she says. I look back and I havent played superheroes and queens and stuff. A lot of the parts that I play are just regular people. Im drawn to movies about people and their relationships. Im fascinated by behaviour. Its so compelling to me, who people are and what they do and how they achieve it. Thats where my interest lies. Her real life, she insists, is a lot less dramatic right down to the kind of TV she watches. I like the decorating shows, she says. I dont like people fighting on camera. It makes me upset. Is she conflict avoidant? Definitely. I cant imagine enjoying conflict. Does she ever raise her voice? I go the other way. I get very quiet. Ill stop talking. But if Im really angry, yeah, Ill be really, really quiet. Thats a terrible thing to do, to not express yourself. And Ill do that thing where I get up and leave the room, you know? She insists she likes rules and structure then catches herself. Boy, do I sound boring! Julianne with her husband, film director Bart Freundlich, 2019 So I ask her to tell me about a time in her life when she rebelled against expectation. My biggest step outside of who I was and what I thought I was going to be was becoming an actor, which is so weird. I wanted to be a doctor, but I dont know if I was strong enough in the sciences to do that. And my parents were OK because I was like, Look, I want to see if I can get into this school. And they were like, Fine. And when I finished school, I thought, Lets see if I can get an agent. I thought Id give it a certain amount of time. She was accepted at Boston University and graduated with a degree in theatre in 1983, then moved to New York and made money by waiting tables while auditioning for parts. Her first roles were on stage and the small screen, until she broke into film with a supporting role in The Hand That Rocks The Cradle in 1992. After that, there was no turning back. She loved being a waitress because I was good at it. I liked being with people. I liked working in a system. Youre dealing with a customer but youre also dealing with the kitchen: you have to look around the room to see if anyone needs anything. It keeps you awake, intellectually and physically. Does she always tip waiters now? Oh God, yes! The thing that kills me the most is when people dont make eye contact with a server it makes me nuts. Theres a human being there look at them, say something. Thats my biggest pet peeve. I tell her I once knew someone who broke up with his fiancee because she was rude to waiters. I dont blame him, Julianne replies, deadpan. Im sure she was an excellent waitress. But I, for one, am glad that Julianne Moore threw caution to the wind to become an actor instead one who occasionally pauses her stellar career to clear up dog mess at the weekend. Dear Evan Hansen will be in cinemas on 22 October Tom is tempted to order the entire menu as he discovers dishes to delight a Mughal emperor Epic starters of, from left, sweet and succulent grilled jumbo prawns and Andhra-style fried chicken lavished with fresh chilli and curry leaves Ive been looking forward to Clays Hyderabadi Kitchen for a while. Ever since I first tried its at-home dishes, in lockdown, as was once the way. Hyderabad was the furthest outpost of the great Mughal Empire, a city where lavishly scented, courtly cuisine with its fragrant echoes of Persia and Turkey meets the thrilling tang and heat of the Andhran south. This was love at first bite. An easy stroll from Reading Station, the restaurant is small and softly lit, busy even past nine. The walls are painted a gentle terracotta, plants hang from the ceiling and theres a cracking wine list from my old mate, Zeren Wilson. The only problem is the menu. We want it all. Every chat, pakora and pepper fry, each kofta, bhuna and daal. Now, Bill and me are serious eaters. I would go as far as to call us elite athletes in our own particular way. We certainly put in the training, and once managed ten different meals, ranging from tasting menus to tacos, in one particularly glorious (albeit ultimately dyspeptic) 12-hour Baja California bacchanal. But even we cant break the entire menu. There are salty cabbage pakoras that wear their fragile batter like exquisite wisps of crisp silk, dunked in a green coriander chutney of bracing verdancy. And grilled jumbo prawns, the very essence of sweet succulence, lavished with mustard and ghee. Pork belly, the fat artfully rendered, is cooked in a thick chilli jam, the sweetness tempered by a sharp tamarind kick. Andhra-style chicken fry, heavy on the fresh chilli, curry leaves and seasoned salt, is Indian fried chicken on an almighty, epic level. These are just the starters. Village style lamb is baked in a dough-sealed clay pot with onion, ginger, lots of chilli and a whole bulb of garlic. It tastes of love, and a life well lived, richer than the Nizam of Hyderabad, and every bit as mighty. Biriyani, also cooked in that clay pot, uses lamb loin, served pink. Each luscious grain is swelled with spiced, fecund delight. Even more remarkable is that chef and co-proprietor Sharat Syamala does all this alone. One man! Damn, he can cook. His wife, Nandana, runs front of house with warmth and charm. I cannot tell you how much I love this place. And theres still half the menu to discover. Hey ho. Any excuse to return. About 30 per head. Clays Hyderabadi Kitchen, 45 London Street, Reading; clayskitchen.co.uk Drinks: Ollys wines with curry National Curry Week is upon us and with the precision of Robin Hoods archery skills, wine matches wonderfully with spice. For the bulls-eye, pair with care and note the level of heat as well as the texture of the dish. Is it rich and creamy, or light and spicy? A reliable all-rounder is rose, but if youre really hitting the hot stuff, scented Torrontes from Argentina is my ultimate pick for quenching. WINE OF THE WEEK Finest Torrontes 2020 (13%), 7, Tesco. Perfumed as a lychee shopping in Duty Free, this bright white from Argentina is a bargain beauty. Pierre Jaurant Languedoc Red 2020 (13.5%), 5.99, Aldi. Mellow, mighty and yet so cheap. This wine is magic with a madras. The Best Pinot Gris 2020 (13%), 8.75, Morrisons. This is pure Alsace excellence lush, silky and terrific with a tikka masala. Chateau La Negly La Natice Rose 2020 (12.5%), 12.50, Co-op. A nectarine-pineapple joyride of a wine. Exuberant, fruity and fabulous. Lloyds Banking Group is plotting to take on Hargreaves Lansdown with a 100billion personal pensions and investment arm. The bank's wealth and insurance boss Antonio Lorenzo revealed that billions of pounds flows out of Lloyds to companies such as Hargreaves Lansdown, which is the UK's biggest funds supermarket managing 135.5billion of assets. He said Lloyds wanted to build its own version of the Hargreaves platform, which lets investors buy funds and shares inside Isas or self-invested personal pensions (Sipps). Lorenzo told The Mail on Sunday: 'We have only around 3 per cent of the direct-to-consumer pensions and investments market. Challenge: The bank's wealth and insurance boss Antonio Lorenzo revealed that billions of pounds flows out of Lloyds to companies such as Hargreaves Lansdown 'Every year, more than 10billion is moved from Lloyds to personal pension providers. Our ambition is that in three to five years, we want to grow to more than 10 per cent.' The lender bought online retirement website Embark Group in a deal that is set to close as soon as next month. Lorenzo said: 'Hargreaves Lansdown has [more than] 100billion assets. In Embark, we will have in the region of 60billion. Our ambition is to be north of 100billion in the near term.' The bank has a significant foothold in workplace pensions through its Scottish Widows brand. It also snapped up employee pension provider Zurich in 2017. And it joined forces with fund giant Schroders in 2018 to offer advisory services to the 'mass affluent' middle-class clients who tend to have more than 100,000 to invest. It also took a 19.9 per cent stake in wealth manager Cazenove. But until now, Lloyds has had only a small presence in the personal pension market and no offering under the Lloyds name in the execution-only fund space, where customers invest without using a financial adviser as a lower cost alternative. It does, however, operate DIY investing platforms iWeb and Halifax Share Dealing. Lorenzo is planning to use Embark's technology to launch a 'robo-adviser' that will guide customers on how to select funds and other products. He is also plotting to sell self-invested personal pensions at scale using Embark's technology. The aim is to provide the products through customers' banking apps, so they will be able to easily shift money from their current account or savings into the retirement products. Lloyds has some 17.7million customers using its app. Sipps and retail investment are among the last areas that Lloyds can grow. It already dominates retail banking and any further growth could lead to action by the competition watchdog. The bank has a 26 per cent market share of credit cards, 23 per cent of current accounts and 19 per cent of mortgages. Hargreaves Lansdown has long led the execution-only pension and investment market although its promotion of fund manager Neil Woodford, whose funds plunged and were forced to close, impacted the amount of new money that flowed in last year. Lloyds also faces newer rivals. JP Morgan recently snapped up online wealth manager Nutmeg and has bold ambition for its new digital bank Chase in the UK, which will involve selling wealth management and retirement products. Paul McGinnis, an analyst at Shore Capital, said: 'With Embark, they're going after self-service customers, like Hargreaves Lansdown. 'Are they being a bit ambitious? I think they're going to find it tough. Hargreaves Lansdown is a formidable competitor with a 40 per cent market share. The space is quite competitive.' Top Lloyds banker Vim Maru has been tipped by industry insiders as the next chief executive of Nationwide. Banking sources said Maru who runs the personal banking division at Lloyds is a leading contender for the role after Joe Garner announced his resignation last month. One source said Maru had a '50-50' chance of landing the job. Media reports have suggested the leading internal candidates are Sara Bennison, the building society's chief product officer, and Paul Riseborough, who was previously at Metro Bank and now runs Nationwide's 'Hassle Free Money' division. Nationwide is the country's second-largest mortgage lender with a market share of 13% Maru has been running Lloyds' personal banking division for more than ten years, presiding over the largest mortgage book in UK banking. Lloyds' share of the mortgage market stands at almost 20 per cent. Nationwide is the country's second-largest mortgage lender with a market share of 13 per cent. Maru joined Lloyds after a 12-year stint at Santander as director of its retail banking products. Analysts had said Maru was one of the leading internal candidates for the chief executive role at Lloyds. But the job went to HSBC's Charlie Nunn. Nationwide's chairman David Roberts has also announced he that is leaving the building society. Nationwide declined to comment. Airlines and travel companies are responsible for almost three-quarters of the outstanding emergency Covid loans yet to be repaid to the Government. Bank of England figures show travel businesses and firms that rely on overseas tourism make up nine of the 17 companies with money still on loan from a scheme run by the Bank and the Treasury. The nine firms account for just under 2.4billion of debt, or 70 per cent of the total 3.4billion outstanding on the Covid Corporate Financing Facility scheme. Ryanair, easyJet, Wizz Air and Jet2 still owe a combined 1.4billion under the CCFF, which was launched to help Britain's biggest firms survive the pandemic. Struggle: Bank of England figures show travel businesses and firms that rely on overseas tourism make up nine of the 17 companies with money still on loan from the scheme Airport retailer SSP owner of the Upper Crust and Ritazza cafe chains owes 300million. Gatwick Airport has a 275million loan and long-haul holiday operator Flight Centre owes 115million. Travel industry bosses have blamed the Government's 'chaotic' traffic light rules for stifling their recovery while European airlines recover faster. Last week, the Government took 47 countries off the red list and said the US is on track to lift its travel ban to the UK by early November. Jet2 said holiday bookings doubled in the 24 hours after the red list was cut on Thursday. Chief executive Steve Heapy said: 'Customers clearly view this as the genuine reopening of international travel.' Meanwhile, the number of Atol-licensed package holiday firms that can offer flights as part of their deals has fallen 10 per cent, down to 1,133 from 1,261 last September. Legendary French chef Pierre Koffmann says investing in a pension when he was young is one of the best decisions he has ever made. The 73- year-old, one of the few chefs in the UK to have ever been awarded three Michelin stars, told Donna Ferguson he started saving for his retirement 40 years ago and is now reaping the rewards. His cooking is so sought after he can raise up to 250,000 for charity by making a single meal. He recently filmed a 25-lesson course on classic French Bistro cooking for BBC Maestro. Visit www.bbcmaestro.com for more information. Pierre Koffmann started paying in to a pension 40 years ago which was his 'best decision' What did your parents teach you about money? Never to buy anything unless you can afford it. I grew up in France, in a town called Tarbes in the foothills of the Pyrenees. We were a working-class family. My father was a mechanic for Citroen while Mum was a traditional stay-at-home mother. Money was tight, but as a young boy I didn't really think about it. What was important was spending time with my friends and doing sport. There was always enough food on the table and my parents gave me pocket money so I could go to the cinema and buy sweets at the bakery. I never asked for anything else. Have you ever struggled to make ends meet? No, never, because I refuse to spend more money than I earn. But there have been times in my life when I have had to work hard to survive. For example, when I came to England in 1970 and started working as a chef for La Gavroche, I was poor. As well as working from 1pm to 11pm at La Gavroche, I worked from 8am to noon in another French restaurant called Le Francais. I earned about 12 a week in total which allowed me to pay my rent and occasionally go back to France to see my family. It didn't feel like a struggle because I had no love of money. I earned enough to have a good life and go out with friends and girlfriends and that was what mattered. I worked hard, not for the money, but to get experience and learn new recipes. I knew the money would come later on. Have you ever been paid silly money? Not personally. But I have taken part in charity auctions where I have offered to cook a meal and people have donated a lot of money for that privilege. The largest amount anyone ever paid was 250,000 for me to go to Scotland and cook a meal for them and their ten friends after they had spent the day shooting. I can't even remember what I cooked, but I do remember providing them with some splendid wine. Pierre Koffmann had someone donate 250,000 for him to cook a meal in a charity auction (stock image) What was the best year of your financial life? Probably this year. Three years ago, I started a potato business working with farmers and selling their produce to chefs. Last year, when everything went quiet during lockdown, we developed frozen French fries. Now we are selling a lot of them, and many top chefs from Gordon Ramsay to Marco Pierre White have started buying. Business is booming and it's been a good year so far. The most expensive thing you have bought for fun? In 1973, I purchased a blue Maserati Khamsin. I was stupid and paid 8,000 for it, which is like spending 25,000 on a ten-year old car today. It required a lot of maintenance over the years, but I had some good times and it was a good investment. I sold it about a year ago for 80,000. What is your biggest money mistake? Investing in a food business with a friend. We produced foie gras and everything that can be prepared with duck. It didn't work out and I lost all my money: a few thousand pounds. The best money decision you have made? Setting up my potato business because we are doing so well. Do you save into a pension? Not any more. I started saving into one 40 years ago and I've got a good pension as a result. It's one of the best things I've done in my life. I'm 73, so I am now taking my pension and enjoying it. I think it's important to think about your future when you are young. You have got to because you cannot survive on Government money. The day you stop working, you still have the same bills. If you start saving into a pension early, it's an easy thing to do. Do you invest directly in the stock market? No, I have a financial adviser who looks after my investments. He keeps me well informed, but I'm not interested in the funds he invests in on my behalf. The only thing that concerns me is the number at the end. Do you own any property? Yes, I own my home, a two-bedroom flat overlooking the canal in Little Venice, West London. We bought it 15 years ago for 130,000 after our children left home. I hope it's gone up in value since then because everything else has, but I don't know. We are not going to move any time soon. One little luxury you treat yourself to? I cannot start the day without a cup of coffee, so every morning I go to the same coffee shop and have a cappuccino. For me, it's one of life's pleasures. If you were Chancellor what would you do? I would reduce income tax. If you overtax people, they have less money to spend. If you cut taxes, people will spend more money and then the Government will get more money in taxes and everybody will be happy. What is your number one financial priority? To look after my family. I want to pass on an inheritance to my children and to help them make a good start in life. The Mail on Sunday today launches a campaign aimed at bringing to an end the discrimination retail investors face when successful businesses list on the London Stock Exchange. We believe it is wholly unacceptable that most companies which list their shares on the UK stock market exclude small investors from participating in the initial public offering (IPO). It flies in the face of the country's reputation for embracing small shareholders one given initial impetus by the successful privatisation of tranches of State-controlled British industries in the 1980s and more recently enhanced by the creation of wealth platforms, designed to enable people to buy and sell shares at the press of a button on their computer or phone. New campaign aims to bring end to discrimination retail investors face when successful businesses list on the London Stock Exchange It also damages the UK's global reputation as a raiser of share capital for leading edge companies. But most importantly of all, it is inherently unfair because it has created an uneven playing field that allows big institutional investors typically global megabanks to make financial hay at the expense of retail investors. The objective of our Fair Play for Small Investors campaign is a simple one for ALL companies that list shares in the UK through an IPO to be required to offer a slice of shares to retail investors. At a stroke, it would eradicate the discrimination that currently exists, allowing small investors to enjoy the same financial benefits or endure the same losses that big City institutions get from being shareholders right from the very beginning. Our campaign, provoked by the fact that only ONE of the biggest 15 IPOs this year (Deliveroo) has incorporated the retail investor, has drawn widespread support even from companies which normally are reluctant to speak to us. Chris Hill, chief executive of wealth platform Hargreaves Lansdown, says retail investors 'should not be unfairly blocked from taking part in IPOs'. He adds: 'Retail investors improve the efficiency of markets, helping to create deeper and more liquid pools of funding.' Andy Bell, boss of rival platform AJ Bell, says the 'growing number of engaged retail investors in the UK should be viewed as an attractive source of capital for any company considering an IPO'. Bell believes most retail investors are long-term shareholders who invest via a pension or Isa. As a result, they 'help create a healthy and diverse shareholder base'. Sometimes, he adds, shareholders will also be customers of the listing company which can help generate further brand loyalty and deepen the customer relationship. When AJ Bell completed its own IPO in late 2018, a fifth of the shares went to customers. Bell says: 'From experience, we know that companies are dissuaded from including retail investors in their IPO by their financial advisers. This is because it is easier and quicker for the advisers to place shares with the institutions that they know. 'This ignores the benefits of shareholder diversification, brand awareness and customer loyalty that can be gained by ring-fencing a portion of shares for retail investors in an IPO.' Richard Wilson, chief executive of wealth manager Interactive Investor, also supports The Mail on Sunday's campaign. He says a free market is being 'choked' by financial institutions putting the interests of corporate investors before those of retail investors. 'It's both blatantly unfair and absurd,' he adds. 'Investors can buy complex financial instruments such as contracts for difference all day long. 'But when it comes to investing from the word go in some of the country's the world's most exciting companies, they're excluded. How crazy is that?' Technology platform PrimaryBid is currently trying to help ordinary investors access IPOs by encouraging the issuers behind the offerings to include them. It is also at the forefront of discussions with the Government and the City regulator on how IPOs can be made more retail investor friendly. Discussions, by the way, that may in time result in more retail-friendly IPOs, but which are unlikely to result in our campaign's objective for ALL IPOs to offer shares to ordinary investors. Like The Mail on Sunday, PrimaryBid believes retail access to IPOs should be a 'fundamental right'. Mike Coombes, head of external affairs at PrimaryBid, says: 'The current system is unjust. It's either an initial public offering or it isn't and most aren't. Markets are either public or they aren't. This is all about public inclusion.' Last week, we got PrimaryBid to run some numbers on the biggest IPOs that have listed on the London Stock Exchange this year and which have excluded retail investors. Most of the names are familiar the likes of shoe maker Dr Martens; cybersecurity specialist Darktrace; Danish consumer review website Trustpilot; internet based-greetings card business Moonpig; and cosmetics company Revolution Beauty. It looked at the 15 biggest listings by market capitalisation. It then compared the price that the shares were listed at (the price that supporting financial institutions paid) against the price they opened at on the first day of trading (in theory, the price retail investors could first buy them at). Of the 15 listings, 11 had opening share prices ahead of the listing price. In other words, retail investors keen to get a slice of the action as soon as possible were forced to pay over the odds sometimes by a huge amount. Some 40 per cent in the case of both Big Technologies famous for its Buddi personal alarms and Darktrace; 29 per cent (video games specialist tinyBuild); and most recently Oxford Nanopore where the shares opened at 5.45 against a listing price of 4.25. Coombes says: 'Nanopore is one of the UK's biggest ever IPO pops [where the initial share price is way above the listing price]. It should be a good lightning rod for greater discussion around investor access and inclusion in IPOs.' Dan Lane, senior analyst at investment platform Freetrade, is a little more colourful with his words. 'Seeing massive value fluctuations after an IPO comes to market is a kick in the teeth,' he says. 'It tells us nothing about the company and everything about how exclusionary the institutional tactics are just before and after a listing.' Most companies which list their shares on the UK stock market exclude small investors SO WHAT SHOULD HAPPEN NEXT? The Government is looking at ways of making IPOs more inclusive a consultation on the issue ended last month. Although this is welcome and could, for example, result in the simplification of the prospectuses companies are required to issue if reaching out to retail investors it is not enough. Interactive Investor's Richard Wilson agrees. He says such 'cosmetic' changes are not the solution what is needed is legislation that puts a requirement on all listing companies to set aside a slice of shares for ordinary investors. Such a 'quota' system operates well in France and Singapore and Wilson says there is no reason why it can't work in the UK. It's why we back such a move. Fair play for ALL share investors. Our campaigning will not stop some companies going ahead with IPOs in the coming months that exclude the ordinary investor. The likes of gym operator PureGym; electric vehicle charging firm PodPoint; food box specialist Gousto; and even Wilson's Interactive Investor (he wouldn't confirm it) are all rumoured to be looking at IPOs. Some of these companies will do the decent thing and embrace all investors and we will applaud them to the hilt when they do so. But others won't because they don't have to. We will criticise them and rightly so. And we will continue to criticise until the Government a believer in wider share ownership wipes away this injustice. Shares for all. The chirpy 'Moonpig dotcom' adverts became a feature of lockdown television as the online card seller capitalised on deserted high streets. But investors who bought into February's 1.2billion listing could be forgiven for finding the earworm irritating now. The stock, which floated at 3.50 and hit summer highs of 4.88, has slid to 3.13. The company says consumer habits haven't switched back towards physical stores since they reopened, but a sell-off of tech stocks notably in e-commerce has hit Moonpig. It has been an opportune time for its non-executive chair Kate Swann to show some faith. 'Chirpy': The 'Moonpig dotcom' adverts became a feature of lockdown television The former WH Smith boss who sold 3.4million of stock at the IPO last week shelled out for shares worth 199,000. Swann earned a reputation as a darling of the City when she rewarded investors while managing Smiths' retrenchment from the high street. Can she tempt investors to dig into the Pig? Thales outlines environmentally friendly products Tapping into the green trend, defence giant Thales outlined its environmentally friendly suite of products to shareholders last week. The listed French firm, which employs 6,500 people in the UK, has lightweight thermal imaging sensors and sonobuoys it reckons use less power than market incumbents. The industry's biggest carbon emitter is aviation, and UK chief Alex Cresswell said its flight simulators and digital twinning software can cut flying hours, helping it make gains in a multi-billion-pound-a-year sector. 'Thales is constantly looking for ways to counter new threats and increase mission effectiveness, but increasingly also to deliver environmental benefits,' he said. Investors run rule over Dukemount Investors looking for a play on the energy crisis may run the rule over tiddler Dukemount Capital. The company hopes to build a number of gas power plants to step into the breach if there are blackouts. The power it generates will also be stored in batteries. Word is that Dukemount is chatting to blue chip energy giants about setting up joint ventures and may announce deals in the coming weeks. Two biggest gambling deals in focus Acquisitions in the gambling trade are becoming more commonplace than screwed up betting slips and this week brings two of the biggest deals into focus. Online specialist 888 will update on quarterly trading just weeks after scoring the 2.2billion purchase of William Hill. Analysts expect revenue to have slowed against last year's pandemic lockdown boom, and are hoping for more details on its plans overseas. Meanwhile, investors will be examining the performance of Ladbrokes owner Entain's US joint venture with MGM. The subsidiary is seen as the jewel in the crown for DraftKings, which is trying to convince the board to back its 28-ashare bid. Having waited so many months for lockdown restrictions to lift, Britain's small and medium-sized businesses might have thought they were out of the woods once they were free to trade. Yet not only are they facing huge recruitment shortages, but many are finding that the lasting effect of the pandemic is a permanent change in consumer spending. In some instances, a big chunk of their business has simply disappeared. Claire Hattrick, 53, from Hampshire, has worked as a beauty therapist for 15 years, converting her garage into a fully-equipped salon offering an extensive range of manicures, pedicures, waxing and facials. Andrea Pugh launched her sustainable gifting and homeware marketplace in October last year Like all salon owners, she was forced to shut up shop in March last year and only just survived financially thanks to the self-employed income support grant and the financial help of her grown-up twin daughters. But even though she is now free to trade again, Claire says business income is down 80 per cent since she reopened. 'Everything was going well before Covid, but during the pandemic many of my customers learnt how to do their beauty treatments at home and are now not coming back to the salon,' she says. 'People still need their hair done in a hairdresser's, but my customers have got used to doing their own nails and waxing.' Several of her regular older customers passed away during the pandemic while others are still too cautious about Covid to return. Others are worried about their finances and have cut out discretionary spending. Some, says Claire, 'aren't going out like they used to and so don't need as much grooming'. She adds: 'There are lots of business owners in a similar situation. I'm financially challenged and wondering how much longer I can keep going. I'm struggling to find any positivity. 'Every day, I just live in hope, but I can't do that forever. It's an incredibly worrying time.' Claire, who used to work three full days and evenings a week, now works just one day a week. She has diversified by starting a new life support business ClipboardClaire.com and has written a book about the menopause to create new income streams. 'If I have to close the doors, then at least I have other projects,' she says. 'I'm just hoping Christmas will be good for business.' Some small businesses are saying their trade has disappeared since the pandemic hit Andrea Pugh, from Abingdon, Oxfordshire, launched her sustainable gifting and homeware marketplace It Won't Cost the Earth in October last year. Initially, business boomed as people looked to improve their homes during the pandemic. 'We sell more than 1,500 sustainable products on our website from candles and cleaning products to plant pots and cushions,' says Andrea, 35. 'But since the restrictions lifted, sales have plummeted and have yet to pick up. 'Our customers have disappeared and we're desperately hoping they'll come back, but there's no sign of it so far. There are lots of small business owners like me that are really worried.' Andrea attributes the fall in business to people being a lot worse off than generally thought. She says: 'I was shocked recently to see the queues for the local foodbank and people being worried about the ending of furlough. 'Our products are a discretionary spend, so people are deciding either to curb their overall spending or are just using their spare money on going out to catch up with friends.' Firms are finding the lasting effect of Covid is a permanent change in consumer spending Andrea has tried to combat the decline in customer numbers by working on growing her email list, offering discounts for new and returning customers, doing more work on social media and starting to work with so-called influencers. 'Using influencers is a first for us and it has been a steep learning curve,' says Andrea. 'We're focusing on people with a small but very engaged group of followers.' Andrea had hoped to give up her job as an accountant to work on the business full-time but is reluctant to do that now. 'I'm terrified,' she admits. 'It's a new venture, I haven't got a big pot of cash and I'm a single mum, so it's a huge gamble. 'I've seen so many other small businesses crumble over the past year and some days you think, 'What have I done?' We are just trying to get through this hard patch in the hope of better things the other side.' Jennifer Earle, 39, from Forest Gate in East London, has been running food tours since 2005 and gave up a career in food development with brands such as McDonald's and Marks & Spencer to go full-time with her business Chocolate Ecstasy Tours. 'It was where my heart was,' she says. 'It's like a more delicious version of a guided tour of London. You learn all about the history of the area while visiting artisan boutiques, tasting lots of chocolate and ice cream.' As well as running tours herself, Jennifer ran a team of five tour guides but everything stopped in March last year. 'I had to cancel everything and didn't earn a penny until this June when I started doing private tasting groups online,' she says. These turned out to be so successful that Jennifer is now pivoting her business to focus purely on private tours and online tastings as customers failed to return to her live tours. She says: 'At its peak I was doing four or five tours a week to 30 people. Now, I'm down to just one or two with eight people in total so it's just not worth it. 'I'm doing more to promote the brand and increase the number of private tours to corporate clients rather than selling individual tickets and hoping people turn up. 'In the summer, my income was down 90 per cent from before the pandemic, but by repositioning my business and increasing my marketing I'm excited about the future.' China could 'be encouraged to risk something really stupid,' defence expert says Real prospect of Australia being drawn into a military conflict in support of US A rise in tensions between China and Taiwan has raised the prospect of a world war in which Australia will be embroiled. A Chinese invasion of the island is inevitable within five or six years, with the US and allies forced to come to its defence, some military experts told Daily Mail Australia. Others believe China's recent show of force is merely a signal of military strength to its vast population in an authoritarian show of nationalism. In an address to the Yushan Forum in Taipei this week, former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott said nowhere in the world was 'the struggle between liberty and tyranny more stark than across the Taiwan Strait'. 'We've seen [the Chinese] be much more risky in recent years under Xi Jinping, as he's become more authoritarian,' Professor Peter Dean said of the Chinese leader (above) A Chinese invasion of Taiwan is inevitable within the next five or six years, with the US and its allies such as Australia forced to come to its defence, some military experts warn Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott flew to Taiwan where he spoke at a regional forum and met Taiwan's President, Tsai Ing-wen (right) and Foreign Minister Joseph Wu Professor Peter Dean, Chair of Defence Studies and Director of UWA's Defence and Security Institute, told Daily Mail Australia war was a real possibility. 'You certainly can't rule out the potential for the use of force. If the Chinese get to the point where they think they can take Taiwan by force, win and be successful, and they think either that US resolve is lacking or won't be enough, they could be encouraged to risk something really stupid,' he said. 'We've seen them be much more risky in recent years under Xi Jinping, as he's become more authoritarian.' But Professor Dean said it is the current so-called 'gray-zone warfare', with China signalling its stance via the sorties over Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ), that posed the greatest current risk to world security. 'What the Chinese are really risking here is an incident that comes about by accident or someone gets trigger-happy,' he said. 'The real risk in the region is we don't have any proper, formal mechanisms for de-escalating these things. 'The Chinese are being very adventurous, very coercive, and really raising the levels of risk to levels they really shouldn't be doing.' Last weekend China steeply stepped up its military operations around the self-ruled island, flying 150 aircraft near the territory over a number of days in a huge show of force coinciding with its National Day holiday. Government-controlled media outlets in Beijing have been warning that it is 'only a matter of time' before Taiwan becomes part of China and that World War Three could be triggered 'at any time'. Chinese aircraft flew more than 150 aircraft into Taiwan's air defense identification zone (ADIZ) over a number of days in a huge show of force Nearly 150 Chinese warplanes breached Taiwan's airspace last weekend, including 52 aircraft that flew in a single sortie on Monday (pictured) in Beijing's largest show-of-force yet Soldiers march to position during an anti-invasion drill on the beach during the annual Han Kuang military drill in Tainan, Taiwan, in September AFP reported this week that US special operations forces had been quietly training Taiwanese troops for months in reaction to heightened Chinese aggression. Pictured: A US-made E2K Early Warning Aircraft (EWA) takes off from a motorway in Pingtung, southern Taiwan, during the annual Han Kuang drill 'Scott Morrison should be thinking deeply about all this, because if war breaks out between America and China, which is a real possibility, he would face the gravest decisions that any Australian leader has had to make since 1939,' Hugh White, Emeritus Professor of Strategic Studies at the Australian National University. wrote in a recent article in the Australian Financial Review. AUSTRALIA VS CHINA - MILITARY FORCE BY NUMBERS Place on global Military Strength Ranking 2021: China - 3rd globally Australia - 19th globally Military personnel: China - 3.3 million people Australia - 80,000 people Fighter jets: China - 1,200 Australia - 75 Tanks: China - 3,205 Australia - 59 Rocket projectors: China - 2,250 Australia - 0 Submarines: China - 79 Australia - 6 Fit for service population: China - 617 million people Australia - 8.7 million people Defence budget: China - $233billion Australia - $42billion Labour force: China - 775 million people Australia - 12.5 million people Population: China - 1.4 billion Australia - 25 million Source: GlobalFirePower.com Advertisement It was reported in April that the Australian Defence Force (ADF) was already making preparations in expectation of potential conflict between China and Taiwan. The ADF was believed to be considering a range of scenarios for Australian involvement, from committing submarines and maritime surveillance aircraft to an allied response, through to sending fighter jets to US bases in Guam, the Philippines, and Japan. Nevertheless, the ADF's chief Angus Campbell said in April that a war over Taiwan would be 'disastrous'. 'Conflict over the island of Taiwan would be a disastrous experience for the peoples of the region,' General Campbell told the Raisina Dialogue, an Indian foreign affairs conference. 'It is something we should all work to avoid.' Professor Dean said under the terms of the ANZUS treaty, Australia's inclusion in a US response to Chinese aggression against Taiwan is not 'automatic', but he nevertheless expected it would be difficult for Australia not to be involved, given the history of the alliance. 'Then the question becomes what sort of contribution could we make that is meaningful,' he said. 'We have a very high-tech, very capable ADF but it's very small. In a kinetic war with missiles flying around, we don't have a lot [of military equipment] to lose. 'We also have joint intelligence facilities [such as Pine Gap]. They are constantly involved, from what we know publicly, in intelligence gathering but also in operational elements of the US military machine so we would at least be involved in that sense, too.' Earlier this week Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, appealed to Australia to help the island nation as it faced the threat of Chinese aggression. 'We would like to engage in security or intelligence exchanges with other like-minded partners, Australia included, so Taiwan is better prepared to deal with the war situation,' he told ABC's China Tonight program. Mr Wu recently welcomed the creation of AUKUS, the agreement for Australia to acquire nuclear submarines in partnership with the US and UK, a signal that Taiwan fully expects Australia to be part of its defence should China try and invade the island. 'We are pleased to see that the like-minded partners of Taiwan the United States and the UK and Australia are working closer with each other to acquire more advanced defence articles so that we can defend Indo-Pacific,' Mr Wu said. It's known the AUKUS development infuriated the Chinese, who warned it risked stability in the region by upsetting the balance of power. The UK's Queen Elizabeth aircraft carrier led a huge naval exercise alongside the US and Japan in the region early in October Professor Peter Dean, Chair of Defence Studies and Director of UWA's Defence and Security Institute, told Daily Mail Australia that China's latest aggression toward Taiwan risked 'an incident that comes about by accident or someone gets trigger-happy' On Tuesday Mr Abbott flew to Taiwan where he spoke at a regional forum and met Taiwan's President, Tsai Ing-wen and Mr Wu. The visit enraged Beijing, with state media mouthpiece The Global Times warning: 'China has zero tolerance for any kind of behaviour of any foreign country that crosses the redline to threaten its territorial integrity.' 'Should Australia be so reckless as to challenge China's sovereignty over Taiwan, there is absolutely no room for manoeuvre or diplomatic solution.' 'It's quite possible that Beijing could lash out disastrously very soon,' Mr Abbott said in his address to the Yushan Forum in Taipei. 'Our challenge is to try to ensure that the unthinkable remains unlikely; and the possible doesn't become the probable.' Mr Abbott said China's belligerence was 'self-generated', and not caused by Australia. The Taiwanese Defence Minister Chiu Kuo-cheng this week told the parliament China will be ready to mount a full-scale invasion of the island by 2025, noting that while Beijing 'has the capacity' to attack immediately it is looking to reduce the costs it must bear before giving the order. A soldier guards a People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) J-16 multirole strike fighter in Zhuhai, China 'By 2025, China will bring the cost and attrition to its lowest [point],' he said, adding that the current standoff is 'the most serious' he has seen in 40 years with the risk of a 'misfire' in the Taiwan Strait now very high. The Chinese Communist Party has claimed Taiwan ever since it was established as the Republic of China by the Nationalist Kuomintang under Chiang Kai-shek in 1949, after they fled mainland China during its civil war. The Republic of China views itself as an autonomous country, while China sees it as a breakaway province. Diplomatically, Western nations such as the US and Australia acknowledge a 'One China' policy which recognises Beijing as the government. For nations to maintain diplomatic relations with China, it insists they do not formally recognise Taiwan. Yet the US has sold billions in arms to Taiwan and has repeatedly said it would help defend the island from military threat, despite an official policy of 'strategic ambiguity'. Both the US and Australia have condemned the recent increase in Chinese air sorties into Taiwan's ADIZ, which it has complained about since last year. AFP reported this week that US special operations forces had been quietly training Taiwanese troops for months in reaction to heightened Chinese aggression, in a provocative move that would likely anger China. A contingent of around 20 special operations and conventional forces has been conducting the training for less than a year, a Pentagon official, who declined to be identified, told AFP. On Wednesday, America's top diplomat to the island said China posed a 'real and immediate' danger. James Moriarty, speaking Wednesday night at an event to mark Taiwan's National Day in Washington, said China's recent show-of-strength in the skies near the island are a reminder of the threat it faces. Moriarty, who heads the American Institute in Taiwan which represents the US on the island, said the incursions underlined the need for the ruling Republic of China to establish 'a powerful intimidating [defence] force as soon as possible.' University of Sydney Associate Professor of Northeast Asian Politics, James Reilly, recently told Daily Mail Australia that the arms race between China on one side and Australia and the US on the other in this part of the Pacific could lead to war. 'I personally am deeply concerned about, what we call in international relations, security dilemmas where each two sides to a dispute keep taking more and more measures that they believe are reasonable and defensive but the other side responds in kind,' he said. 'We end up with spirals of increasing army, military build-ups, mistrust and increasing risk of war. 'The risk of war increases the more the countries are arming each other.' The Chinese Communist Party has claimed Taiwan since it was established as the Republic of China by the Nationalist Kuomintang under Chiang Kai-Shek in 1949 Hugh White agrees, writing that a war over Taiwan 'would be different'. 'It would be nothing like Afghanistan, a small war in a distant place that has touched very few of us. It would be more like the world wars of the 20th century and perhaps worse, if it goes nuclear.' Professor Dean said the threat posed by China to Taiwan had to be taken seriously because it's 'backed up by credible military force and intent'. 'Look at things from a defence strategy point of view - does your potential opponent have the capability to carry though and do they have intent? 'If they have one without the other, like North Korea's threats about invading South Korea, then it's meaningless. 'The issue we have now is we have a PRC with the capability to do it and now they're indicating intent. 'Any prudent country like Australia has to plan appropriately but also send clear signals of deterrence, to deter them from doing something dangerous.' Taiwan's Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, this week appealed to Australia to help the island nation as it faced the threat of Chinese aggression A Bunnings worker has revealed how she defied society's expectations and quit her university degree after realising she had already landed her dream job. Maddison Kramer, 22, had almost finished a degree in secondary education at The University of Notre Dame in Perth when she lost interest in a pursuing teaching. Despite being heaped with a $20,000 HECS debt, Ms Kramer decided to withdraw from her course and further her career with the hardware giant where she had worked since her teen years instead, realising it was her true passion. The retail worker shared her inspiring career journey in a viral post on LinkedIn, alongside a photo of her dressed in the company's iconic red and green uniform. 'In this photo, it took me $20,000 of HECS debts and two universities for me to learn that my degree wasnt worth what I thought it was,' the post begins. Maddison Kramer (pictured) spent years studying at university before realising her part-time job at Bunnings was her true passion. This photo, shared on her LinkedIn, shows her smiling after making the decision to further her career with the hardware giant '[It took] five years to try to find out what career was right for me. For me to finally understand that I dont have to go to university to be successful.. Now having a transcript of "withdrawn" in my 2nd last year of study to go. 'This photo shows the smile on my face that I made the right choice.' Ms Kramer said while $20,000 may 'seem like a lot of money', she has no regrets because she accrued valuable life experiences during the time she spent studying. 'It was the best $20,000 that I [have] spent,' she said. 'I came across a wide diversity of friends throughout my time. I found my strengths and weaknesses. I stood in front of many classrooms filled with school children. 'I helped build young individual strengths, helped them developed and most importantly I was shaping the future generation. 'It was a small price to pay for me to learn that when you start taking care of yourself first, everything else becomes a whole lot easier.' Ms Kramer, who was completing a Bachelor in Health and Physical Education, said she lost interest in teaching after attending her second last practical at a public school. At that point, she realised she loved her job at Bunnings 'more than being in a classroom'. Ms Kramer (pictured) said she does not regret accruing $20,000 in university fees because she had valuable experiences while studying Bunnings Warehouse visits have boomed during the Covid-19 pandemic as locked-down Aussies used the extra time at home to complete DIY projects. 'From that moment I dropped out of university and moved towards a full-time position where I fell in love with pursuing my career pathway in retail,' she said. 'Being with the business for now seven years I have taken every opportunity to learn something new on every shift, to explore what I am capable of, develop and explore my abilities for the next step.' Ms Kramer said she is grateful for the path she took - even though she came full circle. 'I'm thankful for my failures because if I'm not failing, I'm probably not learning,' she said. 'And if I'm not learning, I'm not growing.' The post quickly attracted more than 4,500 likes, with many praising the young Western Australian woman for her inspiring message. 'A refreshingly positive post Maddie. Thank you,' one person said. 'Well said and well done,' another wrote. A customer grabs some goods out of her trolley after a brief shop at a Bunnings warehouse in Sydney in August A couple rolling half-dozen of BBQ coals and a carpet from the warehouse superstore 'My son was given the opportunity to work at Bunnings since he was 16. The skills he has learnt during this journey have been invaluable and will help his journey through life.' One woman said her 20-year-old son had made a similar decision to throw in the towel on his degree after garnering a $10,000 debt. 'He's been with Bunnings for 5 years and after calling it quits on Uni in 2021 has stepped up into a part time role,' she said. 'He blew me away the other week when he said in 6 months time he wants to step up and lead (a team). So Im super excited to see where his Bunnings journey takes him.' Another former Bunnings worker added he learnt vital skills during his time with the company. 'My first job was at Bunnings, equally share the energy and joy for what it taught me too, the fundamentals in niche areas of the construction industry,' he said. Former Bunnings workers commented on Ms Kramer's post to reflect positively on their time employed for the hardware chain. Pictured: A Sydney shopper clicks and collects a new veggie planter in August In a statement, Bunnings managing director Mike Schneider said the company tries really hard to give their team opportunities to put down roots and grow in their careers. 'We want our team members and future team members to see retail as a career path, not just a part-time job through while theyre studying and we really strive to provide an environment with a wide range of meaningful career development options for all team members,' Mr Schneider said. 'Were really proud to have Maddison as part of the team.' Advertisement Border czar Kamala Harris skipped a high-level meeting with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Friday which was intended to discuss the migrant crisis at the US's southern border - to visit a daycare center in New Jersey instead. The vice president, who was put in charge of tackling the border crisis by Joe Biden back in March, delegated the thorny meeting in Mexico's capital to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken. Blinken was joined by Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and US Attorney General Merrick Garland and US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar in efforts to mend America's fractious ties with Mexico. As officials from the two nations worked hashed out a new security cooperation accord and deal with a surge in migration across the border, Harris was nowhere to be seen. Instead, Harris spent the day in New Jersey where she played bingo with kids at a daycare center, stopped by a vaccination site and even had time to sample some cake at a Newark bakery. The vice president has repeatedly come under fire from Republicans over her handling of the migrant crisis, ever since she was tapped by Biden as America's border czar. Harris was especially slammed for her failure to visit the border to see the state of affairs for herself. She finally bowed to pressure and visited the border at El Paso, Texas, in June. It is the only time she's been to the border since taking office. Border czar Kamala Harris skipped a high-level meeting with Mexican President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador Friday to discuss the migrant crisis at the US's southern border - to visit a daycare center in New Jersey instead (pictured Harris at the daycare) The vice president appeared to have worked up an appetite as she then stopped by cake shop Tonnie's Minis where she was joined by Senator Cory Booker US Attorney General Merrick B. Garland, US Ambassador in Mexico Ken Salazar, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and Secretary of Public Security and Citizen Protection of Mexico Rosa Icela Rodriguez at the crisis meeting On her New Jersey day trip, Harris visited the Ben Samuels Child Care Center at Montclair State University in Little Falls where she met with students and teachers. The vice president, who was joined by Governor Phil Murphy and Congresswoman Mikie Sherrill, stopped by several classrooms to meet kids and joined in with a game of shapes bingo. She then joined a group of educators for a roundtable about the importance of supporting working parents. Harris then headed to a COVID-19 vaccination site at Essex County Community College in Newark to thank healthcare workers and encourage people to get the shot. The vice president appeared to have worked up an appetite as she then stopped by cake shop Tonnie's Minis where she was joined by Senator Cory Booker. Harris bought red velvet cupcakes and slices of carrot, pineapple coconut and chocolate-covered sponge cake. Meanwhile, Blinken was taken on a mural tour of the National Palace by Lopez Obrador before the two delegations had a working breakfast. They were joined at the crisis meeting by Garland, Salazar, Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard and Secretary of Public Security and Citizen Protection of Mexico Rosa Icela Rodriguez. Harris pretends to look for a child hiding under a table in a classroom during a visit to the Ben Samuels Children's Center at Montclair State University Harris visited the day care center in New Jersey where she met with students and teachers The vice president joined in with a game of shapes bingo with kids and then joined a group of educators for a roundtable about the importance of supporting working parents Blinken said Lopez Obrador's earlier comments were 'exactly in line' with what Biden has in mind for the US-Mexico relationship. 'I'm very inspired by the vision you expressed. The work now we have to do to translate that into reality, into truly a transformational partnership, a shared responsibility,' Blinken said at the start of the breakfast meeting. Mayorkas tweeted that the meeting represented an 'important new phase' in the partnership between the nations. 'Today's High-Level Security Dialogue marks an important new phase in the US-Mexico security partnership,' Mayorkas tweeted. 'We will work together under a new framework to guide our joint efforts, and work toward our shared goals of security and prosperity for our two nations'. Blinken's visit is part of the Biden administration's first US-Mexico High-Level Security Dialogue, in which the two countries will negotiate a sweeping new agreement on how to tackle everything from drug flows to the United States to the smuggling of US-made guns into Mexico. Harris then headed to a COVID-19 vaccination site at Essex County Community College in Newark to thank healthcare workers and encourage people to get the shot She was joined on her whistle-stop tour by New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy. She is seen speaking to healthcare workers at the vaccine site Harris then headed to Tonnie's Minis cake shop in Newark, New Jersey, where she bought red velvet cupcakes and slices of carrot, pineapple coconut and chocolate-covered sponge cake Harris talks with a student who regularly works on homework at the cupcake bakery It comes at a time when the Biden administration is increasingly reliant on its southern neighbor to stem the flow of Latin American migrants heading to the United States. US-Mexico relations suffered a major blow last October when US anti-narcotics agents arrested Mexican former defense minister Salvador Cienfuegos, outraging the Mexican government. Cienfuegos was freed, but the detention strained relations and hurt security cooperation. US officials are touting the new security accord as broader than the previous agreement, the Merida Initiative, under which the US channeled about $3.3 billion to help Mexico fight crime. Launched in 2007, the Merida Initiative initially provided military equipment for Mexican forces and later helped train Mexico's security forces and the judiciary. The vice president delegated the thorny meeting in Mexico's capital (above) to US Secretary of State Antony Blinken Blinken (pictured at the meeting) was joined by Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and US Attorney General Merrick Garland and US Ambassador to Mexico Ken Salazar in efforts to mend America's fractious ties with Mexico But Lopez Obrador has been a vocal critic of the program, saying it was tainted by its association with previous governments and for financing security equipment in the 2000s. Mexican officials say the new agreement will likely focus on the exchange of information, the root causes of violence, and stemming the flow of US-made guns to Mexico, a key point of concern for Lopez Obrador. But negotiating a new agreement will be painful. The US wants a more muscular approach to battling drug cartels while Lopez Obrador prefers softer and less confrontational methods to fighting gangs, said Vanda Felbab-Brown, a security and foreign policy analyst. 'There is a minimal area of overlap,' said Felbab-Brown, a senior fellow in the Foreign Policy program at the Brookings Institution, a Washington think tank. 'The US is in an awkward position here because the Lopez Obrador administration is very comfortable with ending security cooperation.' What is more, the talks about the new security cooperation may be overshadowed by immigration concerns. The US is grappling with a migrant crisis at the border. Migrants, most from Haiti, depart a base camp towards the jungle in the infamous Darien Gap while on their journey towards the US on October 7 Mostly Haitian migrants break camp at sunrise on October 7 before trekking through the 66-mile stretch of undeveloped, unpoliced rainforest Nearly 28,000 Haitian migrants were encountered by Border Patrol agents along the US-Mexico border in Fiscal Year 2021, which ended September 30 A surge in the number of Haitian and Latin American migrants arriving at the US-Mexico border plunged the Biden administration into another crisis last month and underlined Washington's reliance on Mexico to help stem the flow. Nearly 28,000 Haitian migrants were encountered by Border Patrol agents along the US-Mexico border in Fiscal Year 2021, which ended September 30. In 2020, the number was 4,395. Last month around 15,000 mostly Haitian migrants camped near a bridge in Del Rio, Texas, prompting a humanitarian outcry against the Biden administration. Earlier this week the Washington Examiner reported that border officials are bracing for an incoming surge of as many as 60,000 Haitian migrants. Mexico's importance in managing immigration has given the Lopez Obrador administration leverage to pursue more independent policies in other areas, Mexican officials say privately. During the US presidential transition early this year, Mexico made it tougher for American law enforcement agents to operate in the country. Mexico has also delayed visas for US anti-narcotics officers, the US media has reported. A senior Mexican security official said there was optimism about the new agreement on the Mexican side and there may be scope to review the restrictions imposed on U.S. agents operating on Mexican soil, but the conditions cannot return to how they were before Cienfuegos' arrest. 'I think part of the US government knows that that's not possible,' the Mexican official said. Former President Trump takes another step towards a 2024 run with a rally on Saturday in Iowa, sending a signal to his GOP rivals that he retains a strong grip on a vital state in the nominating calendar. He will arrive at the Iowa State Fairgrounds in Des Moines following his best ever polling numbers in the state. The latest Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa Poll shows 53 percent of Iowans have a favourable viewing of the former president. Sam Nunberg, the property magnate's first political hire in 2011 when he began thinking about a possible run, said Iowa was crucial to Trump's victory in 2016, when he became the first Republican to win the state since George W. Bush in 2004. 'I think he is going to run but even if he doesn't it's important for Trump to keep a strong presence in that state because in the Iowa caucus you can organize to victory,' he said. 'And if he doesn't preempt the other people, they may see a path.' Former President Trump brings his campaign-style rallies to Des Moines, Iowa, on Saturday where his good poll numbers put him in prime position in the early caucusing state Des Moines will be Trump's sixth rally since leaving office. They come with all the features of a campaign rally, even though Trump has yet to announce whether he will run in 2024 His possible rivals know it too. Former Vice President Mike Pence visited in July and will return next month to speak at an event hosted by the Young American Foundation. Trump's Secretary of State Pompeo is another frequent visitor. 'My wife Susan was born in Iowa City, but she was raised in Wichita. She spent her summers at Coralville and Strawberry Point,' he said in July at the Family Leadership Summit, according to the Des Moines Register. 'So that's why I'm back, I don't know why some of these other folks coming back now. I can't figure it out. And former U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley headlined an event for the Republican Party of Iowa in June. Trump aides say he plans to make a decision on running after next year's midterms. But he reportedly came close in recent days to abandoning that timetable and announcing officially in order to campaign openly. Even so Trump has begun organizing in Iowa, which he won by more than eight percentage points in November. In August, he hired two political consultants in Iowa to bolster his Save America political-action committee. At the same time, Trump's approval has risen in the state and President Biden's has plunged. The current presidents approval rating is at just 31 percent in Iowa - lower than Trump's worst ever standing - according to a Des Moines Register/Mediacom Iowa poll, with 62 percent of adults disapproving of the job hes doing. 'By coincidence Biden's numbers are terrible in the state. Horrendous, said Nunberg. 'So this is really a perfect opportunity to stick it to Biden and also remind those 2024 potential GOP prospects that Trump still holds the crown, sits on the throne and, no matter, what everything runs through him.' Sen. Chuck Grassley will speak at the rally before Trump as he bids to win an eighth term in next year's midterms Trump's rating among Republicans at 91 percent is better even than Chuck Grassley, the 88-year-old seven-term senator. 'I did not foresee the day when Donald Trump would be 10 points more popular with Iowa Republicans than the venerable Chuck Grassley,' pollster J. Ann Selzer, told the Des Moines Register. Grassley is on the roster of speakers at Saturday's rally, leading to speculation that Trump will offer his endorsement as the senator bids for an eighth term in 2022. The two are friendly, having apparently patched up their differences after Grassley, in the aftermath of the attack on the U.S. Capitol, criticized Trump's words and actions on Jan. 6. Several other Republican officials facing reelection next year are due to speak, including Gov. Kim Reynolds, and Reps. Ashley Hinson and Mariannette Miller-Meeks. Jeff Kaufmann, chairman of the Republican Party of Iowa, said Trump was focused on the midterms when they spoke in August. 'He never brought up him running for the presidency,' he told the Wall Street Journal. 'He very clearly understands that potentially the road to the majority in the federal House of Representatives goes through Iowa and he wants to definitely be a part of that.' A Massachusetts man who faked his own death in an effort to evade arrest after scamming the federal government out of more than half a million dollars in PPP loans was convicted of defrauding the CARES Act. David Adler Staveley of Andover, was convicted on counts of bank fraud, conspiracy to commit bank fraud, false statements to influence the Small Business Administration, aggravated identity theft as well as failure to appear in court, the US Department of Justice said Thursday. The US Attorneys Office said Staveley, who goes by several aliases including Kurt David Sanborn and David Sanborn, conspired with David Andrew Butziger, 53, of Rhode Island, to file four fraudulent CARES Act PPP forgivable loan applications with a Rhode Island bank back in April 2020. The two falsely claimed that they owned four businesses, three of which were restaurants, with large monthly payrolls when, in fact, they did not own the businesses at all, making off with nearly $544,000 in coronavirus relief funds. Staveley, 54, and Butziger had applied for and received over $438,000 for the restaurants and just over $105,000 for another company, called Dock Wireless, based out of Warwick, Rhode Island. David Staveley, pictured, in a 2016 booking photo, going by the name Kurt Sanborn at the time, was indicted after faking his own death to avoid being charged with defrauding CARES Act Pictured: Warwick police officers and FBI agents gather behind the Remington House in Warwick on May 5, 2020, the day David Adler Staveley was arrested Pictured: One of the three restaurants Staveley allegedly falsely claimed he was operating amid the coronavirus pandemic But after local Massachusetts police received a tip regarding the pair's fraud scheme, the FBI was contacted and federal investigators interviewed several people Butziger claimed were employees at Dock Wireless. However, the state of Rhode Island has no record of Butziger paying employees this year and several supposed employees interviewed by agents said they never worked for him or Dock Wireless. Meanwhile, the restaurants the two claimed to own were closed at the time Staveley and Butziger applied for the PPP loans, setting off another red flag for investigators. Both were arrested in May 2020 and released with electronic monitoring bracelets. Federal authorities said about three weeks after his release, Staveley removed the device and faked his death after leaving a suicide note in his car, which he had parked by the Atlantic Ocean. 'Staveley left suicide notes with associates and left his wallet in his unlocked car that he parked along the ocean in Massachusetts,' the press release stated. Staveley and Butziger filed four fraudulent CARES Act PPP forgivable loan applications with a Rhode Island bank back in April 2020 The FBI were seen arresting Staveley and Butziger on Tuesday On Tuesday, the Department of Justice charged David Staveley and David Butziger (pictured) with conspiracy to make false statements to influence the Small Business Administration and conspiracy to commit bank fraud Authorities claim he traveled to several states while on the run while using false identities and stolen license plates. However, while Staveley's family and friends initially believed he had indeed died, several of his associates told law enforcement that they he had faked his suicide in an effort to escape prosecution. 'Many of his family members and associates were left with the belief that Staveley had indeed killed himself, though the ones who knew him best informed law enforcement that they suspected this to be yet another scheme orchestrated by the defendant,' prosecutors said in the press release. Staveley was sentenced to four years in federal prison for the crime. Following his 56-month prison sentence, Staveley will spend three years on federal supervised release, according to prosecutors. Meanwhile, Butziger is scheduled to be sentenced on November 1, 2021. The Paycheck Protection Program was introduced to help protect jobs amid the COVID-19 crisis, and allows small businesses to apply for low-interest loans of up to $10 million. The loan proceeds may be used to cover the business' payroll costs, rent, interest, and utilities. The loan may be partially or fully forgiven if the business keeps its employee counts and employee wages stable. Assistant Attorney General Brian A. Benczkowski told USA Today that he does not believe Staveley and Butzinger are the only people who have filed false claims. 'What we see coming out of Rhode Island is whats happening across the country. We have a lot of leads,' he stated. New Zealand health authories are desperately searching for a woman who they fear may have Covid-19. The woman has travelled around Northland, on the North Island, with another woman who has tested positive for the virus. Both women, who are believed to be sex workers with gang links, travelled from Auckland, which is a hotspot, to Northland on October 2. They gained entry to Northland using false documents. It comes as New Zealand's Covid outbreak grows with 34 new community cases to reported on Saturday, with 31 in Auckland and three in Waikato. There are now 1,527 cases linked to the Delta outbreak in New Zealand. Both women, who are believed to be sex workers with gang links, travelled from Auckland (pictured), which is a hotspot, to Northland on October 2 The woman's travel companion tested positive after returning Auckland. She has been uncooperative with health authorities and contact tracers who are trying to find out where she has been, Stuff reported. The region the pair tyravelled through was plunged into a level 3 lockdown on Friday night. There are fear the woman at large has Covid as the pair spent a considerable amount of time together. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern's (pictured) popularity is at risk after ongoing lockdowns and border closures failed to contain the nation's Delta outbreak The case comes as the outbreak worsens with cases spreading throughout New Zealand. Auckland has been in strict lockdown for eight weeks in a bid to stop the spread of the virus. However, in the past week cases have been detected in Hamilton and Raglan. Texas's six-week abortion ban is back in effect again after the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday granted a temporary, emergency stay of this week's preliminary injunction, which temporarily blocked the law, while the state prepares its formal appeal. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most conservative in the US, to issue an emergency stay before Tuesday's appeal US District Judge Robert Pitman's preliminary injunction blocked the restrictive law. Pitman, in a ruling late on Wednesday, put on hold the law, which prohibits women from obtaining an abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy. Pictured: protesters take part in the Women's March and Rally for Abortion Justice in Austin, Texas, on October 2 Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, pictured, joined by 10 other governors, arrives at a press conference at Anzalduas Park in Mission, Texas on Wednesday Pictured: a copy of US District Judge Robert Pitman's ruling blocking the state's abortion ban law The state quickly took its case to the conservative appeals court. 'It is ordered that Appellant's emergency motion to stay the preliminary injunction pending appeal is temporary held in abeyance pending further order by this motions panel,' read the ruling. 'Appellee is directed to respond to the emergency by 5 pm Tuesday, October 12, 2021.' 'It is ordered that Appellant's alternative motion for a temporary administrative stay pending the court's consideration of the emergency motion is granted.' Paxton applauded the appellate court's decision while vowing to fight federal intervention on the ruling. 'Great news tonight, The Fifth Circuit has granted an administrative stay on #SB8,' Paxton tweeted. 'I will fight federal overreach at every turn.' A protester holds a sign as a school bus drives by on the street in front of a building housing an abortion provider in Dallas, Thursday A protester holds a sign saying 'fire Greg Abbott' in protest of the total ban on abortions in the state of Texas The case is part of a fierce legal battle over abortion access in the United States, with numerous states pursuing restrictions. The Justice Department sued Texas on September 9 and sought the temporary injunction against the law, arguing the measure violates the US Constitution. The US Supreme Court let the law take effect on September 1 in a 5-4 vote. Meanwhile, Whole Womans Health promptly began performing abortions a day after Pitman's order as Texas lawmakers sought to ban statewide. The Texas Tribune reports that abortion clinics and doctors who performed abortions in the Lone Star state would now be liable for potential lawsuits after Friday's order, with a penalty of at least $10,000 for any person or group that are successfully sued. A reproductive rights supporter holds a sign outside the Texas Capitol building during the nationwide Women's March, held after Texas rolled out a near-total ban on abortion on Oct. 2 An anti-abortion protester holds a rosary and sign out outside a building housing an abortion provider in Dallas on Thursday 'Frankly, we knew this would happen and that is why we provided abortions beyond six weeks the moment it was a possibility. Our patients deserve better. Texans deserve better,' Whole Woman's Health tweeted following the ruling. The law, which went into effect September 1, forced clinics to stop performing abortions after cardiac activity is detected in the embryo, according to the Tribune. also allows for retroactive enforcement, meaning anyone who received or helped someone receive an abortion during the two-day period where the law was blocked can now be sued. Many providers have ceased performing abortions out of fear of possible litigation. Anti-mask protesters accosted parents walking their masked children to school in Beverly Hills, shouting at them that putting masks on their children is 'like child abuse' and 'rape'. Dozens of angry anti-maskers were captured on video following parents an their young children while walking to school on National Walk And Bike To School Day. 'He's gonna be traumatized if you put that mask on him and you don't let him breathe through it,' a woman identified as Shiva Bagheri, founder of the Beverly Hills Freedom Rally, said to a mother holding her child's hand while on her way to drop him off at school. The mother shouted back: 'That's my choice. That's my choice. You better respect my choice.' Her son can be seen covering his ears as the confrontation got increasingly heated. 'Masking children is child abuse,' a male protester was heard yelling in a group of unmasked protesters crossed the street. An anti-vax protester identified as Shiva Bagheri (left), founder of the Beverly Hills Freedom Rally, said to a mother: 'He's gonna be traumatized if you put that mask on him and you don't let him breathe through it' The footage then cut to the protesters gathered in a group outside of Hawthorne Elementary School in Beverly Hills holding placards that said: 'Keep America free' and 'Forced vaccination is illegal' Another voice can be heard in the distance agreeing, saying 'it is'. One woman was holding a sign that said: 'Keep America free,' while others read: 'No mask, no vaccine' and 'forced vaccination is illegal.' 'My body, my choice. No to vax,' was written on another. The shouting male protester added: 'You mask your chid you're a child abuser.' The footage then cuts to the protesters gathered in a group outside of Hawthorne Elementary School in Beverly Hills. According to the Independent the school has a mask mandate, but not a vaccine mandate. The protesters also confronted Beverly Hills mayor Robert Wunderlich, who invited three of them to meet with him away from the school. 'How about if just three of you came to talk to me later today sometime when the kids are not here,' Wunderlich said. Bagheri interrupted the mayor, obviously angered, and said: 'You dont care about the kids.' 'You were speaking. I asked you to give me a minute, okay?' Wunderlich replied. However, one parent walking with two young boys stopped and seemingly agreed with the protesters. 'Look at all these stupid people there,' he said, presumably pointing to parents. 'They don't get it. They don't understand. They've been dumbed down. They've been dumbed down in America,' Bagheri said in response. 'I gotta thank you, it's so stupid,' the man can be heard saying to protesters as they walked by. While most parents expressed support or indifference for masking and vaccines, a few sided with the protesters, including this man. pic.twitter.com/WMPvsfDi53 Samuel Braslow (@SamBraslow) October 6, 2021 'They don't get it. They don't understand. They've been dumbed down. They've been dumbed down in America,' Bagheri (let) said as she protested outside of the elementary school Samuel Braslow of the Beverly Hills Courier told CNN that many children were 'visibly shaken' but 'didn't really know what to make of what was happening' On October 1 California Gov Gavin Newsom announced that all students will be required to get the Covid-19 vaccine once the FDA gives their age group full approval. It's the first state to mandate vaccination for in-person instruction. 'You should choose what does on your child's face and in your child's body. This is rape. This is rape,' Bagheri said. 'They're trying to rape our children with this poison. They're going to rape their lives away,' she added. It's unknown if any of the protesters were parents of children who attend the Los Angeles school. Samuel Braslow of the Beverly Hills Courier told CNN that 'most kids didn't really know what to make of what was happening'. 'One mother told me that her five-year-old child didn't understand what was going on and was scared,' he explained, adding that many other kids reacted the same way. Braslow also noted that 'some were visibly shaken' and 'on the verge of tears'. In honor of National Walk And Bike To School Day he school had 'fairly elaborate' plans to give out prizes and snacks and host an outdoor fitness class, Braslow told CNN. Hollywood Blvd, Saturday, 11:22 AM: ANTI-VAXX PROTESTER: Do you see all of these homeless people around. Are they dead in the street with COVID? Hell no. Why? HOMELESS PERSON (walking by): Because Im vaccinated you dumb fuck. pic.twitter.com/rPskpOqtKs Film The Police LA (@FilmThePoliceLA) October 6, 2021 A homeless man had a witty response to an anti-vax protest asking why homeless people were not dead with Covid in a viral video filmed on Hollywood Boulevard in Los Angeles on Saturday One day after the Senate approved a temporary lift to the U.S. debt ceiling, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell wrote in a letter to President Joe Biden that he would not aid Democrats again in raising the debt limit. Following weeks of partisan fighting, the Senate approved the short-term fix that will allow the United States to avoid defaulting on its bills in a 50-48 vote on Thursday evening. The House will vote on the measure on Tuesday. Congress will need to find a longer-term solution in December. But McConnell has said the reprieve would give Democrats enough time to raise the debt ceiling through a procedural move known as reconciliation, which Democrats have rejected as an option for lifting the cap. In his letter to Biden, McConnell referenced comments on the Senate floor on Thursday by Democratic leader Chuck Schumer, who said Republicans had played a 'dangerous and risky partisan game.' McConnell's letter included a string of insults aimed at Schumer, a remarkable broadside by one Senate leader against another Senator Joe Manchin (background) buried his head in his hands as Senator Chuck Schumer blasted Republicans for not assisting more with debt ceiling 'I am writing to make it clear that in light of Senator Schumer's hysterics and my grave concerns about the ways that another vast, reckless, partisan spending bill would hurt Americans and help China, I will not be a party to any future effort to mitigate the consequences of Democratic mismanagement,' McConnell wrote. McConnell's letter included a string of insults aimed at Schumer, a remarkable broadside by one Senate leader against another. 'Last night, in a bizarre spectacle, Senator Schumer exploded in a rant that was so partisan, angry, and corrosive that even Democratic Senators were visibly embarrassed by him and for him,' McConnell wrote. 'This tantrum encapsulated and escalated a pattern of angry incompetence from Senator Schumer.' McConnell added: 'This childish behavior only further alienated the Republican members who helped facilitate this short-term patch. It has poisoned the well even further.' 'I write to inform you that I will not provide such assistance again if your all-Democrat government drifts into another avoidable crisis,' McConnell noted. 'Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer had three months' notice to handle one of his most basic governing duties,' McConnell wrote. 'Amazingly, even this proved to be asking too much.' 'This tantrum encapsulated and escalated a pattern of angry incompetence from Senator Schumer. Your lieutenants on Capitol Hill now have the time they claimed they lacked to address the debt ceiling through standalone reconciliation, and all the tools to do it,' he wrote. 'They cannot invent another crisis and ask for my help.' Since summer, McConnell repeatedly said Republicans would not assist Democrats in pushing a debt ceiling extension through the Senate by helping them reach the 60 votes needed for most legislation. He cited Democrats' proposed 10-year, $3.5 trillion social, economic and tax measure, which Republicans unanimously oppose. Hours before Thursdays vote, McConnell reversed course and proposed a short-term extension into December. Without a renewal of federal borrowing powers, the Treasury Department had projected it would run out of cash to pay the government's bills by October 18. Sen. Joe Manchin, D-W.Va., speaks with reporters on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer of N.Y., speaks with reporters as he walks to his office on Capitol Hill, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) If the government depletes its legal ability to borrow money, financial analysts have warned that it could deliver a serious blow to the U.S. and global economy and cause delays in government payments to Social Security recipients and others. McConnell has insisted that Democrats can raise the debt ceiling by themselves by employing the same special budget process theyre already using for their enormous domestic spending and tax measure. Those procedures forbid filibusters from being used against certain bills. Democrats say they wont use that process, which they call too cumbersome. But it would also require them to raise the debt limit by a specific dollar amount that, they fear, Republicans will make a staple of campaign ads attacking them. Democrats accused McConnell of creating a potential financial crisis. They noted that the current federal debt of around $28 trillion is to cover spending that's already been approved, including around $7 trillion under former President Donald Trump. McConnell said it was Democrats who prompted the problem because he had warned them since summer that they would have to approve the debt limit extension on their own. Before Thursday, the House had approved debt ceiling extensions but Republicans blocked them in the Senate. After Schumer's speech was over on Thursday night, having attacked Republicans for not assisting more in raising the debt ceiling, Senator Joe Manchin confronted him on the Senate floor. Manchin sat behind Schumer as the Senate Majority Leader spoke, burying his face in his hands. He is said to have told Schumer the speech was 'f***ing stupid.' The Democrat from West Virginia stood up midway through Schumer's remarks and moved to another part of the chamber. Joe Manchin speaks to Chuck Schumer after his speech blasting Republicans, the two men can be seen in the upper right-hand corner with Manchin standing and Schumer seated at his desk Senators John Thune and Mitt Romney also confronted Schumer, with Romney telling Schumer to be more 'graceful' Later, he came back to speak to his fellow Democratic senator. Republican Senators John Thune and Mitt Romney also confronted Schumer on his remarks, with Romney advising Schumer to be more 'graceful.' After the spectacle on the Senate floor, which all took place on C-SPAN's cameras, Manchin told reporters on Capitol Hill that he didn't think Schumer's speech was 'appropriate.' '[Schumer] felt charged up and he and I had good conversation,' Manchin said. 'We have to deweaponize, you can't be playing politics.' He went on to add: 'I'm sure Chuck's frustrated but that was not a way to take it out. We just disagree. I'd done it differently.' But Manchin added Republicans were just as guilty at playing politics. 'It's just civility is gone. I'm not going to be part of getting rid of it. I'm going to try to bring it back and I speak out when I see someone.' Schumer's remarks that sparked senators' fury Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer took to the Senate floor Thursday night to blast Republicans for not assisting more with raising the debt ceiling. Here are his remarks that sparked fury, causing Senators Joe Manchin, John Thune and Mitt Romney to confront him: 'Republicans played a dangerous and risky partisan game and I am glad that their brinksmanship did not work for the good of America's families, for the good of our economy. Republicans recognize in the future they should, that they should approach fixing the debt limit in a bipartisan way. What is needed now is a long term solution so we don't go through this risky drama every few months, and we hope Republicans will join in enacting a long term solution to the debt limit in December. We're ready to work with them. Leader McConnell and Senate Republicans insisted they wanted a solution to the debt ceiling, but said Democrats must raise it alone. But going through a drawn out convoluted and risky reconciliation process that was simply unacceptable to my caucus, and yesterday Senate Republicans finally realized that this was something is not going to work. I thank very much, thank my Democratic colleagues. We're all showing our unity in solving this Republican manufactured-crisis. Despite immense opposition for Leader McConnell and members of his conference, our caucus held together, and we pulled our country's back from the cliff's edge that Republicans tried to push us over. This is a temporary but necessary and important fix. I appreciate that at the end of the day we were able to raise the debt limit without a convoluted and unnecessary reconciliation process that until today the Republican leader claimed was the only way to address the debt limit. Let me say that again: Today's vote is proof positive that the debt limit can be addressed without going through the reconciliation process, just as Democrats have been saying for months. The solution is for Republicans to either join us in raising the debt limit, or stay out of the way.' Advertisement Matters came to a head after the Senate voted to increase the debt ceiling until December, narrowly avoiding a financial crisis, approving it 50-48. The House will vote on the bill on Tuesday. The White House said President Joe Biden will sign it. Schumer celebrated the deal as a 'temporary but necessary fix' and used his remarks to criticize Republicans for not wanting to pass a longterm debt increase through regular order but use a long and complicated legislative process known as reconciliation. 'Today's vote is proof positive that the debt limit can be addressed without going through the reconciliation process, just as Democrats have been saying for months,' Schumer said. Schumer hammered Republicans in his speech after the vote, which lawmakers from both political parties questioned afterward. Schumer will need Republican assistance again in December if he wants to pass a longterm extension of the debt limit through the regular legislative process. 'Republicans played a risky and partisan game, and I am glad their brinkmanship didn't work,' Schumer said. Romney said Schumer should have been more 'graceful' in his remarks. 'There's a time to be graceful and there's a time to be combative, and that was the time for for grace,' he explained to reporters after. 'He made the objective he described more difficult to achieve by virtue of what he said,' he noted. Thune was also angry. 'It was an incredibly partisan speech after we helped him solve the problem,' Thune said of Schumer's remarks. And he told Schumer his speech was 'inappropriate and tone deaf.' Republicans had their own intra-party drama when leadership tried to prevent the need for a 60-vote majority to move the bill forward in the legislatve process. They wanted their GOP lawmakers to stay silent so the bill could move forward 'without objection' (in Senate parlance) with a simple 51-vote majority, which would have required all Democrats and a tie-breaking vote from Vice President Kamala Harris. Then no Republicans would have to sign on. But a number of Republicans, including Sen. Ted Cruz, were against that, and it forced McConnell to find 10 GOP senators to vote for moving the bill forward, after he spent months vowing his party wouldn't help Democrats raise the nation's borrowing limt. Eleven GOP senators ultimately voted to it forward: McConnell; John Cornyn; Lisa Murkowski; Thune; Susan Collins; John Barrasso; Rob Portman; Roy Blunt; Richard Shelby; Shelley Capito and Mike Rounds. Three of those senators - Barrasso, Portman and Blunt - are retiring. The deal will hike the debt limit by $480 billion, which is what the Treasury Department says it needs to get the nation to December 3. The current debt limit is $28.4 trillion. The deal will keep the United States in business for the next two months and from defaulting on its debt, which has never happened in modern American history. If action wasn't taken, America would stop paying its bills on October 18, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen warned, an action that would ruin the country's credit rating, hit Americans in their pocket books and rattle stock markets around the world. Senator John Thune criticized Chuck Schumer's speech in remarks to reporters after the vote, calling it an 'incredibly partisan speech after we helped him solve the problem' Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell had to find 10 Republicans to support moving the debt deal through the legislative process after a rebellion in his own party Joe Manchin told Schumer his speech was 'f***ing stupid' Mitt Romney also went up to Schumer on the Senate floor to confront him on his remarks Not all Republicans were happy about the way the legislative process played out. Cruz wanted a recorded vote, which required McConnell to come up with 10 Republican 'yes' votes. The Republican senator from Texas blasted his GOP Leader's strategy, calling it a 'strategic mistake.' 'We were on the verge of victory, but we turned that victory into defeat,' Cruz said in a speech on the Senate floor, calling the deal a 'strategic mistake by our leadership.' 'Chuck Schumer won this game of chicken,' he added. Former President Donald Trump, moments ahead of the vote, urged Republicans to vote against it. 'Republican Senators, do not vote for this terrible deal being pushed by folding Mitch McConnell. Stand strong for our Country. The American people are with you!' The debt ceiling was repeatedly suspended under Trump with the help of Republican senators. Republican Senator Lindsey Graham already said he was worried letting Democrats through with a simple majority vote 'would be capitulation.' 'If Democrats want an expedited process to use reconciliation to raise the debt limit they can have it,' he said. 'However, if Republicans intend to give Democrats a pass on using reconciliation to raise the debt limit now or in the future that would be capitulation.' Pressure was on for the Senate to act. The House had passed legislation that would suspend the debt ceiling until December 2022, after the midterm election, a proposal that Republicans roundly rejected. President Biden added his weight to the talks, convening a meeting of his Cabinet officials and top business leaders at the White House on Wednesday to urge action. Biden warned that default could trigger a national security crisis and held the risk of tanking the stock market and wiping out retirement savings. 'It's about paying for what we owe, and preventing catastrophic events,' Biden said, comparing impact to a 'meteor heading our way.' He spoke soon after Secretary of Defense Lloyd Austin issued his own warning. 'If the United States defaults, it would undermine the economic strength on which our national security rests,' he said. 'It would also seriously harm our service members and their families because, as Secretary, I would have no authority or ability to ensure that our service members, civilians, or contractors would be paid in full or on time.' Once the vote on the debt ceiling is dispatched, the Senate can pivot to Biden's $3.5 trillion budget package of social programs. In making the offer on the debt ceiling, McConnell backed down from the Republicans' hardline position and offered a short-term extension of the debt limit through December. But he made a caveat - Democrats must put a price tag on raising the debt limit and not extend it to a certain date. And he did not lift the Repubican blockade of a longer-term increase. McConnell repeated his demands that Democrats use the complicated and time-consuming procedure known as reconciliation for a long term extension. Republicans want Democrats to raise the debt ceiling by a specific number and filibustered a House-passed bill that would suspend the debt limit through December 2022 - after the midterm election. The GOP, in turn, are then likely to use that number against Democrats in the midterm elections as they try to take control of Congress. Progressive independent Senator Bernie Sanders of Vermont said Democrats accepted the deal because 'Mitch McConnell finally saw the light' in proposing a solution that could pass. 'There would have been a global economic collapse if in fact the wealthiest nation on earth did not pay its debts,' Sanders said. 'We're going to pay our debts. We have two months to figure it out.' The light in the cupola of the Capitol Dome is illuminated While the deal does buy time, it also gives a December deadline, which would be around the same time Congress is facing a deadline to fund the government and stave off a shutdown. It also puts a band aid on the debt issue as Democrats try to pass Biden's ambitious social agenda, which Republicans oppose and some moderate Democrats decry as too expensive. However, Democrats said they will not bend on McConnell's demands that the majority party use reconciliation to extend the borrowing limit by a year or more. 'I think it's great that (McConnell's) folded and we're gonna move our agenda and we're gonna take care of the debt ceiling and then we're going to go on and pass infrastructure,' said Democratic Senator Tammy Duckworth of Illinois. 'We're not gonna do reconciliation,' she said, which other Democratic senators echoed. Suspected members of a Mexican cartel were caught on video firing multiple rounds of bullets across the border into Texas on Thursday. The footage was captured by a reporter amid reports that Texas National Guard members in Starr County have seen cartel gunfights increase near the border recently. Fox's Bill Melugin, who claimed to have seen everything, added that the National Guardsmen were not certain whether this was a shootout or just meant to intimidate. Soldiers told Melugin that they have been taunted in recent days by the cartel members, who are armed, while standing across the Rio Grande. 'The National Guard here has soldiers all over the place, as well as observation posts all over the place,' Melugin said of the scene. 'They're keeping an eye out for runners and human smugglers.' Roma, Texas may be one of the busiest hubs of America's immigration crisis at the shared border with Mexico in terms of illegal crossings and cartels. Men who are suspected members of a Mexican cartel were caught on video firing multiple rounds of bullets next to the Rio Grande in Starr County, Texas Thursday The footage was captured by a reporter amid reports that Texas National Guard members have seen cartel gunfights increase near the border recently The Texas Department of Public Safety said Wednesday there have been multiple instances this past week of suspected cartel gunmen spotted. The gunmen were photographed wearing tactical vests and armed with assault rifles as they examined the border. Officials believe the men to be involved in human smuggling operations, Fox News reports. 'As we work closely with the Texas Military Department, any potential threats toward law enforcement and the Texas Military Department will be fully investigated, and those responsible will be arrested and charged to the fullest extent of the law,' the Texas DPS said in a statement. 'The Texas Department of Public Safety is committed to securing our southern border,' the statement said. The Texas Military Department has begun bolstering its efforts to monitor the border, building fencing, repel transnational criminal activity and countering smuggling and human trafficking. National Guardsmen say they have been able to turn rafts trying to cross the Rio Grande away, but remain on high alert The Texas Military Department has begun bolstering its efforts to monitor the border, building fencing, repel transnational criminal activity and countering smuggling and human trafficking The Texas Department of Public Safety said Wednesday there have been multiple instances this past week of suspected cartel gunmen spotted Melugin claimed to have seen multiple rafts carrying immigrants across the river into Texas. The National Guard told Melugin they were able to turn it back but they remain on high alert. 'In the later night hours, we started seeing a constant stream of these rafts and these human smugglers, and they were bringing across hundreds of family units,' he said. 'You'll see the smugglers -- they weren't afraid. One guy was shirtless. He was laughing, making jokes to us,' Melugin added. One claimed he spent $12,000 to have himself, his wife and his child brought into the country. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland are traveling to Mexico to discuss the crisis at the border. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken, DHS Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and Attorney General Merrick Garland are traveling to Mexico to discuss the crisis at the border While Blinken, Mayorkas and Garland (pictured above) are headed to the border, Vice President Kamala Harris is noticeably absent despite being assigned to the problem by President Biden National Guard soldiers say they have been unable to arrest the human smugglers when they reach the shoreline for fear of retaliation National Guard soldiers say they have been unable to arrest the human smugglers when they reach the shoreline for fear of retaliation. The unsettling activity at the border comes days after Border Patrol agents announced the arrests of a number of people last week who crossed the border illegally, including previously convicted sex offenders and an MS-13 gang member. In a statement, the US Customs and Border Protection agency said Border Patrol agents in the Rio Grande Valley Sector arrested eight migrants crossing the border, including a Guatemalan man who had been convicted of sexual abuse in 2009. Along with the Guatemalan man, agents arrested a Mexican man in Welasco, Texas, who had been convicted of sex offenses in California, Fox reports. Then on Saturday, officials arrested a man in Sarita who had been in prison for more than 10 years for sexual abuse charges against a child in North Carolina. Later in McAllen, agents apprehended four migrants, including a 28-year-old MS-13 gang member. It was followed by the arrest of a Gulf Cartel member near Progresso. Last month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot launched the Operation Lone Star Grant Program, which allocated $100 million to strengthen the Texas border and deter criminal activity and smuggling through the US-Mexico border. 'The grant funding available through this program will strengthen our response to the crisis at the border and help keep our communities safe,' said Governor Abbott. 'I encourage local governments to apply for these funds to enhance our ongoing collaborative efforts to deter illegal immigration and prevent the smuggling of people, drugs, weapons, and other contraband into our state.' The move comes as more than 15,000 immigrants, mostly from Haiti, have made their way into Texas and are camping on the outskirts of the city of Del Rio in makeshift tents. Last month, Texas Gov. Greg Abbot launched the Operation Lone Star Grant Program, which allocated $100 million to strengthen the Texas border and deter criminal activity and smuggling through the US-Mexico border In recent weeks, shocking scenes of human misery emerged from the squalid migrant camp near Del Rio, as the unprepared Border Patrol scrambled to stem the flow of illegal crossings. Migrants at the camp have suffered from lack of water, food and shelter and their only protection at times against the extreme Texan heat is the shade provided by the bridge. Despite the warning and conditions at the camp, even more Haitian migrants are expected to make a journey into the US as Panama's foreign minister warns of another caravan of 60,000 Haitians headed to to America. Trump says many Haitian migrants 'probably have AIDS' and the US is taking on a 'death wish' by accepting them: Biden administration braces for latest caravan of 60K heading to border Donald Trump told Fox News on Thursday night that he thought Haitian migrants coming to the US 'will probably have AIDS.' Trump told Fox News accepting Haitian migrants into the US would be a 'death wish' The former president said accepting the asylum-seekers would be a 'death wish' for the US. A record-shattering number of Haitian migrants have come to the US in the last month, and the trend doesn't appear to be stopping as more people continue to pour into the Colombian town of Necocli, a popular spot for smugglers to shepherd people through the perilous Darien Gap. The Darien Gap is a 66-mile stretch of rainforest between North and South America. Its dangerous terrain is part of the reason it's been left undeveloped and why it poses such a great risk to the people crossing it now. More than 70,000 migrants have traveled through the Darien Gap this year, Panamanian authorities have said. Most of the migrants in recent months have been Haitians, many of whom had been living in Chile and Brazil since the 2010 Haitian earthquake. 'So, we have hundreds of thousands of people flowing in from Haiti. Haiti has a tremendous AIDS problem. AIDS is a step beyond. AIDS is a real bad problem,' Trump told host Sean Hannity. 'Many of those people will probably have AIDS and theyre coming into our country. And we dont do anything about it. We let everybody come in.' Migrants, most from Haiti, depart a base camp towards the jungle in the infamous Darien Gap while on their journey towards the United States on October 7. The number of Haitian migrants heading to the US has skyrocketed in recent weeks Mostly Haitian migrants break camp at sunrise on October 7 before trekking through the 66-mile stretch of undeveloped, unpoliced rainforest More than 70,000 migrants have traveled through the Darien Gap this year, Panamanian authorities have said He added, 'Sean, it's like a death wish. It's like a death wish for our country.' Trump infamously once referred to Haiti as a 'sh*thole country' during a meeting with bipartisan senators at the White House in 2018. At another point in the interview Trump claimed without proof that '50 countries' including Honduras, Mexico and El Salvador are 'emptying their prisons' and sending inmates to the US. 'I hear it's 50 countries, they're emptying out their prisons into the United States,' he said. 'Some of the toughest people on Earth are being dumped into the United States because they don't want them.' 'So these people that are the roughest prisoners there are anywhere are being dumped into the United States for us to take care of them.' He said 'hundreds of thousands of people' were pouring in every two weeks. Nearly 28,000 Haitian migrants were encountered by Border Patrol agents along the US-Mexico border in Fiscal Year 2021, which ended September 30. In 2020, the number was 4,395. 'We have hundreds of thousands of people pouring in every two weeks, and coming from countries - we don't even know from where they're coming and you know, they're emptying out many countries,' Trump said. Many of the Haitians now embarking on the dangerous journey to the United States fled their country for South America in 2010, and are now are leaving for the US through towns like Acandi in Colombia and trekking across the Darien Gap. The COVID-19 pandemic has been blamed for upending much of South and Central America's economy, forcing people already in a precarious position into desperation A group of migrants trek from a base camp toward the jungle in the Darien Gap on October 7 The passage, which can take up to a week, is considered the most dangerous stretch for migrants traveling from South America to the US Most of the Haitian migrants attempting to travel to the US have been living in Brazil and Chile since the 2010 Haitian earthquake Nearly 28,000 Haitian migrants were encountered by Border Patrol agents along the US-Mexico border in Fiscal Year 2021 Last month around 15,000 mostly Haitian migrants camped near a bridge in Del Rio, Texas. Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas said at the time, 'It is unprecedented for us to see that number of people arrive in one discrete point along the border in such a compacted period of time.' Images of the cramped, squalid tent city they were living in prompted a humanitarian outcry against the Biden administration. Earlier this week the Washington Examiner reported that border officials are bracing for an incoming surge of as many as 60,000 Haitian migrants. It comes against the backdrop of a record-setting number of asylum-seekers coming to the southern border since President Biden took office. Republican lawmakers have blamed Biden's rollback of 'inhumane' Trump-era border policies as the driving force behind the spike for sending a message that the US is 'open' amid a deadly COVID-19 pandemic. Migrants from Haiti spend a night at a base camp on October 6 before trekking through the infamous Darien Gap to try and claim asylum in the US Earlier this week the Washington Examiner reported that border officials are bracing for an incoming surge of as many as 60,000 Haitian migrants Nearly 28,000 Haitian migrants were encountered by Border Patrol agents along the US-Mexico border in Fiscal Year 2021, which ended September 30 Trump infamously once referred to Haiti as a 'sh*thole country' in 2018 (pictured: Migrants camped out in Las Tekas, Columbia before continuing on their journey to the US) A record-setting number of asylum-seekers came to the southern border since President Biden took office One of Biden's first acts in office was halting construction on Trump's border wall. DHS has been engaged in an ongoing legal battle to repeal his Remain in Mexico policy. He's also rolled back the scope of Border Agents' law enforcement and patrol duties, leaving parts of the southern border thinly guarded. But Biden's had a tough time pleasing even his own side with his border policies. His White House is fighting in the US court system to keep Trump's Title 42 policy in place, which allowed border agents to immediately expel migrants apprehended at the border due to a possible COVID-19 health risk. Despite Biden significantly rolling back its enforcement, immigration advocates and progressive Democrats have attacked the president for not sticking to his promise to re-write Trump's severe immigration policies. In his Thursday interview Trump appeared to take a jab at Biden and Democrats' border handling, declaring, 'the border was the strongest we had probably ever, and all they had to do was leave it alone.' 'Somebody doesn't love our country, when they allow this to happen to our country,' he said. Fraud has become endemic in Britain. We face daily texts and scam calls, and the internet is littered with fake websites and advert cons. The pandemic has helped fraud to flourish, with criminals seizing on the Covid crisis exploiting the vaccine rollout, Government support packages and the boom in online shopping and making easy money from our life savings. So to help protect your hard-earned cash, Money Mail is today launching a cut-out-and-keep fraud survival guide. In our special series, we will warn you about the most prolific cons, teach you how to recognise the tell-tale signs of a scam, and explain how best to fight for your money back. We start here by highlighting the top ten tactics deployed by fraudsters to target your savings from cruel romance scams to sophisticated bank transfer cons in which unwitting victims are convinced to move their money into a criminal's account. It comes as the latest figures from banking industry body UK Finance reveal that losses to fraud rose by another 30 pc to almost 754 million in the first six months of the year. It means criminals are now stealing more than 4 million from us every day. Money Mail analysis of industry figures also shows that since January last year, there have been more than 4.6 million cases of fraud costing us more than 2 billion. Fraud has become endemic in Britain. We face daily texts and scam calls, and the internet is littered with fake websites and advert cons 1. COPYCAT CONS (32,196 cases in 2020-21) 98.4 MILLION LOST Impersonation fraud has soared in the pandemic and most of us will have received a phone call or text message from a fraudster at some point pretending to be from a trusted organisation, such as a delivery firm, the tax office or internet provider. The con is simple: grab the target's attention by claiming they owe money, for instance and then lure them into providing personal details that can be used in a fraud. Criminals can even use a tactic called 'spoofing' to make their phone call ID or text appear genuine by cloning the number or sender ID displayed on your phone. The scams start with a text, call, email or social media message with an urgent request for personal or financial information. You could also be asked to make a payment or move money. There were 14,299 cases of impersonation fraud reported to banks in the first six months of this year. Losses totalled more than 44 million an increase of 111 pc. Less than half of the stolen money was returned to victims. A common recent scam includes automated robocalls from scammers pretending to be from your broadband provider or Amazon Prime. You are told that you owe money or you are about to be disconnected unless you ring a number and pay up. Another copycat fraud doing the rounds is the HMRC scam. This sees victims told they owe the taxman and have to pay up urgently or they will get a criminal record. 2. BANK IMPERSONATION (40,283 cases in 2020-21) 181 MILLION LOST A more frightening version of the copycat con is when fraudsters pretend to be calling from the police or your bank. Again, using telephone number spoofing, the calls appear genuine. You may be told to act immediately and are sometimes told that your money is at risk and you could lose it all. The scammer will then ask you to transfer the money to another account to keep it safe. Fraudsters may even try to trick you by sending couriers to collect your cards, PIN or cash in person. Often, crooks call victims pretending to be from their bank's fraud team, querying suspicious payments. They also pose as police and claim staff at the target's bank branch are involved in a fraud using fake banknotes. The victim is then convinced to take part in an 'undercover operation' and make a large withdrawal and hand it to the police caller for 'analysis'. There were nearly 19,000 cases of police or bank impersonation fraud in the first half of the year, with more than 84 million stolen a rise of 131 pc. Remember, your bank or the police will never contact you out of the blue to ask for your PIN, password or passcode, or ask you to transfer money to a safe account. 3. INVESTMENT SCAMS (15,822 cases in 2020-21) 242.8 MILLION LOST YOU could lose your life savings or pension in an investment scam. Fraudsters may target their victims via cold calls or lure them online with fake investment opportunities promoted on search engines and social media. Cashing in on Covid Scammers were quick to use phoney NHS and government text alerts to trick victims into transferring money or revealing their personal details. The nation's mobile phones were bombarded with text messages from scammers, with some pretending to be from their GP asking for a fee to book a vaccination. Others claimed they owed a fine for leaving their home too often in lockdown. So-called 'phishing' messages were also sent to targets inviting them to book their vaccine or warning them a friend had tested positive for Covid-19. When the victim clicks on the link they are told to enter information that can be used in fraud. Advertisement UK Finance says investment scams have risen significantly in the pandemic, and this has been 'heavily enabled' by fraudulent advertising, search engines and social media. Losses rose 95 pc in the first six months of 2021 hitting almost 108 million, with more than 44 million returned to victims. You'll be persuaded to move money into a fictitious fund or to plough your savings into a fake investment. The rewards promised will be tempting and you'll be pressured to act fast. Scammers also use fake celebrity endorsement or testimonies from made-up investors boasting of brilliant returns. Recent investment cons have convinced savers to invest in cryptocurrencies such as Bitcoin, rare wine and whisky, property, gold or carbon. Criminals also set up cloned websites that appear to be run by legitimate investment companies and send out paperwork with official branding and logos. Fraudsters research their victims and may be able to provide you with details of past investments and shares you have. Treat any investment opportunity offer as a potential scam and check the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) register for regulated firms and individuals. The regulator also has a scam warning database. Remember, if it is too good to be true, then it almost certainly is. 4. IDENTITY THEFT (51,389 reports in 2020-21) 41.2 MILLION LOST Identity theft is when a fraudster steals your details and uses them to open bank accounts or to take out loans or credit cards. They might also apply for benefits or try to obtain official documents such as passports or driving licences in your name. There were 16,844 cases of card ID theft in the first half of the year, with losses hitting more than 11 million a fall of 30 pc. A fraudster might steal personal information from your purse or wallet, or even from bank statements in your rubbish bin. Criminals can also use information available online and on social media to build a picture of your identity. Warning signs would include mystery transactions on your bank statements, or letters about loans or contracts you did not apply for. Identity theft is when a fraudster steals your details and uses them to open bank accounts or to take out loans or credit cards 5. ROMANCE CONS (4,608 cases in 2020-21) 36.3 MILLION LOST Scammers ruthlessly search social media and dating websites, often looking for vulnerable victims by seeking profiles that say you're 'widowed' or 'divorced'. They'll use fake profiles and stolen photographs to pretend to be someone else and act like they've fallen in love with you. How you can protect your data online Criminals send out millions of so-called 'phishing' emails and text messages in the hope their targets will simply click or open a link. Once you open the link, you may be directed to a dodgy website which could download viruses onto your computer, steal your passwords and personal information. So how can you stay safe online? If you receive a suspicious email, don't open links or documents, or reply with your details. Instead, delete it straight away. If the email claims to be from an organisation, find the telephone number on its official website and call this to ask. Always check email addresses and website addresses. The ones used by scammers will be slightly different to official addresses. And use anti-virus and anti-spyware software to protect your computer and data, plus strong passwords. Avoid passwords that include common words or numbers, especially ones like 'password', 'welcome', 'qwerty' or '123'. Don't use personal information, such as your name or date of birth. To avoid fake websites, look for your bank's official web address on paperwork. Always use gov.uk to look for government services. Advertisement After they've gained your trust, they'll often have a sob story which will involve you sending them money. This might include claims they need money for medical care or for travel costs to visit you. Alarm bells should ring if they quickly declare strong feelings for you, and are unable to video call or meet you in person. In the first half of the year, there were more than 1,600 cases of romance fraud with more than 15 million stolen, and just 5 million returned to customers. 6. INVOICE FRAUD (7,121 cases in 2020-21) 124.1 MILLION LOST Fraudsters hack email accounts belonging to tradesmen, builders and solicitors to send out fake invoices. Posing as a trusted contact, they'll get in touch to say their account details have changed and ask you to send any money you owe to a new account. Families moving money for property purchases have lost their entire deposits to fraudsters in this way. More than 42 million was lost to invoice fraud in the first half of the year, a decrease of 7 pc. But only 13 million was refunded to victims. Beware if you receive new bank details from a service provider, or if you see duplicate or more frequent invoices than you'd expect. Always call the company concerned using a number you know to be correct to check any payments before transferring money. 7. PURCHASE CONS (131,068 cases in 2020-21) 94.8 MILLION LOST The boom in online shopping during the pandemic has given fraudsters the chance to trick more people into paying for non-existent products. Scams include asking shoppers to put down deposits for pets that don't exist or payments for computer games consoles they'll never send. There were 52,348 purchase scams in the first half of the year, a rise of 40 pc, with fraudsters stealing almost 38 million. This type of scam accounts for nearly half of all authorised push payment fraud. Victims were refunded just 11 million. Criminals will often advertise through auction sites or social media using images stolen from genuine sellers. They might also use web pages that look like genuine providers but have a different website address. Red flags include deals that are too good to be true heavy discounts or far cheaper rates. You should also be wary if you are asked to pay via bank transfer rather than debit or credit card, or the online platform's secure payment option. 8. ADVANCE FEE FRAUD (23,968 cases in 2020-21) 39.9 MILLION LOST These scams see criminals convince their victims to pay an upfront fee in order to receive a prize or valuable goods. But the reward promised does not exist. Losses to advance payment scams rose 110 pc in the first half of 2021 to reach almost 17 million, with more than 5 million returned to the customer. The scams were also the fourth most common form of bank transfer fraud, accounting for 9 pc of cases. The criminal may claim the victim has won an overseas lottery or that gold or jewellery is being held at customs and a fee must be paid to release it. Those searching for jobs have also been hit by this type of fraud. Beware if a job looks too good to be true, and the recruiter is asking for an upfront fee for a background check, for instance. You should check email addresses of recruiters or employers, and confirm a firm is registered with Companies House. Be sure to use a reputable recruitment company that is a member of a trade body. 9. HOLIDAY SCAMS (no data available) AS the world opens up, many of us are desperate to book a holiday abroad. But fraudsters also capitalise on our holiday hopes to steal our money and information. What to do if you fall victim If you think you have been scammed, contact your bank immediately. Ensure you use a telephone number you know to be correct. This could be found on one of your statements, the bank's website or on the back of your debit or credit card. You should also report fraud attempts to Action Fraud on 0300 123 2040 or at actionfraud.police.uk. Those in Scotland should call Police Scotland via 101 or Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 164 6000. Advertisement Scammers set up fake websites offering cheap travel deals, often imitating well-known brands. There will be slight differences. The website address might be different, for instance. Flight prices are largely set by airlines so super-cheap flights may be a sign that a scammer is behind the deal. You might also be later directed away from paying safely and told to pay via a bank transfer. If you do pay, the tickets promised may well be counterfeit or non-existent. Fraudsters will also offer discount rates on luxury villas and apartments, but only if you pay a hefty deposit that you won't get back. 10. CEO fraud (1,044 cases in 2020-21) 16.9 MILLION LOST Company executive fraud is when a cybercriminal spoofs company email accounts and impersonates executives to convince an employee to send money to them. It is the least-common type of bank transfer con, but it still cost victims more than 6 million in the first half of the year. This was a rise of 37 pc on the same period in 2020. The scam, which mostly affects businesses, is where a victim tries to pay a genuine payee, but the fraudster intervenes by posing as someone high up in their organisation. They are then told to pay the invoice to a different account. Scammers have been known to pose as staff in company finance teams, and again use spoofing technology so the emails appear genuine. There were 207 cases of CEO fraud in the first half of the year fewer than 1 pc of total bank transfer scams but the con accounted for 2 pc of total losses. Bogus lover's virus lie cost me 3,000 Andrew Wilson* was conned out of more than 3,000 by a romance scammer after she claimed her father had coronavirus. He started exchanging messages with a Russian woman on the dating website, Older Dating Online in late 2019. After weeks of emails and telephone calls, he made plans to meet her. She asked him for 650 to get a passport, but this was soon followed by more requests for money. She said she needed 3,000 to prove to the Russian authorities she had enough money to visit the UK, and later that she needed more for medical expenses for her father who was suffering with Covid-19. Andrew says: 'I became suspicious and contacted my bank to report the scam, but the money couldn't be recovered. I haven't dated at all since the scam. I am not one who exudes confidence in that area, and with Covid-19 rearing its ugly head, more traditional ways have not been possible.' He says to those looking for love online: 'If they ask for money, do not give it however much they have manipulated your trust prior to that. 'Before getting to that stage, they will likely have suggested moving away from the dating site and exchanging email addresses. 'I guess this is because they can be blocked via the site. If they say this, it is highly likely the money bit will follow. Run a mile. 'I didn't report what happened on the website. At the time, I guessed it was my fault for being taken in, not their fault for being in existence.' *Not his real name. Advertisement Presenter of Rip Off Britain ANGELA RIPPON: So many crooks, I got a scam text while writing this By Angela Rippon for the Daily Mail As I sat down to write, my phone pinged with a text supposedly from a well-known delivery company saying I needed to pay a 2.99 fee otherwise my parcel would be returned to the sender. There is no parcel I deleted the message immediately. This is yet another of those horrible scams that asks you to follow a link and pay just a small amount of money. But then criminals get hold of your bank details and clean out your account. Like so many of us, I regularly get this kind of seemingly credible text message on my phone. I get calls, too, from scammers claiming to be from my bank, or HMRC or some other institution. The person on the other end of the line invariably wants to help me with some problem that involves my finances. As I sat down to write, my phone pinged with a text supposedly from a well-known delivery company saying I needed to pay a 2.99 fee otherwise my parcel would be returned to the sender, writes ANGELA RIPPON But I know that their true intention is to steal as much of my money as they can get away with. What a truly awful by-product of the pandemic this form of criminal activity is. Fraud has boomed during the covid crisis, with losses hitting a record 2 billion. That is why it's imperative the Government does something to stem this pernicious tide. And I'm delighted the Daily Mail is highlighting this vital issue. The various financial institutions I've spoken to about this problem all agree that Covid has been a huge pay day for scammers. Why might that be? Well, lockdown, by its nature, made it difficult for all of us, whatever our age or circumstances, to be with our families, friends and colleagues. Isolation meant people of every generation felt more vulnerable and vulnerability is exactly what fraudsters look for in their next potential victim. Your defences are already down. These criminals are ruthless and highly motivated. When it comes to getting hold of your cash, they will use whatever devious and unscrupulous means necessary to get it. Their weapon of choice is fear. They'll claim someone's hacked your bank details so you must urgently move your savings to a safe holding account; or that you're on the brink of being taken to court for not paying part of a tax bill; or that your computer's security has been compromised and you need to give all sorts of personal details so they can offer urgently needed help in putting things right. In other words, they frighten the life out of you, making you feel like the bailiffs are on their way over, or that your life savings are about to disappear. They don't give you time to think. It takes a strong person to say, hang on, I don't believe you, in the face of all that. Or someone who simply knows what the signs you're being conned are awareness really is key. When I get a scamming call I tell them: 'If you have my number then you'll also have my name. 'And so, you'll know I'm Angela Rippon and a presenter on Rip Off Britain who knows exactly what you're up to.' Down goes the phone. Other people use my name too. My friend overheard a conversation between two ladies on the bus the other day talking about how one of them got a call from a scammer trying to get her bank details. Which? highlighted concerns over 'recovery fraud', when victims are targeted again by scammers pretending to help them recoup their cash She told him: 'I watch that Angela Rippon on the telly and so I know that this is a scam' before putting the phone straight down. Anyone being cold-called regarding anything that involves their finances should do the same. Remember, your bank will never call and ask you to hand over account numbers or say you must swap money from one account to another. In that kind of situation, the answer, always, is put the phone down, go to your own material and get the number you know to be correct and call the bank yourself. Don't use a number given to you by the cold caller, or even call back on the number that's appeared on your phone, which might have been cloned and so only leads you straight back to the scammer. Use your own documents so you know the number is safe. I know it's easy to feel impotent in the face of all this but we can protect ourselves from these scams. Key is never assuming anything that comes to you via your phone or through the post is genuine if it's asking about money or your financial affairs. Always stand back, ask family, a friend or even a neighbour to take a look. Once you get someone you trust involved with something like this you instantly become less vulnerable which is precisely what these scammers do not want. Fraudsters have tricked victims out of more than 2billion during the pandemic, shock figures reveal today. Ruthless criminals have exploited the isolation and confusion caused by lockdown to steal savings at an unprecedented rate. They pocketed a record 754million in the first six months of this year alone 30 per cent more than in the same period of last year. With ministers facing calls to get a grip on the crisis, Money Mail today launches a survival guide to help readers protect their cash. Officials logged 4.6million cases of fraud between January last year and June this year. The situation is now so dire that banks say it is a threat to national security Analysis of banking figures shows that victims duped into sending money direct to fraudsters lost 834million between January last year and this July. Just 357million was refunded. The 'authorised push payment' scams include fake parcel delivery texts sent to mobile phones as online shopping boomed under stay-at-home orders. Criminals also capitalised on the vaccine roll-out to trick individuals to give up their personal details and preyed on the lonely with romance cons. A further 1.2billion was lost to unauthorised fraud, where criminals armed with personal bank details help themselves to savings accounts. Officials logged 4.6million cases of fraud between January last year and June this year. The situation is now so dire that banks say it is a threat to national security. 'Fraud is cruel, it wrecks lives and we've seen a huge increase during the pandemic,' said Mark Tierney of the campaign group Stop Scams UK. Money Mail's Stop the Bank Scammers campaign has been calling for ministers and banks to do more. The 'authorised push payment' scams include fake parcel delivery texts sent to mobile phones as online shopping boomed under stay-at-home orders But since the campaign's launch three years ago, fraudsters have been allowed to continue stealing ever-increasing amounts. Writing in today's Mail, Rip Off Britain presenter Angela Rippon backs our fraud guide and says it is imperative the Government acts to stop the 'pernicious tide' of scams. She writes: 'Isolation meant people of all ages felt more vulnerable than usual and vulnerability is exactly what fraudsters look for in their next potential victim. Your defences are already down.' Most banks signed up to a fraud refund code back in 2019, and promised to ensure no blameless victims of transfer scams were left out of pocket. Yet the banking industry's most recent figures show that less than half of money lost to transfer scams over the 18-month period was returned. Campaigners have also been pushing the Government to hold internet giants accountable for hosting investment scam websites that have cost victims more than 240million during the pandemic. Gareth Shaw, of consumer lobby group Which?, said: 'We've seen online platforms allow fraudsters to operate with impunity. 'It's clear that the laws and regulations currently in place to protect consumers are simply not fit for purpose.' The Chinese developer behind a massive Australian apartment project plagued by poor workmanship is struggling to repay debts, putting owners at risk of huge losses. Yunnan Metropolitan Construction Investment (YMCI) Australia's ambitious $5billion Ovation Quarter project in western Sydney, which planned for 4,500 units, has come under ASIC scrutiny over company 'deficits' that have spiralled out to $83million. Since 2018 sales struggled in the mega residential project, which envisioned a mini city spread over 19 hectares including a school for 1,000 students and retail areas near Sydney Olympic Park. The Chinese developer behind a gigantic western Sydney apartment project plagued by poor workmanship, Ovation Quarter (pictured), is struggling to repay debts, putting owners at risk of huge potential losses Owners raised concerns about 'chronic problems' with leaking walls, flooding after rain, fire safety doors and security Those who bought at Ovation have raised concerns about 'chronic problems' with leaking walls, flooding after rain, fire safety doors and security in a completed building the Daily Telegraph reported. After owners complained about the quality of the units, YMCI proposed repairs in late 2020 and early 2021, which were knocked back by the NSW Building Commissioner for failing to address 'all of the serious defects identified' and falling short of Australian Standards. The commissioner, David Chandler, issued YMCI Australia with a Building Work Rectification Order on March 9, 2021, asking for waterproofing repairs on balconies and the rooftop and repairs to exterior tiling. The order stated throughout that the flaws were 'attributable to defective or faulty workmanship'. The penalty for noncompliance is $330,000 plus $33,000 for each day the offence goes unresolved. Documents given to ASIC showed Australia YMCI had a 'deficit' of $83million in the 2020-21 financial year, up from $32million the year before. 'These conditions indicate the existence of a material uncertainty which may cast significant doubt on the companys ability to continue as a going concern and to be able to pay its debts as and when they fall due,' the financial statement said. Built by Yunnan Metropolitan Construction Investment (YMCI) the hugely ambitious $5billion Ovation Quarter project in western Sydney, plans included 4500 units, retail and a school for 1,000 students 'Therefore the company may be unable to realise its assets and extinguish its liabilities in the normal course of business and at the amounts stated in the financial statements.' The company is understood to be fighting the order in court and strongly denied fire safety issues or that it is in financial trouble. It said its financial position in 2020 was 'impacted by up to $200m on properties yet to settle'. It is also understood the private certifier for the property is Steven Saad, who was fined $15,000 in 2018 by NSW Fair Trading for issuing certificates for a change of building use that didn't comply with Australia's official fire safety requirements. A building industry source told Daily Mail Australia owners who bought into the first stage are facing a collapse in the value of their biggest asset with so many problems now associated with the project. 'The biggest issue is their value could drop through the floor. What was worth $1million could drop to $400,000. 'Nobody will want to buy them at market price'. He added the owners could end up liable for increased strata fees and if residents agreed to try to seek the cost of repairs from YMCI they'd face huge legal bills. Daily Mail Australia approached YMCI Australia and Steven Saad for comment. The select committee investigating the January 6 Capitol riot is threatening to pursue criminal charges against Steve Bannon, the former White House strategist to former President Trump after he refused to comply with its subpoena. A lawyer for Bannon said he won't contribute to the House committee's investigation because former President Trump is asserting executive privilege. Bannon is the only one of the top Trump aides subpoenaed on September 23 who was not working for the Trump administration on January 6, the day of the attack on the U.S. Capitol. 'I stand with Trump and the Constitution,' he told DailyMail.com. Two other aides, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former Pentagon aide Kash Patel, are 'engaging' with the committee, lawmakers said in a statement. Former White House strategist Steve Bannon said, 'I stand with Trump and the Constitution' on Friday as his lawyer wrote to the House committee investigating the Jan. 6 violence to tell lawmakers that he would not comply with their subpoena Former White House communications aide Dan Scavino has been asked to provide documents to the committee. He is pictured in August 2020 Members of the House select committee investigating the deadly pro-Trump invasion of the U.S. Capitol a pictured meeting a room ahead of the first hearing in July 2021 The committee's subpoenas had set a Thursday deadline for Bannon, Meadows, Patel and a fourth witness, former White House communications aide Dan Scavino, to provide documents. They also set dates for interviews next week. A spokesman for the committee declined to comment on whether Scavino was cooperating. Bannon is one of four former officials that the House January 6 committee subpoenaed to provide documents and testimony as they investigate the violence that engulfed the Capitol after a Trump rally nearby. All four were told by the former president's attorney on Wednesday that he planned to defend himself against what he viewed as an infringement of 'executive privilege.' In a letter sent to the committee, seen by DailyMail.com, Bannon's lawyer wrote that he would honor Trump's claim. 'It is therefore clear to us that since the executive privileges belong to President Trump, and he has, through his counsel, announced his intention to assert those executive privileges... we must accept his direction and honor his invocation of executive privilege,' writes Bannon's attorney Robert Costello, who also represents Rudy Giuliani. 'As such, until those issues are resolved, we are unable to respond to your requests for documents and testimony.' Bannon's lawyer said that his client was unable to respond to the request for testimony because of Trump's claim of executive privilege The letter goes on to say that Bannon will comply with the direction of any court ruling on claims of executive privilege. 'Since these privileges belong to President Trump and not to Mr. Bannon, until these issues are resolved, Mr. Bannon is legally unable to comply with your subpoena requests for documents and testimony,' it concludes. Costello is a former deputy chief of the criminal division for the U.S. Attorney's Office in the Southern District of New York. He also represents Trump aide and former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani in investigations about his business dealings. The letter sets the stage for a legal challenge to force Bannon to testify. And it sets up a likely clash with House Democrats, who are investigating the role of Trump and his associates in the build up to the riot. The committee responded by warning of criminal proceedings. 'We will not allow any witness to defy a lawful subpoena or attempt to run out the clock, and we will swiftly consider advancing a criminal contempt of Congress referral,' said its Chairman Bennie Thompson and Vice Chair Liz Cheney. Last month the committee issued subpoenas to Bannon; Mark Meadows, former White House chief of staff; Dan Scavino, Trump's social media wizard and former deputy chief of staff for communications; and Kash Patel, a former Defense Department official. In its letter to Bannon, the committee wrote: 'You have been identified as present at the Willard Hotel on January 5, 2021 during an effort to persuade members of Congress to block the certification of the Election the next day, and in relation to other activities on Jan. 6.' Bannon spent eight months as White House strategist. He now runs the War Room podcast It also pointed out that he told listeners of his War Room podcast on January 5 that 'all hell is going to break loose tomorrow.' For Scavino, the committee referenced tweets sent by Trump's former social media lead and asked him to turn over video recordings of the president's message to supporters telling them to go home as the violence unfolded. The deadline for them to respond was midnight on Thursday. Lawmakers believe they can win a challenge over executive privilege as Trump is no longer in office and some of those subpoenaed were no longer working for him on January 6. Trump himself railed against what he called a partisan investigation this week. 'The Unselect Committee of partisan Democrats, and two very weak and pathetic RINOs, should come to the conclusion after spending many millions of dollars, that the real insurrection happened on November 3rd, the Presidential Election, not on January 6th - which was a day of protesting the Fake Election results,' the ex-president claimed in an interview with Sean Hannity. Advertisement Naval families lined the jetty at Portsmouth Naval Base for the first time in nearly two years to welcome home their emotional loved ones after traditional homecomings were cancelled because of the pandemic. The crew of minehunter HMS Brocklesby were cheered home as it arrived at the Hampshire port following the warship's three-year deployment to the Gulf. The homecoming is the first time in 22 months that families have been on the quayside to greet them. Crew hugged and kissed their partners and children as family members were finally allowed back onto jetties to greet a returning warship. Naval families have lined the jetty at Portsmouth Naval Base for the first time in nearly two years to welcome home their emotional loved ones on the HMS Brocklesby after traditional homecomings were cancelled because of the pandemic A crew member of the HMS Brocklesby hugs his loved one after returning to Portsmouth Naval Base for the first time in almost two years A sailor is greeted with a passionate kiss from his loved one as families welcomed home sailors in Portsmouth Lieutenant Commander Daniel Lee is greeted by his daughters Jemima (left) and Abigail (right) after disembarking from the HMS Brocklesby Lieutenant Commander Dan Lee, commanding officer of the Hunt class mine countermeasures vessel (MCMV), said: 'It is through the love and support of our families that we are able to maintain the routine of six-monthly operational deployments to the Gulf. 'So it's heartening to see them back on the jetty to welcome us back, and after such a long time since any Royal Navy families were able to do this.' More than 150 family members gathered at Portsmouth's historic naval base, Hants, to welcome back HMS Brocklesby. On its journey back to the UK, HMS Brocklesby travelled via Gibraltar, Sardinia, Crete, Muscat, Djibouti and Oman. Heroes' welcome: crowds greeted the crew of the HMS Brocklesby with cheers and waves at Portsmouth naval base The Royal Navy personnel looked out towards their families and loved ones from aboard the deck of the HMS Brocklesby as they pulled into harbour A crew member is greeted by his children in Portsmouth who presented him with a soft toy. The sailor gives his son his hat to wear 'Welcome home daddy': Signs are held in the arms of children eagerly awaiting the arrival of their father on the Royal Navy vessel It also stopped at the last known position of HMS Eagle in the western Mediterranean to enable the crew, which have spent 11 of the last 15 months deployed on operations, to pay their respects to the 131 who died when it was sunk in 1942. Petty Officer Kev Aston said: 'It's a short deployment overall but it's been a long four months, not being able to go ashore much because of Covid, and now looking forward to spending some time with my wife and kids.' Gunnery officer Sub-Lieutenant Ben Hyde, said: 'It's fantastic to be back after just over four months away, and it's nice for our families to be let back into the dockyard for this.' Proud mother and Aldi warehouse worker at Linda Waterhouse, 51, said she was excited to see her 19-year-old son Liam after four months. Emotional: One of the sailors is seen embracing his two daughters tightly after disembarking from the Royal Navy ship Good fit! One of the sailors beams down at his daughter, who he is holding in his arms, as she wears his sailor's hat Holding on tight: A father and his daughter share a sweet moment together as they hold hands for the first time in almost two years A member of the Navy personnel looks out at Portsmouth Naval base as the HMS Brocklesby pulled into the harbour She said: 'I am excited to see him. This is his first deployment and I haven't seen him since June. His sister has had a baby and he has not met his niece yet.' Liam's sister, Melissa Caslin, dressed her 3-month-old baby daughter Amelia in a sailor's outfit to meet her uncle for the first time. The 24-year-old warehouse worker said: 'She was just about to be born and he had to go. She was late. 'We have Facetimed but it is not the same as meeting in person. I think he will cry when he meets her.' Welcome home! Hands were thrown in the air as emotional loved ones clambered to catch a glimpse of their family members on board the navy ship Long time no see: A member of the HMS Brocklesby crew holds his loved one tightly in an emotional embrace After nearly two years away from home, loved ones were clearly emotional as they wiped away tears in preparation to welcome home the sailors Standing to attention: Sailors on the HMS Brocklesby can be seen standing to attention on the deck of the Royal Navy ship Since leaving Portsmouth in 2018, Brocklesby has travelled 150,000 nautical miles and completed six crew changes while taking part in 18 operations and exercises. It has also played a key role in the development of the latest autonomous systems which will likely replace the Royal Navy's current generation of MCMVs. Brocklesby will now spend time in maintenance while HMS Middleton, which left the base earlier in the year, takes over in the Gulf. A mother-of-three is believed to have become Britain's youngest grandma at 33 after her 17-year-old daughter gave birth last week. Gemma Skinner, whose daughter Maizie gave birth to a little girl, said she was mistaken for the baby's aunt by nurses in the hospital. The mother-of-three from Amersham, Buckinghamshire, told The Sun: 'At first I didn't want to be called 'nan' or 'granny' but now I'm loving it.' Gemma Skinner, whose daughter 17-year-old Maizie gave birth to a little girl, said she was mistaken for the baby's aunt by nurses in the hospital Maizie (left) went into labour last Saturday night, but had to suffer through a traumatic birth, her mother explained Ms Skinner said that she is having a great time taking her new grand-daughter out and about, with everyone thinking that she is the girl's mother. She has three daughters of her own with her youngest, four-year-old Bella, also becoming an auntie with the birth of the new baby. 'I did the school run with the baby this week and someone came over to me and asked if she was mine,' she told the newspaper. 'I had to explain that she's my grand-daughter and they were quite shocked. Everyone has assumed she is Maizie's younger sister so we have to keep explaining that she's actually her daughter. 'People mistake me for her mum all the time,' she added. Ms Skinner had her oldest daughter Maizie in 2004 when she was 16 years old. She has another daughter Gracie, who's ten, as well her her youngest Gracie. She said that when she found Maizie was pregnant at 17, she was initially worried, remembering her own experience of being a teenage mother. Now, she says she wouldn't change anything for the world, and that Maizie has taken to being a mother with ease. With her boyfriend, 19-year-old Jack Weir, Maizie has named her new baby Larosa Mae. The teenager went into labour last Saturday night, but had to suffer through a traumatic birth. Maizie went into labour last Saturday night, but had to suffer through a traumatic birth, her mother explained. But the ordeal had a happy ending, with the little one (left) being born weighing 8lb 4oz at 1.20am on Sunday. Pictured right is Gemma Ms Skinner had her oldest daughter Maizie in 2004 when she was 16 years old. She has another daughter Gracie, who's ten, as well her her youngest Ms Skinner explained that Maizie had to be induced, and had an epidural which didn't work down one side of her body. After that, the baby's head was born for three minutes before the rest of the baby's body. But the ordeal had a happy ending, with the little one being born weighing 8lb 4oz at 1.20am on Sunday. In an interview, Maizie admitted to The Sun that she was scared to tell her mother that she was pregnant while she was so young, but the news was met with amazing support from her mother. She recalled: 'She just hugged me and told me it would be OK and supported me from then.' In the UK, the average age of becoming a grandparent is 63, with the average age for becoming a first time mother being 29. A university is encouraging students to stop using the words manmade, mastercopy and civilisation because it believes they have sexist or racist connotations. Sociology undergraduates at Aston University in Birmingham have been advised to find replacements for words that could be seen to reinforce prejudices. Offending words include immigrants, third world, tribe, civilised and, in some contexts, native, all because of their colonialist or racist overtones. Sociology undergraduates at Aston University in Birmingham have been advised to find replacements for words that could be seen to reinforce prejudices Offending words include immigrants, third world, tribe, civilised and, in some contexts, native, all because of their colonialist or racist overtones Language deemed to be sexist includes one-man show, old masters, forefathers, seminal and masterful. Instead the alternatives of one-person show, classical arts or artists, ancestors, classical or formative, and domineering should be used. The document was leaked by a student who was too worried about reprisals to complain, said Toby Young, general secretary of the Free Speech Union. A university spokesman told The Times: Sociologists are trained to think critically about language, and about how language can reproduce effects of power and exclusion. Queenslanders heading to get their Covid vaccine are being offered a delcious treat as part of the state's second 'Super Pfizer Weekend.' As the weekend kicks off, Health Minister Yvette D'Ath said several high schools across the state that have turned into vaccination hubs were offering sausage sizzles as well. 'As we hoped, there's a sausage sizzle going as well so pop down to your local high school, get a sausage sizzle, support the school and get vaccinated,' Ms D'Ath said during the Covid update livestream on Saturday morning. Queenslanders launching into their second weekend of 'Super Pfizer Weekend' in a bid to increase vaccination rates Those getting their jab at school turned into vaccine hubs are being given a sausage sizzle alongside their jab (pictured: Brisbane 12-year-old gets his first dose of Moderna) Ms D'Ath also reports 69 per cent of the eligible population had received their first dose of the vaccine with 51 per cent receiving their second dose. Queensland's Chief Health Officer Jeanette Young said the trail of vaccination hubs in school could soon be expanded if these 'super weekends' are successful, warning residents to get their jab as soon as possible before another outbreak. 'We just don't know when the next one is going to happen,' she said. Dr Young said 11,284 people had been tested across the state yesterday. This follows a day of no new community cases of Covid and only three cases in hotel quarantine. QLD Health Minister says 69 per cent of the eligible population has received their first dose of the vaccine (pictured: people seen in post vaccination observation are at Boondall mass hub in Briabane) 51 per cent of the population have received two doses of the Covid vaccine (pictured: people line up for their vaccination at Boondall mass hub in Brisbane) Dr Young said two of the new hotel quarantine cases came from people flying in from Papua New Guinea and the third was recorded on a ship off Cape York and was reportedly working on the ship that left Indonesia seven days ago. 'So he will be assessed as to whether or not we need to bring him off that ship or whether he can continue to be managed on that ship,' Dr Young said. Yesterday, health officials approved the easing back of restrictions in Queensland to Stage 3. This means double the number of patrons are allowed in pubs, clubs and cafes with dancing making a return and gathering numbers increased. Masks are still mandatory in indoor settings but will be reviewed in another two weeks. Restrictions in Queensland eased on Friday afternoon back to Stage 3, with zero new community cases Masks are still mandatory in indoor settings but will be reviewed in two weeks In the meantime, Ms D'Ath says there could be 'a little bit of embarrassment' over the federal government threatening to walk away from its pledge to split the cost of the Brisbane Olympics over fears Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk is attempting to take control over the organisational committee. Ms D'Ath said comments made by Mr O'Brian, Scott Morrison's special representative on the Olympics, have been 'righted', commenting it was unnecessary commentary around the Olympics. And Ted OBrien is now saying that Senator Colbeck will take it from here, Ms DAth said. The legislation thats been drafted is out for consultation.' We worked very closely with the federal government and the Brisbane City Council in drafting that legislation and of course weve been consulting with them since and as recent as this week. She said when Mr O'Brian spoke to Minister for Sport Stirling Hinchliffe this week, no concerns were raised and remarked Commonwealth officials were also happy with provisions. Advertisement President Joe Biden showed he can handle an old-timey toy with aplomb as he played with a yo-yo while giving children of his military aides a tour of Marine One at the White House on Friday afternoon. Biden, who hosted a military aide promotion ceremony in the Oval Office, was seen on the South Lawn with the aides' and their families where he was pictured playing with the yo-yo and interacting with the children. One young boy dressed in a blue button-down shirt and red suspenders hugged the president's leg as he twirled the toy. A woman in the background covered her mouth and she was seemingly smiling under her mask as she admired how cute the boy was. Biden took off in the helicopter after the tour and some old-fashioned fun in the White House yard to spend a weekend in Delaware. He may have some work waiting for him upon his return as just yesterday, Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell wrote in a letter to Biden that he would not aid Democrats again in raising the debt limit. Biden pictured playing yo-yo on the White House's South Lawn with his military aides and their families The children were obviously excited for the tour as they skipped and ran across the lawn He was also spotted playing yo-yo on the South Lawn and a little boy dressed in a blue button-down shirt and red suspenders grabbed onto the President's leg. A woman in the background covered her mouth and she was seemingly smiling under her mask as she admired how cute the boy was He led the children onto the helicopter on Friday afternoon following a military aide promotion ceremony in the Oval Office earlier in the day The President conversed with the children ahead of giving them a tour of Marine One But before leaving Washington, DC, he escorted some young visitors onto the Marine One helicopter parked on the South Lawn. The president, donning a navy blue suit, held hands with a young boy and girl as he crossed the lawn towards the helicopter. He didn't seem to show the youngsters any yo-yo favorites, such as walking the dog and around the world. He did help the little girl, who wore a blue-striped dress and matching bow in her hair, up the steps and onto the helicopter. Five more children followed behind while wearing masks and covering their ears from the loud buzz of Marine One. President Joe Biden was spotted outside of the White House giving his military aides' children a tour of Marine One He then boarded the helicopter once again and took of, heading for Delaware Seven children took the tour while wearing masks and covering their ears from the loud buzz of Marine One Military aides, presumably parents of the children, were there to greet the youngsters as they finished the tour After giving the children a tour of Marine One, Biden smiled and waved to the military aides and their families. He then saluted the military member standing at attention before taking off and heading for Delaware. Biden has spent just six weeks at the White House during his first 29 weeks in office. He was at his home in Wilmington, Delaware for 14 of those weekends. Eight more were spent at the presidential retreat at Camp David and one was spent in Europe at the Group of Seven summit, according to NPR. Biden walked out of the White House with the children and their families on their way to board Marine One After completing the tour Biden took off for Delaware, where he has been known to spend a lot of his free time A senior Victoria police officer has quit her job after condemning the heavy handed tactics being used in her state to enforce lockdown in an explosive interview. Acting senior sergeant Krystle Mitchell announced she would be handing over her badge after 16 years with the police force during an interview with Discernable. Acting sergeant Mitchell said she had watched the relationship deteriorate between the community and police officers while Melbourne was stuck in the longest and toughest lockdown in the world. She claimed the heavy police presence had even made her nervous to walk on the street while she was wearing plain clothes. 'When I am in plain clothes and out exercising, and when I walk past police, I have that same level of apprehension,' she said. Acting senior sergeant Krystle Mitchell announced she would be handing over her badge after 16 years with the police force during an interview with Discernable Acting sergeant Mitchell said she had watched the relationship deteriorate between the community and police officers while Melbourne was stuck in the longest and toughest lockdown in the world 'I have a medical exemption and I don't wear a mask. My partner and I were out walking during our two hours of exercise on the weekend and there were police everywhere. 'There was just police doing their 'reassurance patrols'. They're not 'reassurance patrols'. You're not reassuring anybody in the community. You're scaring people that there are that many police in the community.' Melbourne has been hit with stay-at-home orders six times since the pandemic began at the start of 2020. Residents have endured a total 251 days of lockdown. The figure smashes the 244 day record held by Beunos Aires, Argentina. Acting sergeant Mitchell said tensions had reached boiling point between the community and police officers. 'It's been growing since March 2020,' she said. 'The way in which we police now has completely changed. 'And the vast majority of the police are on directions that are infringements on your every day liberties and rights to just freely live in a democratic society.' Melbourne has been at the centre of several large-scale anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown rallies throughout the pandemic. Demonstrations against mandatory vaccinations for construction workers turned ugly when hundreds of protestors clashed with police in September. 'There's this air of uncomfortability about it all,' Acting sergeant Mitchell said. 'I used to love doing foot patrols. I loved it. It was such a great way to connect with communities.' Sergeant Mitchell claimed she would likely be dismissed by the police force because of the interview. She then made the decision to resign to get a headstart. 'The consequences of me being here today is that I will be resigning from Victoria Police effective at the end of this interview because the consequences of me coming out publicly would be dismissal,' she said. However, it has been reported Ms Mitchell resigned from Victoria Police on Friday morning, before the video was released. It is understood she is being investigated by the Professional Standards Command. She is currently on personal leave and will not return to work. Ms Mitchell has claimed to be the founder of a group of police officers opposed to mandatory vaccination of the force. Before her resignation she was working in a non-operational role as part of the Gender Equality and Inclusion Command. Krystle Mitchell announced her resignation on social media following the interview with Discernable Melbourne has been hit with stay-at-home orders six times since the pandemic began at the start of 2020 'I'm choosing to quit because I can't remedy in my soul any more the way in which the organisation I love to work for is being used and the damage that it's causing to the reputation of Victoria Police and the damage it is causing the community,' she said. Acting sergeant Mitchell officially announced her resignation in a Facebook post. 'I am currently unemployed - consequences of my action of speaking out against the Daniel Andrews administration.' Victoria Police said Ms Mitchell's comments 'in no way' reflected the organisation's views. Victoria Police said in a statement the comments made in the interview did not reflect the police force. 'The comments in this interview in no way reflect the views of Victoria Police,' a spokesperson said. 'For the past 18 months, our members have been working tirelessly to enforce chief health officer directions aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus to keep all Victorians healthy and to save lives. Residents have endured a total 251 days of lockdown. The figure smashes the 244 day record held by Beunos Aires, Argentina Melbourne has been at the centre of several large-scale anti-vaccination and anti-lockdown rallies throughout the pandemic (pictured, protestors at a rally on September 21) Victoria Police acknowledged that it could not 'pick and choose what laws it enforces'. 'We acknowledge this has been an extremely difficult time for all Victorians who have had to give up so much,' the spokesperson said. 'Just like the community, Victoria Police looks forward to the easing of restrictions and the eventual return to pre-Covid life.' Victorian government minister Danny Pearson downplayed the video when he was questioned by reporters during Saturday's daily Covid-19 press conference. 'To this individual officer, what I would say is I thank them for their service,' he said. 'I don't know how long they have served for, but I thank them on behalf of all Victorians for the service they have given to keep our state safe.' Advertisement New video and photos show the empty ninth floor where a suicidal New Jersey man leapt from a high-rise building, landing on a BMW but miraculously survived. The video, taken by a Daily Mail photographer, shows a barren and gutted space on the ninth floor of the Jersey City building. The lobby of the floor was not under construction. The 31-year-old man, who has not been named, slammed through the roof of the black BMW and was seen in a bloodied state as he crawled from the wreckage on Wednesday morning at around 10.20am. As he stood up, with shards of glass and the broken car roof surrounding him, the man saw that his right arm was broken and asked witnesses: 'What happened?' More video footage and images from the scene showed the man, who had jumped from an open window at 26 Journal Square, writhing around in pain as he held his broken arm. A suicidal man who survived a leap from a high-rise building in New Jersey and landed on a BMW was caught on video crawling to the ninth floor, which was under construction The floor of the Jersey City high-rise was completely barren. The lobby of the floor was not under construction. The video, taken by a Daily Mail photographer, shows the view from the ninth floor of the building at 26 Journal Square The 31-year-old man, who has not been named, slammed through the roof of the black BMW and was seen in a bloodied state as he crawled from the wreckage in Jersey City on Wednesday morning at around 10.20am As he stood up, with shards of glass and the broken car roof surrounding him, the man saw that his right arm was broken and asked witnesses: 'What happened?' The man was seen writhing around in pain on the pavement (left) after stepping out of the damaged car (right) 'I heard a big boom and I didn't think it was a person at first,' Christina Smith, 21, who saw the man fall from the high-rise building at 26 Journal Square, told the New York Post. 'The back window of the car just busted out - exploded.' Smith told DailyMail.com she initially thought the bang was a bird but as soon as she saw the injured man, she called 911. She said: 'Then the man jumped out of the car and threw himself on the ground screaming "What just happened?" and asking for help,' adding that the man's arm 'was all twisted'. Smith added: 'I was trying to calm him down because his arm was broken very badly. I recorded the scene and I was in disbelief because I've never seen anything like that.' 'I was like, "Oh my God!" I was shocked. It was like being in a movie,' Smith, who had been walking to a nearby McDonald's at the time, added. Smith called the police before taking images and videos of the aftermath of the fall. The man was seen struggling to stand up from the car, after falling through the roof and appearing to land by the front seats. He was seen wearing a bloodied facemask, which was still hanging from his left ear, with blood on his forehead. The man had jumped from an open window of the ninth floor of the high-rise building at 26 Journal Square The injured man was seen holding his broken arm (left) after falling 100ft from the nine floor of the high-rise building (right) Graphic video footage then shows the man rolling around in pain on the pavement before he was rushed to hospital in an ambulance in a critical condition, said Jersey City spokeswoman Kimberly Wallace-Scalcione said. 'I was thinking, thank God, it probably helped that he had a fluffy jacket on,' Smith, who works in sales, said while adding that she believed the coat may have saved him from more serious injuries. Witnesses and workers at the building told the Post the man did not work inside the building and it is unclear why he was there. He also refused to give police officers his name, a source said. 'He fell into the car through the sunroof, then climbed out of the car and fell on the ground,' said Mark Bordeaux, 50, who works in the building and saw the aftermath. 'He was trying to get up but people were trying to get him to stay down, "You don't know how hurt you are". 'So he stayed there until the police and ambulances came. He kept saying, "Leave me alone, I want to die." You saw one of his arms was clearly broken, but he was conscious, he was moving,' he said. 'He wanted to die. That was his agenda. But God had something else in mind.' Although police are investigating, the incident doesn't involve suspicious circumstances, Wallace-Scalcione said. For help and support in the US contact the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-8255 or visit its website. For confidential support in the UK call Samaritans on 116123, go to samaritans.org or visit a Samaritans branch. The New South Wales Deputy Premier has slammed Victoria's 'crazy' new rule mandating mask wearing for primary school children. Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton announced on Friday that children in Year three and above will need to wear a mask while indoors at schools, and kids from Prep to Year two are 'strongly recommended' to wear a mask. The rule sparked a heated response from NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole, who said he didn't believe any health advice would support it. The New South Wales Premier has slammed Victoria's 'crazy' new rule of enforcing primary school children to wear face masks (pictured: students wearing masks in Victoria) 'I don't really see the point of that - it's really going to be constricting those children in that state,' Mr Toole said to Sky News. 'It's a crazy decision and I don't think there's health advice that could actually support that decision that is being made.' 'It's ludicrous at the end of the day.' The Deputy Premier, who was previously a primary school teacher in Bathurst before becoming a state member in 2011, added that NSW has a stronger strategy in plan to aid in the return of face-to-face teaching. 'We're getting the right balance here in NSW. You know, we've got kids that are going back to school on the 18th, we have brought them forward by a week so they will all be back on the 25th of October.' 'Having homeschooling and online teaching, it's very difficult, and I think that [school] is the best place for our kids to be.' Victoria's Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton announced the mandate for children in Year three and above, and argued that there was good evidence to support the measures Mr Toole said that being a former schoolteacher and having discussed the matter with many of his friends who are still teachers, they want kids back in the classroom. 'They know that face-to-face teaching is going to provide the best opportunity and the best way of learning for these young people.' As part of the Covid-19 exit roadmap in NSW, face masks will be required at school in all indoor settings and are recommended while outdoor for students in Year seven and above. For primary school students, masks will be recommended to be worn indoor and outdoor. However, the new NSW Deputy Premier Paul Toole argued the decision is 'crazy' and 'ludicrous' Victoria is also implementing measures to get children back into the classrooms. Mr Sutton said masks will be required indoors at school for those students, while mask-wearing will be 'strongly recommended' but not mandated for younger children from prep to grade two. 'We really want to have these measures in place early on to keep kids in school and to make sure that they are as safe as possible in the school environment,' he told reporters. He said face masks, along with ventilation and other COVID-safe measures, had prevented virus transmission in schools overseas. The Deputy Premier added that NSW has a stronger strategy in plan to aid in the return of face-to-face teaching (Pictured: Parents waiting to collect children from school in Sydney) 'In many states in America, school mask mandates have been put in place and they have helped to reduce transmission,' Professor Sutton said. 'It really has been shown that where there are multiple layers of risk mitigation within the schools, that you can keep a cap on transmission and have kids return safely to that environment.' Health authorities and the state government are in the process of drafting the mask rules, ahead of a staged return to classrooms in coming weeks. Students aged 12 and over are already required to wear face masks at school, unless they have an illness, disability or are exempt. As part of the Covid-19 exit roadmap in NSW, masks will be recommended for primary school students in indoor and outdoor setting but not required Melbourne Royal Children's Hospital paediatrician Jane Munro said the mask mandate was 'backed by good science' and will help prevent student absence. 'It is simple, it is safe. There are no health risks for a child wearing a mask. It is easy to do and it is also common sense,' she told reporters. 'Some people might still be confused about why we need to do this and it is because we want to get kids back to school and keep them there.' Schools in parts of regional Victoria and year 12 students in Melbourne returned to classrooms this week. More than one million Victorian children will return to 30,000 classrooms across 2276 schools over the next month, with all students expected to return to onsite learning either full or part-time by October 26. However, none of the COVID-19 vaccines are currently approved for children aged under 12. As well as mask wearing, Dr Munro said ventilation, physical distancing and hygiene measures are vital for classrooms to return. Currently students aged above 12 are forced to wear masks indoors already (pictured, Bentleigh Secondary College) 'We need to get our kids back at school and keep them at school. We all need to work together as a community to make that happen,' she said. She said RCH, with the support of the Murdoch Children's Research Institute, was developing resources to help children understand what they need to do to return to school. Professor Sutton also announced a slight change to mask rules for adults from midnight on Friday, allowing masks to be removed to drink alcohol outdoors at a picnic. A 24-year-old man who allegedly choked and seriously injured a baby girl in Sydney's west has been charged with child abuse-related offences. The eight-month-old was treated for serious head and neck injuries at Westmead's Children's Hospital in August, prompting an investigation by the child abuse and sex crimes squad. The man was subsequently arrested at a Whalan house on Friday after police say he caused the infant's injuries while caring for her. A 24-year-old man who allegedly choked and seriously injured a baby girl in Sydney's west has been charged with child abuse-related offences He has been charged with intentionally causing grievous bodily harm and choking a person without their consent. Bail was refused and he is due to appear at Parramatta Bail Court on Saturday. Protesters have swarmed Melbourne shopping centres rallying against Victoria's lockdown and vaccination rules. Rallies were held at Campbellfield Plaza carpark and The Glen Shopping Centre carpark on Saturday protesting against mandatory vaccines and lockdown. Police quickly swopped in and made serval arrests. Protesters swarmed Melbourne shopping centres (pictured) before police clamped down on the demonstrations Anti-vax protesters held signs at the shopping centre car parks (pictured) Protesters swarmed the Campbellfield Plaza carpark and The Glen Shopping Centre carpark (pictured) Police attended the protests (pictured), making several arrests Police were seen checking IDs at the protests (pictured) A police presence was soon seen at the protests (pictured) Several arrests were made by police (pictured: police checking IDs of protestors) Many protesters held up signs to passing traffic (pictured) Small groups of protesters wore matching white t-shirts reading 'reclaim the line' (pictured) Arrests were made near the Glen Shopping Centre (pictured) Protestors were rallying against lockdown and mandatory vaccines (pictured) Police spoke to protestors at the planned anti-vaccination rally at Campbellfield Plaza (pictured) A nurse was present at the rallies, stating the group were 'pro-choice' not anti-vax Other protesters wore white shirts reading 'nurse coercion is not informed consent' (pictured) Protesters were told to 'wear white to unite' (pictured) Two other locations were announced on Saturday to attempt to avoid a police presence The roadside demonstration began around midday and was organised through encrypted messages in Telegram The locations of the rallies were shared on an encrypted Telegram group with close to 8000 subscribers able to view the message. 'If you need an excuse, you're shopping within your 15km,' the post read. The rallies were called 'Rise Up! Melbourne Rally. Those attending the protest were told to park in or nearby the car parks to blend in. Police attended the protests and were checking IDs at Campbellfield Plaza. Some protestors wore matching shirts reading 'nurse coercion is not informed consent' and '#ReclaimTheLine.' Many held up signs to passing traffic. Protesters held up signs for passing traffic with organisers dubbing them 'roadside rebels' (pictured) There were 1,965 new cases of Covid recorded in Victoria on Saturday as the protests took place (pictured) Rallies were held at Campbellfield Plaza carpark and The Glen Shopping Centre carpark (pictured) A large police presence was seen at the protests (pictured), with officers checking IDs Police made several arrests across the course of the day (pictured) The demonstration began around midday, with police showing up soon after (pictured) Arrests were made during the rallys (pictured) Police were checking the IDs of protesters (pictured) The roadside demonstration began around midday, with the 'roadside rebels' encouraged to 'wear white to unite' in the Telegram messages. Two new locations were organised by protesters to attempt to escape police at Eastland Shopping Centre and Epping Plaza. A nurse who attended the Campfield protest and wishes to remain anonymous told the Herald Sun the group are 'pro-choice' and that she is not an anti-vaxxer. There was a large police presence at the protests (pictured), as previous Melbourne protests have turned violent and unruly Protesters were told via an encrypted Telegram message to 'wear white to unite' (pictured) Over 8000 people had subscribed to and were able to see the encrypted Telegram messages organizing the protests (pictured) One protester claimed the group were not anti-vax, but 'pro-choice' 84.67 per cent of eligible Victorians have had their first dose of the vaccine (pictured: police make arrests at the rallies) 56.57 per cent of the eligible population are double vaxxed (pictured: protesters clash with police) 'I've been a nurse for more than 39 years,' the woman said. 'Both my kids are vaccinated, I'm not a anti-vaxxer.' 'The way (the government) is pushing the vaccine on people - it's coercion, and it's not right.' This follows 1,965 new cases of Covid recorded in Victoria on Saturday, with 5 deaths reported. 84.67 per cent of Victorians have had their first dose of the vaccine while 56.57 per cent are double vaxxed. Protesters created signs to wave at passing traffic, being dubbed 'roadside rebels' (pictured) Police watched over the protesters (pictured), majority of whom did not turn violent 5 deaths were recorded in Victoria on Saturday as the protests went ahead (pictured) TheWrap launched an investigation into its CEO Sharon Waxman after she was accused of stopping an employee from taking his fiancee to the oncologist for a cancer check-up and then screaming at him for slacking off. The 58-year-old founder of the Hollywood-focused media business news site reportedly told a former employee whose fiancee had cancer: 'What are you thinking? 'Does she not have a mother or a brother or a family member that can do that s*** for her?' This was the ex-employee's 'last straw,' which happened in fall of 2020, and he quit on the spot, according to The Daily Beast. Current and former anonymous workers at TheWrap dished more details to The Daily Beast, likening Waxman's workplace to The Devil Wears Prada and Waxman herself to 'Jekyll and Hyde'. 'It was really demoralizing and degrading,' they said, referring to the dictatorial magazine editor Miranda Priestly in the film, who was played by Meryl Streep. The CEO also allegedly had 'screaming outbursts' and was known to tell off employees who had to handle family emergencies during work hours. Sharon Waxman (pictured), 58, CEO of Hollywood and media business news site TheWrap was reportedly known to have a 'Jekyll and Hyde' demeanor where she was pleasant one moment and screaming at an employee the next She reportedly could be relatively pleasant but got very hot-headed at a moment's notice. A current employee said on her boss's demeanor: 'If you're doing what she wants and she's in a good mood then she can be quite lovely, and if not then there can be screaming and yelling and chaos.' Another insider told The Daily Beast Waxman even threatened one staffer for working from home to care for their injured child. A former writer said of their boss: 'I've been around CEOs and politicians and like, actually important powerful people, and people that should be scary like prisoners, and she is the scariest person I've ever met.' To make things worse Waxman's ex-husband headed the company's human-resources department and many employees felt as if they had no safe place to turn. Employees brave enough to speak to The Daily Beast did so on the condition of anonymity for fear of professional and legal repercussions imposed by TheWrap. The day TheWrap's publicist caught wind of The Daily Best's story on the company's toxic workplace Waxman reportedly announced a day off for all employees. Yet according to a spokesperson from the media outlet, TheWrap said that the day off had nothing to do with the revealing report that was about to be published. Just yesterday Waxman held a meeting with all of her employees and promised to do better by bringing in an outside consulting firm to improve TheWrap's workplace culture. However, Waxman denied the allegations in a statement she wrote to The Daily Beast. 'I was very sorry to learn that some current and former employees have had experiences at TheWrap that are not consistent with our values or the environment we work to foster,' she adding. Anonymous past and present staffers told The Daily Beast that Waxman created a 'toxic' work environment but felt they had no safe place to turn because Waxman's ex-husband headed TheWrap's human-resource department Waxman held a meeting with all of her employees after catching wind of The Daily Beast's revealing report and promised to do better by bringing in an outside consulting firm to improve TheWrap's workplace culture The tyrannical boss added: 'Providing a safe, enjoyable, and thriving workplace is essential to any business, and something we have always made a priority from the time we started 12 years ago. 'While I dont believe these allegations accurately reflect our current work environment, its clear that we have some work to do, and I am committed to doing it.' Yet another ex-employee bashed their former boss for running TheWrap 'with an iron fist,' although they did commend 'the fact that she owns this company and is the only female sole owner of a trade publication in Hollywood'. Waxman oversees every inch of TheWrap as the digital media outlet's founder, CEO, top editor and public face. The anonymous source called the feat 'hella impressive'. But she still reportedly exuded a 'gross abuse of power,' and a former staffer told The Daily Beast they were 'terrified to make a mistake because you would get publicly shamed or shamed in private'. Others - The Daily Beast spoke to 20 anonymous TheWrap workers, past and present - called the office 'toxic'. 'I never thought I would be yelled at in such a way and watching her yell and shred other people was really unsettling,' one person said. Another employee, who just recently left the company, recalled Waxman having what they described to be an adult tantrum at an event when her microphone wasn't working. 'It was terrifying,' they said of the meltdown, adding that all the employees just 'stood there'. 'You couldnt stop her. You had to let her yell and scream. Then the event started and the mask came on and then she was very warm to people.' Ex-employees tried to reason with Waxman's alleged bouts of screaming, thinking it could possibly be her 'tough love' management style or way to make sure people don't 'take advantage of her and not produce their best work'. However, they agreed that whatever the reason, Waxman's frequent yelling 'created a toxic environment where everyone worked defensively'. Thom Geier (pictured), TheWrap's deputy and executive editor, told The Daily Beast that Waxman is merely a 'demanding boss who holds her staff to a high standard' and attributed her shouting fits to the pressures of working in a breaking news environment Thom Geier, TheWrap's deputy and executive editor, told The Daily Beast: 'Is Sharon a demanding boss who holds her staff to a high standard? Yes. Is she blunt when she thinks you fall short of that standard? Yes.' But he seemed to brush the screaming fits off as a result of working 'in a breaking news environment'. He added: 'Can there be shouting sometimes when you want to get a story out and when youre wanting to get things hurried? Sure, that can happen. Thats happened at virtually every news outlet Ive ever worked at. Is there more of that at TheWrap than there are in other places? I dont really think so.' TheWraps chief revenue officer Lynne Segal chimed in, adding that Waxman is 'the ultimate pro'. Geier even went so far as to suggest that The Daily Beast's article was a conspiracy executed by TheWrap's rival Penske Media. 'Id be curious to know how many of the people that youve spoken to who have complained about Sharon Waxman and TheWrap are now working for Jay Penske,' he said. 'Im fascinated by the notion that, you know, there are people who went to work for Sharon and then went to work for Jay Penske. And you know were the last of the independent trades, and the only one that isnt funded by a Saudi government that murders journalists.' Former Prime Minister Tony Abbott has blasted Australia's 'oppressive' lockdown strategies and the 'Covid zero' fixation he claims amounted to a failure of 'national character'. Mr Abbott said the Prime Minister's claim that Covid restrictions saved the lives of 30,000 meant we'd spent $10million per life preserved when most fatalities were 'very old and ... already sick'. While Abbott admitted state leaders' Covid responses came from an 'ethical concern for the preciousness of life' ultimately they were 'overzealous' and 'ruined lives'. Mr Abbott (pictured with wife Margie) said he had been exercising at the time and drinking a coffee and therefore wasn't required to wear a face covering NSW has already ruled out temporarily moving the border, saying it would create even more administrative difficulties for Tweed Shire residents who live outside Tweed Heads 'It often seemed an over-reaction from people who'd forgotten the inevitability of death and the importance of living each day to the full,' he wrote in The Australian. Mr Abbott said a government's duty was to 'minimise' suffering not some 'vain quest to abolish it'. One of his main points was the high expense paid for losing 'freedoms' - not gain them. Mr Abbott claimed '$350billion (about 20 per cent of annual GDP)' was spent on paying people 'not to work' and to keep businesses closed. Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott wears a mask with the Chinese character for 'Australia' during a meeting with Taiwanese President He also claimed contradictions in how Australia managed the threat of Covid were so bad that reminded him of a famously deranged claim made by an American officer during the Vietnam war. 'So we've protected lives and ruined them at the same time; a bit like the Vietnam-era American officer who declared the village had to be destroyed in order to be saved,' Abbott said. The 'worst features' of states' pandemic responses, he said, were 'oppressive rules for which there's been no medical justification'. He claimed these included 'routinely denying families the right to farewell loved ones in person', 'curfews and mask mandates outdoors'. Mr Abbott himself was busted for not wearing a mask outdoors last month and fined $500, later branding the person who reported him a 'snitch'. There were several high profile examples of families caught between states or denied access to dying relatives during the pandemic. James Turbitt, 35, was denied entry into Western Australia to farewell his dying mother in June. The grieving son was forced to farewell his mum in Perth from Melbourne hotel via a bad connection on a zoom call. A son who flew from Europe only to be forced to farewell his dying mother in Perth from a Melbourne hotel room is embarrassed to be Australian. Western Australia's Labor Premier Mark McGowan in June refused to allowed James Turbitt (pictured) into the state to see his mum for the last time in person Separated families were forced to celebrate Father's Day across a bollard on the border of Queensland and NSW last month. In another instance Queensland couple Dominique Facer and Mick Francis were preventing from seeing their three year old son Memphis, for two months in 2021. That happened after he went to visit his grandparents Mark and Alex on a cattle station more than 1500 kilometres away in the NSW Riverina region. Mr Abbott called policies that separated people in nursing homes from loved ones 'cruel' because they were being 'denied the human contact which is normally what they most live for'. Western Australia, which denied a man's wishing to see his dying mother, is now stipulating that anyone who visits from another part of the country must be vaccinated He also slammed 'overzealous policing', policies amounting to 'virtual house arrest' and the denial by states to allow individuals to go interstate for medical treatment or reunite with family members. Mr Abbott said we had become 'timid and fearful people' in an 'anxious' society 'can't readily distinguish between big crises and little ones' - although he conceded the pandemic was 'a significant health challenge'. He also took aim at 'grandstanding premiers and chief health officers' claiming our pandemic responses reflected poorly on 'national character'. Mr Abbott criticised 'overzealous policing' in his essay Police attending protests in Melbourne were at times heavily armed Mr Abbott said our 'What does it say about our national character that we've accepted this?' He added that our Covid restrictions were 'almost unAustralian' and mourned that Britain were 'better than us at taking this danger in their stride' Jeremy Clarkson's TV move from motorways to manure has earned him a prestigious award. The 61-year-old delighted fans with his show Clarkson's Farm, documenting his adventures as he jumped head first into running his own farm, called Diddly Squat Farm, spanning over 1,000 acres in Chipping Norton in the Cotswolds. And it seems not only his fans were delighted by his show after the National Farmers' Union (NFU) awarded him Farming Champion of the Year 2021. The NFU said his show showcases the harsh realities of farming to millions of new viewers who enjoy his 'enthusiasm coming through in spades', his no-nonsense approach and views on farming. Clarkson has been outspoken on several farming related issues and has backed the NFU's call for UK food self-sufficiency to not slip below 60 per cent. Clarkson has been outspoken on several farming related issues and has backed the NFU's call for UK food self-sufficiency to not slip below 60 per cent He even goes one step further, calling for the country to aim for an 80 per cent target. 'When it comes to recognising someone who has done their best to showcase British food and farming over the past 12 months, no-one has earned this award more than Jeremy Clarkson,' NFU President Minette Batters said. 'His show has really resonated with the public, brought alive the ups and downs of our industry to a huge new audience, and transported British farming into the living rooms of families across the country. 'It's been such a challenging time for British farming over the past 12 months; as key workers our farmers have kept shelves stocked with British food and dealt with extreme weather events. 'Now, they are battling labour shortages, supply chain disruption and rising costs, which are causing severe problems for essential food producing businesses. The 61-year-old delighted fans with his show Clarkson's Farm, documenting his adventures as he jumped head first into running his own farm, called the Diddly Squat Farm 'Through all of this, Jeremy Clarkson has been a vocal champion for the British farming industry. His enthusiasm comes through in spades and his overwhelming and continued support for the NFU's Back British Farming campaign makes him a very deserving winner of this prestigious award.' Clarkson, who now runs the farm with fan favourite Kaleb Cooper, bought the farm in 2008. It was initially run by a farmer living in the village but when he retired in 2019, the former Top Gear presenter decided to try his hand at running it himself. The hit show on Amazon Prime has received positive reviews, even from the UK Government. Speaking at the Conservative Party conference, Environment Secretary George Eustice said: 'I think that Jeremy Clarkson's programme has done a huge amount to raise the profile of agriculture and some of the challenges it faces. The 61-year-old opened a shop on the site of his farm, called the Diddly Squat Shop It is sort of a Top Gear-meets-Countryfile type of programme I think.' Mr Eustice also used the conference to outline the planned changes to farming subsidies post Brexit. 'We do recognise that at the moment there is some financial dependence on those old-style area subsidies,' he said. 'The reason we are getting rid of those area subsidies is land is a fixed supply, there is no lack of demand for it. 'It really doesn't make sense to be subsidising land occupation on land tenure. So it is right that we move away from that but the heart of your question is we need to make this change gradual, so we are going to make incremental changes over seven years.' Environment Secretary George Eustice (pictured) praised the work that the show has done to raise awareness of farming in the UK at the Conservative Party conference this week The Government also plans to replace land-based funding with subsidies which will go towards supporting nature and biodiversity. In his show, one episode showed Clarkson attempting to increase the biodiversity on his farm and fixing the soil. Clarkson has previously spoken out about Brexit, calling it a 'challenge' for the farming industry. China has warned the US over its involvement in Taiwan and claimed the 'weak and cowardly' island authorities will accept reunification ahead of the island's National Day of celebration tomorrow. An op-ed in state media outlet Global Times said the US would face 'unbearable' consequences for its military involvement in Taiwan and that American troops would be the first to be 'eliminated' in a Chinese 'invasion'. The piece also claimed Taiwanese authorities were likely 'to surrender [to reunification] in a few years or even a shorter period of time' or China would resolve the dispute 'by force'. It comes comes amid a rise in aggressive threats and provocative military action over Taiwanese airspace in recent days. Beijing views the island as an autonomous Chinese province and has long sought reunification though Taiwan sees itself as an independent state. Earlier today President Xi Jinping said China harbours ambitions of a 'peaceful reunification' with the island but warned it 'must be realised, and will definitely be realised'. President Xi Jinping's renewed call for a merger comes amid a rise in aggressive threats and provocative military action over Taiwanese airspace in recent days. Above: Xi Jinping in Beijing Mr Xi was speaking at an official celebration in Beijing's Great Hall of the People that focused largely on the need for the ruling Communist Party to continue to lead China as the country rises in power and influence. 'Reunification through a peaceful manner is the most in line with the overall interest of the Chinese nation, including Taiwan compatriots.' The celebration was in honour of the 110th anniversary of the Chinese revolution in 1911 leading to the overthrow of the Qing dynasty and establishment of the Republic of China led by Sun Yat-sen. October 10 is celebrated in Taiwan as National Day and Mr Xi's address highlighted aspirations for a unified future, despite marked differences between China's authoritarian one-party system and Taiwan's multi-party democracy. Isabel Hilton, visiting professor at King's College London, told BBC R4's Today that Mr Xi's rhetoric had toned down after a week of 'intense military incursions and provocations'. She added: 'Personally, I think the price of an armed assault by China is high, China is aware of that. But they're not going to give up on national ambition of reunification as they see it. 'Taiwan sees itself as a self-governing democracy and the people have very little desire for reunification with China.' Pictured: Tourists pose with national flags in China Mr Xi's remarks came just days after the Chinese military sent a record number of military aircraft flying towards Taiwan in exercises that the self-ruled island has called a threat. Almost 150 Chinese warplanes breached Taiwan's airspace since Friday, including 56 jets on Monday in a dramatic escalation of Chinese aggression against the self-governing democracy. It comes as British aircraft carrier HMS Queen Elizabeth ('Big Lizzie') was shown sailing in the Philippine Sea in a joint exercise with two US carriers - the USS Ronald Reagan and USS Carl Vinson - and Japan's helicopter destroyer JS Ise. The armada, which also includes a number of warships from six different countries in total, trained together over the weekend in the region amid the rising tensions. The recent voyages through the Strait of Taiwan by the British and American navies, coupled with the new Aukus defence pact have infuriated Beijing and sparked more shows of strength in the South China Sea. Ms Hilton added: 'China has many tools as its disposal, including that 80 per cent of Taiwan's economy is somewhat dependent on trade with China. 'The military side is a show of force that is largely crowd pleasing at home, as well as upsetting for Taiwan in advance of their national day celebrations. It doesn't signal imminent assault.' Taiwan and China split in 1949 amid civil war, with the then ruling Nationalist Party fleeing to the island as Mao Zedong's Communists swept to power on the mainland. Its ADIZ is a zone in which it requires all foreign aircraft to identify themselves and state their intentions. It is different to the island's sovereign airspace, which extends over a smaller area 12 nautical miles from its coast. Taipei said it scrambled fighters, broadcast radio warnings and activated missile defences in response. A short time later, the Chinese aircraft turned back. Nearly 150 Chinese warplanes have breached Taiwan's airspace since Friday, including nuclear-capable bombers on Monday in a dramatic increase in aggression Pictured: Britain's HMS Queen Elizabeth warship (second right at the head of the armada) took part in joint training with warships from six different countries over the weekend in the Philippine Sea amid rising tensions between China and Taiwan Self-governing Taiwan, which is home to the Republic of China which fought against the Communist Party when it first emerged, views itself as an independent state but Beijing views it as a breakaway province. The Republic of China has long-standing ties with the US, which historically recognised it as the legitimate government of the whole of China. Since 1949, Taiwan has been self-ruled, but its sovereignty is denied by Beijing, which has refused to renounce the option of using force to bring the island under its control. Beijing has also sought to isolate Taiwan internationally by barring it from the United Nations and other international organisations and opposing official contacts between its government and nations that recognise China, especially the United States, which is legally bound to consider threats against Taipei a matter of 'grave concern'. 'Taiwanese separatism is the biggest obstacle to the motherland's reunification,' Mr Xi added, saying those who advocated for independence would be 'condemned by history'. Prosecutors are '100 per cent sure' convicted paedophile and rapist Christian Brueckner 'murdered Madeleine McCann.' German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters said investigators were 'confident' they had the right man and had sufficient evidence to charge over the 2007 disappearance. Brueckner is currently being held in a high security prison in Oldenburg, near Bremen in northern Germany, where he is serving time for separate offences. Investigators are hoping to bring charges against the 44-year-old next year after taking time to gather as much evidence as possible before the case goes to court. Madeleine McCann disappeared aged three from a holiday apartment in Portugal while on holiday with her parents, Kate and Gerry McCann; her two-year-old twin siblings; and a group of family friends and their children. Investigators are '100 per cent sure' Christian Brueckner (right), abducted and murdered Madeleine McCann(left) German prosecutor Hans Christian Wolters said investigators were 'confident' they had the right man 'We're confident we have the man who took and killed her,' Wolters told the Mirror. 'It is now possible that we could charge. We have that evidence now. But it's not just about charging him we want to charge him with the best body of evidence possible. 'When we still have questions, it would be nonsense to charge rather than wait for the answers that could strengthen our position.' Wolters said the investigation would continue 'as long as there are leads or information for us to pursue.' He said evidence includes phone analysis placing him at the Ocean Club when Madeleine went missing and an alleged confession Brueckner made to a friend. 'It is circumstantial evidence we have no scientific evidence,' Wolters said. 'If we had a video of the act or a picture of Madeleine dead with Brueckner on camera, we wouldn't have had to make a public appeal. But we only have circumstantial evidence.' But he admitted prosecutors have no proof Madeleine is dead, any idea how she died and no evidence linking Brueckner to her alleged murder. 'We have no body and no DNA but we have other evidence. Based on the evidence we have, it leads to no other conclusion. 'I can't tell you on which basis we assume she is dead. But for us, there's no other possibility. There is no hope she is alive,' he said. Three-year-old Madeleine, known as Maddie, vanished from a holiday apartment in Portugal's Praia da Luz on May 3, 2007. Pictured: Praia da Luz beach [File photo] Brueckner is being investigated over five other attacks: Convicted paedophile and rapist Christian Brueckner, 44, is being investigated over five other attacks. They include a 2007 sex attack on a 10-year-old girl that happened just six miles from Praia da Luz where Madeleine had disappeared one month earlier; The 1996 killing of 16-year-old Carola Titze in De Haan, Belgium; The rape case of 20-year-old Irish woman Hazel Behan in Praia de Rocha, Portugal, in 2004; The disappearance of five-year-old Inga Gehricke - dubbed the 'German Maddie' - in 2015; And a 2017 incident at a children's playground in Messines, 40 miles from Praia de Luz, where a man was accused of carrying out a sex act in front of minors. Advertisement Authorities last year told Madeleine's parents Kate and Gerry McCann they had evidence their daughter was no longer alive, without providing details. Wolters asked for 'patience' with the investigation and said 'we have time on our hands' because Brueckner is in prison. The 44-year-old became a suspect in the high profile missing persons case in 2017. He is understood to have been living in a camper van close to Praia da Luz, where Madeleine and her family were staying when she disappeared. Brueckner is also being investigated over several other attacks, including on a 10-year-old girl, as well as the murder of a teenager in Belgium, it emerged earlier this month. Brueckner has reportedly bragged police do not have a 'shred of evidence' linking him to the other cases and described the investigation as police 'clutching at straws for new leads' to convict him. A source told Sun Online that Brueckner 'is aware of the remarks and of the new allegations in this book. But he has been bragging how the police don't have a shred of evidence. 'He says the new book about him is no better than a comic and that the decision by cops to contribute to it just proves how much they are clutching at straws for new leads. 'His legal team have repeatedly asked for the evidence which police say they have and they have repeatedly refused to hand it over. This, he believes, says it all.' The source also claimed Brueckner 'remains insistent he has nothing to do with Maddie's disappearance and believes police are simply courting publicity by continually linking him to the case'. The McCanns say that they repeatedly went to check on the kids over the course of the evening at the Ocean Club Hotel, but when Kate checked in at 10pm, she discovered Madeleine had disappeared Australian swimming star Cate Campbell has revealed how she held off getting medical help for her depression as she trained for the Tokyo Games. The 29-year-old opened up about her depression diagnosis last year, revealing she only reached out for professional health four weeks out from her fourth Olympics. Campbell spoke candidly of the news via Instagram on Friday, hoping her story would encourage more conversations around mental health struggles. 'In July 2020 I was diagnosed with depression, in June 2021 four weeks before the start of the Tokyo Olympics, I finally admitted I needed some medical help, and I am so grateful I did,' she wrote. 'Mental health is not a sign of weakness. It does not discriminate. It is very real, and most of us will face it at some point in our lives.' Australian swimming star Cate Campbell (pictured) has opened up about her battle with depression in a candid Instagram post Ms Campbell, who has won eight Olympic medals, said she would have sought out help earlier than she did if conversations about mental health were more common. 'So I am sharing my story in the hopes it will prompt a conversation in your household, dispel a stigma, or encourage you to be a bit kinder to the person next to you,' she continued. 'I still struggle to not feel shame around my mental health, so please be kind.' Campbell elaborated on her experience in an intimate first-person essay published to Mamamia that detailed her struggles and inner demons. 'It was like my brain transformed into a dark vortex, sucking me in. While I was trapped in the deep, inky well, neon words flashed before my eyes. They said: 'You're weak'. 'You should be able to get over this'. 'You're pathetic'. 'You're better than this'. 'Your life is good'. 'What's wrong with you?' she wrote. 'It was a deep, unending, unbearable sadness. On a scale I had not experienced previously and one which I would have scorned prior to my diagnosis. The weight of it crushed me.' Campbell wrote she was treated for depression just four week out from the Tokyo Games in an Instagram post (pictured) Eventually the swimming star began seeing a clinical psychologist but continued to struggle with self-confidence as training for the Tokyo Games ramped up. She described reaching the Olympic trials and becoming 'paralysed by an overwhelming sense of impending doom' but still managed to secure her place. Overcome with fear and emotion in lead up to Japan, Campbell decided to seek help from a GP and began taking medication to treat her anxiety and depression. Despite admitting she initially believed opting for medication was 'the easy way out', the swimmer began to notice positive changes and started 'thinking more clearly'. Campbell later went on to take out gold in the women's 4x100 freestyle relay team and 4x100 medley relay team at the Tokyo Olympics. Her stellar performance also saw her take home an individual bronze medal in the 100m freestyle race. Screenwriter Russell T Davies has launched a foul-mouthed attack on Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, branding her a 'f*****g idiot. Mr Davies, the award-winning writer behind the revival of Doctor Who in 2005, criticised Miss Dorries after she suggested there was nepotism at the corporation, pointing out she had employed her own daughter. The 58-year-old, who is returning to the BBC to run the legendary sci-fi series next year, also said the Government wants to control culture. Earlier this week Miss Dorries said the BBC may not exist in a decade and criticised its elitist and snobbish approach. She said the corporation was filled with people whose mum and dad worked there and suggested the BBC would have to show how it was going to change before a new funding settlement is agreed. Screenwriter Russell T Davies has launched a foul-mouthed attack on Culture Secretary Nadine Dorries, branding her a 'f*****g idiot But when he was asked about her suggestion the BBC was elitist, Mr Davies told the i newspaper: The womans an idiot, a big f*****g idiot. In reference to Miss Dorriess nepotism allegations, he said: She talked about the BBC having nepotism when she employed her own daughter. In 2013 Miss Dorries came under fire after it was revealed that her two daughters were employed in her parliamentary office. Mr Davies said: Im here to talk about the threat of public funding and the threat to public service broadcasting. He added that the threat that Channel 4 is under is even greater, saying the channel was doomed to be privatised. Mr Davies, the award-winning writer behind the revival of Doctor Who in 2005, criticised Miss Dorries after she suggested there was nepotism at the corporation, pointing out she had employed her own daughter Asked if the Government cares about culture, he replied: I think they care very much about controlling it. When Mr Davies was asked if he returned to the BBC because it was being attacked, he said: Im always happy to work for the BBC because I love them and I think everyone should get in there, man those battlements and fight for that channel. Weve got another 10-15 years of this Government, theres no shifting them. Theyre invulnerable somehow. So yes, Im very, very happy to work with the BBC. A government source told the newspaper: Personal and deeply unpleasant attacks like this dont reflect well on the organisation and shouldnt be tolerated. Its obviously not true that the BBC is being privatised now or at anytime in the future. A BBC spokesman said: Russell T Davies is not a member of BBC staff and these are clearly personal views. Amazon is making up to 85 per cent profit on sales of a book written by a Nazi-sympathising far-right leader who writes about the 'alleged' holocoust. The online retail giant agreed to print The Fall of Western Man by Mark Collett and is taking a large cut in the sales, which is being sold on the site for 15, the Times revealed. In the book, the leader of Patriotic Alternative, 41, reveals that he would have been 'proud' to have taken part in Hitler's Nuremberg propaganda rallies. Amazon is making an 85% profit on sales of a book The Fall of Western Man which is written by a far-right leader, Mark Collett, (pictured) who writes about the 'alleged' holocoust In the 324-page book, that has also been downloaded over 30,000 times online, Collett praises the Nazis at the Nuremberg rallies, saying: 'Those in attendance wore uniforms, looked healthy and were of good breeding stock.' He also denies holocoust took place, stating that in terms of 'white guilt', nothing is pushed more strongly than the 'alleged extermination of six million Jews at the hands of the German people'. Collett writes that the future of Western man 'lies in the wombs of the Western female', however, Western man has no future if they are 'occupied by the seed of a foreign people'. He continues: 'Would Western man have what it takes to actually participate in an ethnic conflict without fearing that he was in some way 'racist' for raising a hand in self-defence?' The author of the book (pictured), which is being sold on the site for 15, reveals he would have been 'proud' to have taken part in Hitler's Nuremberg propaganda rallies The Fall of Western Man, which was published in 2016, has 93 per cent positive reviews on the Amazon website, with the majority giving it five or four stars. However, a reviewer who gave it one star described it as: '[An] absolute cesspit of racism, cant believe amazon sell this.' Collett is the leader of far-right movement Patriotic Alternative, which claims to have 15,000 supporters and campaigns for non-whites to leave Britain. He is one of Britain's most high-profile white supremacists and was the former chairman of the Young BNP, the youth division of the British National Party (BNP), before the party expelled him. In a comment to The Times, Collett confirmed that Amazon withholds 'the vast majority' of the money made by the book. He also denied that he supported Nazi ideology, saying: 'I am not a National Socialist. I wasn't around in 1930s Germany.' Amazon's 'Kindle Direct Publishing' provides a print-to-order service which prints books on demand, keeping at least 30 per cent of royalties and also charges for printing. A projection provided to writers shows that authors surrender 85 per cent of the list price. An Amazon spokesperson told MailOnline the book is self-published and added: 'It is factually inaccurate to state that Amazon keeps 85 per cent of the money paid by readers/customers of this book.' Advertisement Phenomenal photos of landscapes, wild animals and mankind won high praise in a top contest celebrating snaps from around the world. These shots wowed the judges of the Better Photography Magazine Photo of the Year 2021 contest. Pedro Jarque Krebs's breathtaking shot of two Bornean orang-utans cuddling lovingly is a masterclass in photography - and won the Revealing Nature Category. Describing his winning photo, he said: 'I have to admit that this baby orangutan totally seduced me in this photo shoot. 'He is barely nine months old, but he is very alert and curious, and pays attention to everything he can learn. 'It's amazing how similar we can be to them. They are extremely intelligent. And the fusion he has with his mother is touching.' Nesting, a shot of a flamingo checking its egg during incubation, by Pedro Jarque Krebs also picked up a Gold Award in the Revealing Nature category Pedro Jarque Krebs's breathtaking shot of two Bornean orang-utans cuddling lovingly is a masterclass in photography - and won the Revealing Nature Category Chin Leong Teo impressed multiple entries, but it was the incredible frame of three frogs sheltering from rain that stormed to success Another of Krebs' shots - this of a playful baby Asian elephant sitting on its mother's back - also picked up a Gold Award in the Revealing Nature category Renowned travel photographer Chin, from Singapore, also picked up a Gold Award for this capture of a frog leaping through the air Pedro Jarque Krebs wowed the judges with several shots, including this one titled 'singing in the rain', which picked up a Gold Award in the Revealing Nature category Chin Leong Teo impressed multiple entries, but it was the incredible frame of three frogs sheltering from rain that stormed to success. Renowned travel photographer Chin, from Singapore, started his photography pursuit in 2013 and quickly gained international recognition and accolades. Australian snapper Robin Moon mesmerised the judges with her triple action capture of flying fruit bats acrobatically swooping about a lake in Sydney, Australia. She added: 'These little grey headed flying foxes are tough to shoot - very tiny, fast and at dusk only do they fly.' 'When summer is at its peak they are in danger of dying from heat exhaustion as they sleep during the day and can literally drop dead out of their trees.' Serial photo contest winner Azim Khan Ronnie could only pick up a silver gong with a powerful entry showing daily life in Bangladesh. Describing the photo, Azim said: 'Children weave in and out of scores of giant cones as they roll bike tyres around a rice processing plant. 'The playful youngsters dart between the large 'topas' which protect the drying rice overnight. More than 30 children turned the rice mill in Kishoreganj, Bangladesh, into an obstacle course.' This shot of a blue viper, a highly venomous pit viper sub-species native to Southeast Asia, eating a frog whole, picked up a Gold Award in the Revealing Nature category for Chin Leong Teo Chin Leong Teo picked up a Gold Award in the Exotic Travel category for this capture of a Vietnamese woman mending fishing nets at home Australian snapper Robin Moon mesmerised the judges with her triple action capture of flying fruit bats acrobatically swooping about a lake in Sydney, Australia Serial photo contest winner Azim Khan Ronnie could only pick up a silver gong with a powerful entry showing daily life in Bangladesh Azim Khan Ronnie also wowed judges, picking up a Silver Award in the Exotic Travel category, with this shot of Vietnamese workers surrounded by thousands of incense sticks One mystical landscape picture from Ryan Montgomery captures the sub-zero frozen terrains of Iceland. The aurora borealis is seen above deserted mountains of Vestrahorn in the snap. He said: 'Midnight, -15C. Frozen toes, icy nostrils and no aurora just yet. A very faint glimmer of green over Vestrahorn, Iceland, that would tease us and fade away. 'And after some time, finally, the green glow became stronger and stronger and cast a green illumination over the dark shade of the night, slithering through the sky like some magical serpent.' Pyae Phyo Thet Paing, from Myanmar, caught the judges' eyes with his nature shot of fishermen using traditional nets in Inle Lake. He said: 'They are fishing with their traditional fishing boats and nets under the sunlight of early morning.' One mystical landscape picture from Ryan Montgomery captures the sub-zero frozen terrains of Iceland. The aurora borealis is seen above deserted mountains of Vestrahorn in the snap Pyae Phyo Thet Paing, from Myanmar, caught the judges' eyes with his nature shot of fishermen using traditional nets in Inle Lake Pyae Phyo Thet Paing also picked up a Silver Award in the Exotic Travel category with this shot of girls working with umbrellas 'Night Warrior' by Pedro Jarque Krebs showing Naya, a female black jaguar who is part of the European Endangered Species Progamme (EEP) and lives in Tenerife, picked up the photographer another Gold Award in the Revealing Nature category There were 802 entries from around the globe with three judges breaking the images into four categories, Emotive Portraiture, Classic Landscapes, Exotic Travel and Revealing Nature. Tony Brown won a Gold Award in the Classic Landscape category with a panoramic shot while Graeme Gordon picked up the same accolade for a black and white capture of the Sydney Opera House. Andi Adbul Halil received Gold Awards in the Revealing Nature and Emotive Portraits categories with images of a Red Palm Weevil and a person hiding behind a palm leaf respectively. A silver award was also presented to Magnus Jonassen for his untitled Classic Landscapes shot of a frozen scene in Kvitfjell, Norway. 'It was just incredible how the sky looked this evening. It is not always easy to re-capture the feeling you have outside into the final edit,' he said. And a silver award in the Revealing Nature category went to Sharon Jones for moody mostly black and white picture of a reptile lurking with its head partially out of the water. Tony Brown won a Gold Award in the Classic Landscape category with this panoramic shot taken a sunset and titled Wilpena Clouds Graeme Gordon picked up Gold Award in the Classic Landscape category for this black and white capture of the Sydney Opera House Andi Adbul Halil received Gold Awards in the Revealing Nature with this image of a Red Palm Weevil in Karawang Regency, Indonesia Andi Adbul Halil also triumphed in the Emotive Portraits categories with a capture of a person hiding behind a palm leaf titled 'Let me see the world!' Another of Krebs' captures - titled 'the anatomy lesson' - mesmerised the judges and picked up a Silver Award in the Revealing Nature category Silver awards were also presented to Magnus Jonassen for his untitled Classic Landscapes shot of a frozen scene in Kvitfjell, Norway Picnic hotspots have turned into boozy moshpits in Sydney's eastern suburbs and northern beaches as residents risk fines to celebrate Freedom Day early. Hundreds gathered by the water at Bondi and Manly on Saturday night to party ahead of Covid restrictions being relaxed on Monday for double-jabbed residents. Massive crowds flocked to 'The Office' in Manly - a popular waterfront spot near the wharf - where music was blasting and an impromptu dance floor was set up. Revellers were filmed crammed together and maskless as they belted out ABBA songs with drinks in tow while some were reported urinating. Similar scenes occurred at Bondi beach, after police were forced to disperse huge crowds who began congregating throughout the day. A number of move-on directions were given to residents while no fines were issued despite public health orders being in place until Monday. Hundreds of revellers have flocked to Manly beach on Saturday (pictured) just days shy of the state's scheduled Freedom Day Residents began gathering during the day at the popular waterfront picnic hotspot in Manly (pictured) Police were pictured moving the raging crowd on just after 7pm with reports revellers drank alcohol against council restrictions. Under Covid-19 restrictions only groups of five fully-vaccinated adults are allowed to gather outdoors until the state's stay-at-home orders are eased on October 11. But residents were desperate to get a taste of normal life again as Sydneysiders marked 15 weeks living in lockdown. Reaction was mixed on social media, where images and footage of the wild scenes were shared. Hundreds congregated in Bondi Beach on Saturday (pictured) before they were dispersed by police Police issued move-on directives to revellers just after sunset with no fines reportedly issued (pictured) 'This is anarchy. Yes, alcohol can be consumed there, but police arent powerless- there are also public health orders that can be enforced,' wrote news publisher Manly Observer. 'Where are the police?', questioned one local, while another slammed the revellers for being 'selfish' and 'privileged'. Others praised the large groups of young people for having a good time on a Saturday night. Sydneysiders were pictured flocking to Bondi beach days before the state's scheduled reopening on October 11 Public health orders are still enforced until Monday October 11, with only groups of five fully-vaccinated adults permitted to gather outdoors 'This is what happens when people are caged up like animals,' wrote one man. 'Is 28 hours actually going to make any difference to the outcome?,' pointed out another. 'Lets just put things into perspective. Its been a horrendous couple years for the youths especially. They are in the prime of their life and are certainly very excited the world is about to open up next week and they are in a highly vaccinated LGA. Enough of the generational warfare,' reasoned another. Scenes in Bondi show police promptly dispersing the large crowd just after sunset Residents turned up to celebrate Freedom Day early after NSW hit its 70 per cent vaccination target this week Double vaccinated residents will be able to enjoy greater freedoms from October 11 after NSW hit its 70 per cent vaccination target this week. As of Monday up to ten visitors will be allowed to gather at a home where all adults are vaccinated, while outdoor gatherings have a 30 person limit. Pubs, restaurants and cafes will open back up with beachgoers no longer having to rely just on picnics for food and drinks. An investigation has been launched after a toddler was rushed to hospital after being hit by a police car on a suburban street. Emergency services rushed to the scene in the leafy suburb of Pen-Y-Cae in Wrexham, north Wales on Friday afternoon. The two-year-old boy was injured after being hit on a 20mph road with speed bumps just as schools had closed for the day at around 3.30pm. North Wales Police have asked anyone who might have seen the incident or who has any information or dashcam footage to come forward. Emergency services rushed to the scene of the 20mph road with speed bumps in Pen-Y-Cae (pictured) in Wrexham, north Wales on Friday afternoon Neighbour Vanessa Jones, 30, said: 'The mother was hysterical. As I got there the little boy was trying to stand up.' People living in the street heard screams and a loud bang when the crash happened outside their homes at about 3.30pm. Miss Jones said: 'I was upstairs the bedroom and I could hear some screams.' She sat with the child as neighbour Hiram Evans, 55, took a pillow, blanket and teddy bear for the child as they waited with the officers for an ambulance. Mr Evans said: 'He was conscious all the time. The ambulance was on the scene straight away.' In a statement, North Wales Police said: 'A road traffic collision was reported on Ffordd Llanerch in Pen y Cae, involving a police vehicle and a pedestrian who was a two year old child. 'Colleagues from the Welsh Ambulance Service were also in attendance at the incident and the child has been taken to hospital.' The two-year-old was injured after being hit by a police vehicle just as schools had closed for the day at around 3.30pm. [File image] An air ambulance landed at the scene but the boy was taken by road by ambulance to nearby Wrexham Maelor Hospital. Some residents said they were unable to get into their homes for a time as a cordon and several police cars remained at the scene. PC Kelly Ellis said: 'We are appealing to anybody who was in the area or may have witnessed the collision that occurred at approximately 3.30pm to contact us. 'We ask that people avoid the area for the time being while officers carry out investigations at the scene. 'Witnesses or anybody with information or dash cam footage that could assist the investigation are asked to contact North Wales Police.' North Wales Police have been contacted to provide an update. Industry experts are warning that climate change may have caused wind speeds in Europe to plummet this year in news that threatens to drive energy prices even higher. Long labelled as a saviour of the energy industry, wind farms have cropped up across the continent in recent years and have been billed a low-cost, renewable and dependable source of power. Increased dependence on green forms of energy has also been touted as a solution to Britain's national gas crisis, amid soaring global prices and energy bills set to reach record-breaking levels. But weather modelling groups and academics appear to have quashed those hopes, as ever-increasing global temperatures are threatening to derail any prospective green energy revolution. Experts are blaming a growing phenomenon known as 'global stilling' - whereby measurable wind speeds across the world's continental surfaces have decreased by as much as 15 per cent since 1980. Industry experts are warning that climate change may have caused wind speeds in Europe to plummet this year in news that threatens to drive energy prices even higher. Above: A wind turbine near Swindon Experts are blaming a growing phenomenon known as 'global stilling' - whereby measurable wind speeds across the world's continental surfaces have decreased by as much as 15 per cent since 1980 Britain endured its longest spell of low wind in over a decade when its wind-powered output as a total percentage of installed capacity hit just 11 per cent between February and March 2021 Atmosphere expert Professor Paul Williams, of the University of Reading, told the Financial Times that winds have 'generally weakened over land over the past few decades'. He said one explanation for plummeting wind speeds could be 'human-related climate change', that would see poles warming 'faster than tropics in lower atmosphere' areas. Prof Williams said: 'This would have the effect of weakening the mid-latitude north-south temperature difference and consequently reducing the thermal wind at low altitudes.' More UK energy suppliers set to fail as wholesale prices soar Britain's retail energy sector will see more failures from suppliers and increased market consolidation due to a sharp rise in wholesale energy prices, rating agency Moody's said. The sector faces pressures on profitability and an increased risk of credit negative political intervention, the agency added. Nine British energy suppliers ceased trading last month alone. Smaller suppliers with less capital are struggling amid record wholesale power and gas prices across Britain and Europe, while price caps prevent the full rises from being passed on to consumers. Experts believe that if gas prices remain at around this level, which is now predicted, the average household energy bills could jump by as much as a third or 420 to almost 1,700 a year from April. Today the cheapest fixed gas and electricity deal available in the UK is 1,700 - a month ago it was 1,177. Ofgem will automatically move customers when companies go to the wall. But energy market rules demand that customers whose supplier goes bust must be offered a fair deal by the new supplier - not the same one they had - meaning they are likely to pay significantly more. 'More (failures) will follow with Renewable Obligation payments due in October,' Moody's said. British ministers are also looking at a range of options to help companies such as National Grid Plc (NG.L), Centrica Plc (CNA.L), EDF (EDF.PA) that have taken on a flood of customers from failed suppliers. Advertisement The United Nation's panel on Climate Change reciprocated Prof Williams' predictions, warning that wind speeds over much of Europe are set to drop by up to 10 per cent by 2100. Any significant fall in wind speed would be felt by Europe's growing army of wind farms, as stronger gusts equate to more electricity being generated, up to a certain point. With winds in the North Sea not blowing as they should, energy companies were left scrambling to source reserve gas to heat homes and businesses this winter. That rush caused energy costs to sky rocket, with British firms already warning they are having to slow production ahead of the winter months. As the crisis escalated, industry analysts suggested the current energy cap of 1,277 would rise by as much as 800, while energy firms slammed the cap as 'not fit for purpose'. Compounding the issue, weather modelling group Vortex warned northern Europe has already endured speed decreases of up to 15 per cent in 2021. As a result, Britain's wind-powered output as a total percentage of installed capacity hit just 11 per cent between February and March 2021. That amounted to the country's longest spell of low wind in over a decade, reports the FT. The National Grid, who just this week warned of a greater risk of blackouts this winter, said the amount of excess electricity capacity expected above peak energy demand was forecast at 3.9GW this year, or 6.6% of capacity, down from 4.8GW, or 8.3%, last winter. This forecast is lower than a winter margin forecast of 4.3 GW made in July this year and also the lowest margin level since the winter of 2016/17. Forward power prices in Britain are expected to be higher this winter than last year due to the surge in gas prices. The National Grid said that any days when the difference between the amount of energy Britain needs and the extent of available supply was particularly small could see electricity prices to increase even further. As recently as September 6, wind power provided less than 3 per cent of the UK's total electricity generation - compared with annual averages of 18 per cent. In response, two coal-powered plants in West Burton were turned on to help alleviate pressure. Both plants will be fully closed by EDF energy in September 2022. This damning data threatens an already fragile global energy market, and casts further doubt on the UK's ambitious 2035 carbon-neutral pledge. The cost of wholesale electricity is rocketing in response to an astonishing spike in the price of natural gas, which accounted for 42% of power generation in Britain in September 2021 (as shown by this graph) Rocketing energy prices could 'strangle' production of British steel, a leading industry figure warned as factory bosses said they will have to close within weeks as a result of the ongoing crisis The Government announced at the end of September that new payments are set to be added to gas in a desperate bid to entice people to replace their central heating boilers and cookers with renewable alternatives Gas is in high demand due to the reopening of the global economy, colder temperatures, and reduced wind and solar output due to unfavourable weather conditions. Meanwhile, Russia - a major exporter - has slashed the amount it sends to Europe. Tory MP Sir Iain Duncan Smith told MailOnline President Putin was 'bullying' the EU and the UK should be exploiting shale gas supplies to get 'completely clear of any dependency'. 'Most of our gas is either home produced or from Norway. We are not dependent on Russian gas in the same way as Europe is, especially Germany,' he said. Britain's reliance on gas remains clear, with approximately 40 per cent of the country's total electricity generated using such methods. The Government announced at the end of September that new payments are set to be added to gas in a desperate bid to entice people to replace their central heating boilers and cookers with renewable alternatives. Concerns still linger over the prices of such technology, with a new gas-fired boiler costing about 1,500 with installation, compared to up to 11,000 for an air source heat pump. A public health boss has told people in the South of England to self-isolate if they have Covid-19 symptoms even if they have tested negative in confusing new advice months after the country was paralysed by the 'pingdemic'. It comes after several patients in Bath, Bristol and Swindon tested negative on a PCR test after a lateral flow test returned a positive result mystifying health experts. PCR tests are far more accurate than lateral flow tests with only 2.8 per cent returning a false result, which are available free over the counter. Becky Reynolds, director of public health for Bath and North East Somerset Council, said: 'If thinking it through there is quite a chance you have Covid, even if the PCR is coming back negative, then regard it as Covid and self-isolate. 'The advice is also to think about your local situation, do an individual risk assessment... so what is the likelihood that even though the PCR is negative, that you may still have Covid?' A public health boss has warned people to self-isolate if they have Covid-19 symptoms even if they have tested negative after a string of patients received negative PCR results but positive lateral flows (pictured, a student takes a lateral flow test) Cases in Bath and North East Somerset per 100,000 population over a seven-day period What are the current self-isolation rules? You must self-isolate if you develop Covid-19 symptoms including: - a high temperature - a new, continuous cough - a loss or change to your sense of smell or taste You should also self-isolate if: - you've tested positive for Covid-19 - someone you live with has symptoms or tested positive - you've been told to self-isolate following contact with someone who tested positive Advertisement The anomalous results were primarily reported in Bath, Bristol and Swindon, the UK Health Security Agency said, adding it was investigating the issue and that it did not appear technical issues had caused the problem. Reynolds admitted to the BBC it was a 'confusing' situation for people but asked for patience while an investigation into the testing anomalies takes place. An Independent Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) member has called for an investigation to be conducted 'seriously and rapidly'. Meanwhile chief medical advisor for the UK Health Security Agency, Susan Hopkins, urged people to make sure they read testing instructions to avoid incorrect readings. Dr Lucy Pocock, a GP from Cadbury Heath Healthcare in south Gloucestershire, raised concerns over the issue after seeing a 'stream of patients' who had received negative PCR results but positive lateral flow tests. She told the BBC: 'The worrying thing here is that these people are all clearly symptomatic and with a very unexpected negative PCR result.' 'Several of these patients have done multiple lateral flow tests, all positive, and have then rightly gone on to do a PCR test, which has come back negative. Medics have raised concerns people are unwittingly spreading Covid-19 because of the testing confusion. Undercover footage has captured hounds from the Duke of Beaufort's Hunt being shot dead at a kennels before being shoved into a wheelbarrow and taken away. The clip, secretly filmed by anti-hunting campaigners Keep the Ban and the Hunt Investigation Team, shows bullets being fired into the heads of four hounds deemed no longer suitable for hunting purposes in Badminton, Gloucestershire. Two of the hounds who appear to show signs of life are shot twice by members of the prestigious fox hunting group before being 'thrown away like garbage' in the video, which was shared with ITV News. Keep the Ban estimates that close to 7,000 hunting hounds are killed each year. The practice is not illegal and can be done for a variety of reasons, including illness, injury or old age. Responding to the video, the Duke of Beaufort's Hunt said that its hounds are 'humanely euthanised' if they cannot be rehomed. The harrowing clip comes amid calls from anti-hunting groups to end trail hunting - where hounds or beagles follow a scent along a pre-determined route with no foxes chased, injured or killed - on National Trust land. Warning: Distressing content The clip, secretly filmed by anti-hunting campaigners Keep the Ban and the Hunt Investigation Team, shows bullets being fired into the heads of four hounds deemed no longer suitable for hunting purposes in Badminton, Gloucestershire What is the Duke of Beaufort's Hunt? The Duke of Beaufort's Hunt, also known at the Beaufort Hunt, is one of the oldest fox hunting packs in England, whose hunting dates back to 1640. Since then hounds have been systematically bred in Badminton for the sole purpose of hunting the foxes. All the puppies bred by the hunt are put out to walk on farms from as young as six-weeks-old. The hunting of deer and foxes was first led by the Marquess of Worcester during the 1600s but in 1762, Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort, decided to focus on fox hunting after an unsuccessful day hunting deer. From this point onwards, Dukes of Beaufort have continued with the tradition and hunt on an area of land between Cirencester and Bath. During the hunting season, the hunt will go out on four days of the week. The current master is the 11th Duke, also called Henry Somerset. Advertisement The footage, taken several times between April and September, is the first time a hunt has been caught on camera shooting their hounds. A spokesman for Keep the Ban said: 'If evidence of chasing and killing wildlife wasn't enough, now we are confronted with sickening footage of a previously licenced hunt putting bullets into their hounds and carting them away as if they're garbage. 'Two of the hounds can still be seen moving after the first shot and are then shot again for good measure. This isn't right. This isn't normal. 'This isn't the sort of behaviour that the National Trust should be condoning.' The charity is set to vote later this month on whether to ban trail hunting on its land during the next hunting season. Politicians and celebrities reacted to the footage, describing it as 'insane' and 'absolutely heartbreaking'. Conservative MP Tracey Crouch, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group for Animal Welfare, said: 'I don't understand why a dog...needs to be euthanised in this way and I am sure there are much more compassionate ways of putting a dog to sleep.' Animal rights supporter Ricky Gervais added: 'It is so deeply upsetting that foxhounds are trained against their natural instinct to hunt foxes and when they catch them, rip them to pieces! 'Then they are killed, usually by a shot to the head, by... someone who loves to chase and kill innocent animals. Both the hound and the fox become the victim of this cruelty. It's insane, don't you think?' Mike Jessop, a fellow of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, urged for the procedure to be done in a more humane way, by use of a lethal injection for example, and by a veterinary surgeon. He also questioned whether one of the hounds was still able to feel pain, saying its tail was seen wagging even after being loaded into the wheelbarrow. Keep the Ban estimates that close to 7,000 hunting hounds are killed each year. The practice is not illegal and can be done for a variety of reasons, including illness, injury or old age Responding to the video, the Duke of Beaufort's Hunt said that its hounds are 'humanely euthanised' if they cannot be rehomed The harrowing clip comes amid calls from anti-hunting groups to end trail hunting - where hounds or beagles follow a scent along a pre-determined route with no foxes chased, injured or killed - on National Trust land What is the law on fox hunting? Fox hunting with dogs was banned in 2004 amid mounting complaints from animal welfare campaigners who argued it caused unnecessary suffering to wild animals. It meant that groups in England and Wales could no longer hunt down and kill mammals with hounds. But many hunts now simulate the chase by laying a scent for the dogs to follow instead of using an actual fox - this is known as trail hunting. Dogs can also still be used to 'flush' foxes out of hiding if it is causing damage to property or the environment. Source: www.gov.uk Advertisement The Duke of Beaufort's Hunt, also known at the Beaufort Hunt, is one of the oldest fox hunting packs in England, whose hunting dates back to 1640. Since then hounds have been systematically bred in Badminton for the sole purpose of hunting the foxes. All the puppies bred by the hunt are put out to walk on farms from as young as six-weeks-old. The hunting of deer and foxes was first led by the Marquess of Worcester during the 1600s but in 1762, Henry Somerset, 5th Duke of Beaufort, decided to focus on fox hunting after an unsuccessful day hunting deer. From this point onwards, Dukes of Beaufort have continued with the tradition and hunt on an area of land between Cirencester and Bath. During the hunting season, the hunt will go out on four days of the week. The current master is the 11th Duke, also called Henry Somerset. In a statement, the Duke of Beaufort's Hunt said: 'A number of options are considered for every hound before any decision is made regarding their future, whether that is retirement or rehoming, either to a domestic environment or to another kennels where their country may be deemed more suitable for that individual hound. 'Occasionally hounds are successfully retired as domestic pets, but they are not house-trained and have only ever been used to living in a pack environment so the majority are unfortunately unsuitable for rehoming. 'Where other options are not available, hounds are humanely euthanised. This is done by trained professionals using lawful and approved methods.' Scott Morrison has sparked controversy after sharing a snap of himself cooking on his outdoor barbecue while quarantining at The Lodge - while regular Australians are forced to isolate in cramped hotel rooms. The Prime Minister was all smiles as he tended to his chicken curry while on Day 13 of his 14-day isolation period in Canberra, sharing a series of snaps of his cooking process to Instagram. But not everyone was pleased with his Saturday night plans, with some questioning why ordinary citizens had to complete their quarantine stints confined to a room often without a balcony or windows that open. 'Geez it must be nice,' one wrote. Scott Morrison has angered many Australians after sharing a snap of himself cooking on his outdoor barbecue while quarantining at The Lodge - despite many currently isolating in cramped hotel rooms 'Read the room - pretty distasteful putting this up while most people have to quarantine without even being able to open a window never mind cook a meal,' wrote another. 'Gee must being doing it tough in quarantine,' a third sarcastically wrote. 'Lucky you, I had to do mine in a room with no fresh air and my view out the window was a brick wall,' one Aussie wrote. Others took the opportunity to compliment Mr Morrison on his cooking prowess, with one even suggesting he go on the popular television show MasterChef. 'Good job, looks amazing. Keep up the good work!' one said. 'Take care! Sir, you need a thermomix for Christmas!' another suggested. 'Like a chef! Don't forget the beers!'. Some Aussies questioned the double standards of quarantine facilities Others complimented Mr Morrison on his cooking skills Mr Morrison is isolating following his trip to the US where he held talks with American President Joe Biden. The prime minister is allowed to self-quarantine at The Lodge, which is his primary official residence in the ACT. All Australians returning from overseas are required to complete 14 days of isolation in designated hotel facilities. Many have complained about the poor quality of food and lack of fresh air they had in their rooms which they are confined to for the total duration of their stay. California has become the first state in the nation to make ethnic studies a required class for high school students after five years of debate. The requirement would apply to students who graduate in 2030 and was created and approved by the state Board of Education in March after Gov. Gavin Newsom vetoed a similar measure last year until it was 'inclusive of all communities.' During the bill signing on Friday, Newsom said students 'must understand our nation's full history if we expect them to one day build a more just society. 'Ethnic studies courses enable students to learn their own stories and those of their classmates.' California Gov. Gavin Newsom, left, signed into law America's first ethnic studies requirement for high school students. State Assemblyman Jose Medina, a former ethnic studies teacher who wrote the bill, said it was 'long overdue The bill will go into effect in 2025, and California students who begin high school in 2026 will be required to pass at least one semester of the new course How California's ethnic studies classes should focus lessons around the demographics of their students California's new ethnic studies mandate will have students learn about the past and present struggles of America's marginalized groups. It includes the experiences of black, Asian, Latino, Jewish, Native and Indigenous Americans, women and other groups who face bigotry. Ethnic studies courses address institutionalized systems of advantage, and address the causes of racism and other forms of bigotry including, but not limited to, anti-Blackness, anti-Indigeneity, xenophobia, antisemitism, and Islamophobia within our culture and governmental policies. Educators can create and utilize lessons rooted in the four foundational disciplines to make connections to the experiences of all students, alongside the sample key themes of: 1) Identity 2) History and Movement 3) Systems of Power 4) Social Movements and Equity School districts are encouraged to focus their lessons around the demographics of their students The new curriculum better addresses the experiences of Jewish, Middle Easter, North African and Armenian groups while removing language that directly associates oppression with capitalism. The courses must be introduced through a public hearing before being approved by school districts Advertisement The course will focus on the past and presents struggles of marginalized groups in America, including black, Asian, Latino, Jewish, Middle Eastern, Native and Indigenous Americans, women and other groups who face bigotry, the Los Angeles Times reports The bill was authored by State Assemblyman Jose Medina with the help of an advisory committee made up of teachers and educators. Medina called the new requirement 'long overdue' and just 'one step in the long struggle for equal education for all students.' The bill, which was first reposed in 2016, received stark criticism as opponents claimed it was filled with radical ideology and obscure jargon and bias against capitalism. The version that Newsom vetoed last year also received backlash from the members of the California Legislative Jewish Caucus, which said the bill failed to properly address anti-Semitism while providing positive representation for the boycott movement against Israel. 'There were 14 forms of bigotry and racism in the glossary,' said Assemblyman Jesse Gabriel (D-Encino), who called the exclusion of anti-Semitism glaring, obvious and offensive. Anti-Semitism is now noted more clearly in the curriculum as a form of bigotry. It also now includes the experiences of Armenian and Sikh communities in the US, all while toning down 'anti-capitalist sentiments.' Williamson Evers, a former US assistant secretary of Education, continued to speak out against the curriculum, saying it 'is still full of left-wing ideological propaganda and indoctrination. 'It still force feeds our children the socialist dogma that capitalism is oppression.' Some proponents of the bill said the new version is too diluted from the original version and fear that two new changes could be a recipe for disaster. The new bill advises that school districts avoid using anything that was removed from the original draft and requires all materials to be provided for public review, meaning it must be reviewed in a public hearing before being approved at a later meeting. Theresa Montano, professor of Chicana/o studies at Cal State Northridge, said those two provision could ignite unruly board meeting that target educators, much like the heated debates seen around Critical Race Theory. Medina, a former ethnic studies teacher, said the revised teaching guide still embodies reasonable compromise for diversity and inclusion. 'As we've seen in this lengthy process, there are criticisms from different sides, from the left and the right,' Medina said. 'This wasn't an easy task, but at the end of the day, in the adopted version, I say that it's a model curriculum that we can all be proud of.' Individual school districts will have the task of developing courses using the state's curriculum guide, allowing schools to focus on parts of the curriculum that represent their student's demographics. All public high school will have to offer ethnic studies courses by 2025, and students who start high school in 2026 must pass at least one single-semester course. Seattle's police department is preparing to fire up to 400 officers who have not yet had their Covid shot in line with the city's strict vaccine mandate - despite already suffering staff shortages, rising crime rates and high 911 response times. The Seattle Police Department has an October 18 deadline for all sworn personnel to turn in proof of COVID-19 vaccinations or risk losing their jobs. As of Friday, 292 officers have yet to turn in proof of vaccination - or 27 percent of the department's 1,080 deployable police officers. Another 111 officers - ten percent of the deployable officers - are waiting on exemption requests to be approved. If all 403 officers are let go on October 18, the police force will lose 37 per cent of its officers - a crippling blow for an already under-resourced department. Police Chief Adrian Diaz has already warned officers to prepare for a 'Stage 3 Mobilization' from October 13 - an emergency plan which would put all remaining officers on standby to respond to 911 calls. The Seattle Police Department looks over a population of more than 724,000 people. Staffing at the department is already at lows not seen since the 1980s. In July, it was revealed that the department had already lost at least 280 officers since the start of 2020 due to what they called an 'anti-police climate' in the city amid Black Lives Matter protests and calls to defund the police. As of Friday, 292 officers have yet to turn in proof, and an additional 111 are waiting on exemption requests to be approved, totaling 403 unvaccinated officers As for Friday, 292 officers had not yet submitted proof of vaccination, and an additional 111 officers were waiting for exemption approval Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan told city staff in an email on Monday that she values 'each of you, and do not want to lose you as employees.' She enforced her mandate by writing: 'The people that count of you the most are the ones that need you to get vaccinated.' It is unclear if the mayor will actually fire unvaccinated personnel on October 18, as she is been evasive regarding the answer since announcing the mandate in August. When asked in August if she would fire those employees, she responded to Fox 5 by saying: 'I don't believe I will be put in that position because I believe officers will get the vaccine.' Seattle Police Chief Adrian Diaz has advised his department to prepare to transition to Stage 3 Mobilization, Fox13 reports. The order puts all sworn officers including detectives and non-uniformed personnel on standby to respond to 911 calls. It is usually reserved for a crisis where cops cannot maintain public order. The order will go into effect on October 13. There are only four tiers of emergency planning in Seattle - Stage 3 is the second highest, behind a full-blown State of Civil Emergency. According to city guidelines: 'While under the stage 3 mobilization, every sworn member of the department shall be in their class A/B uniform for the duration of their shift. Those members who are in non-patrol units shall be prepared to immediately report to one of the five precincts for 911 call response.' In an internal memo, obtained by Fox 13, Chief Diaz wrote: 'This Stage 3 mobilization is the result of the need to plan for all staffing contingencies, with an emphasis on ensuring safe staffing levels in patrol operations.' The Seattle Police Department is already experiencing low staffing and long 911 response times after losing almost 300 officers since 2020 The department is still reeling from a 17 per cent budget cut following a push by leftist activists to defund the police last year - with more than 300 cops already quitting since the start of 2020. Mayor Durkan addressed the crisis at a July 28 press conference, before the vaccine mandate was announced, saying: 'As a city, we cannot continue on this current trajectory of losing police officers. 'Over the past 17 months, the Seattle Police Department has lost 250 police officers which is the equivalent of over 300,000 service hours. We're on path to losing 300 police officers.' Durkan had said in July she plans to submit a new plan to hire more officers to restore its numbers. 'We are at record lows in the city right now. I have about 1,080 deployable officers. This is the lowest I've seen our department,' Chief Diaz told KING-TV in April. At times, there are only around 70 officers patrolling the city on a nightly basis, KKTH reported. The number of officers to leave Seattle Police Department has been in free fall since last year, but the trend started in 2015 It comes despite violent crime in the city surging. The city is on track to break last year's homicide rate, which was also a new high for the fist time in 26 years. There were 30 murders recorded in the city in the year to August - compared to 52 in the whole of 2020. Last year, departing officers have cited what they call an 'anti-police climate' in Seattle, city council policies and disagreements with police department leadership. It's Public Safety Committee considered a $5.4million cut to the Seattle Police Department's 2021 budget in February to account for an equivalent amount of overspending by the department last year. Whether the proposal went through remains unknown. Crime has been rising in Seattle throughout 2021. Compared to the past few years, crime is up from 30,816 in 2020 and 31,265 in 2019 to 33,695 in 2021, compared to the same time as each year. DailyMail.com attempted to contact Mayor Durkan's office and the Seattle Police Department for comment but did not hear back. Crime has been rising in Seattle this year with 33,695 crimes already occurred this year compared to only 30,816 crimes at the same time last year. Although 2019 had elevated crime rates, 2021 has surpassed it Seattle's homicide rate seems to be reaching the total of homicides in 2020, with four months left before the end of the year Mayor Durkan (left) sent an email to employees telling them the government value[s] each of you and do not want to lose you as employees.' In addition, the Governor Jay Inslee (right) imposed a mandate for teachers and staff of pubic and private schools and universities Washington Governor Jay Inslee has also imposed a vaccine mandate all public, charter and private school teachers and staff, as well as those working at the state's colleges and universities in August. Despite the vaccine mandate for police officers, 80 per cent of Seattle citizens 12 and older have been vaccinated, which is leaving some officers wondering why they are being forced to receive a vaccine. One officer, who remains anonymous and is awaiting a religious exemption, told Fox 5: 'Losing even 50 to 75 officers in one day, the response times for the city will go up drastically.' He also said he would 'continue working until the day that they fire' him. Another officer, who also remained anonymous, said she would be leaving the Seattle force regardless of the mandate, citing the environment was 'pretty toxic and negative.' Over the years, positive perception of the Seattle Police Department has declined. In 2018, 60.6 per cent survey have a positive view of the force. In 2020, it dropped to 53.6 per cent. 2021 survey results are not available yet. Advertisement Dramatic footage has captured the moment a SWAT team shot dead a gunman who took a hostage and barricaded himself inside an apartment complex, following a random spree where he shot a 14-year-old boy in the head. LAPD officers stormed a building near the Skid Row district in downtown Los Angeles Friday after the man, who has not been identified, embarked on a horrifying shooting spree that afternoon. The rampage saw the suspect attempt to shoot a man in the head, open fire on a family inside a local business and attempt to carjack a woman, before he entered the apartment building and took a woman hostage. The gunman was shot and killed by officers during the raid on the apartment which was captured on cellphone footage from a building opposite. Scroll down for video Dramatic footage has captured the moment a SWAT team shot dead a gunman who took a hostage and barricaded himself inside an apartment complex, following a random spree where he shot a 14-year-old boy in the head The incident unfolded around 4:10pm when the suspect allegedly randomly walked up to a man on the sidewalk near 8th and Broadway and tried to shoot him at point-blank range in the head. The LAPD said in a Twitter thread that the suspect held a gun to the man's face and pulled the trigger, but 'fortunately the gun did not fire'. From there, the suspect entered a business in the 700 block of Broadway where three family members, including a 14-year-old boy, were inside. He pointed his firearm at the group and opened fire, with one bullet grazing the side of the teen's head. The gunman then continued on his rampage heading to the area of 6th and Spring where he attempted to carjack a woman. When the suspect couldn't get inside the car he fled to 7th and Spring where he 'struggled' with a man that was riding a bike. During the altercation, the cyclist noticed the suspect reach into his waistband, revealing he was still armed, police said. At the same time, security officers flagged down police who were responding to the scene after receiving several radio calls of the random attacks by this point. Cops chased the suspect who ran into the apartment complex on 6th Street and South Main Street, where he took a victim hostage. SWAT and K9 units were called in and police found surveillance footage inside the building. The footage showed the suspect in a hallway armed with a gun forcing a female to come with him, the LAPD said. Cellphone footage shot by a bystander from the building opposite shows a man in a white t-shirt appearing to point a gun at the head of the hostage in front of the large windows The gunman then drags the woman away from the window to another spot in the room. A series of loud flash-bangs go off illuminating the rooms The man grabs his hostage and pulls her to the furthest room from the entrance and out of sight into darkness 'At that point, we knew we had a hostage situation,' the LAPD said. Through a window, officers could see the suspect holding a gun to the hostage's head, police said. Cellphone footage shot by a bystander from the building opposite captured the terrifying ordeal. The video shows a man in a white t-shirt appearing to point a gun at the head of the hostage in front of the large apartment windows. The hostage, who is in dark clothing, is kneeled down on the ground while the man is standing. The gunman then drags the woman away from the window to another spot in the room. He is seen strolling around the apartment before a loud flash-bang is heard, which causes the man to duck down. SWAT team officers are seen swarming the apartment with their firearms pointed and several gunshots are heard Police said the suspect was shot by an officer during the raid and died on the scene. The hostage was taken to hospital Several more bangs are heard and the man is seen running back and forth toward what appears to be the entrance to the apartment close to the stairwell. At least one SWAT officer is then seen on the stairwell outside the apartment. The suspect runs back through the apartment grabbing his hostage along the way and pulling her to the furthest room from the entrance and out of sight into darkness. At least five SWAT team officers swarm the apartment with their firearms pointed and several gunshots are heard. 'Based on the already incredibly violent actions and fearing the suspect was going to kill the hostage, SWAT entered the apartment,' the LAPD said. 'An OIS occurred and the suspect was struck by gunfire.' Police said the suspect was shot by an officer and died on the scene. The terrifying ordeal took place just eight blocks away from another hostage situation two days earlier where a woman took someone hostage with a gun (pictured the scene) The 14-year-old boy was taken to a local hospital for treatment, where he is expected to survive. The hostage was also hospitalized with her condition not currently known. Police said the suspect's firearm was recovered from the scene. Neither the suspect nor the victims have been publicly identified. The terrifying ordeal took place just eight blocks away from another hostage situation two days earlier. On Wednesday night, LAPD officers were called to reports of a woman with a gun near Arcadia Street and Spring Street, reported KTLA. The suspect then allegedly emerged from a tent, armed and with a hostage. Police said an officer shot the woman and she was taken to hospital. No other injuries were reported. TV presenter Chris Packham has led a children's march to Buckingham Palace to hand deliver a petition asking the Queen to rewild royal lands. The eco campaigner was joined by around 100 'school strikers' in a procession across Green Park to the palace with a petition boasting 100,000 signatures in hand. The petition is aimed at urging the Royal Family to commit to rewilding its estates before the Cop26 climate summit in October. The royals are the UK's biggest landowners, with an estate that includes lands owned by the duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall and the Queen. The eco campaigner was joined by around 100 'school strikers' in a procession across Green Park to the palace The petition gathered over 100,000 signatures It's estimated that the family owns land equivalent to 1.4 per cent of the UK. Speaking outside the palace on Saturday, Packham said: 'Frankly, my conscience is not clear. 'On my watch as an environmentalist and conservationist, I have failed these young people - I have failed to act quickly and broadly enough to prevent the crisis that we find ourselves in. 'The world that they are likely to inherit - unless we act urgently, properly and quickly now - will not be as pleasant as the one I inherited when I was their age. And that's not something I want to take to my grave. 'It's the most harmonious, beautiful and peaceful demonstration I have been on for some time. Speaking outside the palace on Saturday, Packham said: 'Frankly, my conscience is not clear.' The campaigners want the Royal Family to rewild their land, which is thought to make up around 1.4 per cent of the UK Two people gather to show the impact rewilding Royal land could have on species like bees Environment Campaigners TV presenter and naturalist Chris Packham outside Buckingham Palace with the other activists SOS from the Kids, who have performed on Britain's Got Talent, write and sing songs as a form of environmental activism, and are set to perform at Cop26. 'We're asking our royal Family, denizens of the property behind us, to rewild the 800,000 acres of land that they have in the UK. If they were to do so it would be a very powerful message that would resonate with people all over the world.' Among those who marched was 16-year-old Noah Macaulay, a sixth-form student from Hampshire and co-founder of choir SOS from the Kids. The group, who have performed on Britain's Got Talent, write and sing songs as a form of environmental activism, and are set to perform at Cop26. 'The royal family has an amazing opportunity, because they own so much land, to lead by example and rewild that,' the teen said. 'We're asking our royal Family, denizens of the property behind us, to rewild the 800,000 acres of land that they have in the UK,' Chris Packham said. It is hoped the march will encourage the Queen to adopt reclamation strategies More than 100 children joined Chris Packham to deliver the petition 'They could really, really help to improve nature and help biodiversity.' A Royal Estates spokesperson said: 'Members of the royal family have a longstanding commitment to conservation and biodiversity, and for over 50 years have championed the preservation and development of natural ecosystems. 'The Royal Estates are constantly evolving and looking for new ways to continue improving biodiversity, conservation and public access to green spaces, as well as being home to thriving communities and businesses which form part of the fabric of the local community.' The first-ever black female firefighter in Boynton Beach, Florida has filed a $100,000 lawsuit against the city for defamation and negligence after it unveiled a mural last year that depicted her as a white woman. Latosha Clemons, who joined the Boynton Beach and Fire Rescue Department in 1996 and also became its first black deputy chief 20 year later, alleged she suffered mental anguish after seeing the mural last summer, which was meant to celebrate her and her department. 'Being depicted as white was not only a false presentation of Clemons, it was also a depiction which completely disrespected all that Clemons, the first female black firefighter for the City, had accomplished,' the lawsuit states. It added that Clemons experienced 'mental and emotional harm, pain and suffering and damage to personal and professional reputation, as well as subjected her to ridicule, contempt, disgrace and/or humiliation both in the City Administration and in the community at large.' The original mural at Boynton Beach and Fire Rescue's new fire station depicted Latosha Celmons, right, as a white woman The mural was based off this photo graph from the fire department. Latosha Clemons was the department's first black female fire fighter Clemons, who went on to become the city's first black deputy chief, has filed a $100,000 lawsuit against the city over the mural controversy The mural was first commissioned in 2019 and unveiled on June 3, 2020 at the city's new fire station, The Daily Beast reports. Not only did it portray Clemons as white, it also depicted former Boynton Fire Chief Glenn Joseph, a black man, as white, too. Facing public outrage, the mural was removed the following day, and Boynton Beach City Manager Lori LaVerriere fired the city's public arts manager, Debby Coles-Dobay. 'I sincerely apologize this occurred and will take every measure necessary to ensure this never happens again,' LaVerriere said at the time. In an email to the Palm Beach Post last year, Coles-Dobay claimed she was pressured to make the mural the way it was by the city and Fire Chief's Office. Boynton Beach City Manager Lori LaVerriere fired City Public Arts Manager Debby Coles-Dobay after the mural incident. Coles-Dobay alleges that the city knew about the errors beforehand and pushed her office to complete the mural An altered version of the mural was eventually set up to correct the previous errors The mural was eventually altered to correctly depict Clemons and Joseph. The city said officials were meeting with attorney's on how to move forward with the lawsuit. Clemons' attorney, Arthur Schofield, declined to comment, citing active litigation. During an interview with the Palm Beach Post last year, Clemons demanded answers for how the mural came to be. 'I'm hurt. I'm disappointed. I'm outraged,' Clemons said, adding that the mural caused her 'sleepless nights.' 'It's been my heart and soul and my lifeblood to serve in the community where I grew up... this is beyond disrespect and I basically want to know why it happened.' Clemons and city officials are scheduled to meet with a mediator on November 30. Italian sailors knew about America 150 years before Christopher Columbus discovered the continent, researchers have claimed. A reference to Genoan sailors knowing of a land west from Greenland 'where giants live' has been uncovered in the writings of a 14th-century Milanese friar. Italian academics came across the passage while studying the Cronica Universalis - written by Galvaneus Flamma around 1340 - for the first time. Referring to 'Markland', meaning Forestland, the Dominican friar writes: 'In this land, there are buildings with such huge slabs of stone that nobody could build with them, except huge giants. 'There are also green trees, animals and a great quantity of birds. However, no sailor was ever able to know anything for sure about this land or about its features.' The text provides evidence that reports of the American continent were circulating in the Mediterranean region before Columbus's discovery, say researchers. Italian sailors knew about America 150 years before Christopher Columbus discovered the continent, researchers have claimed. Pictured: Colombus Taking Possession of the New World at San Salvador, circa 1492 Paolo Chiesa, who led the research at the University of Milan, told The Times: 'This astonishing find is the first known report to circulate in the Mediterranean of the American continent, and if Columbus was aware of what these sailors knew it might have helped convince him make his voyage.' The professor of Medieval Latin Literature added: 'Nordic legends describe the trips, but until now there has been no evidence that word of this land spread to the Mediterranean.' Auctioned at Christies in 1996 for $14,950 (10,980), the Cronica Universalis was first drawn attention to in 2013, by Sante Ambrogio Cengarle Parisi. It is preserved in a single manuscript held by a private owner and remains unpublished, although an edition is planned. In his essay, published in the journal Terrae Incognitae, Mr Chiesa writes: 'The Genoese might have brought back to their city scattered news about these lands, some real and some fanciful, that they heard in the northern harbors from Scottish, British, Danish, Norwegian sailors with whom they were trading.' Columbus set sail on August 3, 1492 from the Spanish port of Palos with hopes of finding a route to the fabled riches of Asia. Along with three ships - the Nina, the Pinta and the Santa Maria - Columbus and roughly 100 men embarked on the journey that took them to the opposite side of the world and far from their original destination. On October 12, 1492 the ships made landfall in what is now the Bahamas and later in the month, Columbus spotted Cuba and thought it was mainland China. Auctioned at Christies in 1996 for $14,950 (10,980), the Cronica Universalis was first drawn attention to in 2013, by Sante Ambrogio Cengarle Parisi And two months later, the ships pulled ashore, which Columbus thought might be Japan. On the second voyage in 1493, Columbus intentionally sailed back to the New World and landed in Puerto Rico and he completed two more voyages afterwards. The explorer is famed for discovering the 'New World,' but neither he nor his men actually stepped foot in North America. He died on May 20, 1506 and was buried in the Spanish city of Valladolid, though he had asked to be buried in the Americas. Popular belief suggests Columbus was born in Genoa, Italy, while others say he was a royal prince, a son of a Portuguese noble lady and exiled king. There is also speculation that the navigator was Scottish, Catalan or Jewish. French police have come under intense criticism for watching scores of migrants leave the shores of Calais 'unchallenged', after more people successfully made the perilous journey across the English channel on Saturday. At least 40 migrants, including a baby who was less than a month old, were picked up off the coast after a small boat crossing off the coast of Dungeness, Kent today. Eyewitnesses reported seeing increased activity from mid-morning, with the lifeboat arriving ashore at approximately 2pm. French officials are said to be launching an investigation after armed police officers were accused of standing by and watching as dozens of migrants departed Calais this week Armed French police officers (left) watch on from 100 yards away as scores of migrants (right) begin their perilous journey across the English Channel in Calais, France Among those who survived the perilous journey was a 16-day-old girl from Iraq, who was pictured on the rocky beach cradled in white blankets in the arms of a Border Force official. It comes as footage broadcasted on Sky News this week showed migrants leaving Calais unchallenged by armed police - in what is likely to be a fresh blow to Anglo-French relations. Dozens of people were seen piling into inflatable rafts, dinghies - and even a canoe - in their desperate bid to make it across the English Channel, with French security 'stood by and watched'. Less than three months ago, the UK agreed to hand France an extra 54m in a bid to curb the record-breaking number of migrant landings. A the Tory annual conference earlier this week, Home Secretary Priti Patel described France as a 'safe country' and reiterated her desire to 'turn back the boats'. After evading French security at first light, the migrants piled into dinghies and spent nine hours crossing the English Channel, before they were picked up by immigration officers this afternoon. A 16-day-old girl from Iraq is pictured on the shores of Dungeness, Kent after being rescued by Border Force An RNLI lifeboat carries approximately 40 migrants ashore at Dungeness in Kent after a successful small boat crossing in the English Channel After evading French security at first light, the migrants piled into dinghies and spent nine hours crossing the English Channel, before they were picked up by British immigration officers this afternoon Ruthless people smugglers have taken advantage of the warm start to October, with a recent surge in successful crossings reported across Kent in the past week. But Sky News has reported French security 'stood by and watched' the scenes of chaos unfold from less than 100 yards away instead of intervening. A group of approximately 10 officers allegedly stood idle as two separate groups of migrants piled onto inflatable boats that took up to 10 minutes to get their engines started. Home Office blew 6,757 in a month at Domino's in Dover for migrants who had crossed the Channel The Home Office spent 6,757 in one month on Domino's pizzas to feed migrants arriving in the UK after crossing the Channel from France, figures show. Hundreds of pizzas were bought from the Dover branch of the fast food chain in July, according to analysis of the government department's spending. A disclosure log for Home Office procurement card transactions costing more than 500 for the four-week period contained five separate entries from UK Immigration Enforcement for such food orders, totalling 6,757. The takeaways were provided while migrants were at Tug Haven - a short-term holding facility in Dover where they are first taken from the beach or sea. The most expensive entry - 1,824 - said: 'This was an urgent need to feed a large number of migrants that had been on the Tug Haven compound in Dover for over 12 hours, and were likely to stay over 24 hours due to issues blocking their movement with resources and the Irc (immigration removal centre) estate.' An entry for 1,789 said: 'Purchased by Clandestine Operational Response Team (Cort) for use at Tug Haven where we have migrants arriving on small boats. Due to the high number of migrants arriving and the length of time they had not eaten, it was agreed to purchase 200 pizzas.' It came as more crossings were under way on Friday, with at least six boats arriving at Walmer and St Margaret's in Cliffe, Kent, according to eyewitness reports. Advertisement In a later clip, a helicopter flown by French border control flies over the Strait of Dover, watching on as another caravan of migrants makes the treacherous journey. French officials are said to be investigating patrol efforts on the French border in the wake of the footage, Sky News reports. Since the start of the year, more than 17,000 migrants have succeeded in reaching the UK - double the figure for the whole of 2020. Dan O'Mahoney, clandestine channel threat commander for Border Force, said: 'The government is determined to tackle the unacceptable rise in dangerous Channel crossings using every tool at our disposal, at every stage in the journey. 'Working with police and international partners, this year there have been nearly 300 arrests, 65 convictions related to small boat criminality and our targeted efforts have prevented more than 13,500 migrant attempts. 'But this is a complicated issue requiring changes to our laws. 'The Government's New Plan for Immigration provides a long term solution to fix the broken system and deliver the change required to tackle criminal gangs and prevent further loss of life.' It comes after September was the busiest month on record, with Dover receiving four times the amount of migrants compared to September 2020. Official statistics showed more than 3,872 have arrived in 113 incidents last month - breaking the 3,509 who made the dangerous journey in 117 boats in July. And officers have now detained at least 17,228 migrants crossing the English Channel in small boats so far this year, more than double the record number who made the treacherous crossing in all of 2020. The Home Office has been contacted to provide comment. In 2020 there were a total of 8,410 were detained in small boat incidents. Last year, inspectors found that migrants 'almost always' arrived wet and cold and then 'often had to spend hours in the open air or in cramped containers'. This comes just days after Home Secretary Priti Patel in the Conservative party conference committed to reducing the number of channel crossings. She said: 'The shocking images of people crammed into flimsy boats, exploited by people smugglers, vile criminals, characterized by ruthlessness and greed who even threatened to drown small children just to line their pockets. 'This can not continue, this is why we are going after the criminals behind this perilous trade of people smuggling.' The California pipeline that ruptured and leaked up to 132,000 gallons of crude into the sea near Newport Beach could have been damaged up to a year ago, according to the Coast Guard. It is believed that the pipeline was struck by a boat's anchor and dragged 100 feet across the ocean floor. The pipe was last inspected and seen to be intact last October, officials said. Video inspection of the pipe shows it has a 13-inch fracture, which has expanded since it was first damaged, Coast Guard captain Jason Neubauer said Friday at a press conference, ABC News reports. 'That has refocused the frame and timeframe of our investigation to at least several months to a year,' Captain Neubauer added. Captain Neubauer said other ships' anchors could have subsequently struck the steel pipe and that a large section was bowed and dragged across the ocean floor. The Coast Guard estimates that between 25,000 and 132,000 gallons of oil spilled from the ruptured pipeline off the shores of Orange County, creating a 13-square-mile oil slick in the Pacific. The Coast Guard could not confirm to DailyMail.com how far the oil spill has spread since. The US Coast Guard reported the California Pipeline that has spilled thousands of gallons of oil into the Pacific Ocean could have damaged months to a year prior to the spill. Coast Guard Capitan Jason Neubauer reported other ships' anchor could have struck the pipe, leading to the 13-inch crack The pipe (circled in red) was dragged 105 feet away and is bowed after a suspected anchor dragged it across the ocean floor Roughly 588 barrels (24,000 gallons) of oil have spilled into the ocean, a SoCal Oil Response representative told DailyMail.com. It could not be confirmed how far the oil has spread toward international waters A SoCal Oil Response representative told DailyMail.com that as of 7.30pm Friday, 5,544 total gallons of crude oil have been recovered by vessels in the area, according to SoCal Oil Response. A representative told DailyMail.com that they do not know how long it will take to clean up the oil spill. 'There's not much sheening near Long Beach and Newport,' the representative told DailyMail.com. Oil rig owner Amplify Energy Corporation was notified at 2.30am that the pipeline experienced a drop in pressure and could be a potential spill. The company shut the line down at 6.01am, but did not report an oil spill until 9.07am A boat made an emergency call to the Coast Guard at 6.13am, reporting oil sheen on the water. Due to bad weather and the Coast Guard's inability to fly aircrafts at night, the oil spill was discovered to initially cover a 13-square-mile radius ABC reported the oil spill was traveling down the coast toward Mexico, but SoCal Oil Response could not confirm how close the oil spill was to reaching international waters. An investigation has been launched by the US Coast Guard, the National Transportation Safety Board, and the Department of Transportation's Office of Pipeline Safety into the spill and its timeline. The investigation team will look into a year's worth of automatic identification system data and radar images from multiple sources, officials say. Newport Beach residents reportedly starting smelling petroleum late Friday night, but the Coast Guard did not start investigating the oil spill until the next morning. Crews have reported seeing very little oil sheen near Newport Beach, California. The beach opened back up on Friday, five days after the spill started As of 7.30pm Friday, 5,544 total gallons of crude oil have been recovered by vessel as crews continue to work Oil covered the Newport Beach sand, which crews worked diligently to clean up 'Air teams can't fly at night,' a SoCal Oil Response representative told DailyMail.com. 'They went up at first light to see at Newport Beach.' Around 2am last Saturday, National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration's satellite images showed a strong likelihood of oil sheen on the water. At 2.30am, an alarm sound at Amplify Energy Corporation - the company that owns the pipeline - indicating pressure had dropped and there could be a possible leak. It wasn't until 6.01am that Amplify shut down the pipe. At 6.13am, a ship made an emergency call, reporting an oil sheen on the water. The German ship Rotterdam Express was initially suspected of causing the oil leak after making weird moments and was the closest to the break in the line. The ship's owner denied moving, saying 'it was basically 12 days on a standstill on the very same position' from the time they anchored on September 21 to October 3 Amplify didn't report seeing oil sheen on the water until 8.09am, according to CBS. At 9.07am, Amplify reportedly an oil leak to the US Coast Guard. Around 9.10am, the US Coast Guard and Huntington Beach Police Department deployed aircrafts. California pipeline oil spill timeline: Friday 1 October, night: Newport Beach residents smell petroleum Saturday 2 October, 2am: National Oceanic and Atmosphere Administration's satellite images show a strong likelihood of oil sheen on the water 2.30am: Amplify Energy Corporation gets a notification indicating pressure drop and possible spill 6.01am: Amplify shuts down pipeline 8.09am: Amplify reportedly saw oil sheen on the water 9.07am: Amplify notified the US Coast Guard of the oil leak 9.10am: US Coast Guard and Huntington Beach Police Department dispatched aircrafts Source: ABC News Advertisement Despite the initial warning hours earlier, a SoCal Oil Response representative told DailyMail.com that the weather did not permit aircrafts until early Saturday, as the weather was not permissible. The area had experienced thunderstorms the night before. The representative also told DailyMail.com that the Coast Guard cannot deploy aircrafts at night due to low visibility and not being able to see oil on the water. Earlier this week, officials probed a German-flagged cargo ship about the leak. The 1,000ft Rotterdam Express made a series of unusual movements while anchored in the closest spot to where the break in the pipeline occurred, according to the Associated Press. The owner of the ship, Hapag-Lloyd denied the movements in an email to USA Today. The company reported the shit had anchored on September 21 'exactly as requested and confirmed,' and did not move until October 3 when it left for Oakland, California. 'It was basically 12 days on a standstill on the very same position,' the email to USA Today stated. There was no oil reported around the ship before movement. The company reported the US Coast Guard cleared them from investigation before the ship left for Mexico after stopping at Oakland. On Friday, boats were allowed back into the Newport Harbor, five days after closure. DailyMail.com attempted to contact Amplify Energy Corporation. A federal judge has sentenced a Capitol rioter to three months in jail, and said his sentencing should serve as a warning to others looking to avoid responsibility. District Judge Thomas Hogan sentenced Robert Reeder, of Harford County, Maryland, to three months in jail on Friday for his role in the January 6 insurrection. Reeder's sentencing was postponed from August after the Twitter account 'Sedition Hunters' posted a clip of Reeder shoving a police officer on the steps outside the Capitol building. During sentencing Hogan told Reeder he 'can't condone' what Reeder did in the clip and that he was troubled by Reeder's attempt to portray himself as an 'accidental tourist' to authorities, WUSA9.com reported. 'I find your statements to the FBI to be self-serving and disingenuous, frankly,' Hogan said. He added that Reeder, like many of the people charged in relation to the January 6 Capitol siege who have pleaded guilty, still refuse to own up to their actions. 'It has become evident to me in the riot cases that many of the defendants who are pleading guilty are not truly accepting responsibility,' Hogan said. 'They seem to me to be trying to get this out of the way as quickly and as inexpensively as possible -- stating whatever they have to say in the guilty plea, getting probation, and hoping that would be the end of it,' he added. Scroll Down For Video: Reeder (pictured at the Capitol) expressed remorse for his participation in the riots in court Robert Reeder, of Harford County, Maryland, (pictured) was sentenced to three months in jail for his role in the January 6 insurrection Robert Reeder (pictured in red hat) was captured on camera at the January 6 insurrection But in a teary testimony, Reeder said his actions on January 6 have cost him everything and has made him a pariah, the Gwinnett Daily Post reported. 'I am embarrassed. I am in shame,' Reeder said. 'The hurt that I have caused to other people, not just to myself ... has left a permanent stain on me, society, the country, and I don't want to be ever remembered for being part of that crowd,' he said in court. 'I accept full responsibility for being there,' he added. 'I want you to know that it was not only a mistake, but the biggest mistake of my life. I wish I had a chance to take it back and redeem myself.' Reeder told the court that his son has been bullied as a result of his participation in he riots and his family is 'ashamed because they share the same name,' as him, the Daily Post reported. He even told the judge his bad reputation has left him unemployed for 10 months, WUSA9.com reported. 'I'm radioactive,' he said. 'No one wants to hire me. They just have to Google my name.' Reeder's sentencing was postponed from August after ' Sedition Hunters' posted a clip of Reeder shoving a police officer outside the Capitol on Twitter Reeder is one of over 95 Capitol riot defendants that have pleaded guilty to federal charges But Reeder said despite his past mistakes he believes he is not a bad person. 'I am a good man. I am,' Reeder said. Reeder is one of more than 95 Capitol riot defendants that have pleaded guilty to federal charges. So far thirteen have been sentenced and Reeder is the seventh to serve jail time, WUSA9.com reported. The riot at the Capitol on January 6 occurred as Congress was working on counting the Electoral College ballots and certifying Joe Biden's presidential victory. Nearly 700 people have been charged in the nine months since. The riot also resulted in the historic second impeachment of Trump, who was accused of inciting and goading the rioters. Advertisement Pope Francis has met with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Catholic who has come under criticism from some bishops in the United States for her support for abortion rights. Their meeting took place in Vatican City on Saturday, several weeks before Joe Biden is expected to meet the Pope when the the president is in Rome for talks between leaders of the Group of 20 major economies. The Vatican announced Pelosi's audience with the Pope in its daily bulletin but gave no details. Biden, the second Catholic U.S. president, has said he is personally opposed to abortion but, as a politician, cannot impose his views. Pelosi, who has five children, has said she supports a woman's right to choose. Biden's administration and Pelosi have urged judges to block a new Texas law which bars abortions from six weeks, saying it is unconstitutional. The ban was temporarily reinstated on Friday by a conservative-leaning appeals court. Pope Francis met with U.S. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi in Vatican City on Saturday Pelosi said her audience with the Pope was a 'spiritual, personal and official honor' Their meeting took place in Vatican City on Saturday, several weeks before Joe Biden is expected to meet the Pope Pelosi was joined by her husband Paul at the meeting with Pope Francis at the Vatican. The Catholic Church teaches that human life begins at the moment of conception and Biden and Pelosi have been criticized by conservative Catholic media and U.S. conservative bishops, some of whom say neither should be allowed to receive communion. Last month the Pope was asked about the U.S. communion debate, and told reporters abortion is 'murder', even soon after conception, and appeared to criticize U.S. Catholic bishops for dealing with the issue in a political rather than pastoral way. 'Communion is not a prize for the perfect ... communion is a gift, the presence of Jesus and his Church,' the Pope said. In June, a divided conference of U.S. Roman Catholic bishops voted to draft a statement on communion that some bishops say should specifically admonish Catholic politicians, including Biden. They take up the issue again next month. In a statement, Pelosi said her audience with the Pope was a 'spiritual, personal and official honor'. 'His Holinesss leadership is a source of joy and hope for Catholics and for all people, challenging each of us to be good stewards of Gods creation, to act on climate, to embrace the refugee, the immigrant and the poor, and to recognize the dignity and divinity in everyone,' Pelosi said in a statement. The Vatican announced Pelosi's audience with the Pope in its daily bulletin but gave no details Pope Francis exchanges gifts with US Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi Last month the Pope was asked about the U.S. communion debate, and told reporters abortion is 'murder' After Pelosi met former Pope Benedict in 2009, the Vatican said he had told her that legislators and other public figures should help create 'a just system of laws capable of protecting human life at all stages of its development'. The archbishop in Pelosi's home city of San Francisco, Salvatore Cordileone, has said public figures who support abortion should be denied communion in his archdiocese and has urged Catholics to pray for Pelosi's 'conversion of heart'. Cardinal Wilton Gregory, the archbishop of Washington, D.C., has not tried to stop Biden, a regular church-goer, from receiving communion. Biden's meeting with the Pope will be the first since his election although they have met several times before, including when he was vice-president to Barack Obama. Pelosi is in Rome for a Parliamentary Speakers' Summit ahead of the G20 as well as a meeting of parliamentary leaders before of the U.N. Climate Change Summit (COP20) next month in Glasgow. Pelosi expressed gratitude 'for the immense moral clarity and urgency that His Holiness continues to bring to the climate crisis,' the statement said. Pelosi is in Rome for a Parliamentary Speakers' Summit ahead of the G20 as well as a meeting of parliamentary leaders before of the U.N. Climate Change Summit (COP20) next month in Glasgow. Pope Francis on Saturday called on lawmakers worldwide to overcome 'the narrow confines' of partisan politics to quickly reach consensus on fighting climate change. Francis referred to a joint appeal he and other religious leaders signed this week that calls for governments to commit to ambitious goals at the U.N. conference, which experts consider a critical opportunity to tackle the threat of global warming. 'To meet this challenge, everyone has a role to play,'' Francis told the visiting lawmakers from many countries. 'That of political and government leaders is especially important, and indeed crucial.' 'This demanding change of direction will require great wisdom, foresight and concern for the common good: in a word, the fundamental virtues of good politics,'' Francis said. After their meeting Saturday, Pelosi called the pontiff's 2015 encyclical exhorting people to protect the environment 'a powerful challenge to the global community to act decisively on the climate crisis with special attention to the most vulnerable communities.' During their meeting, Pelosi expressed gratitude 'for the immense moral clarity and urgency that His Holiness continues to bring to the climate crisis,' the statement said. After their meeting Saturday, Pelosi called the pontiff's 2015 encyclical exhorting people to protect the environment 'a powerful challenge to the global community' After their meeting, Pelosi said: 'His Holinesss leadership is a source of joy and hope for Catholics and for all people' Francis said earlier he intended to participate in the U.N.'s upcoming COP26 conference, but the Vatican announced Friday that he would not attend and the Vatican delegation would be led by the secretary of state, Cardinal Pietro Parolin. No explanation was given, but the 84-year-old pope underwent intestinal surgery in July. The pope expressed hope Saturday that the lawmakers' efforts at the climate conference and beyond 'will be illuminated by the two important principles of responsibility and solidarity.' 'We owe this to the young, to future generations,' he said. Caring for humanity's 'common home,' Francis said, 'is not just a matter of discouraging and penalizing improper practices, but also, and above all, of concretely encouraging new paths to pursue' that are better suited to climate-protection objectives and to contributing 'to the positive outcome of COP26.' Appeal court judges temporarily REINSTATE Texas' ban on abortions after six weeks Texas's six-week abortion ban is back in effect again after the 5th Circuit Court of Appeals on Friday granted a temporary, emergency stay of this week's preliminary injunction, which temporarily blocked the law, while the state prepares its formal appeal. Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton asked the US 5th Circuit Court of Appeals, one of the most conservative in the US, to issue an emergency stay before Tuesday's appeal US District Judge Robert Pitman's preliminary injunction blocked the restrictive law. Pitman, in a ruling late on Wednesday, put on hold the law, which prohibits women from obtaining an abortion after about six weeks of pregnancy. Pictured: protesters take part in the Women's March and Rally for Abortion Justice in Austin, Texas, on October 2 Texas Gov. Greg Abbott, pictured, joined by 10 other governors, arrives at a press conference at Anzalduas Park in Mission, Texas on Wednesday Pictured: a copy of US District Judge Robert Pitman's ruling blocking the state's abortion ban law The state quickly took its case to the conservative appeals court. 'It is ordered that Appellant's emergency motion to stay the preliminary injunction pending appeal is temporary held in abeyance pending further order by this motions panel,' read the ruling. 'Appellee is directed to respond to the emergency by 5 pm Tuesday, October 12, 2021.' 'It is ordered that Appellant's alternative motion for a temporary administrative stay pending the court's consideration of the emergency motion is granted.' Paxton applauded the appellate court's decision while vowing to fight federal intervention on the ruling. 'Great news tonight, The Fifth Circuit has granted an administrative stay on #SB8,' Paxton tweeted. 'I will fight federal overreach at every turn.' The case is part of a fierce legal battle over abortion access in the United States, with numerous states pursuing restrictions. The Justice Department sued Texas on September 9 and sought the temporary injunction against the law, arguing the measure violates the US Constitution. The US Supreme Court let the law take effect on September 1 in a 5-4 vote. Meanwhile, Whole Woman's Health promptly began performing abortions a day after Pitman's order as Texas lawmakers sought to ban statewide. The Texas Tribune reports that abortion clinics and doctors who performed abortions in the Lone Star state would now be liable for potential lawsuits after Friday's order, with a penalty of at least $10,000 for any person or group that are successfully sued. A reproductive rights supporter holds a sign outside the Texas Capitol building during the nationwide Women's March, held after Texas rolled out a near-total ban on abortion on Oct. 2 An anti-abortion protester holds a rosary and sign out outside a building housing an abortion provider in Dallas on Thursday 'Frankly, we knew this would happen and that is why we provided abortions beyond six weeks the moment it was a possibility. Our patients deserve better. Texans deserve better,' Whole Woman's Health tweeted following the ruling. The law, which went into effect September 1, forced clinics to stop performing abortions after cardiac activity is detected in the embryo, according to the Tribune. also allows for retroactive enforcement, meaning anyone who received or helped someone receive an abortion during the two-day period where the law was blocked can now be sued. Many providers have ceased performing abortions out of fear of possible litigation. This is the moment a man is captured swinging a 'machete' at two cars in Manchester. The footage, which was captured on a CCTV camera on Nuthurst Road in New Moston, shows a man hitting the wing mirror of a Range Rover and a Volkswagen Polo while walking along the road. Greater Manchester Police have said they are investigating the incident. The owner of one of the cars shared the footage with Manchester Evening News, hoping that the incident, which happened three weeks ago, will be taken seriously by police. The woman, who wishes to remain anonymous, said her daughter's car was also vandalised, and that they only realised something was wrong when they spotted blood on one of the windscreens, prompting them to check their CCTV. 'You can clearly see how big that machete is,' she told Manchester Evening News. 'Someone had put on Facebook that same day that someone was doing the same in Failsworth so he could have walked all that way.' She added that she has been left with up to 300 of repairs, while her daughter faces forking out 400 to fix the damage. It's the second incident the family have faced in the past three months, after two of their cars were broken into earlier this year. The man is first spotted walking down the road past the home where the family lives The man can be clearly seen carrying a weapon of some sort as he walks down the road The CCTV footage shows the man damaging the cars with a 'machete' 'We work hard for the things that we've got it's just frightening to know that that person is walking nearly a mile or two miles with a machete and no-one has seen him,' she added. A spokesperson for Greater Manchester Police confirmed that they are investigating. 'Officers received a report on 4 September 2021 that a man had damaged a vehicle with a bladed article on Nuthurst Road, New Moston, sometime in the previous week,' a spokesperson said. 'Officers are reviewing CCTV. No arrests have been made and enquiries are ongoing.' Advertisement The head of the UK's Equality and Human Rights Commission has slammed the attacks on a Sussex University professor who was branded a 'transphobe', and demanded tougher regulation for social media companies to curb online abuse. Kishwer Falkner, Baroness of Margravine, 66, denounced the bullying behaviour of a minority of students who 'disagree with someone's entirely lawful expert views' Kishwer Falkner, Baroness of Margravine, 66, wrote to The Times to denounce the bullying behaviour of a minority of students who 'disagree with someone's entirely lawful expert views'. In her public letter, the equality watchdog chief agreed that 'trans rights must be protected', but reiterated the importance of academic integrity and freedom of expression on university campuses across the UK. Professor Kathleen Stock, 48, an expert in gender and sexual orientation who works for the University of Sussex, was branded a 'transphobe' by outraged students, who erected posters denouncing her and called for her to be fired. Signs put up this week in the pedestrian tunnel connecting Falmer train station to the university's campus under the A27 said Ms Stock 'makes trans students unsafe' and 'we're not paying 9,250 a year for transphobia'. It comes after Sussex Police launched an investigation into whether a university philosophy professor was a victim of harassment after she faced a campaign of 'bullying' over her views on trans rights - as students were warned they could be disciplined. Banners saying 'Stock Out' have been held alongside burning flares and scores of people have been criticising her under the Twitter hashtag #ShameOnSussexUni although many others have been using it to support her. The university's vice chancellor Professor Adam Tickell said Friday that if any students can be identified as being involved, then 'we will certainly take investigations and disciplinary action as appropriate under our regulations'. Kathleen Stock, 48, is a philosophy professor and expert in gender and sexual orientation at the University of Sussex Signs have been put up in the pedestrian tunnel connecting Falmer train station to the university's campus under the A27 Banners saying 'Stock Out' have been held alongside burning flares at the campus of the University of Sussex this week Baroness Falkner's comments read: 'The attacks on Professor Kathleen Stock and the campaign to have her fired are disgraceful. Sussex University is right to investigate these attacks and defend academic freedom of speech. 'Trans rights must be protected but university is a place where we are exposed to ideas and learn to debate with each other. This involves hearing about, and challenging, opposing perspectives. 'It is not a place where people bully and harass professionals and berate institutions because they disagree with someone's entirely lawful expert views. 'Tougher regulation of social media is needed so hatred cannot spread.' Meanwhile Sussex Police have said they are investigating, with a spokesman telling MailOnline: 'On Wednesday, we received a report of harassment of an employee at the University of Sussex and we are investigating. 'We take all reports of harassment seriously and will seek to investigate and to support victims. This is currently being investigated as a report of harassment, including by use of posters and online. If evidence of hate crime, or any other offence, does emerge during the investigation then that will be followed up and assessed at the time.' Ms Stock has also spoken out, telling her 46,000 Twitter followers: 'If you work where I do, and you know what's happening to me at the moment (which I'll discuss at later date), this is the time to say something about it. Not for me, but for you. What kind of future does a university have where intimidation determines what is said or taught?' In her own words: What does Kathleen Stock believe about gender and trans issues? Kathleen Stock explained her views on trans issues in written evidence to Parliament in November 2020 here: Womanhood and manhood reflect biological sex, not gender or gender identity; The claim 'transwomen are women' is a fiction, not literally true Sexual orientation (being gay, being lesbian) is determined by same-sex attraction, not attraction to gender identity Spaces where women undress and sleep should remain genuinely single-sex, in order to protect them; Children with gender identity disorders should not be given puberty blockers as minors. Advertisement The group leading the protests against her is an anonymous collective called 'Anti Terf Sussex', which describes itself as an 'unaffiliated network of queer and trans students'. 'Terf' means a 'trans-exclusionary radical feminist'. It was the term levelled at JK Rowling over her response to an article about 'people who menstruate'. The author had tweeted last year: 'I'm sure there used to be a word for those people', suggesting that word was 'women'. But this week, the University of Sussex and its vice chancellor have stood by Ms Stock, with officials saying they were 'extremely concerned' by the 'harassment' she had suffered and confirmed the posters had been removed. Ms Stock has repeatedly insisted in the past that she is not a transphobe, but attention on her views has intensified since her book Material Girls came out in May. She has written and spoken extensively about sex and gender identity - arguing that womanhood and manhood reflect biological sex, not gender or gender identity. Ms Stock also claims trans women are not women; and sexual orientation is determined by same-sex attraction, not attraction to gender identity. And she wants a ban on transgender women in women's changing rooms, saying in 2018 that 'many trans women are still males with male genitalia'. But she has been blasted on Twitter as a 'Terf' amid a huge amount of criticism. This morning, Professor Tickell told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: 'It's absolutely clear that all of our staff have an untrammelled right to say and believe what they think. So we take it very seriously if people try to prevent that right from being exercised. 'I have to say I am really concerned that we have masked protesters, putting up posters, calling for the sacking of somebody for exercising her rights to articulate her views, and it is a matter of real concern.' Presenter Justin Webb then asked him: 'If they are students, will you get rid of them?' And Professor Tickell replied: 'If they're students, and we can identify them, we will certainly take investigations and disciplinary action, as appropriate under our regulations, yes.' Mr Webb then asked him: 'And there were one or two members of staff who went online on Twitter, apparently in support of them what happens to them?' And Professor Tickell said: 'Well, again, this is an ongoing investigation, and I don't want to prejudice what will happen as part of the due process, but we have legal and moral duties to ensure that people can speak freely.' He continued: 'I think we have to be really careful in universities and in society in general to ensure that we do everything to make sure that where we have very, very complicated and different views that we find the space to allow people to articulate those views. The university's vice chancellor Professor Adam Tickell said today that if any students can be identified as being involved, then 'we will certainly take investigations and disciplinary action as appropriate under our regulations' 'And the trouble with so many areas which are really contentious is that people very strongly believe that they are right and aren't prepared to listen to others. So we really do try to find space to get people to talk and to listen. How could the university disclipine students involved in the protests? Students at the University of Sussex can face disciplinary action for 'threatening behaviour and bullying or harassment of staff or students' - which is the middle of three levels of misconduct, called 'Level Two', according to the university's website. The top level of misconduct, 'Level Three', covers when their behaviour could be 'sufficiently serious to call into question the student's continued registration at the university', which includes failture to comply with sanctions imposed for Level Two misconduct. Level Two sanctions can include a fine of up to 1,000; a requirement 'for the student to make good at their own expense, in whole or in part, any damage caused by them whether alone or with others up to the value of 1,000'; or a ban 'from specific facilities or premises for a period up to the remaining duration of the student's expected registration at the university'. Level Three sanctions can include a fine up to 2,000; repair costs up to the same amount; suspension for up to two years; or expulsion with immediate effect. Vice chancellor Professor Adam Tickell was asked by BBC Radio 4 presenter Justin Webb today of the protesters: 'If they are students, will you get rid of them?' And Professor Tickell replied: 'If they're students, and we can identify them, we will certainly take investigations and disciplinary action, as appropriate under our regulations, yes.' Advertisement 'I think what we have to do is we have to listen to people. We have very strong policies both on freedom of speech and on inclusion. And I think the trouble we've got is that people aren't prepared to stop and think and listen, rather than to just shout. 'So we just need to make sure that in polarised debates, we can find ways of getting back the nuance and we can get back some of the compassion rather than simply thinking, if I shout loud I'm going to be the one who dominates. 'I think that sometimes when you have real moments of crisis, it gets people to step back and think how can we pull back from the brink. University of Sussex has just appointed a new lead on cultural diversity and inclusion, and the whole agenda that he's committed to is making sure that we protect everybody from bullying and harassment, but that we also have an inclusive environment.' He added: 'I think that there is a lot of support for ensuring that people can speak freely.' Among the tweets against Ms Stock this week was one saying: '#ShameOnSussexUni the fact that this is trending right now is unbelievable and disgusting. 'Transphobia has no place on our campus. F**k Kathleen Stock, you insufferable c**t. Shame on Sussex for continuing to employ her and allowing her to spread hate on campus.' Another tweeted: '#ShameOnSussexUni for employing bullies and transphobes like Kathleen Stock.' And a third said: '#ShameOnSussexUni for employing transphobes like Kathleen Stock and shame on anyone who tried to defend this bigotry. 'Either later in your life you will realise you are on the wrong side of history, like so many bigots before you, or you will die alone because everyone will leave.' But there was also plenty of support for Ms Stock yesterday, with radical feminist Julie Bindel tweeting: 'Do you support what is happening at the moment to Kathleen Stock? 'If you do you're a sadistic bully. Shame on you. Those of you that can speak out, speak out. You've covered your a***s for long enough.' Jessica Taylor, also a radical feminist author, said: 'I stand with Kathleen Stock. Academic freedom (and safety) to debate, discuss, disagree, and theorise is vital for human and social development. 'Harassing, intimidating and bullying women who have a view on a topic is abhorrent and has no place anywhere. Freedom of speech for all.' Attention on her views has intensified since her book Material Girls came out in May And Paul Embery, a trade union activist, added: 'I stand with Professor Kathleen Stock OBE - a respected academic and feminist who is currently the target of a vicious campaign demanding her sacking from @SussexUni for the 'crime' of expressing gender critical views. #Solidarity #StandUpToBullying.' A University of Sussex spokesman told MailOnline yesterday: 'We were extremely concerned to see the harassment towards our staff member and took immediate action in response to this, which is continuing. 'We are deeply committed to being a safe and inclusive university, which values and advances equality and diversity, seeks to resolve conflicts, advances good relations and upholds lawful free speech. 'As a university community, we must be able to have complex discussions without bullying or harassment. We will always take swift action when this occurs. 'Our role as a university is to facilitate such conversations to advance shared understanding and common agreement. We insist that these are carried out respectfully and are always protective of our staff and students.' The university's vice chancellor Adam Tickell also said: 'We are investigating activity on our campus which appears to have been designed to attack Professor Kathleen Stock for exercising her academic freedoms. 'Disturbingly, this has included pressuring the university to terminate her employment. Everyone at the university has the right to be free from harassment and intimidation. 'We cannot and will not tolerate threats to cherished academic freedoms and will take any action necessary to protect the rights of our community.' In June 2020, author JK Rowling was accused of being 'transphobic' after insisting only women experience menstruation In June 2020, author JK Rowling was accused of being 'transphobic' after insisting only women experience menstruation. She had challenged an article entitled: 'Opinion: Creating a more equal post-COVID-19 world for people who menstruate.' Taking issue with the phrasing, she copied a link to the article and posted above it on Twitter: 'People who menstruate.' I'm sure there used to be a word for those people. Someone help me out. Wumben? Wimpund? Woomud?' Amid the backlash she later posted: 'I know and love trans people, but erasing the concept of sex removes the ability of many to meaningfully discuss their lives. It isn't hate to speak the truth.' It also comes after medical journal The Lancet was accused of using the phrase 'bodies with vaginas' in lieu of the word 'female', which later saw editor Richard Horton apologise for conveying the impression that 'we have de-humanised and marginalised women'. This week, Exeter University's Students' Guild resisted calls for an anti-abortion society to be shut down, supporting its members' rights to 'freedom of speech' and to operate without fear of 'intolerance or discrimination'. The Christian group, Exeter Students for Life, is run by a male second-year law student named Ali who says he wants to end 'murders happening every day', and describes anyone involved in the process of abortion as a 'sinner'. On social media, students from around the UK have suggested that the university shouldn't allow the society to operate on campus, but the Exeter University's Students' Guild said in a statement said that it encourages 'freedom of speech'. Read The Mail On Sunday's review of Material Girls by clicking here Advertisement Britain's upturn in Covid cases continued today with daily infections rising by more than 15 per cent on last week. Department of Health bosses posted a further 34,950 coronavirus cases today, up 15.3 per cent on last Saturday's figure of 30,301. It was the fourth day in the row to see infections rise week-on-week. The number of victims losing their lives to the virus also increased, with 133 people dying within 28 days of a positive test today. The figure was up 9.9 per cent on last week. And hospitalisations jumped by 8.7 per cent to 817 on Tuesday the latest date data is available for from 755 the previous week. The figures come after a public health boss told people in the South of England to self-isolate if they have Covid symptoms even if they have tested negative in confusing new advice months after the country was paralysed by the 'pingdemic'. Several patients in Bath, Bristol and Swindon tested negative on a PCR test after a lateral flow test returned a positive result mystifying health experts. PCR tests are far more accurate than lateral flow tests with only 2.8 per cent returning a false result, which are available free over the counter. Natural Covid infection produces stronger immune response than vaccines, study claims Natural Covid infection produces a stronger secondary immune response than the vaccine, a study has claimed. Important components of the body's immune response called memory B cells continue to evolve and get stronger for at least several months, producing highly potent antibodies that can neutralise new variants of the virus. By comparison, vaccine-induced memory B cells are less robust, evolving for only a few weeks and never 'learning' to protect against variants. Covid vaccines do induce more antibodies than the immune system does after a coronavirus infection. But the immune system response to infection appears to outshine its response to vaccines when it comes to memory B cells. Regardless of whether antibodies are induced by infection or vaccine, their levels drop within six months in many people. But memory B cells stand ready to produce new antibodies if the body encounters the virus. Advertisement It comes as: A study found the Delta Covid variant does not appear to cause more severe disease in children than earlier forms of the virus; Research suggested natural Covid infection produces a stronger secondary immune response than the vaccine; Figures revealed Peru has the highest Covid death rate in the world with more than 6,000 per million losing their lives to the deadly virus; Government ministers were said to be considering scrapping the expensive and controversial hotel quarantine programme; A French study claimed Covid did not originate in an infamous south Chinese bat cave at the centre of the 'lab leak' theory; Shocking data showed fraudsters have tricked victims out of more than 2billion during the pandemic. Government data up to October 8 shows that of the 94,268,267 Covid jabs given in the UK, 49,132,678 were first doses, a rise of 30,944 on the previous day. Some 45,135,589 were second doses, an increase of 28,404. Today's figures showed a total of 18 coronavirus-linked deaths have been recorded in the last 24 hours, two more than the day before. The Scottish Government data released on Saturday confirmed 2,417 new positive cases, 210 fewer than Fridays figures. The figures from Friday show there were 31,935 new tests, of which 8.1% were positive, up from 7.9% the previous day. A total of 943 people are in hospital with recently confirmed Covid-19, down 47 in 24 hours. Some 61 are in intensive care, down three. The daily figures also show 4,246,101 people have received their first dose of a Covid-19 vaccination and 3,859,839 have received a second dose. Cases in Bath and North East Somerset per 100,000 population over a seven-day period Delta Covid variant does NOT cause more severe disease in children than earlier strains, study finds The Delta variant does not appear to cause more severe disease in children than earlier forms of the virus. Earlier this year, the research team found the Alpha variant of the virus did not appear to make children sicker than the original form of the virus, first seen in China. New data suggests that youngsters also do not get any sicker from Delta than they did from Alpha. Researchers compared two groups of school-age children with Covid in England. They looked at 694 children infected with the Alpha variant between late December 2020 and early May 2021, and 706 infected with Delta between late May and early July. The study published in medRxiv ahead of peer review showed children infected with Delta had slightly more symptoms. But in both groups, very few children needed to be hospitalised and long periods of illness were uncommon. In both groups, half of the children were sick for no more than five days. Advertisement It comes after a public health boss told people in the South of England to self-isolate if they have Covid symptoms even if they have tested negative Becky Reynolds, director of public health for Bath and North East Somerset Council, said: 'If thinking it through there is quite a chance you have Covid, even if the PCR is coming back negative, then regard it as Covid and self-isolate. 'The advice is also to think about your local situation, do an individual risk assessment... so what is the likelihood that even though the PCR is negative, that you may still have Covid?' The anomalous results were primarily reported in Bath, Bristol and Swindon, the UK Health Security Agency said, adding it was investigating the issue and that it did not appear technical issues had caused the problem. Reynolds admitted to the BBC it was a 'confusing' situation for people but asked for patience while an investigation into the testing anomalies takes place. An Independent Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (SAGE) member has called for an investigation to be conducted 'seriously and rapidly'. Meanwhile chief medical advisor for the UK Health Security Agency, Susan Hopkins, urged people to make sure they read testing instructions to avoid incorrect readings. Dr Lucy Pocock, a GP from Cadbury Heath Healthcare in south Gloucestershire, raised concerns over the issue after seeing a 'stream of patients' who had received negative PCR results but positive lateral flow tests. She told the BBC: 'The worrying thing here is that these people are all clearly symptomatic and with a very unexpected negative PCR result.' 'Several of these patients have done multiple lateral flow tests, all positive, and have then rightly gone on to do a PCR test, which has come back negative. Medics have raised concerns people are unwittingly spreading Covid-19 because of the testing confusion. A people smuggler who could have put hundreds of lives at risk by shipping migrants across busy English Channel shipping lanes in flimsy dinghies has been jailed for ten years. Nzar Jabar Mohamad, 34, boasted about charging migrants 10-12,000 for passage to the UK - even though he knew it was likely they would never make it past Dover even after the perilous crossing. But he did not have a clue he was being eavesdropped on by the National Crime Agency, who had bugged his home in Hull, East Yorkshire. After hearing that a recent smuggling operation had gone wrong and all the migrants had been rounded up, he shrugged off the disaster, saying: 'They were all caught. 'All of mine were caught. I knew they would be before the crossing. 'There is nothing wrong with the sea. I do not know why they are afraid of it.' Nzar Jabar Mohamad, 34, (pictured) boasted about charging migrants 10-12,000 for passage to the UK - even though he knew they would be probably never make it past Dover even after the perilous crossing Hull Crown Court was told if a migrant was subsequently 'caught at Dover he would have been paid. If caught at Calais he would not.' Prosecutor Paul Mitchell QC said in November 2019, the NCA realised their target had acquired a dinghy with an outboard motor - and life vests for 21 passengers. The dinghy went missing before the crossing - to the rage of the defendant who demanded the boat or his money back. He was arrested at his home in Hull, where he had arrived on the back of a lorry in July 2019, shortly afterwards, with only 30 to his name. Jailing him for ten years, with half to be served, Judge John Thackray QC said: 'This is an offence designed to circumvent the immigration rules. 'The offence calls for a deterrent sentence since the problem with immigration control is a substantial one, causing grave public concern. 'That is the gravamen of the case - not the profit margin. 'Central to the sentencing is the entirely cynical and callous disregard for immigration law in the UK and the determination to circumvent it. 'Add to that, the acute human misery visited upon a number of people. 'The court cannot ignore the misery caused by illegal immigration and the huge risk of loss of life as a result of efforts to enter the country covertly. 'For example - by trying to navigate probably the busiest shipping channel in the world in wholly inadequate small inflatable boats.' 'You were motivated by greed and had no regard for the welfare of others - saying, as you did, 'There is nothing wrong with the sea'. Jailing him for ten years at Hull Crown Court (pictured), with half to be served, Judge John Thackray QC said: 'This is an offence designed to circumvent the immigration rules' 'You are wrong about that Mr Mohamad because there most certainly is when you are in an overcrowded dinghy in a busy shipping channel with no navigational equipment. 'History has shown that fatalities are almost inevitable.' The judge underlined that the number of insidiously involved in the breach of immigration law was 'potentially hundreds', adding: 'Your operations would undoubtedly have continued until detection. The risk of harm was enormous even if the actual harm was limited because of your detection by the authorities. 'As it was there were numerous expeditions - 241 photographs of boats and 37 weather reports perhaps give some indication of the scale involved and the number involved. 'There were elements of sophistication. Different methods were used - vehicular and by boat. Fraudulent passports were used. You planned crossings carefully. 'On occasions, you acted as a middleman but you also took a leading and operational role on numerous occasions.' The judge added the sentence would have been 11 years and six months had it not been for the guilty plea and that had 'come very late in the day'. The judge added: 'You knew you were guilty from the outset and explored all options before pleading guilty.' Mohamad, also known as Nazar Masefi, of Waterloo Street, admitted conspiring to facilitate illegal immigration. Shufqat Khan, mitigating, said his client was from a poor background and his offences were a misguided attempt to impress his parents in Kurdistan. Real Time host Bill Maher has slammed the 'gang' of activists who followed Senator Kyrsten Simena into a bathroom and hit out at progressive Democrats for 'not bringing anything home' because they are demanding 'everything' with the infrastructure bill. Maher sparred with rapper Killer Mike - real name Michael Render - and Washington Post reporter Robert Costa as they joined him as panelists on his show Friday night. The host blasted the 'outrageous' incident last weekend when Senator Sinema was followed into a bathroom and hounded by progressive activists at Arizona State University. The protesters, with social justice group Living United for Change in Arizona, were seeking to confront the Democratic senator for Arizona over her opposition to Joe Biden's $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation plan. Simena and fellow moderate Democrat Senator Joe Manchin are refusing to back the spending bill while progressives are refusing to support the bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure plan unless they do - creating a stalemate. This has forced Democrats to go back to the drawing board on the $3.5 trillion agenda as they try to whittle it down to just $2 trillion. Real Time host Bill Maher slammed the 'gang' of activists who followed Kyrsten Simena into a bathroom and hit out at progressive Democrats over the spending bill on his show Friday Maher blasted the activists during his monologue where he branded them a 'gang' and said it was 'over the top.' 'It's getting chippy out there. She was at ASU and a gang of Gen. Z activists followed her into the bathroom,' he said. 'Then they went back to demanding that we make campuses a safe space,' he mocked. Maher added: 'I think that's a little over the top.' The TV host continued to criticize the incident as he debated the current battle between the moderates and progressives within the Democratic party with his guest panelists. 'I think this is outrageous,' Maher said of the harassment of Simena, reported Fox News. 'You may not like the politics, but when this s**t starts to happen, I don't know where the safe space is in America. And I don't know where it ends.' Render agreed that he 'doesn't think it's right' to follow a lawmaker into a bathroom but said Democrats 'need to bring something home' with the spending bills as he warned that people are getting 'angry'. Maher sparred with rapper Killer Mike - real name Michael Render - and Washington Post reporter Robert Costa as they joined him as panelists on his show Friday night Killer Mike (left) said Democrats 'need to bring something home' with the spending bills. Costa (right) chimed in that 'democracy in this country is on the brink' Maher pushed back at his comments, arguing that progressives are asking for too much. 'But one reason they're not bringing anything home - they could have that $1 trillion infrastructure bill,' he said. 'And, by the way, $1 trillion still to some people, is a lot of money.' 'It's a lot of jobs, building bridges and roads and all kinds of stuff. That's being held up, Mike, by people who are saying what you're saying: 'We want everything and we want it now. And if we don't get it, then you don't get anything.'' Maher added: 'And sometimes when you ask for the whole loaf, you get none!' Render responded arguing that 'sometimes you get more when you push for more', to which Maher argued back: 'Not in Washington. Not very often in Washington.' Costa, who co-wrote Peril with Bob Woodward, chimed in that, while the in-fighting rages on in the Democratic party, 'democracy in this country is on the brink' and the nation is in a critical moment. Kyrsten Sinema was followed into a bathroom and hounded by progressive activists at Arizona State University The protesters, with social justice group Living United for Change in Arizona, were seeking to confront the Democratic senator for Arizona over her opposition to Joe Biden's $3.5 trillion budget reconciliation plan This marks the second show in as many weeks that Maher has leaped to defend Sinema. Last week, he noted that House progressives are 'very mad' at Sinema and Manchin for blocking the broader bill. 'They're mad at them because they're not progressive enough -- forgetting that they only got elected because they're not progressives! They're moderates,' Maher said. 'Here's my question: Does spending more money make you a better person?' Maher asked. 'And maybe these two, Sinema and Manchin, do they might have their thumb more on the pulse on the average Democrat in the country?' he asked. Sinema and Manchin have been the subjects of growing progressive fury for their opposition to the $3.5 trillion measure. Sinema (left) and fellow moderate Democrat Senator Joe Manchin (right) are refusing to back the $3.5 trillion spending bill while progressives are refusing to support the bipartisan $1 trillion infrastructure plan unless they do - creating a stalemate On Friday, it emerged that Sinema reportedly wants to cut $100 billion in climate proposals from the spending bill making its way through Congress. Party leaders have promised to protect at least $450 billion in climate legislation over two programs - the $150 billion Clean Electricity Program and a package of roughly $300 billion in tax incentives to spur use of wind, solar and electric vehicles. There is still another $200 billion in climate proposals that could be cut to drive down the cost. Proposals that could be chopped include $30 billion for a 'Green Bank' to help communities build solar panels and $30 billion for a 'Civilian Climate Corps' to hire young people work in climate adaptation. What are you doing here?' were the first words ever addressed to me by Charles, Prince of Wales, at a cocktail party in Calgary, Alberta. They would also prove to be his last words to me, delivered more than 20 years later in a significantly different tone of voice when he rounded a bush in a far-flung corner of the Commonwealth to find me lurking behind it. He was not used to the 'posh' papers trailing around after him. But when, back in the summer of 1977, a press release arrived at my employer, The Sunday Times, proclaiming that the heir to the throne was off to Canada to be installed as an honorary Indian chieftain one day and open the annual Calgary Stampede rodeo the next, I couldn't resist. So I had popped aboard the same plane as HRH for once in his life, he was travelling on a scheduled flight to find myself cruising over Prince Charles Island, off the coast of Greenland, in the company of the man himself. I had a full-time job and I wasn't sure I was interested enough in Charles to write a whole book about him. Besides, was there enough to say? He hadn't even reached his 30s. But a book is a book is a book In conversation later, Charles and I discovered we had both been bored enough to watch the tedious in-flight movie, Logan's Run. 'Frightful' was his verdict, confessing that he stuck it out only because he was an admirer of Jenny Agutter. Knowing of the princely penchant for other film stars and that he was at the time approaching the age of 30 and unmarried this seemed a somewhat rash confession on his part to a hungry hack like me. In the end, my major scoop was to reveal to the world that the heir to the throne was nursing an incipient bald patch. When I got back to London, I heard from some of Charles's staff how much His Nibs had enjoyed my dispatch. 'It really made him laugh,' declared his press secretary. Events then moved fast. The next thing I knew, I had a call from the publishers Weidenfeld & Nicolson suggesting I write a biography of the young Prince. I demurred. I had a full-time job and I wasn't sure I was interested enough in Charles to write a whole book about him. Besides, was there enough to say? He hadn't even reached his 30s. But a book is a book is a book. One evening a phone call from my literary agent announced that Weidenfeld was offering me an advance against royalties of 15,000. That would be the equivalent today of six figures. I was so stunned that I involuntarily smashed the glass bell of a treasured lamp on my desk as perish the day I accepted. All I had to do now was find out if there was really anything worth saying about him. The only interesting thing he had said to me as yet was: 'Married, aren't you? Fun, is it?' People seem to think that you need permission to write a Royal biography. Far from it. But it does help to have your subject's knowledge and at least tacit consent. The essential picture of the Prince that emerged from this first biography of Charles (I would go on to write two more at ten-year intervals) was that of a rather solitary, often lonely young man still living at home with his parents, eating TV suppers alone off trays delivered by liveried butlers So my logical first port of call was Buckingham Palace, to see what they thought of the idea. Charles's press secretary at the time was an Australian named John Dauth. After a third-degree grilling about my intentions (unknown at that point even to me), it was agreed that I could get some informal access to the Prince travel with him, chat to him off the record so long as I did not make out that the book was in any way official or authorised. He would also give his staff, his friends and others in his circle permission to talk to me. What the heck, I decided. Let's do it. Perhaps my biggest scoop for the book came from an interview with the retired Conservative politician R. A. ('Rab') Butler, who was Master of Trinity College, Cambridge, when Charles was an undergraduate there in the late 1960s. Butler talked candidly about the young Charles, describing him as 'talented which is a different word from clever, and a different word from bright'. Among Butler's Cambridge household when Charles was there was a young history graduate named Lucia Santa Cruz, daughter of the then Chilean ambassador to London, whom Butler had hired as a research assistant. Though young for his age, the Prince seemed to have taken something of a shine to Lucia, who was three years older and much more sophisticated. The Master decided to encourage a romance. His only problem was the Trinity curfew, ensuring that the college's all-male students were separated from their girlfriends by a locked gate. Very much aware of his role in loco parentis, Butler decided as he put it to me with a grin to 'slip her a key'. The wily old politician seemed rather keen for the world to know via my book that it was he who had thus arranged for the 20-year-old Prince of Wales to lose his virginity. Three years later Lucia was to perform another signal service to Charles by introducing him at a polo match to her friend Camilla Shand, soon to become Mrs Parker Bowles. The essential picture of the Prince that emerged from this first biography of Charles (I would go on to write two more at ten-year intervals) was that of a rather solitary, often lonely young man still living at home with his parents, eating TV suppers alone off trays delivered by liveried butlers. At the time, Charles told me he was broadly pleased with my portrait, especially as it was the only one yet written by somebody of his own age. I had demonstrated that the life of the Prince of Wales was 'not' as he put it 'all wine and roses'. There were, of course, aspects of the book he did not like, as one of his then speechwriters, Byron Rogers, testifies in his 2009 autobiography. According to him, the Prince's attitude towards me had 'changed dramatically when the book appeared'. No doubt he was less than pleased with Lord Butler, as indeed I later heard, for his revelations about the lovely Lucia. When the book came out, in fact, Butler felt moved to protest all over the front page of a national paper, which I was easily able to deal with: to the relief of my publishers' lawyers, His Lordship seemed to have forgotten that he had signed his approval to a pre-publication copy of the manuscript I had sent him with precisely this eventuality in mind. As Charles (and I) approached 40, I was offered an absurdly large sum to update my ten-year-old biography as well as fronting an ITV documentary titled Charles At Forty. Since the first book, the Prince had married and fathered two sons. But already the marriage appeared to be in trouble, as I noted in the book four years before Diana confirmed it via her biographer Andrew Morton. I was careful in what I said about the Prince's continuing relationship with Camilla Parker Bowles. Both were married to other people at the time, and I had no wish for the heir to the throne to sue me in his mother's courts. But I did write of Diana that Charles 'no longer understands her nor even, it seems, much likes her', while noting that 'most of the time, it is clear, she is bored with him'. I also observed that, for a couple with two young sons, Charles spent 'unnatural' amounts of time away from his wife and their children. Since the first book, the Prince had married and fathered two sons. But already the marriage appeared to be in trouble, as I noted in the book four years before Diana confirmed it via her biographer Andrew Morton This prompted a direct response from the Palace on the eve of the Prince's birthday, when the book was serialised in The Sunday Times. 'Prince's Ire At Birthday Tittle-Tattle' was the front-page headline on the paper's main rival, The Observer, which quoted a senior Royal aide, Tom Shebbeare, as calling my book 'fiction from beginning to end'. The Royal complaints continued inside under the headline 'A Distorted Portrait Of The Prince'. The next few weeks inevitably amounted to trial by media as sundry big-name columnists trashed me. 'The Prince despises the former Sunday Times journalist,' announced one. 'Friends now tell me he has loathed him for years.' To another I was 'the most reviled man in Britain', who had 'earned himself the 'hatred' and I use the word authoritatively of the Prince'. The climax came when The Sun led its front page with 'Murder Threats To Royal Author', citing three anonymous phone calls to my ex-directory number from an 'aristocratic, almost plummy voice' saying: 'Watch out you've got it coming.' What I told no one at the time, to avoid rebooting the whole furore, was that my wife Cindy and I had in fact been burgled while I was writing the book. More than once. My car was broken into overnight several times, which did not help with the school run, and we returned from a weekend away to discover that my study had been ransacked. All my files about Charles, plus floppy disks, VHS tapes with his name on and suchlike, had been taken. Nothing else was gone. When we called the police, the local constabulary looked round carefully before declaring that this was out of their league. They could do nothing more. In other words, as indeed they spelt out in so many words, it looked to them like the expert work of intelligence operatives. Other Royal biographers have testified that they too have suffered similar break-ins, even hacking in this age of computers. I am not suggesting that the Prince of Wales personally broke into my house. I am simply rephrasing the words of one of his forebears, apropos of Thomas a Becket: 'Who will rid me of this turbulent biographer?' At the time, I was so indignant that I went to consult Britain's leading libel lawyer, Peter Carter-Ruck, in front of whom I spread out a whole table-load of newspaper cuttings that had taken their cue from Shebbeare's remark, in the Prince's name, denouncing my book in The Observer as 'fiction from beginning to end'. 'I earn my living writing non-fiction,' I told him solemnly, 'so I want to sue the Prince of Wales for libel.' Carter-Ruck went white. As I sat and watched, he spent a good half-hour reading through the original Observer interview, and all the ranting it had provoked. Eventually, he looked up and solemnly pronounced: 'Mr Holden, you have a prima facie case against the Prince of Wales for defamation.' My face lit up. 'But I would strongly advise you not to pursue the matter.' My face fell again. 'Why?' 'For two main reasons. One, you may well think you would put up a decent show in the witness box. But a good barrister would make mincemeat of you with questions like 'Were you under the bed, Mr Holden, that night Mrs Parker Bowles came visiting?' 'And secondly: whatever the rights and wrongs of the matter, no jury in the land is going to take your side against the Prince of Wales.' At the time, dejected as I was, I had no alternative but to bow to Carter-Ruck's expertise. 'Well,' I said, 'I am very grateful for your advice. And of course I must accept it. Perhaps the best I can hope for is to put all this in my memoirs one day?' He smiled his assent. So I am more than pleased, 30-plus years later, at last to oblige. Given the turbulence through which the Monarchy struggled in the early 1990s including Diana's jaw-dropping interview with Martin Bashir in which she spoke of 'three people in this marriage' there was no escape from my reluctant role as a Royal commentator. While chronicling it all for, among others, the Daily Mail, I had become good friends with its Royal specialist Richard Kay, who was well known to be the favourite journalist of Diana. Naturally, like all journalists, we indulged in regular expense-account lunches. In February 1993, Richard invited me to meet him for one such at San Lorenzo, a fashionable restaurant off Knightsbridge regularly frequented by Diana, at the curiously precise time of 12.50pm. I noticed that the large table to our right, with places laid for six, was the only one in the entire restaurant adorned with a vase of flowers. On the stroke of 1pm, the whole joint paused to gasp as in she walked: yes, Diana herself, with her two small sons and her close friend Lucia Flecha de Lima, wife of the Brazilian ambassador to London. With a shriek of delighted surprise, she headed straight to our table and said: 'What are you two boys doing here? Why don't you come and join us?' Thus were all six seats at her own table suddenly filled. Diana, it turned out, wanted to thank me for a sympathetic story about her which had just appeared in the US magazine Vanity Fair. I told her that she would be getting a chapter to herself in a book I was busy finishing, to be called The Tarnished Crown. 'Perhaps,' she laughed, 'it should be called The Tarnished Tiara!' On the contrary, I replied, I was going to christen her 'the People's Princess'. As indeed I did in the title of the chapter devoted to her, long before Tony Blair hijacked the phrase in the aftermath of her death four years later. The conversation floated merrily along until, as the happy party broke up, Lucia handed each of the young Princes a 50 note. 'Oh look, boys,' cooed their mother, 'pink grannies!' This turned out to be the first in a series of such lunches with Diana and Richard. Not a word of them ever appeared in any gossip column, or I suspect they would have been promptly discontinued. In the autumn of 1996 nine months, as it was to prove, before her death I received an invitation to lunch with Diana, not in a restaurant this time, but in her apartment at Kensington Palace. It would be just the two of us. Her divorce was finalised; her 17 million settlement was safely in the bank; now she could entertain whomever she liked even public enemies (in the eyes of her ex-husband and his family) such as myself. As I was shown up the imposing staircase to Diana's private quarters, I could hear a Mozart piano concerto tinkling in the background. In response to the faintest upward twitch of my eyebrow, her butler Paul Burrell said: 'Yes, sir, she loves music, especially classical music.' When I was shown into her presence I checked this out by presenting her with a copy of a biography of Tchaikovsky I had recently written and asking if she liked his music. 'Oh yes,' she replied, 'especially the symphonies.' I was soon to discover that this meant not just, as in my case, the celebrated 4, 5 and 6; the Princess could actually tell apart, more readily than the composer's biographer, his much less well-known 1, 2 and 3. It was Diana's height, as much as her beauty, that lent her such a luminous aura. And it was her mischievous humour that lent her such charm. Immaculately groomed, as always, she motioned me to a chair and sat down, still clutching my book. 'Oh, you don't have to read it, ma'am,' I volunteered. 'Just leave it lying around on your coffee table.' 'I will read it,' she said. 'No doubt with great pleasure.' As we spoke after lunch, an adjacent bedroom was partly visible through a half-open door. But this time Diana wasn't flirtatious, as she had been in company, in the safety of public places. No, she asked sweetly after my wife Cindy, whom she had met with their mutual friend Rosa Monckton. I told her about a Caribbean holiday I'd recently enjoyed, and so we prattled on. A week or so later, a handwritten letter arrived from the Princess, complimenting me on my life of Tchaikovsky, saying that she felt especial sympathy with my account of his unhappy childhood. 'It brought tears to my eyes,' Diana wrote, having suffered a wretched childhood herself. Was I being exploited, as many of my own close friends charged (with only the mildest hint of jealousy)? It certainly didn't feel that way to me. I was only too grateful to accept the hand of friendship extended by a delightful woman who had in my view been most cruelly and all too publicly wronged. For all the love she longed to lavish on him, Charles never gave their marriage the slightest chance, blithely continuing his affair with Camilla Parker Bowles before, during and after his marriage to Diana thus bringing on the bulimia and other ailments blamed for their estrangement. She asked nothing of me, though my public sympathy for her suffering was not, I assume, unwelcome. The following summer she was suddenly no more, to the disbelief of an openly moved and grieving British public, whose emotional outpourings offended some po-faced pundits but which I found profoundly affecting. I now faced the problem of what to write to complete a third book about Charles. Having already received the relevant payment, I had no option but to comply, if with the greatest reluctance. And so it was off to South Africa to gather fresh material for yet another portrait of the future King, who was there on his first overseas visit since Diana's death, taking along 13-year-old Prince Harry to ensure a sympathetic reception. Despite my official accreditation, Charles's press secretary went to some lengths to prevent me joining the trip, and was as obstructive as possible, excluding me from the chartered aircraft on which the Prince chatted with the press for the first time in a decade. It was also during this tour that Charles rounded a bush in some urban park to find me lurking behind it, and reprised the first words he had ever said to me in Canada 20 years earlier: 'What are you doing here?' On the penultimate evening of the visit, as was its wont, the Royal press pack went out for a dinner before the main event of the trip: a Spice Girls concert in Johannesburg in the presence of Nelson Mandela, Charles and Harry, making his first public appearance since his mother's funeral. Despite my only intermittent membership of this fun-loving group of journalists, I was invited to make a speech. 'The future of the British Monarchy depends on what Prince Harry wears to the Spice Girls concert tomorrow evening,' I told them. This well-informed, hard-working group looked at me in quizzical wonder. What the blank was Holden talking about? When they asked as much, I continued: 'If Harry wears a T-shirt and jeans, as he used to when attending rock concerts with his mother, it will mean that the spirit of Diana lives on. If he wears a suit and tie, as his father undoubtedly will, it will mean that the Windsors have won and Diana's memory is already being expunged.' The following evening, Harry duly materialised at the concert in a suit and tie. My point was not lost in the subsequent coverage of the event, or indeed in the development of the Windsor story so turbulent while Diana was still alive, so tranquil after her death until the Harry-Meghan and Andrew-Epstein furores more than 20 years later. 'It is customary in books like this', I wrote in the preface to the final volume, 'to thank the Prince of Wales's office for its courteous co-operation etc, as I myself have done in the past. On this occasion, alas, it is not appropriate.' One newspaper reported that Mark Bolland, the Prince's then spin doctor, had once told a gathering of my fellow journalists: 'We are always polite when someone approaches us with a book project. Except for Tony Holden. We don't bother being polite to him.' Mark and I laughed about this later after he too fell out with the Prince and we became firm friends. The combination of Diana's death in still-disputed circumstances and my unprecedented (in print) criticism of Charles inevitably saw me much in demand on TV, to the point where it had all become an acute embarrassment to me. Even I was sick of the sight of my face on screen. So I took a vow never again to write or speak publicly about the Royals. To which, I am pleased to say, I have since largely stuck. Despite the consequent loss of income, especially in an era replete with yet more Royal weddings, babies and indeed scandals, I have been much the happier person for it. Anthony Holden, 2021 Abridged extract from Based On A True Story: A Writer's Life by Anthony Holden, which is published by Simon & Schuster on October 23, priced 20. To pre-order a copy for 18 go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2973 before October 31. Free UK delivery on orders over 20. A security guard at an Apple Store in Manhattan has been stabbed several times, including in his face, following a dispute over wearing a face mask, as crime in New York City continues to rise. The confrontation happened inside the West 14th Street store on Friday, shortly after 6pm. The NYPD say the suspect became irate when the store's 37-year-old security guard enforced the store's mask policy. The Chelsea store had a sign at the entranceway that reads 'masks are required' ABC 7 News reported. During the confrontation the suspect pulled out a knife and stabbed the security guard multiple times in the back, forehead and in the left arm, police said. Blood splatter remains at the scene of the brutal stabbing in the Chelsea Apple Store Police arrive at the scene of the stabbing as they continue to search for the suspect that fled Police are searching for the suspect that stabbed a 37-year-old security guard in the face Blood remains on the floor of the West 14th Street Apple Store in Chelsea after the stabbing An NYPD officer stands guard at the Chelsea Apple Store as officers continue to investigate Police say the suspect, described as a black male in his 20's, remains at large Police say the suspect fled the scene on foot and ran into the 14th Street and 8th Ave subway and remains at large The suspect fled the scene on foot and ran into the 14th Street and 8th Ave subway, and remains at large. The 37-year-old guard was taken to a local hospital where he remains in serious but stable condition. A witness told ABC7 he saw cops running into the back of the store and the security guard get taken out in stretcher following the attack. 'I saw him when they took him out on a stretcher, two paramedics followed by about five or six policemen, but I did see cops running in and running to the back,' witness Roberto Monticello said. Police have described the suspect as a black male in his 20's who is about 5'6 tall last seen wearing a black mask, black sweatshirt, and blue jeans. The security guard was attacked while enforcing the store's mask mandate still in place in some businesses across the city. Police tape goes up in front of the West 14th Street Apple Store following the Friday night stabbing NYPD officers were at the scene of the crime that left a 37-year-old security guard in serious but stable condition Police inspect the scene of the brutal stabbing on Friday that left a security guard with multiple stab wounds The stabbing comes as crime in the city rose 2.6 percent overall in September 2021 compared to the same month in 2020, with an extra 243 incidents reported Roberto Monticello (pictured) told ABC7 he saw cops running into the back of the store and the security guard get taken out in stretcher following the attack New York City currently has some of the most restrictive COVID-19 rules after Mayor Bill de Blasio imposed earlier this summer a mandate that people need to be vaccinated and show proof of vaccination to enjoy indoor activities like dining, concerts, movies and convention centers. In September de Blasio ordered all city workers to return to the office and said workers will have to wear face masks in communal spaces and choose between vaccination or weekly testing. The order went into effect for the city's 300,000 worker but mostly affected the 80,000 who work in offices at city agencies like the Department of Cultural Affairs or the libraries. The brutal stabbing also comes as NYC experiences a spike in violent crime. New crime statistics show assaults have climbed 18.5 percent and robberies were up 6 percent in September as the NYPD revealed it has made more than 3,400 gun arrests so far this year. Stark data released by the NYPD last month showed crime rose 2.6 percent overall in September 2021 compared to the same month in 2020, with an extra 243 incidents reported. Violent and horrific subway attacks and gang-related gun battles are a common occurrence in the streets of the city with some boroughs being ravaged by the crime wave more than others. Manhattan South recording the biggest spike in crime (20.1 percent) last month compared to the previous September. Manhattan North has also seen a rise in crime, up by 3.2 percent in the same timeframe. Brooklyn South saw crime spike by 5.3 percent, Staten Island by 9 percent and the Bronx - where a terrifying gun fight broke out between gangs last month - by 4.9 percent. A map showing the New York City boroughs where crime has increased (in red) and decreased (in green) in September 2021 compared to the same month last year Crime has, however, fallen in some boroughs of the city, down by 4.2 percent in Brooklyn North, 5.8 percent in Queens North. In Queens South, crime fell 3.7 percent between the two months - even though there were six murders recorded there last month. Despite the rise in some violent offenses, NYPD Police Commissioner Dermot Shea hailed the fall in murders and shootings last month. Murders fell by 22 percent from 59 in September 2020 to 46 last month, while shootings were down 9.3 percent from 150 to 136. Mayor Bill De Blasio tried to put a positive spin on the numbers on in his press briefing Wednesday morning. The mayor touted the rise in gun arrests as an 'extraordinary success' rather than a concerning sign of a rise in firearm use. 'It's a typical thing out there for certain folks to doubt New York City, or to doubt our ability to make a comeback, or doubt the NYPD, but the facts speak for themselves,' he said. 'Even in the most extraordinarily difficult circumstances - total disruption of our society because of a global pandemic, unprecedented - the NYPD has fought back, neighborhood folks have fought back, the city has fought back and we're seeing it in so many ways.' He added: 'We're seeing the city come back to life.' The mayor said several crimes such as robbery and felony crime are currently at the lowest rate in the last three decades on a year-to-date basis. And de Blasio said things will improve further as the city continues to come back to life - through a return of tourism and workers returning to their offices. That is part of his 'safety in numbers' theory, where larger crowds of people gathering are likely to deter opportunistic criminals from carrying out attacks. Yet, the tourist hotspots have been at the center of some of the violence of late. Times Square - known for its flashing billboards and bright lights which draw in around 50 million visitors every year - has been the site of three shootings and a horrifying incident where a woman pushed a bystander in front of a subway train. The mayoral candidate frontrunner Eric Adams has vowed to tackle the escalating violence when de Blasio leaves office at the end of this term. Last week he said his first focus will be to crack down on guns entering the city. His other plans include the creation of a dedicated plain-clothed anti-gun violence unit in the NYPD. British loyalists marched in London today demonstrating against the Northern Ireland Protocol between the UK and the European Union. The group met in London's Trafalgar Square and marched down Whitehall to Number 10 Downing Street to rally against the protocol that was agreed during Brexit negotiations to protect the 1998 Good Friday agreement. The protocol was implemented to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, by effectively keeping Northern Ireland in the EU's single goods market. British loyalists marched from Trafalgar Square to Houses of Parliament and Downing Street protesting the Northern Ireland Protocol between the UK and the European Union today The group met in London's Trafalgar Square (pictured) and marched down Whitehall to Number 10 Downing Street Pictured: A lorry is checked at Larne harbour which is one of the main entry points between Northern Ireland and the rest of the United Kingdom on September 7, 2021. The protocol was put in place to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland, by effectively keeping Northern Ireland in the EU's single market for goods But unionists have been pushing for it to be scrapped because of the trade barriers it has created on products crossing the Irish Sea from Great Britain. Pictures from the capital showed a number of unionists, some waving the Union Jack and dressed in red coats, carrying a banner that read: 'Stop the Northern Ireland Protocol. United we stand. Divided we fall.' The group gathered in Trafalgar Square before setting off towards the Prime Minister's residence, where the banner was held outside the gates. Pictures from the capital showed a number of unionists, some waving the Union Jack and dressed in red coats, carrying a banner that read: 'Stop the Northern Ireland Protocol. United we stand. Divided we fall.' Flag bearers, some with medals on their chests, led the way, while other held signs including one which read 'NI is the UK not EU' (pictured) Flag bearers, some with medals on their chests, led the way, while other held signs including one which read 'NI is the UK not EU'. The EU appeared ready to surrender the Northern Ireland 'sausage war' on Friday as Brussels sought to ease the tense row over post-Brexit trade. British products entering Ulster will be granted an exemption from the bloc's rules on third-country goods under plans expected to be revealed by the European Commission next week. The two sides have been at loggerheads this year over a ban on chilled exports crossing the Irish Sea, caused by Northern Ireland's special post-Brexit trade status. Britain is attempting to have the wider Northern Ireland Protocol rewritten to ease goods trade and resulting social tension, something the EU is refusing to do. However, reports from Brussels yesterday suggested that Brexit commissioner, Maros Sefcovic, is preparing to unveil the EU's plans next week, which will include a 'national identity' exemption for UK produce. The plan would have to be signed off by the EU27 before it came into effect. The group gathered in Trafalgar Square before setting off towards the Prime Minister's residence, where the banner was held outside the gates (pictured) The two sides have been at loggerheads this year over a ban on chilled meat exports - including sausages - crossing the Irish Sea, caused by Northern Ireland's special post-Brexit trade status Jake Sullivan, the president's national security adviser, said the White House has significant concern' about UK plans to unilaterally suspend the Northern Ireland Protocol before Christmas. It came as one of Joe Biden's top aides warned today that Boris Johnson's row with the EU over Northern Ireland risks creating 'a serious risk to stability'. Jake Sullivan, the president's national security adviser, said the White House has significant concern' about UK threats to unilaterally suspend the Northern Ireland Protocol before Christmas. His comments came after Brexit Minister Lord Frost set a November deadline for a solution to the protocol deadlock, warning the EU the UK 'cannot wait forever' for border checks to be improved. He said there will be a 'decision point' early next month when it will become apparent if it is possible for the two sides to agree a solution to resolve ongoing disruption to intra-UK trade. London has threatened to unilaterally suspend the agreement if Brussels does not agree to scrap the protocol and replace it - something the EU is refusing to contemplate. Speaking to the BBC, Mr Sullivan said: 'The United States government, as President Biden said in the Oval Office with Prime Minister Johnson, strongly supports the Good Friday agreement, believes it must be protected, believes that peace and stability in Northern Ireland must be protected.' Brexit minister Lord Frost (pictured at the Tory Party conference last week) is expected to warn that the European Union must go further than scrapping its prohibition on British sausages to resolve the dispute. 'The Northern Ireland protocol was agreed between the EU and the UK and our view is that the two sides should work together in a constructive way to find a deal and a way forward. 'Without something like the Northern Ireland protocol and with the possibility of the return of a hard border between NI and the Republic of Ireland, we will have a serious risk to stability and to the sanctity of the Good Friday agreement, and that is of significant concern to the US.' However, the Government is likely to pick up on his talk of 'something like' the protocol as a tacit suggestion that a suitable alternative might be acceptable to the Biden administration. The Government has repeatedly threatened to trigger Article 16 of the protocol which would allow Britain to unilaterally walk away from some of the rules. However, such a move would spark a furious response in Brussels and would likely lead to a legal challenge. Under the terms of the current agreement, Northern Ireland remains in the EU's single market and follows the bloc's rules on goods, including food standards and animal safety. At the time, EU negotiators said this was the only way to avoid a hard border between Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland. But Britain has repeatedly knocked back Brussels' demands to match the bloc's food, plant and environmental standards. Taliban officials said they would not help contain extremist groups in Afghanistan during their first meeting with US since the muddled withdrawal of US troops and allies from the nation in August. US officials were sent to meet with senior Taliban representatives in Doha, Qatar, this weekend to discuss easing the evacuation of foreign citizens and Afghans from Afghanistan and reigning in extremists groups. While the Taliban agreed to aid in evacuation efforts, Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen told the Associated Press that there would be no cooperation with America on containing the increasingly active Islamic State extremist group. Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen said the Taliban would aid in evacuation efforts in Afghanistan but said they had no plans to help reign in terrorist groups Taliban fighters at the Abbey Gates in Kabul are continuing to assist evacuees at the airport An explosion at a mosque in Kunduz, northern Afghanistan, on Friday that targeted Shiite Muslim worshippers has left at least 100 people killed or wounded ISIS has recently taken responsibility for a suicide bombing on Friday that killed at least 46 Shi'ite Muslims and wounded more than 100 others who were praying at a mosque in Kunduz. Video footage showed bodies surrounded by debris inside the mosque, which is used by the minority Shi'ite Muslim community. The blast, which the United Nations' mission in Afghanistan called part of a disturbing pattern of violence, follows others in recent days at a mosque in Kabul and a religious school in the eastern province of Khost. Michael Kugleman, deputy director of the Asia Program at the US-based Wilson Center, said Friday's attack could be a signal of more violent attacks in Afghanistan. Despite the violence, Shaheen said the terrorist group would be tackled 'independently,' from the current talks. The meetings in Doha are the first since the US ended the 20-year war in Afghanistan with President Joe Biden ordering a rushed and chaotic withdrawal of troops that concluded at the end of August. President Joe Biden, pictured on October 8, had issued the withdrawal of US troops from Afghanistan, bringing an end to America's longest war Desperate Afghans waded through a sewage ditch on the outskirts of Kabul airport this morning while pleading with soldiers guarding the opposite bank to put them on a plane out of the country after the US began withdrawing troops in August Afghan families are pictured boarding a military evacuation flight at Hamid Karzai Airport as the US prepares to withdraw from the country, with other western nations set to follow US State Department officials told Reuters that 'the continued safe passage out of Afghanistan of US and other foreign nationals and Afghans to whom we have a special commitment who seek to leave the country' is among the key priority for the meetings. US officials estimate that there are about 100 US citizens still seeking evacuation from Afghanistan. Secretary of State Anthony Blinken blamed the Trump administration, who brokered the deal to pull out of Afghanistan in 2020, for the chaotic evacuation. 'We inherited a deadline; we did not inherit a plan,' Blinken said. There are currently camps set up at the airport filled with people waiting to flee Afghanistan. US officials asserted that the meetings with the Taliban does not mean it recognizes them as a government, the AP reports, as the group continues to face backlash over their rule of the land. The world has been watching whether the Taliban will live up to their initial promises of tolerance and inclusiveness toward women and ethnic minorities. However, Taliban actions so far, such as renewed restrictions on women and the appointment of an all-male government, have been met with dismay by the international community. Protests against the Taliban's policies toward women continued Tuesday, with a demonstration in a Kabul private school by female teachers and students who held up signs saying 'Education is a right.' Afghan women continue to protest the Taliban rule. Marchers pictured on September 3 Taliban thugs today pushed women protesters and fired shots in the air to break up a demonstration outside a school in Kabul calling for girls to be allowed to return to secondary education on September 30 Photos and video from the scene showed rescuers carrying a body wrapped in a blanket from the mosque in Kunduz following the Islamic State's attack on Friday The protest was held indoors to avoid backlash from the Taliban, who have recently outlawed demonstrations held without permission from the government. The U.N. continued to sound the alarm about the country's dire economic situation, saying a humanitarian crisis is imminent. The world body's children's agency warned that half of Afghanistan's children under age 5 are expected to suffer from severe malnutrition as hunger takes root amid serious food shortages. 'There are millions of people who are going to starve and there is winter coming, COVID raging, and the whole social system collapsed,' said Omar Adbi, UNICEF's deputy executive director for programs, during a visit to a Kabul children's hospital. Ben Slater, 37, was captured while trying to lead nearly 400 people to the Pakistani border A former British soldier captured while leading a daring desert escape from Afghanistan has described how he endured weeks of prison beatings from Taliban militants who suspected he was a spy. Ben Slater says he was punched, kicked and lashed by up to ten guards at a time in a Guantanamo Bay-like prison run by the Islamist group's intelligence arm. 'I was the ultimate catch for them,' the former Royal Military Police officer told The Mail on Sunday. Mr Slater, who ran a non-profit organisation in Kabul, was trying to lead nearly 400 of his mainly female staff and their families towards Afghanistan's border with Pakistan when he was detained by a gun-toting Taliban patrol. He was dragged to a jail where he thought he would be killed as Taliban thugs many of them previously held by the Americans for terrorism offences beat him without 'any remorse'. He said: 'They didn't give me any chance of dialogue, they said, 'Shut up, you are a spy.' Some of my interrogators were former Guantanamo detainees and some were jailed at Bagram air base in Afghanistan. 'One of my prison guards lost a limb in a Nato airstrike. You just knew this was not going to end well.' The 37-year-old had been taken to a Taliban base at Jalalabad which was previously a CIA interrogation centre and was thrown in a windowless cell holding four fighters from Islamic State, also known as Daesh. Mr Slater, who grew up in Devon, was released from Taliban captivity last Monday, after a delegation led by Sir Simon Gass Boris Johnson's special envoy to Afghanistan and Martin Longden, the UK's charge d'affaires, met Taliban leaders in Kabul 'It was horrendous, I was breaking bread with Daesh,' he said. 'I tried to crack some jokes so we didn't kill each other.' While he was being escorted to an interrogation session, Taliban guards pushed him down a flight of stairs before attacking him with fists and feet. 'It was like bullies in a playground, when they have someone on the ground,' he said. 'About ten of them were kicking lumps out of me.' They then lashed him with cables and wires, forcing the ex-soldier to cower on the ground. 'If you laid out a buffet of hatred for these people at the time... I was a blue-eyed British soldier. I was literally the ultimate catch,' he said. Taliban guards would place a hood over his head and drag him barefoot to a room where interrogators with a translator would beat him in the hope he would confess to being a British spy. After two weeks of daily beatings and brutal questioning, Mr Slater's captors began to accept he was not a member of the intelligence services and moved him to a single cell for a week. Thousands flee Taliban-held Afghanistan walking miles through the desert across the Pakistani border He was then transferred to a prison in Kabul for political detainees. Mr Slater, who grew up in Devon, was released from Taliban captivity last Monday, after a delegation led by Sir Simon Gass Boris Johnson's special envoy to Afghanistan and Martin Longden, the UK's charge d'affaires, met Taliban leaders in Kabul. Mr Slater was flown out of Kabul with the British delegation to Qatar. He last night thanked the Prime Minister for getting him out of Afghanistan, but appealed to him to help the rest of his staff escape. 'All I care about is these vulnerable people and getting as many out as I can,' he said. 'If I have to go over the same thing again, and get captured by the Taliban, I will do that all over again.' Mr Slater who has been living and working in Afghanistan for the past eight years is chairman of an international development organisation called Nomad Concepts Group, which employed more than 1,000 Afghans in Kabul to help vulnerable women and girls. When the Taliban entered Kabul on August 15, Mr Slater began making plans to evacuate 100 of his staff. 'Threats from the Taliban against my women staff had started to come through,' he said. He managed to get some out via Kabul airport but the Home Office could not provide visas for all workers. When the airport closed, Mr Slater, his staff and their families boarded a convoy of minibuses and taxis to make the perilous six-hour journey to the Torkham border crossing with Pakistan. But when the group of almost 400 reached the border, Mr Slater learned that the British High Commission in Islamabad had not provided the visas needed to cross the border, so the convoy had to camp in a nearby hotel. On September 2, the hotel was raided. Most guests including almost all of his staff fled but Mr Slater was detained and taken to a makeshift jail in Torkham before being moved 60 miles to Jalalabad. He said the plight of Afghans still moved him to tears, adding: 'There are mothers in Kabul that are selling their young daughters for a week's worth of food. Others are selling their best-looking or youngest daughters to older men just to be allowed to cross the border.' The war had been over for 13 years when a group of former comrades, now scattered around the country, opened the morning post to find a letter from their old chief. Louis Mountbatten, Admiral of the Fleet and uncle to Prince Philip had a favour to ask. The Admiralty, he explained, was preparing a report on the disastrous Dieppe Raid of 1942, which had seen more than 3,300 Canadian, British and American troops killed or captured within ten hours. Would the veterans of Operation Jubilee, as the raid was known, help Mountbatten construct an accurate account for the historical record? Where, he asked them, should responsibility for the fiasco be 'fairly and squarely placed'? He made his own thoughts on the matter quite clear before signing off, affectionately: 'Yours ever, Dickie.' The survivors from Dieppe did as they were asked and, under the supervision of their former commander, helped produce an account of the raid that was very much to Mountbatten's liking a version of events then largely repeated by the Admiralty. It concluded that, despite the horrific losses, Dieppe had been invaluable training. It had taught the Allies hard lessons, which were triumphantly justified on D-Day, when they escaped with many fewer casualties than expected. The carnage was regrettable, but ultimately worth it. The war had been over for 13 years when a group of former comrades, now scattered around the country, opened the morning post to find a letter from their old chief. Louis Mountbatten, Admiral of the Fleet and uncle to Prince Philip had a favour to ask, writes Patrick Bishop This was just one example of Mountbatten's attempts to hijack the narrative of Dieppe. From the day the operation ended until the close of his life, he hammered away at the construction of a legend that presented the disaster as a calculated sacrifice. So frequently did Mountbatten make his case that it sometimes seemed that the main person he was trying to convince was himself. In the summer of 1942, Britain was under mounting pressure from the Russians, fighting a desperate rearguard defence against Hitler on the Eastern Front. Stalin wanted the Allies to divert German resources by taking action in the west. At the same time Britain was under great pressure from its new American allies to launch an early invasion of Europe. Churchill rightly resisted, but something had to be done to persuade his partners that Britain meant business. Dieppe was thus in some ways a piece of military theatre. And there was no better man to mount it than the flamboyant and ruthlessly ambitious Lord Louis Mountbatten. His Combined Operations organisation had been set up to launch amphibious raids into enemy territory, and had done with some success. In March, commandos destroyed the gigantic dry dock at St Nazaire, thereby denying Hitler's last remaining battleship, Tirpitz, an Atlantic haven. Mountbatten and Combined Ops were on a roll. Jubilee would be the biggest raid yet, involving more than 6,000 mostly Canadian infantry, 237 ships and 74 RAF squadrons, set on engaging the Luftwaffe in the biggest air clash since the Battle of Britain. The survivors from Dieppe did as they were asked and, under the supervision of their former commander, helped produce an account of the raid that was very much to Mountbatten's liking a version of events then largely repeated by the Admiralty Unlike the previous raids, the Dieppe operation had no obvious military purpose. Moreover, the port was strongly defended with machine guns and artillery covering all approaches. That it went ahead was largely due to the insistence of Mountbatten, who was anxious to maintain his organisation's prestige. When the first operation was cancelled at the last minute due to bad weather, he pressed for it to be remounted, despite the risk that intelligence of the attack had reached the Germans. On the evening of August 18, 1942, relying heavily on surprise, the raid was launched. The first landings were due to go in at 04.50, at four points either side of Dieppe. The main attack, a head-on assault of the beaches in front of the town, was to be launched half an hour later, when the flank attacks should have suppressed the guns on the overlooking headlands. But things started to go wrong more than two hours earlier when the first landing craft were lowered into the water for the final approach. Major Forbes West from the Royal Regiment of Canada was in one of the boats when he detected 'a great deal of what appeared to be confusion'. Each assault group was assigned a motor gunboat (MGB) to lead it in. One MGB had strayed from its station and the rest of the craft mistakenly lined up behind it. By the time the muddle was sorted, they were 15 minutes behind schedule. It was essential to start the raid in darkness, yet as Maj West's craft finally approached the beach, 'it was coming on daylight and there was a great burst of firing and then it petered out to almost nothing'. The first wave was going in. Later, West remembered saying to his commanding officer in the Royals, Colonel Douglas Catto: 'Well, they must have got through.' Catto replied: 'No they didn't. They're all dead.' Both landings east of Dieppe ran into immediate trouble. On the strategically key 'Blue Beach', the Canadians were cut down as soon as the bow doors of the landing craft were opened. The German gunners had a perfectly framed target and fire poured into the ranks of Allied soldiers tightly packed inside the boats. Men clambered over the bodies of the dead and wounded in the rush to get out and on to the beach. Some hauled themselves over the sides and tumbled into the sea. Those at the front had no choice but to charge ahead. Private Tom Hunter 'was in the very front rank when the door went down. I jumped into the water which came right up to my chest'. Holding his rifle above his head he floundered to the shore then slithered over the treacherous pebbles running for the sea wall, which was the only cover in sight. He had 'no time to look around and I only wanted to get there as fast as possible'. The Admiralty, he explained, was preparing a report on the disastrous Dieppe Raid of 1942, which had seen more than 3,300 Canadian, British and American troops killed or captured within ten hours. Pictured: Canadian troops are ordered to raise their hands by a German soldier after being captured Ten feet from the wall's meagre shelter, shell splinters smacked into his forehead. He dived flat and pressed his head into the unyielding pebbles. 'There was nothing we could do. I didn't even have the chance to shoot back.' Catto arrived with the second wave about 20 minutes later. Ross Munro, a Canadian correspondent, described how 'vicious bursts of yellow tracers made a veritable curtain' around the craft as bullets whanged off the armour. 'As soon as the ramp at the bow of our boat fell, 15 Royals rushed the beach and sprinted up the slope, taking cover along the cliff side. Machine-gun fire held back the rest' In the space of about 20 minutes the Canadians had been reduced from a disciplined, coherent force to a remnant of dazed and powerless men, curling up to make as small a target as possible behind whatever scrap of cover they could find. There was a recess where two stone staircases led up from the sea wall that gave the illusion of a sanctuary, but nowhere was really safe. 'We just had to stay close to the wall,' Sergeant John Legate told an officer conducting the first post-operational report from his hospital bed a few days afterwards. 'The crossfire coming at us made it impossible to move two feet from the wall or you got it. 'There was nobody around to look after the wounded.' There was no protection against the mortar bombs which 'were dropping all around us it was impossible to give orders to try and do anything and it turned out to be every man for himself'. The unhurt officers in the first wave organised several efforts to cross the sea wall. That meant clearing a way through dense rolls of concertina wire choking the landward side. Very few succeeded. 'Snipers were everywhere,' remembered Private Jack Poolton, speaking many years later. 'One hit the rim of my helmet fellows were trying to throw hand grenades they'd get hit just as soon as they pulled the pin.' When the main attack was launched at about 05.30, the German defences were still intact. Slaughter ensued. The troops were pinned down on the shingle and unable to move. None of the tanks that landed made it into the town. Despite the paralysis, reinforcements were sent in at 07.00 and met the same fate. At about 08.00, with the battle now decisively in their favour, the Germans began to show themselves. Major Forbes West was lying immobilised by a wounded leg when 'the Germans came along the beach and allowed our people who were sound to start gathering up the wounded'. He had just been hoisted on to the sea wall on a stretcher when an RAF attack came in. 'There wasn't anything we could do to stop it we couldn't say, 'Boys, it's all over and you're killing us not the Germans.' So the bombs came down and then the Germans made all the people who had been helping pick up the wounded get off the beach. 'And then the tide came in and unquestionably some people who might have been picked up went out with the tide because they were too badly wounded to help themselves.' At the water's edge, the stretcher-bearers saw a nightmarish sight. 'It was unbelievable,' remembered Poolton. 'There were boots with feet in them, there were legs. There were bits of flesh. There were guts. There were heads. This was my regiment. These were the guys I had lived with for the last two-and-a-half years.' After three trips, the Germans ordered them to stop. An officer walked the beach, 'shooting the worst of the wounded Canadians in the forehead'. Poolton felt physically sick but had 'nothing in there to puke I thought, God Almighty, is there no end to this slaughter?' At 09.00, Allied commanders finally gave the order to withdraw. At about noon the fleet departed, leaving those stranded with no alternative but to surrender. Only one of the six attacks that day went according to plan. The men of 4 Commando, led by the Scottish aristocrat Lord Lovat, had succeeded in overwhelming and completely destroying a heavy gun battery to the west of Dieppe. It was a rare gleam of light in an otherwise black picture. Of the 6,000 soldiers who set off, just over half were returning. Of those left behind, 980 were dead or would die of their wounds. In the course of the afternoon, the 2,010 left behind including Maj West and Col Catto became prisoners. As one officer admitted: 'I am afraid that this operation will go down as one of the great failures in history.' Afterwards, news of the attack produced first surprise, then dismay and finally bewilderment. 'What I don't understand is, why Dieppe?' asked the formidable British tank commander Major General Percy Hobart, who would later play a leading role in the 1944 invasion of Normandy. Writing to the military historian Basil Liddell Hart, he said that a raid 'is either to obtain information and destroy some worthwhile objective or it is to train one's own troops. In the latter case one would not select a strongly defended sector. In the former, what was the objective? Evidently we did not reach it. It all sounds pretty Passchendaele to me.' The reference was to the notorious 1917 battle on the Western Front when thousands of Allied troops, many of them Canadians, floundered to their deaths in an ocean of mud. Some of the Jubilee survivors reached for a different episode from military history to describe what they had endured. It was, they said, 'just like the Charge of the Light Brigade'. After all, 6,000 men had been sent into the jaws of death. Soon no comparisons were necessary and Dieppe stood in its own right as a metaphor for bloody futility. Maj Gen Hobart's questions have never been properly answered. There is little evidence to support Mountbatten's claim that the raid was a 'rehearsal for D- Day'. The notion only began to gain traction when Operation Jubilee was subsequently 'sold' to the press, public and politicians. There was a cursory examination in an official military report of 'lessons learned', which amounted to little more than statements of the obvious. Yet the final tally was more or less clear. It would end up showing combined military casualties of 3,625 on the Allied side. That included 169 commandos of whom 37 were killed, and 76 Royal Marine commandos of whom 29 died. Of the 50 US Rangers who took part, seven were killed and six wounded. Twenty-nine Churchill tanks and ten armoured cars and carriers were lost. The Navy total was 523 casualties, of whom 148 died. One destroyer and 33 landing craft were sunk. The RAF losses were 66 aircrew, 53 of whom died, and 106 aircraft. Total German losses for all three services were 357 dead and 280 wounded. Thirty-seven prisoners, none of whom had much of value to impart, were taken back to England. The meagre gains made it all the more important for Mountbatten to magnify Jubilee's significance. In this, he was supported by the Canadian high command, who threw their weight behind his efforts. The legend received its greatest boost on the eve of D-Day when the men of the 3rd Canadian Infantry Division were told: 'The plan, the preparations, the method and technique which will be employed are based on knowledge and experience bought and paid for by 2nd Canadian Division at Dieppe. 'The contribution cannot be overestimated. It will prove to have been the essential prelude to our forthcoming and final success.' It was Mountbatten himself who put a number on the value of Dieppe in the currency that mattered most. Addressing the Dieppe Veterans and Prisoners of War Association in Toronto on September 28, 1973, he pointed to the casualties sustained on D-Day, which had been much lighter than expected. 'Of the 156,000 men who took part in the assault, there were only 2,500 casualties [ie dead] or one man in 60,' he said. 'At Dieppe the comparable loss was about one in five. 'So 12 times as many men, including of course many thousands of Canadians, survived the D-Day assaults and I am convinced that this was directly the result of the lessons we learned at Dieppe.' Mountbatten never stopped trying to get people to see the catastrophe of Dieppe his way, but the responsibility for Jubilee must rest largely on his shoulders. Why had he been so intent on going ahead with it? The only answer that fits is this: it was the triumph of a vanity, wilfulness and ambition that were always the dark counterpoint to Mountbatten's great ability and considerable humanity. Patrick Bishop, 2021. Operation Jubilee by Patrick Bishop is published by Viking on Thursday, priced 20. To pre-order a copy for 18 go to mailshop.co.uk/books or call 020 3176 2973 before October 24. Free UK delivery on orders over 20. Hundreds of thousands of demonstrators have taken to the streets in European cities to protest against Covid-19 vaccines and other regulations. Protesters gathered in Rome to protest against Covid-19 vaccine passports but were blasted with water cannons as they clashed with police officers during the 'No Green Pass' on Saturday. Elsewhere, demonstrators gathered in Basel, Switzerland, to protest against the Covid-19 vaccine and civil restrictions after the Government made it mandatory to have a Covid certificate for vaccination or negative test to enter some public places. In Rome, thousands of demonstrators marched down Rome's Via Veneto and other main streets on Saturday. Demonstrators gathered in Basel, Switzerland, to protest after the Government made it mandatory to have a Covid certificate for vaccination or negative test to enter public places Elsewhere, protesters gathered in Rome to protest against Covid-19 vaccine passports but were blasted with water cannons as they clashed with police officers In Rome, thousands of demonstrators marched down Rome's Via Veneto and other main streets on Saturday, but were blasted with water cannons used by police officers ROME: The groups were protesting a government rule requiring Covid-19 vaccines or negative tests to access workplaces next week The certification in Italy (pictured: protest in Rome), known as a 'Green Pass,' takes effect on Friday and applies to public and private workplaces A demonstrator scuffles with police officers during a protest against the government's introduction of the 'Green Pass' near Chigi Palace in Rome Demonstrators clash with police officers during a protest against the government's introduction of the 'Green Pass' near Chigi Palace in Rome The groups were protesting a government rule requiring Covid-19 vaccines or negative tests to access workplaces next week. The certification in Italy, known as a 'Green Pass,' takes effect on Friday and applies to public and private workplaces. To get the passport, residents must either have had at least one Covid vaccine dose, document recovery from the illness in the last six months or test negative in the previous 48 hours. Both employees and employers risk fines if they do not comply with the rules, causing outrage and protests across the Italian capital. Workers in the public sector can be suspended if they show up five times without a Green Pass. This summer, Green Passes were required in Italy to enter museums, theatres, gyms and indoor restaurants, and take long-distance trains and buses or domestic flights. Both employees and employers in Italy (pictured: protest in Rome) risk fines if they do not comply with the rules, causing outrage and protests across the Italian capital Protesters attend during a protest against the Green Pass in Popolo square, Rome Several hundred people attended the protest called upon by extreme-right party Forza Nuova (FN) and no-vax chat channel Basta Dittatura to scrap the so-called Green Pass Police officers line up as demonstrators protest against the government's introduction of the 'Green Pass' near Chigi Palace in Rome SWITZERLAND: Protesters and members of the 'Freiheitstrychler' group during a demonstration against civil restrictions and the coronavirus vaccine in Basel This summer, Green Passes were required in Italy (pictured: protest in Rome) to enter museums, theatres, gyms and indoor restaurants, and take long-distance trains and buses Police officers approach a demonstrator protesting against the government's introduction of the 'Green Pass' near Chigi Palace in Rome A toy baby was impaled with various syringes as a statement amid the protest in Popolo square, Rome, Italy Policemen clash with the 'No Green Pass' protesters in the centre of Rome after they went on an unauthorised protest Since August 6, in order to be allowed access to certain activities and services, everyone over the age of 12 in Italy needs to present a green pass Protesters and members of the 'Freiheitstrychler' group during a demonstration against civil restrictions and the coronavirus vaccine, in Basel, Switzerland Demonstrators held an authorised protest in Piazza Del Popolo on Saturday, which saw groups of people waving the Italian flag and marching down streets But protesters clashed with police after leaving the square and going on an unauthorised march, which saw them blasted with water cannons. Pictured: Protester is arrested Several hundred people attended the protest called upon by extreme-right party Forza Nuova (FN) and no-vax chat channel Basta Dittatura to scrap the so-called Green Pass. Demonstrators held an authorised protest in Piazza Del Popolo on Saturday, which saw groups of people waving the Italian flag and marching down streets as they protested against the Covid regulations. But protesters clashed with police after leaving the square and going on an unauthorised march, which saw them blasted with water cannons. Dramatic photographs showed police in helmets and carrying shields and batons, blocking the groups from marching down a street that runs past Premier Mario Draghi's office. On October 8, the Italian Government gave green light for indoor night clubs to reopen at 50 per cent capacity from October 11 and for cultural venues to reopen at full capacity. But clubbers will have to have the Green Pass vaccine passport to enter the establishments, which are only allowed to open if they are in a low Covid risk white zones. As of Saturday, 80 per cent of those 12 and older have been fully vaccinated in Italy. Protesters and members of the 'Freiheitstrychler' group during a demonstration against civil restrictions and the coronavirus vaccine, in Basel, Switzerland Dramatic photographs showed police in helmets and carrying shields and batons, blocking the groups from marching down a street that runs past Premier Mario Draghi's office A dog had a sign adorned to it which read 'no green pass' as demonstrators gathered in Popolo square in Rome on Saturday As of Saturday, 80 per cent of those 12 and older have been fully vaccinated in Italy. Pictured: Demonstrators clash against anti-riot police officers during a protest in Rome Protesters and members of the 'Freiheitstrychler' group were seen marching down the streets brandishing placards and waving flags and banners in Basel, Switzerland on Saturday Elsewhere in Switzerland, thousands of demonstrators also took to the streets of Basel as they protested against civil restrictions and the Covid vaccine. Protesters and members of the 'Freiheitstrychler' group were seen marching down the streets brandishing placards and waving flags and banners It comes after the government made it mandatory since September 13 to have a Covid certificate for vaccination or negative test to access public places including restaurants and museums and public events. Meanwhile, three Vatican Swiss Guards who have refused to be vaccinated against Covid-19 upon Holy See orders have voluntarily left the storied corps to return to Switzerland, a Swiss Guard official has said. Earlier this month, Lieutenant Urs Breitenmoser said all Swiss Guards had been asked to be vaccinated 'to protect their health and that of the others they come into contact with as part of their service'. 'Three members of the Guard have chosen not to adhere to that request, voluntarily leaving the corps,' Breitenmoser said. Three other guardsmen are temporarily suspended from duty while they await vaccination, he said. The prime duty of the all-male corps, with its coluorful uniforms and plumed helmets, is to protect the pontiff. The members stand guard during papal ceremonies as well as at the various entrances of the tiny, independent walled city state near Rome's Tiber River. Pope Francis, who has been vaccinated against Covid-19, has repeatedly stressed the altruistic and health value of receiving the shots during the pandemic. The protest in Basel, Switzerland, came after the government made it mandatory to have a Covid certificate for vaccination or negative test to access public places A protester was seen wearing a face mask with two holes torn out of it over his eyes as he protested Covid vaccine regulations in Rome on Saturday Policemen clash with the 'No Green Pass' protesters in the centre of Rome on Saturday Police officers were seen brandishing batons and apparently hitting protesters with them after they went on an unauthorised protest in Rome Demonstrators face off police officers during a protest against the government's introduction of the 'Green Pass' near Chigi Palace in Rome Demonstrators clash with police officers during a protest against the government's introduction of the 'Green Pass' near Chigi Palace in Rome Since August 6, in order to be allowed access to certain activities and services, everyone over the age of 12 in Italy needs to present a Covid 'Green Pass' health certificate Members of the 'Freiheitstrychler' group during a demonstration against civil restrictions and the coronavirus vaccine, in Basel, Switzerland Police clashes with demonstrators during a protest against Covid regulations in Rome on Saturday The government on October 8 gave green light for indoor night clubs to reopen at 50 percent capacity from 11 October and for cultural venues to reopen at full capacity The leader of ultra-right wing movement AREA, Giuliano Castellino, during a protest against the Green Pass in Popolo square in Rome Protesters with a banner defacing Premier Draghi, during a protest against the Green Pass in Popolo square, Rome The art gallery selling Hunter Biden's paintings saw its federal COVID-19 loan increased from $150,000 to $500,000 after his father took office, it has been revealed. Public records, seen by the New York Post, show the Georges Berges Gallery in Soho, New York City, applied for and was granted a $150,000 COVID disaster assistance loan from the Small Business Administration last year. In July 2021 - six months after Joe Biden took office - this figure was then revised, awarding the company another $350,000 and more than trebling the total value of the loan. Just over two months later, the gallery hosted a pop-up show at the famous Milk studios in Hollywood to sell the president's son's paintings which cost between $75,000 and $500,000. The Soho gallery is also set to hold a New York City show of his work this spring, after it was pushed back from the original launch date this month. Hunter Biden pictured with ex-Stockton mayor Michael Tubb at his Los Angeles pop-up show on October 1 Georges Berges Gallery in Soho, New York City (above) which is selling Hunter Biden's paintings saw its federal COVID-19 loan increased from $150,000 to $500,000 after his father took office, it has been revealed In total, the gallery received around $580,000 in COVID-19 relief payments, after it also received two Paycheck Protection Program loans totaling around $80,000 in April 2020 and February 2021. The substantial loans, designed for businesses hard-hit during the pandemic including to help cover salaries, were granted despite Georges Berges Gallery employing just two people. There is no indication that the president was involved in granting these loans or that his son Hunter profited from the payments - either through payment from the gallery or by it using the money to market his paintings. However, it comes as questions have already been raised about the ethical implications of Hunter's art dealings. Prior to the LA show, an agreement was reached that Berges would vet sales of Hunter's artwork for potential conflicts of interest and that all buyers would remain anonymous to avoid any potential efforts to influence the Biden administration. Yet, video and photos exclusively obtained by DailyMail.com showed Hunter and Berges entertaining around 200 people at the Milk studios on October 1 for an exclusive invite-only event to showcase his 15 high-priced paintings. Hunter Biden was seen rubbing fists with World Champion Boxer Sugar Ray Leonard and rubbing elbows with other celebrities and wealthy potential buyers at his art exhibition The president's son and his gallery manager Georges Berges entertained about 200 guests as he made his professional art debut at Milk Studios in Hollywood Potential buyers and celebrity guests at the event included World Champion boxer Sugar Ray Leonard, Moby, LA Mayor Eric Garcetti - who is the president's nominee to be the ambassador to India - and the artist behind Barack Obama's iconic Hope poster. The exclusive event fueled speculation around how the identity of buyers would be shielded. Now, some critics are claiming the timing of the loans and the amount suggests the 'midlife crisis art career' of the president's son is being 'subsidized by the American people.' Tom Anderson, director of conservative watchdog the National Legal and Policy Center, told the Post the funds could have been used to promote Hunter's artwork - which could be an ethical breach. 'We've reached a new low in American politics where the President's son gets his midlife crisis art career subsidized by the American people as part of our pandemic response to COVID,' said Anderson. Art dealer George Berges who runs the Georges Berges Gallery in Soho, New York 'This is a unique situation in which the president's son is directly benefiting from federal loans made to a third party.' Anderson said the Georges Berges Gallery 'by far' received the heftiest COVID-29 relief package out of more than 100 galleries in New York City's 10th congressional district. He lodged a complaint with the SBA this week questioning the size of the loans. New York Republican Rep. Claudia Tenney said the revelation about the gallery's loans 'erodes public trust in the president, just when you thought it could not go any lower.' Berges told DailyMail.com in a statement that the gallery was awarded the loan under the previous administration and before it was representing Hunter. 'We received the 150k in April of 2020 and it was extended the following year to additional 350k,' he said. 'We are grateful to President Donald J. Trump for creating this program that allowed countless businesses like mine to survive during this once a lifetime pandemic. 'The capital was used to sustain the gallery and its employees during this tragic chapter in our global history, Hunter Biden was not represented by the gallery at that time. Again, we are thankful to President Trump for creating this program.' The artist page for Hunter Biden on the gallery website. The Soho gallery is also set to hold a New York City show of his work this spring Hunter's paintings were priced at $75,000 for a piece on paper to half a million dollars for large-scale paintings (Pictured: Two pieces of Biden's work - It is unclear which reproductions were sold or if any other works were sold once the LA show opened) It emerged this week that Hunter had already sold at least five prints of his artwork for $75,000 each before the launch of the LA pop-up. It is unclear if any other works have been sold since the show opened. Sources told the Post that lawyers are now vetting prospective buyers ahead of the Manhattan exhibit. The White House has faced questions about Hunter's art show this week - questions that Press Secretary Jen Psaki has largely referred to the gallerist. 'Well, to be clear, we've spoken to the arrangement that is run by the gallerist, and Hunter Biden's representative, that the White House provided suggestions for,' she said Wednesday. 'I'd refer you to the gallerist for questions about the event as well as the representatives of Mr. Garcetti in terms of his attendance.' They're our elite fighting force but it seems even the world-beating SAS can be outwitted by a simple pen-pusher's error. Secret plans for a suite of enhanced weapons, potentially for use by Britain's Special Forces, have been revealed in an astonishing new security blunder by defence officials. Details of research into the next generation of munitions appeared to have been safely redacted in a document marked 'Official Sensitive' and posted on a Government website. The Ministry of Defence last night said it was taking action to correct the security breach after this newspaper alerted officials to the blunder. Pictured, SAS soldiers circa 1996 But The Mail on Sunday can reveal that simply by copying and pasting the text, every blanked-out detail can be read. Tory MP and former Army officer Tobias Ellwood, chairman of the Commons Defence Committee, said the weapons appeared to be destined for use by UK Special Forces. The Ministry of Defence last night said it was taking action to correct the security breach after this newspaper alerted officials to the blunder. The MoD announced last week that a new contract had been signed with an engineering firm that specialises in the use of explosive materials. The Mail on Sunday has chosen not to reveal details of the research. The lapse is the latest in a series of embarrassing security gaffes to rock the department this year, including a data breach of email addresses of dozens of Afghan interpreters who had worked with British forces and were at risk from the Taliban. Former Labour Defence Minister Kevan Jones branded the latest foul-up 'farcical', saying the MoD was turning into the 'Ministry of Data Blunders'. Mr Ellwood condemned it as an 'astonishing breach of security standards' and called on Defence Secretary Ben Wallace 'to ascertain how many other documents have been redacted and published in a similar way'. British special forces soldiers with weapons during a military exercise Last night, Mr Ellwood said: 'It is evident this contract relates to highly technical weapons systems that will be used by our Special Forces. 'And when new kit is brought on line, it introduces new tactics and protocols, which again give our elite forces the edge over adversaries. That is why details are redacted.' The MoD last night said it took data security very seriously, adding: 'Due to a technical issue some redacted material was readable. This has been addressed.' A Labour MP at the centre of a row over transgender rights has been invited to join the Tories. Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield, who stayed away from Labour's annual conference in Brighton a fortnight ago for her own safety, has been told through 'informal Tory channels' that she is welcome in Boris Johnson's party. The approach emerged after The Mail on Sunday revealed last week that three Labour MPs were thinking of defecting as they were disenchanted with leader Sir Keir Starmer. Canterbury MP Rosie Duffield has been told through 'informal Tory channels' that she is welcome in Boris Johnson's party Ms Duffield, who has incurred the wrath of trans activists for liking a tweet suggesting 'individuals with a cervix' should be called a woman, said this weekend that she was 'not about to jump ship'. She tweeted: 'Sorry to disappoint but I've been a bit too busy today holding a surgery for our Afghan refugees to be bothering with jumping to another political party.' Last month, Ms Duffield revealed that she and 'lots of women' have repeatedly asked to meet party leader Keir Starmer to discuss the abuse she and other women have faced online from trans rights activists, but 'it hasn't happened yet'. Ms Duffield, who won her seat in 2017 from the Conservatives, has claimed in the past that she has been branded transphobic for 'knowing that only women have a cervix'. New York City's Republican mayoral candidate said he wants to reopen a massive, dilapidated upstate workcamp to solve the city's homeless problem. Curtis Sliwa, head of the Guardian Angels, said he wants to restart Camp LaGuardia, a 258-acre, 1,000 bed compound built in Chester in 1934 by then Mayor Fiorello La Guardia to combat the homelessness crisis caused by The Great Depression. 'There is so much empty space up there,' Sliwa told the New York Post. 'They can breathe fresh air, have good food, clothes, and it gives them a chance to get back on track.' Much like La Guardia, Sliwa said the camp, which closed in 2007, could serve as a 'human repair shop' where there are 'very few temptations.' NYC GOP Candidate Curtis Sliwa, pictured on October 8, said he wanted to reopen a camp in upstate New York to solve the city's homeless problem The camp, located in Chester, New York, first opened in 1934 under Mayor Fiorello La Guardia to combat the homelessness crisis caused by The Great Depression The building, pictured just as it closed in 2007, could house up to 1,000 people Tackling the city's homeless problem has been a cornerstone of Sliwa's campaign. Back in August, Sliwa comforted a homeless man who interrupted his speech and cried that he did not want to take advantage of the city. 'You're not taking advantage of us,' Sliwa told the man. 'This is our responsibility.' The Coalition for the Homeless, an nonprofit advocacy group, estimates that there were nearly 48,000 homeless people living in the city's shelter system every night, including more than 14,000 children. Curtis Sliwa comforted a homeless man who disrupted his speech in August. Sliwa said it was the city's responsibility to solve its homelessness problem New York City men travelled to the camp for four decades, where they were encouraged to find work at local farms or as day laborers. It now stands as a deteriorated building filled with graffiti, broken lights and dilapidated interiors. The building is also overrun with plant-life that has reclaimed the abandoned site, which was sold to Orange County for $8.5 million in 2007 by then Mayor Michael Bloomberg, who was looking to cut back on the city's expenses. While Sliwa recalled the site as a positive asset for the city and homeless population, a former manager at the facility told the NY Post that it was not a popular place to be at for the city's homeless. '[They] didn't like it because they had connections in the city. It was 90 miles up there,' said Meribeth Seaman. 'A lot of them didn't want to be up there. Some appreciated being up in the country but it was inconvenient.' The site also saw its share of problems despite Sliwa's claim that there were 'few temptations.' In 1996, 12 residents at the camp were arrested for running a crack cocaine delivery service in Chester. That same year, local police made more than 98 busts on charges that ranged from assault to shoplifting by the camp. Edward Diana, the former county executive of Orange County who purchased the camp from the NYC, said the days when the city could export its problems were over. 'The jurisdiction that has a problem should handle the problem within their own jurisdiction and not put their problems in other jurisdictions,' he said. Sliwa said that if he could not reach a deal with Orange County over Camp LaGuardia, he would look to more economically depressed areas in Central New York who could benefit from the city's tax dollars. He suggested Mount McGregor Correctional Facility in Moreau as one possible alternative. Sliwa faces Democratic nominee Eric Adams this November to see who replaces Mayor Bill de Blasio. The 'work from home' culture in Whitehall left Britons at the mercy of the Taliban in Afghanistan, senior Cabinet Ministers have told The Mail on Sunday. Civil servants away from their desks could not read vital documents about UK citizens trying to flee the murderous regime, hampering their escape. 'People were left to the Taliban who could have been saved,' the Minister said, adding that the Government had 'lost a week' in the rescue mission because of the 'culture of absenteeism' in Whitehall. The UK failed to airlift hundreds of Britons out of Afghanistan before Western troops withdrew on August 28. Vital time was lost in Britain because sensitive documents can only be read in Government offices for security reasons but as many as four out of five officials were working from home. The revelation comes after Boris Johnson last week urged workers to get back to the office or risk being 'gossiped about'. The 'work from home' culture in Whitehall left Britons at the mercy of the Taliban in Afghanistan, senior Cabinet Ministers have told The Mail on Sunday Tory Party chairman Oliver Dowden also said civil servants should 'get off their Pelotons and back to their desks' a reference to Sarah Healey, the permanent secretary at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, who said that working from home had given her more time to use her high-end exercise bike. The clock started ticking for British citizens in Afghanistan when US President Joe Biden set a deadline of August 31 for US troops to leave the country. Britain was effectively forced to follow suit but the action plan for withdrawal was delayed because many departments were near empty. A Government source said key documents could not be shared with officials because they could only be viewed in the office. They included profiles of potential evacuees, read-outs of meetings and sensitive material about what was happening on the ground. The Cabinet Office has been singled out for having too many officials either working from home or on holiday in the middle of August. The department described as the 'heart of Government' was in charge of coordinating cross-Whitehall work on the withdrawal, as well as being responsible for some national security elements. Civil servants away from their desks could not read vital documents about UK citizens trying to flee the murderous regime, hampering their escape 'These are not conversations you can have over a normal phone or on Zoom,' one Cabinet Minister said. 'People who needed to see documents didn't see them. We lost a week.' The revelation comes as former Tory leader Iain Duncan Smith today calls for Whitehall officials to 'lead by example' and return to their offices. Writing in this newspaper, Sir Iain says: 'Working from home is rapidly emerging as a new 'right', one vigorously championed by many in the comfortable classes... 'When I think of all the brave civil servants who went to work in the 1940s, determined to do their bit regardless of the threat from falling bombs, I wonder what has happened to us as a nation.' His intervention came as: A leading clinic warned that home working was causing a 'mental health time bomb' for millions of Britons, with soaring levels of stress, anxiety, depression and alcohol abuse; The boss of HM Revenue & Customs only sent an email asking his staff to start returning to the office on September 29 more than two months after home working restrictions were lifted and even then they were only required to be at their desks for one day a week; Small business owners across Whitehall said that they were facing financial ruin because so few civil servants were coming in to the office. Vital time was lost in Britain because sensitive documents can only be read in Government offices for security reasons but as many as four out of five officials were working from home (stock image) In the Afghanistan withdrawal codenamed Operation Pitting Britain evacuated 15,000 people from Kabul in a fortnight, including more than 5,000 UK nationals. It was the biggest military evacuation since the Second World War, but senior figures believe that more could have been done to help the hundreds left behind, had the machinery of Whitehall moved faster. Anger over absent officials boiled over during the key week of August 16 to 20. At the time, three of Britain's most senior civil servants were on holiday, including Sir Philip Barton, Matthew Rycroft and David Williams, permanent secretaries at the Foreign Office, the Home Office and the Ministry of Defence respectively. The then Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab faced heavy criticism for refusing to cut short his holiday to Crete during the crisis and was reshuffled out of the department weeks later. A Cabinet Minister last night attacked the Whitehall 'pen pushers' who do not want to return to their desks, adding: 'I see working from home as a luxury.' They warned that the country risked splitting into 'two classes of workers some who have been working throughout; others at home'. The refusal of many civil servants to return to their desks has also caused frustration in Downing Street irritation compounded by the failure of No 10 to obtain clear figures on attendance levels in different departments. In the wake of Ms Healey's remarks, an insider said that they were 'lucky' if 20 per cent of civil servants in her department were in the office at any time. Staff were said to be reluctant to sit at their desks when their permanent secretary was working from home. The then Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab faced heavy criticism for refusing to cut short his holiday to Crete during the crisis and was reshuffled out of the department weeks later Other departments, such as the Treasury which is preparing for a Budget and Spending Review later this month are, by comparison, said to be 'quite packed'. The Mail on Sunday revealed earlier this month that Bank of England Governor Andrew Bailey had told workers that they will not be compelled to abandon their working-from-home habits, despite calls by Chancellor Rishi Sunak for people to return to traditional working patterns. Frustrated staff at the Bank argue that they are losing deal-making and networking opportunities, while younger workers are missing out on mentoring by their more experienced colleagues. Responding to the claims about Afghanistan, a Cabinet Office spokesman last night said: 'We reject these claims. The Cabinet Office and its staff played an instrumental role in the success of Operation Pitting, working around the clock and helping to deliver the biggest and fastest emergency evacuation in recent history.' The plight of those left behind in Afghanistan is illustrated by the experience of former British soldier Ben Slater. In an interview with the MoS today, he details how he was captured by the Taliban as he tried to escape across the border into Pakistan with staff from his humanitarian charity Nomad Concepts Group. He endured several weeks of savage beatings from his captors, who suspected him of being a spy, before being released last week after a delegation of British diplomats met Taliban leaders in Kabul. 'Two customers a day - if I'm lucky!' Despair of the businesses next to civil servants' almost empty offices and the club that's only full at weekends when they flock back to see a show By Jonathan Bucks for the Mail on Sunday With its affordable accommodation, meeting rooms, restaurant and well-stocked bar, the Civil Service Club in the heart of Whitehall used to bustle with mandarins. Today, however, business is slow apart from at weekends. 'They have all got used to working from home,' one member of staff told The Mail on Sunday last week. 'Even now, with politicians telling people to get back to the office, they prefer to stay at home.' Occupancy rates for the club's 26 bedrooms stand at 67 per cent, compared with 93 per cent two years ago. GHOST TOWN: Cafe owner Gianni Covelluzzi (left) and hairdresser Emilija Zaliauskaite (right) have seen business in Whitehall plummet About 500 civil servants have cancelled their memberships. 'The only time the rooms are really used are at the weekends when the members come to London to see a show or go out for dinner,' added the staff member ruefully. Conservative Party chairman Oliver Dowden told civil servants last week to 'get off their Peloton [exercise bikes] and get back to their desks' a reference to Sarah Healey, Permanent Secretary at Mr Dowden's former Department for Culture, who admitted that working from home had given her more time to exercise. Such pleas are falling on deaf ears, leaving not only the bars and bedrooms of the Civil Service Club deserted, but putting local businesses at risk. Emilija Zaliauskaite, who runs Zack's, a barber, on Monck Street, close to the Home Office, fights back tears as she explains that she is selling up after 16 years. 'I am lucky if I get two customers a day,' said the 46-year-old Lithuanian. 'As things are now, I can't afford to pay my bills or look after my 16-year-old son. I am going to have to sell and do something else. MINISTRY OF QUIET: Mandarins no longer carouse at the Civil Service Club Sarah gets off her Peloton to let the builders in By Jonathan Bucks for the Mail on Sunday The top civil servant slapped down for boasting about riding her Peloton bike rather than working in the office is no longer working from home because she has moved out while the property undergoes an expensive refurbishment. Sarah Healey, permanent secretary at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, was accused of undermining Ministers when she hailed the benefits of working from home and said: 'I have a Peloton and I can just get on my bike whenever I have a teeny bit of time.' However, her 700,000 house in East Dulwich, South London, is surrounded by hoardings, with plans submitted to the local council detailing major renovation work including 'Crittall- style double-glazed doors' and an 'external courtyard area'. As a rebuke, Tory Chairman Oliver Dowden last week told staff to 'get off their Pelotons and get back to their desks', adding: 'People want the Government to lead by example.' The top civil servant slapped down for boasting about riding her Peloton bike rather than working in the office is no longer working from home Advertisement 'It is so selfish that these people won't go back to their offices. It just feels like the businesses that were there for them for years have been abandoned.' Muhammad Zahid, who has spent nine years at Regent Dry Cleaners on Horseferry Road, has suffered a similar experience. 'It really feels like the area is becoming a ghost town. It won't be long before a lot of the businesses that had been here for years will simply fold.' Gianni Covelluzzi, whose Horseferry Road cafe is near the Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities and the Department for Transport, is also struggling. 'We used to have queues out the door at lunchtime. It's nothing like that now,' he said. Mr Covelluzzi, 58, had hoped to give staff a pay rise but business has been poor. 'If these people don't come back to the office, businesses like mine will simply disappear.' His hopes may be dashed if job advertisements for government departments are anything to go by. One for a post at the Treasury, whose boss Chancellor Rishi Sunak has encouraged people to return to their desks, said employees would be allowed to work from home in a hybrid pattern on a permanent basis, spending two to three days a week in the office. The taxman has proved equally reluctant to leave home. Jim Harra, boss of HM Revenue & Customs, told his staff to return to the office on September 29 more than two months after home working restrictions were lifted and said they need come in only one day a week. Meanwhile, the public has been warned that tax rebates will not arrive until February and barely a third of 4.5 million items of post are cleared within a target of 15 days. A drip of civil servants returning to Whitehall offers little comfort to James Keeper, who runs the Blues & Royals coffee stall at Embankment Underground station. 'If it weren't for the builders who worked all through the pandemic, I would be finished,' he said. 'A lot of these office workers are clinging on to this idea that they don't feel safe. It just rings hollow to me. They've got comfortable at home, that's what it comes down to.' The Prince of Wales's closest ally will this week be accused of keeping the ethics committee at Charles's charity 'in the dark' about multi-million-pound fundraising activities, The Mail on Sunday can reveal. Michael Fawcett, who was the Prince's most trusted aide for decades, stepped down as chief executive of the Prince's Foundation last month when this newspaper exposed how he had offered to help secure a knighthood and British citizenship for a billionaire Saudi donor to the charity. The charity ordered an independent inquiry and auditors will this week quiz past and present trustees. Michael Fawcett, who was the Prince's most trusted aide for decades, stepped down as chief executive of the Prince's Foundation last month A well-placed insider said they are expected to point the finger at Mr Fawcett, 59, and Chris Martin, the foundation's executive director of development, who has also stood down pending the outcome of the investigation. 'Some of the financial controls were circumvented by the fundraisers in order to get the cash,' the source said. 'They were operating behind the backs of the board. It was very much outside their knowledge. 'We were asking, 'How could we have got ourselves into this mess?' It can only be that some people at the foundation have been blinded by the glamour of royalty and it has clouded their judgment somewhat. 'The official running of the Prince's Foundation was good, it was what was going on unofficially that was the problem. I'm sure the Prince of Wales didn't even know what was going on. 'Even the letters he signed would have been written by Michael.' The source said that on one occasion, Mr Fawcett sought advice from trustees with knowledge of the finance sector on how he could bring money into the charity from the Middle East. He was told to use a high street bank which would conduct stringent money laundering checks, but is said to have become frustrated. 'Michael contacted HSBC but later would sigh and say, 'Their process is ridiculous. It takes ages',' the source said. A six-figure donation from controversial former Russian banker Dmitry Leus was accepted by the charity before it could be assessed by the foundation's ethics committee. The donation was subsequently rejected. Despite the scandal, some praise Mr Fawcett's enduring loyalty to the Prince although few believe he will want to resume his role at the foundation 'A member of the ethics committee raised the issue when they found out and it was sent up to the board,' the source said. 'When you find out someone is in a difficult situation in another country, you're inevitably going to raise questions. 'It looks like the money was accepted before the ethics committee had reviewed it but once they had, it was sent back, so this was the ethics committee doing a good job. It's just that they didn't know about it beforehand.' Despite the scandal, some praise Mr Fawcett's enduring loyalty to the Prince although few believe he will want to resume his role at the foundation. 'Michael has been an absolute rock to the Prince of Wales and a long-time supporter right through his divorce from Diana and further on,' said a source. 'They've been through tough times together.' The charity's investigation is expected to conclude within weeks. The 54-year-old is the younger sister of BBC Climate Editor Justin Rowlatt The sister of the BBC climate editor is among the activists causing chaos on Britain's main roads. Cordelia Rowlatt, sister of Justin, is among 113 Insulate Britain protesters named on a National Highways injunction that would allow courts to jail repeat offenders. The 54-year-old has been arrested twice for blocking roads and previously campaigned with Extinction Rebellion. In a recent video, she said: 'A few months ago, I was in court and I was told that my right to protest against the lack of action against climate change was less important than the rights of people to go about their daily business, such as car drivers. Now that really is mad.' Cordelia Rowlatt, sister of Justin, is among 113 Insulate Britain protesters named on a National Highways injunction that would allow courts to jail repeat offenders Cordelia, who runs a small farm in Frome, Somerset, was interviewed by her brother in 2006 as part of the BBC's Ethical Man project in which he spent a year trying to reduce his environmental impact. Another activist named on the injunction, Cambridge University philosophy graduate Cathy Eastburn, 54, is one of Britain's most prolific protesters and has stripped outside parliament, superglued herself to a commuter train and once shouted at Sir David Attenborough for 'not telling the truth'. She has had 12 arrests within three years but still says: 'I am not a criminal.' Well-connected Serena Schellenberg, a 60-year-old 'freelance climate activist' is also named on the injunction. She is the daughter of the late flamboyant businessman and socialite, Keith Schellenberg, who controversially bought the Scottish island of Eigg in the 1970s. Speaking of a previous arrest to society magazine, Tatler, she said: 'I've got the advantage of being a white, middle-aged woman. It wouldn't be so easy if I was black, and the other thing is my character witnesses are peers of the realm.' Retired vicar Tim Hewes, who is also on the injunction, has been arrested six times by three different police forces during the Insulate Britain protests. The 71-year-old previously sewed together his lips on one protest and was jailed for 14 days for contempt of court after gluing himself to furniture and livestreaming proceedings during a subsequent court hearing. Rev Hewes remains an ordained Church of England clergyman despite his criminal activities. Television star Chris Packham has claimed that a Land Rover was blown up by hate campaigners outside his home's front gate on Friday night. The presenter of BBC's Springwatch said that at around midnight of Friday, balaclava-clad thugs drove his car to his remote country home and set fire to it, before fleeing in a get-away vehicle. Mr Packham, 60, who was alone in his house at the time, said that Land Rover turned into an inferno before it exploded shortly after. In a video, presenter - who has received death threats in the past for his animal activism - raised the prospect of his opponents one day killing him. 'I will not be cowed, I will not buckle,' the 60-year-old said. 'I cannot and will not let your intimidation sway me from my course.' Television star Chris Packham has claimed that a Land Rover was blown up by hate campaigners outside his home's front gate. Pictured: The charred gate after the fire The attack - which took place at the home in Hampshire's New Forest that Packham shares with partner Charlotte Corney and step-daughter Megan - destroyed two large wooden gates. Describing the incident, he said: 'So on Thursday night/Friday morning, 12.30am, two hoodied and masked men dove a vehicle right up to my gate and set it on fire. 'They were fully aware of the CCTV that was in place they took great pains to hide themselves. The car exploded and was rapidly and efficiently dealt with by HFR and the police were in attendance. 'As ever they did a fantastic job but not before it had caused extensive damage to my property.' Speaking to the Daily Mirror, the anti-hunting campaigner said that he had gone to bed and was 'crashed out' when the incident happened. 'The gate isn't visible from the bedroom but of course when it exploded, it went off with a massive bang which woke me and the dogs up,' he told the newspaper. 'It was an inferno. The neighbours called the fire brigade and they turned up and put it out. The police turned up a bit later.' The explosion, caught on CCTV, set fire to Mr Packham's gate and fence of his property. The attack came hours after Mr Packham marched to Buckingham Palace to call on the Royal Family to re-wild their estates. Packham - who in the past has had dead animals strung up at the gates of his home - speculated about who might be responsible. 'This leaves me with some questions,' he said. 'Firstly who were these two men? Were they members of the RSPB? The Wildlife Trust? Butterfly Conservation? Bat Conservation Trust? 'Were they members of the Countryside Alliance? The British Association for Shooting and Conservation? Members of the hunt, perhaps? 'Or were they some of my internet trolls who fill my timeline with hate? Defamatory comments, libellous comments, but lots of hate calculated to damage myself and my interest. I don't know.' The presenter of BBC's Springwatch said that at around midnight of Friday, balaclava-clad thugs drove his car to his remote country home and set fire to it, before fleeing in a get-away vehicle Packham tweeted images of the CCTV footage capturing the incident near his home Chris Packham tweeted about the incident which happened near his home on Friday Packham said he was frustrated at the lack of action taken against his trolls, compared to England footballers when they were abused online following the Euro 2020 final. 'I wonder about the internet trolls because they get away with it,' he said. 'Despite working effectively with the police, the law as it stands means I am unable to take any action against this form of harassment. 'But it is hate crime. There's no ambiguity about that. It's a little unfair that when black footballers receive unwarranted and appalling hate crime the issue can be dealt with and that's great of course and I support that fully. 'But when environmentalists like myself receive similarly hateful torrents of relentless abuse nothing can be done about it. Because ultimately it comes at a cost. 'Perhaps the cost was having my gate burnt down causing thousands of pounds worth of damage. And of course it's not the first action that we have seen here. Dead animals are a frequent occurrence. 'But now it's escalated because they've taken to damaging that property and I wonder where it's going. I mean what happens next? Do they going to burn the house down, are they going to beat up my step-daughter? Are they going to cut the brake lines on my partner's car? 'Or do they come for me directly? Are they going to kill me at some point? I think it's a fair question.' Packham concluded: 'All I can say is whoever you are - you burned down the wrong gates. 'Because if you think...that I'm suddenly going to become a supporter of unsustainable or illegal shooting, or the unwarranted savagery wrought upon foxes in our countryside, then you're wrong.' Packham finished by calling on his supporters to vote in favour of an upcoming National Trust motion to to ban trail hunting on their properties and urged them to write to other significant landowners to do the same. He has been targeted before. In 2019, he received death threats after he launched a legal challenge in an attempt to stop people shooting so-called pest birds like pigeons and crows. Speaking to the Daily Mirror, the anti-hunting Mr Packham campaigner said that he had gone to bed and was 'crashed out' when the incident happening. The presenter has also been sent packages of human excrement, had barbed wire left on his drive to puncture his tyres, and found dead crows hung from his gate. Two years ago, a group that the Mr Packham is a part of - Wild Justice Group - helped to force through a change in the law to do with the shooting of 16 bird species. Hunters and farmers were infuriated by the move, who said they were now unable to cull crows attacking newborn lambs or stop pigeons stealing their crops - unless the applied for individual licenses. The Government later introduced three other licences that are almost identical to the one that was banned, but they don't apply in some protection zones. The TV star told The Mirror that he has stopped telling his partner and step daughter about more of the recent hate incidents against him, calling it the 'same-old, same-old'. He said recently someone threw a dead badger next to his gate, and that he feared that if the group with the 4X4 had a truck, they would have rammed down his gate and set fire to the vehicle next to his house. 'It's all about intimidation,' he told the newspaper, adding that he is now worried about the family's dogs, as well as their friends and family. Hampshire Police have appealed for help in catching those responsible for the fire. 'It was reported that a vehicle was on fire outside a property, which had subsequently spread to a surrounding gate and fence. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service attended and extinguished the blaze,' a spokesman said. 'No arrests have been made. Were you in the area at the time? Did you see what happened? Or perhaps you have dash-cam footage or doorbell footage leading up to the incident.' Yesterday, Mr Packham led a children's march to Buckingham Palace to hand deliver a petition asking the Queen to rewild royal lands. The eco campaigner was joined by around 100 'school strikers' in a procession across Green Park to the palace with a petition boasting 100,000 signatures in hand. The petition is aimed at urging the Royal Family to commit to rewilding its estates before the Cop26 climate summit in October. The royals are the UK's biggest landowners, with an estate that includes lands owned by the duchies of Lancaster and Cornwall and the Queen. The eco campaigner was joined by around 100 'school strikers' in a procession across Green Park to the palace The petition gathered over 100,000 signatures Speaking outside the palace on Saturday, Packham said: 'Frankly, my conscience is not clear.' It's estimated that the family owns land equivalent to 1.4 per cent of the UK. Speaking outside the palace on Saturday, Packham said: 'Frankly, my conscience is not clear. 'On my watch as an environmentalist and conservationist, I have failed these young people - I have failed to act quickly and broadly enough to prevent the crisis that we find ourselves in. 'The world that they are likely to inherit - unless we act urgently, properly and quickly now - will not be as pleasant as the one I inherited when I was their age. And that's not something I want to take to my grave. 'It's the most harmonious, beautiful and peaceful demonstration I have been on for some time. 'We're asking our royal Family, denizens of the property behind us, to rewild the 800,000 acres of land that they have in the UK,' Chris Packham said. 'We're asking our royal Family, denizens of the property behind us, to rewild the 800,000 acres of land that they have in the UK. If they were to do so it would be a very powerful message that would resonate with people all over the world.' Among those who marched was 16-year-old Noah Macaulay, a sixth-form student from Hampshire and co-founder of choir SOS from the Kids. The group, who have performed on Britain's Got Talent, write and sing songs as a form of environmental activism, and are set to perform at Cop26. 'The royal family has an amazing opportunity, because they own so much land, to lead by example and rewild that,' the teen said. It is hoped the march will encourage the Queen to adopt reclamation strategies More than 100 children joined Chris Packham to deliver the petition 'They could really, really help to improve nature and help biodiversity.' A Royal Estates spokesperson said: 'Members of the royal family have a longstanding commitment to conservation and biodiversity, and for over 50 years have championed the preservation and development of natural ecosystems. 'The Royal Estates are constantly evolving and looking for new ways to continue improving biodiversity, conservation and public access to green spaces, as well as being home to thriving communities and businesses which form part of the fabric of the local community.' Shelves in pharmacies across New York City have been left nearly barren because supplies are not getting through amid an ongoing global squeeze. Stores such as CVS, Walgreens and Duane Reade are all running very low on goods. Supplies are being held up on cargo ships that are taking up to four weeks to dock at US ports. A lack of manpower to unload them and to drive goods around the US is causing a giant backlog. Experts have warned the government to intervene or face spiraling inflation and unemployment, as rocketing demand for goods in short supply pushes their prices up. US consumers have already seen prices of everyday items rise in recent months, with economists warning of an extended period of inflation that will push up the cost of living. There are issues with the tissues at this CVS in Queens where they appear to be in short supply Shelves in pharmacies across New York City are running near empty. Pictured, a CVS in Queens Much-needed household from toothpaste to detergent are out of stock. Pictured, a CVS in Queens 'It looks like the Third World,' one Manhattan resident complained to the New York Post. The backlog of billions of dollars of toys, clothing, electronics, vehicles, and furniture came amid surges caused in 2020 by the onset of COVID. The United States has since largely returned to normal life - but demand for goods has surged as people get the hang of returning to normal. Americans who were able to save money during COVID lockdowns are now splashing the cash, with that raised demand further credited with pushing up prices. The trillions of dollars of COVID relief printed to help people put out of work by the pandemic has also been blamed for inflation. Supply chains have lagged far behind consumer demand due to a lack of manpower at American ports and the restrictions that came with the COVID-19 outbreak early last year. These constraints, which include social distancing and mandatory quarantines, have severely limited the number and ability of port workers to do their jobs. Even the cereal aisle is suffering. Pictured, a CVS Pharmacy in Queens Boxes of tissues are hard to come by at this CVS in Queens Diapers are also in short supply at a CVS in Queens Paper towel is a hot commodity at this Walgreens in Queens where the shelves look bare Bottled water in on the cusp of running dry at the CVS drugstore in Quee s Pictured a Walgreens store in Queens is the snacks aisle, with many popular products in short supply Floor cleaner is another hot commodity at the CVS in Queens in New York having almost sold out 'Global infrastructure was not designed to handle goods at such a rate,' a logistics expert, who asked not to be named, told DailyMail.com. 'Supply chains are the artery who feeds our entire ecosystem. The government needs to intervene to stop this crisis immediately, or face increased inflation and unemployment, and economic breakdown - or face an end to global trade.' Victoria has reported a record 1,890 new Covid-19 cases and five deaths, as contact tracing is scaled back to focus on positive cases and primary contacts. Sunday's new cases were slightly down from a record-breaking 1,965 on Saturday when there were fears the state would soon break 2,000. They were diagnosed from 74,105 tests, with the promising rates meaning restrictions could ease early, 39,861 vaccine doses were administered. Secondary close contacts will no longer be required to isolate, as authorities change their processes to manage escalating case numbers. Victoria is on the brink of recording more than 2000 daily cases after a record-breaking 1,965 cases on Saturday (pictured, a couple walk their dog on St Kilda beach) Friends pose on St Kilda Beach as Victoria records a record-breaking 1,965 cases on Saturday Health Department deputy secretary Kate Matson said since Victoria was no longer pursuing a Covid-zero strategy, about 16,000 secondary contacts would be able to leave isolation at the weekend. 'In an environment where we are unfortunately close to 2000 cases a day, the public health risk isn't there in terms of secondary close contacts when you weigh it up with the operational impact,' she said. 'So we want to dedicate our resources to primarily close contacts, confirmed cases and sensitive exposure sites.' Primary contacts will be asked to isolate away from the rest of their household, and secondary contacts are still encouraged to get tested if they show symptoms. Asked whether the state would reach 3,000 cases a day by the end of October, Ms Matson said 'at this point in time, we are on track in terms of hospitalisations and case numbers'. She said the Burnet Institute was working on fresh modelling, given the high cases numbers, which would be released later this week. Victoria has recorded 1,890 new Covid-19 cases and five new deaths overnight on Sunday As daily case numbers grow health officials have decided secondary close contacts will no longer be required to isolate (pictured, people enjoy a picnic in Melbourne on Saturday) Of eligible Victorians 85 per cent have had one dose and 57 per cent have had two as of Friday (pictured, a paramedic prepares his ambulance in Victoria on Saturday) Vaccinations continue to rise in Victoria, with 85 per cent of those aged over 16 vaccinated with one dose as of Friday, and 57 per cent fully vaccinated. 'It's so vitally important that everybody who can get vaccinated does get vaccinated because that's our ticket out of this pandemic,' Assistant Treasurer Danny Pearson said. A small number of protests were held in Melbourne on Saturday, with police arresting three people and fining 27 for breaching public health orders. Meanwhile, Mildura residents are entering day two of a seven-day lockdown to contain growing coronavirus cases, with active infections in the area growing to 37. Health officials in three states are on alert after a Victorian flight attendant worked on return Virgin flights from Melbourne to Adelaide, Sydney and Newcastle while infectious from October 4 to 6. It comes as the amount of time Melbourne's children have been confined to home due to the pandemic has exceeded the global average by 67 days, with a leading welfare group warning of strains on their mental health. Residents in the regional city of Mildura will enter their second day of a snap week-long lockdown on Sunday (pictured, a paramedic in Melbourne on Saturday) A small number of protests were held in Melbourne on Saturday, with police arresting three people and fining 27 for breaching health orders (pictured, people exercise at St Kilda Beach) Analysis by Save the Children using data from the Oxford Covid-19 Government ResponseTracker reveals children around the world have lived under required and recommended lockdowns for an average of six months, or 184 days since early 2020. In Melbourne, they've endured 251 days of lockdown, compared to the average for Australian children of 60 days. Children in Venezuela have faced one of the longest periods at home, with intermittent lockdowns keeping them inside for up to 491 days or 16 months. Kids in Lebanon have had to stay home for 418 days and in Zimbabwe, for nearly nine months this year alone. Save the Children is marking World Mental Health day by warning extended lockdowns are taking a devastating toll by putting kids at increased risk of emotional distress, loneliness and abuse, as well as depriving them of outdoor play and access to mental health support. In Melbourne, children have endured 251 days of lockdown, compared to the average for Australian children of 60 days (pictured, people exercise in Carlton on Saturday) Victoria is expected to hit the 70 per cent double-dose target by October 23 and the 80 per cent mark by November 3 (pictured, a man kicks a footy in Carlton Park on Saturday) The organisation says for many Australian children the pandemic is compounding significant existing challenges. This includes children who experienced the 2019-20 bushfires and are still only in the early stages of psychological recovery. It also takes in those already struggling to engage with learning or experiencing socio-economic disadvantage or other complex circumstances. 'Children are resilient but they are also uniquely vulnerable in disasters like the Black Summer bushfires and the Covid-19 pandemic,' Save the Children Australia CEO Paul Ronalds said. 'They have specific needs and require specialist support to recover. 'Schools are ideal settings for providing this support. Yet school systems are already heavily overburdened. Specialist programs are urgently needed to complement existing efforts.' Large crowds gather on St Kilda beach on Saturday as lockdown fatigue continues to tighten its hold on residents with Melbourne enduring the most days in lockdown in the world Health Department deputy secretary Kate Matson said health officials will focus efforts on close contacts, confirmed cases and sensitive exposure sites (pictured, a picnic on Saturday) Mr Ronalds says 'Australia's high rates of student disengagement are a national crisis that Covid-19 threatens to turn into a generational rupture'. He's calling for 'a coherent national strategy, along with aligned state and territory strategies, to keep students engaged with learning'. A survey of over 13,000 children in 46 countries carried out by Save the Children last year found 83 per cent reported an increase in negative feelings due to the pandemic. This was far higher where schools had been closed for 17 to 19 weeks. Since then, the situation for many has worsened as countries have battled third or fourth waves of the virus, lockdowns have continued and schools in some countries have been closed for over 18 months. Britain's energy suppliers are urging the Government to suspend green taxes on energy bills over the winter to ease the financial pressure on households. The taxes, most of which are added to electricity bills increase bills by an average of 150 a year. Intended to help fund the shift to lower-carbon heating in homes, they are now coinciding with huge rises in wholesale gas prices which could force up bills by as much as 800 a year. Energy supplier Eon and renewable firms Octopus, Bulb and Ovo said a short-term solution to rocketing bills would be to suspend green taxes this winter. The call came as Ministers pressed ahead with plans to shift some of the burden of the green taxes from electricity to gas bills. The plans would cut the price of electricity over the next decade, while increasing gas bills by about 170 a year. Ministers want to move away from gas boilers and towards heat pumps, which suck in heat from the ground, water and air. Energy supplier Eon and renewable firms Octopus (pictured boss Greg Jackson), Bulb and Ovo said a short-term solution to rocketing bills would be to suspend green taxes this winter (file photo) The shift would hit lower-income families the hardest because gas heating comprises a more significant proportion of their outgoings, although if enacted it will not feed through to domestic bills until 2023 at the earliest. Cabinet tensions are starting to rise over the issue of green levies ahead of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow next month, with No 10 noting that Chancellor Rishi Sunak failed to mention the Government's target of decarbonising the economy by 2050 in last week's party conference speech. The Chancellor was horrified by calculations from the independent Office For Budget Responsibility (OBR) putting the cost of making buildings net zero at 400 billion. The OBR also warned that the Government would need to impose carbon taxes to make up for the loss of fuel duty and other taxes. Emma Young, of Bulb Energy, said: 'The focus right now must be to protect consumers from high wholesale gas prices over the winter. 'We could accelerate the transition from gas boilers to heat pumps by shifting environmental and policy costs from electricity bills to general taxation. That would help keep costs down on electricity bills and ensure the green transition is fair and affordable.' Eon's UK chief executive Michael Lewis called the Government's plan to shift electricity taxes to gas bills 'too simplistic and potentially regressive'. He said: 'What about the immediate impact on those least able to switch away from gas in their homes, and least able to afford a sudden and significant increase in their heating bills? 'The quickest and most significant thing we can do to help reduce fuel bills over winter is remove these costs from electricity bills and instead fund them through government expenditure.' Octopus Energy, which supplies 3.1 million UK households after taking on 580,000 customers from bust supplier Avro Energy, has supported the plan in principle. Cabinet tensions are starting to rise over the issue of green levies ahead of the COP26 climate summit in Glasgow next month, with No 10 noting that Chancellor Rishi Sunak failed to mention the Government's target of decarbonising the economy by 2050 in last week's party conference speech However, it has in recent weeks presented Ministers with a range of options to achieve this in the face of rising gas prices including the Government funding the levies instead of customers this winter as a short-term measure to give households some breathing space. If the Government met the cost temporarily, it would have the same effect of kick-starting the move to lower-carbon heating for homes. The Octopus proposal would see the levies moved on to gas bills as prices stabilise. The firm's Clem Cowton said: 'Whether the Government decides to help people with their bills by moving levies to taxation, or shifts them to gas, it's crucial that energy bills do not increase overall.' Ofgem chief executive Jonathan Brearley warned last week that families face 'significant rises' in their gas and electricity bills from April, when the next energy price cap comes into effect. Analysts say the cap, which covers some 15 million households on default tariffs, could increase from 1,277 to more than 2,000 a year for the average home. Energy firms also face having to absorb the debts of bust companies, which are shared between the remaining suppliers. Ultimately, these extra costs will also be passed on to customers' bills. Ten suppliers have gone bust since August. Meanwhile, the British Ceramic Confederation, which represents manufacturers of products ranging from plates to bricks, warned businesses could be forced to shut because of the rising energy bills. Chief executive Laura Cohen told the BBC: 'As the high pricing extends, more members are likely to be forced to stop production due to uneconomical energy costs. 'In the event of a national supply shortfall, our members are near the front of the queue to be forced off the gas network while households are last, and this can happen at very short notice.' A spokesman for the Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy said the energy price cap was 'the best safety net available to protect consumers from instant, excessive price hikes', adding: 'The Government is committed to ensuring fairness for all energy users and to working with industry and consumers to keep bills down.' Controversial genetic research which is suspected to have created the Covid virus should be banned under the equivalent of nuclear test treaties, a leading Tory MP has demanded. Tom Tugendhat, the chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, spoke out amid growing concern in the international scientific community about 'Gain of Function' experiments, which aim to make animal viruses more transmissible, and able to infect humans. Documents leaked last month confirmed revelations published by The Mail on Sunday over the past 18 months about the secret and risky work being carried out by Chinese scientists in Wuhan, where the coronavirus outbreak first took hold in late 2019. Tom Tugendhat, the chairman of the Commons Foreign Affairs Committee, spoke out amid growing concern in the international scientific community about 'Gain of Function' experiments, which aim to make animal viruses more transmissible, and able to infect humans Controversial genetic research which is suspected to have created the Covid virus should be banned under the equivalent of nuclear test treaties, a leading Tory MP has demanded. Pictured: The PM MAIL ON SUNDAY COMMENT Perhaps the greatest mystery in modern science is the origin of the Covid-19 virus. Even more alarming than our lack of knowledge is one possible answer. This is the suggestion, taken with increasing seriousness by many credible scientists, that it may have been created in a laboratory or escaped during risky research. Those on the upper slopes of the British security and political establishment like to treat such suggestions with amused contempt, acting as if they were in possession of deep mysteries which they cannot share with ordinary mortals. But are they just dodging an awkward and inconvenient problem? In a gripping and worrying article in The Mail on Sunday today, an eminent expert says that, as things stand, the world should ban certain types of experiment, known as 'Gain of Function', as a precaution against the escape of an engineered virus from a lab. Simon Wain-Hobson is no panic-monger. He is an eminent professor at the prestigious Pasteur Institute who discovered the genetic blueprint for the HIV virus. First, he points out that astonishing advances now allow scientists to tinker with viruses in a way that is actually terrifying, creating dangerous new strains not found in nature. Then he argues that there is no actual practical purpose for such activity. Given these facts, and the appalling possibility that an engineered virus might one day get out of a laboratory and bring about another pandemic, the case for a ban on Gain of Function experiments is unanswerable. The higher levels of the State may pretend to be unworried about such a possibility, but they would be better off following Prof Wain-Hobson's advice. Britain has high standing in this area of science, and a good record in setting up international conventions to prevent risky research. Boris Johnson and Liz Truss should act now for the good of the planet. Advertisement Details of a grant application submitted to the US Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency showed that scientists in America and at the Wuhan Institute of Virology requested funding to create entirely new coronaviruses that did not exist in nature by combining the genetic code of closely related strains. The Wuhan site was one of just five laboratories in the world carrying out this Gain of Function research. Now one of the world's most eminent academics has added his powerful voice to concerns. Simon Wain-Hobson, Emeritus Professor at the Pasteur Institute, Paris, and a pioneer of HIV research, is also calling for a treaty banning such experiments. He says the pandemic has 'shed alarming new light' on Gain of Function research which 'conjures up shades of the early days of the AIDS epidemic and takes me back to the origins of its virus, HIV-1'. Writing in today's Mail on Sunday, Prof Wain-Hobson says that when scientists started to carry out the work, he was 'among those wondering what would happen if there was a lab accident and a researcher became infected with such a virus, against which we had no immunity, and then they inadvertently walked it out of the lab'. Mr Tugendhat, who has repeatedly called for more transparency from China over the origins of the pandemic, said: 'Decades ago nuclear test ban treaties were negotiated to keep us safe. 'Today we need an agreement to ban virus-testing in anywhere but the most secure medical institutions. This is a risk to us all and we need the right to check each other just as the International Atomic Energy Agency checks all nuclear powers.' The Mail on Sunday was the first mainstream media outlet in the world to report, on April 5 last year, that members of the international intelligence community feared the virus had leaked from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. We followed up with a string of further disclosures, including the revelation that the institute had been researching bats from the caves scientists believe were the original source of the virus, with the help of a $3.7 million (2.7 million) grant from the US government. President Donald Trump cancelled the funding as a result of our story. His successor, Joe Biden, ordered a report into Covid's origins in August, which found that US intelligence agencies were divided over whether the lab was responsible. Wants to end 'Buggins' turn' system of appointments on rotation instead of merit Priti Patel is set to unveil a major 'hire and fire' shake-up of how police chiefs are chosen in the wake of the Sarah Everard tragedy. The Home Secretary plans a 'blueprint for succession' for Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick and chief constables across England. She will take action to end what allies condemn as the 'Buggins' turn' system of how chief constables are taken on one in which appointments seem to be made in rotation rather than by merit. The shake-up emerged amid reports that Ms Patel only agreed to extend Dame Cressida's term of office last month because there was no one suitable to replace her. But her plans also follow claims of friction between the Home Secretary and the Met Commissioner, who has faced calls to quit in the wake of the brutal killing of Ms Everard by serving Met police officer Wayne Couzens in March. Home Secretary Priti Patel is planning a 'blueprint for succession' for Metropolitan Police Commissioner Cressida Dick (pictured together) and chief constables across England. The Mail on Sunday understands that between Ms Everard's disappearance and Couzens's arrest, the Home Secretary privately asked Dame Cressida and her team if a police officer could be involved but was not told whether her suspicions were correct. A source close to Ms Patel said the prospect of a policeman being responsible felt likely because Covid restrictions meant there were very few other people on the streets. The source said: 'We asked the question.' The Home Office is also understood to be annoyed that last week the Met chief announced a review in the force's professional standards and internal culture 24 hours before Ms Patel announced a Government inquiry. Ms Patel is said to be determined to watch Dame Cressida 'very closely' over the vetting of officers in light of Ms Everard's murder. Under reforms introduced by Theresa May in 2012, elected Police and Crime Commissioners hold the power to hire and fire chief constables in forces outside London. Comes after Dame Cressida faced calls to quit in the wake of the brutal killing of Sarah Everard (pictured) by serving Met police officer Wayne Couzens in March Ms Patel retains the power to appoint Metropolitan Police chiefs but must consult London's Labour mayor Sadiq Khan. Privately, Ministers admit he has an 'effective veto' as the Home Secretary could not in practice appoint a Met chief the mayor refused to work with. A well-placed source declined to give details of Ms Patel's proposals, but indicated that she wanted Home Secretaries to have a role along with PCCs in how chief constables were picked and dismissed. The source denied the plans would involve reducing the powers of PCCs, but stressed the need for 'greater accountability' in how police chiefs were picked. He would not say how the reforms, to be unveiled within months, would affect hiring a successor to Dame Cressida, who stays in post till 2024. 'That's to be decided,' he said. Ms Patel has said publicly she would 'continue to work with' Dame Cressida and continue to hold her and the Met to account. Dame Cressida has acknowledged that a 'precious bond of trust' had been damaged by Couzens, who had 'brought shame on the Met'. But she has faced calls to resign, with Labour MP Harriet Harman saying the case has 'shattered' women's confidence in the police. Mr Khan's spokesman said: 'The murder of Sarah Everard by a serving police officer has severely damaged trust in the police.' He said the Met had a 'huge job to do to regain the trust of women, girls and all Londoners' and the mayor will be holding them to account to deliver the necessary change. A Met spokesman said last night that the force did not provide a 'running commentary' on the Commissioner's calls with Ms Patel, adding that Couzens's identity came as a 'bolt from the blue'. Ministers are in talks to scrap the 'misleading' official list of Covid test prices in time for the half-term holidays. Anyone who needs a lateral flow test or PCR to travel is directed to the Government's website of private providers, which quotes prices. However, critics say the list has been hijacked by rogue providers and have accused them of promising much lower prices than customers end up having to pay. Anyone who needs a lateral flow test or PCR to travel is directed to the Government's website of private providers, which quotes prices (file photo) As first revealed in The Mail on Sunday, double-jabbed travellers will soon no longer need a PCR test when returning to the UK but they must pay for a cheaper lateral flow test two days after arriving. Last night, a Government source said it was optimistic the change will be in place for half-term, from October 23. Last month, Health Secretary Mr Javid said the Government had removed 91 providers One testing firm, which has made a submission to the Competition and Markets Authority, called for the list to be scrapped, saying it has been hijacked by 'rogue' providers. Last month, Health Secretary Mr Javid said the Government had removed 91 providers. The top civil servant slapped down for boasting about riding her Peloton bike rather than working in the office is no longer working from home because she has moved out while the property undergoes an expensive refurbishment. Sarah Healey, permanent secretary at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, was accused of undermining Ministers when she hailed the benefits of working from home and said: 'I have a Peloton and I can just get on my bike whenever I have a teeny bit of time.' Sarah Healey, permanent secretary at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, was accused of undermining Ministers when she hailed the benefits of working from home and said: 'I have a Peloton and I can just get on my bike whenever I have a teeny bit of time' As a rebuke, Tory Chairman Oliver Dowden last week told staff to 'get off their Pelotons and get back to their desks', adding: 'People want the Government to lead by example' However, her 700,000 house in East Dulwich, South London, is surrounded by hoardings, with plans submitted to the local council detailing major renovation work including 'Crittall- style double-glazed doors' and an 'external courtyard area'. As a rebuke, Tory Chairman Oliver Dowden last week told staff to 'get off their Pelotons and get back to their desks', adding: 'People want the Government to lead by example.' Universities are appointing full-time 'hate crime and racism investigators' despite receiving only a handful of race complaints. Campus officers and advisers are being paid more than 30,000 a year to wait for students and staff to report allegations even though some institutions are recording just a single case of racism each year. Salford University, which has 20,000 students, is advertising for a 28,756 to 33,309 a year 'hate crime and racism investigator' to examine complaints of racism and 'micro-aggression'. Since 2017, fewer than five student racism cases a year have been reported there. Universities are appointing full-time 'hate crime and racism investigators' despite receiving only a handful of race complaints Manchester University, which has more than 53,000 students and staff, has followed many UK universities by introducing a 'report and support' service that encourages victims of racism to contact a 'harassment support adviser'. A Freedom of Information request reveals that three racist incidents were reported by staff at Manchester between 2017 and 2020. Of two student complaints in 2020, one involved the university's official response to the killing of George Floyd in America. Universities argue hate-crime officers are needed despite the low number of reported racist incidents to encourage victims to come forward after a report in 2019 by the Equality and Human Rights Commission accused universities of ignoring endemic racism. This was despite only 585 students reporting to it that they had experienced racial harassment just 0.1 per cent of UK ethnic minority students. A Freedom of Information request reveals that three racist incidents were reported by staff at Manchester between 2017 and 2020. Of two student complaints in 2020, one involved the university's official response to the killing of George Floyd (pictured) in America Academics last night predicted anti-racism and diversity advisers might have to reclassify the 'normal conflicts of campus life' as hate crimes to justify their jobs. Frank Furedi, emeritus professor at Kent University, said: 'Higher education has become a caricature of itself. Instead of dealing with the real problems that confront it, it needs to invent fantasy crimes.' Others fear a surge in anti-racism and hate-crime recruitment may threaten free speech on campus. Jim McConalogue, senior researcher at the think-tank Civitas, said: 'Racism must always be dealt with but the employment of specialist officers to monitor highly subjective forms of hate crime and perceived micro-aggressions is leading to a 'grievance industrial complex' which is worsening the growing sense of intolerance on campuses.' A University of Salford spokesman said: 'While we welcome the fact that cases of racism are low on our campus, we are aware that not all cases are reported. We will do all we can to eradicate it from our institution. One case is too many.' Defence chiefs were last night accused of 'woke nonsense' after declaring that 'not all women are biologically female'. A new Inclusive Language Guide published by the Ministry of Defence warns members of the Armed Forces that using the words 'woman' and 'female' interchangeably 'erases' members of the trans community. But the document part of a drive to modernise the services ignited claims that the military has become the latest public institution to parrot the views of Stonewall and other equality rights groups. The guide is described as a 'practical toolkit' to help personnel understand why 'certain words or use of language is hurtful or non-inclusive'. A new Inclusive Language Guide published by the Ministry of Defence warns members of the Armed Forces that using the words 'woman' and 'female' interchangeably 'erases' members of the trans community But its guidance over the appropriate language to use about sex and gender identity has plunged the Armed Forces into increasingly fractious debate between transgender activists and women's right's campaigners. In a section entitled 'Woman or female', the document states that the two words 'mean different things but are often used interchangeably'. It adds: 'Referring to women as females is perceived by many as reducing a woman to her reproductive parts and abilities. Not all women are biologically female, and the conflation of 'female' to 'woman' erases gender nonconforming people and members of the trans community.' The document includes a link to the Stonewall website for 'further reading and resources'. Describing the guidance as 'shocking', Maya Forstater, executive director of the Sex Matters campaign group, said: 'For anybody in the street, woman means human female. If you ask for a female doctor or a woman doctor, you are asking for the same thing. This language is unintelligible to anyone who hasn't been doing a gender studies course in a university.' Rob Jessel, a freedom of expression campaigner, said: 'The Ministry of Defence is the latest institution to fall into the grip of Stonewall's aggressive, unscientific ideological crusade to destroy the concept of sex in law. Two thirds of women in the military have faced bullying and sexual abuse how can the MoD take effective action if they can't define what a woman is?' Describing the guidance as 'shocking', Maya Forstater (pictured) , executive director of the Sex Matters campaign group, said: 'For anybody in the street, woman means human female. If you ask for a female doctor or a woman doctor, you are asking for the same thing. This language is unintelligible to anyone who hasn't been doing a gender studies course in a university' Soldiers and other members of the Armed Forces are also advised to ask which personal pronouns their comrades use. 'Try asking: 'May I ask how you prefer me to address you, for example what pronoun do you use?',' the guide states. It also advises against the use of the word 'manpower' and instead opt for the gender neutral 'workforce' or 'staff'. But, in a tweet, a former SAS soldier James Deegan describes the guide as 'woke nonsense'. The MoD said: 'We are committed to creating a welcoming and inclusive environment across our military and civilian workforce. This is not an attempt to police language use. It simply offers advice to staff on how to communicate effectively and respectfully.' Will the Civil Service ever go back to work properly? Private business and industry are increasingly seeing a return by those who toiled from home during the Covid crisis. Many never left. Huge numbers of people, from NHS frontline staff to small business operators and builders, never could work from home. But there still seems to be some difficulty in persuading the tax-funded staffs of Government departments and agencies to resume the commute and be at their desks for the proper five days a week (two or three days are just not enough). Much of the country seems to be crumbling around our ears, with decisions not taken or policies not implemented. This resistance to normality comes from the very top. Sarah Healey, the most senior civil servant at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has cheerfully confessed to continuing to stay at home. She likes the arrangement as it gives her more time to spend on her modish exercise bike. Is she really sure that she heads her department as effectively as she would if she went to the office every day? This resistance to normality comes from the very top. Sarah Healey, the most senior civil servant at the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has cheerfully confessed to continuing to stay at home It is no surprise that those lower down the scale are following her example. An estimated 80 per cent of Civil Service staffers are continuing to stay away from the office, but the Government is so short of bean-counters that it cannot even tell us officially what the figures are. This problem is not confined to grand Ministries in London. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea is also having problems attracting its workers back to their office desks. Its vast staff car park is still far from full. And it is the object of myriad complaints about delays in processing vital applications for licences, including badly needed HGV permits. It is hard to believe that these problems are not connected to the continued insistence by many staff on working from home. This is especially difficult for Government departments. Most if not all of them need access to highly protected and confidential databases to do their jobs properly. Yet most of those who work from home lack the ultra-secure communication links that would allow them to safely reach these resources. There is a general point here too. Working from home was justified and indeed necessary at the peak of the pandemic, but everyone realised at the time that this was permitted only as a tolerable second-best, because home working was better than not working at all. Direct human contact immensely improves the quality of work done in offices. It makes proper supervision and progress-chasing far more effective. It stimulates the cross-fertilisation of ideas. It allows the more experienced to advise and train the less experienced. This problem is not confined to grand Ministries in London. The Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency in Swansea is also having problems attracting its workers back to their office desks Not least, it gives the paying public a better chance of contacting the organisation involved, whether commercial or official, instead of being fobbed off with an answering machine or a website. And then there is the economy. So many enterprises now rely on providing services to commuters and office workers that their continuing absence is doing quite severe damage. Perhaps we should appeal to them on the grounds of helping their fellow citizens, whose own jobs depend on them? But this is above all a matter of leadership from the top. Ministers and their senior officials should make it plain from tomorrow that the days of working from home are over, and we must get back to normal now. Farmers are demanding that visa rules that require foreign vets and butchers to speak English be dropped to help tackle chronic staff shortages and mass culling of pigs. The National Farmers' Union (NFU) last night called on Ministers to temporarily relax the rules so 15,000 extra workers can be brought to Britain on short-term visas to plug a meat production crisis. The Government is currently offering just 1,000 temporary visas for butchers. Staff shortages in abattoirs have forced pig farmers to start culling hundreds of animals which will not be able to enter the food chain. Meat industry trade bodies say that it is already too late to prevent some disruption to supplies to supermarkets and fear as many as 120,000 pigs could be killed and then burned. Minette Batters (pictured), President of the NFU, told The Mail on Sunday: 'We want the required level of English to be lowered so there is a wider pool of workers who can come here and help to resolve this crisis Minette Batters, President of the NFU, told The Mail on Sunday: 'We want the required level of English to be lowered so there is a wider pool of workers who can come here and help to resolve this crisis. 'Recruitment agencies in South America are already skill-testing people and they could come here quickly if the language barrier was removed. We know that farmers are already killing pigs on farms. 'At the moment it is in the hundreds, not the thousands but it is a ticking time-bomb. There has got to be solutions within days.' Pig farming is the latest industry to be hit by a lack of skilled workers. A shortage of HGV drivers has already led to panic-buying at petrol stations. Farmers have also warned huge quantities of fruit and vegetables have been left to rot in the fields or have had to be destroyed because there is no one to pick them. Research by the NFU suggests 500,000 of the four million people who work across the farm-to-fork supply chain have left the industry during the pandemic and more than a third of vacancies for horticultural workers have been unfilled. Pig farming is the latest industry to be hit by a lack of skilled workers. A shortage of HGV drivers has already led to panic-buying at petrol stations (file photo) According to the Office for National Statistics, 27 per cent of food and accommodation firms have reported lower than normal stock levels while a report by accountants Grant Thornton found more than 500,000 vacancies across food and drink businesses. The Government has argued that industries must pay British workers more rather than rely on cheaper foreign labour, but businesses say that will take too long to prevent a supply crisis. A Government spokesman said: 'We understand the challenges the pig industry has faced because of the pandemic, labour shortages, accessing Co2 supplies, and reduction in exports to the Chinese market. We are working closely with the sector during this time.' Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster STEVE BARCLAY: Brexit-bashers miss the point a return to uncontrolled immigration is no answer to Britain's challenges By Steve Barclay, Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster and Minister for the Cabinet Office, for the Mail on Sunday Over the last few weeks, our supply chains have been well and truly tested. Fundamental global pressures whether it's the shortage of natural gas or lorry drivers have been felt by businesses and families alike. Yet while our supply chains creaked, they did not crack. And thanks to the joint efforts of Government and industry, we can now see signs of return to stability at the petrol pump, where more fuel is being delivered than is being sold. This has been consistently the case for more than a week. I'm not saying that the challenges have gone away or that the problems are all sorted. But just as we acted quickly to get the Army involved in helping to deliver fuel one of 24 measures we have put in place so to tackle the shortage of truck drivers we will work alongside the private sector to prevent problems where we foresee them. We will tackle them when and where they arise. Put simply, this Government stands ready to support business, particularly as it gears up for the busy Christmas period. We are bolstering the number of lorry drivers over the winter and we are working with industry to overcome the challenges companies face whether that's a shortage of labour or difficulty getting But told of raw materials. We are also working to identify other sectors of the economy that might prove vulnerable to short-term disruption so that they can make contingency plans. My department, the Cabinet Office, has convened a weekly Industry Taskforce and I have established a Supply Chains Intelligence Cell to advise. Together, these will make sure the Government has the information it needs to tackle disruption effectively and efficiently wherever it rears its head. We're going in with our eyes open and a plan in place. On Friday, the Prime Minister appointed Dave Lewis as his Supply Chains Adviser. Mr Lewis, the former head of Tesco, brings the expertise we need to ensure we're more resistant to global shocks in the future. As we have already shown, we are ready to mobilise our Armed Forces to deliver short-term support when it is needed. We are ready to mitigate any challenges that come our way this winter. However, this isn't just a question of ironing out short-term wrinkles. This is a fundamental conversation about the future of our country and our economy. What kind of society do we want to be and what should the structure of our economy look like? According to the Brexit-bashers, all of these are problems caused by our decision to leave the EU and their answer is all too obvious. They want the return of uncontrolled immigration. As ever, they miss the point. Their analysis ignores the global realities we are facing, such as the unprecedented demand for natural gas as world economies fire-up after the Covid shut down. Or the shortage of 400,000 lorry driver right across mainland Europe. The closure of Asian ports and factories due to the pandemic is another shock with major international consequences. This is why Labour's solution of simply opening the floodgates to 100,000 additional foreign lorry drivers is so intrinsically flawed. More fundamentally, it demonstrates that the Labour Party does not value British workers. We must use our new-found freedoms outside the European Union to promote and champion our workers, rather than undercutting them with imported labour which damps down wages and undermines the breadth of home-grown skills and talent. This is what has happened for years and people have had enough. Brexit has put the nation on a different track. It has given us a singular opportunity to drive up skills, standards and pay across the board. And that is this Government's central mission: to level up the whole of the United Kingdom. Tectonic shifts do not happen overnight, and this one will certainly require a period of adjustment. The Government will be there to work with business on the steps ahead, however, just as we were during the pandemic. The British economy is already growing strongly. Gross Domestic Product was up by 4.8 per cent in the second quarter of this year. Our economy is expected to grow more quickly than the those of the USA, France and Japan over the next two years. What's more, at 4.6 per cent, the unemployment rate has now fallen for seven consecutive months and real wages are up 3.9 percent since the start of the pandemic. Just this week, a new report showed that starting salaries have been rising at the fastest rate in the whole of the 24 years for which this data has been collected. Our recovery from Covid is well under way. Now it's up to us to deliver our plan to protect, support and create the highly-skilled, highly-paid employment that our United Kingdom deserves. Next time you visit Paris, carve out some time to visit Ile St Louis. This little island, connected to Notre Dame by a footbridge, has no famous monuments and no Metro link, but is the perfect choice for a quiet pause or a stroll away from the crowds. Just under half a mile long, it was developed in the 17th Century as an extension of the newly fashionable Marais district, in the style which reached its apogee at Versailles and gives the island its satisfying architectural unity. Ile St Louis is the perfect choice for a quiet pause or a stroll away from the crowds Today it is a favourite place for many Parisians to take their Sunday walks, buy an ice cream or just sit on its quiet quaysides. They come to play the guitar, picnic, sunbathe and take in the views of Paris across the sparkling water. The normal roar of traffic is dissolved by the river, meaning the main sounds on Ile St Louis are gulls, drifting commentaries from the passing bateaux-mouches the open-top tourist boats and the waves washing against the quay in their wake. A friend visiting from London was astonished to notice that several sunny hours had sped by as we sat talking on the quay, surrounded by young Parisians who were barely making a sound. That could never have happened in London, she said, deeply impressed. Youll find that the cafe Le Flore en LIle has the best views of Notre Dame and the Left Bank. A very Parisian snack of oysters and a glass of white wine can be had at Poget & De Wittes oyster bar, or something sweeter can be found at Berthillons ice-cream parlour, founded in 1954 and famous for using only natural ingredients. Drink it in: The best views of Notre Dame are from Le Flore en LIle cafe Afterwards, admire the baroque church of St Louis-en-lIle. Also take time to see the Hotel Lambert, the grand, privately owned mansion which was designed and decorated in 1640 by the creators of Versailles and overlooks the eastern tip of the island. Considered one of the most beautiful houses in Paris, it is currently owned by the brother of the Emir of Qatar. Next door, the equally resplendent Hotel de Lauzun has drainpipes in the form of dolphins, with their scales picked out in gold. Celebrities are once again battling it out on Saturday nights hoping to win Strictly Come Dancings glitterball trophy, with Anton Du Beke, everyones favourite professional, now one of the judges. But if youd like to see Anton back on the dancefloor, heres your chance by joining him and his long-term dance partner and fellow Strictly favourite, Erin Boag, on a fabulous and exclusive eight-day Danube river cruise. After flying to Budapest, youll travel on a stylish Emerald Cruises Star-Ship, with stops at Linz in Austria and the Unesco World Heritage-listed town of Cesky Krumlov in the Czech Republic. Highlights: You'll fly to Budapest where your seven-night deluxe cruise begins Stops along the way include Melk (pictured) and Durnstein in Austria OUR SPECIAL GUESTS Anton and Erin on the dancefloor Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag have been dancing together for 20 years and are two of the nations all-time favourite ballroom stars. Their charisma, chemistry and dazzling choreography have wowed audiences around the world. Anton, known affectionately as the King of Ballroom, still holds the record as Strictlys longest-serving professional dancer. Advertisement After visiting three of Europes great capitals, Vienna, Bratislava and Budapest, youll sail past terraced vineyards and apricot orchards en route to Melk and Durnstein in Austria. Youll watch Anton and Erin perform at an intimate and historic venue in the Austrian capital, and the pair will take part in an interactive dance masterclass aboard ship. Anton and Erin will also host an entertaining question-and-answer session, during which you can ask them about their lives and careers and find out what really goes on behind the scenes on Strictly. One reader said of a previous trip: Its been such a wonderful experience seeing Anton and Erin perform. I cannot imagine anything better. REASONS TO BOOK Sail in style: Youll travel on an elegant Emerald Cruises Star-Ship which has an indoor pool with retractable roof, an open-air terrace, a cinema and a putting green, as well as beautiful staterooms and suites. You can choose indoor or outdoor dining. Your cruise will include EmeraldPLUS and EmeraldACTIVE excursions in each city, such as visiting a Hungarian folklore show in Budapest or taking part in a guided biking tour from Melk. See Anton and Erin dance: Anton Du Beke and Erin Boag will give an unforgettable one-off performance in the unique setting of Vienna, home of the waltz. You will also join the stars for a cocktail reception and photo opportunity. Join a dance masterclass: Work on your waltz and finesse your foxtrot during a fun dance class on board with Anton and Erin. You will have a chance to hear them talk about their long-term partnership and love of dance during a private Q&A session. Flexible booking policy: Book with confidence knowing that Emerald Cruises allows you to transfer to an alternate date or cancel up to 60 days before your cruise with no fees. Tammy Hembrow is reflecting on how grown up her five-year-old daughter Saskia is. Posting to her Instagram on Saturday, the 26-year-old shared a sweet series of photos alongside her mini-me. 'I still remember her tiny newborn self in my arms,' Tammy began her emotional caption. So grown up! Tammy Hembrow is reflecting on how grown up her five-year-old daughter Saskia is 'And now I have this whole human that's obsessed with unicorns, copies EVERYTHING her brother does, and already gives me major attitude,' she added. The mother-and-daughter duo appeared to be enjoying some bonding time as they posed for pictures together. In one, Tammy's smile is beaming as she bends down to her daughter's height, before planting a sweet kiss on her little girl. Bonding time: The mother-and-daughter duo appeared to be enjoying some bonding time as they posed for the pictures Sealed with a kiss: In one photo Tammy bends down to her daughter's height to plant a sweet kiss on her little girl The adorable post comes two months after Saskia celebrated her fifth birthday. In August, the fitness entrepreneur shared a heartwarming Instagram tribute to mark the special occasion. 'My sweet girl!! Five years earth side! Every single day you remind me how incredibly blessed I am,' she wrote alongside a series of photos of herself embracing her daughter. She added: 'The kindest most amazing little soul. Mummy loves you beyond words, my little soulmate Sass.' Remember this? Tammy,pictured with a younger Saskia 'The kindest most amazing little soul': Tammy shared a sweet tribute to daughter Saskia as she celebrated her fifth birthday in August In one picture, Tammy looked at Saskia adoringly as they wore matching coloured pyjamas. In another image, Tammy gave her daughter a kiss on her cheek as she smiled for the camera. She also shared a video of Saskia smiling while blowing her birthday candles. Twinning! The fitness mogul, 26, posted a series of photos of herself embracing her daughter to Instagram Celebration: She also shared a video of Saskia smiling while blowing her birthday candles Tammy shares Saskia and her son Wolf, six, with ex-fiance Reece Hawkins. She has moved on from Reece with Gold Coast-based Ironman Matt Poole, 32. Reece and his American model fiancee London Goheen, 23, welcomed their first child together, son Stone, in March. Lovers: She has moved on from Reece with Gold Coast-based Ironman Matt Poole, 32. Pictured, Tammy and Matt Brody Jenner congratulated his ex Kaitlynn Carter on the birth of her first child with a sweet comment on Instagram. The 38-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star shared his well wishes under a photo that Carter, 33, posted on Wednesday to announce the arrival of her son Rowan Carter Brock. 'Congrats Kait! You are gonna be the best mom!' Brody wrote on the photo in which the new mom was seen breastfeeding Rowan, adding a blue heart emoji. Cute: Brody Jenner congratulated his ex Kaitlynn Carter on the birth of her first child with a sweet comment on Instagram Brody's mother Linda Thompson also reacted happily to Kaitlynn's big news, writing, 'Motherhood looks beautiful on you! And that baby! 'So excited to meet him I love the name Rowan Carter Brock! He already has enviable hair! Much love!' Last month, Linda, 71, was among the group of family and friends who attended Kaitlynn's baby shower. Sweet: The 38-year-old Keeping Up With The Kardashians star shared his well wishes under a photo that Carter, 33, posted on Wednesday to announce the arrival of her son Rowan Carter Brock Friendly exes: 'Congrats Kait! You are gonna be the best mom!' Brody wrote on the photo in which the new mom was seen breastfeeding Rowan, adding a blue heart emoji Still close: Brody's mother Linda Thompson also reacted happily to Kaitlynn's big news The Hills: New Beginning star and her boyfriend Kristopher Brock welcomed Rowan around 3AM on September 30, 2021. The MTV vet gushed in the caption of her post: 'our chunky little guy, Rowan Carter Brock, was born 9/30/21 at 2:53am, 8 lbs 4 oz. everyone is happy and healthy and so in love.' Kaitlynn announced her pregnancy back in June with a snap capturing the silhouette of her bump. The photo showed Kaitlynn and her beau in the midst of their babymoon at the luxurious Cabo San Lucas spot, Esperanza Resort. Surprise! Carter announced she was expecting her first child with boyfriend Kristopher Brock in June (pictured May 19) Mom and dad: Kaitlynn showed off her cowboy boots as she posed with her beau in the mirror back in July Babymoon: She shared a silhouette snap of her substantial baby bump alongside the fashion designer at Cabo San Lucas resort Esperanza Resort Kristopher - who's only been dating Kaitlynn for 13 months - is already father to six-year-old son Charlie Wright from his marriage to Brock Collection co-founder Laura Vassar, which ended in 2019. Carter's Instagram post received glowing comments from her Hills castmates Audrina Patridge and Caroline D'Amore as well as the official Hills account. The University of New Hampshire grad previously concealed her bourgeoning bump in two other snaps taken at the luxury resort in Mexico. 'It's like the most seamless, chill relationship,' Kaitlynn gushed on Scrubbing In With Becca Tilley and Tanya Rad podcast in December. 'I've never had a relationship that was just easy and I don't want to put anybody else down, but I feel like he's the first adult I've ever dated. He's more mature than me by far.' 2017 family portrait: Kristopher - who's only been dating Kaitlynn for 13 months - is already father to six-year-old son Charlie Wright from his marriage to Brock Collection co-founder Laura Vassar (L), which ended in 2019 'Cutest belly!' Carter's Instagram post received glowing comments from her Hills castmates Audrina Patridge and Caroline D'Amore as well as the official Hills account Best kept secret: The University of New Hampshire grad previously concealed her bourgeoning bump in two other snaps taken at the luxury resort in Mexico Carter is best known for her highly-publicized, two-month fling with newly-separated pop star Miley Cyrus between August-September 2019. It was shortly after the blonde beauty had ended her own 14-month 'marriage' to Jenner who she had dated on and off since 2013 The reality stars' 2018 ceremony was officiated by two Sumbanese priests at the Nihi Sumba resort in Indonesia, but it was not legally binding in the States. Legit or not, Kaitlynn and Brody gladly cashed in on the faux wedding and tagged all of the companies which made their wedding and subsequent honeymoon at Maldives resort Six Senses Laamu possible. Bisexual: Kaitlynn is best known for her highly-publicized, two-month fling with newly-separated pop star Miley Cyrus between August-September 2019 Confronting the past: It was shortly after Carter had ended her own 14-month 'marriage' to Jenner, who she had dated on and off since 2013 Fake: The reality stars' 2018 ceremony was officiated by two Sumbanese priests at the Nihi Sumba resort in Indonesia, but it was not legally binding in the States In fact, Kaitlynn's desire to have children was one of the catalysts for their 'divorce' since it drove Brody to 'drink to excess.' 'The circumstances of what happened after our split catered to that negative s***,' Brody told Kaitlynn during the May 12th season two premiere of The Hills: New Beginnings. 'The whole 'lesbian thing' was gnarly, because in our entire relationship you never expressed that you had any interest in females whatsoever.' Jenner continued: 'It was a shock for me and for a lot of people who saw that; it gave them an easy way out to say, 'Oh, she's just in it for the fame, and in it for the money.'' Biological clock: In fact, Kaitlynn's desire to have children was one of the catalysts for their 'divorce' since it drove Brody to 'drink to excess' Brody told Kaitlynn during the May 12th season two premiere: 'The whole 'lesbian thing' was gnarly, because in our entire relationship you never expressed that you had any interest in females whatsoever...It was a shock for me and for a lot of people who saw that; it gave them an easy way out to say, 'Oh, she's just in it for the fame, and in it for the money'' 'When [Miley] and I broke up, that was the hardest time of my life': Carter replied that she'd never imagined going from one 'pretty public relationship; into another' Carter replied that she'd never imagined going from one 'pretty public relationship; into another.' 'When [Miley] and I broke up, that was the hardest time of my life, because I was really on my own and in the center of a lot of attention, and I think being able to rediscover who I am as a person on my own completely just gave me a new outlook on everything,' she explained. 'It was just a cycle of a number of things that weren't aligning. Just seeing the changes you've made, it does make me think: 'What if these changes had happened before we broke up?'' Kelly Ripa reminisced on a particularly romantic moment with husband Mark Consuelos in honor of flashback Friday. One week after ringing in 51 on a special birthday getaway, the TV host continued to teleport herself back by way of a tender photo. 'Hard to believe this was one week ago,' she wrote as she posted a snap nose-to-nose with her enduring partner of 25 years. Lasting love: The television host savored a romantic moment with her enduring partner of 25 years as she posted a photo of the pair nose-to-nose on the beach from a getaway for her 51st birthday In the Instagram photo the All My Children vet held Kelly close and beamed at her, while she closed her eyes with an infectiously happy smile on her face. The couple could not have looked more in love as they cherished a sunset moment by each other's side, and Mark agreed it was a day to remember as he wrote 'Let's go back.' The comments section was full of affection for the pair, with one person remarking that they were 'killing' the empty nesting game, as the three children they share Michael, 24, Lola, 20, and Joaquin, 18 are all in college. On Kelly's birthday (October 2), Consuelos penned the most gushing of tributes as he called his wife 'my best friend, lover, confidant,' and 'my forever girl.' 'My forever girl': Consuelos penned the most gushing of tributes for her birthday on October 2 where he called his wife 'my best friend, lover, confidant,' and 'my forever girl.' In his post he acknowledged that as busy entertainers sometimes there were 'important days we've missed' over the years, but added: 'I'm so grateful to spend this special day with you.' While Kelly continues to work daily on her daytime show Live with Kelly and Ryan in New York City, Mark had been busy over the last year filming Riverdale in Vancouver, Canada. Season five of the hit CW show caused new challenges on account of the COVID-19 pandemic, as cast and crew were not allowed to travel back and forth to the United States in order to keep safety as a top priority. On October 6, showrunner Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa announced in a statement to Deadline, that Mark would be leaving the show ahead of season six. Though no reason was explicitly given in the statement, Consuelos did retweet a retweet of a Decider article that noted he had 'been pretty open about missing his family during the Vancouver-based shoots.' Katya Jones ensured she caught the eye of onlookers as she left the It Takes Two studio in a stand-out monochrome bodycon mini-dress on Friday night. The Strictly Come Dancing professional, 32, appeared on the spin-off show of the BBC ballroom dance contest ahead of the next round of the competition on Friday. The television star's garment featured a funky criss-cross pattern with some black sequined panels running the length of the dress. Eye-catching: Katya Jones, 32, ensured she caught the eye of onlookers as she left the It Takes Two studio in a stand-out monochrome bodycon mini-dress and knee-high boots on Friday The twinkle-toed star had on a pair of knee-high black boots with high heels to add a few inches to her stature. She highlighted her pretty facial features with lashings of make-up and painted her lips a bright red. Katya accessorised with a pair of pendulum earrings while her hair was tied up in a neat bun on top of her head. Stepping out: The television star's garment featured a funky criss-cross pattern with some black sequined panels running the length of the dress The Russian native has been teamed with Olympic champion Adam Peaty, 26, for this year's Strictly. The pair enjoyed a giggle as they stepped out prior to their It Takes Two TV appearance. Katya and the swimmer looked in great spirits heading to the show studios in London. Happy: Katya and her Strictly dance partner Adam Peaty, 26, enjoyed a giggle as they headed to their It Takes Two TV appearance Katya looked stylish in a black dress, knee high boots and a padded jacket for her TV appearance. She added a pop of colour with a slick of red lipstick and wore her hair swept back in an up do. Meanwhile Adam looked casual in a white T-shirt which showed off his arm tattoos and baggy black joggers. Out and about: The professional dancer and the Olympic swimmer looked in great spirits heading to the show studios in London Keep dancing! The pair appeared in high spirits as they posed for a photo after filming Adam, who will perform the Rhumba to Leona Lewis' track I See You from Avatar with dance partner Katya on Saturday night, recently revealed his top choice to play him in a biopic, should the opportunity ever arise. As reported by The Mirror on Thursday, the sportsman has his hopes set on former stripper and Magic Mike star Channing Tatum, 41. Adam who won three medals at the Tokyo Olympics this year - two golds and a silver - remarked, 'Who wouldn't want to be played by Channing Tatum?' Top choice: Adam, who will perform the Rhumba to Leona Lewis' track I See You from Avatar with dance partner Katya on Saturday night, recently revealed his top choice to play him in a biopic, should the opportunity ever arise The comments came ahead of Saturday's Strictly Come Dancing show which will see Greg Wise channel 007 with a Paso Doble to the James Bond theme tune. Katie McGlynn will be hoping to bounce back from the dance-off with an American Smooth as Cruella De Vil alongside Gorka Marquez. Tom Fletcher and Amy Dowden will make their grand return to the show after being forced to miss a week due a positive Covid test, with the duo taking on a Jibe to Johnny B Goode from Back To The Future. Fit! As reported by The Mirror on Thursday, Adam, who won three medals at the Tokyo Olympics this year - two golds and a silver - remarked, 'Who wouldn't want to be played by Channing Tatum?' Channing, 41, is pictured in 2015's Magic Mike XXL film Katya and Adam were joined by fellow dancing couple Aljaz Skorjanec, 31, and Sara Davies, 37, who also appeared on spin-off show It Takes Two on Friday. The pair looked delighted to be in each other's company, smiling as they left the building. Dragons' Den star Sara wore an elegant floral print dress and walked arm-in-arm with Aljaz who opted for black skinny jeans and a matching jacket, and a paisley shirt. What a pair: Katya and Adam were joined by fellow dancing couple Aljaz Skorjanec, 31, and Sara Davies, 37, who also appeared on spin-off show It Takes Two on Friday Ready to roll: Dragons' Den star Sara wore an elegant floral print dress and was walked to her taxi by Aljaz Show judge Shirley Ballas, 61, followed the pair soon after, cutting a casual figure as she left the studio. She could be seen wearing a comfortable black tracksuit before hopping into a car to travel home. The star carried a white coat over her arm and a red bag in her hand and beamed from ear-to-ear before embarking on her journey. No one can accuse Jake Gyllenhaal of resting on his laurels of late. The Oscar-nominated actor is currently in negotiations with Miramax to star in a still untitled film that will be directed by Guy Ritchie, according to Deadline. The A-list leading man, 40, currently has his name attached to no less than three new films, and he's currently out promoting The Guilty, which received stellar reviews after premiering at the 2021 Toronto International Film Festival. Lobbying for new gig: Jake Gyllenhaal, 40, is in negotiations with Miramax to star in a still untitled film that will be directed by Guy Ritchie So far there's no official word on any plot details or other potential cast members, but the project will reportedly be in the vein of Ritchie's 'visual style that audiences have loved for years.' The movie is slated to start shooting by the end of the year. Ritchie has earned his legion of fans with such films as Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels (1998), Snatch (2000), RocknRolla (2008), Sherlock Holmes (2009) and Sherlock Holmes: Game Of Shadows (2011). In his most recent project, the British filmmaker helms the spy film Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre, with Jason Statham, that's slated to premiere on January 21, 2022. Ritchie, 53, is currently helming the spy film Operation Fortune: Ruse de guerre, with Jason Statham, that's slated to premiere on January 21, 2022 If Gyllenhaal does in fact land a role in the upcoming Ritchie-led movie, it will be the next film that he works on. Earlier in the week, it was reported that the Brokeback Mountain star had signed-on as a lead role in the flick called Prophet. Directed by Extraction's Sam Hargrove, Prophet, is a period comic book adaptation, in which Gyllenhaal plays a man conscripted by Germans near the end of World War II and subjected to scientific experiments that gave him superhuman strength, according to Deadline. His busy schedule will also include a role in Oblivion Song. The Wrap is reporting the film is based on the comic of the same name from The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and collaborator Lorenzo De Felici, who's best known for Murder Falcon and Infinite 8. Busy schedule: Gyllenhaal is also set to star in the a period comic book adaptation of Prophet that will be directed by h Sam Hargrove; the actor also has a role in Oblivion Song, comic adaption from The Walking Dead creator Robert Kirkman and collaborator Lorenzo De Felici Earlier this year, from January through March, Gyllenhaal shot the action-thriller film Ambulance, with Michael Bay on board as the director. Bay's Hollywood resume of action blockbusters includes Armageddon (2001), Bad Boys II (2003), and the Transformers film series (2007present). Gyllenhaal, who stars alongside Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Eiza Gonzalez, plays a working-class man, desperately in need of $231,000 for his wife's surgery, who reaches out to a criminal friend that talks him into taking part in a $32 million bank heist. Ambulance is scheduled to premiere in theaters in the US on February 18, 2022. Gyllenhaal has also been out en force promoting the film The Guilty Busy schedule: The leading man reunited with Southpaw director Antoine Fuqua for The Guilty, which reportedly took only 11 days to shoot due, in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic The Los Angeles native reunited with Southpaw director Antoine Fuqua for a crime-thriller, The Guilty, which dropped in the US September 24. Gyllenhaal has been out en force promoting the film that only took 11 days to shoot, due in part, to the COVID-19 pandemic. 'To our director, our fearless leader, @antoinefuqua: #THEGUILTY is a number one movie on Netflix, the actor wrote about The Guilty, which also stars Christina Vidal, in an Instagram post on October 2. 'COVID almost made the film not possible, but you didn't back down and ended up directing this entire film from a van! WTF. You're a champ. Youre a beast. It's an honor to work with you always. Out now everywhere on @Netflix.' Martha Kalifatidis' Instagram is a carefully curated gallery of her life and style. And on Friday, she shared an intimate look at her aesthetically stunning room in her new Bondi home. But eagle-eyed fans were quick to notice a cheeky detail in the background of the 33-year-old's photos. Cheeky! Married At First Sight's Martha Kalifatidis showed off her stunning bedroom, but fans were quick to notice something in the background - her pink kegel balls on her bedside table As she posed on her bed, a number of her followers spotted the pink kegel balls on her bedside table and commented on it. One wrote: 'Are those pink balls kegal balls?' to which the reality star confirmed, writing: 'Yeah.' 'Good on you for showing that kegal balls are normal!' another praised. Meanwhile a third very impressed fan commented: 'Wow you fit those sized kegal balls up you?! Huge.' Winning fans: Many fans applauded the reality star for confidently showing off her bedside balls Kegel balls and exercises can help women strengthen and restore their pelvic floor muscles, according to Kegels.com.au. Martha wrote in the caption of her post that she missed her old room in her former North Bondi apartment after she and boyfriend Michael Brunelli recently moved. 'I think I miss my old room,' she admitted in the caption. In a second image, she is seen reclining comfortably on the bed she shares with her beau. Memories: In a second image, she is seen reclining comfortably on the bed she shares with her boyfriend Michael Brunelli Her former bedroom featured plenty of white and light hues, a gingham quilt, and prints of artwork by Mark Rothko. Martha and Michael recently moved into their new home elsewhere in Sydney. The popular social media influencer recently showed off a glimpse of their new place. The property features an open-plan living space and kitchen with modern appliances and large glass windows. Fancy: Martha and Michael recently moved into their new home elsewhere in Sydney Modern: Martha gave fans a glimpse into their lavish new home, which features an open-plan living space and kitchen with modern appliances and large glass windows It also has a bifold door which opens to a courtyard space and offers incredible water views. The couple's spacious master bedroom features a large walk-in wardrobe. Martha also showed off the pair's new bowls and mugs sent as a housewarming gift from Ecology Homewares. Spacious: The couple's spacious master bedroom features a large wardrobe space Gifts: Martha also showed off the pair's new bowls and mugs sent as a housewarming gift from Ecology Homewares They also received a Nespresso coffee machine for their new kitchen. Meanwhile, Estee Lauder sent Martha a makeup gift set including three foundations, lipstick and mascara. Martha and Michael's relationship has continued to go from strength to strength after the pair found love on Married At First Sight in 2019. Connie Britton wowed in a floor-length pleated skirt as she attended the opening event for the fourth annual Canneseries held in France. The 54-year-old White Lotus actress paired it with a long-sleeve sheer black blouse with ruffles at the cuffs and neckline as she walked the pink carpet. Britton is the recipient of the festival's highly-coveted 2021 Variety Icon award. Dazzling: Connie Britton wowed in a floor-length pleated skirt as she attended the opening event for the fourth annual Canneseries held in France The former Friday Night Lights star rounded out her outfit with a pair of strappy black heels that displayed a dark pedicure. She wore her strawberry blonde hair in a side part and it cascaded over her shoulders in loose curls. Hoop earrings could be seen peeking through her tresses. The Hollywood vet also donned two delicate bracelets on her wrist. The look: The 54-year-old White Lotus actress paired her skirt with a long-sleeve sheer black blouse with ruffles at the cuffs and neckline as she walked the pink carpet Accolade: Britton is the recipient of the festival's 2021 Variety Icon award Connie's face was made up in light makeup complete with lashes, blush, and a subtle glossy lip. The 9-1-1 actress smiled and waved for photos on the step-and-repeat before graciously accepting her award on stage. Per Variety, the Boston native said in her acceptance speech, 'My goal has always been to use my privilege on reflecting women back to themselves, in the characters that I play, so that women can see themselves or know themselves more honestly or more powerfully, maybe for the first time, as they never imagined before.' Classic style: She wore her strawberry blonde hair in a side part and it cascaded over her shoulders in loose curls Statement: The Boston native said in her acceptance speech, 'My goal has always been to use my privilege on reflecting women back to themselves, in the characters that I play, so that women can see themselves or know themselves more honestly or more powerfully, maybe for the first time, as they never imagined before' Connie can be seen on the hit HBO show The White Lotus, a dark satire following the antics of vacationers and staff of a Hawaiian resort. Connie plays Nicole Mossbacher, a search engine CFO whose husband is grappling with a health crisis. The in-demand actress was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in the 2018 series Dirty John. She also lends her voice to the animated series Pandemic and has roles in the upcoming films Luckiest Girl Alive and 892. Elegant: The 9-1-1 actress smiled and waved for photos on the step-and-repeat before graciously accepted her award on stage Beauty: Connie's face was made up in light makeup complete with lashes, blush, and a subtle glossy lip No Time To Die stars Daniel Craig and Rami Malek surprised a socially-distanced audience at an IMAX theater in Burbank, California. The duo have been appearing together all week in the final push leading up to the release of the latest 007 installment, which marks the final time Craig will be playing the iconic James Bond character. Entering stage left, the audience waiting for the movie to begin were stunned when the two actors made their way in front of the screen. Star align: Daniel Craig and Rami Malek surprised an audience at an IMAX theater that were getting ready to watch the new James Bond flick, No Time To Die As the noise of the crowd clapping and cheering grew louder, Craig, dressed in faded blue jeans and a black long-sleeve shirt, announced: 'I'd like to introduce you to someone. This is the great, Oscar-winning actor Mr. Rami Malek.' Dressed in a black suit and white button-down shirt, Malek would shower his colleague with an equal amount of admiration. 'Thank you,' the 40-year-old Bohemian Rhapsody star said, 'and this is one of the greatest actors of all time. This is Daniel Craig.' Stunned: The audience appeared to be slightly stunned when the two actors made their way in front of the large movie screen to set up the beginning of the latest 007 flick Set up: As the noise of the crowd clapping and cheering grew louder, Craig announced: 'I'd like to introduce you to someone. This is the great, Oscar-winning actor Mr. Rami Malek' Safety first: With COVID-19 still a danger, the audience was properly socially-distanced The duo wasted little time in going straight into the introduction to No Time To Die, which was originally slated to premiere in November 2019 but was postponed a number of times, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic. 'We made this movie in IMAX. I haven't seen this movie in IMAX,' Craig revealed the crowd, before adding, 'It was made to be seen on a big screen.' The England native, 53, went on to get a little hyped, adding, 'I can't tell you how overwhelmed and happy and exhilarated [I am] by the fact that you guys are sitting in this cinema about to watch this movie on this screen.' Right back at you: Malek, 40, thanked the applause and then added, 'and this is one of the greatest actors of all time. This is Daniel Craig' Handsome: The Bohemian Rhapsody star looked stylish dressed in a black suit a white button-down shirt, and dress shoes Cool cat: The England native, 53, opted for blue jeans, a black long-sleeve shirt and brown boots in the fashion department After sharing a couple laughs, Craig told the audience to 'have a great night' and that it was 'lovely to see you. Enjoy. The crowd roared with approval and admiration as the two stars waved back as they walked out the same way they came in. The video of their surprise appearance was shot and posted by AMC Theaters Chairman Adam Aron. 'This is so cool,' he began in the caption of the clip. 'Wonderful things happen for @AMCTheatres guests. Daniel Craig and Rami Malek surprised our moviegoers just before a sneak peak early screening of NO TIME TO DIE at the AMC Burbank @IMAX screenThe name is Bond, James Bond.' Revelation: 'We made this movie in IMAX. I haven't seen this movie in IMAX,' Craig revealed the crowd, before adding, 'It was made to be seen on a big screen' Farewell: After sharing a couple laughs, Craig told the audience to 'have a great night' and that it was 'lovely to see you. Enjoy' Sarah Snook and Kieran Culkin were ready to tide Succession fans over as they arrived at the studios of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert on Friday ahead of the show's upcoming third season premiere. Snook, 33, and Culkin, 39, were joined by the majority of the main cast, including Cousin Greg breakout Nicholas Braun, legendary thespian Brian Cox and Alan Ruck. Both Snook and Culkin rocked classy black ensembles ahead of the New Yorkbased late-night talk show, while their costars favored more colorful looks. Back in action: Sarah Snook, 33, and Kieran Culkin, 39, led the stars of HBO's critically acclaimed dramedy Succession on Friday for an appearance on The Late Show With Stephen Colbert in New York City Snook beamed ear-to-ear outside the studio in a slinky ribbed black dress that reached down to her knees. The intriguing look featured long sleeves and triangular cutouts over her chest, and she accessorized with a black quilted handbag with a thick strap. The Australian actress stood tall in black open-toe platform heels and added a splash of color to the outfit with her pale red hair, which she wore parted down the middle in a stylish bob. Culkin looked almost indistinguishable from his Succession character Roman Roy with his designer stubble, well-fitted black pants and a slim black tie. He had his suit jacket draped over one arm and carried along a tote bag stuffed with other items. Change of pace: Nicholas Braun, who provides much of the comic relief on Succession with his bumbling antics as Cousin Greg, couldn't have looked more unlike his character with his stylish yellow cashmere overcoat Cozy: Brian Cox opted for comfort with a navy double-breasted cardigan. He went all-in on patterns, mixing the ribbed sweater with brown plaid trousers and brown shoes Nicholas Braun, who provides much of the comic relief on Succession with his bumbling antics as Cousin Greg, couldn't have looked more unlike his character with his stylish yellow cashmere overcoat. The towering actor had on a slim black sweater underneath and matching slacks, along with simple black shoes. Brian Cox opted for comfort with a navy double-breasted cardigan. He went all-in on patterns, mixing the ribbed sweater with brown plaid trousers and brown shoes. Alan Ruck, who plays the eldest son of the Roy family in Succession, leaned into colors with a red patterned suit and a burgundy shirt. Seeing red: Alan Ruck, who plays the eldest son of the Roy family in Succession, leaned into colors with a red patterned suit and a burgundy shirt Also featured on the Late Show appearance were Matthew Macfadyen, who plays Snook's husband Tom Wambsgans, and the stage veteran J. Smith-Cameron, who appears as the general counsel to the Waystar RoyCo business empire. Earlier this week, HBO unveiled a new teaser for the third season of Succession, which premieres on October 17. The clip focuses on Kendall Roy (Jeremy Strong) as he leaves the explosive press conference from season two's jaw-dropping finale. Fresh from betraying his father, ailing media mogul Logan Roy ( Cox), Kendall marches out to face the music amid a barrage of reporters. 'Are you with me?' Succession season three teaser unveils aftermath of cliffhanger finale as Kendall Roy prepares for battle against his father. The series returns October 17 on HBO Providing some comic relief, Cousin Greg ( Braun) begins to shout 'no comment!' at the press gang, but he's quickly told to shush by Waystar Royco head of PR Karolina (Dagmara Dominczyk). The drama begins as Karolina briefs Kendall saying he has opened up the family business to lawsuits and investigations, and questions why they are using a company car to exit the press conference, given he no longer works there. 'Are you with me, yes or no?' he asks Karolina, saying he needs a 'clean jar' given his explosive statement. Facing the music: Kendall heads out onto a barrage of reporters at what appears to be the beginning of season three, picking up straight where season two left off No comment: Cousin Greg ( Braun) is told hold himself back by Waystar Royco head of PR Karolina (Dagmara Dominczyk) Building his team: Kendall wants to know who is on his side after freshly betraying his father Righteous vehicle: Karolina questions Kendall's motives, as he persuades her to join his battle against his father Tense: The trio pick apart what just happened after that shocking finale 'Why did you do it like that Ken?' she asks, before turning to Gregg to ask if he was in on it too. 'This is a fork in your life Karolina,' Kendall offers, adding: 'This is your righteous vehicle.' The previously shared teaser has already shown Logan placed in a perilous position after being ambushed by his rebellious son during the shock live news conference at the end of season two. 'Are you with me, yes or no?' Kendall asks Karolina, saying he needs a 'clean jar' given his explosive statement The new top dog? Viewers want to know if Kendall's risky power play is going to pay off World on his shoulders: Kendall has now opened himself up to a huge wave of pressure Closed door meetings: Karolina is the ever protective head of PR as she drives off with Kendall and Gregg Who can you trust: Karolina seems to be scoping out Cousin Gregg in the backseat In that clip, viewers saw Kendall giving himself a much-needed pep talk in the mirror while as hell broke loose around him, following his tactical move against his father. Logan then went into a fiery rage as the bitter corporate battle appears to be ready to rage on in season three. Succession is created by Jesse Armstrong; executive produced by Jesse Armstrong, Adam McKay, Frank Rich, Kevin Messick, Jane Tranter, Mark Mylod, Tony Roche, Scott Ferguson, Jon Brown and Will Ferrell. Jesse Armstrong serves as showrunner. Succession Season 3 returns to Sky Atlantic and NOW from 2am on October 18, 2021. Seasons 1-2 are available to catch up now on Sky On-Demand and NOW. Erika Jayne raised eyebrows, once again, after leaving a shady comment on Ronald Richards' latest Instagram post on Thursday. After a year of the lawyer investigating the star and her estranged husband Tom Girardi over embezzlement accusations, the criminal defense and civil litigation attorney slammed Girardi's Los Angeles-based law firm. 'What does everyone attorney who worked at Girardi Keese as either an Associate, quasi Partner, or Manager have in common? Answer: Not one of them has taken responsibility for the clients they were obligated to protect and serve or gifted back any of their bonuses or salaries,' he captioned an image of the employees via Instagram on Thursday. Fiery: Erika Jayne left a surprising comment on Ronald Richards' latest Instagram post, in which she suggested they are beginning to find common ground In response, Erika, 50, commented: 'Finally a post I agree with. Only took you a year of looking in the wrong direction you really are slow.' After spotting the reply, Richards replied to the Pretty Mess author's 'nice dig,' according to Us Weekly. 'We are looking at all directions but the big $ went to one person,' he wrote. 'We have only been retained since June of 2021 so it hasn't been a year. We have asked for any 411 to aid in the below review.' Disgraceful allegations: After a year of the lawyer investigating the star and her estranged husband Tom Girardi over embezzlement accusations, the criminal defense and civil litigation attorney slammed Girardi's Los Angeles-based law firm In response, Erika, 50, commented: 'Finally a post I agree with. Only took you a year of looking in the wrong direction you really are slow' Erika's ex, 82, has been accused of embezzling millions of dollars meant for plane crash victims, and as a result, both have had to give up their lavish lifestyles. Jayne once famously employed $40K-a-month glam team to keep her looking like a pop star, but that has all gone now that she's been asked to pay back an alleged $25million loan from her ex Girardi. Earlier this week, she shared a clip of herself getting grilled by Andy Cohen on the upcoming Real Housewives of Beverly Hills reunion. Erika's ex, 82, has been accused of embezzling millions of dollars meant for plane crash victims, and as a result, both have had to give up their lavish lifestyles; seen in 2016 In August this year, Girardi was federally disbarred as an attorney, according to documents filed under the Central District of California. Girardi who has been placed under a conservatorship on account of a Dementia diagnosis reportedly 'did not contest the decision.' While Jayne has claimed to have no involvement in the embezzlement scandal and 'kept away from the books' she has been implicated over an alleged $25million she was paid by Giardi's law firm. Legal nightmare: While Jayne has claimed to have no involvement in the embezzlement scandal and 'kept away from the books' she has been implicated over an alleged $25million she was paid by Giardi's law firm; seen in May Jayne allegedly spent the huge sum of money on her lavish lifestyle from 2008 to 2020. Her attorney has stressed that she has done nothing wrong - and Jayne has claimed herself that she now has 'zero dollars' to her name. The Real Housewives of Beverly Hills season finale will air tonight at 8pm on Bravo. But viewers will have to wait until Wednesday, Oct. 13 at 8pm, for the start of this fiery four-part reunion. Mad Max will be making a return to its roots after it was announced that filming for the latest instalment, Furiosa, would take place in Broken Hill, NSW, next April. Peter Price, who is the owner of the nearby Silverton hotel, revealed his excitement about the high-octane series coming back to the outback region in an interview with Weekend Today hosts Richard Wilkins and Rebecca Maddern on Saturday. Wilkins firstly asked Price about how the local residents of Silverton and Broken Hill have reacted to the news. Thrilled: Shooting for the newest Mad Max film, Furiosa, will take place in Broken Hill next April as Silverton hotel owner Peter Price (right) revealed his excitement for the upcoming production on Weekend Today 'I'm sure they're going to be as excited as they were forty years ago,' Price responded, referring to the production of Mad Max 2, aka The Road Warrior, which took place in the same area four decades earlier. 'As much as we've always enjoyed Mad Max 2, with the museum here and all that sort of stuff, we are really looking forward to this new film that's going to be done out this way,' he said. The Silverton Hotel owner stated that the production will hopefully bring much-needed tourism dollars to the region, which has suffered due to the Covid pandemic. Driving back to its roots: The hotel owner told Weekend Today hosts Richard Wilkins and Rebecca Maddern about the reaction from the local residents in Broken Hill and Silverton after it was announced that Mad Max would return to the region 'I'm sure they're going to be as excited as they were forty years ago': Price reflected on the filming of Mad Max 2, aka The Road Warrior, which took place in the same area four decades ago. Pictured: Australian actor Vernon Wells as Wez in Mad Max 2 'We're looking forward to a big influx of tourists coming this way,' Price continued. 'Some of this stuff that's going to happen next year is going to certainly bring that, I'm sure.' 'Being an Australian movie that was done 40-odd years ago, and it still generates so much interest. We're getting people everyday coming this way to have a look at the museum.' Price concluded that the new film would only 'add to all that'. 'We're looking forward to a big influx of tourists coming this way': The Silverton Hotel owner stated that the production will hopefully bring much-needed tourism dollars to the region, which has suffered due to the Covid pandemic Mad Max Furiosa is set to begin production in Broken Hill next April and is scheduled for release in 2024. It tells the origin story of a young Imperator Furiosa, who will be played by Anya Taylor-Joy. The movie will also star Chris Hemsworth and have George Miller back in the director's chair. Furiosa was originally portrayed by Charlize Theron in the 2015 blockbuster, Mad Max: Fury Road. Diplo took some time to unwind with a female pal on Friday, just days after he spoke out against a woman who accused him of sexual assault. The 42-year-old electronic musician was spotted in Los Angeles while taking a walk with the woman, who was dressed sportily for some exercise. Diplo (born Thomas Wesley Pentz) has been keeping a low profile after claiming Wednesday on Instagram that the woman who accused him of knowingly giving her chlamydia was an 'obsessed fan' who harassed him for months on social media platforms. Out and about: Diplo, 42, was seen on a walk in LA on Friday with a female friend, just two days after he responded on Instagram to a former sex partner's claims that he sexually assaulted her The producer was dressed casually for a low-key day out with a white T-shirt featuring the Fab Four on the cover of their classic 1964 album Beatles For Sale. He also had on baggy navy sweatpants with sandals and covered his short blond hair with a black ski cap. His friend had on a white crop top with high-waisted charcoal leggings and trainers. The two seemed to be in good spirits as they chatted with each other, and after they parted Diplo was seen driving off on a fat-tired electric bike. Relaxed: The producer was dressed casually for a low-key day out with a white T-shirt featuring the Fab Four on the cover of their classic 1964 album Beatles For Sale Riding away: After they went their separate ways he rode off on a fat-tired electric bike. The DJ could face legal trouble after the LA City Attorney's Department told Buzzfeed that it was considering filing charges Two days earlier, the famed DJ responded to the fact that he could face charges after a former sex partner claimed he gave her a sexually transmitted disease and recorded her while they had sex without her permission, before allegedly sharing the clips with his pals. Diplo's ex Shelly Auguste had made the criminal complaint to the Los Angeles Police Department in October 2020, with a spokesperson for the Los Angeles City Attorney's Department telling BuzzFeed on Tuesday that it's now considering criminal charges. Meanwhile, the musician took to Instagram on Wednesday to address the allegations, claiming the woman in question was 'an obsessed fan' of his. 'I will keep this story easy to read because I know the internet has a short attention span, and it was my goal to never address a stalker. I will refer to her as SA (and you can find anything easily online) she was an obsessed fan of mine, and after I relinquished all contact with her, it appears that her only purpose in life has been to disrupt my work, my business, harass me and my close friends and attack me and threaten my family,' his post began. 'To be clear, SA was not a minor when I had conversations or sexual intercourse with her. Her own text messages admit this.' Speaking out: Diplo took to Instagram on Wednesday to address the allegations, claiming the woman in question was 'an obsessed fan' of his; Pictured at the 'Dave' Season Two premiere in LA in June Fighting back: The 42-year-old took to Instagram on Wednesday to address the allegations, claiming the woman in question was 'an obsessed fan' of his in a lengthy post In his own words: Diplo said he blocked several of the woman's social media accounts 'Obsessive': The performer added that his accuser created multiple fake social media accounts in which to harass him and his family The performer went on to call the encounter consensual while adding that the woman sent photos and videos to him for a few months after the tryst, while adding that he was forced to block the accuser's multiple fake social media accounts in which she used to harass him and his family. 'I had a night of consensual sex with her. Basically, SA reached out to me and I declined a few times but at one time decided to meet her. After that experience, we had exchanged texts for a few months, there was small talk, sexual flirting, she would send me pics and videos.' 'Eventually it got too much to handle and, I stopped contact with her when I realized she had started to become obsessed with me, it began a nightmare of almost three years of her harassing and threatening me my family and my friends.' Diplo went on to allege his accuser was 'engaging in criminal activity' before calling her a possible 'call girl.' 'SA would offer her friends and other people to have sexual experiences with, and thats when I began to get suspicious that she was engaging in criminal activity, and was possibly a call girl. Here are some of the texts over the course of months ..' Deranged: He stated that his ex's pregnancy with their third son 'really threw her over the edge,' and claimed the accuser used racist language in threatening texts sent to his ex, who was black Context: Diplo posted screenshots to corroborate his lengthy Instagram explanation as the LA city attorney's office considers moving forward with criminal charges against him Legal action: He added that he filed a civil lawsuit of his own in April of this year Pictured: screenshots Diplo provided in his Instagram post in an effort to clear his name from sexual misconduct accusations Getting police involved: Diplo's ex Shelly Auguste, pictured, made a criminal complaint to the LAPD in October 2020, with a City Attorney spokesperson saying Tuesday that it's considering criminal charges The famed DJ added that she continued to 'call and text me day and night on different numbers and whatsapp. She began to come to my house when I wasnt there. one time I just hid in my neighbors house and ignored her. I dont think she could physically harm me but I was afraid she was going to harm herself,' his post read. 'We always took the high road when dealing with her. We tried to deal with her in court and help her find help. Our detective had found out she had a previous restraining ordered against her in Florida (more on this later) after we rounded up many of her fake accounts.' 'She denied having any fake accounts and said her friends were out to get her and pretending to be her?? nothing was making sense and I really was getting worried she could be this delusional.' His accuser, who has not been named by the LAPD or prosecutors, provided the details of the allegations which matched with those made by his ex, Auguste, who has previously gone on the record with her claims. He also stated that Auguste's pregnancy with their third son 'really threw her over the edge,' and claimed the accuser used racist language in threatening calls and texts she had sent to his ex, who was black. To the press: He accused her of collaborating with 'tabloid journalists to place deliberately misleading and defamatory articles about me' he wrote Par for the course: For his part, Diplo's Instagram response chalked the allegations up to being a celebrity, and that such 'unsubstantiated claims' come with the territory 'When I was expecting my third son, it really threw her over the edge, she became obsessed with my sons mother just as much as she was with me, calling and berating her and sending extremely racist comments to her and sharing my text messages from years ago,' 'The mother of my first two children had already deactivated her Instagram account because she couldnt take all the hate mail coming from what we believe to be SAs fake accounts (and again this is her blaming people for making these fake accounts to attack my family members).' He went on to accuse the woman of collaborating with 'tabloid journalists to place deliberately misleading and defamatory articles about me' he wrote. However, the allegations against him could very well turn into criminal charges despite his lengthy Instagram response, according to the Los Angeles city attorney's office. 'We are reviewing the referral and have no further comment at this time,' said Rob Wilcox, a spokesperson for the LA city attorney, said of the allegations. Diplo, whose real name is Thomas Wesley Pentz, was sued by Auguste for sexual battery, defamation and fraud in October 2020, and has repeatedly denied the allegations that August, 25, has made against him. She has also accused him of raping her at a Las Vegas hotel room after one of his concerts, although that allegation does not form part of the criminal complaint against him. California law considers knowingly passing on a sexually-transmitted infection and recording a sexually explicit video without a partner's consent as misdemeanors. That civil filing accuses Diplo of sexual battery, assault, defamation and fraud. Auguste said she came forward after Diplo hired a private investigator to contact her and 'scare' her out of sharing 'disgusting details' she knew about him. Legal trouble: The Los Angeles city attorneys office is considering hitting Diplo with criminal charges of invasion of privacy and knowingly giving someone a sexually transmitted disease Speaking out: Shelley Auguste first filed a report against Diplo's sexual misconduct in October 2020 'Gaslighter': She shared her accusations against the celebrity DJ on Twitter and Instagram after Diplo fired a private investigator to scare her, she claims In the suit, Auguste claims the performer first contacted her on Twitter when she was just 17 and 'solicited nude photos of her.' They went on to exchange 'explicit' images 'before meeting in person for the first time in 2018, when she was 21.' She claims that after she moved to Los Angeles 'Diplo really began pressuring her for sex by sending unsolicited graphic photos of himself in sexual situations.' The court documents also alleged that after Auguste confronted Diplo about the rumors he had herpes, he 'cut off all communication' with her. But after they reconciled, a year later, in 2019, she claims 'she gave in to the pressure and lost her virginity to Diplo.' She also alleges he 'recorded video of their sexual encounter despite her telling him she didn't want that' and tried to 'coax her into a threesome with a girl she believes was underaged at the time.' After Auguste declined the threesome, she says he 'forced himself on her as she tried to fight him off.' Not long after, she says she 'was diagnosed with chlamydia' and 'believes she got it from Diplo because she says he was her only sexual partner at the time.' Under age: Auguste was 17-years-old when Diplo began messaging her and eliciting sexual photos of her His side: Diplo has admitted to having sexual relations with Auguste but claims that she has turned into a obsessive stalker, his claims mirror those that she made first in a filing for a temporary restraining order In her original filing, Auguste adds: 'I was caught off guard and shocked when Respondent sent me unsolicited videos of him engaging in sex with other females in or about October of 2018. 'I sternly told Respondent that I did not want him to ever record us engaging in sexual activities.' After claiming to have been contacted by a private investigator hired by the DJ the woman says she felt 'threatened and intimidated'. In her Twitter thread detailing the allegations on October 26, Auguste alleged that Diplo took explicit footage of her without her consent, writing: 'I SPECIFICALLY asked him not too & his reply was 'f*** it. I'm recording this.'' She also claimed he hired a private investigator to contact her after they got in an argument - saying that he wanted to 'scare' her so she wouldn't share the 'disgusting details' she knew about him. 'The private investigator stated to me that he knew my address, he knew my parents address, he knew my place of work as well as my parents place to work,' she tweeted. 'Take that as you may but most people will take that as a threat.' In another tweet Auguste wrote: 'I never had the will or intention to expose Diplo being that I did not want all the years I invested into speaking & hanging out with him to go in vain.or end nasty. 'But I slowly started to realize he is a huge manipulating liar / gaslighter who PREYS young women of ALL races (to be honest) but primarily young naive women of color.' Pattern: Diplo tweeted about sleeping with girls born in the 90s in 2010. At this time, those girls would be between the ages of 11-20 and he was in his early 30s Troubling: The DJ has a history of making inappropriate comments about young girls. Some critics online have dubbed him the 'White R. Kelly' Diplo's attorney, Bryan Freedman said, 'To be clear, in no way has my client violated any law. In fact, he has repeatedly made it clear that he wants nothing whatsoever to do with this person.' Auguste first published the accusations on Twitter in October. Shortly afterwards, a nude image of her appeared on the site that was published by a user she believes was acting on behalf of the DJ in an attempt to 'humiliate' and silence her. Auguste successfully obtained a restraining order to stop the artist from distributing any more 'revenge porn'. A judge also instructed Diplo to identify anyone he may have sent the images to and to get 'express written permission' from his accuser to further distribute any images. Through his attorney, Diplo denied the allegations to DailyMail.com at the time, before hitting back with his own filing. He claims Auguste has been publishing nude images of him across social media, in addition to sending them some of his ex-lovers, including the mother of his children, Kathryn Lockhart. In December, Diplo requested a judge sign a temporary restraining order (TRO) against Auguste, citing incessant harassment of him and his family. In his filing, Diplo claimed he and Shelly first met in 2018, when they immediately began exchanging nude photos and videos with each other, which he said he expected to remain private. The artist also conceded in the filing that he and the woman had sex on a number of different occasions, insisting it was always consensual. However, at some point in 2020, Diplo said his relations with Auguste soured, which is when he claims she began distributing explicit images of both him, and them both together, without his permission. Previous accusation: Azealia Banks (left) has said that she and Diplo (right) had sex when she was a minor trying to launch her music career Early years: M.I.A. (right) rose to fame while she was dating Diplo (left), who she has accused of being emotionally abusive In the spotlight: Quenlin Blackwell, 19, was questioned by fans when she revealed that she was living with Diplo but claimed that the relationship with platonic Sharing her story: Blackwell released this statement the same month that Auguste filed her police report and Banks spoke publicly about sleeping with Diplo when she was a minor The allegations made by Diplo strongly resemble those made by Auguste in her filing. Correcting other reports, Auguste shared a screengrab on Instagram showing that both restraining orders were disposed, claiming that both parties decided to make a private agreement and told the courts they did not want to proceed. The Twitter thread filled with the allegations of misconduct by Diplo came as he was hit with backlash over his relationship with 19-year-old TikTok star Quenlin Blackwell. Blackwell announced that she was living with the artist 23 years her senior in a video that went viral as critics remarked that he is way too old for her. She defended herself by saying that Diplo was more of a father figure to her than a romantic pursuit - as he insisted that they are only friends. That same month, rapper Azealia Banks made accusations of Diplo's predatory behavior on the podcast Cheapy's Two Cents. 'I used to have sex with Diplo when I was 17. Diplo definitely found me on f**king Myspace,' she said. 'I always give him credit for f**king launching my career off, but yeah, I had to give him some teenage p***y to do it. Hes always been preying on young ethnic girls.' Diplo would have been in his early 30s at the time. Rapper M.I.A., who dated Diplo for five years, has accused him of emotional abuse. Auguste has many tweets and Instagram post regarding her accusations against Diplo including text messages she claims were sent by the DJ and other accusations against the DJ from other women. The police investigation and its submission to prosecutors who are considering criminal charges reveals a new level of scrutiny for the allegations made against the celebrity DJ. For his part, Diplo's Instagram response chalked the allegations up to being a celebrity, and that such 'unsubstantiated claims' come with the territory. 'Culture is quick to follow unsubstantiated claims. Im a public figure and this comes with the territory and I understand that. I want to add also these previous claims have been dropped or abandoned and those facts go unreported. This is so frustrating and embarrassing. I am not this person and I wont be extorted by anyone no matter how stinging the press can be.' 'Even over the past 2 years Ive never been bothered by these rumors if anything it has made me stronger and smarter, all of my friends and partners have never questioned me and that was what has been important to me. The people in my life know me for who I really am. I will continue to do everything I can to end this in the most respectful way but I will not give in to lies and harassment.' Maggie Gyllenhaal looked effortlessly chic as she attended a screening of her latest film The Lost Daughter at the 2021 Hamptons International Film Festival in NYC. While striking a pose on the red carpet, the 43-year-old actress/director cozied up to pal Alec Baldwin. The Lost Daughter, starring Dakota Johnson and The Crown's Olivia Colman, follows a college professor forced to confront the darkness of her past during a trip to Italy. Screening: Maggie Gyllenhaal looked effortlessly chic as she attended a screening of her latest film The Lost Daughter at the 2021 Hamptons International Film Festival in NYC Gyllenhaal modeled a black one-shoulder top with a batwing sleeve and a piece of gold hardware. The Secretary star completed her ensemble with some black satin trousers and a pair of sandals. Maggie's jaw-length brunette hair was styled in loose curls and she drew attention to her pout with a few swipes of bright red lipstick. Support: While striking a pose on the red carpet, the 43-year-old actress/director cozied up to pal Alec Baldwin After getting in her solo shots, she welcomed Alec into frame. The 63-year-old actor sported a salt and pepper beard and wore his hair slicked back. The Beetlejuice star layered a cozy black pullover sweatshirt over a maroon colored dress shirt. The Lost Daughter is a psychological drama written and directed by Maggie Gyllenhaal, and based on the novel of the same name by Elena Ferrante. Chic: Gyllenhaal modeled a black one-shoulder top with a batwing sleeve and a piece of gold hardware Say cheese! After getting in her solo shots, she welcomed Alec into frame The anticipated movie had its world premiere at the 78th Venice International Film Festival on September 3, where Gyllenhaal won the Golden Osella Award for Best Screenplay. It tells the story of Colman, as Leda, a college professor, who while on a summer holiday, finds herself becoming obsessed with another woman (Johnson) and her young daughter, prompting memories of her own early motherhood to come back and unravel her. The film will drop on Netflix on New Year's Eve after a two-week limited release in US movie theaters. Sam Frost's announcement that she was unvaccinated has caught the attention of fellow Bachelor star and vaccine advocate, Abbie Chatfield. The 26-year-old was asked by a follower what she thought of Sam, 32, deactivating her Instagram account after releasing an emotional video, where the actress revealed she was unvaccinated and called on the public to be less judgmental. 'Babe, I've chosen peace today,' Abbie responded to the follower before going into more details in the caption of her post. Weighing in: Former Bachelor star and pro-vaccine advocate Abbie Chatfield (pictured) has slammed Sam Frost following Frost's announcement that she was unvaccinated 'I mean, it kinda speaks for itself,' she said. 'So brave to 'come out' as putting yourself as an individual above your community because you listen to misinformation.' Chatfield then ruthlessly concluded her response with: 'Another reality star bites the dust' - referring to the Home And Away star's stint on The Bachelorette. Abbie has been a vocal pro-vaccine advocate and regularly called out other reality stars and Aussie celebrities who have either shared vaccine misinformation or confessed their reasons for not getting the jab. Sam deactivated her Instagram account on Saturday afternoon, shortly after revealing in an emotional post that she was unvaccinated and her mental health had suffered as a result. The 26-year-old Bachelor star wrote: 'I mean, it kinda speaks for itself. So brave to 'come out' as putting yourself as an individual above your community because you listen to misinformation' The Home and Away star called for less judgement towards unvaccinated Australians. 'I was really hesitant about doing a video or even speaking up about this sort of thing, but I feel like it's getting to a point now in the world where there's a lot of segregation,' she said. 'There's a lot of harsh judgement and opinions being thrown around a lot and it's taking its toll on my mental health for sure, and I know people around me are struggling - particularly if they're on the side of they don't want to get vaccinated, for whatever reason.' Gone: Sam deactivated her Instagram account on Saturday afternoon, shortly after revealing in an emotional post that she was unvaccinated and her mental health had suffered as a result 'There are lots of different reasons why people are not getting vaccinated and it might be because of their medical history, their concerns, they might have family history, it could be religious reasons.' Sam then shared that she herself has not been vaccinated, but clarified that she had spoken to her medical doctor as well as her psychologist about her decision. Breaking down in tears, the star said: 'It's a really hard time to be in society right now and you feel like you are less of a human and you feel like people judge you.' 'And you're too scared to talk about your opinion or your feelings and part of you wants to go, 'Well it's none of your damn business why I'm not! And there's good reasons why I'm not and I don't want you to judge me.'' Medical: The Home and Away star shared that she herself has not been vaccinated, but clarified that she had spoken to her medical doctor as well as her psychologist about her decision She explained that it was important for the unvaccinated to look after their mental health, especially as freedoms return for fully vaccinated Australians. 'I'm struggling a lot with my mental health and I like to think that I'm pretty on to it. I see a psychologist regularly. So I can't imagine what it's like for people who don't have a support network around them,' she said. She also admitted that she could 'get in trouble' for coming out publicly as unvaccinated, before urging people to treat each other with more kindness and compassion. It's unclear if Sam's choice to remain unvaccinated will affect her role on Home and Away. Charlotte Crosby lived up to her Geordie Shore persona as she enjoyed a drink on stage in Birmingham on Friday for her One Night With Charlotte UK tour. The reality star, 31, who is newly-single after splitting from Liam Beaumont in August, put on a leggy display in a plunging blue sparkly mini dress. Charlotte was joined by fellow Geordie Shore star Nathan Henry, who gave Scotty T a lap dance in leather trousers. Legs eleven out of ten! Newly-single Charlotte Crosby, 31, flaunted her leggy figure in a slinky purple mini dress on stage during her UK tour in Birmingham on Friday (pictured) Holding onto a cool beverage while entertaining the audience, Charlotte looked to be in her element with proud mother Letitia Crosby also acting as DJ for the night. The reality star's long locks cascaded in soft waves past her shoulders, and her makeup was ultra glamorous, enhancing her striking facial features. Defined brows, false lashes, a smoky eye, bronzer on her cheekbones and a slick of matte nude colour on her plump pout finished off the stage show look. Racy: Charlotte was joined on stage by fellow Geordie Shore star Nathan Henry, 30, who gave axed Geordie Shore star and Celebrity Big Brother's Scotty T, 33, a lap dance (both pictured) Sensational: Charlotte looked incredible in the racy frock which featured a plunging neckline. She boosted her height with nude patent Christian Louboutin heels In her element: The reality star held onto a cool beverage as she entertained the audience There were plenty of racy antics during the show, with Nathan Henry, 30, showing off his buff frame as he went shirtless in a pair of black leather trousers. He proceeded to give axed Geordie Shore star and Celebrity Big Brother's Scotty T, 33, a lap dance while seated on a plush pink velvet couch. Scotty also went topless for the stage antics, drawing attention to his rock-hard abs and rippling frame in just a pair of snug blue shorts. Beauty: Her brunette tresses cascaded down in soft waves and her makeup was glamorous In profile: Charlotte's makeup included defined brows, false lashes, a smoky eye, bronzer and a slick of matte nude colour on her plump pout Having a laugh: Charlotte looked to be in great spirits as she mingled with her famous pals and guests The stage show comes after Charlotte confirmed her split from Liam in August. It was reported she broke up with the hunk, who she started dating in February last year, following a slew of furious arguments. It was also claimed she booted him out of her Newcastle home. However, Charlotte later insisted their relationship ended on good terms, with the television personality telling MailOnline: 'Me and Liam shared some amazing memories together and the split is amicable. Wow! A shirtless Nathan gave Scotty a lap dance, sporting just black leather trousers In great shape: Nathan removed his black leather top to reveal his buff upper frame No stage fright here! Scotty also went shirtless as he entertained the audience 'We have just realised we are both two very different people. I have learnt so much in this relationship and am thankful that it happened.' Charlotte defiantly maintained the split was on friendly terms and told MailOnline that she wanted to 'take back the narrative' surrounding their split. She said: 'Were there furious rows? No. Did I kick him out of the house? No. Its sad to see this negativity put on what was a good relationship. So Id like to take back some control of the narrative, get some truth out there and draw a line under this.' Sharing the limelight: The pals shared a laugh as they entertained the audience while seated on a plush pink couch Putting on quite a show: Scotty gave a group of females a raunchy striptease on stage Playful: He drew attention to his rippling frame as she larked around with the female audience members Antics: One female guest looked to be having a great time as she laughed at Scotty's antics Suspicions about their split were first sparked among fans when Charlotte removed all images of Liam from her Instagram account. It was then that reports surfaced regarding the row, with insiders telling publications that a row had descended into chaos and she had ejected him from her home. Charlotte and Liam started dating in early 2020 after meeting in Dubai during their respective vacations. Up close and personal! Scotty got quite intimate with one guest at one stage during the show Raunchy: He placed a baton in his trousers, no doubt entertaining the audience He also donned a quirky ensemble, consisting of a blue cape and a wizard-style hat Family affair: Charlotte was joined by her mother Letitia on stage, who acted as the DJ (pictured) In July, Charlotte admitted that lockdown had impacted her 'wild' sex life with her videographer beau. Charlotte said that they used to have 'fireworks' in the bedroom but said they struggled to make the effort to be intimate after spending so much time together. Speaking on her podcast, Values & Vibrators, with her Geordie Shore pals Sophie Kasaei and Holly Hagan, she said: 'Me and Liam, when we first met and had sex, we were wild. Oh my god, there was fireworks honestly. 'There was all sorts going on. But now mine and Liam's sex in a relationship is okay when we can be bothered. But it's very much just bleurgh.' In great company: Letitia donned a chic white ensemble and shared a bit of banter with her famous daughter She recently made her American Horror Story debut. But Kaia Gerber took time away from the camera as she headed to Cafe Habanna with brother Presley, 22, and his model girlfriend Sydney Brooke in Malibu on Friday. The fashionista, 20, cut a casual figure in a blue bootcut jeans and an oversized jacket which she left unbuttoned. Kaia Gerber took time away from the camera as she headed to Cafe Habanna with brother Presley, 22, and his model girlfriend Sydney Brooke in Malibu on Friday Kaia teased a glimpse of her abs in a grey crop top and completed the look with white trainers and black sunglasses. Presley, meanwhile, showed off his numerous tattoos in a grey T-shirt which he teamed with jeans and cool shades. Sydney held a refreshing drink in her hand as she got out of the car in a white crop top and hoodie. Outing: Presley showed off his numerous tattoos in a grey T-shirt which he teamed with jeans and cool shades while Sydney held a refreshing drink in her hand as she got out of the car Caffeine kick: Kaia was later pictured loading up the boot of the car as they left the cafe Kaia was later pictured loading up the boot of the car as they left the cafe. The family outing comes after the model gave her father Randy a shock during a Facetime call this week, while in character for American Horror Story. The actress is playing Kendall Carr, whose character is impregnated after an alien encounter. And while on set Kaia took to Facetime with a fake bump to shock her dad. Big news! The family outing comes after the model gave her father Randy a shock during a Facetime call this week when she pretended to be pregnant She shared a screengrab from the call on Instagram on Wednesday night, as the latest episode of AHS aired. 'This was fun...' she captioned it, tagging Randy. She also showed off the bump in a video, turning to the side to show it off. Crank call: While on set, earlier this year, she took to Facetime with a fake bump to shock her dad while in character as Kendall Carr on American Horror Story The episode saw the aftermath of the shock discovery that Kendall and her three friends - including two men - discover they are all expecting babies, after their car is intercepted in the desert by a UFO. Kaia shared a bikini-clad snap of herself from the set of the show the morning after the premiere episode last week, too. 'Spending the summer doing what I love most with some pretty incredible people!' the DNA Model - who boasts 8.3M social media followers - gushed. 'Episode one of Death Valley is out! Thank you to everyone who put in so much hard work over the last few months - especially the incredible crew on @ahsfx, who is always the first there and the last to leave.' Sitting pretty! Kaia shared a bikini-clad snap of herself from the set of the show the morning after the premiere episode last week, too She last appeared in Silent Witness back in 2004. But Amanda Burton proved that 17 years away has not impacted her ability to step into the shoes of Professor Sam Ryan in the highly acclaimed BBC drama. The 64-year-old actress, who debuted as Sam in 1996, is returning to the series to mark its 25th anniversary and was spotted on set in Liverpool earlier this week. She's back! Amanda Burton cut a smart figure on the set of Silent Witness in Liverpool this week - as she returns to the drama after 17 years to mark its 25th anniversary The Northern Irish star looked as though she had never been away, cutting a smart figure in a trouser suit and blouse. Crew members ensured that her slicked back tresses were nothing short of perfect and Amanda looked buoyant as she engaged in conversation between takes with Emilia Fox, who plays Dr. Nikki Alexander on the crime drama. In one shot, Amanda - also renowned for her appearance in soap Brookside - appeared deep in thought as she stood beside a police car. Back in role: In one shot, Amanda - also renowned for her appearance in soap Brookside - appeared deep in thought as she stood beside a police car Professor Sam Ryan: Amanda starred in 54 episodes before departing in 2004, when her character returned home to Northern Ireland to be with her family [pictured in 1999] Treatment: Crew members ensured that her slicked back tresses were nothing short of perfect and Amanda looked buoyant as she engaged in conversation between takes Like she's never been away: The actress proved that 17 years away has not impacted her ability to step back effortlessly into the role of Professor Sam Ryan in the BBC drama Amanda starred in 54 episodes before departing in 2004, when her character returned home to Northern Ireland to be with her family. Of reprising her role, she told the Radio Times: 'I am so excited to be returning to Silent Witness and stepping back into Sam Ryans shoes with a difference. 'Audiences can look forward to plenty of twists and turns as they discover what Sams been doing since leaving the Lyell.' Co-stars: She was joined on set by Emilia Fox who stars as Dr. Nikki Alexander on the crime drama Reunion: The pair were pictured laughing on set as they mingled with crew members All in the details: Amanda got the finished touches done to her hair as she prepared to film The six brand new episodes that Amanda is set to star in will mark the 25th anniversary of the BBC One drama. Since her exit after the eighth series, the show has featured an ensemble cast, which initially consisted of William Gaminara, Tom Ward and Emilia, and later on David Caves, Liz Carr and Richard Lintern. Emilia said: 'It is such a delight and thrill to be working with Amanda. To have Sam Ryan back again at the heart of the show is the greatest way of all to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Silent Witness.' The 24th series of Silent Witness concluded this week and the next series is due to air on BBC One next year Frankie Sims and Love Island's Joe Garratt hit it off during a romantic first date - and agree to go on a second in Sunday night's upcoming episode of TOWIE. In footage set to air on the show, sparks immediately fly between Frankie, 26, and Joe, 24- who rose to prominence after on the hit ITV2 dating series two years ago. In a teaser clip, a newly-single Frankie, who split from on-off boyfriend Jack Fincham, who also starred on Love Island, tells Joe as he makes his debut: 'I like that you're not from Essex!' TOWIE EXCLUSIVE: Frankie Sims and Love Island's Joe Garratt hit it off during a romantic first date - and agree to go on a second in Sunday night's upcoming episode of TOWIE He questions her assertion to which Frankie responds: 'Yeah I dont like Essex boys! 'So youre looking for a Kent boy? With blue eyes?' he teases. 'And blue eyes,' Frankie chips in, before Joe chimes: 'Who wears flannels? Very specific Frankie.' First date: In footage set to air on the show, sparks immediately fly between Frankie, 26, and Joe, 24- who rose to prominence after on the hit ITV2 dating series two years ago Their flirtations lead them to admit they are having a 'really nice' date and they agree, over shots, to go on a second. 'I feel like these shots are still here' Joe remarks, with Frankie asking 'Shall we do them? Oozing confidence, the Kent-born said: 'I think well see them off as maybe to like... a second date?' Being honest: The middle Sims sister tells Joe: 'I like that you're not from Essex!' Sparks flying: Their flirtations lead them to admit they are having a 'really nice' date and they agree, over shots, to go on a second Cheers! They clink the shot glasses together as Frankie says: 'To a second date, thank you for today' Found fame: Joe was an islander on season five of Love Island back in 2019 They clink the shot glasses together as Frankie says: 'To a second date, thank you for today.' The date comes after the stunner split from Love Island 2018 winner Jack, 30. After four months of dating, the pair split in April after reportedly fighting. Frankie also had a turbulent romance with Harry Lee, which was well documented on TOWIE- but the pair split last year. Former flame: Frankie previously dated another Love Island name, Jack Fincham Joe, meanwhile, called time on his relationship with model Desiree Schlotz in April. They broke up due to the distance between them, as Joe returned to the UK after the pair had been together in Dubai. A source told The Sun at the time: 'Over lockdown Joe went to America to be with Desiree and was there a few months and then went Dubai together again for a couple of months.' Three founding members from the band Powderfinger are making a return to music next Friday with a brand new album - but it's not a reunion. Founding members John Collins, Ian Haug and Steve Bishop will instead be releasing the album Everybody Loves under a passion project band they formed back in 2005 named The Predators. The group will play a sold-out album launch on Friday at The Triffid in Brisbane, Queensland. Back together: Powderfinger trio have made a long-awaited return to the music scene as The Predators when they prepare to release their new album next week. Pictured: John Collins, Ian Haug and Steve Bishop 'It doesn't sound like our previous band, which is good. It never would. It's got a different influence for me, it comes from a different place,' Collins, the band's bassist, told the Courier Mail. 'We were playing the same things for so long, that's why we stopped playing. We need to write some new material that's what a record gives you, the ability to go play something you want to play again.' The group decided to come together during the Covid pandemic to record the new songs. 'It doesn't sound like our previous band, which is good': The trio came together to record the brand new music during the pandemic. Everybody Loves will be Haug and Collins' first music together since Powderfinger disbanded in 2010 Everybody Loves is Haug and Collins' first music together since Powderfinger disbanded in 2010. Collins explained that pandemic became a major factor as to why the trio returned to write new music, in an attempt to do something 'positive'. Since Powderfinger disbanded, vocalist Bernard Fanning and lead guitarist Darren Middleton have both released solo albums, Haug joined rock band The Church and Collins operates two Brisbane music venues The Triffid and Fortitude Music Hall. Drummer Jon Coghill, who was later replaced by Bishop, was an ABC journalist until late 2019. Going their own way: Since Powderfinger disbanded, vocalist Bernard Fanning and lead guitarist Darren Middleton have both released solo albums, Haug joined rock band The Church and Collins operates two music venues. Drummer Jon Coghill became an ABC journalist 'I think One Night Lonely and the record we did, that sort of brought us together as better mates, because we were communicating weekly, but everyone's moved on and everyone's really happy where they are. This (new record) is really good for us,' Collins added. Everybody Loves comes out on Friday with a sold-out album launch show for the trio. The Predators also have a Christmas party gig at The Outpost in Fortitude Valley on December 15. Tickets are available here. She announced two weeks ago that she's split with Married At First Sight UK co-star Ant Poole, after failing to find a connection with her 'husband' Jordon Mundell. And a newly-single Alexis Economou appeared in great spirits as she left the London Dungeons Halloween launch event on Friday, alongside ex MAFS star Ben Jardine. The 28-year-old showed off her taut midriff in a plunging black crop top and jeans as she put on a flirty display with Ben, who starred on the dating series back in 2018. Looking very cosy! Married At First Sight UK's Alexis Economou looked very cosy with Ben Jardine as they left a Halloween launch event in London on Friday (both pictured) Alexis teamed the casual look with black Balenciaga sneakers and gold jewellery, including a pendant necklace, a bangle and statement hoop earrings. Her brunette locks were styled out and in braids, and her makeup was ultra glamorous, consisting of defined brows, false lashes and a glossy nude lipstick. Unable to wipe the smile off her face, Alexis put on an affectionate display with Ben, 37, wrapping one arm around his frame and using the other to hold onto his hand. In great spirits: Unable to wipe the smile off her face, Alexis, 28, put on an affectionate display with Ben, 37, wrapping one arm around his frame Casual: Alexis showed off her figure in a head-to-toe black ensemble, consisting of a plunging midriff, ripped jeans and Balenciaga sneakers Larking around: Alexis and Ben larked around for the cameras, with Ben twirling Alexis around In sync: Ben, who starred on the 2018 season of MAFS UK, also donned head-to-toe black, opting for a T-shirt, ripped jeans and sneaker combination Ben also donned head-to-toe black, opting for a T-shirt, ripped jeans and sneaker combination. The Celebrity Big Brother 2018 star made a number of animated facial expressions, larking around with Alexis as he twirled her around and posed for the cameras. MailOnline has reached out to Alexis' representatives for comment. Taking a tumble! Ben was also seen taking a tumble on the stairs with Celebrity Ex in the City star Freddie Bentley Animated: Ben found the incident hilarious, making a number of animated facial expressions Pals: Freddie appeared in great spirits and wrapped one arm around Ben Making a scene: Freddie appeared to have somehow tripped over Ben as they left the event Ben famously married police officer Stephanie Saintremy, 33, on MAFS back in 2018 but he was rumoured to have cheated on her and dumped her on a radio show. He was plagued with rumours he had a secret romance with a 20-year-old behind her back and famously broke up with Stephanie during a radio interview. Ben later confirmed he was expecting his first child with an unnamed woman in 2018, little more than eight months after he separated from Stephanie. Headlines: Ben famously married police officer Stephanie Saintremy, 33, on MAFS back in 2018 but he was rumoured to have cheated on her and dumped her on a radio show Speculation: He was plagued with rumours he had a secret romance with a 20-year-old behind her back and famously broke up with Stephanie during a radio interview Dapper: Freddie looked dapper in a white T-shirt, paired with a blue patterned silk jacket and matching pants. He finished off the look with dark blue suede loafers Pals: Freddie happily posed for photos with Sky TV presenter Hayley Palmer (pictured) Leggy lady: Hayley showed off her leggy figure in a black suede thigh-skimming dress, teamed with knee-high black suede boots The professional boxer, who claimed MAFS Australia star Ines Basic slid into his DMs back in February, told Closer magazine at the time that he's focusing on 'being the best dad' to two-year-old daughter Siena Grace. Meanwhile Alexis and Ben's sighting comes after Alexis' co-star Nikita Jasmine hit out at Alexis on this week's reunion episode where she made an explosive return after being axed from the series. The Geordie reality TV star was removed from the experiment in a previous episode for breaking E4's code of conduct and exploding at fellow cast members - forcing her husband Ant Poole to also leave the programme. Gorgeous: Love Island star AJ Bunker turned heads in a racy black dress, teamed with a beige faux-fur jacket and military-style black boots From every angle: She made the streets her runway, showing off her best angles Familiar face: Love Island star Amy Day looked to be in great spirits as she left with a pal Sweet treat: The brunette beauty blew a kiss for the cameras and carried a box of Krispy Kreme doughnuts However, Ant returned to the show when sparks flew with Alexis, who had also originally quit the process after failing to find a connection with her husband Jordon Mundell. But when discussing her marriage to Ant at the reunion, Nikita fumed that Alexis was a 'snake' and broke girl code by going with her husband following their split. 'She's a f****** snake, right,' Nikita insisted as she watched footage of Ant and Alexis together. 'I was your mate, man,' she added. Ensemble: Amy looked gorgeous in a grey knitted dress, a matching fedora and black combat-style boots Bold look: The Only Way is Essex's Chloe Ross (right) stood out in a quirky purple ensemble Picture of content: Chloe flashed the peace sign as she posed in a slinky purple jumpsuit, a black puffer jacket and purple and white sneakers Beauty: She slicked her brunette tresses back off her face into a chignon, and opted for elegant makeup Drama: Meanwhile, the sightings come after MAFS UK's Nikita Jasmine (pictured) hit out at co-star Alexis during this week's reunion episode where she made an explosive return after being axed from the series However, Alexis responded: 'You was not my friend.' A shocked Nikita retorted: 'How can you say that? I want to know how I wasn't your friend.' Turning her attention towards her ex-husband, Nikita added: 'He never mentioned anything about a connection. I actually said to you, Do you think Alexis is fit? and you said no. Categorically, you said no. If he says that's not true hes a f****** liar.' Eventually, Alexis apologised for 'upsetting' Nikita, insisting she 'owed her an apology as a woman'. 'Just know that it was never my intention, I am sorry. I am sorry if I hurt your feelings,' Alexis added, before the two women hugged one another. Both Alexis and Nikita are no longer with Ant. Axed: The Geordie reality TV star was removed from the experiment in a previous episode for breaking E4's code of conduct and exploding at fellow cast members - forcing her husband Ant Poole to also leave the programme. Pictured: Alexis Lisa Wilkinson has revealed that she was the victim of sexual assault as a teenager. The Project Host, 61, is speaking out about the ordeal - which she suffered at the hands of a friend's father - for the first time ahead of her upcoming memoir. Wilkinson says she was inspired by the bravery of Brittany Higgins, a former Liberal staffer who alleges she was raped in Parliament House in March 2019. Revealing: Lisa Wilkinson (pictured) has revealed that she was the victim of sexual assault as a teenager 'I wasn't actually going to write about that and I only made that decision earlier this year after witnessing the incredible courage of Brittany [Higgins],' Lisa told Stellar Magazine on Saturday. 'I thought, if [women] don't come forward and don't show how incredibly common these experiences are, then the perpetrators win.' 'And I couldn't be a party to that,' she added. Inspired: Wilkinson says she was inspired by the bravery of Brittany Higgins (pictured), a former Liberal staffer who alleges she was raped in Parliament House in March 2019 'I wasn't actually going to write about that and I only made that decision earlier this year after witnessing the incredible courage of Brittany [Higgins],' Lisa told Stellar Magazine Past: The Project Host, 61, is speaking out about the ordeal - which she suffered at the hands of a friend's father - for the first time ahead of her upcoming memoir. Pictured as a teen Lisa will document her assault in her new memoir, It Wasn't Meant To Be Like This. Ms Higgins shocked the nation earlier this year when she alleged she was raped by a colleague in former defence minister Linda Reynolds' office after a boozy night out in March 2019. She made a complaint to police in February. Bruce Lehrmann, currently in Queensland, is charged with sexual intercourse without consent at Parliament House in March 2019. 'I thought, if [women] don't come forward and don't show how incredibly common these experiences are, then the perpetrators win. And I couldn't be a party to that,' she added Shock: Ms Higgins shocked the nation earlier this year when she alleged she was raped by a colleague in former defence minister Linda Reynolds' office after a boozy night out in March 2019. Pictured meeting with the Leader of the Opposition Anthony Albanese in Sydney in April The 26-year-old faces one charge of sexual intercourse without consent which has a maximum sentence of 12 years in jail. Acting for Lehrmann, barrister John Korn told the ACT Magistrates Court in September he was instructed to enter a plea of not guilty. Lisa has been outspoken on the case and in March, she appeared at the Australian March4Justic protest, where she read a speech written by Higgins. Talking: Lisa has been outspoken on the case and in March, she appeared at the Australian March4Justic protest, where she read a speech written by Higgins. Pictured together 'The first phone call I made after I was asked was to Brittany Higgins,' she said on The Project at the time. 'I felt it was really important that Brittany's words be heard'. Brittany Higgins is pictured at the Canberra March 4 Justice on March 15 'The first phone call I made after I was asked was to Brittany Higgins,' she said on The Project at the time. 'I felt it was really important that Brittany's words be heard tomorrow. 'Brittany said yes and she has written the most powerful words for me to deliver in Canberra tomorrow. So I feel extremely honoured to be able to be her voice.' In July, Lisa spoke of her 'heartbreak' for Bill Cosby's victims after the disgraced entertainer was freed from prison on a technicality. Family: Lisa and her husband Peter FitzSimons, 60, (right) are parents to three adult children, daughter Billie, 23, and sons Jake, 27, and Louis, 25 She posted Instagram to blast the controversial decision to free the 83-year-old comedian following his 2018 sexual assault conviction. 'I am heartbroken today for every woman who suffered at the hands of Bill Cosby 'And for every survivor of sexual assault who has felt unheard, not believed, or for one of many, many reasons has simply been unable to tell their story. We see you,' she wrote. Lisa and her husband Peter FitzSimons, 60, are parents to three adult children, daughter Billie, 23, and sons Jake, 27, and Louis, 25. For confidential support contact 1800RESPECT Yazmin Oukhellou put on a busty display in a form-fitting nude dress on Saturday as she headed to The Shard in London with her co-stars to film for TOWIE. The reality star, 27, looked incredible as she showed off her curves in the ruched bodycon number, teaming it with a light camel trench coat and suede boots. Meanwhile, her co-star Chloe Sims, 39, prepared for her trip up the tallest building in the UK by making a bold statement with her canary yellow pantsuit. Wow! Yazmin Oukhellou (L) put on a busty display in a form-fitting nude dress on Saturday as she headed to The Shard in London with her co-star Chloe Sims (R) to film for TOWIE Raven-haired beauty Yaz styled her locks in glamorous waves, while she wore a rich palette of make-up for the shoot. Chloe flashed a peak of her taut abs with the cropped blazer, while the wide-leg trousers elongated her already long pins. The TOWIE star swept back her locks into a centre-parted bun while she modelled her usual palette of heavy make-up. Incredible: The reality star looked incredible as she showed off her curves in the ruched bodycon number, teaming it with a light camel trench coat and suede boots Stunning: The TOWIE star swept back her locks into a centre-parted bun while she modelled her usual palette of heavy make-up The mum-of-one stepped out in a pair of cream court heels, teaming the look with a matching small purse. Amy Childs also joined in on the fun stepping out in a off-the-shoulder red dress. The TV personality, 31, looked gorgeous in the bright ensemble, which boasted ruffles across the neckline and breezy chiffon material. Amazing: The beauty, 39, flashed a peak of her taut abs with the cropped blazer, while the wide-leg trousers elongated her already long pins The redhead beauty stepped out in a pair of cream ruffle heels, while she covered her eyes with a pair of oversized dark sunglasses. She gave a sultry pout to the camera, while she styled her long tresses in soft waves. Yazmin's outing with her glamorous pals comes as she made an explosive return to the show just three weeks ago, where she confronted her ex-boyfriend James Lock. Joining in: Amy Childs also joined in on the fun in The Big Smoke, stepping out in a off-the-shoulder red dress Gorgeous: The TV personality, 31, looked gorgeous in the bright ensemble, which boasted ruffles across the neckline and breezy chiffon material The star was said to be 'furious' after discovering James, 34, had a secret fling with one of her close friends. Yaz and James split earlier this year, with the television personality staying out in Dubai while James jetted home to star in the last series of TOWIE. The reality star even moved on and got into a new relationship during her stay in UAE, but returned to confront him about the betrayal after becoming newly-single. Return to the show: The reality star even moved on and got into a new relationship during her stay in UAE, but returned to confront him about the betrayal after becoming newly-single Awkward conversation: It was understandably awkward between the former couple, as Yazmin told him he was 'being muggy' Exes: The star was said to be 'furious' after discovering James had a secret fling with one of her close friends. Pictured in January A source previously told The Sun: 'Yaz is fuming. And Lockie is doing his best at damage limitation control.' Upon her return to the show at the end of September, Lock plucked up the courage to speak to Yaz. It was understandably awkward between the former couple, as Yazmin told him he was 'being muggy'. James defended himself, saying he didn't approach his ex for a 'slanging match', and instead made clear he just wanted to speak with her. Last week, he was pictured in a passionate clinch with Love Island star Megan Barton Hanson on a night out. Lisa Wilkinson left the Today show in 2017 over a reported pay gap dispute. And The Project star, 61, has revealed how she really felt after being ousted from the show after 10 years on air - and divulged on whether she stays in touch with her former co-star, Karl Stefanovic, 47. 'I needed a number of years to pass for me to be able to reflect upon that time, because it was pretty hard to live through,' she told Stellar Magazine on Saturday. Open book: Lisa Wilkinson (left) left the Today show in 2017 over a reported pay gap dispute. And The Project star, 61, has revealed how she really felt after being ousted from the show after 10 years on air - and divulged on whether she stays in touch with her former co-star, Karl Stefanovic, 47 (right) Lisa will discuss her departure in her new memoir, It Wasn't Meant To Be Like This. 'In writing the book, I had to go back and understand what everyone else was consuming about my story,' she said. 'And it was quite shocking some of the narrative that was put out there by my previous employer. I feel that there was a lot that was said that was untrue. And I won't say that some of the things I read weren't pretty painful'. 'I needed a number of years to pass for me to be able to reflect upon that time, because it was pretty hard to live through,' she told Stellar Magazine. 'And it was quite shocking some of the narrative that was put out there by my previous employer. I feel that there was a lot that was said that was untrue. And I won't say that some of the things I read weren't pretty painful' The TV star goes on to say that she and Karl are no longer in touch, despite sitting together on the Today show desk for a decade. 'We don't really have one,' she said of the status of their current relationship. 'But I wish him well. Everyone has moved on'. It comes after claims that the presenter is now reportedly worried about how Karl might react to his portrayal in her upcoming autobiography, It Wasn't Meant To Be Like This. Past: The TV star goes on to say that she and Karl are no longer in touch, despite sitting together on the Today show desk for a decade. 'We don't really have one,' she said of the status of their current relationship. 'But I wish him well. Everyone has moved on'. Pictured together According to The Australian, Lisa has confided to friends that she is 'concerned' about how Karl will view the memoir, with suggestions that he may not like how he is depicted. 'Lisa knows that Karl is a big part of the story and that he will be a drawcard for the book,' one source told the publication. 'She has also agonised over how he is portrayed, because he's a complex character to get down in writing.' 'She has also agonised over how he is portrayed': According to The Australian, Lisa has confided to friends that she is 'concerned' about how Karl will view her upcoming memoir, with suggestions that he may not like how he is depicted Reports: Lisa was believed to have quit Today because Karl, as her male co-host, was reportedly earning $2million a year with a potential bonus that could take his salary to $3million if ratings were a hit, The Australian wrote in 2017. Pictured on Ten's The Project The publication claims Lisa told friends that the book has left her 'stressed', and that she's worried the focus of media attention will be what she thinks about Karl. It is understood that 'no juicy detail will be off limits' in the Harper Collins autobiography - that will also reportedly include her marriage to Peter FitzSimons. Lisa was believed to have quit Today because Karl, as her male co-host, was reportedly earning $2million a year with a potential bonus that could take his salary to $3million if ratings were a hit, The Australian wrote in 2017. Decade-long working relationship: Lisa sat alongside Karl on the Today show for 10 years, before leaving Nine in October 2017 over a reported gender pay gap dispute Rival network: Since joining The Sunday Project in 2018, Lisa has landed sit-down interviews with A-list stars. Pictured with co-hosts Tommy Little (left) and Waleed Aly (right) Lisa, a former magazine editor, was said to be on a $1.1million a year contract, with Nine only willing to increase the amount to $1.8million, according to The Daily Telegraph. The amount was reportedly not enough for her to stay with the network, prompting her departure. Since joining The Sunday Project in 2018, Lisa has landed sit-down interviews with the likes of Kim Kardashian, Kylie Minogue and Bradley Cooper. Dakota Johnson and Kirsten Dunst stepped out in style as they attended Deadline's Contenders Presentation as part of London Film Festival on Saturday. Promoting their films The Lost Daughter and The Power of the Dog respectively, as part of a lineup celebrating the year's most talked-about movies, the A-listers cut chic figures in tailored tan and black ensembles. The sighting comes after Dakota, 32, was praised by Drew Barrymore over the viral 2019 video of her calling out Ellen DeGeneres for lying about not being invited to the Fifty Shades of Grey star's birthday party. Acclaimed: Dakota Johnson (left), 32, and Kirsten Dunst (right), 39, stepped out in style as they attended Deadline's Contenders Presentation as part of London Film Festival on Saturday Dakota covered up her petite frame in a chic tan vest and matching trousers, teamed with heeled boots, a tan coat with shearling detail and a two-toned shoulder bag. The daughter of Melanie Griffith concealed her gaze behind dark sunglasses, wore a black face mask, and styled her brunette tresses out and straight. Dakota stars alongside Maggie Gyllehaal and Olivia Colman in the film which follows a woman becoming obsessed with another woman and her daughter, prompting memories of her own early motherhood to come back and unravel her. Flair for fashion: Dakota covered up her petite frame in a chic tan vest and matching trousers, teamed with heeled boots, a tan coat with shearling detail and a two-toned shoulder bag Garnering buzz: The daughter of Melanie Griffith was busy promoting her film The Lost Daughter as part of a lineup celebrating the year's most talked-about movies Film: The Lost Daughter also stars Olivia Colman. It is set to be released in January next year Also perfecting her sartorial choices was Kirsten, 39, who donned a sheer black blouse, a black pinstripe blazer and skirt, and a quirky sock and heel combination. The Spider-Man actress was primped to perfection, styling her cropped blonde locks in a deep side part with voluminous waves and drawing attention to elegant makeup. Kirsten's striking facial features were enhanced with winged eyeliner, a touch of bronzer on her cheekbones and a glossy pink lip. Meanwhile on Thursday's The Drew Barrymore Show, Dakota was praised by Drew over the viral 2019 video of Dakota calling out Ellen DeGeneres for lying about not being invited to her birthday party. Eye-catching: Kirsten donned a sheer black blouse, a black pinstripe blazer and skirt, and a quirky sock and heel combination Recognition: Kirsten was promoting her film The Power of the Dog at the presentation Adaptation: The actress portrays Rose in the movie, which is based on the 1967 novel of the same name by Thomas Savage Beauty: The Spider-Man actress was primped to perfection, styling her cropped blonde locks in a deep side part with voluminous waves Gorgeous: Engaging with fans, Kirsten drew attention to her elegant makeup that included winged eyeliner, a touch of bronzer on her cheekbones and a glossy pink lip The famous clip showed Dakota making Ellen, 63, uncomfortable as she accuses her of missing her birthday bash, when the talk show host had tried to make it seem like she wasn't invited. Dakota grinned with glee and struggled not to laugh as Drew, 46, said the meme-worthy moment was 'amazing'. 'People have gotten in trouble for claiming not being invited to your parties,' Drew told Dakota on her show, clearly referencing the clip. Hollywood royalty: Also pictured at the event was George Clooney, 60, promoting The Tender Bar Cool and casual: George dressed casually in a black polo shirt, blue jeans and brown suede lace-up shoes A-lister: George looked every inch the Hollywood megastar with tinted aviator sunglasses Fanbase: He was escorted by his security detail and interacted with adoring fans Animated: At one stage, the Ocean's Eleven star made a number of animated expressions 'That was amazing, by the way,' Drew added, as she was met by cheers from the audience as Dakota laughed. Drew continued: 'Like, amazing.' 'Major props to @DrewBarrymore for bringing up the, 'Actually no that's not the truth Ellen' incident on her show today with Dakota Johnson,' a fan tweeted shortly after. Another reacted saying: 'I almost spit out my coffee.' Safety first: George also donned a blue face mask as he made his way to the venue Familiar face: Jamie Dornan (pictured), 39, arrived to promote One Night In Soho Dapper: The actor looked dapper in a blue button-up shirt, black jeans and a fitted black jacket Suave: Andre Holland (pictured), 41, arrived to promote his film Passing, and looked suave in a black turtleneck sweater, black trousers, a red leather jacket and black and white loafers In the original exchange, Ellen attempted to grill Dakota for not inviting her to her birthday party, only for the actress to firmly correct her. Proving its popularity, in May this year, Twitter users were quick to unearth the video again as they celebrated 'Happy National Dakota Johnson Day' with news that Ellen's show will end its 19th season in 2022. Two years ago when Ellen mentioned she wasn't invited to Dakota's 30th birthday, Dakota replied: 'Actually no. That's not the truth, Ellen. You were invited.' Another arrival: Rebecca Hall (pictured), 39, arrived alongside Andre to promote her film Passing. Rebecca donned a monochrome ensemble with statement strappy kitten heels Appreciative of the fans: Meanwhile Ruth Negga (pictured), 39, looked gorgeous as she signed autographs. Ruth was also promoting Passing 'Last time I was on the show last year, you gave me a bunch of sh** about not inviting you, but I didn't even know you wanted to be invited. I didn't even know you liked me!' 'You knew I liked you. You've been on the show many times,' Ellen said before a back-and-forth exchange with a crew member. 'I was invited? Why didn't I go? Oh yeah, I had a thing. It was probably in Malibu. Headlines: Meanwhile on Thursday, Dakota made headlines on The Drew Barrymore Show when she was praised for THAT viral Ellen DeGeneres video from two years ago Legendary: Drew Barrymore (left) heaped praise on the star as her audience cheered, proving the clip's enduring popularity 'That's too far for me to go I think I do remember I was invited. But I really didn't remember that until just now.' After 19 seasons and more than 3,000 episodes, Ellen reportedly informed her staff in an email this May that she was done with her self-titled show. 'When you're a creative person, you constantly need to be challenged and as great as this show is, and as fun as it is, it's just not a challenge anymore,' Ellen told The Hollywood Reporter. Spilling tea: 'People have gotten in trouble for claiming not being invited to your parties,' Drew told Dakota on her show. The clip saw Dakota making Ellen, 63, uncomfortable as she accuses her of missing her birthday bash, when Ellen had tried to make it seem like she wasn't invited 'She's promised one more season after this one and will exit at the end of the 2021/2022 season - the 19th season of the show,' a source told DailyMail.com. 'The ratings have tanked and have been truly appalling this year and Ellen knows her time is up.' Since its season premiere in September, the show garnered an average of 1.5 million viewers by March - down 1.1 million from the same time-frame a year ago, which had 2.6 million average viewers. George Clooney looked dapper as he headed to Deadline's Contenders Presentation to promote his film The Tender Bar at London Film Festival on Saturday. The actor, 60, was handsome as ever in a black polo shirt which he paired loose-fitting mid-wash blue jeans and smart light brown shoes as he arrived at the Ham Yard Hotel. George arrived at the star-studded event alongside the likes of Jamie Dornan, Kristen Dunst and Dakota Johnson. Heartthrob: George Clooney looked dapper as he headed to Deadline's Contenders Presentation to promote his film The Tender Bar at London Film Festival on Saturday The silver fox wore his greying locks in a smart crew cut, while he sported sharp facial hair. The dad-of-two beamed as he was pictured at the coveted event, waving to his doting fans as he made his way onto the red carpet. Promoting his upcoming film The Tender Bar as part of a lineup celebrating the year's most talked-about movies, the A-lister seemed excited to be at the event. Beaming: The dad-of-two beamed as he was pictured at the coveted event, waving to his doting fans as he made his way onto the red carpet Film festival look: The actor teamed his film festival look with a pair of loose-fitting mid-wash blue jeans and smart light brown dress shoes A-lister: George looked every inch the Hollywood megastar with tinted aviator sunglasses George directed the movie in which Ben Affleck is set to star in, after both playing Comics' Bruce Wayne/Batman as well as having a long-term friendship. The Tender Bar was the leading men's second film collaboration after Ben's 2012 directorial effort Argo, which George produced. The story follows author J. R. Moehringer during his early years in New York City as he searches for his father while growing closer to his uncle and a group of locals at a nearby bar. Handsome: The silver fox wore his greying locks in a smart crew cut, while he sported sharp facial hair Close up! Even with his face mask, George still looked handsome from every angle Fanbase: He was escorted by his security detail and interacted with adoring fans Development on The Tender Bar began in 2013 with Hidden Figures director Theodore Melfi set to helm the film, before he exited the project. After several years of difficulties, Amazon Studios acquired the rights to the project in July 2020, with George being confirmed to spearhead the feature in December. Ben's role was confirmed in February, with much of the rest of the cast being added then in March. New movie: Promoting his upcoming film The Tender Bar as part of a lineup celebrating the year's most talked-about movies, the A-lister seemed excited to be at the event Long-term friends: George directed the movie in which Ben Affleck is set to star in, after both playing Comics' Bruce Wayne/Batman as well as having a long-term friendship The Tender Bar: Principal photography on the upcoming project began earlier this year at various locations in and around Boston Ben previously collaborated on the 2012 film Argo, on which George served as a producer. Principal photography on the upcoming project began earlier this year at various locations in and around Boston. George's eighth directorial feature will stream on January 7 on Amazon Prime Video. The Long Island-set drama will also hit limited US theaters on December 18. Carol Vorderman turned heads as she showed off her svelte waist and pert curves to her Instagram followers on Saturday. The radio DJ, 60, modelled a black dress as she showcased her impressive figure before heading off to her BBC Radio Wales show. The former Countdown star looked incredible in the form-fitting outfit, making sure to snap a mirror selfie before she left the house. Wow! Carol Vorderman, 60, turned heads as she showed off her svelte waist and pert curves to her Instagram followers on Saturday The brunette beauty styled her shoulder length locks in glamorous waves, while she sported a modest palette of make-up. The media personality flashed a glimpse of her elegant white manicure, whilst wearing a gold gladiator-style bangle on her wrist. Her stunning selfie comes as Carol appeared alongside her son Cameron King, 24, on Wednesday's This Morning, with the mother-son duo speaking candidly about Cameron's special educational needs. Candid appearance: Carol recently appeared alongside her son Cameron King, 24, on This Morning, where they spoke candidly about Cameron's special educational needs The author whose son has high spectrum autism, ADD, dyslexia and ADHD was visibly emotional when she revealed that when Cameron was 'four or five' she moved him to a new London school, however was told by teachers 'we can't have him here' as 'we can't teach him'. Touching upon being labelled 'disruptive' in school, Cameron explained: 'That was the whole thing. Being disruptive... it was in a maths lesson. You're panicking so much on keeping the rhythm with everyone else. When I can't answer it quickly enough, you'd be disruptive because you couldn't answer'. Sharing just how protective she felt of her son in his younger years, Carol said: 'As a mother, a single parent [you want to] protect, protect, protect. Like a lioness.'# Emotional: The author whose son has high spectrum autism, ADD, dyslexia and ADHD was visibly emotional when she revealed Cameron was told by teachers 'we can't have him here' She added: 'I didn't want him to grow up with labels,' before saying that there were 'early signs' of her son's learning difficulties, explaining that while her eldest child Katie King, 30, was able to 'learn the alphabet easily' Cameron 'couldn't retain information'. Carol explained Cameron needed 'an enormous amount of assistance' and 'went through bullying as a kid'. She elaborated: 'It's a long road. Your heart, your world is unhappy. I couldn't do anything. I couldn't give up telly - not that I wouldn't give up telly. I didn't know how to teach him.' Sad past: Carol explained Cameron needed 'an enormous amount of assistance' and 'went through bullying as a kid' Of his own experience, Cameron said: 'If I had the option to go back in time and change my school life - there wasn't a single day above neutral in terms of enjoyment because of the bullying - I wouldn't change that, because it's taught me how to deal with life.' Cameron recently achieved a first class Animation and Video Effects Master's degree from the University of Dundee and of the accomplishment said: 'I never thought I'd get this far.' It comes after Cameron, who also revealed that he is starting 'his first job next week', drew the support of thousands after sharing his experience of growing up with special educational needs last week. Dani Dyer looked radiant as she attended the Alton Towers Scarefest preview with her son Santiago in Stoke-On-Trent on Saturday. The former Love Island contestant, 25, showcased her natural beauty as she went make-up free while donning a brown Moncler puffer jacket. She teamed up the number with a pair of black joggers and wore her caramel tresses in gorgeous curls, having styled her tot, 10 months, into a navy jacket. Adorable: Dani Dyer looked radiant as she attended the Alton Towers Scarefest preview with her son Santiago on Saturday in Stoke-On-Trent The fresh-faced star accessorised her ensemble with a flashy Louis Vuitton brown handbag and a pair of white trainers while her baby wore a black Adidas tracksuit. Dani was soon joined by her mum Joanne Mas, who wowed in a a low-key pink sweater featuring blue-and-black prints. Following soon afterwards was Kelvin Fletcher, who cut an all-black ensemble, with his wife Liz Alto and their children Marnie and Milo. Beauty: Dani was soon joined by her mum Joanne Mas, who wowed in a a low-key pink sweater featuring blue-and-black prints Casual: She teamed up the number with a pair of black joggers and wore her caramel tresses in gorgeous curls, having styled her tot, 10 months, into a navy jacket Low-key: The fresh-faced star accessorised her ensemble with a flashy Louis Vuitton brown handbag and a pair of white trainers while her baby wore a black Adidas tracksuit Mark Hoyle wore a black T-shirt and jeans and shot a thumbs up while being flanked by a group of spooktacular actors in ghost costumes. Adele Silva looked trendy in a green leopard-print denim jacket, which she teamed up with a pair of ripped grey jeans. Tina O'Brien put on a chic display in a black top which she combined with a coordinating floral miniskirt and a grey cardigan. Team: Following soon afterwards was Kelvin Fletcher, who cut an all-black ensemble, with his wife Liz Alto and their children Marnie and Milo High spirits: Mark Hoyle wore a black T-shirt and jeans and shot a thumbs up while being flanked by a group of spooktacular actors in ghost costumes Looking good: Adele Silva (left) looked trendy in a green leopard-print denim jacket while, Tina O'Brien (right) put on a chic display in a black top Jennifer Ellison looked trendy in a black-and-white checkered minidress and an onyx gilet while her husband Rob Tickle kept things casual in a blue T-shirt with a gold motif. Hayley Tamaddon caught the eye in a grey sweater featuring a dazzling rainbow diamond print. Jaime Winstone pouted up a storm while sporting an oversized dark green coat and a blackcurrant hoodie. Cute: Jennifer Ellison (left) looked trendy in a black-and-white checkered minidress, while Hayley Tamaddon (right) caught the eye in a grey sweater Confident: Jaime Winstone pouted up a storm while sporting an oversized dark green coat and a blackcurrant hoodie. Ryan Thomas looked great in a stone jacket and a pair of charcoal jeans Ryan Thomas looked great in a stone jacket and a pair of charcoal jeans. Roxanne Hoyle looked chic in a black sweater and coordinating jeans while her son Pheonix donned an onyx jumper featuring pumpkin prints. Chloe Delevigne flashed her pearly whites while cutting a stylish light brown polo neck sweater. Mindy Kaling gave her six million Instagram followers a glimpse at her children's $22,000 playhouse as she shared a rare photo of her oldest child on Thursday. The 42-year old actress posted a snap in which her three-year-old daughter Katherine 'Kit' Swati was seen from behind as she looked toward the playhouse during an unexpected rain shower in Los Angeles. 'When it rained for that very short amount of time, it was the most exciting thing that ever happened in our house,' Mindy wrote in the caption. Extravagant: Mindy Kaling gave her six million Instagram followers a glimpse at her children's $22,000 playhouse as she shared a rare photo of her oldest child on Thursday. Cute: The 42-year old actress posted a snap in which her three-year-old daughter Katherine 'Kit' Swati was seen from behind as she looked toward the playhouse during an unexpected rain shower in Los Angeles Kit wore a pair of black and white shorts and a white t-shirt as she stood barefoot on the damp pavement while holding a ladybug umbrella. In addition to Kit, the Never Have I Ever creator is also the mother of one-year-old son Spencer. The kids' incredible playhouse could be seen in the back of Mindy's yard. Crafted by Maine-based playset manufacturer Cedarworks, the customizable Serendipity 357 playhouse was designed to look like a wooden castle with two turrets connected by a swing set suspended from an arc. Dream come true: In May 2019, Mindy proudly showed off the playhouse as she posted a photo on her Twitter page in which she was seen beaming as she sat in one of the swings. The swing set included two swings and a seesaw. The two-story structure also featured mutilple play spaces and a slide. The set was decorated with detailed renderings of stars, fish, birds and hearts. In May 2019, Mindy proudly showed off the playhouse as she posted a photo on her Twitter page in which she was seen beaming as she sat in one of the swings. She tweeted, 'All Ive ever wanted for my kid is to have the fun house. Remember that one friend that had the coolest backyard and everyone wanted to hang out there all the time? Well, now Im the cool parent with the cool backyard. Thanks @CedarTweets!' Rainy day fun: In her Thursday post, Kaling also shared another photo of Kit as she sat under the ladybug umbrella on a brown suede couch in the living room In her Thursday post, Kaling also shared another photo of Kit as she sat under the ladybug umbrella on a brown suede couch in the living room. The toddler enjoyed an episode of Peppa the Pig which was playing on a TV in a bookshelf. Numerous books, photo frames, knickknacks and even a jar of Mindy's favorite snack Nutella could be seen on the bookshelf in the cozy room. In September, The Office star celebrated her son Spencer's first birthday with a sweet Instagram post. Birthday boy: In September, The Office star celebrated her son Spencer's first birthday on A sweet shot of her little dude reaching out to a bunch of balloons was combined with a caption that began: 'Friday was my son Spencers first birthday. My daughter Kit is pretty cautious with new people. Not this guy.' As regular, she maintained his privacy by keeping his face out of the shot. Talking about Spencer's sweet disposition, she said: 'If you happen to make eye contact with Spencer, he lights up like you are old war buddies and he makes a beeline to you.' 'I had Spencer during Covid and it was a strange isolated time, but the instant I saw him I knew he would make everything better. And he did! Happy birthday, Spike!' Mindy kept her pregnancy completely quiet until announcing Spencer's birth last September. Finding a silver lining in the situation, last month she told Good Morning America: 'I'm hesitant to even say this because obviously the past year and a half has been so challenging and continues to be with the variant ... but being pregnant during COVID was, in my estimation, kind of a dream.' Proud mommy: The writer/actress said that her little dude makes 'everything better' in a sweet caption Little girl: Mindy welcomed Kit on December 15, 2017. Kit's middle name Swati is a tribute to Kaling's late mother, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2012. Kaling admitted she'd 'learned a lot' about parenting during the pandemic while speaking at the #WOW2021 event in May. 'I don't know if I recommend everyone having a secret pregnancy during a worldwide pandemic, but I will say I learned a lot from it.' 'Definitely like a once-in-a-lifetime type of thing,' she said. Mindy welcomed Kit on December 15, 2017. Kit's middle name is a tribute to Kaling's late mother, who passed away from pancreatic cancer in 2012. She previously shed light on her decision not to reveal her daughter's father, telling the New York Times Magazine: 'My feeling is that until I speak to my daughter about that, Im not going to talk to anyone else about it.' She plays a debt-ridden defector in the Netflix phenomenon Squid Game, but in real life Korean beauty HoYeon Jung is set to make millions after the ultra-violent survival series became a global smash. The 27-year-old actress and model has been deluged with lucrative offers from fashion labels and global brands keen to exploit her worldwide fame and millions of social-media followers. Luxury fashion house Louis Vuitton has made the Seoul-born star the face of its latest collection, promoting the French company's clothes, jewellery and watches. Sports giant Adidas and Italian fashion house Fendi have also signed deals with HoYeon, now one of the world's most sought-after models following Squid Game's worldwide premiere last month. Designers have also been impressed by her popularity on social media, noting that she gained a staggering 17 million followers on Instagram in one week to make her Korea's most followed actress. South Korean actress and model HoYeon Jung, 27, has been deluged with lucrative offers from fashion labels and global brands after starring in Netflix phenomenon Squid Game Her post showing off a Louis Vuitton bag received more than six million likes, while one of her posing in an Adidas tracksuit won approval from 8.3 million followers. HoYeon, who makes her acting debut playing Contestant 067 in the dystopian drama, is expected to grace the catwalks of London, New York, Paris and Milan in the coming year. A fashion industry source told The Mail on Sunday: 'She is a fresh new face with a huge following on Instagram that's what it's all about these days. She is a star.' Seoul-born HoYeon has gained a staggering 17 million followers on Instagram in one week to make her Korea's most followed actress In the series, HoYeon (right) plays a North Korean defector trying to win money to retrieve family members trapped across the border, with her dowdy appearance on the show a stark contrast to her glamorous photos on social media It comes as schools warn parents not to let their children watch the violent 15-certificate series after pupils were seen mimicking scenes in the playground. In a letter to parents, John Bramston Primary School in Ilford, East London, wrote that it was 'not appropriate nor acceptable' that children were pretending to shoot each other. In the series, HoYeon plays a North Korean defector trying to win money to retrieve family members trapped across the border, with her dowdy appearance on the show a stark contrast to her glamorous photos on social media. HoYeon, who makes her acting debut playing Contestant 067 in the dystopian drama, is expected to grace the catwalks of London, New York, Paris and Milan in the coming year. Pictured: HoYeon at Paris Fashion Week in 2018 As a teenager, she was so determined to make it as a model that she worked at Seoul Fashion Week, where she caught the eye of scouts and was later cast in fashion shows without help from an agency. In 2013, she took part in Korea's Next Top Model and finished second. She appeared on the cover of Vogue's Korean edition after gaining a degree from Dongduk University. Squid Game, which is the most-streamed show on Netflix, takes its name from a common Korean playground game and follows a group of 456 debt-ridden characters. The contestants fight to stay alive in violent versions of traditional children's games as they try to win a 27 million prize. Erika Jayne kept her look casual when she was spotted in Los Angeles this week stepping out to run errands. The 50-year-old reality star wore a bubblegum sweatsuit and swept her signature platinum blonde hair into a high bun. Her outing comes amid claims that her show The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills will be starting production early on its upcoming 12th season. Off she goes: Erika Jayne kept her look casual when she was spotted in Los Angeles this week stepping out to run errands Typically the show has a longer break in between shooting seasons but TMZ reported on Friday that the gap has been shortened by months. Allegedly the reason is that the producers hope to capture as much as possible of Erika's ongoing legal drama involving her estranged husband Tom Girardi. Filming on the show may be starting as early as next week, at least for some of the principal cast members. At the moment the current 11th season is still airing on Bravo with the explosive four-part reunion beginning October 18. On the move: The 50-year-old reality star wore a bubblegum sweatsuit and swept her signature platinum blonde hair into a high bun Career news: Her outing comes amid claims that her show The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills will be starting production early on its upcoming 12th season In a sneak peek for the reunion, host and producer Andy Cohen is seen grilling Erika about her husband's embezzlement scandal. Ever since she announced her separation from Tom last November, ending a marriage of 20 years, their split has raised eyebrows. Tom, 82, is a high-profile lawyer currently facing allegations of embezzling millions from clients including families of the victims of the infamous Lion Air crash. The way they were: Allegedly the reason is that the producers hope to capture as much as possible of Erika Jayne's ongoing legal drama involving her estranged husband Tom Girardi; seen in 2016 A bankruptcy trustee is investigating Tom's assets amid allegations that he and Erika jointly embezzled the settlement money. Over the summer People reported that Erika's financial records have been court-ordered from her divorce lawyer, landlord and accountant. Tom and Erika have been accused of using divorce as a means of shielding their joint assets, a claim she has staunchly denied. Incoming: At the moment the current 11th season is still airing on Bravo with the explosive four-part reunion beginning October 18 During the reunion preview Andy resolved to put Erika 'on a skewer' and she declared that she 'can't control what Tom Girardi did.' Erika has accused Tom of infidelity and suggested that this was the cause of their divorce rather than his legal battles. Andy was skeptical of this claim saying: ''He's having multiple affairs, yet as we know, he put $20million and more into your account,' as Erika insisted: 'No.' 'Have you asked him if he did it?' Andy asked her, to which the sneak peek shows her replying haltingly: 'I asked him why, am I, why...' Letting her have it: In a sneak peek for the reunion host and producer Andy Cohen is seen grilling Erika about her husband's embezzlement scandal She is seen looking up at the ceiling and then beginning to sob as the other Housewives look on perplexed. Amid his ongoing crises Tom was stripped of his law license this March in a move confirmed by the State Bar Of California. Complicating matters, he has been diagnosed with dementia and has been placed under a conservatorship as a result. His travails include a bank fraud suit by Wells Fargo and another lawsuit filed in December by his law partner Robert Keese. Defense: During the reunion preview Andy resolved to put Erika 'on a skewer' and she declared that she 'can't control what Tom Girardi did' Also in December he was hit with a class action lawsuit alleging that the divorce is a 'sham attempt to fraudulently protect Toms and Erikas money from those that seek to collect on debts owed by Tom and his law firm.' Specifically the suit - filed by Chicago law firm Edelson PC - claims Tom has not paid the settlement money he owes to families of victims from the 2018 Lion Air crash. Tom was one of multiple attorneys who represented the families of the victims of the crash, which claimed the lives of 189 people when the Boeing plane plunged into the Java Sea less than 15 minutes into its flight. The lawsuit accuses Tom of using funds that rightfully belong to the families for his and Erika's 'outrageous lifestyles,' per court documents quoted by Reuters. Duo: Ever since she announced her separation from Tom last November, ending a marriage of 20 years, their split has raised eyebrows During an appearance on The Wendy Williams Show three years ago Erika confessed her bill for on clothes, hair and makeup could run to $40,000 a month. Meanwhile Tom is also claimed to owe $11 million to a family he represented in a suit involving a gas line explosion - and earlier this year a court order obtained by E! News gave this family the right to sue Erika for the money. Erika can been seen on the current season of The Real Housewives Of Beverly Hills emotionally denying the divorce is a 'sham' and insisting that she has not even spoken to Tom since she announced their separation last year. She shared that 'you would be shocked at how quickly people turn on you, how quickly people distance themselves from you. Automatically they, you know, turn, because they don't wanna be involved. They were there when it was good, though.' David Williams was joined by his 'friend' Keeley Hazell at the London premiere of the Last Night In Soho during the 65th BFI London Film Festival on Friday. The comedian, 50, and his close model 'friend', 34, put on a tactile display, with the model lovingly placing a hand on his shoulder amid romance rumours. Children's author David looked debonair in a brown suit, which he paired with black suit shoes, as he attended the premiere for Baby Driver director Edgar Wright's latest film. Together: David Williams was joined by his 'friend' Keeley Hazell at the London premiere of the Last Night In Soho during the 65th BFI London Film Festival on Friday His companion sent temperatures soaring as she flashed her ample assets in a glossy blue maxi dress featuring a tantalising thigh-slit. She let her jaw-dropping dress do all the talking as she paired her slinky ensemble with a simple pair of black strapped heels and a blue padded Chanel handbag. The ex-page 3 girl styled her golden tresses in a loose wave across her shoulders and showed off her stunning features with a smokey palette of make-up. The former flames seemed to be in excellent spirits as they flashed wide smiles and Keeley draped her arm over David's shoulders as they strutted up the red carpet. Picture perfect: The comedian, 50, and his close model 'friend', 34, put on a tactile display, with the model lovingly placing a hand on his shoulder amid romance rumours Out and about: David's companion sent temperatures soaring as she flashed her ample assets in a glossy blue maxi dress featuring a tantalising thigh-slit Outing: Children's author David looked debonair in a brown suit, which he paired with black suit shoes, as he attended the premiere for Baby Driver director Edgar Wright's latest film They appeared at the premiere alongside the likes of Matt Smith, Synnove Karlsen, director Edgar Wright, Bridgerton heart-throb Jene-Jean Page and Hollyoaks star Kassius Nelson. The pair's appearance at the premiere for the Last Night in Soho comes after Keeley shared a post for David's 50th birthday in August - seemingly confirming their relationship was strictly platonic. On August 20, the model took to Instagram Stories to share a slew of snaps from their friendship as she praised the 'thoughtful and generous' comedian. Appearance: Keeley let her jaw-dropping dress do all the talking as she paired her slinky ensemble with a simple pair of black strapped heels and a blue padded Chanel handbag Stepping out: They appeared at the premiere alongside the likes of Matt Smith, Synnove Karlsen, director Edgar Wright, Bridgerton heart-throb Rege-Jean Page and Hollyoaks star Kassius Nelson Keeley shared a sweet snap with David from their recent Italian break, with the blonde beauty dressed in a plunging dark green dress. The star also shared an image of David kindly tying up her hair as she praised the star for being in her life 'for the past 16 years.' Alongside the posts she wrote: 'HAPPY 50TH BIRTHDAY TO MY AMAZING FRIEND @davidwalliams. You are the most thoughtful and generous person I know. 'You're always fun to be around. Thank you for being in my life for the last 16 years. Have the best day.' The former flames seemed to be in excellent spirits as they flashed wide smiles and Keeley draped her arm over David's shoulders as they arrived at the event Sweet: The pair's appearance at the premiere for the Last Night in Soho comes after Keeley shared a post for David's 50th birthday in August Keeley went onto share a throwback snap with David from the earlier stages of their friendship, followed by another image of the pair enjoying dinner together. The couple, who were regularly spotted together on the London social circuit towards the end of the Noughties, had appeared to make their relationship Instagram official after attending Ant's wedding. However Keeley's post in August seemed to dispel any speculation of a romance. Their joint appearance came after Keeley's brief romance with actor Jason Sudeikis, 45, reportedly fizzled out in recent weeks, according to E! news. Keeley and Ted Lasso actor Jason were first linked in February following his split from wife Olivia Wilde, who is now in a relationship with Harry Styles. Touching: Keeley shared several snaps from her recent trip to Italy with David, including one of him helping to tie her hair as she praised him for being 'thoughtful and generous' Pals: Keeley Hazell has celebrated her 'friend' David Walliams' 50th birthday with a sweet Instagram tribute, amid rumours that the pair had rekindled their romance Cute: One of Keeley's snaps showed herself and David enjoying a drink together, after the pair travelled abroad Although insiders claimed at the time that their relationship was 'never anything serious', the former flames appear to have now good their separate ways for good. Meanwhile, David and Keeley were last seen enjoying a cosy dinner together in London in May. In July last year, it was reported David had moved former page 3 girl Keeley, into his London home for nine months after she returned from the US. Although they reportedly share a 'special chemistry', it was previously claimed that David and Keeley are just close pals and share a long-standing friendship. A source previously told The Sun: 'David and Keeley go way back and have kept in touch since she attempted to break into acting in the US. 'He has a big empty home and was grateful for the company so it suited both parties. During her glamour modelling days, David was known as a keen admirer but now sees her very much as a close pal. Keeley also used David's pad as a base while renovating her new home in London She moved out just before lockdown.' David's most high-profile relationship to date was with Dutch model Lara Stone, with whom he shares son Alfred, seven. The former couple wed in May 2010 after just one year of dating, and split in October 2015. Touching: The model shared a slew of snaps, including a 2007 throwback (pictured) from their friendship as she praised the 'thoughtful and generous' comedian Who's she trying to kid? For some reason, Jodie Comer says she hates the way she looks, but its surely far too harsh for her to compare herself to a goat. Even I cant deny the likeness, wrote the Killing Eve star when she shared this picture, right, with her two million followers on Instagram. Jodie, 28, has already attracted a legion of fans around the world thanks to her role as super-stylish assassin Villanelle in the hit BBC drama, and she is about to make the movie big screen in The Last Duel alongside Hollywood A-listers Matt Damon, Ben Affleck and Adam Driver. The historical drama is due to be released in the UK on Friday. Killing Eve star Jodie Comer compared herself to a goat on her Instagram page Jodie, 28, has already attracted a legion of fans around the world thanks to her role as super-stylish assassin Villanelle in the hit BBC drama Retiring Rosie can't wait for 40 Most supermodels dread the thought of getting older, but Rosie Huntington-Whiteley admits she cant wait to hit 40 because shell be able to put her feet up at last. The M&S lingerie model, 34, who is expecting her second child with tough-guy actor Jason Statham, says she has been working flat out since the age of 16, and reaching the milestone will allow her to kick back. Retire at 40? Its all right for some Most supermodels dread the thought of getting older, but Rosie Huntington-Whiteley admits she cant wait to hit 40 because shell be able to put her feet up at last My lips are sealed, but... Which TV chef yelled at a frail old man on a flight for making an annoying clicking sound? The mans wife sprang to his defence and pointed out that the noise was coming from his special on-board wheelchair. It had been a fitting farewell for a comedy legend, mixing humour with tender tributes. At the funeral of Terry Jones, his Monty Python co-stars had sent a floral tribute bearing his immortal Life Of Brian line 'Not the Messiah, just a very naughty boy', while his wife Anna Soderstrom spoke of his 'good-natured and generous' character. After the service last February, the mourners retreated to a nearby pub in North London for a small wake, where Anna, then 36, allowed herself a moment to reflect on the five years she had spent helping to care for her ailing husband as he succumbed to the ravages of dementia. Anna met Terry at Oxford University in 2003 when she was a studying for a modern language degree and he was giving a lecture to promote a book Terry's death at the age of 77 had left a gaping hole in her life, and that of their ten-year-old daughter Siri, but at least they would be financially secure. At the wake, a woman came up to speak to her. Anna was expecting condolences, but the stranger turned out to be a lawyer representing Terry's ex-wife, Alison Telfer, delivering the stinging news that she and the comedian's two grown-up children would be contesting Terry's will. Choking back tears as she recalls that moment, Anna says: 'Terry had been dead for only a matter of days, he had just been cremated. It shocked me.' At issue are the proceeds from the sale of the house in Highgate, North London, that Anna shared with Terry and where she nursed him in his final years. 'After years of me desperately trying to keep him safe, this was happening,' she says. 'Within a few days, I was getting solicitors' letters telling me they wanted the house that I was living in with our daughter the half-sister of Terry's other children. It absolutely broke my heart.' Anna says the dispute, due to be fought at the High Court, threatens not only to tarnish Terry's memory but also to jeopardise the future of Siri, who suffers from autism and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Anna says Siri, now 12, was profoundly affected by Terry's gradual deterioration in the years before he died. The courtroom battle will pitch Anna against not only his ex-wife but her two stepchildren, furniture designer Sally and TV producer Bill. Anna, a clothes designer born in Sweden, is emphatic about what Terry would make of the dispute. Anna says the dispute, due to be fought at the High Court, threatens not only to tarnish Terry's memory but also to jeopardise the future of Siri 'He would be turning in his grave, seeing what they are doing to me and his daughter,' she said. 'This is the last thing Terry would have wanted. He lived for making people happy, not ripping lives apart. He would have stopped this, he would not have allowed this to carry on. 'Poor Terry, it is so sad to see the disrespect that he is being shown. They have forced me to sell my home, I had to borrow money from friends. I don't know what else they want to do to me.' Central to the dispute is Terry's mental capacity when he made his final will at the beginning of July 2015. In it, he left Fegg Features, the company that handles royalties from his work and which last year held more than 400,000 in shareholder funds, to Alison, Sally and Bill. The Highgate house purchased in 2005 was bequeathed to Anna. She sold the property for 2.8 million in March, but the comedian's first wife and older children argue they are entitled to a share in the profits as Terry did not understand what he was signing nor the consequences of putting Anna's name on the mortgage. Not so, insists Anna, who met Terry at Oxford University in 2003 when she was a studying for a modern language degree and he was giving a lecture to promote a book. Around the time he signed the will, Terry was working on the Simon Pegg film Absolutely Anything, which he directed, and a theatre project. He even travelled to America in April 2015 to appear on Jimmy Fallon's TV chat show. Anna says that Terry's advancing years meant she had to have her name on documents when the house was re-mortgaged in 2015 and, that in any event, he wanted her name on the property deeds. Most tellingly, at least in Anna's view, is that Terry had a dementia test a few months before signing the mortgage papers. They had decided to have it after he found it hard to remember his lines during the Pythons' celebrated run of ten comeback gigs in London in 2014. 'Terry was struggling to remember his lines which was very unusual for him and it frustrated him,' says Anna. 'So I took him for a dementia test with our local GP where he was asked questions such as what the Queen's name is, and to count and spell backwards. He passed with flying colours, which was such a relief to him.' Anna remained concerned so persuaded Terry to undergo more tests in September 2015 that diagnosed frontotemporal dementia, a condition that makes it more difficult for patients to communicate and to control their behaviour. Unlike other forms of dementia, however, there is usually no reduction in the ability to reason. Anna suspects the decision to contest the will stems from simmering resentment over Terry's decision to abandon Alison and their children for her. At the time, he was 61 and Anna was 22. She dismisses suggestions that she was or is a gold digger. 'I have lost my 30s to Terry's illness and then this legal fight,' she says. 'I have a good education and I have always worked. I was always able to support myself.' She says that after they met, Terry offered to rent a flat for her while he stayed at his family home in South London, but she rejected the idea. 'It would have been too painful,' she says. 'The thought of taking his money to live somewhere while he was at home with his family was not something I could agree to.' She had fallen for Terry the moment she met him. 'We started talking after his lecture and we never stopped,' she recalls. 'He was so charming. We stayed in contact by phone and then met for lunch and walks in London.' But their life together was far from glamorous. Before dementia, the comedian battled bowel cancer and his marriage proposal delivered as 'a little love poem' came over a pint of beer in their local pub. Terry didn't get on one knee and the engagement ring only arrived much later. The couple married in November 2012 at the Highgate Literary and Scientific Institution, with their next-door neighbours as witnesses and the bride wearing a black T-shirt, blue jeans and a pair of flat boots. The wedding breakfast was sausage and mash at a nearby pub. In any event, adds Anna, the money from the Highgate house sale was primarily intended for Siri. The pair of them now live in a two-bedroom flat in Camden, North London, bought with those proceeds. If the High Court rules against her, Anna fears she will have to sell up. For now, she is using the remaining funds to pay her daughter's boarding school fees. Siri was traumatised as dementia cruelly transformed her father from her 'best friend' to someone she barely recognised. 'Terry would get Siri up early and they would make a fry-up together while I was still in bed,' Anna recalls. 'Then he just started to not be there, his behaviours changed. 'He became irritable and impatient. That change with Siri being so little and so close to him and such a sensitive person was devastating to her. If he wanted something, he would want it right there and then. 'For example, one evening I was reading Siri a story and Terry came and said he needed me to drive him to the shop to get a specific beer he wanted, so I had to stop the story and we all had to get into the car. 'Siri found that hard, her routine had changed. She also saw my strain and suddenly her safe little world had become uncertain.' The strain became so severe that Anna and Siri moved out of the family home to a nearby flat for around a year until a few months before Terry's death. He had a carer, but Anna says the comedian's family took a dim view of the decision. 'It was so hard trying to keep both my husband and my daughter safe,' she explains. 'Siri needed space away from her father. It got too traumatic as he started to drink more and became erratic. 'Once, even when we were living away, I went to pick Terry up as the three of us were going to see the Alvin And The Chipmunks film at the cinema. 'We arrived at the house to find Terry had a black eye he had fallen in the night. Siri was distraught when she saw him, so rather than going to the movies we had to take Terry to A&E.' Anna is worried that the legal battle could exacerbate Siri's distress. 'They were so close,' she says. 'They would do everything together, they were inseparable. She was the only person allowed to go into his study, he would scoop her up and sit her on his lap while he worked. Terry Jones and his first wife Alison Telfer who is contesting the Python star's will 'They had a lovely relationship. Siri would call him Daddy Toad after the character in his version of Wind In The Willows, so he would be so devastated to realise that if this money goes, she will suffer. 'Sally and Bill will literally be taking money from their sister's care, that's the truth of this.' As Terry's condition deteriorated, his older children helped care for him and he received regular visits from his fellow Python, Sir Michael Palin. But his final days were largely spent with Anna and Siri watching his favourite films including Some Like It Hot, Fred Astaire's Follow The Fleet and some of Buster Keaton's silent movies. 'I was with him when he died. It was just me at the end and then I had to tell Siri that her daddy had gone,' she says. 'That was bad enough, but I had no idea what was coming with the will. I wish more than anything we could just sit down together and talk about it and show some respect for Terry.' Paul 'DJ Pauly D' DelVecchio and his girlfriend Nikki Hall put on a loved-up display when they were spotted enjoying some fun in the sun on Saturday. The 41-year-old Jersey Shore star and the 29-year-old social media influencer were seen sharing a sweet embrace in Miami Beach. The happy couple were all smiles all they gazed into each others' eyes while standing in the ocean surf. Romantic: Paul 'DJ Pauly D' DelVecchio and his girlfriend Nikki Hall put on a loved-up display when they were spotted enjoying some fun in the sun on Saturday Pauly had on a pair of navy blue swim trunks and donned a pair of black and silver square-framed shades. The television personality wore his brunette hair gelled back in his signature style and sported a deep tan. Nikki showed off her sensational curves in a black bikini comprised of a v-cut top and high-rise bottoms. Loved-up: The happy couple were all smiles when they were seen in Miami Beach The Jamaica-born model's long black braid were pulled back into a ponytail that hung down her back. The beauty shielded her eyes from the sun with a pair of black rectangle sunglasses as she wrapped her arms around Pauly's neck. The DJ rested his hands on his girlfriend's backside and beamed as he leaned in for a kiss. In love: The 41-year-old Jersey Shore star and the 29-year-old social media influencer were seen sharing a sweet embrace in Miami Beach The pair spent some time frolicking on the shoreline before heading out. As they walked down the sandy path, Pauly donned a black tank top that showcased his toned and tattooed arms. Hall wrapped a white towel around her waist and carried a purple cover up along with a MCM envelope clutch. The lovebirds were in Miami Beach for Pauly's Friday night concert at Story nightclub. Fun: The pair spent some time frolicking on the shoreline before heading out The two began dating after meeting on the MTV reality show Double Shot at Love in 2019. After a brief split, the couple reunited and Nikki joined Pauly on the fourth season of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation. Pauly presented Hall with a ring to celebrate their one-year anniversary in June on midseason premiere of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation. Though fans accused Pauly of faking a proposal, Nicky explained that she was not offended during a recent Instagram Q & A. Reality couple: The two began dating after meeting on the MTV reality show Double Shot at Love in 2019 'I'm not one of those girls to hint at getting a ring... I like [not] knowing,' she said. Hall also said that she is tired of being asked when she and Pauly are getting engaged. The influencer said it was the 'dumbest question' she gets asked and noted that she is asked 'daily.' 'How would I know the answer to that?' Nikki said. Back together: After a brief split, the couple reunited and Nikki joined Pauly on the fourth season of Jersey Shore: Family Vacation However, the couple recently shared that their relationship is going strong and revealed that they became closer while quarantining during the first few months of COVID-19 pandemic. The two are both starring in the third season of Double Shot at Love as they try to help Jersey Shore: Family Vacation castmate Vinny Guadagnino find love. 'The pandemic, for us I think it strengthened our relationship,' DelVecchio said in a teaser for the show provided to ShowbizCheatSheet 'It got me to stay put in one place to focus and give a relationship the attention that it deserves.' 'We live together with each other 24/7, Nikki said. 'At this point, nothing can break us.' Shah Rukh Khans son Aryan Khan, who was detained on 02 October under suspicions of being involved in drug abuse and peddling, was arrested by the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on 03 October. On that day, the holiday court sent him and seven others on the NCB remand, which was later extended until 07 October. When the court heard the bail application on 07 October, the judge rejected NCBs custody extension request and sent Aryan along with the others to judicial custody for 14 days and heard the matter again on Friday. However, the 23-year-old was not granted interim bail. Aryan Khan and seven co-accused were sent to the Arthur Road Central Jail, on Friday. Incidentally, Friday also happened to be his mother Gauri Khans 51st birthday. Aryans custody was certainly not what she may have hoped for as a gift. Noted advocate Satish Maneshinde, who represented Aryan, cited a total of 22 judgements including 1 from the Bombay High Court on how people caught with small and intermediate quantities are dealt with. He also read out statements on Aryans behalf. I am a 23-year-old with no prior antecedents. I happen to be from Bollywood. I went on an invitation, but refused when asked if I had drugs. They were honest not to accuse me of anything else. Data from my mobile has been retrieved and sent for forensics. I have parents and a family here. I have an Indian passport and I am not going to abscond. There is no question of tampering. I should be granted bail. I have been found with nothing, not an OUNCE but so much capital is being made out of it, read out the advocate. When the Additional Solicitor General from the prosecution argued that Aryan cannot be allowed to go on bail because he hails from an affluent family, Satish Maneshinde spelt out his defence as well. Just because I come from an affluent family doesnt mean Ill tamper with evidence. What influence have I used? I have been suffering for the last six days. They held me for 6 days. Even if they want to say I will tamper with evidence, they should come with a positive case of how I will do it. Actress Shalini Pandey, who is set to debut on the big screen in Bollywood with the much-awaited Ranveer Singh starrer Jayeshbhai Jordaar, has rescued and adopted a puppy from Himachal Pradesh. She reveals, I was on a personal trip to Bir for seven days. On the fifth day, while I was on my way to join a trek, I saw a puppy howling, shivering and scared, on the street. She was in a very poor condition. I stopped the car and picked her up. She was immediately calm and I felt an instant bond with the puppy. On making enquiries, the actress found that the pup had been abandoned by the mother and had been roaming the streets for the past 2-3 days, lost and scared. Shalini got in touch with a local person known to shelter street dogs, to find out what could be done for the pup. She was told that the pup would be put up for adoption, and Shalini, who had spent time caring for the dog, decided to adopt her. The pup is a furry Himachali dog, and the actress was concerned whether she would be able to adapt to Mumbai. But she was told that since the dog was only two months old, she would get acclimatised. I was delighted to hear this! says Shalini. I was supposed to fly back but I cancelled my ticket and took the train instead. I took nearly took 40 hours to reach the city. Im over the moon and my heart is full, having her around me. Shes planning to name the puppy Bir! A senior GHMC official said this would be the last time to allow PoP idols even in baby ponds. He said the corporation will hold a meeting with city police and idol manufacturers to make only eco-friendly idols from next year onwards. PTI HYDERABAD: Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) is making elaborate arrangements for Dasara festivities. As part of it, the civic body has clearly informed festivity organisers that in keeping with orders of the Telangana High Court, no Plaster of Paris (PoP) idols will be immersed in Hussainsagar Lake or other natural water bodies within the city. Further, all Bathukammas will have to be immersed only at the Bathukamma Ghat in Hussainsagar near Tank Bund. GHMC has already cleaned the 26 baby ponds it made for Ganesh immersion for Goddess Durga idols and Bathukamma immersions. The corporation has decked up major junctions in the city with large models of Bathukammas made of satin, gerbera, marigold, chrysanthemum and synthetic nylon. In all, it is setting up 130 large-sized Bathukammas at an estimated cost of Rs 16 lakh. As many as 35 models have been erected in Khairatabad zone, 14 in LB Nagar, 12 in Charminar, 14 in Serilingampally, nine in Kukatpally and 25 in Secunderabad zone. Beautification of important road stretches with decorative lights, including 3D lighting is also going on. GHMC has established a total 26 baby ponds within various lakes for immersing Durga idols, particularly those made of PoP, apart from Bathukammas. The measure is intended to protect the lakes from pollution by plaster of Paris and synthetic colours used in making of idols. Cities, such as Bengaluru, had initiated the concept of baby ponds, which also find a mention in Central Pollution Control Board guidelines for immersion of idols, flower and plastic garlands, apart from foliage connected to the idols. The waste generated in these ponds in the twin cities is transported to the landfill in Jawaharnagar. A senior GHMC official said this would be the last time to allow PoP idols even in baby ponds. He said the corporation will hold a meeting with city police and idol manufacturers to make only eco-friendly idols from next year onwards. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, Rao said he had offered his cooperation and support to the AP government to resolve all water sharing disputes between both states. (Twitter) Hyderabad: Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao held the Andhra Pradesh government responsible for the Centre issuing gazette in July taking over all irrigation projects on Krishna and Godavari rivers under its control. Speaking in the Legislative Assembly on Friday, Rao said he had offered his cooperation and support to the AP government to resolve all water sharing disputes between both states through mutual talks but the AP government ignored it, took unilateral decisions on constructing new projects besides lodging series of complaints with the Centre and filing cases in courts against Telangana. "These hasty and unilateral decisions of AP the government gave scope for the Centre to take over all our projects on Krishna and Godavari under its control," Rao said. However, he said, he was making all efforts to ensure that the implementation of Centre's gazette was postponed from October 14. "I recently met union Jal Shakti minister in Delhi twice and took up this issue. I sought postponement of the implementation of the gazette from October 14. The Centre promised to look into this issue. I am waiting for a positive response from the Centre soon. If not, I am ready to lead an all-party delegation to Delhi to meet Prime Minister Narendra Modi and request him to postpone the gazette," the Chief Minister stated. Hyderabad: Hyderabad airport will receive Rs 6,300 crores to increase its capacity to 34 million passengers, announced Antoine Crombez, Deputy CEO, GMR Airports Ltd at the Indo-French Investment Conclave 2021 in Hyderabad on Friday. "Rs 6,300 crores are getting invested in the Hyderabad airport to increase the Airport's capacity to 34 million passengers," said Crombez. The conclave on Friday started with site visits to French companies that are successfully operating in the state such as Safran Aircraft Engines, Mane India and Sanofi Shantha Biotech. The conclave included several panel discussions focusing on key industries and the official session was attended by Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India, KT Rama Rao, State Minister for IT, E&C, Municipal Administration and Urban Development and Industries & Commerce Departments, Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary of Industries and Commerce and IT Departments of the Telangana Government, Sumeet Anand, Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI) President. The event was supported by the French Embassy in India, Government of Telangana, CCEF - French Foreign Trade Advisors, CII, French Tech, Business France and brought together more than 100 Chief Experience Officers (CXOs) of French and Indian businesses, State authorities, diplomats, policymakers, top private sector players from India and France, multilateral agencies and eminent industry experts. On this occasion, the Ambassador of France to India, Emmanuel Lenain said: "France and French companies are fully committed to increasing their presence in Telangana and seizing the many opportunities of this thriving, innovation-oriented state. Many French groups have already invested in Telangana, particularly in biotech, IT and aeronautics. These Indo-French business endeavours in key sectors in Telangana also help to strengthen the strategic partnership between our two countries." He added, "In this respect, I am proud that French companies demonstrated exceptional solidarity with Telangana during the second wave of Covid-19 by contributing to a French-made world-class oxygen generator plant to the Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences." KT Rama Rao, Minister for IT, E&C, MA&UD and Industries & Commerce Departments said, "Telangana is one of the fastest-growing states in the country. Since the formation of the State, the Telangana Government has been introducing innovative policies to attract global firms and investments." Highlighting the TSiPASS policy, the Minister stated that the Telangana government has been giving approvals for various investment proposals within fifteen days. He added that through this policy, the government has attracted crores of investment to the state and has created lakhs of employment opportunities in the region. Rao also mentioned that Telangana has been a favourite destination for IT, Aerospace, Life Sciences, and Pharma companies. He said that Telangana is home to many French companies. He added that many more companies from France are showing interest in investing in Telangana. The faceoff, which was reported near Yangtse in the Tawang sector, had lasted for few hours before both sides disengaged. Representational Image. (Twitter) New Delhi: Indian and Chinese soldiers were involved in a tense faceoff in the highly sensitive Tawang sector of Arunachal Pradesh last week when a large PLA patrolling party was intercepted by the Indian Army at the Line of Actual Control. Both sides were involved in a bit of pushing and shoving and physically blocked each other. The faceoff, which was reported near Yangtse in the Tawang sector, had lasted for few hours before both sides disengaged. Some reports said that the Chinese troops had come to destroy unoccupied Indian bunkers, but sources in the Army said there has been no damage to Indias defences. The faceoff comes at a time when the next round of India-China corps commanders meeting to discuss further disengagement between the two militaries in Ladakh is expected to take place in the next two-three days. This is a contested area where both sides patrol up to their claim areas. Sometimes when the patrolling parties from the two sides come face to face, such incidents happen. Each sides blocks the other and ask them to go back, said an official. He said that whenever the patrols of both sides physically meet, the situation is managed according to the established protocols and mechanisms agreed by both sides. Physical engagement can last for a few hours prior to disengaging as per the mutual understanding, an official said. While the focus has been on the standoff in Ladakh between Indian and Chinese soldiers, there has also been an increase in intrusions by PLA soldiers since last year in all other sectors along the LAC. The Chinese soldiers now come in larger numbers and are increasingly being more aggressive during these faceoffs. Some 100 Chinese soldiers had crossed the Line of Actual Control at Barahoti in Uttarakhand on August 30 and had stayed inside Indian territory for few hours before retreating. The Chinese are building up infrastructure and villages across the LAC to put pressure on India. It is also continuously building up permanent structures to house its soldiers in forward positions across the LAC. Last week Army Chief Gen. M.M. Naravane had said China has deployed its troops in considerable numbers all across the LAC, which remains a matter of concern for India. While there has been disengagement between Indian and Chinese troops on the banks of Pangong Tso and the Gogra Post, both armies are still in a standoff in the Hot Springs area. China has also shown no interest in any further de-escalation in Depsang Plains, where it is blocking Indian troops from patrolling. However, the Army Chief was hopeful that by the end of the year all the friction points in Ladakh will be resolved through talks. We are confident that as we discuss things with each other we will be able to reach a consensus on how the disengagement is to take place. By and by, all the friction points will get resolved, he said last week. Srinagar: Jammu and Kashmirs political parties and leaders on Friday urged the government and also the minority communities not to allow a repeat of 1990 when a vast majority of Hindus, mainly Pandits, fled the Valley to escape violence. They pledged to play their role in preventing fresh exodus of the members of minority communities following a spate of target killings. However, the J&K police had on Thursday sought to dispel the notion that the members of minority Hindus and Sikhs are the prime target of militants and said that out of 28 civilians killed by them, so far, this year only seven - five locals and two outsiders - belonged to these communities and that the rest were local Muslims. Asserting that the terror attacks in which three Hindu and one Sikh civilians were also killed were aimed at creating a wedge between the communities, former chief minister and National Conference leader Omar Abdullah made a fervent appeal to the members of minority communities not to leave the Valley. I can understand the pain and fear the families of slain are going through and also the members of minority communities. I believe these attacks are aimed at driving a wedge between the communities and to pushing them out of Kashmir. We cant let that happen, he told reporters after visiting the home of one of the victims Supinder Kaur. Assuming that the target killings could also be aimed at forcing another exodus of Hindus, he said, I appeal to the members of the minority community dont allow a repeat of the early 1990s and not to leave your homes out of fear. He added, We will do our bit. I and my party will also continue to press for providing adequate security to ensure the safety of minorities in the Valley. Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) president and former chief minister, Mehbooba Mufti, also visited Kaurs home and assured the members of the minority communities of full support of her party. She, however, while talking to reporters alleged that it were the BJP governments wrong policies, particularly those adopted post- August 5, 2019, vis-a-vis J&K that are directly responsible for the fast worsening situation in the Valley. She denounced the target killings and also CRPFs shooting dead a 28-year-old civilian Parvaiz Ahmad Gujjar in southern Anantnag district on Thursday night and said, Its an irony that it was stated by the government the slain youth was trying to attack forces. Against the backdrop of back-to-back target killings, Peoples Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD), an alliance of Jammu and Kashmirs mainstream opposition parties and their allies from the national Left parties, on Friday held an emergency meeting at the residence of its president Farooq Abdullah to discuss the situation and its possible fallout. Peoples Conference chairman and former minister Sajad Gani Lone asked the J&K administration to get off the high horse and talk to people who have been around for decades. He tweeted, A very humble unsolicited advice to the state administration. Please be careful. Get off your high horse. Talk to people who have been around for decades. Seems we are in for some challenging times. I can reach a tipping point. Try to evade it. Every passing day will get challenging. Officials told him that 33 seed-cum-millet processing units will be established in the state by March 2022. Twitter VIJAYAWADA: Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy on Friday directed officials to ensure that farmers get a remunerative price for their produce in the state both by taking up market interventions and ensuring that farmers compete with each other in improving the quality of their output. Chairing a high-level meeting of agricultural officials in presence of agriculture minister Kurasala Kannababu at his camp office, the CM suggested that to support farmers, officials could use the states price stabilisation fund (PSF). The Chief Minister appreciated Rythu Bharosa Kendras (RBKs) of AP for their good work, which has attracted attention of the entire country. He pointed out that these centres have ensured that farmers are able to get quality seeds, fertilisers and pesticides at low prices compared to their prevailing market price. He directed officials to be prompt in supplying farm inputs soon after farmers placed an indent for them. Jagan Mohan Reddy took objection to what he called baseless allegations against RBKs. He pointed out that these centres are instrumental in ensuring that farmers get quality farm inputs at reasonable prices. The farmers had to otherwise pay exorbitant prices for these inputs. At this point, officials informed the CM that they are aiming to convert RBKs into sub dealers of farm inputs from the next Rabi season. This way, farmers will be able to benefit more financially. The Chief Minister directed officials to encourage farmers in cultivating alternate crops like millets instead of paddy wherever rice is being raised using borewells. Officials told him that 33 seed-cum-millet processing units will be established in the state by March 2022. On procurement of milk, Jagan Mohan Reddy underlined that Amul as dairy industry is part of the cooperative movement and not a private agency. Whatever its earnings, they eventually go to farmers. With regard to setting up of fishing harbours, officials informed the CM that works at Juvvaladinne, Nizampatnam, Machilipatnam and Uppada will be completed by July next year. The Chief Minister directed officials to pay attention in establishing the remaining five harbours too. Former minister Etala Rajendar of the BJP accompanied by Union minister Kishan Reddy and state party chief Bandi Sanjay filing his papers in Huzurabad. (DC) Karimnagar: A total of 61 aspirants filed their papers for the October 30 Huzurabad Assembly byelection, when the process of accepting nominations ended on Friday. On the final day, the main candidates filed their nomination papers: Gellu Srinivas Yadav of the TRS, BJP leader Etala Rajendar and Dr Balamuri Venkat of the Congress. Scrutiny of the nomination papers will be done on October 11 and the last day for withdrawal is October 13. A large number of field assistants of the Employment Guarantee Scheme came to the office of the returning officer to file their nominations in protest against the state government removing them from their posts. When police officials prevented them from submitting their nominations, they staged a protest and raised slogans against Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao and finance minister T. Harish Rao. As police commissioner Satyanarayana arrived at the scene, the field assistants urged him to let them file the nominations. He said they could do so but as per rules. As soon as BJP candidate Rajendar left the place after filing the nomination, an unidentified person held out a knife (veta kodavali) in his hand and created panic among those present at the nomination centre. Eyebrows were raised as the police did not detain him. Srinivas Yadav was accompanied by TRS leaders T. Harish Rao and Padi Koushik Reddy; Union minister Kishan Reddy and state party chief Bandi Sanjay went along with Rajendar and Congress leader Damodar Rajanarasimha and former MP Ponnam Prabhakar stood with Dr Venkat. Panchayat Raj minister Peddireddy Ramachandra was addressing a meeting of YSRC booth committee conveners and members as part of the election campaign in Badvel. (Photo:Facebook) Kadapa: Ruling YSRCs Kadapa district and Badvel election in-charge, Panchayat Raj minister Peddireddy Ramachandra, alleged on Saturday that the BJP is trying to provoke the people in the name of religiosity. He was addressing a meeting of YSRC booth committee conveners and members as part of the election campaign in Badvel. Later, he addressed the media and said it would be good if BJP leader Sunil Theodhar spoke sense. In the Tirupati by-election, BJP leaders made false propaganda and tried to appease the voters, he said. The home minister, he said, was being falsely projected as a Christian. The YSR Congress is a secular party. We have no caste, no religion. We see all religions as equal, he said. The minister accused the BJP of politicizing Hinduism. The BJP leaders spread lies that Chief Minister Jagan was propagating Christian faith. The BJP does not have people to vote for the party. So it is attempting to take political advantage by making a fuss over non-existent issues. He said BJP leader Sunil Theodore was reading the script written by some leaders who went from the TDP to the BJP. The foundations of the Congress party were shaken. The BJP has no address. We are contesting the elections with such parties," Peddireddy said. Added the minister, The YSRC government is taking welfare steps without any considerations of caste, religion and party. A sum of Rs 792 crore has been allocated by the state for the development of Badvel constituency. The work is being done on Brahmansagar for a permanent solution to the drinking water problem in the region. Some 5,000 houses were given to the homeless in the constituency. "Our government is committed to the development of Badvel constituency. We would go to every house to tell them about the progress the state has made and the welfare schemes we have implemented. We alone have the right to ask the people to vote. Welfare and development are the two focus areas of the CM, he said. He justified the state spending huge sums for welfare and development. BJP leaders say we have incurred debts of Rs 75,000 crore. Fact is that Rs 1 lakh crore has been given for welfare schemes. The government has supported the public in the Covid season. As stated by Nobel laureate Amartya Sen, the government had reached out to everyone in the pandemic times through helicopter money (freebies. AP is ahead of the Centre in GSDP and GDP. The YSR Congress In-charge and former MLC DC Govindareddy, MP Avinash Reddy, deputy CM Amjad Bhasha and others were present. The court directed the state government to appoint a special committee consisting of experts from Central Pollution Control Board, union ministry of housing and urban development and union ministry of health and family welfare to examine the issues and submit a report within one month. Wikimedia Commons VIJAYAWADA: In a major setback to the state government, Andhra Pradesh High Court directed it not to proceed with construction of houses under its flagship programme Navaratnalu-Pedalandiriki Illu in the land allotted to the beneficiaries until a report submitted by a special committee modifying the layouts. A single judge bench headed by Justice M. Satyanarayana issued the order here on Friday stating that allotment of sites for residential purpose was inadequate for housing on account of cluster housing and group housing, the environment impact on health hazards, fire safety, adequacy of drinking water and facilities to drain out sewage water were to be examined before constructing house in the site allotted to them. The court observed that no study was taken up on such issues by the state government so far. The bench observed, The court is not against allotment of house sites to women, but it amounts to discrimination. Therefore, I feel that it is appropriate to direct the respondents to consider the eligibility of men and transsexual for allotment of house site. At the same time, with regard to effect of health, physical, mental, spiritual, educational and economic development with reference to human rights guaranteed under Article 21 of Constitution of India, it is appropriate to examine the issue by a committee of experts to increase the extent of land allotted and to be allotted based on the report to be submitted by it. The court directed the state government to appoint a special committee consisting of experts from Central Pollution Control Board, union ministry of housing and urban development and union ministry of health and family welfare to examine the issues and submit a report within one month thereafter and invite objections from the public and finalise the scheme Navaratnalu-Pedalandiriki Illu for construction of houses in the sites keeping in view several issues as mentioned above. The court observed that if the policy decision of the state government was violative of any fundamental right or human rights, it was bound to interfere with such decisions. The court declared the GOs issued earlier as illegal and arbitrary and set them aside. Mukesh Ambani, Asias richest person, joined Jeff Bezos and Elon Musk in the worlds most exclusive wealth club with a fortune of at least $100 billion. The chairman of Indias Reliance Industries Ltd. entered the rarefied group of 11 men as his conglomerates stock climbed to a record on Friday. Hes now worth $100.6 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, after his wealth increased by $23.8 billion this year. Also see: Hurun India Rich List 2021: A look at the top 10 richest Indians Mukesh Ambani, chairman and managing director of the Reliance Industries Ltd., right, and his wife Nita Ambani, left, arrive for the company's annual general meeting in Mumbai, India, on Monday, August 12, 2019. Saudi Aramco will buy a 20% stake in the oil-to-chemicals business of Indias Reliance Industries Ltd., including the 1.24 million barrels-a-day Jamnagar refining complex on the countrys west coast, Ambani said at the companys annual general meeting in Mumbai. Since inheriting the oil-refining and petrochemicals businesses of his late fathers empire in 2005, Ambani, 64, has been seeking to transform the energy giant into a retail, technology and e-commerce titan. His telecommunications unit, which started services in 2016, is now the dominant carrier in the Indian market. His retail and technology ventures raised about $27 billion last year, selling stakes to investors ranging from Facebook Inc. and Google to KKR & Co. and Silver Lake. Ambani unveiled an ambitious push into green energy in June, with a planned investment of about $10 billion over three years. And last month, the mogul said his company would aggressively pursue production of cheaper green hydrogen. The plan aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modis ambitions of turning India into a global manufacturing hub for the cleaner fuel to combat climate change and slash energy imports by the worlds third-biggest oil consumer. While Ambanis announcement has been viewed by some as an acknowledgment that his group needs to look beyond oil to cement its future, the fossil fuel still plays a central role at Reliance, accounting for almost 60% of its $73 billion in annual revenue. The oil-to-chemicals business is now a separate unit, and talks are under way to get Saudi Arabian Oil Co. as an investor. Mukesh Ambani is at the forefront of creating new businesses with new emerging technologies, said Chakri Lokapriya, chief investment officer at TCG Asset Management Co. in Mumbai. Creating businesses of scale at speed brings execution challenges, but he has demonstrated his capabilities. Also read: 1,007 super-rich Indians see 51% rise in wealth in 2021; Adani leads with Rs 3.65 lakh crore: Report The story of Reliance dates back to the late 1960s when Dhirubhai Ambani, who started out as a gas-station attendant in Yemen, began building his polyester business into a vast empire. When he died of a stroke in 2002 without leaving a will, a succession feud erupted between his two sons, Mukesh and Anil, 62, which was eventually settled by the siblings mother, Kokilaben, in 2005. Under the truce agreement, Mukesh got control of the flagship oil refining and petrochemicals businesses, while his younger brother got newer areas such as power generation, financial services and telecommunications services. Anil -- once a billionaire -- told a London court last year that his net worth was zero. Indias billionaires are some of the largest gainers on the worlds rich list, as Asias best-performing major stock market this year gets a boost from a surge in initial public offerings. Gautam Adani, founder of coal-power and renewable energy conglomerate Adani Group, has added $39.5 billion to his fortune this year, while the countrys third-richest person, technology tycoon Azim Premji, saw his wealth to grow by $12.8 billion. Check out latest videos from DH: The Central Bureau of Investigation has filed a chargesheet against former MD and CEO of Yes Bank Ltd, the promoter of a private company and others in a bank loan fraud case of over Rs 1,700 cr, an official said here on Friday. The probe agency had registered a case in the matter in March 2020. Also read: Bombay HC refuses bail to Yes Bank founder Rana Kapoor's wife, daughters in DHFL corruption case It is alleged that the then MD and CEO of Yes Bank, Rana Kapoor, had abused his official position and acquired a premium property in Delhi at a very low price than the actual market value and the property was mortgaged to Yes Bank against a loan of approximately Rs 400 crore, given to a group companies promoted by Rana Kapoor, the CBI said in a statement. It further said that the actual value of the property was approximately Rs 550 crore, which was acquired by Rana Kapoor for approximately Rs 378 crore, and the proceeds of the sale were not used fully to liquidate the existing loan, later declared NPA by the bank. The property was allegedly purchased in the name of a company where the wife of Kapoor, Bindu Rana Kapoor, was the Director and authorised signatory. After this, Rana Kapoor extended additional loan of approximately Rs 1,360 crore to the other companies belonging to him during and after the acquisition of the property. It was also alleged that these loans were never utilised for the purpose for which they were given and the borrowers were allowed to divert the funds for evergreening of the existing loans of the group companies. Check out latest DH videos here: The CPI and CITU on Saturday opposed the move to sell Air India to the Tatas, saying it goes against national interests and that it was being sold off virtually free of cost. In a statement, the CPI said that it was opposed to the sale of Air India as it is "against the national interest". While acknowledging that Air India was mismanaged by successive governments, it said, in spite of this, the airline has done stellar services during every emergency either man-made or natural as a government carrier. Also Read | Tatas to fly Air India again but turbulence aplenty "Government has sold all assets at a very low price since the carrier had started making operative profits from 2015-16. This is in tune with the government policy of selling national assets for private profit. It is wrong to sell assets created with public funds for private profits...Air India is the pride of the nation. The Modi government should reconsider its distress decision," it said. Air India has an efficient workforce and it has the potential to emerge as one of the best air carriers in the world, it added. The government on Friday announced the Tatas as the winner in the bidding for Air India. The Tatas' winning bid was for Rs 18,000 crore. Also Read | Indian Aviation Guild welcomes Air India's takeover by Tatas The CPI(M)-backed Centre of Indian Trade Unions (CITU) condemned the Modi governments "anti-national decision" to hand over the national carrier, which is "one of the prides of India", to a "private monopoly house...virtually free of cost, rather on negative payment to national exchequer". The Group of Ministers headed by Home Minister Amit Shah has approved the deal for a "paltry sum" of Rs 18,000 crore. Out of this Tata would own the debt liability for Rs 15,300 crores and the rest of Rs.2700 crores alone would be paid as cash to the Centre. "The sale-deal with Tata envisages that the government will absorb the debt burden to the tune of Rs 46,262 crore out of the Rs 61,562 crore but the assets created by such debt would be handed over to Tata in lieu of only Rs 18000 crore. Besides this bonanza for Tata, as per this deal, Air India will give Tata access to more than a hundred planes, thousands of trained pilots, crew and lucrative landing and parking slots all around the world. This is nothing but a free gift," a CITU statement said. Also Read | Maharaja comes home: Chronology of Air India privatisation "It has demonstrated the worst ever perverted economic deal of this fascistic political dispensation having an organic nexus with corporate capital for frittering away national assets in favour of their corporate masters for the song," it said. Expressing concern over the fate of existing employees, the CITU said that Air India had 12,085 employees -- 8,084 permanent and 4,001 contractual workers. Air India Express 1,434 employees are working. "The deals mention only one year remaining. Then the rest of their service period would be at the mercy of Tata," it said. CITU urged the working class in general and its affiliated unions, in particular, to resist such "anti-national activities" of this government and "expose their anti-national credentials and pseudo-nationalistic postures along with these right reactionaries nexus with corporate capital". Watch the latest DH Videos here: Elon Musk is pulling away from the rest of the world when it comes to personal wealth. Musks net worth rocketed to $223 billion, according to the Bloomberg Billionaires Index, after an agreement with investors valued his SpaceX in excess of $100 billion. The deal gives Musk an additional $10.6 billion, thanks to his ownership of the rocket company that he founded in 2002 with the goal of colonizing Mars. Amazon.com Inc.s Jeff Bezos is No. 2 in the global ranking with $191.6 billion. Musk derives around three-quarters of his wealth from Tesla Inc., which he co-founded in 2003 after making a fortune from the sale of e-commerce site PayPal to eBay Inc. for $1.5 billion. The new SpaceX valuation comes a little more than a year after the Hawthorne, California-based company completed its first crewed test flight of astronauts to the International Space Station for NASA. It is now more valuable than Lockheed Martin Corp., the biggest pure-play defense contractor in the world. Bezos, Zuckerberg The worlds billionaires have been rapidly accumulating wealth as central banks pump liquidity into the global economy, even as millions remain jobless amid a fragile economic recovery. The 500 richest people have added $742 billion so far this year, according to the Bloomberg index. But even among ultra-billionaires, Musks surging personal fortune increasingly puts him in an orbit of his own. Bezos has seen little change to his wealth this year as Amazons stock has stagnated following an initial post-Covid surge. Bill Gatess fortune has shrunk as he transferred assets to ex-wife Melinda French Gates. Mark Zuckerbergs net worth plummeted by $6 billion in a matter of hours earlier this week after Facebook Inc. came under fire amid damaging whistleblower reports and an hours-long outage. Check out DH's latest videos From murder to rape to hit-and-run to extortion Bollywood has had its brush with law-enforcement agencies for over three decades. When Aryan Khan, the 23-year-old son of celebrity couple Shah Rukh Khan and Gauri Khan was arrested in a drugs case from on board a cruise ship last week, Bollywood was again in the spotlight for wrong reasons. One of the top stars to serve jail sentence is Sanjay Dutt - in connection for keeping a Kalashnikov assault rifle which was part of the consignment that landed ahead of the 12 March, 1993 Mumbai serial blasts case. A TADA court in Mumbai had convicted him which was upheld by the Supreme Court. Salman Khan was arrested in connection with a hit-and-run case registered in 2003, in which one person died and two others got injured. Salman was convicted by the Mumbai Sessions Court, however, the Bombay High Court acquitted him. The matter is currently in the Supreme Court. Salman was also arrested in the blackbuck poaching case. Saif Ali Khan, the 10th Nawab of Pataudi, Sonali Bendre, Tabu and Neelam were co-accused in the case. Recently, Salman at the premiere night of reality show Bigg Boss jokingly said: Jitni lifelines mujhe aur Sanju ko mili hai utni kisi ko nahi mili hai (no one has got the number of lifelines Sanju and I have received). On March 30, 2011, actor Shiney Ahuja was convicted by a Mumbai court for raping his house maid nearly two years back. He was ordered to undergo a jail term of seven years. He is currently out on bail. Another important case involves the Anand-family. Ketan Anand and Vivek Anand, the sons of legendary filmmaker Chetan Anand and nephews of Dev Anand and Goldie Anand, were accused of murdering Priya Rajvansh. She was the companion of Chetan Anand. Their motive was thought to be rights to her inheritance of Chetan Anands property. The four accused - Ketan and Vivek - and two employees - were convicted and sentenced to life imprisonment in July 2002. Small-time Bollywood actor Maria Susairaj was alleged to have killed TV executive Neeraj Grover. However, she was acquitted of murder charges. In 2011, she was found guilty of destroying evidence. Former naval officer Emile Jerome Mathew, the alleged fiancee of Kannada starlet Susairaj, got a jail term. Neeraj was stabbed several times by Mathew in a rented flat at Malad. Later Mathew and Maria disposed of his body in the jungles of Manor. The body was chopped beyond recognition. Bharat Shah, the leading diamond merchant, fell into trouble with his film Chori Chori Chupke Chupke (2001). It was financed by Shah and produced by Nasim Rizvi at the behest of Pakistan-based gangster Chhota Shakeel. Shah, was, however, acquitted in the case by the special MCOCA court. In September 2002, Monica Bedi was arrested along with fugitive underworld don Abu Salem by the Lisbon police for entering Portugal with forged documents. They served jail sentences in Portugal. After years of legal battle, they were deported to India on November 11, 2005, after India promised Portugal that Salem would not receive the death sentence. She was arrested in a passport forgery case. On November 9, 2010, the Supreme Court upheld her conviction by a lower court, however, reduced her sentence to the period of imprisonment she had already undergone (two-and-half years). Music composer Nadeem Saifi of the famed Nadeem-Shravan duo, was named as one of the accused behind the murder of music magnate Gulshan Kumar, owner of T-series. He was in England when his name cropped up. His passport was revoked, and to avoid arrest, he stayed in England. The House of Lords upheld the London High Courts decision against the extradition in the 1997 murder case, and turned down the Indian governments plea for review. On May 5, 2001, Fardeen Khan was arrested from the Juhu area for possession of cocaine from a dealer. The case proceeded before a special NDPS court. A few years ago, a court granted him immunity from prosecution in the case. However, the court made it clear that if he is arrested for a similar offence in the future, the immunity against him shall be withdrawn. Singapore will be extending its Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) scheme to eight more countries from October 19, allowing travellers who are fully vaccinated against the Covid-19 to enter the city-state without having to serve quarantine, media reports quoting the civil aviation authority said on Saturday. Fully vaccinated travellers from Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States will be able to enter Singapore under this arrangement from October 19, Channel News Asia reported, citing the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS). Also Read | UK eases travel advisory restrictions for more countries This expansion is being conducted in a "cautious and step-by-step manner" to help "reclaim and rebuild" Singapore's status as an international aviation hub with global connectivity, the CAAS said. "The vaccinated travel lanes would restore two-way quarantine-free travel between Singapore and the eight newly announced countries," Transport Minister S Iswaran said during a press conference on Saturday. This comes after the "experience and confidence gained" from the first two vaccinated travel lanes with Brunei and Germany, which were opened last month, the CAAS added. Also Read | Moderna aims to deliver 1 billion vaccine doses to low-income countries in 2022 On Friday, Singapore had announced another VTL with South Korea, starting November 15. On Saturday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong ruled out a complete lockdown, even as Singapore reported 3,590 infections on Friday, including 765 in migrant worker dormitories as well as six deaths. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Veteran Philippine journalist Maria Ressa on Saturday said her Nobel Peace Prize was for "all journalists around the world", as she vowed to continue her battle for press freedom. Ressa, co-founder of news website Rappler, and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov were awarded the prize on Friday for their efforts to "safeguard freedom of expression". "This is really for all journalists around the world," Ressa, a vocal critic of Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte, told AFP in an interview. "We do need help on so many fronts -- it is so much more difficult and dangerous to be a journalist today." Philippine press groups and rights activists hailed Ressa's award as a "triumph" in a country ranked as one of the world's most dangerous for journalists. Since Duterte was swept to power in 2016, Ressa and Rappler have endured what media advocates say is a grinding series of criminal charges, investigations and online attacks. Duterte has called Rappler a "fake news outlet", and Ressa has been the target of abusive messages online. Ressa, 58, said she hoped the prize would provide a protective shield for her and other journalists in the Philippines against physical attacks and online threats. "This 'us against them' was never the creation of the journalists, it was the creation of the people in power who wanted to use a type of leadership that divides society," Ressa said, describing the award "like a shot of adrenalin". "I hope this allows journalists to do our jobs well without fear." Also read: Philippine press freedom advocates hail Maria Ressa's Nobel Prize Ressa has been a staunch critic of Duterte and his government's policies, including a drug war that rights groups estimate has killed tens of thousands of mostly poor men. Rappler was among the domestic and foreign media outlets that published shocking images of the killings and questioned its legal basis. International Criminal Court judges have authorised a full-blown investigation into a possible crime against humanity during the bloody campaign. Other media outlets have fallen foul of Duterte, including the Philippine Daily Inquirer and broadcasting giant ABS-CBN, which lost its free-to-air licence last year. But Ressa said Rappler's independence meant it could fight back. "We have no other businesses to protect... so it's very easy for us to push back," she said. Ressa said seven legal cases, including tax evasion, still in the courts were "ludicrous" and she was determined to win. She is on bail pending an appeal against a conviction last year in a cyber libel case, for which she faces up to six years in prison. Two other cyber libel cases were dismissed earlier this year. "That abuse of power would have worked if I allowed the fear in my emotions and in my head to dominate our reaction -- the biggest challenge was always to conquer your fear," she said. "Being fearless doesn't mean not being afraid, it just means knowing how to handle your fear." The author of "How to Stand Up to a Dictator" hopes to get permission to travel to Norway to pick up her Nobel Prize. The Nobel Peace Prize sometimes recognises groundbreaking efforts to resolve seemingly intractable conflicts, such as once-sworn enemies who sat down and brokered an end to war. In other years, the recipient is someone who promoted human rights at great personal cost. The prestigious award also can serve as a not-so-subtle message to authoritarian governments and leaders that the world is watching. What does the selection of two journalists, Maria Ressa, 58, of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov, 59, of Russia, say about freedom of expression and the history of dissent in the countries of the 2021 peace prize winners? Also Read | Media groups welcome 2021 Nobel Peace Prize for journalists It is a battle for facts. When you're in a battle for facts, journalism is activism," Ressa said Thursday. Russia Dmitry Muratov is part of a historic cycle that links him to two other Russian winners of the Nobel Peace Prize. When Andrei Sakharov, a prominent Soviet nuclear physicist turned political dissident, received the prize in 1975, the Cold War was at its height and the Soviet Union seemed invincible. The country's Communist leaders tolerated no dissent. Five years after becoming a Nobel laureate, Sakharov's bold criticism of the Soviet regime got him sent into internal exile. Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev allowed Sakharov to return from the exile in 1986, and went on to win the 1990 Nobel Peace Prize for his efforts to end the Cold War. But while he was earning international accolades, Gorbachev was under attack from both members of the Communist old guard who opposed his reforms and democracy champions such as Sakharov who blamed him for being indecisive. The Soviet Union collapsed after a string of Soviet republics declared their independence and Gorbachev stepped down as president on Dec. 25, 1991. The former leader would use some of his Nobel Prize money to help a group of Russian journalists, including Muratov, buy computers and office equipment for their new independent newspaper in 1993. Gorbachev eventually became Novaya Gazeta's co-owner; Muratov was its editor from 1995 to 2017, and returned to the post in 2019. Under his leadership, the publication has become the country's top independent newspaper, broadly acclaimed internationally for its fearless reporting on the bloody separatist war in the Russian republic of Chechnya and official corruption. The paper has taken a consistently critical look at the rollback of post-Soviet freedoms during Russian President Vladimir Putin's more than two decades in power. Several Novaya reporters and contributors were killed. The paper's leading reporter, Anna Politkovskaya, who relentlessly covered human rights abuses in Chechnya, was shot dead in the elevator of her Moscow apartment building on Oct. 7, 2006. Also Read | Maria Ressa, Dmitry Muratov win Nobel Peace Prize A Moscow court convicted the gunman and three other Chechens in the killing, as well as a former Moscow police officer who was their accomplice. But on Thursday, the 15th anniversary of Politkovskaya's slaying, Muratov noted that the Russian authorities never tracked down the person who ordered it. Regrettably, there is no probe going on now, Muratov said in an interview with The Associated Press. We don't even know when an investigator last touched that criminal case. He vowed that the newspaper would continue working to track down the mastermind of Politkovskaya's killing on its own. Muratov also pledged to use his Nobel Prize to help independent Russian journalists. Many people in Russia voiced hope that the prize, by emphasizing global support for media freedom, would help restrain the government's multi-pronged crackdown on independent media. Philippines The Philippines was one of the few places in Asia where freedom of the press seemed assured when Maria Ressa and other journalists founded the online magazine Rappler in 2012. The government of long-time dictator Ferdinard Marcos had muzzled the media, imprisoned opponents and tortured activists. But after the 1986 people power revolution toppled Marcos, a myriad of newspapers, lively radio stations and closely watched TV channels sprang up to chronicle the new chapter in the Philippines. Their mission: delivering timely information to a Filipino population hungry for news. In the following years, the Philippines remained a dangerous place for journalists, a free-wheeling country where retaliatory violence often accompanied the freedom to speak up due to an abundance of firearms, legal impunity and political instability. It had one of the highest numbers of reporters killed each year. Then came the election of President Rodrigo Duterte in 2016. After campaigning on a promise to deal with widespread crime in, he launched a bloody crackdown on illegal drugs, enlisting police and unidentified gunmen who became the judge and jury for thousands of mostly poor suspects in Manila's sprawling urban slums. Rappler CEO Ressa and other staff members took to reporting the nighttime raids that left hundreds and then thousands dead in overwhelmed morgues. Police said they were acting in self-defense when officers gunned down alleged drug dealers. Few suspects were questioned in what human rights activists soon described as extrajudicial executions. As the death toll mounted, so did Rappler's stories, some of which suggested that weapons could have been planted on the people killed. In a Nov. 9, 2020, story, Rappler reporter Rambo Talabong quoted the last words of Vicent Adia, a 27-year-old man who was labeled a drug pusher and initially survived a vigilante execution only to be slain by a gunman at a hospital near Manila. According to Rappler, Adia had told his close friend, The police are about to kill me. Duterte's fury at journalists increased as well. The tough-talking president declared that corrupt journalists were not exempted from assassination. In 2016, it was really, really laughable. And I thought, Oh, doesn't matter.' I laughed, Ressa said in a 2020 interview, recalling her disbelief that the president would make good on his lethal threats in a country where democracy and human rights had been restored. Any hint of humor evaporated when she became a target. well. She was arrested and held for a night, prosecuted in a series of criminal cases and convicted of libel and tax evasion last year. She remains free on bail while the cases are on appeal, but faces up to six years in prison. At about the same time, Ressa began wearing a bulletproof vest because of threats. In the 2020 documentary A Thousand Cuts, by Filipino-American filmmaker Ramona S. Diaz, she is seen pleading with Facebook representatives to delete violent posts against her and and to remove livestreams of Duterte supporters protesting outside Rappler's offices. The Philippine government filed 10 arrest warrants against me. In the last year, the government has prevented my travel four times, including when my mother was diagnosed with cancer and I needed to go to see my aging parents, Ressa said in a Zoom interview after she won the Nobel Peace Prize. Duterte and other Philippine officials have said the criminal complaints against Ressa and Rappler were not a press freedom issue but a part of normal judicial procedures arising from their alleged violations of the law. In June, a Manila court dismissed a cyber-libel case against Ressa and Talabong arising from a complaint filed by a wealthy businessman. A 2012 Rappler article included allegations that the businessman was linked to illegal drugs and human trafficking, and that a car registered in his name had been used by the country's chief justice. The law under which Ressa was charged by the government, the Cybercrime Prevention Act, did not go into effect until months after the article' appeared. In August, another libel case also was dismissed. Several other cases remain. Ressa has pleaded not guilty to charges of breaching a ban on foreign ownership and control of media outlets in the Philippines, as well as tax evasion charges. You don't know how powerful government is until you come under attack the way we have. When all the different parts of government government work against you, it's kind of shocking, Ressa said. Check out DH's latest videos: Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane on Saturday did not rule out the possibility of Afghan-origin foreign terrorists attempting to infiltrate into Jammu and Kashmir once the situation stabilises in Afghanistan as he cited similar instances when the Taliban was in power in Kabul over two decades ago. At the same time, he said Indian armed forces are prepared to deal with any eventuality as they have a very strong counter-infiltration grid as well as a mechanism to check terrorist activities in the hinterland in Jammu and Kashmir. Asked at the India Today conclave whether there was any link between the spate of recent killings of civilians in Kashmir and the Taliban's capture of power in Afghanistan, Gen Naravane said it cannot be said whether there was a connection. Also read: China's continuous build-up matter of concern: Army Chief Gen MM Naravane "Definitely, there has been a spurt in activities (in Jammu and Kashmir) but whether they can be directly linked to what is happening in or happened in Afghanistan, we really cannot say," the Army Chief said. "But what we can say and learn from the past is that when the previous Taliban regime was in power, that time definitely we had foreign terrorists of Afghan origin in Jammu and Kashmir," he said. "So there are reasons to believe that the same thing might happen once again that once the situation in Afghanistan stabilises, then we could see an inflow of these fighters from Afghanistan to the Jammu and Kashmir," he added. The Chief of Army Staff said the Indian armed forces are fully ready to deal with any such attempts. "We are prepared for any such eventuality. We have a very strong counter-infiltration grid to stop them at the border. We have a very strong counter-terrorism grid in the hinterland to take care of any such actions. Just as we dealt with them in the early 2000s, we will deal with them now also should they venture anywhere near us," he said. There have been increasing concerns in the Indian security establishment over the possibility of terror spillover from Afghanistan into Jammu and Kashmir through Pakistan and rise in terrorist activities, particularly by groups such as Lashkar-e-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammed following the Taliban wresting power in Kabul. On the targeted killings in Jammu and Kashmir, the Army Chief said this is a matter of "concern" and described it as "reprehensible". Also read: Attacks on civilians in J&K aimed at dividing communities: Omar Abdullah "They do not want normalcy. It is a last-ditch attempt to stay relevant," he said referring to militant groups. "The people will revolt. If they (militants) say that they are doing all these for the people, then why you are killing your own people who are your support base. It is just an attempt to spread terror which is totally unacceptable," Gen Naravane said. About the ceasefire agreement between India and Pakistan, Gen Naravane said it was observed in "totality" for four months from February. "But from the end of July onwards to September and now the beginning of October, the sporadic incidents have again started. I think again, it is following the pattern of 2003 when it would start with one odd incident and rising to as good as not having a ceasefire," he said. "Over the last month or so, we are again seeing renewed attempts at infiltration. We have eliminated two or three such infiltration attempts," he added. In a sudden and significant move aimed at reducing tensions, the Indian and Pakistani armies on February 25 announced that they would cease firing across the LoC while recommitting themselves to a 2003 ceasefire agreement. "Apart from the infiltration bids, there have been three incidents of proper ceasefire violations that is one post firing at the other post," he said. Check out latest videos from DH: India on Saturday imposed a three month restriction on the export of three types of injection syringes apprehending a shortage for the Covid-19 vaccination scheme after ignoring syringe-makers repeated request on future planning and advance commitment to deal with such shortage in the worlds biggest adult vaccination programme. The Union Health Ministry said there would be a quantitative restriction on the export of three specific types of syringes and manufacturers are free to meet their international commitments with other types of syringes. Also read: UK eases travel advisory restrictions for more countries The three types of syringes prevented from export are (1) 0.5 ml/1 ml auto-disposable syringes; (2) 0.5 ml/1 ml/2 ml/3 ml disposable syringes and (3) 1 ml/2 ml/3 ml RUP (re-use prevention) syringes. The government clarification comes four days after the Directorate General of Foreign Trade on Oct 5 issued a statement saying the export policy for syringes with or without needles had been amended from free to restricted. This triggered sharp responses from the medical device industry because of the international orders they had. With the changed order, the 20 odd Indian manufacturers can export a total of 4 crore syringes per month, which is less than one-third of the normal export of such syringes per month. The DGFT would decide which company would export how many pieces. Also read: Moderna aims to deliver 1 billion vaccine doses to low-income countries in 2022 "This is at least a partial relief. Also we can export 0.3 ml syringes (needed for Pfizer-BNT vaccine) as per our COVAX commitment. But advance planning was needed from the government, which should have informed the manufacturers what the countrys requirements are, Rajiv Nath. chairman and managing director of Hindustan Syringes and Medical Device Ltd the worlds largest manufacturers of auto-disabled syringes told DH. Since last year Nath and a few others asked the health ministry to carry out early planning exercises taking the industry on board, so that the makers get adequate time to scale up their production. Such an approach is better than having tenders with two weeks time and a penalty clause, he said. Since December 2020, HMD supplied 48.4 crore auto-disabled syringes till the first week of October. Currently the company is executing three orders totalling another 31 crore syringes. There are three more supplies of auto-disabled syringes for the health ministry besides nearly 15 suppliers of disposable syringes. India has administered more than 94 crore doses of Covid-19 vaccine and the average daily vaccination currently stands at upwards of 70 lakh. But the target is to vaccinate 94 crore plus adults with two doses of Covid-19 shots. Check out latest coronavirus-related videos from DH: The military build-up by China in the eastern Ladakh region and new infrastructure development to sustain the large-scale deployment are matters of concern and India has been keeping a close watch on all the activities by the Chinese PLA, Chief of Army Staff Gen MM Naravane said on Saturday. He said if the Chinese military maintains the deployment through the second winter, it may lead to an LoC-like situation (Line of Control) though not an active LoC as is there on the western front with Pakistan Also read: 'Indian, Chinese troops briefly engaged in face-off in Tawang sector last week' The Chief of Army Staff said if the Chinese military continues with its deployment, the Indian Army too will maintain its presence on its side which is "as good as what the PLA (People's Liberation Army) has done". Indian and Chinese militaries have been on a standoff in several areas along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in eastern Ladakh for nearly 17 months though both sides disengaged from a number of friction points this year following a series of talks. "Yes, it is a matter of concern that the large-scale build-up has occurred and continues to be in place, and to sustain that kind of a build-up, there has been an equal amount of infrastructure development on the Chinese side," Gen Naravane said at the Indian Today conclave. "So, it means that they (PLA) are there to stay. We are keeping a close watch on all these developments, but if they are there to stay, we are there to stay too," he said. Gen Naravane said the build-up and the infrastructure development on the Indian side are as good as what PLA has done. "But what this would, especially if they continue to stay there through the second winter, definitely mean that we will be in a kind of LC (Line of Control) situation though not an active LC as is there on the western front," he said. "But definitely, we will have to keep a close eye on all the troop build-up and deployments to see that they do not get into any misadventure once again," the Army Chief said. To a question, Gen Naravane said it is difficult to understand why China triggered the standoff when the world was reeling under the Covid-19 pandemic and when that country had certain issues on its eastern seaboard. "While all that is going on, to sort of open up one more front is very difficult to understand or fathom," he said. "But whatever it might have been, I do not think they have been able to achieve any of those because of the rapid response done by the Indian armed forces," the Army Chief added. Asked to comment on the overall situation in eastern Ladakh, Gen Naravane referred to a recent statement by a spokesperson in the Ministry of External Affairs and said he had clearly mentioned that whatever has happened on the Northern border is because of the massive build-up by the Chinese side and the non-adherence to various protocols. "So that is very clear as to what was the trigger for all that which has happened," Gen Naravane said. The Army Chief said following the standoff in eastern Ladakh, Indian Army realised that it needs to do more in the area of ISR (intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance). "So that has been the thurst of our modernisation over the last one year. Similarly, other weapons and equipment that we thought we need for future, those have got our attention also," he said. The border standoff between the Indian and the Chinese militaries erupted on May 5 last year in eastern Ladakh following a violent clash in the Pangong lake area. Both sides gradually enhanced their deployment by rushing in tens of thousands of soldiers as well as heavy weaponry. As a result of a series of military and diplomatic talks, the two sides completed the disengagement process in the Gogra area in August. In February, the two sides completed the withdrawal of troops and weapons from the north and south banks of the Pangong lake in line with an agreement on disengagement. Each side currently has around 50,000 to 60,000 troops along the LAC in the sensitive sector. Check out latest DH videos here: A Delhi court on Saturday took cognisance of a charge sheet by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against businessman and Avantha Group of companies promoter Gautam Thapar and 20 others in connection with Rs 500 crore money laundering case. Special judge Sanjeev Aggarwal summoned the accused persons and companies on five dates from October 20 to November 30, noting that the presence of such a large number of accused persons and their counsels on a single date may not be conducive for adhering to the Covid SOPs. "I hereby take cognisance of offence as there are sufficient grounds to proceed against the accused persons arraigned in the present complaint," the judge said. The final report, filed by ED's Special Public Prosecutor N K Matta, alleged that the accused committed criminal breach of trust, cheating, criminal conspiracy and forgery for diversion and misappropriation of the public money from 2017 to 2019 and caused loss to the tune of Rs 466.51 crore to YES Bank. Thapar, 60, was arrested under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) on August 3 after the agency carried out raids against him and his linked businesses in Delhi and Mumbai. He is currently in judicial custody. The ED was probing an alleged transaction between his company Avantha Realty, Yes Bank co-founder Rana Kapoor and his wife, who are already being investigated under the PMLA by the agency. The case of money laundering was filed by the ED after taking cognisance of an FIR lodged by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The FIR lodged by the CBI alleged that Rana Kapoor, then MD and CEO of Yes Bank Limited, obtained illegal gratification in the form of a property in a prime location in Delhi, at much less than the realisable market value, belonging to Avantha Reality Ltd for sanction of a loan to ARL and for extending concessions, relaxations and waivers in the already existing credit facilities provided to Avantha Group companies and for advancing new and additional loans to them. The CBI had last year booked Kapoor and his wife Bindu for allegedly obtaining a bribe of Rs 307 crore through the purchase of a bungalow in a posh Delhi area from a realty firm at half the market price and facilitating around Rs 1,900 crore bank loans to it in return. The CBI suspected that the discounted transaction for the 1.2 acre-bungalow on Amrita Shergill Marg in Delhi was a gratification to Kapoor through the company Bliss Abode Pvt Ltd in return for non-realisation of over Rs 1,900 crore in loans from Yes Bank to Avantha Realty and group companies. In June, 2021 the CBI had booked Thapar and others in a fresh case of fraud of Rs 2,435 crore in the State Bank of India (SBI) and other banks to probe an alleged fraud case at the CG Power and Industrial Solutions. Watch latest videos by DH here: Sounding the poll bugle for the Assembly polls in Manipur slated for early next year, BJP president J P Nadda on Saturday exuded confidence that the saffron party would retain power for the second term given the development work since 2017 including introduction of the Inner Line Permit (ILP) system. "From the atmosphere of strikes, bomb blasts and insecurity, Manipur is now on the mainstream of development because people elected BJP-led government at the right time in 2017. Manipur is now taking the lead in Atmanirbhar Bharat campaign in the Northeast. The N Biren Singh government not only brought peace but also united the communities and brought stability. We also ensured that identity and cultural heritage of the state remains protected by introducing the ILP," Nadda said while addressing a public rally in Bishnupur. Nadda began his two-day visit to Manipur to take stock of the party's strategy and preparation for the Assembly elections slated in February-March next year. ILP, under which outsiders needs to take travel permission was a long demand in Manipur till 2019 when the Centre approved it. ILP is already in place in Nagaland, Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh. BJP formed its first government in Manipur in 2017 with the support of National People's Party (NPP) and Naga People's Front (NPF). But Biren Singh government faced a crisis in June last year when 9 MLAs including three from BJP walked out of the government. The crisis, however, was put to rest after four NPP MLAs were convinced to stay with the government. Sources in BJP in Manipur said Nadda is also likely to meet the MPs, senior MLAs and leaders of the coalition partners during his two day stay. During his speech on Sagurday, Nadda highlighted the implementation of the government schemes such as construction of 2.6 lakh toilets in Manipur, opening of 10 lakh bank accounts, 1.56 lakh LPG connections, 1 lakh electricity connections, Ayushman Bharat scheme, super-speciality hospital, construction of new all-women markets, CM's scheme to reach out to the hills districts and others. He also attacked the Opposition Congress saying the party failed to establish peace, unite the communities and bring development in the state. Nadda's confidence about retaining power assumes importance given a recent survey that claimed that BJP would face a tough battle in Manipur in 2022. Watch latest videos by DH here: Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu said on Saturday the visible transformation of the northeast is a clear evidence of resurgence in the region's pace of development which remained neglected for decades. Addressing a special session of the Arunachal Pradesh legislative assembly, Naidu, while describing the transformation as "NER in NER (The new era of resurgence in the north-eastern region)", said a new sense of direction and a distinct acceleration in the pace of development has begun. "The setting up of the North-Eastern Council (NEC) in 1971 under an Act of Parliament marked a departure from the earlier approaches as it set in motion coordinated actions and policies for the development of the region. This resulted in significant gains but not enough to realise fully the potential of the region and its people," he said. The announcement of the 'Look East Policy' in the 1990s set the tone for integrated economic development of the region by forging connectivity with the neighboring nations, Naidu said. He said the policy got further thrust at the beginning of the century, when taking note of the gulf between the intentions and actions on the ground, the 'Act East Policy' was launched with a new intent and energy. "Prime Minister Narendra Modi while pronouncing the Act East Policy in 2014 underlined that the northeast region would be its fulcrum under which the region would emerge as an effective growth engine for shared benefits," he said, adding culture, commerce, connectivity and capacity building will propel the policy. Naidu said the Centre has also been making sincere and dedicated efforts to end violence in the region by finding solutions to the legacy problems after talking to all concerned. "As a result, there has been substantial improvement in the security scenario in the region. Compared to 2013, the insurgency related incidents declined by 70 per cent, civilian deaths by 80 per cent and casualties of security forces by 78 per cent in 2019. Signing of the path-breaking Karbi Anglong and Bodo Agreements recently clearly indicates our collective commitment to heralding peace in the region," he said. He said, in the past, the problems of inadequate infrastructure and rising insurgency prevented private investment from flowing into the region which deepened the development deficit. Moreover, he said, inadequate and inequitable development widened disparities among the people, especially in a region with wide ethnic diversity. "Sustainable development can occur only if we can make it people-centric and environment sensitive. Democracy presupposes a central role for people's active involvement in shaping their own destiny. Effective participation of communities in framing and execution of policies and projects is hence very important," the vice president said. Naidu said Arunachal Pradesh and other northeastern states have resolved to make a break from such a past so as to script a new future by molding the present in that direction. The plethora of infrastructure projects completed and in progress, and the evidence of socio-economic development is a clear indication of that, he said. "A report of the Indian Chamber of Commerce published in 2013 had stated that the northeastern region, which is heavily dependent on agriculture and services sectors, stands way below in comparison to the rest of India in socio-economic indicators. But there seems to be a major difference now," Naidu said. The vice president said, in pursuit of its commitment to transforming the socio-economic development of the region, the Centre has undertaken several initiatives and interventions over the last 7 years. The gross budgetary support has been raised from Rs 36,000 crore for 2014-15 to over Rs 60,000 crore for 2021-22, marking an increase of 90 per cent. To promote employment, 1.07 crore loan accounts were sanctioned with allocation of Rs 48,868 crore under the Pradhan Mantri Mudra Yojna for the region, while 24,455 units were set up under the PM's Employment Generation Programme to provide employment to 2 lakh people during 2017-20, Naidu said Under the Start-Up India Scheme, 3,449 SC and ST women beneficiaries were sanctioned Rs 715 crore, while 98,569 micro and small enterprises were sanctioned Rs 4,685 crore under Credit Guarantee Trust Fund, he said. Altogether 108 air routes, including tourism routes were, sanctioned for the region under the UDAN scheme and 44 of them have been operationalised. Over 190 road projects have been sanctioned for the region, including 50 in Arunachal Pradesh, from the Central Road and Infrastructure Fund, Naidu said. Naidu said Niti Ayog has come out with the North-Eastern Region Sustainable Development Goals Index and Dashboard - 2021-22 for 103 districts of the region to enable focused interventions based on identified gaps. The region as a whole has done well in respect of some goals like the 'Life on the Earth' and 'Clean Water and Sanitation' but needs to focus on other important goals like 'Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure' and 'Quality Education', he added. He said the state government in conjunction with the Centre has to ensure eradication of extreme poverty, reduce regional disparities, achieve gender equality and bring about socio-economic transformation. "We should continuously enrich human capabilities by upgrading the skills of our youth, improving the quality of education and focusing on improving health care systems. Our existing governance structures need to be revamped by making them more responsive and citizen-friendly through greater transparency, accountability and zero tolerance for corruption. "Greater digitalisation can certainly make this transformation possible by reducing needless delays, diversion and dilution," Naidu said. Arunachal Pradesh, he said, has the potential to become the fruit basket of India due to its natural resource endowments. The frontier state can also become a global tourism destination because of its enchanting landscape, Naidu said, adding the state can emerge as a sustainable powerhouse if its 58,000 mega watt hydro power potential is utilised. The vice president also released a coffee table book on the occasion and dedicated Dorjee Khandu Auditorium to the people. Watch latest videos by DH here: Climate activist Disha Ravi on Saturday claimed the government was "diluting" environmental laws by proposing amendments to the Forest Conservation Act and that this "trend" started with the changes made to Environment Impact Assessment rules last year. The 23-year-old activist, who was arrested in February in connection with a 'toolkit' on farmer protests, also said indigenous people, tribals and environmental defenders are hurt every single day for the very work that will protect everyone. Also Read | India, US have parallel views on how to deal with major global challenges: Jaishankar "People often say the open forest cover is increasing. However, if you look at that data closely, you'll see that the definition of 'open forest cover' is so vague that it can even include 30-40 trees planted close together in a park. This vagueness in definition allows data to be manipulated," Ravi said during a discussion at India Today Conclave. "With the reforms proposed in the Forest Conservation Act (FCA), 1980, the government is diluting India's environmental laws. A lot of projects won't need the approvals they needed earlier. This trend was started with the changes made to the Environment Impact Assessment rules last year," she said. On October 2, the Centre sent all states a copy of the proposed amendments to FCA, seeking their objections and suggestions within 15 days. Also read | Google to ban ads on climate denial next to content According to the proposal, land acquired by the railways and the road ministries before 1980, but on which forests came up, will no longer be considered forests. The Centre also proposes to do away with the requirement of prior government approval for the development of border infrastructure on forest land, saying it causes delays in the implementation of critical projects. Ravi said the fact that indigenous people, Adivasis and environmental defenders are "hurt every single day for doing the very work which will protect all of us makes me concerned". "One example is Hidme Markram, an Adivasi woman who was arrested on Women's Day this year for protesting against coal mines which we all know is bad for us for several reasons," she said. Also Read | 6-year-old Indian-origin girl wins UK PMs award for climate campaign According to reports, Chhattisgarh police had arrested Markram, 30, from Dantewada district on charges of being a member of the banned outfit CPI (Maoist). Ravi said she got involved in environmental protection because her grandparents, who were farmers, had to suffer through a water crisis. "My mother would actually carry water before going to school," she said. "Environment activism is about humans because we are all part of it. It's the Earth defending itself," the activist said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla on Saturday said India has to be prepared to deal with any contingency that may arise out of a more volatile Afghanistan and that the situation in the neighbouring country could exacerbate due to the humanitarian crisis and a lack of governance. In an interactive session at the India Today Conclave, he also said that India, like many other countries, is willing to provide humanitarian assistance to the people of Afghanistan. "As far as humanitarian assistance is concerned, we, like many other members of the international community, have said that we separate what is in the welfare of the people of Afghanistan from the actions of the present dispensation in power," the foreign secretary said. Also Read | Biden admin far away from recognising Taliban govt in Afghanistan, US tells India Explaining New Delhi's security concerns following the developments in Afghanistan, he said India would like to do everything possible to ensure that the situation in the neighbouring country does not impact it adversely. "We are already seeing some impact of some of this situation. Whether there is a direct linkage or not, we are not sure," Shringla said without elaborating. "But there are concerns out there and we have to be able to use our instruments of diplomacy or every instrument available to us to ensure that we are insulated from the impact of such outcomes that could be detrimental to our interests," he added. The foreign secretary said that India has to be prepared to deal with contingencies that may arise out of a more volatile Afghanistan and the situation could exacerbate due to the humanitarian crisis and a lack of governance. He said that India would also have to guard against those forces that may want to use the situation to the detriment of others. Shringla also mentioned the visit to Kabul by a top ISI official ahead of the government formation in Afghanistan. "We have seen the formation of a government that is far from inclusive and representative. We have seen the DG (director-general) of the ISI go there (Kabul) and facilitate a government that has 35 members of the cabinet who are designated individuals in the UN Security Council list," he said. "So that's not a great start. We have to carefully see how the situation develops. The international community has significant leverages," the foreign secretary added. To a question on India's engagement with the Taliban, Shringla referred to Indian envoy to Qatar Deepak Mittal's meeting with Taliban leader Sher Mohammad Abbas Stanekzai in Doha in late August. "We have got some reassurances and some sense of how they (the Taliban) would like to see our involvement. I think they were quite positive in terms of our continued engagement on the development front and in retaining our diplomatic presence but what is important also is that we need to watch carefully how the situation on the ground unfolds," he said. Asked about the possibility of improvement in India's ties with Pakistan, Shringla said unless the basic core issue of terrorism emanating from the neighbouring country is dealt with, "I think we will not see much forward movement in the relationship." Watch the latest DH Videos here: India saw a single-day rise of 19,740 Covid-19 infections, taking the country's total tally of cases to 3,39,35,309, while the number of active cases has declined to 2,36,643, the lowest in 206 days, according to Union health ministry data updated on Saturday. The death toll has climbed to 4,50,375 with 248 more fatalities, the data updated at 8 am stated. The daily rise in new coronavirus cases has been below 30,000 for 15 straight days, the ministry said. The active cases have declined to 2,36,643 and comprise 0.70 per cent of the total infections, the lowest since March last year. The national Covid-19 recovery rate has been recorded at 97.98 per cent, the highest since March last year, it said. There has been a decrease of 3,578 cases in the active Covid-19 caseload in a span of 24 hours, the ministry's data stated. The daily positivity rate has been recorded at 1.56 per cent. It has been less than three per cent for the last 40 days, it said The weekly positivity rate has been recorded at 1.62 per cent. It has been below three per cent for the last 106 days, according to the health ministry. The number of people who have recuperated from the disease has surged to 3,32,48,291, while the case fatality rate has been recorded at 1.33 per cent, it said. The cumulative doses administered in the country so far under the nationwide Covid-19 vaccination drive has exceeded 93.99 crore. India's Covid-19 tally had crossed the 20-lakh mark on August 7 last year, 30 lakh on August 23, 40 lakh on September 5 and 50 lakh on September 16 last year. It went past 60 lakh on September 28, 70 lakh on October 11, crossed 80 lakh on October 29, 90 lakh on November 20 and surpassed the one-crore mark on December 19 last year. India crossed the two crore cases on May 4 and three crore cases on June 23. Check out DH's latest videos An energy crisis is looming in some states, including Delhi and Punjab, due to a combination of factors such as excess rainfall hitting coal movement and imported coal-based power plants generating less than half of their capacity due to record-high rates. In a year when the country produced record coal, rains hit movement of the fuel from mines to power generation units, impacting power generation in many states, including Gujarat, Punjab, Rajasthan, Delhi and Tamil Nadu. While power producers and distributors have warned of blackouts as generation units are running with coal stocks of as low as two days, the Coal Ministry said that the country has adequate coal stocks and low inventory does not mean generation will stop as stocks are being continuously replenished. Also Read | Coal shortage: Punjab's power plants run at reduced capacity, power cuts imposed Another factor that has contributed to the present crisis is power plants that used imported coal to generate electricity, have either curtailed generation or completely stopped as a spurt in international energy prices has made it difficult for them to meet the commitments to states at a particular rate. Tata Power, which has signed contracts to supply 1,850 MW of electricity to Gujarat, 475 MW to Punjab, 380 MW to Rajasthan, 760 MW to Maharashtra and 380 MW to Haryana from its imported coal-based power plant at Mundra in Gujarat, has stopped generation. Adani Power's Mundra unit too is facing a similar problem. Power plants across the country regulated generation after stock ran low. Against the requirement of maintaining 15 days to 30 days of stocks, over half of the country's 135 coal-fired power plants, which in total supply around 70 per cent of the nation's electricity, have fuel stocks of less than two days, as per the data from the grid operator. Also Read | India tweaks policy to use biomass pellets in coal-fired power plants The Coal Ministry, however, said the stocks being reported by power plants are rolling stock, which means stocks are being replenished on a day by day basis. "There are about 40 million tonnes of coal stock at the mines and another 7.5 million tonnes at power plants," a top ministry official said. "Evacuation from mines to power plants has been an issue as due to excessive rains mines get flooded. But this is now being sorted out and supplies to power plants are rising." Tata Power Distribution Ltd (TPDDL), which supplies electricity to parts of the national capital, on Saturday warned of intermittent rotational power cuts as units supplying electricity to Delhi discoms have coal stocks to meet generation requirements for 1-2 days, its CEO Ganesh Srinivasan said. Also Read | Coal crisis: India left with few options to avoid power crunch Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal shot off a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi over "a power crisis" Delhi could face. "I am personally keeping a close watch over the situation. We are trying our best to avoid it," Kejriwal said. "We have stopped generation at Mundra as the high cost of imported coal is making it impossible to supply under present PPA terms," a Tata power spokesperson said. Adani Power did not immediately offer any comments on the issue. Electricity supplies in Punjab, Rajasthan, Tamil Nadu, Jharkhand, Bihar and Andhra Pradesh to have been impacted due to the coal crisis. Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) too cited the same reason for imposing rotational 3-4 hour load shedding at several places in the state. PSPCL said two units each at Talwandi Sabo power plant, Ropar plant and one unit at the Lehra Mohabbat, 475 MW plant have been shut. Also Read | Odisha industries facing coal crisis, seek CM's intervention Rajasthan is resorting to one-hour power cuts on a daily basis. The Tamil Nadu Generation and Distribution Corporation (Tangedco) said that power will be suspended in parts of Chennai for carrying out maintenance work in the city. Jharkhand and Bihar are also among the worst affected by the coal shortage. In Andhra Pradesh, acute supply shortfalls were pushing it towards unscheduled power cuts, adding that crops could dry up if there is no electricity to power irrigation pumps. "More water is required in the last stage of harvesting and if it is denied, fields would dry up and farmers stand to lose," Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy said in a letter to the Prime Minister. Also Read | Power generation hit at Karnataka's thermal plants as coal supply dips In Odisha, the industry was facing a coal shortage and had petitioned the state government to ensure an adequate supply of the fuel. The crisis facing states has been in the making for months. As India's economy picked up after a deadly second wave of Covid-19, demand for power rose sharply. Electricity consumption has jumped almost 17 per cent in the last two months alone when compared to the same period in 2019. At the same time, global coal prices increased by 40 per cent and India's imports fell to a two-year low. The country is the world's second-largest importer of coal despite also being home to the fourth-largest coal reserves in the world. Power plants that usually rely on imports are now heavily dependent on Indian coal, adding further pressure to already stretched domestic supplies. Watch the latest DH Videos here: India and the United States discussed the possibility of expanding bilateral defence cooperation further to new domains, including space, cybersecurity, artificial intelligence and counter drone technology. Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and the United States Under Secretary of Defence for Policy, Colin Kahl, co-chaired the 16th meeting of the India-US Defence Policy Group (DPG) in Washington. They exchanged views on regional issues of shared interest, including in South Asia and the Indian Ocean Region. They also discussed opportunities for enhanced cooperation with like-minded partners to sustain a free and open Indo-Pacific, according to a spokesperson of the US Department of Defence. The Defence Policy Group is the apex official-level mechanism between the Ministry of Defence of India and the US Department of Defence to comprehensively review and guide all aspects of bilateral defence cooperation. Kumar and Kahl agreed to encourage both the private and government stakeholders to utilise the existing innovation ecosystems in defence industries for co-development and co-production. They welcomed the cooperation in new domains, such as space, Artificial Intelligence, cyber and counter Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (drone) technologies. They also reviewed the preparation for the next India-US 2+2 dialogue, which External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh will hold with their counterparts US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Secretary of Defence Lloyd Austin in Washington later this year. Watch latest videos by DH here: Union Minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra on Saturday appeared before the special investigation team (SIT) formed in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case. However, Police officials at the spot refused to comment on the ongoing interrogation. A nine-member team headed by DIG Upendra Agarwal has been formed to investigate the FIR lodged against the minister's son and others. Stay tuned to DH for more updates... Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Saturday took a dig at Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra for sweeping the floor when she was detained recently in Uttar Pradesh, asking how this could be news as cleaning a room is part of anyone's daily household chores. Participating in the India Today Conclave 2021 here, Sarma said India has changed and people will not pay attention to such "stage-managed" acts of politicians. Also read: Priyanka picks up broom in Dalit hamlet as Yogi says people have made Cong worth doing that only "I don't know how come a lady sweeping the floor could be news. This is a common household practice in every family of India. I have seen my mother sweeping the floor. Have you not seen your mother sweeping the floor?" he asked. The chief minister said the act of Priyanka Gandhi, during her detention in Uttar Pradesh, was "staged-managed" otherwise how come a photographer was present there to shoot the video. Priyanka Gandhi was detained at Sitapur in Uttar Pradesh early on Monday when she was on her way to Lakhimpur Kheri to meet the families of farmers who were killed after a convoy of vehicles ran over them on Sunday. Ashish Mishra, the son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra, was allegedly in that convoy and police have registered a murder case against him for the incident. During the detention at a police guesthouse in Sitapur, Priyanka Gandhi was seen in a video sweeping the floor. On Friday, the Congress leader made a surprise visit to a Dalit hamlet in Lucknow and picked up a broom to clean it. Replying to a question on the Assam government's move to evict encroachers from government land, the chief minister said eviction process, be it against indigenous people or migrant Muslims, will continue according to the state government's land policy. "We cannot allow 1,000 families to grab 77,000 acres of land. Eviction is an ongoing process," he said. Deaths of two people and desecration of one of the bodies during an eviction drive in Assam's Darrang district recently were condemned by individuals, political parties and social groups. Sarma said that many people in Assam, since pre-Independence days, believe that migrant Muslims are the root cause of many problems like the encroachment of land and losing the culture and identity by the indigenous people. He said efforts should be made by migrant Muslims to remove such beliefs of the indigenous people. Asked about his controversial comments that he does not want the votes of migrant Muslims, the chief minister said he knows that the community does not vote for the BJP and that is why he does not want to spend time wooing them. "I have made a deal. They will not vote for us. So, I will not campaign in their areas. But I will carry out all development works in their areas," he said. Sarma also gave an example saying out of the seven lakh free houses to be constructed in Assam, 4.5 lakh will be of migrant Muslims. Check out latest DH videos here: BSP supremo Mayawati on Saturday promised not to derail the ongoing work of the BJP government in Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura and other religious places if voted to power. Claiming that the BJP governments works in the three holy cities are only the follow-ups of her government's initiatives, Mayawati went on to promise, in what is being seen as a subtle shift towards soft Hindutva ahead of the Uttar Pradesh assembly polls, to complete all those work on time. She made the promise while addressing the 15th death anniversary of BSP founder Kanshi Ram here and asserting that if voted to power, she will not indulge in misappropriating the credit for work done by the preceding governments like the SP and the BJP regimes. Also Read | EC should ban pre-poll surveys by media outlets 6 months before elections: Mayawati "The BSP, if voted to power, will not stop the developmental work of the current BJP government, which followed the footsteps of the BSP, in Ayodhya, Varanasi, Mathura and other religious places, said Mayawati. The unfinished works will not be stopped with a feeling of vengeance but will be completed," she promised. The drama of changing names of the work done by other governments will not be done by the BSP like the Samajwadi Party and the Bhartiya Janata Party did, she said. All the works of their governments will be honestly reviewed. The work which is appropriate and in the public interest will definitely be taken ahead of and finished on time," she added. Apart from the construction of a massive Lord Rama temple, a multi-pronged developmental work, including the construction of an international airport, is going in Ayodhya. Also Read | Congress in dilemma as regional parties train guns Developmental work in form of the construction of the Kashi Vishvanath corridor project is going on in Varanasi while several beautification projects have been undertaken for Mathura and Vrindavan. Earlier while addressing a Brahmins conclave organised by the party on September 7, Mayawati had also promised that rather than building statues and memorials, she would, if voted power, focus on changing the face of Uttar Pradesh through developmental works. In the run-up to the Punjab assembly elections, which the BSP has decided to fight in alliance with Shiromani Akali Dal, Mayawati also took a dig at the Congress over the appointment of a Dalit chief minister in the state. Despite trumpeting about making a Dalit the Punjab chief minister and dramatics to woo the Sikhs, people of that community cannot forget the pain of the anti-Sikh riots under its rule, she said. She also lashed at the Aam Aadmi Party accusing its government in Delhi of doing little in facilitating the movement of UP-bound migrant workers to their native state during the Covid lockdown. She also dismissed the AAPs promise of providing free power and water in UP and Punjab as promises made in the air. Also Read | Assembly Elections 2022: Survey predicts BJP to win in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Manipur Addressing the function at Kanshi Ram Smarak Sthal, the BSP chief also demanded a Bharat Ratna the BSP founder. Insinuating that media houses take up pre-poll surveys only to influence popular mandate, Mayawati said she would soon write to the Election Commission of India to ban pre-poll surveys by media for at least six months before the elections. Mayawati's remarks came a day after a news channel survey showed that the BJP is poised to win most of the UP assembly seats in 2022 and retain power. She also alleged that the BJP-led Centre and UP governments were misusing the state machinery to make the atmosphere in their favour for the elections in the most populous state. Also Read | Mayawati demands justice for family of 4-year-old Dalit girl found dead in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh "It is known to everyone that when these tactics do not work, the BJP will eventually give the election a Hindu-Muslim colour and try to take full political advantage in its garb. Elections have to be fought keeping this in mind," she said. Taking on the AAP for its pre-poll promises of providing free water and power etc in UP, Mayawati said, The BJP, SP and Congress along with the AAP, Shiv Sena and party of (Asaduddin) Owaisi are making various types of promises to the people of the state to get votes. There is no strength in these promises. This time, all the political parties are going to make more lucrative promises in their election manifesto. The people of the state should never be misled by those promises," she said. Elections for the 403-member UP assembly is scheduled for early next year. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Buffeted by two conflicting targets forging Opposition unity to take on the ruling BJP and save its own ship Congress is increasingly finding itself as a target of regional parties, some of whom are keen to take the lead Opposition role ahead of 2024 general elections. Two of Congress's prominent leaders Sushmita Dev and Luizinho Falerio, one each from the youth brigade and the team of veterans, joined Trinamool Congress in the past month, further depleting its strength in North East and Goa. The party's efforts to now induct fresh blood from outside, like Kanhaiya Kumar, has prompted another ally Rashtriya Janata Dal to call Congress "a sinking ship". TMC, which has poached a number of Congress leaders including a former MLA this month, has recently been repeatedly taking digs at Rahul Gandhi, with the latest being a reminder of Gandhi's defeat in Amethi in 2019 polls. Also Read | Advantage BJP in TMC vs Congress TMC has assiduously been projecting Mamata Banerjee as an alternative to Narendra Modi-led BJP in 2024 and its leaders have refused to attend many meetings of Opposition parties held by Rahul Gandhi and questioned his leadership umpteen times. Congress, which had lost its Opposition space first to TMC in West Bengal and then in Tripura, has alternated for a tie up with Banerjee's party and Left Front in the last two decades. West Bengal unit is divided on the issue. Rahul Gandhi inducted Kanhaiya, former JNUSU President and CPI's runner-up candidate from Begusarai (Bihar) in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls last month into Congress. The induction irked its lead ally in Bihar Lalu Prasad's RJD, which had declined to back Kanhaiya's candidature as a joint Opposition candidate in the last Lok Sabha polls. Political pundits had seen this then as an attempt by Tejashwi Yadav, who leads the Opposition in Bihar, to block the emergence of another popular youth leader. Congress, which was blamed for putting spokes in the Opposition's performance in the 2020 Assembly polls with its poor tally, has long-term interests in inducting Kanhaiya as it seeks to rebuild the party in a state where it is out of power on its own since March 1990. Congress had fought 70 assembly seats then but had won less than 20 seats, which led the RJD to accuse it of 'arm-twisting' and "spoiling" victory chances of the Mahagathbandhan. The party's dalliance with RJD and JDU in the last 30 years has not helped it grow and became a marginal force, many believe, advocating a go-alone policy. "This classical dilemma of Congress about going it alone or tying up with like-minded parties is an enigma that the party finds difficult to unravel. It's chicken and egg question for Congress, which is organisationally on a deathbed in states like Bihar and needs an immediate shot of power to stay on and hence, an alliance is required. But dependence on socialist allies has also taken away its space and somebody it has to go for a total shake-up and prepare for a long haul to reclaim its glory," says political analyst Rasheed Kidwai. Read | Congress, TMC lock horns in Twitter war Soon after the induction of Kanhaiya Kumar, RJD leader Shivanand Tiwari dismissed its importance likening him to "another Navjot Singh Sidhu" and calling Congress a "sinking ship" that has "no future". After the sharp reaction, RJD also unilaterally announced its candidates for two seats in the upcoming Assembly by-polls. Congress was quick to follow it up by announcing its own candidates for both the seats. Congress, which has been explaining that RJD was kept in the loop over Kanhaiya Kumar's induction in the party, has also maintained that Kanhaiya will be addressing at least 10 rallies during the by-polls. BJP in all glee is playing up the difference between the two allies and maintaining that RJD is jittery over attempts by the Congress to come out of its shadow. However, both allies know the need to stick together for big polls, hence, the meeting of Rahul Gandhi on Friday with RJD chief Lalu Prasad. A photo on social media showed the RJD chief clasping the hand of Rahul, engaged in an animated chat with the other hand raised towards him. Also Read | Is Prashant Kishor out to damage Congress outside Bengal? Lalu Prasad had shared excellent relations with Sonia and was among the first to have strongly defended her during the controversy raised by the BJP about her foreign origin. Apparently, the message was the larger Opposition unity remains unbreached even as the two allies contest Assembly bypolls in the state independently this time. Rahul Gandhi also visited former Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan's son Chirag Paswan on his father's death anniversary the same day, a development that came amid growing distance between Chirag and BJP after the Modi government inducted Chirag's rebel uncle Pashupati Kumar Paras as Union Minister. In the past, it was a personal visit of Sonia Gandhi to Ram Vilas Paswan (she had walked to her neighbour Paswan's residence then) that had got LJP into the UPA fold in 2004. But then, much water has flown down the Ganges since then and Congress already in a crisis of sorts, both electorally and internally, needs to do much more than the play of symbolism. The Congress on Saturday urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi to follow 'raj dharma' and sack Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra immediately to "help restore the glory of India and its democracy". Congress spokesperson Pawan Khera said that the country and its democracy have suffered a dent after farmers were allegedly crushed under the SUV belonging to the union minister. He said that it was only after Congress pressure that the government questioned the union minister's son Ashish Mishra, who is named as an accused in the FIR for allegedly running over his SUV over protesting farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday. Also Read | Lakhimpur Kheri: Congress to hold 'maun vrat' protest on Monday Four farmers reportedly died after the SUV ran over them and four others lost their lives in the violence post the incident. Khera alleged that the might of Uttar Pradesh and the central governments only applies to the poor, the weak and the helpless and not on powerful people and that is the reason why the union minister's son has not yet been arrested. He urged Prime Minister Modi to follow 'raj dharma', saying as chief minister he had ignored the advice of the then prime minister Atal Bihari Vajpayee after the Gujarat riots broke out in 2002. Read | Lakhimpur case: MoS Ajay Mishra's son questioned by SIT Khera also claimed Vajpayee as prime minister had written a letter to the chief secretary of Uttar Pradesh against Mishra seeking action. The Congress leader, however, did not elaborate what the matter was. "The advice to follow raj dharma, the advice given by Atal Ji to follow raj dharma was rejected by two people, one of them is a prime minister of India and the other is the minister of state for home," he told reporters. "If the prime minister has a sense of responsibility left towards protecting and upholding our democracy, he needs to sack the minister of state for home immediately. Only this way, we will be able to restore the lost glory of our democracy. He should follow 'raj dharma'. "We demand to sack off this minister immediately, India's image, we are all very conscious of our country's image, India's image is taking a dip," Khera said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee is trying to turn Congress to Congress (M) by inducing and alluring Congress leaders ahead of the 2024 Lok Sabha elections, senior Congress leader Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury alleged on Saturday. In an interview with The Indian Express, Chowdhury said Banerjee is becoming an "instrument of Modis hold on power." "She is driving a wedge in the opposition coalition. I would like to remind you that it was late Rajiv Gandhi who promoted her in the Congress hierarchy. Later, she got ministerial berths in Congress-led UPA," the state president of the Congress said. Accusing the Chief Minister of stabbing Congress in its back because of her political ambition, Chowdhury said, "Congress is a soft target because she still enjoys proximity with some Congress leaders." Also read: Mamata BJP's Trojan Horse, must be kept out of Opposition platform: Adhir Ranjan Chowdhury His comments came as the TMC has been inducting Congress leaders to bolster its national presence. Among the heavyweight Congress leaders who joined the TMC are Sushmita Dev and former Goa chief minister Luizinho Faleiro. The Congress leader, who has openly criticised the TMC supremo, accused the BJP of playing favourites by allowing TMC leaders to visit the Lakhimpur Kheri victims' families. "For the BJP, the carrot is for TMC, the stick for Congress," he said. "Mamata Banerjee was BJPs blue-eyed in the first NDA government where she got Railways portfolio. She had an alliance with BJP and it got two MPs from Bengal. The party was alien to people here. She must ask for pardon from the people of Bengal for invoking BJP in the state," he added. On the crisis in the party's Punjab unit, Chowdhury said that Amarinder Singh's popularity eroded over the past five years. "Singh said Sidhu is sentimental. I think he is as sentimental as Sidhu. 78 MLAs opposed him... there was no personal animosity. Sidhu is also a popular leader," the Congress leader told the publication. Check out latest videos from DH: Bharatiya Kisan Union leader Rakesh Tikait on Saturday said that he didn't consider those who killed BJP workers in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri as culprits as they only reacted to SUV running over protesters. Eight people were killed in the violence that broke out on October 3 after an SUV allegedly ran over a group of anti-farm law protesters who were demonstrating against the visit of Uttar Pradesh Deputy Chief Minister Keshav Prasad Maurya at Tikonia-Banbirpur road in Lakhimpur Kheri. Also Read | Lakhimpur violence a pre-planned conspiracy, allege farmers The dead included farmers, BJP workers and a journalist. "The killing of two BJP workers in Lakhimpur Kheri after a convoy of cars mowed down four farmers is a reaction to an action. I do not consider those involved in the killings as culprits," Tikait said in reply to a question asked during a press conference here. Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM) leader Yogendra Yadav said, "We are sad over the loss of lives, be it BJP workers or farmers. It was unfortunate and we hope justice is done." Also read: Ashish Mishra being interrogated by SIT Farmer leaders on Saturday demanded that Union Minister Ajay Mishra and his son be arrested in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence case, and said the incident was a "pre-planned conspiracy". Ajay Mishra should also be removed from the government as he started this conspiracy and is also protecting the culprits in the case, Yadav alleged during the press conference here. He also said that the SKM on October 15, which is Dusshera, will burn the effigies of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Home Minister Amit Shah to protest against the violence. Watch the latest DH Videos here: A Dalit man was allegedly beaten to death by a group of men in Rajasthan's Hanumangarh district over his love affair, police said on Saturday. Three people have been detained in this connection, they said. Taking strong note of the incident, Union Jal Shakti Minister Gajendra Singh Shekhawat hit out at the Congress-led state government for keeping silence on the matter. "Rahul ji, don't worry about Lakhimpur where Yogi ji has his governance and not your dear Gehlot ji. Show some courage to speak about the murder of Dalit youth in Prempura of Rajasthan so that people get to know how truthful you are?" he said in a tweet in Hindi. The incident took place on October 7 in Prempura area of Hanumangarh where the accused thrashed Jagdish with sticks until he died. The culprits also shot a video of the entire incident in which they are seen giving water to the victim to drink and then thrashing him repeatedly with sticks. The accused later dumped Jagdishs body outside his residence, police said. Meanwhile, the victims family members refused to take the body demanding early arrest of the accused and adequate compensation. According to police, the incident took place over the Dalit mans love affair. A case has been registered against 11 people. Three people -- Mukesh, Om Prakash and Hansraj -- have been detained and two teams have been constituted to nab the remaining accused, Pilibanga SHO Inder Kumar said. SDM Ranjeet Kumar on Saturday met the victims family members and convinced them to cremate the body. Watch latest videos by DH here: An organisation of Kashmiri Pandits said on Saturday that the targeted killings of minorities in Jammu and Kashmir are part of a terror plan to prevent them from returning to the Valley. Satish Mahaldar, chairman of reconciliation, return and rehabilitation of migrants, said in a statement on Saturday, "Recent killings of minority civilians in Kashmir is part of a well-planned terror action plot, at the core of which is to drive out remaining minorities in the Valley and create fear psychosis so that no one can return." Also Read | Kashmir civilian killings: Omar Abdullah appeals to minority community members not to leave Valley On October 2, 2021, when the whole world was observing non-violence day on Gandhi Jayanti, a temple was desecrated in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district namely Bargheshekha Bhagwati Mata Temple in the Mattan area of the south Kashmir district. On the same day, Makhan Lal Bindroo was shot dead by terrorists as he sat in his shop in Srinagar's Iqbal Park, an area dotted with police and paramilitary installations. "He was in love with Kashmir. He never wanted to leave Kashmir even when we urged him to leave. He would often say, 'I will give my life, but I won't leave'." Mahaldar said. Also Read | Those who perpetrated violence in Valley in last few days will pay dearly, says BJP national vice-president Bindroos were also among the Kashmiri Pandit families who had chosen to stay on in the Valley even after targeted killings had forced mass migration of the community in the 1990s. A terrorist group called The Resistance Front claimed responsibility for the killings of Bindroo and claimed he was "posing as a medical professional" and "conducting secret seminars" backed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh after serving Kashmiri people for nearly 32 years. Also Read | Kashmiri Pandits hold anti-Pakistan protests over killing of Bindroo by terrorists Terrorists also shot a principal and a teacher dead in a Srinagar school after separating Muslim and non-Muslim teachers. Another deceased was identified as Virendra Paswan, a native of the Bhagalpur district of Bihar who was residing in Alamgari Bazar, Zadibal. "Paswan was a street vendor by profession who used to sell bhelpuri in the Hawal area of Srinagar. The Resistance Front claimed responsibility for his killing also claiming that he was OWG for GoI agencies," Mahaldar further added. Also Read | Unabated civilian killings belie govts normalcy narrative in Kashmir Mahaldar also mentioned, "We had already intimated the GoI several times through media and otherwise that the launch of Migrant distress sales portal will trigger an anti-minority feeling in some quarters, especially in the Land Mafia." Premature and triumphant claims about normalcy in Kashmir got exposed two months ago when the LG was informed in writing by Kashmiri Pandits that there are rumours that minorities in Kashmir will be targeted. "Unfortunately, the LG's office and security agencies ignored our inputs "Despite the inputs to security agencies, the UT govt and GoI failed to provide security/protection to minorities of Kashmir. Now it is easier to politically use the plight of minorities/Kashmiri Pandits of Kashmir," Satish Mahaldar said. Watch the latest DH Videos here: An alleged rape victim on Saturday died by suicide after consuming some poisonous material here in protest against police inaction following which an SHO was suspended, officials said. The woman, a resident of a village under Mehnajpur police station area, was allegedly sexually assaulted recently. Her husband claimed that she had identified one Anil of the same village as one of the accused, but police failed to take any action in the matter, Superintendent of Police Sudhir Kumar Singh said. In-charge of the police station Chunna Singh has been suspended for negligence, he said. The victim's family alleged that they had appealed to the police many times for justice, but in vain. The woman reached the police station on Saturday and later consumed poison. She was rushed to a hospital where was declared brought dead, the SP said. The body has been sent for post-mortem examination, he said. The police added that a case has been registered against the accused. Watch latest videos by DH here: A petition has been sent to Chief of Justice of India N V Ramana against "target killings" of Hindu and Sikh minorities in Jammu and Kashmir. A Delhi-based advocate demanded adequate protection to minorities over there and Rs one crore compensation and a government job to the members of the recent victims. In his plea, lawyer Vineet Jindal said that in five days, seven civilians have been killed in Kashmir, including those from the Sikh and Hindu communities. Also Read | Wont attend to duties till govt ensures security: Kashmir Sikh body The target killings of Pharmacist Makhan Lal Bindroo, Supinder Kaur, Sikh principal of Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Sangam Eidgah area of Srinagar district, and Deepak Chand, a Hindu teacher of the same school has evoked a feeling of agony, fear and insecurity among the minorities of Hindu and Sikhs residing in Kashmir, his letter petition stated. The plea said that the targeted killing of the members of minority communities had once again reminded of the gory incident of massacre of 36 Sikhs in Chattisinghpora village of Anantnag in 2000. Many government employees who returned to the Valley after being given jobs under the Prime Minister's special employment scheme for Kashmiri migrants have quietly left accommodations with the fear of losing their lives and for the sake of their families well-being, it claimed. Also Read | Kashmiri Pandits say killings a terror plan to drive them out from valley Referring to Article 21 of the Constitution that no person shall be deprived of his life or personal liberty except according to a procedure established by law, the plea said the acts of killings called for an act of creating and adopting a comprehensive mechanism to secure the lives of the minorities. The plea asked the top court to give directions to the Centre to provide adequate security to Hindu and Sikh minorities in Kashmir on an immediate basis. It also demanding establishing a special delegated unit to structure and administer a system to ensure the safety and security of minority groups in Kashmir. It also asked the court to issue direction to a national agency to investigate the recent killing of Hindu and Sikh minorities, and also grant Rs one crore as compensation to the families of the victims along with a government job to one of the family members. Watch the latest DH Videos here: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday hosted Denmarks Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen the first foreign leader to visit India after the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic. Modi received Frederiksen at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan, where the Danish Prime Minister was accorded a ceremonial reception. We consider India as a close partner. I see this visit as a milestone for our bilateral relations, Frederiksen told journalists at the Rashtrapati Bhavan after Modi introduced her to the members of his council of ministers. Also read: Denmark is Indias very unique partner in growing back greener, says S Jaishankar The last such ceremonial reception at the forecourt of the Rashtrapati Bhavan took place in February 2020 for the then President of the United States, Donald Trump, on February 25, 2020, and for the then President of Myanmar, U Win Myint, on February 27, 2020. No foreign Head of Government or Head of State visited New Delhi in the past 18 months, as the world leaders preferred holding virtual meetings through video links in view of the Covid-19 pandemic. Modi resumed his foreign visits earlier this year with a two-day tour to Bangladesh on March 26 and 27. He visited the United States from September 22 to 25. The Prime Minister is also likely to visit Rome for the G-20 summit, which Italian Prime Minister Mario Draghi will host on October 30 and 31 next. | The first State Visit of 2021! Prime Minister @narendramodi welcomes Prime Minister of Denmark @Statsmin H.E. Ms. Mette Frederiksen and Mr. Bo Tengberg on their maiden visit to India, in a grand ceremony at the @rashtrapatibhvn. pic.twitter.com/vG8FGFEU9S Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) October 9, 2021 Modi and Frederiksen will hold a bilateral meeting at the Hyderabad House later on the day. They will also sign of some agreements between the two governments. The two Prime Ministers had a virtual summit on September 28 last year, when India and Denmark established a Green Strategic Partnership. The visit by the Danish Prime Minister will give the two sides an opportunity to discuss the entire gamut of bilateral relations and review the progress in implementation of the Green Strategic Partnership, Arindam Bagchi, spokesperson of the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), said in New Delhi. The two sides will also discuss regional and multilateral issues of mutual interest, he added. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday lauded health workers involved in taking Covid-19 vaccination to remotest corners of the country. He was responding to a tweet by Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya who had posted a video of health workers carrying the vaccines and navigating a tough terrain, and said their contribution in keeping the country safe will be remembered forever. Modi said, "This is just one example of the monumental effort put in by every stakeholder to ensure our fellow citizens get vaccinated. Kudos to each and every person who is making India's vaccination drive a success." Watch latest videos by DH here: Prime Minister Narendra Modi should for once express grief in Parliament over the death of around 750 farmers during the months-long anti-farm law protests on Delhi's borders, Bhartiya Kisan Union (BKU) leader Rakesh Tikait said on Saturday. He slammed the BJP-led Centre over the minimum support price (MSP) issue, and alleged that the government's assurance that the system would continue is "only on paper" and the farmers want it in reality. Participating in a discussion titled 'Seeds of Wrath: Fears and Facts: How to address the farm crisis' at the India Today Conclave 2021, BJP MP Rajendra Agarwal countered Tikait alleging the protest against the three Central agri laws appeared to be politically motivated. Read | Those who killed BJP workers in Lakhimpur not culprits, says Rakesh Tikait At the conclave, Tikait said, "Farmers are protesting to get an appropriate procurement price for their crops. The government claims the MSP has been there, is there and shall remain in place but the farmers want that in reality and not just on papers." "The protest by farmers has its entered 11th month. The government and the prime minister should for once speak in Parliament about the 750 farmers who have lost their lives during the protest," he said. The PM should express grief at the loss of the lives of farmers, said Tikait, who has been leading hundreds of BKU members and protestors at Ghazipur on the Delhi-Uttar Pradesh border since November 2020. However, Agarwal said Prime Minister Modi always speaks about the farmers and has spoken about them in Parliament. "The protest has entered its 11th month but there has been confusion about it all the time. There could be misunderstandings about the laws, but those have been debated on various platforms. The issue even reached the Supreme Court," the Lok Sabha MP from Meerut said. "I want to know just one point in the laws that they have an objection to. It (the protest) therefore appears to me not motivated by the interest of farmers but political agenda or political ambitions. The protest can be linked to some political parties," Agarwal said. All discussions about the laws have taken place and the Narendra Modi government is sensitive towards the farming community with a proven track record since 2014, he added. To a question that MSP has not been a legal guarantee during previous governments, Tikait replied that is why those parties are not in power now. "In 2011, a financial committee was set up with Narendra Modi, then chief minister of Gujarat, as chairman. It had recommended to the Centre that a law should be enacted guaranteeing MSP," the BKU leader claimed. "Today, Modi is betraying the country over something he had recommended," he alleged. Agarwal, the BJP leader from western UP, referred to Rakesh Tikait's father Mahendra Tikait, to highlight the woes of farmers and claimed the new laws have liberated them from mandis, allowing them to sell their crops anywhere. Tikait, however, insisted if Agarwal could define "anywhere". Hundreds of farmers are encamped at Delhi's borders points of Singhu, Tikri and Ghazipur since November 2020 with a demand that the Farmers' Produce Trade and Commerce (Promotion and Facilitation) Act, 2020, Farmers' (Empowerment and Protection) Agreement on Price Assurance and Farm Services Act, 2020 and the Essential Commodities (Amendment) Act, 2020 be rolled back and a new law made to MSP for crops. The protests are led by the Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of farmers unions. The Centre, which has held 11 rounds of formal dialogues with the farmers, has maintained that the new laws are pro-farmer. Watch latest videos by DH here: A 14-year-old boy was injured in an attack by a leopard at Aarey Colony in suburban Goregaon, police said on Saturday. This is the eighth such attack in the area by a leopard within a month, they said. Also read: Leopard rescued in nail-biting operation in Maharashtra's Pune district "The latest incident took place around 9 pm on Friday at unit number 13 of Aarey Colony, when the boy, Darshan Dravid, was walking with his friends in the area," a police official said. After being attacked by the leopard, Darshan cried for help and his friends rushed to rescue him. The feline left him and disappeared into the forest, he said, adding that the boy suffered injuries on his neck, mouth and head. Dravid was taken to a local hospital, from where he was shifted to Jogeshwari Trauma Care Hospital for further treatment, the official said. Check out latest videos from DH: By Leonid Bershidsky Theres plenty of symbolism to Russian editor Dmitry Muratovs Nobel Peace Prize. The media outlet he edits, Novaya Gazeta, started, in a way, with another Nobel Mikhail Gorbachevs: He spent part of his 1990 Peace Prize to buy computers for the Novaya start-up in 1993. The award also comes almost exactly 15 years after Novaya journalist Anna Politkovskaya was gunned down in Moscow; she was one of several at the publication to lose their lives as a result of their reporting. And yet, as much as Politkovskaya, for example, may have deserved such a distinction for her courageous coverage of the war in Chechnya, Muratovs prize meant to support independent Russian journalism at a time when President Vladimir Putins regime appears to be out to eradicate it sends entirely the wrong message. Also read: Maria Ressa, Dmitry Muratov win Nobel Peace Prize In 2019, Proekt, an independent Russian investigative project, published a long story about the unusual links between Sergei Chemezov, an old friend of Putins and head of the giant Rostec State Corp., and various liberals. The story alleged that Chemezov, who is also friendly with Muratov, had been funding Novaya via his business partner Sergey Adonyev; in exchange, a special approval procedure allegedly existed at the publication for stories about Chemezov and Rostec, and some Novaya journalists ended up publishing their exposes of the Putin crony elsewhere. Muratov flatly denied taking money from Chemezov or doing him any journalistic favors, but is quoted by Proekt admitting that Adonyev was a sponsor. Thats an interesting enough association, though. As part of its research into the Russian part of the so-called Pandora Papers, the investigative outfit Important Stories alleged that in 2012, Adonyev lent his yacht free of charge to Anton Vaino, soon to become Putins chief of staff; a long-standing Chemezov associate was allegedly along for the ride. Heres why I mention these two investigations. Proekt was banned by the Russian government earlier this year as an undesirable organization and its journalists were declared foreign agents; editor Roman Badanin was forced into emigration. Important Stories and its journalists have also been designated as foreign agents, making it near impossible for them to interview Russian officials. They are obliged to refer to the designation in every story and social media post and to account for every penny spent even for personal needs to the Russian Justice Ministry. This is what happens to independent journalists in 2021 Russia; Muratov dedicated his prize to the assassinated Novaya journalists and the foreign agents in the full knowledge that nothing of the kind can happen to him.Putins press secretary Dmitry Peskov commented thus on Muratovs Nobel: We can congratulate Dmitry Muratov, he has been consistently true to his ideals in his work. He is talented, he is courageous. And of course, this is a high distinction. We congratulate him. Asked whether Putin would send his personal greetings, Peskov replied, Give it time. When Russian-speaking Belarussian writer Svetlana Alexievich, a sworn enemy of the Putin regime, won a Nobel Prize for Literature in 2015 and immediately spoke about the Russian occupation of parts of Ukraine, Kremlin felicitations werent forthcoming. Im sure everyone is congratulating her on winning the Nobel prize, Peskov said then. But Svetlana probably lacks the information she would need for a positive assessment of the situation in Ukraine. Margarita Simonyan, editor-in-chief of the state propaganda channel RT, also congratulated Muratov, noting that he actively and passionately helps sick children. Indeed, Muratov pledged part of his prize to a charity foundation supporting children with rare diseases; the organization, Good Deeds Circle, was set up by Putins personal decree. It wont be an eye-opener for anyone if I say Russia is a complicated place. Muratov, for instance, also calls Konstantin Ernst, the CEO of Russias powerful state-owned Channel One and impresario of the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics opening ceremonies, a good friend. Its difficult for foreigners to understand how an editor whose rhetoric sounds stringently anti-regime and whose publication doesnt appear to toe any kind of pro-Kremlin line can be friends with Putins associates and honored members of the regime establishment. How can an authoritarian government strangle independent news outlets with one hand and use the other to embrace the editor of a hard-hitting paper? The answer to this question is that connected liberals have their uses. Muratovs close friend Alexei Venediktov, editor of Echo Moskvy radio, another reputedly free and independent news organization, recently served as the public face of an electronic voting campaign in Moscow. As the e-voting results came under attack for questionable statistical anomalies, Venediktov continued defending them and Muratov, in turn, publicly defended Venediktov. Also read: Kremlin welcomes fact that editor who criticises it won Nobel peace prize Thats just one example of the kind of compromise required of such token liberal figures in a country that imprisons real dissidents, like corruption fighter Alexei Navalny, or effectively forbids them to practice their trade, like the foreign agent reporters. What other compromises are made behind closed doors, well never know but personal liberties dont come free in Putins Russia. If somebody has devised a plan to give the prize to a regime-loyal person from Russia so that, God forbid, the prize doesnt go to Navalny or some other political prisoner or political emigre, thats a devilishly sophisticated blow to our country, its present and future, economist Konstantin Sonin wrote on Facebook. If someone has organized this as a compromise lets show some love to these Russians but lets not bait the bear, thats even stupider than the other option.Sonin is right about the kind of message Muratovs prize sends to Russian journalists and activists who have rejected compromises and refused to make friends with regime figures looking for liberals to co-opt. But Im not sure the effect is intentional. Rather, I fear the judges cant quite see the distinction between Muratov and Navalny, Muratov and Badanin, Muratov and Politkovskaya. They dont know or care who drinks with whom in Moscow, which parties people attend, which charities they favor; their impulse is to support the free press in Russia, and they dont see what might be wrong with honoring what could be plausibly described as its last remnants; its not even a consideration that the plausibility is enhanced by the demise of truly independent outlets. Thats one reason Peskov might raise his glass to Muratov: One of the Putin regimes underrated but important resources is the ignorance of foreigners. Check out latest DH videos here: At some point in life, most people realise whether they are on the side of the problem or on the side of solution. The Gandhi family today is at a cusp where they must realise this existential truth soon. Else, they will end up destroying the 136-year-old Indian National Congress. The immediate trigger for the rising despair is the partys crisis in Punjab, which was entirely self-inflicted. The departure from office of Capt Amarinder Singh, an octogenarian, may not be such a big blow to the Congress electorally, but the way it was done by bringing in his bete noir, Navjot Singh Sidhu, who repeatedly humiliated Amarinder Singh was certainly lacking in grace and tact. The ensuing crisis, with Sidhu squabbling with the new CM and resigning from his post, may have come as a rude shock to his ardent supporters and patrons Rahul and Priyanka Gandhi. The fact that Sidhu came in and immediately staged a revolt against Amarinder Singh and then scooted without taking any responsibility for the crisis amply proved the latters assessment of him as an unstable man. A clever sub-editor would probably have headlined the whole episode: Nut screws and bolts Turning to the internal crisis in the party, it was indeed laudable of Rahul Gandhi to resign from party presidentship, owning up responsibility for its poor show in the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Since then, his mother Sonia Gandhi has been the interim president. Yet, for all practical purposes, Rahul Gandhi behaves like hes the party president. Sonia Gandhi has the old guard as her advisers and Rahul had his younger group that initially consisted of Jyotiraditya Scindia, Sachin Pilot, Jitin Prasad and a few others. The fact that he could not meet their aspirations, whether justified or not, led to the departure of both Scindia and Prasad from the party while Pilot tried and failed. During the Punjab crisis, it seemed that mother and son were not on the same page. The mother now wants her son to take over, but he seems unwilling to step up. An unsettled family issue has become a crisis for the party, and the nation waits, with hope and despair, for the major opposition party to stand up as a viable political force. For the last one year or so, several senior members of the party, including some from the Congress Working Committee (CWC), have been agitating for certain urgently needed reforms within the party, such as greater internal democracy including elections for all the top posts, retiring the deadwood within the CWC, and infusion of young and fresh blood, strengthening the rank and file, and generally preparing the party for a good fight against the BJP in 2024. A perfectly sound and unequivocal idea. But the nub is that most of them want the dynasty to continue its rule. They are beseeching Rahul Gandhi to take back the mantle of leadership that he has so firmly and resolutely rejected. Like Caesar, he was offered the crown thrice and thrice hath he refused. So, where do they go from here? The fact is that the Congress party matters more to the nation than the Gandhi family. Presently, neither the high command nor the G-23 want to split and go their own way. They all realise that Congress remains the only viable alternative to the BJP in almost 200 seats at the national level. Can this disjointed outfit really take on the mean electoral machine of the BJP? Is it organisationally strong at the grassroots level? Is it ideologically consistent? As for the ruling BJP, it couldnt have been in a worse situation. Failures in governance on the economic front (increasing unemployment, usurping rates of taxes on fuel and food items, etc.), and on the health front in handling the Covid pandemic should cost the ruling party severely. But is the Congress in a position to capitalize on any of it? Is the high command ready for it? Rahul Gandhis tweets are not enough to mobilise people. Yet, Congress is the only party that sustains the Centrist Consensus in the political spectrum and safeguards the constitutional promise of equality, secularism, liberalism and democracy against the bigotry of Hindutva and its hate politics that has deeply polarised the country. But it continues to lose power in state after state, either by design or default. Thirdly, the minorities feel safer and protected under Congress rule than under the BJP, which has relentlessly pursued an anti-minority agenda through Hindutva mobs, through legislation meant to disadvantage them, through the political choice of denying election tickets to Muslim candidates, and by encouraging vigilante forces to brazenly assault and lynch Muslims in the name of cow protection, etc. Has the Congress stood firmly behind the minorities or is Rahul Gandhi keen on proving that he is a sacred thread-wearing Brahmin? Fourthly, the outstanding performance of Manmohan Singh as prime minister in the spheres of economy lifting over 270 million people out of poverty in his 10-year tenure and foreign policy is a remarkable success story in modern India. Why is the Congress shy of projecting its proven track record from 2004 to 2014? Finally, most regional parties do look up to the Congress to provide leadership at the national level so that they can join a coalition to defeat the incompetent, authoritarian rule of the present regime. Will the Congress be pragmatic enough to not demand disproportionate shares of seats from regional parties and let them win and rule in their strongholds? The mowing down of four farmers on October 3 by a car belonging to a Union ministers son in Lakhimpur Kheri has suddenly electrified the political atmosphere in UP by highlighting the relentless brutality of the Yogi Adityanath government in dealing with such tragic incidents. With Priyanka Gandhi Vadra reaching there ahead of the rest of the Opposition and the police arresting her, while letting the alleged killer remain free, the Congress seems to have been galvanised. It is possible that the optics of her act may change the fortunes of the party in the upcoming polls. Perhaps it is for election strategist Prashant Kishor to do the rest. (The writer is a former Cabinet Secretariat official) Over many centuries, journals have served as tools for recording history, as emotional outlets, and as creative stimulants. In the current age of self-care and self-optimisation not to mention digital overload logbooks are resurging, this time as a means of supporting ones mental health. The Anti-Anxiety Notebook, a tidy blue-and-white volume, is one example. It takes a page, or several, from cognitive behavioral therapy, featuring worksheets that aim to challenge cognitive distortions the thought patterns that can make anxiety worse, such as catastrophising (assuming the most disastrous possibility will play out) or self-blaming (believing that you are entirely responsible for a negative situation, as the books appendix puts it). Also Read | Six books to help you understand stress and anxiety When we were writing this notebook, we were thinking, How do we put tools into peoples hands? said Hod Tamir, a clinical adviser to the books parent company, Therapy Notebooks. Its hard to sift through academic literature to figure out how to deal with your anxiety. And, he noted, not everyone can go to therapy. Therapy Notebooks has sold more than 100,000 copies of the Anti-Anxiety Notebook, which retails for $38 since it was released last summer. The company received an early Instagram boost from an admirer: actress Lili Reinhart, a star of the CWs Riverdale, who has spoken openly about dealing with anxiety and depression. Wes and I had nothing to do with it, Varshil Patel, who founded Therapy Notebooks with Wesley Zhao, said of Reinharts post. All told, their company works with 10 psychologists to create its products. In November, Therapy Notebooks will release a more academic guidebook focused on depression. The potential value of mental health care has not escaped businesses. Venture capital firms invested $852 million in mental health tools in the first quarter of 2021, an increase of 73 per cent since the same period last year, according to CB Insights, an analytics firm. And theres a documented demand for such tools. Individuals are seeking out treatment at levels weve never seen before, said Vaile Wright, senior director of health care innovation at the American Psychological Association. Also Read | The trauma of stress post-Covid Youre seeing more hospitalisations and suicidal ideation, Wright said. People are experiencing more depression, anxiety, and substance abuse. But youve also seen an increase in acceptance of mental health care, with celebrities and athletes speaking out about it more. She said that self-directed cognitive behavioral therapy in a journal, for example is effective at reducing symptoms of depression or anxiety, particularly when the case is mild. Although there is now less stigma around mental health care, treatment remains out of reach for many. About one-third of people who needed mental health care in the past year were not able to get it, a Kaiser Family Foundation poll from earlier this year found. The top two challenges? Finding a provider and covering the cost. (Not all providers take insurance, and there are out-of-pocket costs with many who do.) Though diary-keeping has been a popular practice at least since the 10th century by women in the Japanese court, its therapeutic effects were first studied by James Pennebaker in 1986. A recent review of scientific literature found that expressive writing can ease symptoms of depression, anxiety, and other disorders; increase psychological well-being; and support resilience and recovery from trauma. When people use writing to express themselves, Wright said, they increase emotional regulation, clarify life goals, find meaning and give voice to feelings, which can help construct a meaningful story. She added that looking back through old journal entries can remind the writer of the times she struggled but persevered. Anyone who has bought a blank diary in a fit of inspiration and then left it to gather dust knows that spontaneous journaling can be hard to keep up with. These guided journals have that extra benefit of focusing the content, Wright said. Its almost like a bridge to doing it with a therapist. Writing by hand is also a way to get offline. Papier, a stationery company in London, created its Wellness Journal ($32.99) last October after employees noticed that customers were using its paper products to unplug. There was a general kind of interest in analog, people switching off technology because they were inundated with Zoom calls and had no distinction between life and work, said Sophie Agar, the companys global brand director. Inside, the journal is quite directional in some areas, but we leave some space for interpretation, Agar said. Theres space for intentions, sleep, and water monitoring, meal planning, tracking your mood. Papier has sold 60,000 copies of the Wellness Journal. The Human Being Journal, which went on sale last November, offers a similar combination of introspection and goal setting. Created by Genevive Savundranayagam and Sheba Zaidi, who quit their jobs in corporate communications in February 2020 to start a company called Mahara Mindfulness, the journal starts with a vision board with different categories, such as career, health, travel, and community. Further on, there are questions that are meant to challenge the addressee, such as How comfortable are you being alone? Already, the Human Being Journal has appeared in Oprah Dailys Healthy Living Guide; on Kourtney Kardashians lifestyle site, Poosh; and on Lauren Conrads gift guide. (Oprah Winfrey has her own The Life You Want planner going on sale at the end of this month.) So far, women far outpace men when it comes to journaling, at least according to sales figures. Eighty percent of the customers of Therapy Notebooks are women, and 90 per cent of Papiers entire customer base is female. Buying these notebooks isnt enough; to benefit from them, one must set aside time to reflect. The Human Being Journal founders recommend sitting down with their guidebook once a month for a year. I light a candle and spend an hour with myself, Savundranayagam said. Were not a journal you do quickly. It takes time. But you dont stumble into a dream life. Not many people know who Meerakka is. The Karnataka Government honoured this 96-year-old Gandhian in Mudhol by presenting her the Gandhi Seva Award for 2020. Born around 1924 - 25, Meeratayi Koppikar hails from Dharwad. She came to be associated with Vinoba Bhaves Bhoodan Movement quite early in life. Because she came from a rather affluent family, it was possible for Meerakka to join Bhaves march across the length and breadth of the country. Three other women from Karnataka Mahadeva Tayi, Channamma Hallikeri and Lakshmi were with her. Vinoba established the Brahma Vidya Mandir on the banks of River Pavanar near Wardha in 1959. Then, in 1965, Meerakka walked out of the place, without informing Bhave. She first tried to settle down at Kusayi near Mundgod. She then tried taking up residence in Bangalore, at Sarvodaya centres Vishwaneedam and Vallabhaniketan. But she could not adjust there. In reality, Meerakka dreamt of buying a small plot and starting an ashram with the help of a few like-minded people. Her mind then raced towards Jamakhandi, since it was the town of Vinobas mother. But she could not find a place there. In her own words, it was not her destiny to be nurtured by the waters of Jamakhandi. What she finally found, was the earth of Mudhol. She started the Vatsalya Dhama (Abode of Love and Compassion) Ashram in 1983. Along with Meerakka, the first inmates were Sevanandaji, Narayana Bhai, Bhooma Kaka and Ramesh Bhai. The ashram was inaugurated by Shivaji Bhave, Vinoba Bhaves brother. The Sarvodaya volunteer Shankara Uttur and his family strove hard to establish the ashram. Vatsalya Dhama of Mudhol is an ashram of true workers, which brought into practise the ekadasha vratas (11 vows) of Gandhiji. The Mahatma's 11 vows include ahimsa (nonviolence), satya (truth), asteya (non-stealing), brahmacharya (self-discipline), asangraha (non-possession), sharirshrama (bread labour), aswada (control of the palate), sarvatra bhayavarjana (fearlessness), sarva dharma samantva (equality of all religions), swadeshi (use locally made goods), sparshbhavana (remove untouchability). The ashram stands on a two and a half acres plot, with simple houses and a tiny cattle pen. They grew rice, sorghum, peanuts and other grains organically. The day in the ashram began at 4.30 in the morning. The cattle were cared for, the Bhagavad Gita was recited, followed by kitchen duty. Breakfast was followed by work on the farm till midday. Lunch was a simple affair, prepared from what was produced on site, cooked without salt or spice. After a brief rest, they spun the charkha, prayed and cared for the cattle. This regular seven-hour routine, every single day, kept the ashramites busy. It was a life of work and spiritual thinking and discourse. The ashramites did not believe in accumulation of material possessions, which meant whatever was grown in a year was either consumed or distributed among people nearby. They also made their own clothes. Thirty-eight years have gone by and in all these years, the residents of the Ashram have been a continuous source of inspiration and guidance for all those who want to know more about the ideologies of Mahatma Gandhi and Vinoba Bhave, and put them into practice. Sevanandaji passed away in 2014. Bhooma Kaka passed away sometime before. Today, Meerakka is 96 years of age. She has not stepped out after taking up retreat at Vatsalya Dhama in 1983. She has been bedridden for the past two years. Even at the age of 92, she used to work the charkha. The septuagenarian Ramesh Bhai is taking care of her now. It would help if the government appoints a nurse to take care of her. Even now, the work of Meerakka and those at Vatsalya Dhama doesnt feel real. It might well become a fable for the generations that follow. (Translated by C P Ravichandra) Police nabbed two youths belonging to a minority community on charges of moral policing after they allegedly manhandled a Hindu youth for dropping a Muslim girl on his two-wheeler in the city on Saturday. Suhail and Shoaib, residents of Tank Mohalla, were the arrested persons, while Ibrahim escaped from the spot. Muslim girl of Majjigehalli near Shivamogga asked youth of the same village to drop her at Gandhi Bazar as she was getting late to go to work. So, the youth dropped her at the same place. Noticing this, Muslim youths who were there at the spot manhandled him. Hindu youths also attempted to attack the Muslims, but police rushed to the spot and brought the situation under control. Superintendent of Police B M Laxmi Prasad said some miscreants have committed the crime and they have been nabbed immediately. People have been directed not to spread any rumour with regard to the incident. The inauguration of Ekalavya Model Residential School at Bandalli village in the taluk was forced to be cancelled on Saturday due to the adamant attitude of Ambigara Chowdaiah Development Corporation Chairman Baburao Chinchansur. Chinchansur stopped the vehicle of Transport Minister B Sriraumulu at Bandalli village and expressed his wrath for not inviting him to the function. Chinchansur said he engaged in the election campaign for Sindagi assembly bypolls. But, the inaugural function has been organsied without bringing it to his notice. He got this school sanctioned when he was minister, so why didn't officials invite him to the function, he said. The function was cancelled as he didn't relent. As Chinchansur urged to cancel the function, District Backward Classes Welfare Officer S S Channabasava tried to touch his feet. But, he insulted the officer by using filthy language. The ongoing income tax raids as part of which I-T sleuths have raided the residence of Umesh, a close of aide of former chief minister B S Yediyurappa, has sparked discussions within the BJP about whether the party is sending a signal to Yediyurappas allies in an effort to snub them. A section of the party workers believes that there is a systematic approach to sideline Yediyurappa and his son Vijayendra. Not just that, the party wants to eventually sideline all of their supporters, some BJP leaders opine. It is believed that the party wants to snub anyone trying to exert undue pressure on Chief Minister Basavaraj Bommai. That Vijayendra was not initially included in the list of incharges for the Sindagi and Hangal bypolls, has also caused disgruntlement and added to suspicion among a section of leaders. Also Read | I-T sleuths continue search operations for second day in Bengaluru A BJP leader told DH, There is no doubt that the BJP has begun targeting Yediyurappas supporters by sidelining several of them. Also, notice how the party did not allow Vijayendra to campaign in Belagavi, Dharwad or Kalaburagi corporation polls. Even for the Hangal and Sindagi bypolls, they included him in the list of incharges only after his supporters raised a hue and cry. The BJP was targeting Yediyurappas supporters in the name of cleaning the party but this would have ramifications in the days to come, according to this leader. However, senior BJP leaders have maintained that the raids have nothing to do with Yediyurappa and are in no way linked to the bypolls. Chief Ministers political secretary Renukacharya told DH, B S Yediyurappa is a respected leader. Everyone knows that he is indispensable to the party. There is no question of sidelining him. Rural Development and Panchayat Raj Minister K S Eshwarappa, who spoke to mediapersons in Bagalkot, also took a similar stance. What is the link between I-T raids and Yediyurappa? The IT officials have raided someone who was with Yediyurappa. That doesnt immediately even make the accused guilty. Officials will investigate. It is not right to cast aspersions on Yediyurappa for this, he said. Check out latest DH videos here According to the latest weather forecast from Met Eireann, the weather forecast for Ireland for the weekend is for more settled conditions for the country with a good deal of dry weather expected. The weather will turn largely settled in the coming days as high pressure builds over Ireland but it will be cooler. Persistent rain will gradually extend northeastwards on Friday night to all areas with a clearance moving into western areas towards morning. Mild with temperatures not falling below 12 to 14 degrees in mostly moderate southerly winds with some mist patches developing. The latest weather forecast for Ireland for Saturday from Met Eireann says there will be a clearance to drier conditions with good sunny spells in the west which will extend eastwards through the morning and early afternoon as the rain moves into the Irish Sea with some patchy drizzle following. Highest temperatures of 15 to 18 degrees with light to moderate northwesterly breezes developing. It will be a largely dry night on Saturday night with long clear spells and just isolated showers, mostly near northern coasts. Lowest temperatures of 6 to 9 degrees in a light west to northwest breeze with mist and fog forming, becoming dense in places. According to Met Eireann, Sunday will be largely dry with sunny spells though a few showers will continue in parts of Ulster. Highest temperatures of 13 to 15 degrees in light to moderate west to northwest breezes. Continuing mainly dry overnight on Sunday night with clear spells. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees in a light west to northwest. Mist and fog will form again, with a risk of becoming quite dense in places. According to the latest Met Erireann weather forecast, Monday will be mostly dry for the morning with some sunny spells. However, light outbreaks of rain will move in over Ulster through the morning, extending to the northern half of the country during the afternoon. Staying largely dry further south. Highest temperatures of 13 to 16 degrees in a light to moderate west to northwest wind, fresher on northern coasts. Light rain will slowly move further south overnight, becoming patchier as it does so. Lowest temperatures of 4 to 8 degrees with clear spells generally, but milder over parts of Ulster where outbreaks of rain will persist. Mist and fog will once again develop in light northwesterly breezes. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services (DHS), the Monroe County Health Department, and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) have confirmed 22 cases of measles in Wisconsin. Cases have occurred among people currently living at Fort McCoy in Monroe County with recent history of travel from Afghanistan as part of the United States governments emergency evacuation efforts. There are currently zero known, active measles cases at Fort McCoy. The risk of measles transmission in the surrounding communities is considered to be low at this time. From the very beginning, we have welcomed Afghan allies to Wisconsin. We will continue to support federal and local partners in their ongoing efforts to contain the spread of measles and ensure those who have been evacuated from their home communities are receiving the medical care they need in order to be healthy and well-protected, said Secretary-designee Karen Timberlake. The hardships Afghan evacuees have endured in the past year are truly unimaginable, and I ask that we all practice compassion, and respect peoples privacy and culture as the resettlement process continues. Most Wisconsinites are vaccinated against measles as children, which provides lifetime immunity. However, people who have never been vaccinated and are exposed to a person with measles can spread the virus to others in the community, leading to outbreaks. Staff or visitors who are unvaccinated and who have been to Fort McCoy between September and October may be at increased risk for measles. Wisconsinites can check their vaccination status in the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR). Vaccination is essential to stopping the spread of measles, said Dr. Ryan Westergaard, Chief Medical Officer for the DHS Bureau of Communicable Diseases. We ask all Wisconsinites to check their measles vaccination status and talk to your health care provider about getting yourself or your child vaccinated if its still needed. People diagnosed with measles at Fort McCoy have ranged in age from 4 months to 26 years old, and 14 (64%) have required treatment at area hospitals. In order to prevent further spread at Fort McCoy and continue to protect surrounding communities, DHS and the Monroe County Health Department are working to support federal agencies that led the vaccination efforts against measles and other communicable diseases to all Afghan evacuees in mid-September. More than 11,000 Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR) vaccine doses have been administered at Fort McCoy. To keep everyone informed, DHS will be updating the measles cases every Thursday at 2 p.m. on the DHS Outbreaks webpage. Measles is a highly contagious disease that can be spread from person to person through the air and can remain airborne in indoor spaces for two hours after a sick person leaves. People are infectious four days before rash onset through four days after rash onset. Symptoms of measles include: Runny nose High fever (may be greater than 104F) Tiredness Cough Red, watery eyes, or conjunctivitis (pink eye) A red rash with raised bumps that starts at the hairline and moves to the arms and legs three to five days after symptoms begin Through widespread vaccination, measles was officially eliminated from the United States in 2000. However, measles outbreaks still occur in areas of the United States where people are unvaccinated, and in under-vaccinated countries that do not have the ability to widely distribute vaccine and medical resources to all of their residents. The best way to prevent getting measles is to get the measles vaccine as a child. Two doses of the measles vaccine, beginning with a first dose at 12 to 15 months of age, and the second dose around age four, are 97% effective at preventing the disease. Adults who were born in or after 1957 and have never had the vaccine, should get at least one dose. College students, international travelers, and health care workers should get two doses at least 28 days apart. Immunizations are available at a doctors office, your local health department, and some local pharmacies. Local health departments can provide the measles vaccine to uninsured children and adults, based on vaccine ability and capacity. Wisconsinites can check the Wisconsin Immunization Registry (WIR) to find out if they need the vaccine. The Wisconsin Vaccines for Children Program (VFC) covers the cost of vaccines for eligible children. The husband of a Polish woman murdered by their son in Ardee, told a Garda sergeant following the killing that he does not wish to see his son again, an inquest has heard. Tomasz Piotrowski, 35, was sentenced to life imprisonment earlier this year, for the murder of his mother Elzbieta Piotrowska, who was decapitated at their home at Clonmore, Ardee on January eighth 2019. Garda Sgt. John Brady told the hearing in Drogheda last Friday that with the assistance of a Polish translator he took a statement from Mrs. Piotrwoskas husband Krystof on the day of her death over the course of six and a half hours. He met him again by appointment two days later at the HSE mortuary at Crosslanes, Drogheda, when Mr. Piotrowski formally identified his wifes body. Sgt Brady said Mr. Piotrowski was very upset and said he did not wish to see his son again. Det. Supt John OFlaherty who was appointed Senior Investigating Officer, told the hearing that Mrs Piotrowskas son Tomasz was subsequently charged with her murder, which he pleaded guilty to and was sentenced to life imprisonment at the Central Criminal Court on March 11th last. A post mortem by Deputy State Pathologist Dr Michael Curtis found the cause of death was decapitation and due to profuse haemorrhaging from stab wounds. The jury which cannot depart from the findings of the court, returned a verdict of murder. Louth County Coroner Ronan Maguire asked the investigating officers to convey his sympathy to Mrs. Piotrowskas family in Poland while Det. Supt OFlaherty on behalf of the gardai extended his sympathy to the family and the wider Polish community in Ardee. A Dundalk TD has queried why there is no national scheme in place for people impacted by defective blocks, saying that people in Louth have been impacted by the ongoing scandal. Independent TD for Louth, Peter Fitzpatrick, raised the issue in the Dail last week, asking Tanaiste Leo Varadkar whether or not the scheme will be expanded to be nationwide, rather than just in Mayo and Donegal, the counties worst impacted by mica. The Department of Housing, Local Government and Heritage tells me there is ongoing engagement with a number of local authorities and local action groups on requests for extension of the scheme to other counties, said Deputy Fitzpatrick. Fair play to Donegal and Mayo but we cannot split the country in half. We need to treat the citizens of Ireland the same. He said that the issue is causing serious mental health problems for people impacted, and says that everyone in the country impacted should be able to access the scheme. Families have to leave their homes and keep paying their mortgages. If a house is deemed unfit a family cannot live in it. We all deserve to be treated the same. Please do not split the country. Please let everyone be able to join the scheme. In response, the Tanaiste told Deputy Fitzpatrick that the government is working on an enhanced scheme to assist those who have been impacted by both pyrite and mica. He said that this included considerations of whether the scheme should be national or county-based, and if selected, it would be run by the Housing Agency rather than local authorities like Louth County Council If a house is affected by mica or pyrite it is affected by mica or pyrite and what county it is in should not make a difference, said the Tanaiste. It comes as mica protestors from Donegal and other counties impacted by the defective blocks protested in Dublin en mass, as part of efforts to secure a 100% redress scheme for their houses. In some houses, using water in different rooms at the same time causes problems with pressure and temperature. You can always ask a family member to put off washing the dishes while you are taking a shower, but explaining the situation to the clients of a fitness club, when everyone wants to freshen up after a workout, is a much more daunting prospect. An advisory project with the EBRD, implemented with the support of the Kazakhstan government, helped Platinum Deluxe, a fitness centre from Karaganda, solve this very problem. People simply could not take a shower in peace. Once someone turned on the water in any of the six shower cubicles, the pressure would drop everywhere else, says Yevgeniy Mikhalenko, owner of Platinum Deluxe, who together with his wife bought the business from the previous owners four years ago. One of the first modern fitness clubs in the city, Platinum Deluxe was founded 13 years ago. We had been loyal customers of the club long before buying it, so we were aware of areas that needed improvement and planned to start with the water issue, says Yevgeniy. For help, the entrepreneur turned to a local company specialising in water and heat supply systems along with energy-efficient products and solutions. The company, an EBRD consultant, suggested they carry out a full energy audit of the facility through the Banks business advisory programme. Such audits have become an essential tool in the EBRDs SME support toolkit in Kazakhstan as part of the green economy transition agenda. Along with other technical measures, they unlock SMEs energy efficiency potential. According to Yevgeniy, audits help in understanding the underlying issues behind visible flaws. Too often, people think that installing a cold water pump is all it takes. Since our region as a whole tends to have problems with water supply and quality, we had a pump, but nothing worked as intended, he says. The energy audit revealed that there was no uniform comfortable temperature at water consumption points due to several factors, including the lack of valves for water temperature adjustment and the lack of control and metering of the hot water supply temperature. In addition, the audit identified problems with the air conditioning installed. Since almost 500 square metres in the fitness area are equipped with panoramic windows, the space overheated quickly and did not have time to cool down. Moreover, energy bills were too high. The EBRD consultant implemented an energy efficient system that copes with hot and cold water supply, as well as air conditioning and heating of the building. Newly installed heat pumps cool the heated air and simultaneously heat the water to a certain temperature before sending it to the boilers. Thanks to this, Platinum Deluxe can potentially completely opt out of the centralised hot water, which negatively affects water supply networks and leads to quicker deterioration of pipes and shower mixers. The introduction of heat pumps and other associated energy management measures helped the company save energy, which amounted to more than 1 million tenge (approx. 2,000) per year. Even with recent increases in local electricity tariffs, savings are still possible. The main result, however, is the satisfaction of members. The number of regular customers has increased, and now they are coming to us from other fitness clubs in the city, says Yevgeniy. The consultant continues to provide calibration and maintenance of the installed equipment and systems to this day, which is especially important for the long-term success of energy efficiency projects. Platinum Deluxes success proves that green projects are not only for large companies. When done correctly, they can bring real benefits to small businesses. Although Platinum Deluxe did not initially set out to implement a green advisory project, the company realised early on that the changes they were making were good for the environment. Not a lot of people think about ecology, as they are far more interested in dividends for business. However, it is possible to achieve success while helping the environmental situation, at least on the scale of your city and region, says Yevgeniy. A man alleged to have held a co-worker in a headlock until he lost consciousness has been refused bail after a court heard he may have been planning to leave the country. Filip Lukic, a 26-year-old Croatian national who has been working in the Ballydesmond factory run by Munster Joinery, is alleged to have caused the injuries which left his co-worker, Kyle Walsh, in the high dependency unit of Cork University Hospital. Mr Lukic, of 25 Castlefalls, Ross Road in Killarney, appeared before Bandon District Court today on a charge of assault causing harm, with Detective Garda Peter Nolan telling Judge James McNulty that a file is being prepared for the Director of Public Prosecutions and a more serious charge may follow. Objection to bail Objecting to bail under Section 2 of the Bail Act, citing the seriousness of the charge, Det. Garda Nolan said it was alleged that last Wednesday an initial verbal dispute between Mr Lukic and his co-worker, Kyle Walsh, escalated to a physical altercation. Det. Garda Nolan said it is alleged Mr Lukic caught Mr Walsh in a headlock and maintained the hold until his co-worker lost consciousness. The court heard two co-workers went to Mr Walsh's aid but that they could not break the hold Mr Lukic had on Mr Walsh, with the hold in place until Mr Walsh went limp. It is also claimed that when Mr Lukic released his grip his co-worker slumped to the ground, "hitting his head severely off the concrete floor". Injured party suffered a skull fracture The injured party was taken to Cork University Hospital, where he is in the high dependency unit with a fractured skull and two bleeds to the brain. Det. Garda Walsh later told the court he was conscious and talking but was still "of concern". The court heard the area where the incident occurred is well covered by CCTV and that after Mr Lukic was first arrested outside his home in Killarney at 3.05pm on Thursday he had been interviewed twice, during which he admitted grabbing Kyle Walsh's neck and admitting that the injuries were his fault. Apology The court heard that when he was charged at 1.47am on Friday with the offence Mr Lukic had replied: "I am sorry. I apologise and I hope Kyle will be OK." Det. Garda Nolan said Mr Lukic had not been at his home - provided to workers by Munster Joinery - when gardai first visited it and that with the intervention of a third party they met Mr Lukic outside the property later on Wednesday. The judge was told Mr Lukic had 5,895 in his possession, having withdrawn all the money he had from a bank account in Killarney at around midday on Thursday. Mr Lukic first came to Ireland having been recruited online by his employer on April 11 last and Det. Garda Nolan said he had no ties or assets to this country. The court heard in garda interview Mr Lukic said he intended to stay in Ireland working for one year before returning home. Det. Garda Nolan said Mr Lukic had also admitted researching leaving Ireland by ferry to Holland or by plane to France. He was in possession of his Croatian ID card, which permitted travel within the EU. "If granted bail the fear is he would not be available for trial and will leave the jurisdiction," Det. Garda Nolan said. Mr Lukic's solicitor, Plunkett Taaffe, said Croatia was a member of the EU and a European Arrest Warrant would apply, if it emerged. The court also heard Mr Lukic's uncle had died two days before the incident. Judge McNulty said bail could be granted but it would need Mr Lukic to provide his own bond of 5,000 and two independent sureties, both of 5,000, with half in cash, to be approved by the court. "He is facing a serious charge, he could be facing a more serious charge and it looks like he was fleeing the jurisdiction," Judge McNulty said. Mr Lukic was remanded in custody and was granted legal aid, with the matter likely to be mentioned next Monday before Clonakilty District Court. This story first appeared on IrishExaminer.com. China's war against cryptocurrency could soon extend to a broader ban on crypto mining. Reuters reports the country has added crypto mining to a draft "negative list" that limits or outright bans investments in a given industry, whether by Chinese or foreigners. Would-be investors would need to get approvals, and those are unlikely given China's anti-crypto stance. Bitcoin.com notes China's Development and Reform Commission is asking for public commentary on the list through October 14th. It's doubtful public input will change the approach to crypto mining, however. China has deemed crypto transactions illegal, claiming the digital currency sparked a rise in money laundering and other financial crimes. The country has been testing its own cryptocurrency, though, and some suspect the country just wants a more stable currency it can directly control. The move could further make cryptocurrency impractical in China. Just don't mourn for crypto as a whole. The price of Bitcoin has surged over 30 percent since China's September crackdown these bans may have given crypto a second wind where it was otherwise poised to level off. It may just be a question of whether or not an official Chinese currency skews the market. The Panama Papers have exposed the ugly underbelly of globalisation. The disclosure of the Panama Papers, the biggest-ever leak of confidential information in human history, has highlighted yet again how the rich and the powerful userather, misusetax havens not just for avoiding payment of taxes but for a wide range of nefarious activities: from money laundering to funding wars, from trading in human beings to drug dealing. It is often claimed by clever accountants and smart lawyers that providing offshore banking and financial services is not necessarily illegal, leave alone evil. But there is much that is not explicitly stated about the working of 90-odd tax havens scattered across the globe, including some that are located within national jurisdictions of countries like the United States (Delaware and Florida) and in principalities or microstates in Europe (Monaco and Liechtenstein). The secrecy that is guaranteed in these tax havens ensures a conducive environment for corrupt political leaders, their relatives and associates, businesspersons and celebrities to park their funds and take them out at will. Money moves rapidly across multiple tax jurisdictions, a phenomenon called round-tripping, to make it difficult for regulatory authorities to ascertain the beneficial owners of companies. Equally importantly, the line that divides legal forms of tax avoidance and illegal forms of tax evasion is so thin as to be virtually non-existent. The issues that have been raised go beyond loss of revenue to the damage done to democratic institutions and ensuring greater transparency in public life. Few of the names that have been highlighted in the Panama Papers are those of citizens from Western countries. They are instead from Russia, China, Saudi Arabia, Malaysia, Syria, Argentina, Morocco, Pakistan, India, Argentina, Azerbaijan, Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and various countries of Africa. It would, however, be erroneous to conclude from the media coverage of the leaked documents that politicians and businesspersons in advanced capitalist countries are paragons of virtue. Far from it. On the contrary, the one country that is responsible for overseeing the working of as many as 18 tax havens happens to be the United Kingdom. While trying to balance the competing demands from the union and the states, the Fifteenth Finance Commission has done a commendable job, but has also sacrificed objectivity at times. Six Hindi-belt statesUttar Pradesh (UP), Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Jharkhand, Rajasthan, and Chhattisgarh, which together account for 42.85% of Indias population as per the 2011 Censuswould be getting 48.57% of the sharable pool of the union government taxes during 202126, as per the recommendations of the Fifteenth Finance Commission. The five southern statesTamil Nadu (TN), Karnataka, Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, and Telanganawith a population share of 21.32% will get 15.8% of the sharable taxes, while the seven western, eastern, and northern states, which contribute 30.61% of the population would get 25.31%. The eight north-eastern states and two Himalayan states (Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh)the earlier special category states sans Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), which no longer is a stateaccounting for only 5.32% of population would get 10.48% of the tax transfers. This, in a nutshell, is the summary of the recommendations of the Fifteenth Finance Commission whose report was laid on the table of Parliament along with the 202122 budget papers, but was somehow eclipsed in the media by the exaltation in the stock market produced by the finance ministers no-tax budget. The final report of the Fifteenth Finance Commission is aptly titled Finance Commission in COVID TimesReport for 202126. Appointed in 2018 for giving recommendations covering the period 202025, the commissions term was extended by one year in November 2019 after the bifurcation of the state of J&K in August 2019. The commission, therefore, gave an interim report for 202021 in February 2021 to enable devolution of taxes and grants to the states for that year. The final report was submitted in November 2020. Only once before in the history of the finance commissions, the Ninth Finance Commission had submitted two reports. President Joe Biden highlighted the nation's lowest unemployment rate in 18 months with a backdrop of the U.S. economy creating the fewest jobs in nine months in September. Joel Osteens Lakewood Church is repaying millions of dollars it received in COVID-19 disaster funds that prompted backlash from church-state separation groups and others last year. Lakewood received about $4.4 million through the Paycheck Protection Program to cover payroll and other expenses as it shuttered in-person services for seven months last year. After the Chronicle reported the loan, Osteens name trended nationally on Twitter as people criticized him. The megachurch defended the decision, saying that none of the money went to Osteen or his wife, neither of whom receive a salary from Lakewood. In a statement, Lakewood said the PPP loan was crucial for them during such a time of need. Like many organizations temporarily shuttered by the pandemic, this loan provided Lakewood Church short-term financial assistance in 2020 ensuring that its approximately 350 employees and their families would continue to receive a paycheck and full health care benefits, the church said through a spokesperson. Lakewood provided a statement from its bank showing it has made payments on the loan since January. The megachurch was among at least 60 religious institutions in Texas that received more than $1 million in loans through the CARES Act, the first stimulus package passed by lawmakers in response to the pandemic, according to data released by the Small Business Administration. On HoustonChronicle.com: Thousands of Texas pastors got taxpayer-funded paychecks. Heres why thats historic. The program was unprecedented and controversial because it marked the first time the federal government extended a direct lifeline to untaxed religious and nonprofit institutions. Prior to the CARES Act, federal money had gone to some religious programs such as chaplaincies. But there had never been a direct line from the federal governments coffers to untaxed religious groups. Under the legislation, churches and nonprofits with fewer than 500 employees were eligible for loans that are forgivable if they are used on basic costs such as payroll or utilities. Church-state separation groups said that because the loans are forgivable, they were effectively a grant and the government was thus subsidizing religious operations and running afoul of the U. S. Constitutions Establishment Clause. Rob Boston, senior adviser for the Washington, based Americans United for Separation of Church and State, said he was pleased Osteen is repaying the loan, for which Boston said Osteen was rightfully criticized. But theres a larger issue here, he said. Religious freedom is a core promise of our Constitution, and that means that no one should be forced to pay for someone elses religious beliefs or practices Historically, the practice in the United States has been for congregations to support houses of worship and not rely on taxpayer money - and to be free from the inevitable entangling forms of oversight that brings. His group is among many whove called for more oversight of PPP loans, particularly those received by religious groups. They point to cases such as that of Daystar Television Network, a massive Christian broadcaster based in Dallas which said last year it was $3.9 million PPP loan following questions about whether some of it was used to purchase a luxury Gulfstream jet. On Monday, the Christian Post reported that Daystar Television Network, a massive Christian broadcaster based in Dallas, was returning its $3.9 million PPP loan following questions about whether some of it was used to purchase a luxury Gulfstream jet. Daystar founder Marcus Lamb has denied those allegations,. He told Inside Edition last year that the jet was bought with proceeds from an investment and the sale of an old jet. robert.downen@chron.com Republicans in the Texas Senate advanced a redistricting plan Friday over objections from Democrats who complained that it pits the only two Black members of Congress from Houston against one another, takes important military bases out of Democratic districts and will not create any more minority-majority districts even though the states growth over the past 10 years is largely a result of an increase in Hispanic residents. The plan creates new congressional districts in 2022 for Houston and Austin while increasing the number of Texas Republicans likely to go to Congress. And it improves the re-election chances of virtually every Republican in the states delegation. State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, systematically shot down every attempt by Democrats to alter the proposal and repeatedly defended her plan created with help from congressional Republicans, but not the Democrats as being drawn without regard to the race of voters and in compliance with all laws. The maps were drawn blind to race, Huffman said, repeating a catchphrase that has been used in the past to defend against claims of racial gerrymandering. But at the same time, Huffman made clear she was under no obligation to draw districts to give minorities any more chances to be elected to Congress than they already have. We saw no strong basis of evidence that a new minority opportunity district should be drawn in the new maps, Huffman said. For three hours, Hispanic and Black Democrats in the Texas Senate took turns questioning how Huffmans blind to race map could ignore the states shifting demographics. While Texas now has roughly equal proportions of Hispanic and Anglo residents, there are nearly twice as many majority-Anglo congressional districts (19) as majority-Hispanic districts (10). The new congressional maps do not create any new district where those voters are a majority. Frankly, it is very simple to describe what the Senate Republican majority has done here: racism, state Sen. Roland Gutierrez, D-San Antonio, said after the maps passed. State Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, noted that of all the 36 Texans in Congress, Huffman drew a map that pits only two against one another, and they are both Black: Reps. Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green. And he said 200,000 residents mostly Black are being forced to change members of Congress in Houston for no reason. No Texas member of Congress is being hit harder than Jackson Lee in the redistricting. Under the plan, her 18th Congressional District would lose all of downtown Houston, Texas Southern University, the University of Houston, the Third Ward and even her own residence, which would be moved to Greens 9th Congressional District. On Monday, Jackson Lee made a rare public appearance before the Texas Senate and pleaded with Republicans to reconsider. Military maneuvers Huffman declined an amendment Friday proposed by Miles to keep Jackson Lees home and those landmarks in her district. Members of Congress are not required to live in the district that elects them, though most do. Miles reminded the Senate that the Third Ward and the Fifth Ward have been in the 18th District since Barbara Jordan became the first Black woman in Texas elected to Congress in 1972. We really need to get these communities of interest back together, said Miles, who lives in the Third Ward. They feed off of one another. State Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, questioned how Hispanics could represent 95 percent of the population growth in Texas in 10 years yet see no new Hispanic opportunity districts in the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Houston or Dallas. I dont understand how we could not have a new minority-opportunity seat, Menendez said. Democrats also objected to Huffman taking two of the states major military bases out of Democratic-held congressional districts in favor of a Republican who is serving his first year in Congress. Huffmans proposed maps would remove Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland from U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castros 20th Congressional District and would remove Fort Bliss in El Paso from U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobars 16th Congressional District. Both would be included in a redrawn 23rd Congressional District represented now by Republican Tony Gonzales, a Navy veteran. Menendez reminded Huffman that Lackland, the Air Forces basic training hub, has been in the 20th District since Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez represented the district in the 1960s. Henry B. Gonzalez was the first Mexican American from Texas elected to Congress. None of the Democratic objections mattered much in the end. Republicans hold the majority of seats in the Texas Senate 18 to 13 for Democrats and voted together to block any Democratic amendments. The overall map also passed with a partisan 18-13 vote. Changes for Bexar Democratic hopes now rest on the Texas House of Representatives, which is drawing its own set of congressional maps. Members there have yet to roll out any proposals for Congress with just 10 days left in the special session. If the House doesnt act, the House and Senate would likely have to return for a fourth special session this year to complete the work. Under the Senate plans, there are big changes for millions of people in Houston and San Antonio beyond Jackson Lees district and the removal of Lackland. The initial Republican proposal for redrawing the congressional maps calls for Bexar County to again be split into five congressional districts, but with significant changes. On the Northwest Side, tens of thousands of people from Helotes to Guilbeau Road would no longer be represented by Castro. Instead, they would shift into the 23rd District, held by Gonzales. Also, tens of thousands of people on the East Side would no longer be represented by Austin Democrat Lloyd Doggett. Instead, those voters would shift into the 28th Congressional District, represented by Laredo Democrat Henry Cuellar. For Cuellar, the shifting lines mean adding more than 50,000 Bexar County residents who had been in Doggetts or Gonzales districts. The addition of a congressional seat in Austin will somewhat affect San Antonio-area representatives. More than 200,000 people in Austin who had been making U.S. Rep. Chip Roys 21st Congressional District more vulnerable for the GOP would be shifted into a newly drawn 37th Congressional District. That leaves Roys district, which includes Alamo Heights, Castle Hills and Hollywood Park, far safer for a Republican to hold. jeremy.wallace@chron.com Courtesy of the Bexar County Sheriff's Office A Bexar County jail inmate was apprehended moments after he tried to run from a loading dock. Justin Daniel Martinez, 36, is now facing a charge of escape in addition to his initial arrest in May on a count of injury to elderly. A man indicted for murder last year in the fatal shooting of a 4-year-old boy that shocked the community in 2017 faces a new charge after failing to appear in court. Quentin Travonne Phillips, 29, has been indicted on a count of bail jumping-felony, the Bexar County District Attorneys Office said. And authorities believe he had help. Phillips is one of three men accused in the slaying of 4-year-old DeEarlvion Whitley, who was fatally shot in the head while playing video games with his brother. DeEarlvions mother also was wounded when 65 bullets were fired into the family home in the 200 block of Hub Avenue shortly before midnight July 19, 2017. Authorities believe the drive-by shooting was connected to a turf war between rival gangs. Phillips was indicted in June 2020 by a Bexar County grand jury, along with Terrell Anthony Chase, 29, and Todd Anthony Hill, 33. Each was charged with murder, being a felon in possession of a firearm and deadly conduct. All three have extensive criminal records, including drug and assault charges, authorities said. Phillips was released from the Bexar County jail in April after posting bond on $500,000 bail, according to court records and the Bexar County Sheriffs Office. But he failed to appear in court on June 11 and is now sought by authorities, officials said. Chase and Hill remained in the Bexar County jail as of Friday. On ExpressNews.com: Grand jury indicts 3 in 2017 drive-by shooting that left 4-year-old San Antonio boy dead Phillips indictment on the bail jumping charge is one of 255 felony indictments handed down last week by Bexar County grand juries. Phillips girlfriend, Shaniqua Til Wanna Monay Walkers Simms, also was indicted last week on a count of hindering apprehension-obstructing an investigation, the district attorneys office said. Under the conditions of Phillips release, his was supposed to wear a GPS tracker and be on full house arrest, according to an affidavit supporting Simms arrest. In May, the DAs office notified the sheriffs office that Phillips was tampering with his GPS tracker, court records state. The GPS tracker was traced to Simms apartment in the 21300 block of Encino Commons. On May 21, a deputy was sent to conduct surveillance and found Phillips vehicle, a red Lincoln MKS. The deputy looked inside and saw the GPS tracker on the drivers side floor, the affidavit states. The vehicle was in an unauthorized space and was towed, authorities said. Simms later retrieved the Lincoln from the vehicle storage facility, according to investigators. On May 25, deputies who were watching the apartment took Simms into custody as she was leaving. They found Phillips GPS tracker plugged into an electrical outlet in the apartment, according to Simms arrest affidavit. Simms, 23, initially told investigators that she had woken up about 4:30 p.m. May 20 and found that Phillips had removed his tracker and left. Simms told the investigators she had meant to turn the tracker into his probation officer and that she had plugged it in because it had a low battery. Deputies then searched her cellphone and found texts that Phillips had sent to Simms advising her to stay off Facebook Live, calling it Police city, according to the affidavit. A text from Simms to Phillips read: You are going to make it! Its like chess, make the right moves & think before you do & Ill do my job, protect my king as long as I can, the affidavit states. Anyone with information regarding Phillips whereabouts is asked to call 210-207-7273. Anonymous tips also may be submitted directly to the Texas Anti-Gang Center. Because Phillips was indicted on the bail-jumping charge as an habitual offender, he faces a sentence of 25 years to life in prison, according to the DAs office. Simms case is being prosecuted by the assistant district attorney assigned to the border prosecution unit at the Texas Anti-Gang Center in the 175th District Court. Hindering apprehension-obstructing an investigation is a third-degree felony punishable by two to 10 years in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000. On ExpressNews.com: Man charged in connection with fatal shooting at West Side hotel In a separate case, Leopoldo Mora, 37, was indicted on a count of murder. Mora is accused of fatally shooting Kenneth Salazar, 58, on June 13 at the Paradise Motel in the 4900 block of West Commerce Street. Security camera footage from the hotel showed Mora and Salazar arguing. At one point, Mora raised both arms and shot Salazar, according to an arrest affidavit. The case is being prosecuted by the criminal trial division in the 437th District Court. Murder is a first-degree felony punishable by five to 99 years or life in prison and a possible fine of up to $10,000. jbeltran@express-news.net A man was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after he was shot in the chest, reportedly by accident, early Saturday morning, San Antonio police reported. And the man accused of shooting him has been arrested. Officers responding to a call for a shooting in progress about 2 a.m. found the man in the front passenger seat of a vehicle in the 900 block of Probandt Street in the near South Side. Two other people were in the vehicle. The 33-year-old man was uncooperative when officers asked how he had been shot, according to police. He was sent to Brooke Army Medical Center. Officers questioned the other two people in the car, including a 26-year-old man, who was later identified in court records as Jose Guadalupe Pedroza. They also called in crime scene investigators. Based on evidence in the vehicle and subsequent investigation, police concluded that Pedroza accidentally fired the gun while handling it recklessly, according to a police report. He was arrested on a charge of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon. The other person in the vehicle was released. caroline.tien@hearst.com COVID-19 has created hardships for many. The stress has led to unhealthy coping mechanisms, such as substance abuse and domestic violence, causing more families to rely on the child welfare system. Unfortunately, the system in place to assist families and care for children is already stretched thin. Texas has lost more than 1,000 foster care beds over the past year, and the number of children without a placement has increased each month since the beginning of 2021. On the agenda for the third special session is the appropriation of $16 billion in American Rescue Plan Act, or ARPA, funds. With these funds, we have the opportunity to provide much-needed relief to communities that have struggled throughout the pandemic, and we must thoughtfully consider how we will allocate the funds. Members of the Blue Ribbon Task Force have met with numerous child welfare organizations to discuss COVIDs impact. Through these conversations, we have found specific problems within the system that the pandemic has exacerbated and qualify for ARPA funding. First, implement an integrated data system for the Department of Family and Protective Services, or DFPS. We need to offer all stakeholders access to real-time data that will assist with the coordination of care across health, education, social service and specialty-care systems. There is no excuse for the state and those involved in a case to be clueless as to the whereabouts of a child. A new system is needed to provide detailed information about each child, the care they need and the services they are receiving. Reliable data will also allow us to monitor progress, ensure children are in safe and appropriate placements, and the state is fulfilling its duties and obligations. We also need to provide appropriate financial support for kinship caregivers. Many of us know a grandparent, aunt or sibling who has stepped up to take care of a child in their family. Typically, kinship placements are the best option for children who have entered the foster care system because they tend to result in better outcomes than alternative options. Unfortunately, kinship caregivers receive minimal state financial assistance. Taking in a child is expensive. Car seats, formula, clothing: These necessities are not cheap. To encourage and support kinship placements, we should provide the needed level of support and training, particularly for family members who are providing care for children requiring specialized services. Doing so will relieve some of the strain on the system created by the capacity crisis. Another investment is to provide bonuses for child-serving staff in the child welfare system. These professionals have been on the front lines of the pandemic and have experienced significant stress, leading to increasing turnover rates. The annual turnover rate for DFPS Investigation staff is 40 percent, and for DFPS conservatorship caseworkers, it is 25 percent. High turnover contributes to a lack of continuity in case management, potentially resulting in unnecessary removals of children. By providing bonuses to recognize workers heroic efforts, we also offer an incentive for them to remain. We should also restore the funding for purchased client services, or PCS, that was cut. PCS supports children in several stages. Adoption PCS can reduce the length of stay in foster care and more quickly achieve child permanency. Substance abuse prevention and treatment PCS can help families reach reunification. Other services include evaluation and treatment not available from community resources or Medicaid and home studies for kinship placements. We should restore PCS to fiscal 2021 funding levels by allocating $35.1 million. I urge my Texas Legislature colleagues to appropriate ARPA funds to support the vulnerable children who are counting on us to protect them. Jose Menendez, a Democrat, has served in the Texas Senate since 2015, representing District 26, and leads the Blue Ribbon Task Force. There should be little doubt that President Joe Biden was not being truthful when, days after the Talibans victory, he told ABC News that his senior military advisers had not urged him to keep some 2,500 troops in Afghanistan. The presidents claim was flatly contradicted last week in sworn testimony from Gen. Mark Milley, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, and Gen. Kenneth McKenzie Jr., the head of U.S. Central Command. During the generals testimony, the White House press secretary, Jen Psaki, sought to defend her boss by pointing to a line in Bidens interview in which he appeared to suggest that the militarys advice was split. Another whopper. What split? As the new York Times Helene Cooper, Eric Schmitt and David Sanger reported in April, right after Lloyd Austin was sworn in as secretary of defense in January, he and his top generals were in lockstep in recommending that about 3,000 to 4,500 troops stay in Afghanistan. Asked whether there were top military advisers who argued otherwise, Psaki evaded the question. Bidens dissembling, regarding the worst-executed major foreign policy decision in years, would be a scandal in any presidency. Its worse coming from the man who campaigned for office by insisting that he stood for honor and telling the truth. A week earlier, Politicos Ben Schreckinger published a scrupulously reported book on the Biden family. It makes a compelling case that some of the most explosive emails from Hunter Bidens purported laptop were entirely genuine a claim that Schreckinger confirmed with multiple sources, including a Swedish government agency, and that was never explicitly denied by Hunter himself. That includes a 2017 email in which one of Hunters potential business partners proposed a provisional agreement with the now-defunct company CEFC China Energy to share equity percentages in a new venture, with 10 Jim and 10 held by H for the big guy? Jim Biden is the presidents brother. The big guy, according to Tony Bobulinski, a recipient of the email, is Hunters father. This does not mean the president received, or even expected to receive, money from this supposed venture, or even knew about it. But it provides good reason to believe that the news media gave far too much credence to his assertion that the leaked emails were a Russian plant, as he put it in his second debate with Donald Trump. It makes it more difficult to ignore Bobulinskis claim that he met with Joe, Jim and Hunter Biden in May 2017 to discuss the overall terms of the deal. And it is worth questioning whether the president may have been willing to make himself useful to his family, even if he didnt profit personally or directly from their deals. The Bidens pride themselves on integrity, and are fond of pledging my word as a Biden when they really mean something, Schreckinger writes. The evidence marshaled in the closing weeks of the campaign built on a picture in which Joes relatives trade regularly on their connections to him, while the separation between their private dealings and his public duties is not as far and wide as he has claimed. All this would be bad enough if it were just history. But what are we to make of Hunters recent venture as a visual artist a field in which he has no formal training and no commercial track record? In case you missed this: A SoHo gallerist intends to sell 15 of Hunters works at prices of up to $500,000 apiece. To safeguard the propriety of these transactions, the White House has issued ethics guidelines that are supposed to keep things aboveboard by hiding the identity of the buyers from both Hunter and the White House. And it falls to the gallerist that is, the person who stands to gain from the commissions to police the guidelines by rejecting suspiciously lucrative offers. It screams of a scam. The Treasury Department warned last year that the anonymity of high-value art transactions could make the market attractive to those engaging in illegal financial activities or people subject to U.S. sanctions, the Times Zolan Kanno-Youngs reported in July. In another report of dubious activities, Mattathias Schwartz wrote in Business Insider about emails that indicated that in 2015, while his dad was vice president, Hunter was allegedly exploring a $2 million-plus success fees deal with two Democratic donors to help recover Libyan assets that had been frozen as a result of U.S. sanctions. The effort came to nothing Hunters reputation for hard living didnt help but at least one of the donors was attracted to Hunters offer because he is son of #2 who has Libya file. When it comes to opening doors in Washington, Schwartz notes, the illusion of access can be as valuable as hard currency. Some readers may be inclined to dismiss this as merely an indictment of a troubled son. They might ask themselves what conclusions they would draw if this were about, say, Eric Trump. Some readers will also think it isnt the presidents job to police his adult son. But it is his job to ensure that Hunter and other relatives dont profit by trading on his position in government. That would be corruption. The president will have to do better than give us his word as a Biden that hell put an end to it. Contributed photo An Old Stratfield Road man has been charged after police said he failed to turn over all his guns as required after a domestic violence incident last December. Blake Warner, 30, was arrested last Friday at Bridgeport Superior Court on two counts of possession of an assault weapon, and one count each of criminal possession of firearms and violation of a protective order. He was held on a $200,000 bond. Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category Both Saif Ali Khan and Kareena Kapoor Khan have a great career. The two of them are super busy with their work commitments and have some awesome films coming up. Saif Ali Khan was busy with the shoot of Om Rauts Adipurush which also stars Prabhas and Kriti Sanon since the past few months and today he wrapped up shooting for the much-awaited film. Taking to Instagram, director Om Raut wrote, Its a film wrap for Lankesh!!! Had so much fun shooting with you SAK!!! #SaifAliKhan #Adipurush #AboutLastNight. Soon after he posted pictures of Saif celebrating and cutting a cake on set, Kareena commented on the post saying, The best duogonna be EPIC (followed with a heart). Isnt that sweet? VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 8, 2021 / XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. (CSE:XPHY)(OTCQB:XPHYF)(FSE:4XT) ("XPhyto" or the"Company") announces it has entered into extensions to investor relations consulting agreements with each of Knox Communications Inc. ("KCI") and M. Davis & Associates Capital Inc. ("Davis"), to carry out marketing and investor communications activities for the Company. KCI's engagement is extended for a 12 month period beginning on October 1, 2021 and ending on September 30, 2022, pursuant to an investor relations services agreement between KCI and XPhyto dated October 1, 2021 (the "KCI Agreement"). Knox Henderson, founder and principal of KCI, will be providing the services to the Company on behalf of KCI. KCI and Mr. Henderson may be contacted at 1820 Fir Street, Suite 270, Vancouver, BC, khenderson@xphyto.com, 604-551-2360. The services will include inbound and outbound investor relations consulting on a part-time basis. KCI will be granted 100,000 options, with 25,000 options vesting every 3 months for the next year, eligible to be exercised into one common share each at a price of $1.35 per common share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. KCI will also receive monthly compensation of C$4,000. Neither KCI nor Mr. Henderson have a relationship with the Company other than by virtue of providing marketing and investor communications activities under the KCI Agreement. The Company has also extended the services of Davis for a period of 12 months, which commenced on October 1, 2021, pursuant to an agreement entered into between Davis and XPhyto dated October 1, 2021 (the "Davis Agreement"). The principal of Davis, Marc Davis, will be providing the services on behalf of Davis, which will consist of work as a media consultant for the Company. Davis and Mr. Davis may be contacted at 1820 Fir Street, Suite 270, Vancouver, BC, info@xphyto.com, 780-818-6422. Davis will be granted 200,000 options, with 50,000 options vesting every 3 months for the next year, eligible to be exercised into one common share each at a price of $1.40 per common share for a period of 24 months from the date of issuance. In addition, Davis is receiving a bonus payment of 140,000 common shares issued at $1.31 per common share in connection with the extension of its services, and will receive monthly compensation of C$10,000. Neither Davis nor Mr. Davis have a relationship with the Company other than by virtue of providing the media consulting services under the Davis Agreement. All securities issued to KCI and Davis are subject to a four month and one day hold period from the date of issuance, in accordance with the policies of the CSE. About XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. is a bioscience accelerator focused on next-generation drug delivery, diagnostic, and new active pharmaceutical ingredient investment opportunities, including: precision transdermal and oral dissolvable drug formulations; rapid, low-cost infectious disease and oral health screening tests; and standardization of emerging active pharmaceutical ingredients for neurological applications, including psychedelic compounds and cannabinoids. The Company has research and development operations in North America and Europe, with an operational focus in Germany, and is currently focused on regulatory approval and commercialization of medical products for European markets. XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. " Hugh Rogers " Hugh Rogers, CEO and Director Investor Inquiries: Mr. Knox Henderson T: 604-551-2360 E: info@xphyto.com Cautionary Statement Regarding "Forward-Looking" Information This release includes certain statements that may be deemed "forward-looking statements". All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, that address events or developments that the Company expects to occur, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts and are generally, but not always, identified by the words "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "projects", "potential" and similar expressions, or that events or conditions "will", "would", "may", "could" or "should" occur. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause the actual results to differ materially from those in forward-looking statements include regulatory actions, market prices, and continued availability of capital and financing, and general economic, market or business conditions. Investors are cautioned that any such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs, estimates and opinions of the Company's management on the date the statements are made. Except as required by applicable securities laws, the Company undertakes no obligation to update these forward-looking statements in the event that management's beliefs, estimates or opinions, or other factors, should change. SOURCE: XPhyto Therapeutics Corp. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667470/Xphyto-Announces-Engagement-of-Consultants-for-Marketing-and-Promotional-Activities SYSDIG ANNOUNCES GOOGLE CLOUD SECURITY PARTNERSHIP Launches a unified cloud and container security platform for Google Cloud Sysdig, Inc. announced today a partnership with Google Cloud to deliver cloud and container security solutions that help organizations address security and compliance needs. This collaboration establishes the Sysdig software-as-as-service (SaaS) offering on Google Cloud and introduces a new unified cloud and container security offering for Google Cloud customers. The Sysdig Secure DevOps Platform brings new continuous cloud security and compliance controls together with existing vulnerability scanning, compliance validation, and threat detection for containers. Adopting secure DevOps to manage your security risk on Google Cloud Enterprises are under pressure to accelerate the delivery of applications in the cloud. Modern cloud apps built using a DevOps approach, CI/CD, and containerized microservices require a shift in security processes. According to the State of DevOps 2021 study, "Teams who integrate security best practices throughout their development process are 1.6 times more likely to meet or exceed their organizational goals." Without secure DevOps, misconfigurations and weak passwords in the cloud are common, evident by the many high-profile cloud breaches. Sysdig is solving these problems, together with Google Cloud, to help joint customers reduce security risk and confidently run containers, Kubernetes, and cloud. New security and compliance capabilities for Google Cloud With this announcement, Sysdig adds cloud capabilities to give enterprises a new way to meet key security and compliance requirements across their Google Cloud deployments. Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) for Google Cloud: Secure public cloud accounts with automatic cloud asset discovery, cloud services posture assessment, and compliance validation based on the Cloud Custodian open-source project. Cloud security teams can automatically discover in-use Google Cloud services, flag misconfigurations, and alert on compliance violations. Secure public cloud accounts with automatic cloud asset discovery, cloud services posture assessment, and compliance validation based on the Cloud Custodian open-source project. Cloud security teams can automatically discover in-use Google Cloud services, flag misconfigurations, and alert on compliance violations. Cloud configuration change and threat detection: Detect threats via Google Cloud Audit logs with out-of-the-box rules based on open source Falco to continuously monitor for suspicious activity or configuration changes across services and infrastructure in real-time. Detect threats via Google Cloud Audit logs with out-of-the-box rules based on open source Falco to continuously monitor for suspicious activity or configuration changes across services and infrastructure in real-time. Chronicle integration for advanced threat hunting: Forward Sysdig-detected security events directly to Google Cloud's Chronicle security analytics platform. Sysdig cloud and container detection, built on Falco, gives Chronicle users unique insight to analyze and respond faster to cloud-native workload threats. Forward Sysdig-detected security events directly to Google Cloud's Chronicle security analytics platform. Sysdig cloud and container detection, built on Falco, gives Chronicle users unique insight to analyze and respond faster to cloud-native workload threats. Sysdig SaaS on Google Cloud: The Sysdig SaaS platform is now available in the Google Cloud US-West region, making it even easier for cloud teams to get started with security, compliance, and monitoring for public, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments. Teams can get started in minutes leveraging Google Cloud's trusted, world-scale infrastructure and grow without worrying about backend data management. The Sysdig SaaS platform is now available in the Google Cloud US-West region, making it even easier for cloud teams to get started with security, compliance, and monitoring for public, hybrid, and multi-cloud environments. Teams can get started in minutes leveraging Google Cloud's trusted, world-scale infrastructure and grow without worrying about backend data management. Availability on Google Cloud Marketplace: Purchase and deploy with a single click from the Google Cloud Marketplace. Consolidated billing allows customers to draw down on their Google Cloud spend commitment. Purchase and deploy with a single click from the Google Cloud Marketplace. Consolidated billing allows customers to draw down on their Google Cloud spend commitment. Free Tier for Cloud Security: Take advantage of continuous cloud security for free, forever, for a single account. Sysdig's Free Tier includes a daily CIS benchmark check and threat detection to ensure cloud environments are secure and compliant. The Free Tier also includes image scanning for Google Cloud Registry (GCR) or Artifact Registry to automatically detect and block vulnerabilities for up to 250 images per month. "With security top-of-mind for our customers, we expect the deep visibility and threat detection of Sysdig and the secure-by-default infrastructure of Google Cloud will encourage greater cloud adoption among today's enterprises," said Vineet Bhan, Head of Security Partnerships, Google Cloud. "We believe there is a lot of opportunity for us to accelerate innovation together with our partnership." We're seeing an inflection point and cloud and container adoption is accelerating, yet we know security is the top barrier," said Suresh Vasudevan, Chief Executive Officer, Sysdig. "We are excited to partner with Google Cloud to help customers adopt secure DevOps, so they can confidently run container and Kubernetes workloads." The new capabilities announced today build on joint visibility, security, and compliance solutions previously available for Google Cloud services including GKE, Anthos, Security Command Center, Cloud Run, Cloud Build, Google Container Registry, and Artifact Registry. A SaaS-first approach to secure DevOps The Sysdig Secure DevOps Platform provides organizations a SaaS-first platform to address the most critical security, compliance, and monitoring functions, allowing teams to ship cloud applications faster. The Sysdig platform delivers image scanning, Kubernetes and container monitoring, application and cloud service monitoring, runtime security, compliance, threat detection and prevention, incident response, and forensics at scale. Resources Blog: Secure DevOps on Google Cloud: Reduce cloud and container risk Video: Securing Google Cloud with Sysdig Join Sysdig at Google Cloud Next '21, October 11-14, 2021 Join Sysdig and Google Cloud live: Securing Google Cloud and Containers, October 14, 2021, at 10 am Pacific View Sysdig on the Google Cloud Marketplace Learn more about the Sysdig and Google Cloud partnership About Sysdig: Sysdig is driving the secure DevOps movement, empowering organizations to confidently secure containers, Kubernetes, and cloud. With Sysdig, teams secure the build, detect and respond to threats, continuously validate cloud configurations and compliance, and monitor performance. Sysdig is a SaaS platform, built on an open source stack that includes Falco and sysdig OSS, the open standards for runtime threat detection and response. Hundreds of companies rely on Sysdig for container and cloud security and visibility. Learn more at sysdig.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20210928005421/en/ Contacts: Amanda Smith 703-473-4051 amanda.smith@sysdig.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - October 7, 2021) - Anacortes Mining Corp. (TSXV: XYZ.P) ("Anacortes" or the "Company"), formerly First Light Capital Corp. ("First Light"), and New Oroperu Resources Inc. ("New Oroperu") (TSXV:ORO) are pleased to announce the successful completion of their previously-announced business combination - resulting in the creation of "Anacortes Mining Corp." - a new growth-oriented gold company in the Americas led by a strengthened management team with proven mine building and operating capabilities in Peru and Latin America (the "Transaction"). Anacortes intends to focus on continued exploration and advancement of its 100% owned Tres Cruces project located in Peru, in addition to seeking further growth opportunities in the Americas. Anacortes is well-capitalized following the release of approximately $22 million in gross proceeds from the private placement of subscription receipts (each, a "Subscription Receipt") issued by First Light and one of its former subsidiaries ("FinCo") on July 21, 2021 (the "Private Placement"). In connection with the closing of the Transaction (the "Closing"), Anacortes acquired New Oroperu by way of a statutory plan of arrangement under the Business Corporations Act (British Columbia) pursuant to which, among other things, the Company acquired all of the issued and outstanding common shares of New Oroperu in exchange for an aggregate of 27,074,716 common shares of Anacortes (on a post-Consolidation (as defined below) basis) (each, a "Share"). Jim Currie, President and Chief Executive Officer of Anacortes, stated, "With the founding of Anacortes, our team now embarks on a corporate goal of creating a high-growth, Americas-focused gold producer. Our team successfully pursued a foundational asset for Anacortes, a pursuit which will continue as we seek additional assets to compliment Tres Cruces in the creation of a multi-asset gold company. At Tres Cruces, our 100% owned flagship asset, the Anacortes team plans to advance the project through a feasibility study and towards production, building on a heap-leach open pit scenario for the identified leachable oxides and sulphides. Furthermore, the team will continue to drill exploration opportunities to expand the leachable material across the property, in addition to delineating the sulphide gold mineralization that remains open at depth. Through focused efforts on engineering and exploration, and with a strong financial position, we believe that we are well-positioned to generate significant value for all stakeholders of Anacortes." The Company also entered into voluntary escrow agreements with Computershare Investor Services Inc. and certain former shareholders of New Oroperu, pursuant to which an aggregate of 2,039,508 Shares were placed in escrow and are to be released in accordance with the following schedule: 25% on the issuance of the Final Exchange Bulletin in connection with the Closing; 25% on the date that is 6 months following the issuance of the Final Exchange Bulletin; 25% on the date that is 12 months following the issuance of the Final Exchange Bulletin; and the balance on the date that is 18 months following the issuance of the Final Exchange Bulletin. In addition, the Company issued to three eligible persons, in the aggregate and as partial payment of advisory fees due, 708,333 Shares and 354,166 warrants, each exercisable for one Share for a period of 24 months following the Closing at an exercise price of $3.30 per Share. Key Highlights on the Launch of Anacortes Tres Cruces is one of the highest-grade oxide deposits globally and hosts oxide plus sulphide Indicated resources of 2.474 Mozs at 1.65 g/t gold and Inferred resources of 104 kozs at 1.26 g/t gold, inclusive of 630 kozs of high-grade leachable gold at 1.28 g/t gold Tres Cruces is strategically located in a highly prospective geological belt that hosts significant gold deposits such as Lagunas Norte, which is located within 10 km, Yanacocha and Pierina Anacortes is led by a new management team and Board of Directors with extensive experience in Latin America and Peru and proven capabilities in all facets of mine development and operations Anacortes is well-capitalized post-closing of the approximately $22M Private Placement Underexplored property with oxide and sulphide resource growth potential - Tres Cruces has not been drilled since 2008 when gold prices were approximately US$850/oz, and several of the best drill intercepts from the previous drilling campaign are below and outside of the current pit-constrained mineral resource Attractive relative valuation on an enterprise value per Indicated resource ounce basis Consolidation, Name Change and Trading Symbol Concurrent to the Closing, the Company completed a consolidation of its issued and outstanding Shares on the basis of one (1) post-consolidation Share for each six (6) pre-consolidation Shares (the "Consolidation"). Additionally, the corporate name of "First Light Capital Corp." has been changed to "Anacortes Mining Corp.". The post-Consolidation Shares of Anacortes are expected to commence trading on the TSX Venture Exchange at the opening of market on October 12, 2021 under the Company's current symbol "XYZ". Management and Board of Directors of Anacortes The new leadership team of Anacortes is now comprised of: Jim Currie (President, Chief Executive Officer and Director) Engineer with over 40 years of senior management, engineering, and operations experience Most recently Chief Operating Officer of Equinox Gold Corp. Previously Chief Operating Officer of Pretium Resources Inc. and New Gold Inc. Steven Botts (President of Aurifera Tres Cruces S. A., Peru) Over 40 years of experience in mining with a focus on the areas of project development, environmental management, stakeholder engagement, and sustainable development Most recently Vice President and Managing Director of Tahoe Peru, where he managed both the La Arena and Shahuindo gold heap leach operations Horng Dih Lee (Chief Financial Officer and Corporate Secretary) Previously Chief Financial Officer and Secretary at Eastern Platinum Ltd. and at Esrey Resources Ltd., Chief Financial Officer and Vice President for Northern Orion Resources, Inc., and Chief Financial Officer and Vice President at Diamond Fields Resources, Inc. Marshall Koval (Special Advisor) Mining executive with more than 42 years of corporate management, M&A, finance, mineral exploration, mine development, and operations experience globally Currently serves as President, CEO and Director of Lumina Gold Corp., CEO and Director of Luminex Resources Corp., Director of Equinox Gold Corp., and Director of Miedzi Copper Corp. The new Anacortes Board of Directors is comprised of Jim Currie, Andrew Carstensen, Barry Hildred, Brian Storseth, and K. Wayne Livingstone. For additional information regarding the individuals comprising the Board of Directors of Anacortes, please refer to the Company's management information circular dated August 9, 2021, which is available under the Company's profile on SEDAR. Release of Proceeds of Subscription Receipt Financing Prior to the Closing, each Subscription Receipt issued in connection with the closing of the Private Placement automatically converted into one unit of First Light or FinCo (each, respectively, a "Unit"), each comprised of one share and one-half warrant, which have subsequently been exchanged for securities of Anacortes, on a post-Consolidation basis, in conjunction with the closing of the Transaction. Pursuant to the Private Placement, an aggregate of 9,182,704 Shares and 4,591,349 warrants have been issued, on a post-Consolidation basis, with each warrant entitling the holder thereof to purchase one Share for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Private Placement at an exercise price of $3.30 per Share. The securities of Anacortes issued upon the conversion of the Subscription Receipts issued by First Light will be subject to a statutory hold period in Canada expiring on November 22, 2021. The securities of Anacortes issued upon the conversion of the Subscription Receipts issued by FinCo are not be subject to a statutory hold period in Canada. In connection with the Closing, and upon the satisfaction of the Escrow Release Conditions (as defined in the Subscription Receipt Agreements), the Company paid cash commissions of approximately $1,318,610, which amount represents 6% of the gross proceeds of the brokered tranche of the Private Placement and is inclusive of a $35,000 corporate finance fee, plus GST, and issued an aggregate of 550,668 Subscription Receipt compensation options (each, a "SR Compensation Option"), which amount represents 6.0% of the aggregate number of Subscription Receipts sold under the brokered tranche of the Private Placement. Each SR Compensation Option entitles the holder thereof to purchase one Share for a period of 24 months following the closing of the Private Placement at an exercise price of $2.40 per Share. For more information on the Private Placement and the anticipated use of proceeds therefrom, please see Anacortes' news release dated July 21, 2021 filed under the Company's profile on SEDAR. About Anacortes Anacortes is a new growth-oriented gold company in the Americas, which owns a 100% interest in the Tres Cruces gold project located in Peru. Tres Cruces is one of the highest-grade oxide deposits globally and hosts oxide plus sulphide Indicated resources of 2.474 Mozs at 1.65 g/t gold and Inferred resources of 104 kozs at 1.26 g/t gold, inclusive of 630 kozs of high-grade leachable gold at 1.28 g/t gold. Anacortes is well-capitalized and intends to aggressively advance Tres Cruces through feasibility and to production under a heap leach open pit scenario. Additionally, Anacortes will continue to seek further growth opportunities in the Americas, with the goal of creating the next mid-tier multi-asset gold producer. For further information, please contact Jim Currie, President and Chief Executive Officer of Anacortes, at (604) 764-7108. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements which constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities legislation (collectively, the "Forward-looking Statements"). All statements included herein, other than statements of historical fact, are Forward-looking Statements and are subject to a variety of known and unknown risks and uncertainties which could cause actual events or results to differ materially from those reflected in the Forward-looking Statements. The Forward-looking Statements in this news release may include, without limitation, statements about the Anacortes' current expectations, estimates and projections for Company following the Closing; the anticipated benefits of the Transaction to shareholders and the combined company, including corporate, operational and other synergies; and the anticipated uses of the net proceeds of the Private Placement. Often, but not always, these Forward-looking Statements can be identified by the use of words such as "anticipated", "estimated", "potential", "open", "future", "assumed", "projected", "used", "detailed", "has been", "gain", "planned", "reflecting", "will", "anticipated", "estimated" "containing", "remaining", "to be", or statements that events, "could" or "should" occur or be achieved and similar expressions, including negative variations. Forward-looking Statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the ability of Anacortes to control or predict and which may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the Forward-looking Statements. Such risks, uncertainties and factors include, among others, the ability of the combined company to realize the anticipated benefits of, and synergies and savings from, the Transaction and the timing thereof; changes in general economic conditions and financial markets; political risks; risks relating to the current and potential adverse impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on the economy, financial markets and the parties' operations; and risks inherent in mineral exploration. Although Forward-looking Statements contained in this news release are based upon what each of the parties believe are reasonable assumptions at the time they were made, such statements are made as of the date hereof and Anacortes disclaims any obligation to update any Forward-looking Statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise, except as required by law. There can be no assurance that these Forward-looking Statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, investors should not place undue reliance on Forward-looking Statements. This news release does not constitute an offer to sell, or solicitation of an offer to buy, nor will there be any sale of any of the securities offered in any jurisdiction where such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful, including the United States of America. The securities being offered as part of the Private Placement have not been, and will not be, registered under the United States Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "U.S. Securities Act"), or any state securities laws, and accordingly may not be offered or sold in the United States except in compliance with the registration requirements of the U.S. Securities Act and any applicable state securities laws, or pursuant to available exemptions therefrom. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Not For Dissemination in the United States or For Distribution to U.S. Newswire Services. This Press Release Does Not Constitute an Offer to U.S. Persons. To view the source version of this press release, please visit https://www.newsfilecorp.com/release/98871 BEIJING, China, Oct. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- A news report by chinadaily.com.cn: In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, a documentary about Du Fu, a great Chinese poet, has caught the attention of many. It was produced by a British director named Michael Wood. To portray the life of the Sage of Poetry in a one-hour documentary and make sure foreign audience could get the culture and spirit of the East may seem to be "mission impossible". But Michael Wood did it. Michael Wood fell in love with Chinese culture in college. When he first set foot in this mysterious and charming country in the East in 1984, he made up his mind to let the world know about her stories. Wood's documentaries about China have created waves of "China fever" in many countries. More noteworthy is that his works, such as The Story of China, The Story of China's Reform and Opening Up, and Du Fu: China's Greatest Poet, have not only touched many in the West, but also been accepted and appreciated by Chinese audience. In Wood's view, there are already plenty of works about China's rapid economic growth, but many in the West want to know more about its history and something deeper. He wants his documentaries to reach the viewers' hearts. In 2007, the success of The Story of India inspired Wood to make a documentary featuring China's history. At the time, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games had thrust China onto the global stage. As the world turned its attention to the country, some ill-intentioned started to distort stories of China. Wood thought it was time to make The Story of China. Wood and his team made 12 trips to China, visiting places across the vast country. It took them three years to finish shooting. To make it as objective and truthful as possible, Wood reached out to many Chinese people who were kind and warmhearted. Wood recalled that in Shexian County in Anhui Province, there is this September Huizhou Inn which was his favorite place. Its hospitable owner took them around to see the beautiful scenery, including a lucid brook nearby. Wood said if he were to make another film on China, he would revisit those who had helped him with shooting and recording. Dedication makes good work. The Story of China made him famous. It was aired during prime time on BBC and attracted twice as many viewers as other shows. When walking on the streets or travelling by train, Wood would be recognized by people who would come up to him and tell him how much they liked The Story of China. Greatly encouraged, Wood set off to produce another documentary, The Story of China's Reform and Opening Up. Again, he poured his heart into it. In the short span of a summer, he carried his camera and travelled across the United Kingdom, the United States, and around 10 Chinese provinces and cities including Guangdong, Jilin, Beijing, and Shanghai. It was exhausting. Wood was so tired that on the high-speed train from Xiaogang Village to Hangzhou he fell asleep sitting on the floor. In making The Story of China's Reform and Opening Up, as he did in The Story of China, Wood interviewed some 50 Chinese who had first-hand experience about reform and opening-up. One time, he visited the assembly line of the Fuxing high-speed trains and spoke to one of the engineers. "That's incredible," said Wood. "25,000 km of the high-speed network! Looking at the future, the network is still expanding. How do you see the future?" The engineer answered, "By 2025 the network will have 38,000 km of track in China. And we are getting ready to go abroad any time!" This short conversation received 301,000 likes and 11,000 replies on Douyin, a Chinese social media platform. Film-making is a process of learning. Looking into the camera, Wood raised a question: "China became a global economic force. But what actually happened 40 years ago? And How did China do it?" When the film was finished, he found the answer. Those who have devoted themselves to China's reform and opening-up did that not only to build a better life for themselves, but also for their family, their children, and future generations. Wood commented in his documentary that this is the will of the Chinese people. Many in the West see China's economic growth and the rise of a major country but know little about the tribulations China went through in modern times, still less China's history and culture. Wood's documentaries helped fill the gap. Wood's latest work in 2020------Du Fu: China's Greatest Poet-----probed into the core of Chinese culture------the spirit. In this documentary, Wood referred to Du Fu as the "greatest" because, to the Chinese people, he was not only a poet but also a guardian of the country's conscience. To Wood, great poems transcend culture and language and focus on eternal humanity. Du Fu's poems are great as they convey the shared experience and spirit of humankind. That includes love, friendship, family, children, happiness, loss, and the much-needed solidarity and empathy in the fight against the virus. Aired during the pandemic, the documentary brought relief to the global audience grappling with COVID-19. For the audience, the story of the ancient Chinese poet evoked humanity that is shared by all. This is also what Wood aspired to. He noted that there are too many walls in today's world, if he could, through his documentaries, help bring out more understanding and empathy among the audience, that would be great. In the views of Joris Ivens, a master in documentary, a creator should faithfully present "people" as well as his true feelings. Wood's documentaries are full of his love for the Chinese culture, and he managed to pass on that to his audiences with different cultures experiences. This might teach us something: understanding of a culture doesn't necessarily need to be done through grand narratives, and feelings are not always conjured by dramatic stories. The beauty of humanity is what is appreciated by all. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1655705/Michael_Wood_China.jpg VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 8, 2021 / Komo Plant Based Foods Inc. (CSE:YUM)(OTCQB:KOMOF)(FRA:9HB) ("Komo" or the "Company"), a premium frozen plant-based food company, announces that it has closed a fully subscribed non-brokered private placement of $1,000,000. Komo also received additional proceeds of $374,000 in warrant and option exercises over the past two weeks. Pursuant to the private placement closing, Komo issued 1,000 Komo units at a price of $1,000 per unit, for gross proceeds of up to $1,000,000. Each unit consisted of a 10% convertible unsecured debenture (the "Debentures") and 7,000 common share purchase warrants of the Company (the "Warrants"). The Debentures bear interest at a rate of 10% per annum on an accrual basis from issuance, calculated and payable semi-annually in arrears on July 31 and January 31 of each year with such payment commencing on January 31, 2022 with a redemption date that is 24 months from issuance. The Debentures are convertible in full or in part, at the holders' option, into common shares in the capital of the Company at a price of $0.14 per common share, at any time prior to their redemption. Each Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to acquire one common share of the Company at a price of $0.16 per share for a period of 36 months from the date of issue. The closing occurred in two tranches - 50% on September 29, 2021 and 50% today. The Company paid $80,000 of finders fees to registered brokers and issued 571,427 warrants to each purchase one common share of the Company at a price of $0.14 for a period of 24 months from the date of issue (the "Broker Warrants"). The shares underlying the Warrants, the Broker Warrants and the Debentures are subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day from issuance of the underlying securities. All amounts are in Canadian dollars unless otherwise stated. The net proceeds from the Offering will be used to scale up manufacturing, sales expansion throughout Canada and the United States, marketing and salaries. As part of its previously announced strategic brand messaging campaign, Komo entered into an agreement on October 7, 2021 with Lion Capital Investment Limited for content creation, consulting, online marketing and lead generation and the dissemination of Komo information extrapolated from publicly disclosed investor presentations and press releases for a six month term for a fee of USD$225,000, of which 75% will be used for third party services. Komo may choose to increase the digital marketing budget at any time during the term of the agreement by requesting an additional work order from Lion. Pursuant to the agreement, Lion is obligated to ensure that all content created as part of the services is pre-approved by Komo prior to publication. Lion is further obligated to ensure that all aspects of the content and digital marketing campaign comply with all applicable laws and regulations. About Komo Komo Plant Based Foods Inc. is a premium plant-based food company that develops, manufactures and sells a variety of plant-based frozen meals that are always hearty, satisfying, and made with wholesome ingredients. At Komo, our mission is to help make plant-based meals a staple on every dinner table by sharing our love for feel-good food that connects the people to the planet. We believe plant-based eating is the future and - Change can start with a single biteTM. Our experienced plant-based innovation and development team recreates vegan versions of traditionally cheesy and meaty classics, with 100% plants. Komo's products are sold direct-to-consumer through our eCommerce website and a distribution network of online and brick and mortar grocery, convenience and natural retailer channels. Our operating subsidiary Komo Comfort Foods launched in 2021 with our flagship products: plant-based Lasagna, Shepherd's Pie and Chick'n Pot Pie and has recently launched a new line - Komo Plant-Based Meal HelpersTM - versatile meal starters to allow the creation of many dishes at home. All of our products are 100% plant-based, made with wholesome ingredients, free from preservatives, and frozen for freshness. Freezing products is a natural and effective way of keeping food products for longer without having to use any preservatives. Komo's meals have a 1-year frozen shelf life. Learn more at: www.komocomfortfoods.com and follow on Instagram: @komocomfortfoods For further information, please contact: William White, President & CEO, Komo Plant Based Foods Inc. will@komoeats.com 1-866-969-0882 The Canadian Securities Exchange has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this press release constitute forward-looking information. These statements relate to future events or Komo's future performance. The use of any of the words "could", "expect", "believe", "will", "projected", "estimated" and similar expressions and statements relating to matters that are not historical facts are intended to identify forward-looking information and are based on Komo's current belief or assumptions as to the outcome and timing of such future events. Actual future results may differ materially. In particular, Komo's product development plans, its ability to retain key personnel, and its expectation as to the acceptance of its products by consumers constitute forward-looking information. Actual results and developments may differ materially from those contemplated by forward-looking information. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on forward-looking information. The statements made in this press release are made as of the date hereof. Komo disclaims any intention or obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking information, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be expressly required by applicable securities laws. SOURCE: KOMO Plant Based Foods Inc. View source version on accesswire.com:https://www.accesswire.com/667487/Komo-Plant-Based-Foods-Closes-Fully-Subscribed-Financing MUNICH, Oct. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sungrow, the global leading inverter solution supplier for renewables, rolled out its ST2752UX at Intersolar Europe 2021. It's the latest liquid cooled energy storage system featuring a compact and optimized design, enabling more profitability, flexibility, and safety. Reducing Costs Due to the compact design of less than 26 tons, the system can be pre-assembled with the battery prior to transportation. This design saves a whopping 50% of on-site installation time. Further, it enables a smaller footprint given the back-to-back installation scheme. The system auxiliary loss is significantly reduced with the liquid-cooled technology when compared to standard air-cooled technology. The liquid-cooled technology also ensures a longer battery life as it has an intelligent temperature control system, enabling a maximum battery temperature difference of three degrees Celsius. Product Enhancements With the modular DC/DC converter, the system enables parallel connection and flexible system expansion. Meanwhile, each battery rack can be fully charged and discharged through the DC/DC converter. The DC/DC clustered battery rack application removes the SOC (State of Charge) calibration, benefiting most maintenance and operation tasks. Furthermore, an automatic device is integrated inside the cabinet to carry out liquid replenishment, which can save 80% of filling work. Furthermore, the cabinet automatically refills levels of liquid, saving a total of 80% refilling maintenance. Enhanced Safety Features Since safety is one of Sungrow's top priorities, the liquid-cooled system offers a three layered seal proof design. In addition, the Company's patented connector integrated into the system has over 100,000 successful applications. As a result of its leak detection function, the system immediately shuts down and alerts the operator of any leaking. The system is also equipped with a water based fire extinguishing system enabling fire fighters to effectively manage a battery fire and prevent the modules from re-ignition. Moreover, the battery system adopts a multi-compartment design with each compartment having a 1 hour fire rating. As more large-scale renewable energy projects come into operation and more resources are added to the energy mix, it is even more important to maintain grid stability. With a 24-year proven track record, Sungrow performance remains unparalleled on energy storage applications. Some of its landmark projects include the largest standalone energy storage project (100MW/100MWh) in Europe. The Company is dedicated to continuing offering innovative energy storage solutions with the goals of further supplying renewable energy, creating a more stable electric grid, and providing value to all stakeholders. About Sungrow Sungrow Power Supply Co., Ltd. ("Sungrow") is the world's most bankable inverter brand with over 182 GW installed worldwide as of June 2021. Founded in 1997 by University Professor Cao Renxian, Sungrow is a leader in the research and development of solar inverters with the largest dedicated R&D team in the industry and a broad product portfolio offering PV inverter solutions and energy storage systems for utility-scale, commercial & industrial, and residential applications, as well as internationally recognized floating PV plant solutions. With a strong 24-year track record in the PV space, Sungrow products power installations in over 150 countries. Learn more about Sungrow by visiting: www.sungrowpower.com. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1656347/Sungrow_Liquid_Cooled_Energy_Storage_System_ST2752UX.jpg Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1344575/Logo.jpg NEW YORK, Oct. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Sunday 10th October, World Day Against the Death Penalty, sees the launch of 'It Could Happen to You', a two-part short film series that tells the shocking stories of Sabrina Butler-Smith (teaser), a young Black mother from Mississippi, and Randall Padgett (teaser), a successful business owner from Alabama, who ended up on death row for no fault of their own. Both fought hard to see their convictions overturned and were eventually exonerated and released, but others were not so fortunate. The short-films were produced by Virgin Unite - the non-profit foundation of the Virgin Group - in partnership with Hidden Light Productions, and death penalty abolition partner, Witness to Innocence. They were directed by Bruce Goodison. The films follow on from the Responsible Business Initiative for Justice (RBIJ) announcement earlier this week that highlighted how over 150 executives have now signed The Business Leaders Declaration Against the Death Penalty, calling for the end of the practice around the world and criticizing capital punishment for being error-prone and perpetuating inequality. The declaration was first launched in March by Richard Branson, one of the founders of the campaign. Jean Oelwang, Johnny Webb, and Ellie Kanner are all declaration signatories who had roles in making the films. Following the film screening, Sabrina will be joined in conversation with Virgin Group founder Richard Branson, RBIJ CEO Celia Ouellette, and Utah County Attorney David Leavitt. The online audience will have an opportunity to participate in a Q&A with the speakers. The online screening will take place on Sunday 10th October at 6-7pm ET / 11pm - 12am BST. The event is free of charge. Registration link here. From Monday 9th October the films will be available on the Witness to Innocence website where people can also join the campaign to end the death penalty. Visit Witness to Innocence for more information. SHANGHAI, Oct. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- On 4 October 2021, the International Air Transport Association (IATA) announced at the 77th Annual General Meeting of IATA being held in Boston, USA that China Eastern Airlines will host the 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Shanghai, China, on 19-21 June 2022. During the AGM, a decision was made in addition to the announcement of host city of the next Annual General Meeting. IATA officially announced that Chinese is to formally become a language of International Air Transport Association. As the only newly added language, Chinese joins English, French, Spanish and Arabic, bringing the number of languages for the body to five. "We look forward to gathering the aviation industry in Shanghai for the 78th Annual General Meeting of IATA. China is a dynamic aviation market, with the domestic market among the fastest to recover from the damage brought by COVID-19," said Willie Walsh, IATA's director general. "China Eastern Airlines is excited to host the IATA Annual General Meeting and to welcome our industry colleagues to our home city of Shanghai to share this charming city's openness, inclusiveness, fashion and innovation. We look forward to the discussion on the development prospect of the aviation industry and joint efforts in promoting the healthy development of our industry," said Liu Shaoyong, chairman of China Eastern Airlines. IATA, founded in 1945, is a worldwide non-governmental organization. IATA represents about 290 airlines in over 130 countries and regions. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of IATA, held in June every year, is the world's largest and preeminent gathering of airline leaders. It attracts 800-1000 participants each time. Image Attachments Links: Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=403391 Caption: China Eastern Airlines will host the 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Shanghai, China, on 19-21 June 2022. Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=403396 Caption: China Eastern Airlines will host the 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Shanghai, China, on 19-21 June 2022. Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=403397 Caption: China Eastern Airlines will host the 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Shanghai, China, on 19-21 June 2022. Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1656429/1_China_Eastern_Airlines.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1656430/2_Meeting.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1656431/3_Shanghai.jpg Free editor's pick centerpiece enterprise UTMB researcher's work puts Galveston lab in front lines of COVID battle jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News file photo Pei-Yong Shi, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, talks Sept. 2, 2021, about the testing his lab performed for Pfizers COVID vaccine. jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News file photo Xuping Xie, a researcher in Pei-Yong Shis lab at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, talks Sept. 2, 2021, about testing blood samples to help Pfizer develop its COVID vaccine. jenniferreynolds / JENNIFER REYNOLDS/The Daily News Pei-Yong Shi, a professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at the University of Texas Medical Branch in Galveston, talks Sept. 2, 2021, about the testing his lab performed for Pfizers COVID vaccine. GALVESTON It isnt just the physicians at the University of Texas Medical Branch who have been on the front lines of the pandemic. The medical branchs renowned researchers also have been at the tip of the spear when it comes to finding ways to combat the virus through vaccines. Leading that charge is microbiologist Dr. Pei-Yong Shi, whose work on COVID-19 led to millions of people being inoculated against the virus. Shis lab at the medical branch has been studying, and manipulating, the COVID-19 virus since before it became a crisis in the United States. What started as a sudden change of research focus has now thrust him to the forefront of fighting the virus. The medical branch received an active sample of the COVID-19 virus in February 2020, before almost every other lab in the country. Shi was among the medical branch personnel who were pushing the Chinese and U.S. governments to distribute COVID samples to labs so work on diagnostics and treatment could begin. The medical branch received a sample of the virus taken from one of the first people infected in the United States. TIP OF THE SPEAR Since then, Shis lab has been at the leading edge of research into the virus and into the vaccines that are seen as the best hope to quelling the pandemic. Early in the pandemic, Shis lab was the first to reverse-engineer the genetic system of the virus, which allows scientists to safely mutate the virus in a lab setting. We can man-make the virus and we can manipulate the virus in any way we want, Shi said. Thats really the landmark of being able to get a handle to study the virus, because all of a sudden, you can make changes in the virus. After the reverse-engineering was completed, one of the first manipulations his lab developed was a technique to make the virus glow bright green by using enzymes produced by fireflies. While the coloring might seem novel, it served an important purpose: it helped researchers see what changed in the virus when it was exposed to outside forces, like a vaccine or a treatment. You can see it now, Shi said. Otherwise, you cant see which cell its infecting. Now, you can use the green to test whether the vaccinated blood has antibodies to block the green. RARE FACILITY Shis lab later joined with Pfizer to help study how well the vaccine works against the virus and its variants. Part of that partnership was out of necessity. Pfizer didnt have the type of high-level laboratory, like the ones at the medical branch. All of Shis work on the virus is done in secure Bio-safety Level 3 labs, where researchers have to wear special gear to protect themselves from exposure to the virus. When you see a study stating the Pfizer vaccine is effective against a variant or that booster shots are effective in increasing antibodies, some of that data that led to that conclusion came out of Shis lab. The need for the new and latest information about the virus means the lab has been working more or less non-stop since the first sample arrived. A blood sample that needs to be tested and logged by the lab can come at any time, from anywhere around the world, and someone from Shis lab almost always is available to accept it, he said. Thanksgiving eve, Christmas Eve, Shi said of times samples have shown up. Whenever they tell us a sample is coming, we make sure were there. Its 24/7. MAGNITUDE OF IT Sometimes, the samples are flown to nearby airports by corporate jets, he said. The samples are then whisked away to Shis lab in Galveston, where theyre logged and tested for antibodies. The labs job is, ultimately, to help determine how well vaccines are holding up against the virus. Its a critical question in many parts of the world as large parts of the population begin to pass first anniversaries of their vaccinations. Shi, a native of China, arrived at the medical branch six years ago, after working for a private pharmaceutical company. Before the pandemic, his research was focused on emerging mosquito-borne diseases, like Zika. But that changed with the pandemic, when nearly the full force of the medical branchs research labs was turned toward investigating COVID-19. When we saw the pandemic emerge, I think we felt obligated, Shi said. Anything you can do, then you want to jump in and do it. Shis lab has brought him recognition. Last year, he was named inaugural holder of the John Sealy Distinguished Chair in Innovations in Molecular Biology at the medical branch. The endowed position was created with a $1 million grant from The Sealy & Smith Foundation. The work filled him with pride, especially given how close to home the virus has hit, Shi said. Every day, when he goes to work, hes on the same campus where people are being treated for COVID-19 and where others are being vaccinated against it. In my career of 30 years, there are drugs coming from my hands that have been approved and used on humans, including for HIV in AIDS patients, Shi said. That was really gratifying. But compared to this one, this one is 100 times, 1,000 times bigger. The impact of it, the magnitude of it, its global. Its everybody. Makers of Fortnite and the band Radiohead come together to produce multiple bits of media, like a song and a blog post. NOT FOR DISTRIBUTION TO UNITED STATES NEWSWIRE SERVICES OR FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES VANCOUVER, British Columbia, Oct. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Mr. Gustavo Mazon reports that he acquired indirect ownership and control of an aggregate of 39,291,018 common shares of Ranchero Gold Corp. (formerly, Melior Resources Inc.) (the Company) through the exchange of previously-held common shares of the private entity Ranchero Gold Corp. pursuant to the reverse takeover transaction of the Company described in the filing statement dated September 30, 2021 (the Filing Statement) filed on SEDAR under the Companys profile. Immediately prior to the Transaction, Mr. Mazon did not indirectly or directly hold any securities of the Company. Immediately following the Transaction, Mr. Mazon owns indirectly through the entities Inmopitic, S.A. de C.V., Golden Calf Mining S.A. de C.V., GC Grupo Cimarron, S.A. de C.V., Grupo Minero Tom Hast S.A. de C.V. and Inmuebles del Norte de Sonora, S.A. de C.V. an aggregate of 39,291,018 common shares of the Company, which represents approximately 59.77% of the issued and outstanding common shares of the Company on an undiluted basis. The common shares of the Company controlled by Mr. Mazon are for investment purposes only, and are subject to terms of a Form 5D Escrow Agreement of the TSX Venture Exchange, as more particularly described in the Filing Statement. Mr. Mazon currently has no plans or intentions that relate to, or would result in, any of the actions requiring disclosure under applicable early warning reporting provisions. In accordance with applicable securities laws, Mr. Mazon may, from time-to-time, acquire additional securities of the Company in the open market or otherwise, and reserves the right to dispose of any or all of such securities from time-to-time, and to engage in similar transactions with respect to such securities, the whole depending on market conditions, the business and prospects of the Company and other relevant factors, subject to applicable escrow restrictions. An early warning report respecting this acquisition (the Early Warning Report) will be filed with the British Columbia, Alberta, Manitoba and Ontario Securities Commissions and will be available for viewing on SEDAR under the profile of the Company. To obtain a copy of the Early Warning Report, please contact Mr. Mazon by telephone at +52 662 437 8520. The address of Mr. Mazon is Hidalgo #74, Colonia Centenario, CP. 83260, Hermosillo, Sonora Mexico. Pune, India, Oct. 08, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- According to Fortune Business Insights, the global dyes and pigments market size is projected to reach USD 54,644.6 million by 2026, exhibiting a CAGR of 4.9% during the forecast period. Increasing demand for ink for diverse applications will be a central growth driver for this market. Inks are essentially liquids that are made from dyes and pigments and serve a variety of purposes such as writing, printing, and tattooing. They are also used to prevent anti-counterfeiting activities. For instance, special inks are manufactured for printing currency notes, which react with the cellulose in the paper and produce inimitable colors and textures, making it almost impossible to replicate. Furthermore, advanced ink-based liquids are being extensively employed in 3D printing operations. Many companies are using these liquids on small- and medium-scale to manufacture customized spare parts for machines, gourmet food products, and prosthetics. Thus, the widening applicability of inks and ink-based liquids and pastes will lead the Dyes and Pigments market trends in the forthcoming years. As per the report, the market value stood at USD 37,767.52 million in 2018. Additionally, the report contains the following information: Thorough study of the various market drivers and restraints; Precise projections of the upcoming market trends; Panoramic overview of the industry outlook; Careful segmentation of the market; and In-depth analysis of the regional dynamics and competitive landscape of the market. Get a Sample PDF Brochure: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/request-sample-pdf/dyes-pigments-market-102333 Rapid Urbanization Worldwide to Fuel the Market The Dyes and Pigments market growth is premised on the fact that there is a rising demand for these ingredients in the paints and coatings industry. The growth of this industry is based on the escalating demand for these materials from the residential and commercial spaces across the globe. One of the major factors causing the proliferation of such spaces is rapid urbanization around the world. According to the UN Department of Economic and Social Affairs (DESA), roughly two-third of the global population will be living in urban areas by 2050, jumping by 13% from the current levels. More importantly, around 90% of this jump will be witnessed in the developing nations of Africa and Asia, where the process of urbanization is getting further intensified by steady economic growth. As a result, expansion of residential and commercial areas in these countries will stoke the demand for Dyes and Pigments during the forecast period. Asia-Pacific to Offer Promising Growth Prospects for the Market With a market size of USD 15,050.26 million in 2018, Asia-Pacific is set to dominate the Dyes and Pigments market share in the coming years. The main factor propelling the market in this region is the expanding middle-class in India and China, which is increasingly demanding higher value textiles, plastics, and other products, thereby augmenting the uptake of dyes and pigments. Furthermore, countries in Asia-Pacific, mainly China, India, Bangladesh, and Vietnam, lead the world production of textiles and with greater investments in the textile industry, their production capacity has risen substantially in the past few years. With the majority of these products being exported to Europe and North America, the demand for dyes and pigments is surging in the developed countries. Browse Summary of This Research: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/dyes-pigments-market-102333 Competitive Landscape Major Players to Employ Position Strengthening Mechanisms According to the Dyes and Pigments market analysis, key players are singularly focusing on solidifying their position in this market through widening of product portfolio and investment in R&D activities. Another strategy that is being favored by companies is mergers and acquisitions in an attempt to broaden their business horizons. Key Industry Developments: September 2019: DIC Corporation, the Japanese chemical company, completed its successful takeover of the Germany-based BASFs pigments business division, BASF Colors & Effects (BCE). DICs aim behind this acquisition to widen its pigment portfolio for cosmetics, plastics, inks, and electronic displays, among others, and lead the global pigment industry. DIC Corporation, the Japanese chemical company, completed its successful takeover of the Germany-based BASFs pigments business division, BASF Colors & Effects (BCE). DICs aim behind this acquisition to widen its pigment portfolio for cosmetics, plastics, inks, and electronic displays, among others, and lead the global pigment industry. May 2018: The Swiss specialty chemicals major Clariant unveiled Ink Jet Orange GR VP6102 and Ink Jet Magenta E-S VP6057, its two innovative inkjet ink pigments, at the FESPA 2018 in Berlin. These products can be used in solvent-, UV-, and water-based inks and can be applied in outdoor and indoor settings with equal efficacy. List of Players Covered in the Dyes and Pigments Market Report: KRONOS Worldwide, Inc. DuPont Atul Ltd Sudarshan Chemical Industries Limited DIC CORPORATION Kiri Industries Ltd. Cabot Corporation Huntsman International LLC. Clariant BASF SE Inquire Before Buying This Report: https://www.fortunebusinessinsights.com/enquiry/queries/dyes-pigments-market-102333 About Us: Fortune Business Insights offers expert corporate analysis and accurate data, helping organizations of all sizes make timely decisions. We tailor innovative solutions for our clients, assisting them address challenges distinct to their businesses. Our goal is to empower our clients with holistic market intelligence, giving a granular overview of the market they are operating in.Our reports contain a unique mix of tangible insights and qualitative analysis to help companies achieve sustainable growth. Our team of experienced analysts and consultants use industry-leading research tools and techniques to compile comprehensive market studies, interspersed with relevant data. Contact Us: Fortune Business Insights Pvt. Ltd. 308, Supreme Headquarters, Survey No. 36, Baner, Pune-Bangalore Highway, Pune - 411045, Maharashtra, India. Phone: US :+1 424 253 0390 UK : +44 2071 939123 APAC : +91 744 740 1245 Email: sales@fortunebusinessinsights.com You can also contact us/follow us on: https://www.facebook.com/FortuneBusinessInsightsPvtLtd https://twitter.com/FBInsightPvtLtd?s=20 DALLAS, Oct. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- American Real PM is one of the top property management solutions for real estate investors in Dallas/Fort Worth, Kansas City, St. Louis and now the Metro Detroit area. American Real PM is dedicated to serving all of their property owners with the same service they would expect if it was their own asset being managed. As investors themselves, American Real PM's focus is on maximizing profits for their clients/investors. American Real PM is passionate about real estate and even more passionate about their tenants and their owners. The rental real estate market in the Metro Detroit suburbs has never been better, which is just the thing real estate investors want to hear. Investors have been flocking to the Metro Detroit area for good rental property investments and that is why American Real PM has decided to expand into the Detroit Property Management market. Demand for single-family rentals is skyrocketing, and the median price of a single-family home in the areas of Metro Detroit is well below $100K, offering an amazing opportunity for rental property with solid yields and cash flow. The Metro Detroit suburbs are able to achieve 1%+ rent to price point ratios, which is exactly what most cash flow driven investors want to see. Opportunistic real estate investors may find Detroit the perfect market to acquire very affordable rental housing for all cash, then refinance at a later date. Lack of credit is making it hard for local residents to buy a home, causing almost half of the households in Detroit to rent rather than own. American Real PM saw that the Zillow Home Value Index (ZHVI) for Detroit is $52,905 through June 2021, home values in Detroit increased by 31.2% over the last year, and over the last five years home values in Detroit increased by over 102%. In addition to Detroit, American Real PM continues to add new properties to their Dallas Property Management , St. Louis Property Management , and Kansas City Property Management portfolio each month. All of these cities are continuing to grow, and with every new project expansion, it offers more to newcomers. Many of these cities are getting more and more attention recently from Overseas investors. Another benefit that American Real PM offers to their clients is a way to grow their rental portfolio. American Real PM offers a service designed to identify good investment opportunities in the markets they manage called the Active Rental Program. The ARP is a passive solution offered to current and prospective owners/investors. American Real PM will identify the property, help the investor through the closing process and then manage the asset for the investor. All an investor has to do is sit back and collect their rental income through their very own online investor portal that gives investors an up to date snapshot of their portfolio. For more information email us john@americanrealpm.com, visit their website at www.americanrealpm.com or call (469) 620-0400 Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment MELBOURNE, Australia, Oct. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Emre Rothzerg officially announces the launch of his people-oriented digital agency, offering clients a range of services to help them stand out in the crowded online space. "Whether your digital dream is an eCommerce site, a personal blog, a business homepage or something else entirelyif you can imagine it, we'll create it," said Emre Rothzerg, Founder of Rothzerg. As a certified digital agency, Rothzerg offers both digital transformation and full-service packages, and can rebuild problem sites and apps that aren't currently servicing clients' needsor create entirely new systems from the ground up. About Rothzerg The founder began programming when he arrived in Australia in 2007 as a refugee, and has 14 years experience in the tech space as a developer, designer and consultant to prestigious organisations both in Australia and internationally. Emre is now proud to offer his skills to a new audience via Rothzerg. Contact emre@rothzerg.com www.Rothzerg.com Related Images Image 1: Rothzerg logo Rothzerg logo This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment SAN DIEGO, Oct. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society's 17th Annual Meeting was held virtually the second year in a row and was once again phenomenally successful. Over 1,000 attendees around the world engaged in lively discussions and learned about groundbreaking developments in a broad range of oligonucleotide-based disciplines. The Rare Diseases Session featured progress in the development of ASO and RNAi therapeutics to treat rare genetic mutations that cause diseases such as ALS and Angelman Syndrome. The session also emphasized the vital role of patient advocacy groups for patients with rare diseases and highlighted the formation of N=1 Collaborative and n-Lorem. The N=1 Collaborative's mission is to make safe, individualized genetic medicines that are rapidly accessible worldwide. n-Lorem is a non-profit which develops and provides ASO therapeutics free for life to patients with extremely rare genetic mutations. Presenters shared fascinating information on progress in innovative areas such as enhancing oligonucleotide chemistry and delivery, enabling oligos to reach additional cell and tissue types, new approaches of genome editing, and incredible imaging technologies that display organelles in cells or system-wide distribution of ASOs. The extraordinary lifesaving applications of oligonucleotide therapeutics were demonstrated in updates on progress in Ionis's pulmonary program, Alnylam's Phase 1 study using RNAi therapeutics to provide prolonged reductions in blood pressure and the creation of Moderna's Covid-19 vaccine. This year's award winners were selected for their outstanding contributions to the field, and OTS would like to congratulate Hassan Fakih, Kotaro Yoshioka, MD, PhD, and Alex Garanto, PhD. Hassan Fakih from the Department of Chemistry, McGill University was awarded the Dr. Alan M. Gewirtz Memorial Scholarship - Graduate Students for his work on designing and testing DNA-based nanocarriers to deliver nucleic acid therapeutics with characteristics that enable them to move faster into clinical trials. Kotaro Yoshioka, MD, PhD of the Department of Neurology and Neurological Science, Tokyo Medical and Dental University, was awarded the Dr. Alan M. Gewirtz Memorial Scholarship - Postdoctoral Fellows and Junior Industrial Professionals. He has developed unique double-stranded ASO technologies that enable highly efficient delivery to multiple tissues, including skeletal muscles, peripheral lymphocytes, and intestines via systemic injections, and to the brain via intraventricular injection. Alex Garanto, PhD of the Radboud University Medical Center, was awarded the Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. publishers Young Investigator Award. His work focuses on the design and characterization of antisense oligonucleotides (ASOs) as a potential approach to treat inherited retinal diseases. Part of his preclinical work in targeting an intronic mutation in CEP290 led to a clinical trial that is currently in phase 3. The Oligonucleotide Therapeutics Society thanks everyone involved in this year's meeting for contributing to the wonderful success and looks forward to hosting an in-person event next year in Montreal, Canada, from Oct. 2-5, 2022. All interested in attending the OTS Annual Meeting are welcome as it is open to both members and nonmembers. Media Contact: Geri Beaty Phone: (619) 795-9458 Email: info@oligotherapeutics.org Related Images Image 1 This content was issued through the press release distribution service at Newswire.com. Attachment Waukesha, WI (53187) Today Scattered flurries and snow showers. Temps nearly steady in the low to mid 30s. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of snow 30%.. Tonight Some clouds this evening will give way to mainly clear skies overnight. Low around 20F. Winds WNW at 10 to 20 mph. The Hydrogen Heavy Duty Vehicle Industry Groupcomprising Air Liquide, Hyundai, Nel Hydrogen, Nikola Corporation, Shell and Toyotahas signed agreements with Tatsuno Corporation and Transfer Oil S.p.A. to industrialize globally-standard 70 MPa hydrogen heavy-duty vehicle high-flow (H70HF) fueling hardware components. The Industry Group was formed in February 2019 with the goal of addressing hydrogen fueling hardware challenges of achieving the fueling speeds that are needed for heavy-duty applications today. Other goals include testing and evaluating the hardwares performance and standardizing the connector design to ensure adoptability throughout the world. The group created specifications for the fueling nozzle, vehicle receptacle, dispenser hose, and breakaway device components for this heavy-duty application. H70HF fueling nozzle and components. Source: Nikola This builds upon the collaboration of the hydrogen industry that achieved a global standard fueling interface for light-duty fuel cell electric vehicles. Tatsuno, an international hydrogen fuel equipment provider founded in 1911, is designing and developing vehicle receptacle and dispenser nozzle and breakaway components. Transfer Oil, considered one of the most valued manufacturers of reinforced thermoplastic hoses in the industry, is leading the design and development of a hydrogen dispenser fueling hose. The fueling hardware is anticipated to support average hydrogen fueling rates of 10 kg/minin line with the US Department of Energys Technical Targets for Hydrogen-Fueled Long-Haul Tractor-Trailer Trucks. Testing is planned at an independent test facility and scheduled to commence in Q4 2021, with preliminary performance and safety results available in Q1 2022. Hyundai Motor North America (HMNA) has joined Equilon Enterprises LLC (d/b/a Shell Oil Products US), also referred to as Shell Hydrogen, in Project Neptune to grow the hydrogen refueling infrastructure in California. Project Neptune seeks the construction of 48 additional and two upgraded hydrogen refueling stations across the state beginning in 2021. Two other fuel cell vehicle manufacturersToyota and Hondahave also joined the consortium with respective agreements for fuel cell vehicle sales to support infrastructure growth. The project is to develop hydrogen refueling stations by adding hydrogen storage, compression, and dispensing equipment with an estimated maximum footprint of 2,000 square feet and trenching of up to 100 feet at existing retail gasoline stations. The storage tanks will hold 600 and 1,200 kg of hydrogen at 55 bar. The hydrogen station will dispense at 770 and 1,420 kg per 24 hour period. In its portion of the agreement, Hyundai has committed to fuel cell vehicle sales growth supporting the expanding hydrogen infrastructure. Were proud to join Shell Hydrogens Project Neptune, expanding Californias hydrogen infrastructure to meet increasing consumer demand for clean, zero-emission transportation solutions. Hyundai offers a superb fuel cell vehicle in its NEXO SUV, and this effort will help ensure that every eco-focused fuel cell driver has convenient refueling options wherever they choose to go. Olabisi Boyle, vice president of Product Planning and Mobility Strategy, Hyundai Motor North America Hydrogen refueling infrastructure growth is critical to increase consumer adoption of zero-emission fuel cell vehicles rapidly. By joining Project Neptune, Hyundai reinforces its commitment to fuel cell technologies and their positive impact on the environment, a key pillar of its long-range strategic vision. The new hydrogen stations will be partially funded by public funds from the California Energy Commission (CEC). This agreement with Shell Hydrogen furthers Hyundais global relationship with the energy company. In March 2021, Hyundai Motor Company signed a new five-year Global Business Cooperation Agreement with Royal Dutch Shell plc to expand collaboration on clean energy solutions. Rolls-Royce has signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the Ministry for Economic Affairs, Labor and Energy Brandenburg (MWAE) and the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy (BMWi) to advance the research and development of hybrid-electric propulsion systems in Brandenburg for the next generation of aviation. The partners agreed on the establishment of development, testing and production facilities, creating an industrial eco-system for hybrid-electric aviation propulsion systems in Dahlewitz and the Lusatia region. The project will be supported by funding from the Structural Strengthening Act, the federal governments aeronautics research program and other state funds. Within the new program, Rolls-Royce Deutschland is opening an operating facility in Cottbus and plans to expand its research and development capabilities in Dahlewitz. The company is leading the way on one of the worlds most comprehensive hybrid-electric aerospace development and integration programs for a wide range of applications, including technologies for small gas turbines. With a horizon until 2027 and accompanied by positive funding decisions, Rolls-Royce Deutschland aims to make significant investments for the development project in Brandenburg, securing about 50 highly-skilled jobs in the region already in 2021. The corresponding work will be split between the Dahlewitz site and the new facility, that will be based at the Center for Hybrid Electric Systems Cottbus (CHESCO) of Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg. The technical management of the projects will be in Dahlewitz, while a high proportion of work for the development project will be carried out in Cottbus with support from Dahlewitz and from electrical design teams based in Bavaria. The race to net zero in aviation is both vitally important and one of the most extreme technological challenges there is. The long term and increasing support of the German Government for aerospace technology is a crucial enabler for Rolls-Royce to meet our commitments to sustainable power and net zero by 2050. Building on the advanced capabilities of our electrical team in Bavaria, the establishment of development, testing and production facilities in Dahlewitz and the Lusatia region will enable Rolls-Royce to deliver hybrid-electric propulsion systems for the next generation of aviation. Rob Watson, Director Rolls-Royce Electrical Rolls-Royce Deutschland will involve existing and new partners from the Lusatia region to a large extent in the work for the development project and continue the ongoing search for industrial partners. The Brandenburg University of Technology Cottbus-Senftenberg (BTU), the German Aerospace Centre (DLR) and Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft are scientific partners of the project. For decades, the U.S. government has condemned prominent offshore tax havens, where liberal rules and guarantees of discretion have drawn oligarchs, business tycoons and politicians. But a cache of more than 11.9 million secret documents obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists and shared with The Washington Post and other media outlets around the globe found that some of the most sought-after tax havens are now in the United States - and that the expanding U.S. trust industry is becoming a repository for some fortunes linked to individuals or companies that have been accused of worker exploitation and other human rights abuses. In South Dakota, shares of a Dominican sugar company are being sheltered, part of a $14 million portfolio connected to family members of its onetime president. The growing American trust industry promises levels of protection and secrecy that rival or surpass those offered by overseas havens. Its expansion has been enabled by a handful of state legislatures seeking an economic boost. Among those who set up trusts in the United States were family members of the former chief executive of the largest sugar producer in the Dominican Republic. This company - Central Romana - produces the sugar that Americans put in their coffee every morning and use to bake their birthday cakes. For years, Central Romana and other sugar producers in the Dominican Republic have faced allegations that they pay their workers substandard wages and force them to work in unsafe conditions. The company has denied mistreating its workers. By 1974, when Carlos Morales Troncoso became president of operations for Central Romana, then known as Gulf and Western Industries, allegations of evictions and human rights abuses had mounted for decades. Morales would go on to become vice president of the Dominican Republic and later the ambassador to the United States before his death in 2014. His wealth - including shares of Central Romana - now sits in trusts set up by his family in Sioux Falls, S.D., in 2019. Through an attorney, Morales's four daughters, who are dual U.S. citizens, declined to answer questions about why the trusts were established in South Dakota. They said they were never involved in the operations of Central Romana. Workers for Central Romana say they earn around $125 a month cutting sugar cane, well below the country's average monthly salary of $777, according to the latest figures from the Central Bank of the Dominican Republic. Most are migrants from Haiti, and few have the rights of full citizenship. Their status in the country is tenuous, and their lives precarious. Cutting sugar cane is perilous work, done in the middle of the Dominican summer, when the heat index can reach 110 degrees. The leaves of the plant are sharp enough to draw blood, and the slip of a machete can lead to permanent injury. Despite the dangers, workers say they are unsupervised and that quality medical care is hard to come by. Morales amassed millions in personal wealth, some from shares earned from Central Romana's sugar production. In 2019, members of his family finalized the transfer of several trusts with assets worth $14 million from the Bahamas to a trust company in Sioux Falls. The trusts were opened at Trident Trust, a global provider that opened its Sioux Falls office in 2014. Trident said it is committed to complying with all applicable regulations and routinely cooperates with authorities. The company declined to answer questions about its clients. There is no evidence in the leaked documents that any of the trusts established by Morales's family shelter criminal proceeds. In a written statement, Central Romana said, "Like any socially responsible company, we strive to advance each year and continue to invest in all of our processes, including health and industrial safety, labor aspects, environmental compliances and social responsibility programs." It's not just workers who have accused Central Romana of wrongdoing. The company has been blamed for a pattern of forced evictions - periodically driving people from their homes and seizing the land for sugar cultivation. In 2016, they evicted families who had built makeshift houses on land that sits right up alongside the sugar cane plantations. Last year, families who allege they were illegally evicted from their homes in the middle of the night sued Central Romana in federal court in Florida. The 2016 evictions took place in one of the many informal settlements scattered across the Dominican Republic, where land rights are unclear or disputed. The homes in these communities often lack electricity or running water, but some have stood for decades. Central Romana denied wrongdoing and accused the families of squatting on company land. "Our company would not and has never engaged in the eviction of people that have the right to live on or legally own the land they possess," the company said. Advocates say the houses were built on a service road that had not been used in more than a half-century, the land had no clear owner and that the forced evictions - no matter who owns the property - breached widely accepted international human rights standards. The lawsuit on behalf of the evicted families was recently dismissed. Their lawyer, Robert Vance, has appealed. After the evictions, experts for the United Nations appealed to the government of the Dominican Republic to help the evicted families. In 2018, Maria Magdalena Alvarez spoke at a U.N. conference in Geneva. - - - The Pandora Papers is an investigation based on more than 11.9 million documents revealing the flows of money, property and other assets concealed in the offshore financial system. The Washington Post and other news organizations exposed the involvement of political leaders, examined the growth of the industry within the United States and demonstrated how secrecy shields assets from governments, creditors and those abused or exploited by the wealthy and powerful. The trove of confidential information, the largest of its kind, was obtained by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists, which organized the investigation. Haiti - FLASH : Strong reaction from the Embassy of Haiti to the insults of Donald Trump Thursday, October 7, former President Donal Trump asked about Covid testing protocols for refugees in Sean Hannity's Fox News program, then blasted asylum seekers in the United States, this time saying that Haitians "Probably have AIDS" and qualifying their arrival as a "death wish" for the United States, without providing any proof of his remarks denigrating the Haitian people. Following the discriminatory and baseless accusations made by former President Donald Trump, Ambassador of Haiti to Washington, Bocchit Edmond issued the following statement : Statement by Ambassador Bocchit Edmond : "The Embassy of the Republic of Haiti, on behalf of the Haitian Government, strongly condemns the racist and baseless statement about Haitian migrants, i11 particular, and the Haitian population, in general, of Donald J. Trump on Fox News Network, on Thursday, October 7, during Sean Hannity's program. These vile comments aim only to sow hatred and discord against immigrants. The Embassy of Haiti in Washington believes that civilized people, the media, especially television, and human rights organizations should not remain indifferent to this umpteenth denigration of the Haitian people by former President Trump. The Embassy would like to point out that the Republic of Haiti, the second independent country in the Western Hemisphere, since 1804, has always been a staunch ally of the United States. As a historical reminder, to cite just two references, from September 16 to October 18, 1779, a contingent of 800 soldiers from the French West Indies, mainly Haitians, fought as reinforcements to the federal troops to preserve the independence of the United States during the Battle of Savannah, Georgia, against British colonialist forces. Also, in 1943, the Haitian people contributed one million ($1,000,000.00) dollars to the United States' war efforts against the Nazi allies. Today, many Haitian nationals and their offspring, who, like the Trump family, coincidentally, immigrated to the United States of America, contribute to the prosperity and defense of the American people. These historical and human ties must not be undermined by such unacceptable declaration." According to available information, the rate of HIV-positive people in Haiti was down in 2019 to 2% ( https://www.icihaiti.com/en/news-28526-icihaiti-health-fight-against-hiv-aids-the-ministry-not-really-satisfied.html ). The American rate was 0.30% in 2016 HL/ HaitiLibre Haiti - News : Zapping... New government elected not before 2023 The Prime Minister on the 25 missions entrusted to the Transitional Government, declared that the most important was to "Create the conditions for the holding of general elections at the end of the year 2022, under the empire of the new Constitution and the installation of legitimate elected officials at the start of 2023." USA : More than 7,500 Haitians repatriated Giuseppe Loprete, Director of the International Organization for Migration (IOM) said more than 7,500 Haitians have already been deported by the United States in less than three weeks on 70 flights. Discriminatory remarks by Donald Trump "I am truly disappointed with the discriminatory and unfounded accusations made by former President Donald Trump. Such a statement gives life to hatred and discord against immigrants. They all deserve to be treated with respect and dignity wherever they come from" declared Haitian Ambassador to Washington Bocchit Edmond See also : https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34946-haiti-flash-strong-reaction-from-the-embassy-of-haiti-to-the-insults-of-donald-trump.html Academie Francaise : 3 award-winning Haitian writers As part of the 2021 Palmares of the Academie Francaise, three Haitian authors were awarded: Franketienne Grand Prix de la Francophonie 2021, Emmelie Prophete Prize for the influence of French language and literature and Louis-Philippe Dalembert who is still in the running for the Prix Goncourt was awarded with the Prix Francois Coppee for his collection "Cantique du Stammer". High speed Internet : Haiti last in the Region The report dated August 2021 from "Speedtest Global Index" concerning the quality of fixed broadband internet, reveals that Haiti ranks 13th and last in the Region, with an average speed of 14.93 Mbps (megabits per second) while our Dominican neighbors are in 12th position with a speed of 31.85 Mbps, a ranking dominated by Barbados in first position with 110.25 Mbps. James Solage auditioned for the second time in 48 hours Friday, Haitian James Solage, accused of involvement in the assassination of President Jovenel Moise https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-34238-haiti-flash-monitoring-of-investigations-into-the-assassination-of-president-jovenel-moise.html , was hearded for the second time in 48 hours, by judge Garry Orelien. HL/ HaitiLibre By Panos Kotzathanasis | Published on 2021/10/08 Im Kwon-taek's first film was a testament of what was about to follow in the prolific director's career, since it became a huge hit, particularly due to its anti-Japanese and melodramatic premises. Advertisement Patriotic university student Yeong-woo and his friends, led by teacher Lee-sung, along with a British friend bid farewell to their families and become freedom fighters in Manchuria fighting against the Japanese occupation around the Tumen River. They leave, however, quite a mess behind them. Yeong-woo leaves his pregnant wife, Kang Kyeong-ae, to fend for herself, while the military police are on her heel, pressuring her to reveal her husband's whereabouts. Another girl, Kim Yeon-hwa, sees her brother leaving for Manchuria, while their uncle, who has taken them both in his house, is cooperating with local Police Chief Wakino against the anti-Japanese forces, eventually agreeing to help find the students in the mountains, in exchange for deforestation rights. Meanwhile, Wakino takes a liking to Kim Yeon-hwa, who works at a local inn, and essentially forces her to be his mistress, although the girl is quite manipulative about the fact. Tae-yong eventually forces Kyeong-ae to lead him in the mountain in order to discover the freedom fighters, who have come to consider the girl as a traitor. Even more, Yeong-woo finds himself enchanted by a local girl in the area, In-hyang, who essentially tricks him in a number of ways. Eventually, Tae-yeong and Kyeong-ae arrive at the mountains, while a full blown battle is about to begin. Im Kwon-taek creates a labyrinthic narrative in his effort to give a role in the story to all his characters, most of which were portrayed by top names of the Korean industry at the time. His purpose, however, of including as many audience-favorite elements is actually met with success, since the romance, melodrama, jingoism/anti-Japanese sentiments, thriller and action are all excellently presented, and actually well embedded in the story. This aspect benefits the most by the fact that the villains are set apart from the beginning, with them appearing particularly despicable. And if Wakino is essentially doing his duty as Japanese, with Jang Dong-hwi giving a majestic performance in the role, Uncle Tae-yeong has no excuse, as he acts against his compatriots just for his own gain, with Heo Jang-kang portraying his despicable nature in the most captivating fashion. Also interesting is the way the women in the film differ in the way they are portrayed, even if the fact that their lives are dominated by the men around them is irrefutable. In that fashion, Kyeong-ae is a distinct prey of her sex and overall circumstances, which eventually, though, is transformed into a hero through self-sacrifice, with Um Aing-ran giving a truly memorable performance in the part. Yeon-hwa on the other hand, is more of a femme fatale, willing to use her undeniable beauty to survive, by attaching herself to the most powerful "bidder", although her inner struggle never actually leaves her. Moon Jung-suk is also excellent in the role. In-hyang is more like Yeon-hwa, although her ways are that of trickiness instead of seduction (for the most part at least) which actually dictate her fate in the end. Kim Hye-jung-III shines in the part, although in a secondary role. Apart from all the commentary however, the action pieces of the movie, and the agony the freedom fighters experience daily, are also on a very high level, with the many scenes with fighting in the forests in the mountains being rather well shot, and the final one in the snow utterly impressive. The combination of Choi Ho-jin's cinematography and Kim Hui-su's editing finds its apogee in these scenes, which are on a level much higher than what was the norm for the era in local cinema, and whose quality is rather obvious even if the quality of the film material is rather bad. Lastly, a few scenes with the camera placed on the ground, looking up at the amassed freedom fighters in a circle are rather impactful, and will definitely remind of the similar ones in "Kill Bill" or "Lady Snowblood" if you prefer. "Farewell Duman River" may be overly jingoistic and melodramatic on occasion, but in general emerges as a great mainstream movie that highlights Im Kwon-taek's talent in the best fashion. Review by Panos Kotzathanasis ___________ "Farewell Duman River" is directed by Im Kwon-taek, and features Kim Seok-hun, Hwang Hae, Moon Jung-suk, Um Aing-ran, Jang Dong-hwi, Heo Jang-kang. Release date in Korea: 1962/02/04. By Panos Kotzathanasis | Published on 2021/10/08 The horror genre has become somewhat detrimental lately, particularly since the number of entries in the category is truly excessive, and everything seems to have already been done. A number of directors, however, are recently making an effort to evolve the particular kind of movies, by injecting social commentary or other elements that are mostly associated with art-house titles, including the overall cinematic approach. Park Kang also follows this direction with "Seire", a title that refers to the period of 21 days in which people are supposed to take utmost care of their behaviors and strangers are not allowed to visit, to protect newborn babies from bad luck, by focusing on the fear of breaking taboos and customs. "Seire" is screening at Busan International Film Festival Advertisement Woo-jin is a 30-something salesman, who has just started adjusting to life with a newborn baby in the house, along with his partner Hae-mi. The latter, however, comes from a family whose belief in traditions (superstitions if you prefer) is rather strong, and the concept of the Seire is upheld in the highest degree, even including Hae-mi's sister and her husband, who live on the same floor, and are also not allowed to visit. Woo-jin, however, breaks this taboo by deciding to attend the funeral of his college sweetheart, Se-yeong, with whom he retained a relationship for six years, even lying to his wife about the identity of the deceased. At the funeral, he stumbles upon the deceased's identical twin sister, who seems to know much about him, although he barely knew about her presence and had no clue about how similar she looks to her sister. In the meanwhile, Hae-mi's sister finds out she is pregnant, while Woo-jin finds himself unable to escape the circle formed around the deceased. Lastly, a shop that manufactures herbal tonics for both pregnant women and those who want have an abortion plays a key role i nthe whole story. Although "Seire" is technically a student film, produced by Korea's National University Of Arts, there is nothing amateurish about it. From the beginning, where the concept of the rotten apple impressively opens the film, writer-director Park Kang creates an imposing atmosphere of disorientation and fear, which continues as flashbacks of Woo-jin's life with Se-yeong, scenes that linger between the dream/nightmare and reality, and an overall sense of eeriness permeate the whole narrative. That something is wrong with Woo-jin becomes apparent from the beginning, but Park Kang takes care of revealing the reasons behind his attitude gradually, as the protagonist finds himself between a woman that he seems to have faulted in a number of ways in the past, and Hae-mi, who considers him completely irresponsible for not adhering to the rules of the Seire. Through this approach, Park Kang makes a number of comments, mostly focusing on the blights of disidemony, which is still quite prevalent in Korean society, the whole concept of medicinal herbs that are manufactured in ways no one is able to actually check or control, and the difficulties family life can pose for contemporary people, particularly in the presence of a newborn. This approach, which lingers somewhere between the metaphysical horror and the indie social drama is excellently implemented, with Han Jee-hee's editing helping the most in interchanging the scenes that adhere to both styles. This duality also extends to Hwang Gyeong-hyeon's cinematography, with the horror scenes being rather polished and impressively colored in dark colors (with the images of the apples and the blood being particularly impactful) and the everyday life, more bright and visually grounded to realism. This last aspect also has a contextual meaning, since the scenes involving Woo-jin's past relationship take place in the dark for the most part, with the opposite happening with his wife. The switch that eventually takes place in that regard, is one of the most memorable aspects of the narrative. Granted, at some point, during which Woo-jin finds himself lying on the floor, dreaming (?), Kang lost his sense of measure and the balance of the narrative path, but this is just a small error and does not fault the overall quality of the movie significantly. Seo Hyun-woo as Woo-jin is rather good in presenting how lost and disoriented his character seems to be, while Shim Eun-woo as Hae-mi fulfills the archetype of the nagging wife to the fullest. The one who steals the show, however, is Ryu Abel as Se-yeong, with her being the main source of eeriness in the movie in her double role, emitting a sense of mystery and danger every time she appears on screen. The overall minimalism with the occasional splashes of visually impressive moments appears to be a well-fitted approach for the "new generation" of horror films, along with the combination of a number of art-house elements, including the richness in context and social messages, which Kang seems to have grasped fully in his impressive debut. Review by Panos Kotzathanasis ___________ "Seire" is directed by Park Kang, and features Seo Hyun-woo, Ryu Abel, Shim Eun-woo, Ko Eun-min, Kim Woo-kyum. No release date in Korea yet. Morales drops out, endorses Smith, Roundtree for City Council Raphael Morales endorsed Jerry Smith and Debbie Roundtree after announcing that he is dropping out of the City Council race. Raphael Morales, who styled his campaign for City Council as a voice for the voiceless, silenced himself on Saturday, declaring that he is withdrawing from the race and endorsing three-term incumbent Jerry Smith and challenger Debbie Roundtree. The 31-year-old activist, musician and current line cook made the announcement Saturday afternoon during a candidate meet-and-greet sponsored by the League of Women Voters. I think its really important to understand that Hendersonville is predominantly unaffiliated and its not a partisan city and the nation itself is not a partisan country despite what political media would try to tell us politicians on the campaign trail, he said. I think its important that Hendersonville acknowledge that experience is key and we do have folks that have that experience. Jerry Smith has tremendous experience. I have endorsed Jerry Smith for another term on the City Council. Hes sensible and approachable and hes a nice guy. Whatever he says or does publicly, Morales cant affect the ballot. The deadline to formally withdraw is long past, so his name will appear on the general election ballot along with three others. He took a shot at Chelsea Walsh, the former Republican Party chair who was the fourth candidate to emerge from the six-person primary on Tuesday. I can acknowledge that Chelsea Walsh resigned from the Republican Party four days after filing, he said. Thats a very strong party affiliation. Debbie and Jerry are nonpartisan. This tit for tat thats going on with the GOP purchasing smear ads is really sort of toxic for our community discourse. I think the people that came out to support us understand that. I think its important to understand that we cannot allow our votes to be split to allow a candidate like Chelsea Walsh to be elected to City Council. Its my hope to rally my supporters behind Jerry Smith and Debbie Roundtree. Debbies been doing a lot of community organizing and shes been running for a long time and I think its her time. Walsh, who also attended the campaign event at Patton Park, brushed aside Morales charge that she was contributing to a toxic campaign environment. Im not partisan, she said. Im using sustainability as one of my platforms. It says Im Republican on my voter registration so if anybody asks me if Im Republican I dont lie. But Im running in a nonpartisan race, my party affiliation is not on the ballot and if the GOP wants to back me I respect that. Im running a nonpartisan race. Im running a race based on advocacy, not activism, she said, subtly returning Morales's fire. Activism is just one track, no compromise, no negotiation, for one specific demographic usually, but theyre not advocates for the entire community. It doesnt matter if theyre in your social circle or not, whether you go to church with them or not, you have to be an advocate for the entire community. The Henderson County Republican Party paid for a campaign mailer, she said, adding that her broader donor base had funded her billboard campaign. Both Smith and Roundtree posed for handshake pictures with Morales. Im grateful at this point, said Roundtree, who has run multiple times for either a City Council or Board of Commissioners seat. Any support I get from anybody Im grateful. Im a people person. Smith also expressed gratitude. I appreciate any support I get for my race for City Council, he said. Just do the numbers a candidate dropping out will definitely help the rest of us that are running for City Council. Anyone thats run for City Council and has made it through the primary, I would not turn down their support. Ive said throughout my campaign being unaffiliated, I want everybody to feel comfortable voting for Jerry because of things that are important to me. Im honored that anyone would want to throw their support my way. We have a Democrat, a Republican and me. Chatter on social media has focused on evidence that Morales, who has a conviction for vandalizing a painting at Asheville Regional Airport, has been known to drive even though his license is revoked. Im not driving right now, he said. I saw that (on Facebook) and I went to the courthouse. He discovered, he said, that he had a seatbelt violation in 2017 and a licensed revocation in 2018. I have been driving with a revoked license for three years now. I just did not know that. He said he was able to go to court on Wednesday to restore his driving privilege and got a court date in December. Walsh suggested that Morales explanation of his revoked license doesnt add up. If you are going to run for candidacy, regardless if it is the municipal level, the state level, the federal level, you have to know who you are as a person, she said. And if you dont know who you are or (dont know) things that are attached to your name you have no business being in a race. Rudnick fund gives $15,000 to support 'David Holt's State of Music' Keb' Mo' talks with David Holt during a Season 5 episode. [CONTRIBUTED PHOTO] The Will & Deni McIntyre Foundation has been awarded a $15,000 grant by the Perry N. Rudnick Endowment Fund of the Community Foundation of Henderson County to help fund Season 6 of David Holts State of Music, the North Carolina-based PBS series that airs nationally. The Perry N. Rudnick Endowment has supported our show since the beginning, back in 2015, said Will McIntyre, series producer and chairman of the Will & Deni McIntyre Foundation, which is based in Henderson County. Shot on location mainly in North Carolina, Tennessee, and Virginia, David Holt's State of Music shares the musical heritage and scenic beauty of our Southern mountains with a national audience. We showcase the talents of outstanding musicians in genres ranging from blues to gospel, and bluegrass to Celtic," Holt said. "We couldnt do it without the support of underwriters like the Perry N. Rudnick Endowment." Previous seasons have featured Rhiannon Giddens, Doyle Lawson & Quicksilver, Sam Bush, Jerry Douglas, Keb Mo, Molly Tuttle, Taj Mahal, the Kruger Brothers, Dom Flemons, Amythyst Kiah, Della Mae, Josh Goforth, Bryan Sutton, Mipso, Balsam Range, Presley Barker, the Burnett Sisters, Cane Mill Road, Rob Ickes and Trey Hensley, and the Steep Canyon Rangers, among others. The series premiered on North Carolina Public Television (now PBS NC) in 2015. It has since appeared on 93 percent of the nations PBS affiliates. As of today, episodes have aired 15,085 times on 497 channels. In addition to the latest grant, the Perry N. Rudnick Endowment Fund and the Community Foundation of Henderson County have supported the production of David Holts State of Music since its inception through previous grants totaling more than $100,000. Find out when you can watch David Holts State of Music by checking your local PBS stations schedule. The series can also be streamed anytime on Apple+, Amazon Prime or (for PBS Passport members) at PBS.org. For over a year, Tesla has been building and hiring for a 5,000-employee factory on the outskirts of Austin, the same city where CEO Elon Musk announced on Thursday he would soon relocate Tesla's Silicon Valley corporate headquarters out of California. GONE TO TEXAS: Tesla to move Silicon Valley headquarters to Austin, strengthening tech rivalry But thanks to state laws banning direct sales to customers, Tesla's new factory, Giga Texas, won't come with the ability to directly sell the Cybertrucks and other electric vehicles it produces to state residents. Instead, the company will be required to ship its Texas-built vehicles out of the state before it can sell and ship them back to Texans, reported The Drive. Texans who want to buy Tesla vehicles must either travel or send their paperwork to other states that permit Tesla to pursue direct sales to customers. The company then ships the cars to its Texas service centers for pick up, The Drive reported. Earlier this year, the state legislature was considering a change to the state's auto dealer franchise laws to allow companies like Tesla to pursue direct sales. But the bill died on May 31 when the Texas legislature adjourned its regular session until 2023. Musk had tweeted his support for the rule change in late May. Tesla broke ground on Giga Texas in July 2020 after local officials agreed to pay Tesla $60 million over the next 10 years under Chapter 313, a tax incentive program intended to lure companies to Texas. Company consultants told the sponsoring Austin school districts the give-backs would be necessary, reported the San Antonio Express-News. INVESTIGATION: Huge corporations are saving $10 billion on Texas taxes, and you're paying for it The factory is expected to hire 5,000 workers paying an average salary of $47,000 and will feature a public park that Musk has called an "ecological paradise" along the Colorado River. Musk confirmed his own relocation in December to Boca Chica, a small community in South Texas where Musk's company SpaceX operates a commercial rocket launch pad called Starbase. BATTLE OF THE BILLIONAIRES: Elon Musk and Jeff Bezos' space race is heating up, and Texas gets a front-row seat With an estimated net worth of $190.5 billion, he is now the state's richest person, according to Forbes. Paul Takahashi contributed to this report. charlie.zong@chron.com After more rejections than she could count, Brianna Lopez finally got a job as a server in October, ending months of unemployment. But the celebration didnt last long. Three days later, the mother of three, who lives in southwest Houston, was forced to quit to care for her children, whose school was shut down by a confirmed COVID-19 case. Five more closures over the next few months made it near impossible to find a steady job. You just become unreliable, she said. Lopez is among the millions of women who lost jobs when the pandemic broke out last spring and have struggled to return to work as they contend with child care, home schooling and few openings in the hard-hit service industries where many work. Even as vaccines bring COVID-19 under control and the economy picks up, women may not re-enter the labor force as child care remains a challenge and employers look askance at long bouts of unemployment and gaps in resumes, economists said. The result: a slower recovery. In December of 2019, women were half of all employees in the U.S., so, were not the minority workforce. We are half of workers, said Kathryn Anne Edwards, an economist for RAND Corp., a California-based think tank. If 2 million women leave the labor force, and they dont come back, that clips economic growth for everybody. The pandemic-induced recession has taken on an unusual female character, prompting analysts and economists to call it a she-cession. When businesses shut down last spring, some 2 million more women lost jobs than men, according to the Labor Department. And in September, when schools reopened and resumed remote learning, employment among women fell by more than 180,000, even as it rose by 450,000 among men. On HoustonChronicle.com: A tale of two economies: How the pandemic fuels inequality Those trends represent a break with typical recessions, said Pia Orrenius, senior economist at the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. Men, who dominate cyclical industries such as manufacturing and construction, have historically borne the brunt of downturns. Women are typically in stable occupations like teachers and service industries that are not impacted by the business cycle, Orrenius said. Usually the service sector is stable in a recession, but this time were seeing the reverse. Limited access More than 3 million women have dropped out of the labor force during the pandemic, which economists attribute in part to limited access to child care. Half of mothers forced by the pandemic to quit jobs cited the closing of schools or day cares as one of the reasons, according to a report by the Kaiser Family Foundation, a nonprofit research and policy group in San Francisco. Shronda Williams, 47, who lives in north Houston, left her job as a medical assistant in March 2020 after her daughters school switched to virtual learning. Even after in-person instruction resumed, she kept her daughter home in January because cases were rising and her daughter has asthma, putting her at risk of serious complications from COVID-19. Williams has burned through her savings, juggling bills and getting some financial help from her brother. She wants to get back to work, but shes worried the schools may close again as she hears news that more strains of the virus are spreading through Houston. I knew once they sent the kids home from school, that was going to send me home, Williams said. Because if I go back to work, whats going to happen to my kid? Im a single parent. Women with children have the lowest labor force participation rate, just 72.4 percent in January, down 2.3 percentage points from February 2020, according to the analytics and polling company Gallup. In contrast, men with children had a labor force participation rate of 92.7 percent, down less than a percentage point from last year. Even women without children may struggle to re-enter the labor market, economists said. Women tend to work in public-facing jobs, such as health care, leisure and hospitality. But for those women, who have sat out of the workforce for six months or longer, it could be harder to get back in. Employers tend to see such a large gap in work history as a red flag, even if the person was unemployed through no fault of their own, said Ofer Sharone, a professor at the University of Massachusetts Amherst, whose research focuses on long-term unemployment. On HoustonChronicle.com: Texas loses jobs for first time in 10 months Long-term unemployment was a particular problem as the U.S. economy recovered from the Great Recession more than a decade ago, peaking in 2010 when 6.8 million Americans were out of work for more than six months. In February, more than 4 million Americans were unemployed long term, quadruple the number of a year earlier. At the height of the (Great) Recession, employers were forgiving, but as soon as the recession was over, and overall unemployment was back down, there was a lot more stigmatizing of anyone who was still unemployed, Sharone said. If you were just unlucky enough to not get hired right away in the first wave, and it took you longer, then you could really be stuck. More to do This is something that weighs on Veronica McClendon, who has been out of work since March. McClendon, who lives in northwest Houston, worked in child development licensing foster homes for the state, making sure the homes met safety standards, and investigated cases of abuse and neglect, which also required home visits. She was laid off about two weeks before the pandemic-related closures started. McClendon, 54, said she applies for at least six jobs every month, seeking positions in day cares and elementary schools, but nothing has panned out. Despite having a degree in child development from Texas Southern University and experience, she worries that a yearlong gap on her resume and her age might give employers pause. This is the first time Ive had to look for a job over 50, McClendon said. I know they say it doesnt matter, but it does, and being a Black woman over 50, it wont be as easy as it was when I was 23 or 24. The recently approved $1.9 trillion in stimulus spending is aimed in large part at avoiding the slow, painful recovery that followed the Great Recession and revving up the economy so unemployed Americans such as McClendon can get back to work fast. The spending package also includes $39 billion for child care relief with the aim of helping women return to work. This funding is a good first step, said Edwards of RAND Corp., but there is still work to be done. The problem is we dont expect this to be a light switch from no care or no schooling to (access to) care, Edwards said. We still dont have universal access to affordable child care, universal pre-K programs and paid family leave. 10 steps back Lopez, 29, struggled to pay for day care while she looked for work. She applied for federally funded child care assistance available to qualified Texas residents, but the waiting list is months long. Ultimately, she and her husband decided that day care was too costly at $270 a week and that it would be easier for one of them to stay home with the children, ages 2, 7 and 10. They agreed it made more sense for her to stay home because her husband was working in demolition and had an easier time finding jobs. As of now, Lopez is looking for a nightshift serving or bartending job, so she can watch her children during the day until her husband comes home. But she worries abrupt school closures could still happen. Before COVID, Lopez said, it wasnt difficult to find a decent-paying job as a server and balance that with taking care of her children. But the pandemic threw off that balance, creating obstacles to work and access to child care that she had never faced. You know, we (women) were moving up in the chain, Lopez said, And COVID hit and its just like, we took 10 steps back. becca.carballo@chron.com twitter.com/becca_carballo Frances Moody Buzbee let her table in on a little secret Friday night: Her husband, power lawyer Tony Buzbee, could have a second career as an auctioneer. In celebration of Houston Childrens Charitys 25th year, the newlywed couple chaired the '80s-themed We Just Want to Have Fun! gala at the Post Oak Hotel and raised more than $2.8 million, a record for the organization and marker for the city. Big fundraisers are back. The Buzbees and Houston Children's Charity President, CEO and founder Laura Ward set an initial goal of $2.5 million. Tony, a longtime supporter and board member, moved the needle with a surprising ask. MEET MRS. BUZBEE: Frances Moody's favorite things in Galveston and beyond In 2019, Ward approached the well-known attorney to purchase two special utility vans as part of her non-profit's Chariots for Children Program. He bought 15. Since its inception in 1996, Houston's Children's Charity has distributed 254 vehicles to help families transport wheelchair-bound children who otherwise lack mobility. The organization serves the Greater Houston area's underprivileged, abused and disabled youth. In Ward's words, "Our goal is to leave no legitimate request for assistance unanswered." Midway through the program, Tony hopped onstage with a request of his own. "Some of y'all bought new outfits for tonight. Some of y'all got your makeup done. Let's not forget the reason we all got dressed up to be here," he said. "Let's buy 20 vans for these kids." During the pandemic, the price of the vans rose from $38,000 to $40,000. It didn't take long for Tony to coax attendees to raise their paddles, and he didn't shy away from calling on friends and colleagues in the crowd whom he knew could write a five-figure check. Gringo's Mexican Kitchen owner Russell Ybarra alone funded four vehicles. Gary Petersen, a neighbor of the Buzbees, funded another three. HOUSTONCHRONICLE.COM: Six families receive wheelchair-accessible vans during Houston Children's Charity event Photos of the children set to receive vans flashed onscreen as Tony read about their respective families aloud. "Jessica, age 9, has neuromuscular scoliosis and quadriparesis. Let's buy Jessica a van." In total, the audience bought 22. That's $880,000 raised in roughly 15 minutes. It wasn't the first time Tony took matters into his own hands that evening. During the live auction he hopped on the microphone not once, but twice to fetch high numbers for his and Frances' ranch in Montana, and their suite at Kyle Field in College Station for the Texas A&M versus Auburn SEC Showdown in November. He also used his private plane to fly in headliner Cyndi Lauper, who belted out pop hits including "Girls Just Want to Have Fun" and "Time After Time." Hence the 1980s theme. Chariots for Children holds two van distribution days a year. The next one is in May. amber.elliott@chron.com October is National Breast Cancer Awareness month, and two area restaurants are among the establishments and organizations all over that are doing special initiatives for the month to support the cause. Etoile Cuisine et Bar, a French restaurant located in Uptown Park, and Ouisies Table, an American restaurant located on the south side of San Felipe St. just west of Willowick Rd. are providing special menus throughout October with a portion of each purchase made from that menu going to charities that support the fight against breast cancer. Highlighting local charities: Houston Gives 2021 Etoile supporting Cancer Commons Etoiles has two special menus for October, one for a four-course dinner, at a price of $65 per person, and one for weekend brunch, which costs $36 per person (neither including tax and gratuity). The restaurant will donate seven dollars from each order from the dinner special menu, which includes multiple choices for each course, and four dollars from each order from the weekend brunch special menu to Cancer Commons, a patient-centric not-for-profit network of patients, physicians, and scientists that help identify the best options for treating an individuals cancer. Because October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we were definitely going to work with a cancer-related charity, said Etoile co-owner Monica Bui. We had worked with Cancer Commons two years ago, and they were very enthusiastic then about being involved. They work with cancer victims in helping them work through a very trying time toward becoming cancer survivors, so the approach is very interesting to us. This is not something Etoile does only for October. Each month since right after it opened in 2015, Etoile has a unique special menu with a portion of each purchase made from that menu going to support a charity. Septembers charity was BARC, a local animal shelter. Past charities have included local organizations such as SEARCH and Star of Hope, as well as international organizations such as Abandoned Little Angels, a charity that helps abandoned children in Vietnam, and Living Waters, an international group that creates sustainable water, sanitation and hygiene programs in communities around the world. We (Bui and co-owner husband chef Philippe Verpiand) always try to find smaller non-profit charities that dont always get the attention others do, said Bui. We always choose ones that are related to children, homelessness, pets, arts, cancer, programs that get folks back on their feet, or childrens diabetes. Bui said the amount of money that Etoile donates each month from its special menu purchases can vary greatly but is usually between $1,500 and $5,000. Ouisies Table supporting the Nancy Owens Breast Cancer Foundation Ouisies Table which is named after the restaurants founder Elouise Ouisie Jones has been around for 48 years and in its current location at Uptown Park for 26 years. For as long as anyone can remember, we have been supporting breast cancer awareness and other causes. Ouisie herself was adamant on helping, said owner Wafi Dinari who has been running the restaurant since 2003. Weve done donations, special menus, sold painted plates by survivors for a complimentary dessert, donated funds from wine sales, and more. Its a great cause we believe in. Ouisies Table will donate five dollars from each dinner purchased from the $45 three-course, multi-choice Ouisies Breast Cancer Awareness Month Menu to the Nancy Owens Breast Cancer Foundation. Nancy Owens was a great, regular customer of Ouisies Table, said Dinari. She was always one of the most welcome guests when she came and was always so full of life. This is the second year weve chosen to support the Nancy Owens Foundation, both because of who she was and what this stands for, Dinari continued. The personal connection she had here with many of our regular guests brings out support. Challenging times: Year of chaos leaves nonprofit sector exhausted - and grateful Among the choices for the special dinner menu are: Grilled Pear and Bacon Bits Salad for an appetizer, Parmesan Crusted Red Grouper for an entree, and Strawberry Milk Cake for dessert. Things have started off very strong this month, and I think that will only grow as the month goes on and more people become aware of the special menu, said Dinari. elliott.lapin@hearst.com The remains of 95 prisoners discovered in Sugar Land in 2018 will be the focus of a free lecture in Huntsville on Thursday, Oct. 14. The Sam Houston Memorial Museum will host the Texas Archaeology Month event discussing the Sugar Land 95. It has celebrated the special month for 21 consecutive years by bringing in a professional archeologist or well-known historian each year to share about their contributions to current archeological sites in Texas. This year, Reign Clark and Catrina Banks Whitley will be presenting. On HoustonChronicle.com: New Fort Bend ISD superintendent gets to work Workers trying to build Fort Bend ISDs future James Reece Career and Technical Center found the remains. A cultural resources investigation had started in October 2017. The project area was once a portion of the larger Central State Prison Farm that the state owned since 1908. The prisoners were part of the convict leasing system that took place in Texas between 1871 and 1911. A 500-page report on the findings included exhaustive laboratory analysis and archival research that showed the cemetery was a part of the Bullhead Convict Labor Camp, which ran there from circa 1875 to 1908. Clark began to oversee the reinternment process of the Sugar Land 95 in November 2019, where the individuals are now back in their original graves. This is the first convict labor cemetery to be excavated, and the experiences of individual convict laborers can be compared to historical documents about convict labor, Whitley said in a news release. With the historical documents identifying persons at the labor camps, there is the possibility of identifying these unknown individuals, giving them back their names and dignity as well as finding their descendants and/or relatives. The lecture will look at the excavation of the remains, archeothanatology, and bioarcheological interpretations of the Sugar Land 95. Studies showed atypical mortuary practices, disease, malnutrition, trauma and other health insults experienced by the prisoners. DNA and isotope analysis and genealogical research is still going on today with the goal of finding descendants and placing markers for names at the Bullhead Convict Labor Camp Cemetery. On HoustonChronicle.com: The Rose offers uninsured women path to mammograms, improved health The event will be at the Katy and E. Don Walker Sr. Education Center at 1402 19th St. in Huntsville. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. for a reception and exhibits. The presentation will follow at 7 p.m. For further details visit www.samhoustonmemorialmuseum.com or contact Curator of Collections Mikey Sproat at sproat@shsu.edu or 936-294-4895. tracy.maness@hcnonline.com Its not often that you wish youd made popcorn to watch a Houston City Council committee meeting. And yet such was the case Thursday, when the councils housing and budget committees held a joint meeting to discuss recent drama involving the citys housing and community development department. I knew this was going to be a train wreck, said Mayor Pro Tem Dave Martin, the councilman for District E, at one point. I should have screamed. We all should have screamed. He was talking about the agencys finances, but could well have been describing the discussion itself, which went on for nearly three hours and left everyone puzzled and displeased. On HoustonChronicle.com: Housing department under scrutiny after staffers say program overruns could cost millions The session was supposedly convened to discuss former housing director Tom McCaslands recent allegations that political favoritism had influenced city decisions on a proposed affordable-housing project in Clear Lake. McCasland described the project Huntington at Bay Area as a turning point in his relationship with Mayor Sylvester Turner, who tapped him to lead the department in 2016. Unfortunately, Ive reached a point where I can no longer do the bidding of this administration, as it relates to this development, McCasland said, accusing the administration of asking his staff to participate in a charade and bankrolling a certain developer to the detriment of working families. The Huntington at Bay Area project would use $15 million in city funds to create 88 affordable housing units for senior citizens in District E, he explained. His team had ranked it eighth out of 12 proposals submitted, and instead recommended that the city use $16 million in funds to support four projects that would create 362 affordable housing units. Turner nonetheless decided to opt for the Clear Lake project, which is backed by a group of developers that includes his longtime law partner. The Harris County District Attorneys office is investigating the deal. And, again, the deal is what city councilmembers were expected to discuss Thursday. Instead, officials for the housing department Interim Housing Director Keith Bynam and Chief Financial Officer Temika Jones focused on cost overruns incurred by the citys Hurricane Harvey home repair program. Those overruns could leave Houston looking at a $23.5 million budget hole, they explained, unless the General Land Office decides to reimburse the city for some of the spending. This is notable information, of course, and it seemed to come as news to those some of those on the dais. But its not clear what the Harvey home repair program has to do with the Clear Lake project. Turner has suggested that McCasland pounced on the latter as a diversion, to distract from financial problems in his own agency. But thats at odds with most of what we know about both the department and McCasland a well-regarded official who had never been involved in any previous controversy, and who has said little since Turner fired him after he went public. For that matter, wondered District G Council Member Greg Travis, would city council have even heard about the financial woes facing the Harvey home repair program if not for McCaslands actions last month? Probably not, said Bynum. Because Director McCasland would still be in place. The testimony he and Jones offered raised some interesting questions about the Harvey home repair program, and the department more generally. But perhaps the most confounding question was why city council was talking about Harvey-related funds in the first place? I'm more interested in the project-selecting criteria and why we're all here, said At-Large Council Member Sallie Alcorn. Indeed. Council Member Tiffany Thomas, who represents District F and chairs the housing committee, pointed to a few pieces of information that have gotten lost in the headlines about the Huntington at Bay Area deal. All 12 of the projects rated in this case, for example, met the threshold for city funding; in other words, Turners project was being prioritized over the four alternatives that McCaslands team had recommended, rather than displacing them from consideration entirely. And its salient, Thomas told me Friday, that the Huntington at Bay Area project would provide housing for seniors in need. Affordable-housing projects focused on seniors tend to elicit less pushback from community members than those designed for working families, which city policy officially prioritizes. Its just easier, Thomas said. They dont want to see Grandma on the street. That might help explain why a politician would take a different view of the Huntington at Bay Area project than an agency head would. However, its not a point that Turner himself has made. Hes just said that he wants to put a project in District E, which is all well and good, but not a bulletproof case for this particular project. On HoustonChronicle.com: Houston City Council should insist on answers from Mayor Turner in housing deal flap And Turners criticisms of McCasland ultimately have no bearing on legitimate concerns about Huntington at Bay Area, the process by which it emerged as the top choice, or the mayors involvement in that process. It would be overly simplistic to suggest that the top-ranked projects, according to city employees, should just win the bid every time. The mayor and city council members, as elected officials, are directly accountable to voters; they rightfully have a role to play. But Houston residents are entitled to more answers about the Huntington at Bay Area project than we have received, to date. McCasland raised important questions about this project. It may be that Turner has persuasive answers. But they definitely cant be addressed by throwing McCasland under the bus or by muddying the water and raising seemingly unrelated issues about the department he used to lead. erica.grieder@chron.com A suspended Galveston police officer pleaded guilty Wednesday to violating his bond while awaiting a previous trial for a separate charge. Justin Popovich was acquitted on a 2020 family violence charge in April 2021. But Popovich pleaded guilty Wednesday to a separate felony charge of violating a bond or protective order before the trial. He had been arrested three times in April 2020 and charged with stalking the woman he had been dating, according to court records. District Judge Patricia Grady on Friday deferred proceedings without entering the guilty judgment and instead placed Popovich on three years of community supervision. Popovich, 40, was accused in June 2020 of violating a court order twice within 12 months after prosecutors alleged that during April he repeatedly called, texted and approached a woman he had been dating. In the span of a week in late April, Popovich was arrested twice on charges of violating his bond and then, after allegedly showing up to the woman's residence with guns in his vehicle, was arrested a third time on a stalking charge, county records show. The Galveston Police Department had first suspended Popovich in October 2019 after the initial allegations, followed by an indefinite suspension after the arrests, the Galveston Daily News reported. Prosecutors dropped the stalking charge on Tuesday, a day before Popovich pleaded guilty to violating his bond, a charge that could have led to between 2 and 10 years in prison. While police officers can appeal indefinite suspensions and get their jobs back, a felony conviction would have disqualified Popovich from serving as a police officer, the Daily News reported. charlie.zong@chron.com A reward of as much as $5,000 is being offered for information on a man who authorities say stole jewelry valued over $500,000 in 2019 and fled this week as his trial was unfolding. The man, Malik Travon Barlow, attended the beginning of his trial but later didnt return, according to a release from the Harris County District Attorneys Office. The office said he was convicted on theft and evading arrest charges on Thursday and faces a 25-year prison sentence. Someone knows where he is hiding. Lets get him off the streets and behind bars, where the jury says he should be, Harris County District Attorney Kim Ogg said in a news release. If you know something, please do the right thing, which could also lead to you collecting a reward. Those who have information leading to Barlow being taken into custody could get as much as $5,000 through a reward being offered by Crime Stoppers of Houston, according to the release. Dr. Robert Grossman, a pioneering Houston neurosurgeon who as a young resident examined the fatal head wound of President John F. Kennedy, died Thursday at his home. He was 88. Grossman served as chair of Houston Methodists department of neurosurgery for more than three decades, developing ground-breaking advances in the treatment of epilepsy and Parkinsons disease, in addition to head and spinal cord injuries. He performed thousands of neurosurgical operations, mentored hundreds of neurosurgeons throughout the United States and wrote prolifically for scientific journals and medical textbooks. He is survived by his wife, Ellin, their three children and nine grandchildren. Ive met incredibly brilliant people, motivated people, kind people, collaborative people. But Ive never met someone where all that was in one person, said Dr. David Baskin, a Houston Methodist neurosurgeon and Grossmans colleague of 37 years. I think the world will have a big hole in its heart. Grossman remained part of the research faculty at Houston Methodist until the time of his death and was commonly spotted in the hospital before the coronavirus pandemic took hold. He continued writing grants and completing other work despite his own battle with Parkinsons, a sadly ironic diagnosis for a man who dedicated his life to the treatment of neurological disorders, his obituary noted. Like everything else in his life, Dr. Grossman faced it bravely, squarely and gracefully, according to his obituary. Born in the Bronx, N.Y., Grossman was the only child of immigrants his father a family physician from Hungary and his mother a grade school teacher from Lithuania. He received his medical degree from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Columbia University and completed his surgical internship at The University of Rochester Medical Center in 1958. He served as captain in the Medical Corps in the U.S. Army Reserve and later became chief resident at the Neurological Institute of New York at the Columbia-Presbyterian Medical Center. He moved to Parkland Hospital in Dallas in 1963, when as a 30-year-old resident he encountered the mortally wounded Kennedy. In a harrowing first-person account published by NBC News, Grossman described running to see the presidents motionless body, which was surrounded by physicians. Grossman examined what he knew was a fatal wound a shattered scalp and skull that revealed brain tissue. In his account, he recounted the moment the senior neurosurgeon advised the medical team to stop resuscitation efforts as Jacqueline Kennedy stood in the corner of the room. Everyone was concentrating on the medical aspect, he wrote. But I think everyone was concerned: What does this mean for the country? Was this the start of World War III? During his career, Grossman unraveled the mysteries of electrical currents in the brain and became one of the first people to record brain signals during surgery, said Baskin. He developed a way to detect tiny spots of neural dysfunction, which helped cure or reduce epilepsy without major side effects. He also was instrumental in creating technology to better investigate Parkinsons disease. Despite his stature as a giant in the field, he mentored people with compassion and understanding, Baskin said. When he called you in the office for whatever it was good or bad he was always trying to think, What can I say or do to help this person? said Baskin. And we all just loved him and appreciated him. julian.gill@chron.com Boeing has identified a most probable cause for why its spacecraft valves were stuck closed in August. These valves, which prevented the company from launching its CST-100 Starliner capsule to the International Space Station, were likely closed because oxidizer had permeated the valves seals and interacted with moisture from the atmosphere, causing corrosion. RELATED: Stuck valves leave Boeing's Starliner stuck on the ground The company had previously said the valves in Starliners propulsion system were likely stuck closed due to corrosion caused by this interaction between the oxidizer (a component of the spacecrafts propellant) and moisture. And while some verification work remains underway, a NASA blog post on Friday said confidence was high enough that Boeing and NASA were beginning corrective and preventative actions. Additional testing will be conducted in the coming weeks to further explore contributing factors and necessary system remediation before flight. I am proud of the work our integrated teams are doing, Steve Stich, manager of NASAs Commercial Crew program, said in a statement. This is a complex issue involving hazardous commodities and intricate areas of the spacecraft that are not easily accessed. It has taken a methodical approach and sound engineering to effectively examine. Boeing is part of NASAs Commercial Crew program, where the companies (not NASA) own and operate capsules trusted to carry astronauts to the space station. NASA provided funding and expertise, and it buys seats as a customer, but the companies ultimately designed the spacecraft. The planned August launch would have been Boeings second attempt at sending an uncrewed Starliner spacecraft to the International Space Station. The first attempt launched in December 2019, but a software error prevented the uncrewed spacecraft from docking with the International Space Station. The second attempt was postponed prior to liftoff. SpaceX is also part of the Commercial Crew program and is preparing to send its fourth batch of astronauts to the space station. Boeing has managed to open all but one of the original 13 stuck valves. The one valve thats closed has been left that way intentionally to preserve forensics for direct root cause analysis. Safety of the Starliner spacecraft, our employees, and our crew members is this teams number one priority, John Vollmer, vice president and program manager for Boeings Starliner program, said in a statement. We are taking the appropriate amount of time to work through the process now to set this system up for success. The uncrewed Starliner spacecraft could launch from Floridas Cape Canaveral Space Force Station in the first half of 2022, pending scheduling and hardware readiness. andrea.leinfelder@chron.com twitter.com/a_leinfelder The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals reinstated Texas' abortion ban late Friday, hours after attorneys for the state had asked it to overturn a judge's preliminary injunction. The short, unexplained order from a panel of three judges reverses the brief reprieve that abortion providers had seen after the injunction was granted Wednesday. Some clinics had begun performing abortions again, while many were still hesitant given the strictness of the law known as Senate Bill 8 and the uncertainty around the Fifth Circuit's involvement. The court is considered one of the most conservative in the country. Under the law, abortions are prohibited after six weeks gestation, before many women know they're pregnant. It is the most severe abortion restriction implemented in the U.S. in decades, and has quickly become a model that other Republican-led states hope to emulate. In their appeal Friday, attorneys for Texas argued that the injunction had violated the separation of powers between states and the federal government. The U.S. Department of Justice had sued the state, arguing that the law was unconstitutional and infringed on the federal government's ability to provider abortions to people in its custody. "Great news tonight, The Fifth Circuit has granted an administrative stay on #SB8," tweeted Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, whose office is defending the law. "I will fight federal overreach at every turn." From here, the department can wait for the Fifth Circuit to conduct a fuller review or ask the U.S. Supreme Court to immediately reverse Friday's decision. The justices have already declined to intervene once, which allowed the law to take effect on Sept. 1. In the weeks since, pregnant women have been fleeing to other states where the procedure is still legal, or staying in Texas without a clear path to obtaining care. Providers and abortion rights advocates say the ban will stop up to 90 percent of the abortions that are typically provided in Texas. The Supreme Court needs to step in and stop this madness," Nancy Northup, head of the Center for Reproductive Rights, which is representing abortion providers, said in a statement. "Its unconscionable that the Fifth Circuit stayed such a well-reasoned decision that allowed constitutionally protected services to return in Texas." On Wednesday, federal district court Judge Robert Pitman barred judges and other state court officials from overseeing litigation brought under the new law. Unlike other six-week abortion bans, the Texas law is enforced solely through lawsuits from private citizens. That has created a procedural puzzle for opponents. Pitman, an appointee of former President Barack Obama, blasted the state on Wednesday for creating a law he said it knew violated protections established under Roe v. Wade and subsequent Supreme Court rulings. That other courts may find a way to avoid this conclusion is theirs to decide; this court will not sanction one more day of this offensive deprivation of such an important right, he wrote. jeremy.blackman@chron.com Regarding Opinion: What would Texas redistricting look like without gerrymanders? This map puts communities first, (Oct. 2): Following the first census in 1790, congressional district mappers focused on geographical barriers while composing compact districts. Representatives walking the woods and riding horseback to convene were necessary considerations. Cars, trains, computers, mappers could only dream of modern technology. Incumbent protection was not a thing until 1812 when politician Elbridge Gerry drew his own district, ensuring his political party remained in power in the upcoming reelection. Gerrys district resembled a salamander. Thus the term gerrymandering was born. Gerrymandering violates the spirit of the U.S. Constitution, undermining true representation. Yet gerrymandering continues. The shapes of the districts in the congressional map proposed by Texas legislators resemble salamanders. An alternative citizens proposal by Texas Redistricting makes compactness a priority. Take a look for yourself. Which map is in keeping with the U.S. Constitution? Jeff Harper, Bastrop The proposed redistricting boundaries are designed to minimize the influence of the poor. Since many of our legislators claim to respect scripture, let them read the Hebrew Prophets: Guilty men, whose own might is their god, (Habakkuk 1:11); Who deal deceitfully with false balances, that we may buy the poor for silver, (Amos 8:5-6); A trader who uses false balances, who loves to overreach (Hosea 12:8). Their only defense is to claim that the other party did it too. That will never justify stealing. Rabbi Daniel Horwitz, Houston Renaming bases Regarding Editorial: Out with the traitors, in with the heroes. Time to rename America's Army posts, (Oct. 7): While the options listed for the renaming of U.S. Army bases include many names deserving of remembrance, I suggest honoring Union General George Henry Thomas, a Virginian who, unlike Robert E. Lee, remained loyal to the Union. He is seldom mentioned as a hero of the Civil War, in large part because he refused to promote his own legacy, yet he was one of the Unions best. He is mainly remembered as the Rock of Chickamauga, after almost single-handedly preventing a defeat from becoming a rout, but is just as deserving of being declared the Rock of Stones River, a battle as vicious as any in the war. He also won the first Union victory of the war. At Mill Springs, his troops took Missionary Ridge during the battle of Chattanooga and he destroyed the army of John Bell Hood at Nashville, thereby ending the war in the west. Its shameful that Hood has an Army base named after himself, but not Thomas. Frank Ohrt, Houston Are you supporting the destruction of our monuments, statues and the renaming of America's Army posts in an effort to rewrite the history of America? Rewriting history is what Russia and China have done. It is our history and it lets us understand our evolving country. Rewriting history is the first step towards communism, folks. Patti Miller, Houston Even as a Southerner born and raised in South Carolina under the impression that General Robert E. Lee was an honorable man who was such a brilliant strategist that he would no doubt have been victorious with just a few more resources, I absolutely agree with the reasons you give in your editorial regarding renaming the Army posts across the South that were named for Confederate officers. But I do wonder if labeling them as traitors is a bit harsh, considering that the same term would have applied to George Washington and most, if not all, of the Founding Fathers if the colonies had lost in the rebellion. Richard W. King, Pasadena Some suggestions for Texas: Audie Murphy Base Fort Erastus Smith Fort Charles B. Stewart Jeff Carter, Houston Republicans in the Texas Senate advanced a redistricting plan Friday over objections from Democrats who complained that it pits the only two Black members of Congress from Houston against one another, takes important military bases out of Democratic districts, and will not create any more minority-majority districts even though the states growth over the past 10 years is largely due to an increase in Hispanic residents. The plan creates new congressional districts in 2022 for Houston and Austin while increasing the number of Republicans likely to go to Congress from Texas. And it improves the re-election chances of virtually every Republican in the states delegation. State Sen. Joan Huffman, R-Houston, systematically shot down every attempt by Democrats to alter the proposal, and repeatedly defended her plan created with help from congressional Republicans, but not the Democrats as being drawn without regard to the race of voters and in compliance with all laws. The maps were drawn blind to race, Huffman said, repeating a catchphrase that has been used in the past to defend against claims of racial gerrymandering. But at the same time, Huffman made clear she was under no obligation to draw districts to give minorities any more chances to be elected to Congress than they already have. We saw no strong basis of evidence that a new minority opportunity district should be drawn in the new maps, Huffman said. IN-DEPTH: GOP lawmakers swear new Texas redistricting maps are race blind, as they did a decade ago For three hours, Hispanic and Black Democrats in the Texas Senate took turns questioning how Huffmans blind to race map could ignore the states shifting demographics. While Texas now has roughly equal proportions of Hispanic and Anglo residents, there are nearly twice as many majority-Anglo congressional districts (19) as majority-Hispanic districts (10). The new congressional maps do not create any new district where those voters are a majority. Frankly, it is very simple to describe what the Senate Republican majority has done here: racism, State Sen. Roland Guitierrez, D-San Antonio, said after the maps passed. State Sen. Borris Miles, D-Houston, noted that of all the 36 Texans in Congress, Huffman drew a map that only pits two against one another, and they are both Black: Reps Sheila Jackson Lee and Al Green. And he said that 200,000 residents mostly Black are being forced to change members of Congress in Houston for no reason. No Texas member of Congress is being hit harder than Jackson Lee in the redistricting. Under the plan, her 18th Congressional District would lose all of downtown Houston, Texas Southern University, the University of Houston, the Third Ward, and even her own residence, which would be moved in Greens 9th Congressional District. On Monday, Jackson Lee made a rare public appearance before the Texas Senate and pleaded with Republicans to reconsider. Military maneuvers Huffman declined an amendment on Friday that was proposed by Miles to keep Jackson Lees home and those landmarks in her district, and the amendment failed. Members of Congress are not required to live in the district that elects them, though most do. Miles reminded the Senate that Third Ward and Fifth Ward have been in the 18th District since Barbara Jordan became the first Black woman in Texas elected to Congress in 1972. We really need to get these communities of interest back together, said Miles, who lives in Third Ward. They feed off of one another. IN-DEPTH: Lackland, Fort Bliss would be removed from Democrat-controlled districts under GOP plan State Sen. Jose Menendez, D-San Antonio, questioned how Hispanics could represent 95 percent of the population growth in Texas in ten years, yet see no new Hispanic opportunity districts in the Rio Grande Valley, San Antonio, Houston or Dallas. I dont understand how we could not have a new minority-opportunity seat, Menendez said. Democrats also objected to Huffman taking two of the states major military bases out of Democratic-held congressional districts in favor of a Republican who is serving his first year in Congress. Huffmans proposed maps would remove Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland from U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castros 20th Congressional District, and would remove Fort Bliss in El Paso from U.S. Rep. Veronica Escobars 16th Congressional District. Both would be included in a redrawn 23rd Congressional District represented now by Republican Tony Gonzales, a Navy veteran. Menendez reminded Huffman that Lackland, the Air Forces basic training hub, has been in the 20th Congressional District since U.S. Rep. Henry B. Gonzalez represented the district in the 1960s. Henry B. Gonzalez was the first Mexican-American from Texas elected to Congress. None of the Democratic objections mattered much in the end. Republicans hold the majority of seats in the Texas Senate 18 to 13 for Democrats and voted together to block any Democratic amendments. The overall map also passed with a partisan 18-to-13 vote. New Houston district Democratic hopes now rest on the Texas House of Representatives, which is drawing its own set of congressional maps. Members there have yet to roll out any proposals for Congress with just 10 days left in the special session. If the House doesnt act, the House and Senate would likely have to return for a fourth special session this year to complete the work. Under the Senate plans, there are big changes for millions of people in Houston and in San Antonio beyond Jackson Lees district and the removal of Lackland. Harris County would be split into 9 different congressional districts as it is now, but with major changes. Republicans are proposing creating a new 38th Congressional District made up of more than 700,000 residents now in other districts. More than 300,000 people in west Houston, the Energy Corridor and near Jersey Village would be taken out of Republican U.S. Rep. Dan Crenshaws 2nd Congressional District and shifted into the newly drawn 38th Congressional District that would be wholly in Harris County. Crenshaws district would in turn head north into Montgomery County to pick up more than 300,000 people who are currently in the 8th Congressional District represented now by Rep. Kevin Brady, R-The Woodlands. Another 300,000 people around Tomball, Cypress and the northwestern sections of the Grand Parkway would be pulled out of the sprawling 10th Congressional District now held by U.S. Rep. Michael McCaul and put into the new 38th District. McCaul would no longer represent any of Harris County. Meanwhile, Republicans would move part of the 7th Congressional District, now represented by Democrat Lizzie Fletcher, into Fort Bend County. About 200,000 people in Fort Bend County would now be in Fletchers district. It would remain a Democratic-leaning district, but take in portions of what used to be Greens 9th Congressional District and parts of U.S. Rep. Troy Nehlss 22nd Congressional District. jeremy.wallace@chron.com Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. The Board of Health discusses the controversial South Street cell tower at Wednesday's meeting. Farley-Bouvier Cites Pittsfield Cell Tower in State Legislative Hearing PITTSFIELD, Mass. A local resident's fight against the installation of a 115-foot cell tower off South Street was referenced on Beacon Hill on Monday during testimony on two bills relating to health and wireless transmissions. State Rep. Tricia Farley-Bouvier and Pittsfield resident Courtney Gilardi, among others, testified at the Joint Committee on Consumer Protection and Professional Licensure 's hearing about two related bills sponsored by state Sen. Julian Cyr of Hyannis: S.186 , which would create a commission to research the impact of electromagnetic (EMR) and radiofrequency (RFR) radiation, and S.187 , which would require RFR warnings on the use of cell phones, particularly in regard to children. "We have a very, very strong local interest in this bill, and when I say local it's specific to my neighborhood," Farley-Bouvier told to the committee. "We had at the very beginning of COVID, a new tower being placed just a few 100 feet from here, from my home, without notification, there are significant health issues happening in the neighborhood and, when I say frustration from this neighborhood, not being able to, to really get answers from city or state officials, I'm not kidding. ... there is no place to go." The Pittsfield representative, a member of the joint committee, cited past mistakes made in public health, such as the tobacco industry denying the harmful effects of smoking and, locally, the dangers of polychlorinated biphenyls, being downplayed. "Is this a crazy thing that people are saying that they're sick from their cell phones? Well I don't think so, that's not what we're hearing," she said during the virtual hearing. "And you know, we didn't pay attention decades ago, when the tobacco industry told us we were crazy that tobacco was harmful, and we thought people were crazy, the industry told us we were crazy when we were told that PCBs were harmful, but we know that to be true now." She added that as elected officials, she feels it is their job to get answers about the effects of cell towers and do research independent of the wireless industry. Gilardi, a resident of Alma Street who is living elsewhere because of the cell tower, gave an emotional testimony at the meeting. Since the tower was installed in August 2020 without what opponents say was proper abutter notification, she has been advocating for its removal. "We are asking for consumer protections for wireless health and we are asking for them now," she said, and detailed some of the health issues her family and neighbors have had to deal with. On Wednesday, Gilardi told the Board of Health about her testimony and that she realized "that it was the first time in seven months that we actually slept in real beds, not mattresses on the floor. It was the first time in seven months we were able to take a hot shower before going to sleep at night, as where we stay does not have the plumbing to do so. ... "I have a home, I have a beautiful home, my kids have a home, my neighbors have a home, and we all have the hopes of returning." The 115-foot Verizon tower was constructed in August 2020 after the company received permitting from the Zoning Board of Appeals in 2017. Neighbors surrounding the tower say they did not receive proper abutter notice beforehand. The address was a large parcel that abutted the densely populated neighborhood on the north end but only neighbors on the south end were notified. Interim Director of Public Health Andrew Cambi and Board of Health member Brad Gordon said on Wednesday that they had spoken virtually with Verizon representatives last month to discuss options for the tower. They asked the company if it would consider turning off the antennaes or relocating it. Verizon did not take the considerations off the table but was said it would be "unlikely" for that to happen, they reported. The board discussed compiling other possible tower locations to present to the company in hopes of sparking some kind of agreement that works for both entities. Gordon proposed that the Health Department formally submits alternative sites for the tower to Verizon for them to consider. Cambi said he and Gordon had pushed for a solution soon as possible when they met with Verizon because at least one family, Gilardi's, has been displaced. They said they framed the proposal as a way to make the community feel good about having the company in the area. Gordon thought the "good business" angle was a strong one but didn't believe the city has much in the way of legal leverage. "We were very direct, we said, 'what is the possibility of moving the tower,' and they didn't take that off the table, but they also said that it was unlikely," Gordon reported from the correspondence with Verizon. Verizon has not agreed to another meeting with the BOH representatives. In the meantime, the wireless company said it would be doing an independent study to measure frequencies coming from the tower. The board also signed a letter advocating for the wireless safety bills discussed on Monday and Cambi sent out a personal letter over email in support of the bills. In other news, the board welcomed former member Bobbie Orsi back to the panel. Cambi also gave an update on the search for the next director of public health, as former director Gina Armstrong resigned last month. Four candidates have applied for the position and will go through a reviewing process though a timeline has not been set. This is a short story about a big decision at United Airlines. It's the kind of thing you'll find in my free ebook, Flying Business Class, which you can download here. It all starts with what Scott Kirby, the CEO of United Airlines, told United employees back in January. It ends, at least for now, with what several competing airlines did in recent days. On January 21, Kirby held a town hall with United employees, during which he told them that pretty soon, in his opinion, it wasn't going to be up to individual employees to decide whether or not they wanted to get vaccinated against Covid-19: "[F]or me, because I have confidence in the safety of the vaccine--and I recognize it's controversial. I think the right thing to do is for United Airlines, and for other companies, to require the vaccines and to make them mandatory." I've highlighted 22 key words from this statement. Remember, this was fairly early in our long, national vaccine controversy. The FDA had only approved an emergency authorization for the Pfizer and Moderna vaccines the month before, and there were nowhere near enough doses available for everyone who wanted or needed them. It also wasn't at all clear what the future of air travel would look like, although most airline executives seemed to agree that widespread vaccine acceptance was going to be key to the recovery. Regardless, Kirby was one of the few big company CEOs talking seriously about mandates for employment back then. And sure enough, in August, United announced it would require all of its 67,000 U.S. employees to get vaccinated or risk losing their jobs, standing more or less alone at that moment. In fact, the CEOs of other rival airlines like Southwest and American Airlines went on the record saying that they had no such plans. But just two months later, United's competitors are starting to follow its lead. Last week, American Airlines, Alaska Airlines, and JetBlue said most employees who haven't been vaccinated by November 24, the day before Thanksgiving, will lose their jobs. Then Southwest Airlines followed suit. That basically leaves Delta Air Lines as the only holdout, aside from regional carriers. The other big airlines generally cited President Joe Biden's order requiring all government contractors to mandate employee vaccinations, on the grounds that the airlines are themselves contractors. Reportedly, Southwest's pilots are now suing their airline over the mandate, and employees at American have started protesting. (However, United says that only 232 of its employees have refused to comply, and face termination as a result). Now, we all know that employer vaccine mandates are among the most controversial issues in America today. Frankly, that's why I think Kirby deserves credit for standing first, even when it meant standing alone. It's also why once again, no matter what kind of business you're running, I think it's worth taking the time to watch how the airlines address big business challenges. Find me another big commodity industry, with so many publicly traded players, in which they all have to face similar issues under intense scrutiny at the same time. Assuming you'll have to make tough decisions from time to time as a business leader, I see three big takeaways. The first has to do with emotional context. Nearly every time I've seen Kirby talk about this issue, he places vaccines in the context of the toll Covid has taken on United employees. From his initial remarks in January through when he told The New York Times recently, he made the mandate decision about a half hour after learning of the death of a 57-year-old United pilot who had been diagnosed with the virus. While Kirby staked out a bold position, he waited until circumstances allowed him to move forward on it. Eight months went by from when Kirby first started talking about a mandate to the date that it actually happened at United. It was much more about laying the rhetorical groundwork ahead of time. Kirby used his decision as an opportunity to try to lead others in the industry. Remember in those comments back in January, he made clear he didn't think United could act on its own. And while none of us were in the room when it happened, in August when United instituted its mandate, Kirby was one of the nation's CEOs who then met with Biden to discuss the issue. A month after that, Biden issued the federal contractor requirement, and another month after that, many of Kirby's big competitors announced a similar decision. I'm not trying to convince you one way or the other about whether companies should require vaccine mandates. But when we finally close the book on our long Covid experience together, and especially how industry responses changed over time, I think Kirby's moves here will merit a mention. Vicky Kaushal delivered mega-hits like Uri, Sanju, and Raazi, among others that skyrocketed the expectations of his fans. In less than a decade of being in the film industry, Kaushal has managed to create a fan base of his own, and why not? His interesting choice of films and the way he steps into the shoes of his characters have always been impressive. Instagram Vicky is now gearing up for the release of his next, Sardar Udham, a film based on the real-life story of revolutionary leader Udham Singh, the man who shot Michael O'Dwyer in London to avenge the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. This is one of his most ambitious projects, and there have been several reasons. Vicky was a speaker at India Today Conclave 2021 when he shared a challenge he faced while shooting for the film. Recalling how 'painful' it was to relive and shoot the Jallianwalah massacre. He said, Twitter "The portions where we were trying to recreate the Jallianwala Bagh incident. As an actor, I knew what I was getting into, but I still was not prepared for how numbing that experience would be for me as an individual. The way Shoojit shoots, his scenes are so realistic that you are thrown into that world. After finishing that shoot, there would be times when I wouldn't sleep because I would keep wondering that re-enactment of that incident was so numbing for me, what would have been the impact on the people who had actually witnessed that. This thought made me shiver," Vicky said. The film made headlines when Irrfan Khan, who the Piku director roped in to play the titular role, opted out of the project due to his ill health. AFP In a recent interview with News18, Kaushal reiterated that he never pressured to replace 'Irrfan.' Twitter He said, "Nobody can fill his shoes. For me, Irrfan Saab was one of the finest actors in the world. It has been an honor that I have been considered for the same film." The movie helmed by Shoojit Sircar also stars Banita Sandhu, Amol Parashar, Shaun Scott, Stephen Hogan, Kirsty Averton. The film will stream from October 16 on Prime Video. A 14-year-old boy was injured in an attack by a leopard at Aarey Colony in suburban Goregaon, on Friday night. The boy, identified as Darshan Dravid, was walking with his friends in the area, near Unit 13 at around 9 pm when he was attacked by the leopard. After being attacked by the leopard, Darshan cried for help and his friends rushed to rescue him. The feline left him and disappeared into the forest. BCCL/ File Image The boy suffered injuries on his neck, mouth, and head, and was taken to a local hospital, from where he was shifted to Jogeshwari Trauma Care Hospital for further treatment. 8th such incident This is the eighth such attack in the area by a leopard within a month. Friday's attack comes days after Forest Officials had trapped a leopard that was believed to be the one attacking humans in the area. Save Aarey The female sub-adult was trapped in one of three cages placed at strategic locations in the Aarey Colony, last Friday morning, but the officials had said that they were not certain if it was the same suspected of attacking humans. Aarey is part of the Sanjay Gandhi National Park, which is spread across around 103 square km, is the only national park in the world to be located with metropolitan city limits. BCCL It has a high leopard density with around four dozen spotted cats flourishing here. Roaming inside the SGNP and its larger periphery, hugging three large and heavily populated areas of Mumbai Suburban District, Thane and Palghar, the leopards' hunt for food and prey often leads inside the human settlements, buildings, bungalow, slums, resulting in man-animal conflicts, with tragedies on both sides. For more on news and current affairs from around the world please visit Indiatimes News. Mercury, the least-explored planet in our solar system was recently captured by BepiColombo, a joint mission between European Union and Japan. In this image of Mercury, one can see the craters on the planet's surface, which are akin to the craters on Earth's Moon. ESA/JAXA BepiColombo, jointly administered by the European Space Agency (ESA) and Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) flew by Mercury earlier this week. The mission was launched in 2018 from Spaceport in Europe. What is the BepiColombo Mercury mission? The mission is dependent on two spacecraft that are near the planet right now. These are the Mercury Planetary Orbiter and the Mercury Magnetospheric Orbiter. By 2025, the mission will reach Mercury's orbit, offering even closer glimpses of the unexplored planet situated the closest to Sun. Also read: 'King Of Storms' In Our Solar System Can Destroy Three Earth-Sized Planets The BepiColombo mission is attempting to understand our elusive solar system companion better. It hopes to get insights into the planet's composition and how it managed to evolve so close to our Sun with temperatures crossing 350 degree Celsius (660 degree Fahrenheit). NASA What explains the craters on Mercury? According to ESA, the craters on Mercury may have been caused due to a giant impact wherein the original body was stripped of its rock content. Due to this, it may possess an abornmally large iron core but with a thin rocky outer layer. Mercury is ironically dim, given how close it is situated to the Sun. It is made largely out of graphite, the same thing our pencils are made of, lending it a dark grey character. The surface of Mercury was formed by major outpourings of lava billions of years ago, combined with impact from asteroids and comets. Reuters Also read: Mystery Planet Nine In Our Solar System: Scientists Know Where To Look The Mercury mission is named BepiColombo in honour of Italian scientist Giuseppe "Bepi" Colombo, who played a key role in the development of the first spacecraft sent to Mercury in 1974, the NASA Mariner 10. Currently, fly-bys are hoping to capture a glimpse of Mercury like never before, being pulled into its orbit by the planet's gravity. Before 2025, the planet will witness five more similar encounters before entering Mercury's orbit to get a closer look and understanding of the planet. Are you as excited as us to see what BepiColombo reveals about the elusive planet in our solar system? Let us know what you expect the mission to reveal in the comments below. For the latest happenings in the world of science and technology, keep browsing Indiatimes.com. Poor Pluto can't seem to catch a break! Scientists have realised that the dwarf planet in our solar system is undergoing changes that are causing Pluto's atmosphere to disappear. Situated 4.8 billion kilometres away from Earth, the icy planet became observable to scientists when it crossed paths with a star in 2018. As it moved in front of the star, Pluto appeared backlit, offering scientists a glimpse into the planet's physical properties. The research, undertaken by a pool of scientists including many from the Southwest Research Institute (SWRI), claims that Pluto's icy atmosphere is slowly dying. They assessed Pluto using telescopes situated in the United States and Mexico. NASA What is happening to Pluto's atmosphere? Pluto's atmosphere, much like Earth is made of nitrogen and is supported by icy vapours on the dwarf's surface. Now, the ice is thickening. The thickening of ice is caused by the distance between our Sun and Pluto, which has steadily increased in the last two and a half decades. Also read: Scientists Find Strong Clues Of 'Ninth Planet' In Our Solar System, Not Pluto As Pluto becomes even more uninhabitable, the dwarf planet's atmosphere is refreezing and becoming part of its surface. With temperatures dipping constantly, Pluto will get ever cooler as its orbit around the Sun changes. Then, the dwarf will witness a sudden closeness to the Sun in some parts of its orbit. NASA When Pluto was closer to the Sun, it received more heat than it does now. But like all things in the universe, the heat is disappearing. Owing to this, the atmosphere will freeze and become one with Pluto's surface, effectively disappearing. A 2 minute observation of Pluto gave it away With readings from Pluto's 2018 brush with a bright star, the scientists were able to figure out the density of Pluto's atmosphere. They observed the dwarf for 2 minutes when Pluto came in front of the star. Also read: Sun-Like Stars Eat Their Earth-Like Planets Frequently, Say Scientists NASA In the absence of an atmosphere, Pluto will become even icier and desolate from conditions that may have birthed life. Essentially, the more cold it becomes, the lesser is the scope of potential life on Pluto. If Earth lost its atmosphere, all creatures and plants on the planet would die. Only a few microbes would survive. Tell us what you'd do in case the Earth's atmosphere suddenly died off. For the latest in the world of science and technology, keep reading Indiatimes.com. Citation SwRI scientists confirm decrease in Plutos atmospheric density. (2021, October 4). Southwest Research Institute. Raja Chari, an Indian-born astronaut, will be leading the SpaceX-NASA collaborative Crew-3 mission that is preparing to take four astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS) later this month. "NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 mission will carry NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer aboard a Crew Dragon spacecraft on a Falcon 9 rocket to the space station," the US space agency said in a statement. NASA The four-astronaut crew is expected to lift off to space on October 30 from Launch Complex 39A at NASA's Kennedy Space Center in Florida, the statement added. Chari will be the commander of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and the Crew-3 mission, responsible for all phases of flight, from launch to re-entry, NASA said. NASA Crew-3 is SpaceX's fifth crewed flight to space and the fourth to the International Space Station. Indian-American Chari will serve as the commander of the Crew Dragon spacecraft and the Crew-3 mission. He also will serve as an Expedition 66 flight engineer aboard the station. Born in Milwaukee, he became a NASA astronaut in 2017 and this will be his first spaceflight. Raja Chari is also a colonel in the US Air Force and has extensive experience as a test pilot with more than 2,500 hours of flight time. NASA The Crew-3 mission follows Inspiration4, an all-civilian crewed mission that lifted off on September 15 for an orbital journey aboard a SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft. Money can buy you 100 different things, but brain isn't one among that. A man in US' California has been arrested after reportedly trying to rob a bank less than 24 hours after his successful first raid at the same branch. The man was arrested on Tuesday in Fountain Valley, California, after he tried to rob the same Chase Bank two days in a row, New York Daily News reported. Representational Image/Google Maps Samuel Brown, 33, has pleaded not guilty to charges of second degree robbery. The accused took off with a large amount of cash after he slipped a stickup note to a teller at the Newhope Street Chase on Monday, Fountain Valley police said in a news release. But it seems the money apparently wasnt enough for Brown, who came back to the bank the next morning and tried to rob it again, cops said. Police arrived at around 11:15 a.m. and arrested him without incident, according to the release. Reuters Brown had an outstanding arrest warrant and a rap sheet that included previous robbery convictions in San Diego, police stated. He is being held on $170,000 bail in Orange County Jail and facing multiple robbery charges, the release said. In June, a man was arrested after holding up a Chase Bank just one day after he was released from custody in another bank heist. Chi Ngo was later charged with third-degree robbery, criminal possession of weapons, and possession of burglars tools. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form With this years award, Yale's Samit Shah is leading a team to demonstrate the effectiveness of validated, but not widely administered, procedures for the many women who have reduced blood flow to the heart without blocked arteries or cholesterol build-up often associated with heart disease. (Yale School of Medicine photo) Dr Wendy Suzuki didnt think she suffered from anxiety at least not much. Until she began working on her latest book, Anxiety Is Your Superpower. I learned Ive a lot more anxiety than Id like to admit. I discovered I like to hide it from myself and everybody else, she says on the phone from New York. While shes not nearly as shy as she used to be, she does have social anxiety. Im still a little uncomfortable in social situations not when Im talking about work, but when I have to be myself for friends, or potential friends. And I have money worries. Am I spending too much? OMG am I going to have enough? Family health is another anxiety. My father passed away with Alzheimers disease. My mom is getting more forgetful. Im a neuroscientist I know what happens in the brain! So its not just her personal anxieties that qualify her to write a book thats subtitled Using Anxiety to Think Better, Feel Better And Do Better. Suzuki is a professor of neural science and psychology in the Center for Neural Science at New York University and a celebrated international authority on neuroplasticity and mental health. The book is a timely arrival for World Mental Health Day, this Sunday. From a global pandemic to climate change theres no doubt the past 18 months have been stressful. Suzuki points out that, even pre-pandemic, 90% of people in the US had some degree of anxiety. Here, a paper published in the Irish Medical Journal reported that one in five of us had significantly increased psychological distress anxiety and depression due to combined effect of Covid-19 and restrictions. The words we use to describe how anxiety makes us feel keyed up, on edge, tightly wound tell their own story: anxiety is not a very pleasant emotion. We want to be rid of it. But Suzuki is not trying to kick anxiety out the door. Anxiety originally evolved to help us, she says. It warned us against danger. If you were a woman with a baby 2.5m years ago, the crack of a twig could be a predator. It caused instant anxiety, which immediately deployed the fight or flight response increasing heart rate, respiration and blood flow to muscles, and your ability to run. Without this fast-acting system, you could be eaten. Author Prof Wendy Suzuki. Picture: Matt Simpkins Photography Even today, anxiety still works to warn us external threats continue to exist. Living in New York, I regularly have to jump away from traffic that comes close, says Suzuki. The conflict, she says, comes with our modern society, whereby were locked into an endless cycle of stress, sleeplessness, and worry. Theres no reprieve the anxiety doesnt dissipate when the predator danger or traffic threat is gone. Theres lots to cause anxiety your taxes are due, theres another weird weather thing and youre worried about global warming. The anxieties come constantly, so theres no recovery from them. Yet, if we approach anxiety as something to avoid/get rid of/dampen down, we miss an opportunity to improve our lives, argues Suzuki, who believes anxiety is in fact a key component of our ability to live optimally. She says she has put herself on a mission to find the wisdom in anxiety. The book isnt for those who suffer clinical anxiety, which Suzuki says is a truly debilitating condition. It prevents you from working, from having normal human relationships. For this you need medical intervention. She wrote the book for those experiencing the lower ranges of anxiety. It offers tools to turn the volume down on anxiety, and to think about it in a different way as valuable and protective, an emotion that can help you with key situations in your life. This is a big mind-shift. But first we need to get comfortable with anxiety, to sit with it. By simply sitting with the discomfort, you do two things. You get accustomed to the feeling and realise you can survive it. And you give yourself time and space in your brain to make a more conscious decision about how to act or respond. And, says Suzuki, when we more consciously decide how were going to respond, were using our anxiety as a tool to supercharge our brain. This is exactly how a new, more positive neural pathway is established. So how does Suzuki suggest we make anxiety work for us? Its a three-step journey: Step one: Learn how to turn the volume down on anxiety. Acknowledge youre never going to get rid of it. But you dont want it too high. One way to dial down the jitters is by consciously breathing deeply for long durations. This activates the part of the nervous system that deals with stress, decreasing heart rate, respiration and diverting blood away from the muscles and to our digestive systems. Breathing is one of the oldest forms of meditation and everybody can do it. Moving your body is another way to turn the volume down. The effects of physical activity on the brain have been studied for years in our labs in NYU. It stimulates the release of a wide range of brain neurochemicals including dopamine and serotonin. Physical activity gives your body a lovely bubble bath of neurochemicals. (Suzukis TED Talk, The Brain-changing Benefits of Exercise, has reached over three million views: exa.mn/Brain-Gym) Step two: Once anxiety stops being so draining in your everyday life, turn inwards and try to understand why youve got this uncomfortable feeling. What is underlying it? What does it tell you about your value system? The sources of our anxiety are great pointers toward what we value in life. Perhaps that worry about money is a reminder of how much we value financial stability or the concern about privacy is a reminder we need sufficient alone time. Step three: Understand the gifts of anxiety and what these can be for you. Suzuki devotes separate chapters to each of anxietys six superpowers: Resilience, Flow, Activist Mindset, Productivity, Compassion and Creativity. She credits her own anxiety with giving her two of her favourite superpowers: productivity and empathy/compassion. A lawyer she interviewed confided she was very highly paid because of her anxiety. This struck a chord with Suzuki. For this lawyer, anxiety came in the form of a what if list what if the other side has this argument. I had this too what if I havent done that piece of work well enough. The lawyer told her that she turned her what if list into a to do list she moved into action instead of staying in worry and uncertainty. Suzuki started doing this more explicitly acting on her concerns. And because anxiety evolved to make us take action, by taking mental action I decreased my anxiety and increased my productivity. Suzuki says her social anxiety gifted her empathy. Ive had years of anxiety in the classroom, being a shy, awkward wallflower of a student for years, who wanted to ask questions in class, but didnt out of fear of being wrong. Now a university professor, Suzuki realised she was unconsciously reaching out to students like she had been. Id come to lectures early and leave late. I wanted to make sure students who were too scared to ask questions in class had an opportunity to do so. Suzuki says she now has a deep and much more open relationship with anxiety. Her goal is not just to get rid of it, but to learn from it. Its a friend, not a warm and woolly one a prickly friend, an informational one. *Anxiety Is Your Superpower, Wendy Suzuki, 21. *St Patricks Mental Health Services has launched an interactive online programme of wellbeing events, workshops and curated content, shared over the course of four weeks, to encourage everyone to make their mental health a priority and focus on their wellbeing. The programme runs until October 24. Visit https://www.walkinmyshoes.ie/campaigns/wimslive. Flip anxiety from a negative to a positive force in your life Suzuki says we can actively choose to use anxiety as a catalyst for change, to reframe it from being a problem to being a lesson. Doing this means developing an activist mindset. She points to research from Stanford psychologist Carol Dweck, who demonstrated that it is possible to develop this kind of growth mindset. It is a four-step process: Screenwriter and author Stefanie Preissner has revealed that she was diagnosed with autism earlier this year. In an interview, the 34 year-old creator of the RTE series Cant Cope, Wont Cope explained that the diagnosis was part relief and part a big fear." I always felt that I was a little bit something, like a little bit too sensitive, a bit too controlling, a little bit too anxious. Always just a little bit too off, she told Newstalk. Ms Preissner said that from the time since she was a teenager, she had always struggled to accept change. I wondered a lot as a kid particularly like as I started to diverge - with girls we were all fine in primary school and then in secondary school girls started to change and wear makeup and listen to different music and I was like, what? Hang on we all decided that we like the Spice Girls and that we were going to hang out at my house on Friday night why do you want to go to that park and sit in a bush and whats happening and how long are we going to be there and whos going to pick us up. Why am I different why can I not relate to the impulses of other people, she said. 'Autism didn't look like me' Following the publication of her first book Why Cant Everything Just Stay the Same in 2017, a doctor who had read the work suggested she be assessed for autism spectrum disorder (ASD). I kind of laughed it off and was like I have a cousin and an uncle with autism and theyre both non-speaking, she said. "I never thought of that because my version of autism - and this is a huge barrier to diagnosis - my version of autism was based on Rain Man genius savant men who are unemotional and cant make eye contact or a seven-year-old boy who rocks back and forth and cant respond to his mother." I could have done research but the mass media was feeding me this is what autism is and it didnt look like me. Then, during the pandemic, the author said she became fixated with and stressed by data around the spread of Covid-19. I was on social media a lot during helping other people to process what was happening and I noticed that while a lot of people were struggling with their mental health, what was happening to me was slightly different. I just became fixated on the data. I could have told you how many cases there were in any country on a given day, how many cases there were developing in Ireland and then as the Government were coming out with new rules, she said. "I wasnt worried about catching Covid, I was very worried about people not sticking to the rules. When she mentioned her anxiety to her therapist, he suggested she be assessed for ASD. After a lengthy process, she then received the positive diagnosis. It was a shock but it wasnt at all a surprise and thats been my experience of sharing the news with other people who know me, she said. Since the diagnosis, Ms Preissner said she has something of a better understanding of herself. "Id be on The Late Late Show for something and the next day, I wouldnt be able to talk," she said. However, she now realises this wasn't a typical type of exhaustion. "I can get up, I can walk around, I can go for lunch. But I cant speak. I can speak in monosyllables, but to try and form a sentence is too much and now I know that thats called shut down - its very, very normal and typical for autistic people. Im absolutely the same person I always was, I have always been autistic. I just wish I had known that autism can look like me. Tractors have paraded through Cork City as part of a rally calling on the Government not to impose cuts on farmers. A procession of tractors drove through Cork City on Friday evening, the last of four rallies that began this morning in Cavan, with two more in Roscommon and Portlaoise. Speaking prior to the event, Irish Farmers Association (IFA) President Tim Cullinan said the Government would be making a massive strategic mistake if farmers are forced to cut production in this country. The protest was to ensure that the Government would safeguard the viability of farmers. Whether its the shape of the next CAP, carbon budgeting or sectoral emissions ceilings, its time Fianna Fail and Fine Gael stood up to the Greens. Their ideological opposition to the grass-based farming we have in this country must be challenged, Mr Cullinan said. And here come the tractors. pic.twitter.com/Z15qbnCtGk Des (@despod) October 8, 2021 He said that farmers have been unfairly targeted in the climate debate and that there is little or no consideration given to the role farmers play in climate action, and in sequestering carbon in particular. Now they tell us that when they are able to count the carbon farmers are removing from the atmosphere, the State is planning to steal those carbon credits, he said. Those who want to regulate farmers out of business refuse to acknowledge that there will be carbon leakage from reducing production in Ireland. The global population is due to increase from 7.5bn to 10bn by 2050. If food is not produced in Ireland, it will have to be produced in other countries with a higher carbon footprint. The IFA President said economic and social considerations have to come into play when deciding on the future of the economy. He added that the farming and food sector is the cornerstone of the rural economy and serves as an important counterpoint to development in cities and urban areas. Another Australian cloud provider, this time the secure cloud specialist Sliced Tech, has passed into foreign hands with its sale to UK-headquartered private consultancy services giant Deloitte for an unspecified sum. The acquisition was finalised on Thursday, the same day that Sliced Tech was announced as one of four companies the others being two Australian firms and one American company to achieve Strategic Hosting Provider certification under the Federal Government's Hosting Certification Framework. This is the second Australian cloud company that Deloitte has bought, with the professional services behemoth having acquired Soda Strategic and its 30 employees in April this year. Sliced Tech was set up in 2011 by Jason McClure, the chief executive at the time of the sale, who will now become a Deloitte Consulting partner. The firm has 40 employees and is mostly based in Canberra, but has a presence in Sydney and Melbourne. In, Deloitte Australia chief executive Adam Powick said: Were very pleased and excited to welcome Jason and the Sliced Tech team to Deloitte. "This is a very important transaction as it strengthens our ability to provide secure end-to-end cloud solutions for our clients and reinforces our deep commitment to Canberra and supporting the needs of the Federal Government. Were committed to being the leading data security and cloud solutions service provider in the Australian market and the addition of the Sliced Tech team is very aligned with this goal. McClure said: This is an incredible opportunity for us to grow the reach of our specialist, high security cloud managed services. Deloitte is a leader in cloud services more generally. We will continue to offer the specialist services behind our market leadership, and we are excited that our offerings will also add to the firms market presence more broadly. Its exciting for our business and for our people, and their professional development and the career opportunities available within a leading professional services firm. This Week in Review A weekly review of the best and most popular stories published in the Imperial Valley Press. Also, featured upcoming events, new movies at local theaters, the week in photos and much more. After winning two major awards at the Fantasia International Film Festival in August, Yoo Ah In and director Hong Eui Jung achieved another milestone for the movie Voice of Silence. Read on for all the details. Yoo Ah In and 'Voice of Silence' Director Hong Eui Jung Achieve Two Major Awards at AFA and BFA A-List actor Yoo Ah In, at the recent 30th Buil Film Awards (BFA) on October 7 in Busan, was hailed as the Best Actor, while Hong Eui Jung as Best New Director for the Korean movie Voice of Silence. The following day, October 8, Yoo Ah In won the same award at the 15th Asian Film Awards (AFA), also held in Busan. In addition, director Hong Eui Jung also took home the Best New Director Award. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: Han So Hee Fights Against Thugs in 'My Name' Teaser During the ceremony Yoo Ah In shared that through the movie Voice of Silence, he was given the opportunity as an actor to think of the importance of saying lines and the meaning of sound. Yoo Ah In thanked Director Hong Eui Jung for trusting him to lead the movie. The Best Actor recipient concluded that he was grateful to live as an actor. Congratulations, Yoo Ah In and Director Hong Eui Jung! In August, Yoo Ah In also won the Best Actor Award at the Fantasia International Film Festival in North America, while Voice of Silence recived the Best Picture Award. YOU MIGHT ALSO LIKE: 'Voice of Silence' and Yoo Ah In Won the Best Picture and Best Actor Award at the Fantasia International Film Festival The annual Asian Film Awards was made possible with the help of Asian Film Awards Academy team who organized the event. The awarding ceremony was founded with the collaboration of Tokyo, Hong Kong, and Busan film festivals. What's Next for Yoo Ah In? Meanwhile, Yoo Ah In will star in two movies High Five and Seoul Vibe. The award-winning actor is also expected to have his small screen comeback with Hellbound, set to be released on Netflix in November 19. What are your thoughts about Yoo Ah In's back to back achievements? Let us know in the comments! For more K-Drama, K-Movie, and celebrity news and updates, keep your tabs open here at Kdramastars. Kdramastars owns this article. Shai Collins wrote this. SAN FRANCISCO (AP) California high school students will have to take a course in ethnic studies to get a diploma starting in the 2029-30 school year. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed a bill Friday that makes California among the first in the nation to list ethnic studies as a graduation requirement for all public high school students. Assemblyman Jose Medina authored the legislation and says schools are ready to offer courses that are more reflective of social justice. The new law requires all public schools in the state to offer at least one ethnic studies course starting in the 2025-26 school year. Students graduating in 2029-30 will have to complete a one-semester course. PORTLAND, Ore. (AP) A judge has rejected a request by 33 Oregon State Police troopers to temporarily halt a mandate that requires them to get fully vaccinated against COVID-19 by Oct. 18. Vaccine Watch: Local OSP Officer and firefighter union are suing Gov. Brown over vaccine mandate The Oregonian/OregonLive reported that retired Oregon Supreme Court Justice Jack Landau said in a written opinion Thursday that based on case law the police power of the state includes the authority to enact public health laws that may have the effect of curtailing individual rights. Landau went on to say that Gov. Kate Brown is acting within her legislatively granted authority in issuing the vaccine mandate. "This is all part of a long and well-established tradition in our constitutional system that individual rights are not absolute and may, in appropriate circumstances, yield to overriding considerations of public interest in particular, public health," Landau wrote. "Public health laws date back at least to the time of early American colonial settlements." As members of Oregon's executive branch, the state police were among the first to come under Governor Brown's vaccine requirements when she introduced them in August. The October 18 deadline came after the Pfizer vaccine received full FDA approval. In early September, an OSP trooper named Zachary Kowing was placed on administrative leave after he posted a video on Instagram vowing to defy the state's mask and vaccine mandates, calling them "unlawful orders." FILE - In this June 7, 2017 file photo, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) headquarters is pictured in Paris, France. Nearly 140 countries have agreed on a tentative deal that would make sweeping changes to how big, multinational companies are taxed in order to deter them from stashing their profits in offshore tax havens where they pay little or no tax. The agreement announced Friday foresees countries enacting a global minimum corporate tax of 15% on the biggest, internationally active companies. (AP Photo/Francois Mori, File) Charles Qirngnirq is seen in an undated family handout photo. A jury in a coroner's inquest is to start deliberations Friday in the shooting death of Qirngnirq by an RCMP officer in Gjoa Haven, Nunavut, in 2016. THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO Chad Ohman, seen on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021, holds one of the gift cards he has been giving to ICU doctors in Edmonton. Ohman has been distributing the cards since September and he plans on doing more for Thanksgiving. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Jason Franson 90 Shares Share When medical historians write about the coronavirus pandemic, theyll likely focus on the slow U.S. response and failures of leadership that led to a tragically high death toll. But that will be only part of the story. From the wreckage and devastation will emerge something few contemporary observers would expect: a brighter future for American health care. Five technologies, all previously underappreciated and underutilized, will help our nation move past the coronavirus crisis into a new, golden era of medicine. Like the seedlings of the eucalyptus tree, which sprout only after a forest fire, these technological solutions will blossom in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic turning U.S. health cares outdated and broken system into one that is more convenient, effective and affordable. 1. Telemedicine Until the 1920s, the overwhelming majority of doctor-patient meetings took place in the home. But as medicine became too sophisticated and complicated for house calls, doctors offices began sprouting up in cities and towns across the country. Soon, little brown buildings, filled with doctors, all practicing independently of one another, became the epicenter of care delivery. This fragmented approach to health care has stood in place, largely unchallenged and unquestioned, for nearly a century. Telemedicine (virtual care) has been around for decades. Yet, until physicians faced a viral pandemic that forced them to close their offices, less than 1% of doctor-patient meetings took place virtually. As the pandemic spiked in summer 2020, that number ballooned to 69% and turned companies like Docs on Demand and Teledoc into major players in American health care. As the deadly virus spread, video allowed physicians to deliver effective health care without the risk of being in the same room (and potentially infecting) patients. This experience opened the eyes of doctors and patients alike, helping them recognize that telemedicine is more convenient, more affordable and more capable of high-quality outcomes than a single physician seeing patients in an office. Video-based telehealth allows physicians in one location to provide medical care to patients at a distance. It thereby grants people access to care 24/7, without delay and without overwhelming individual doctors. As a result, patients dont unnecessarily wind up at the emergency department, waiting hours for routine care that costs multiples more than it should. And with the ability to call on specialists across the country, virtual care can connect patients with the most knowledgeable physician, not just the nearest one. After the pandemic is over, telemedicine will continue to serve as an essential part of a value-based system of health care a major improvement upon the fragmented, fee-for-service approach of today. 2. Drug development No industry felt a greater sense of urgency during the coronavirus pandemic than drugmakers. As a result of kickstart efforts like Operation Warp Speed, vaccine-development technologies accelerated at an unprecedented pace. In the past, the traditional biologic approaches for creating vaccines required at least five years of development and testing prior to receiving FDA approval. Pfizer and Modernas COVID-19 vaccines were created in a matter of weeks, after researchers in China published the exact genetic code for the virus. Scientists quickly figured out a shortcut of sorts, using a lab-created messenger RNA to deliver a unique set of instructions to the human body. Those instructions led to the production and replication of specific virus-associated proteins similar to the way a computer virus instructs an operating system to make copies of itself. In response to these foreign proteins, the patients immune system creates antibodies, which lead to immunity. Though Moderna had been working on mRNA drugs for a decade, it hadnt produced an approved or effective product until now. Having achieved success, it wont take 11 months for leading drug developers to produce and manufacture the next life-saving vaccine. As it happens, we may not even have to wait for the next pandemic to apply this technology. Recently, epidemiologists identified a major mutation in the coronavirus, one that could have a sizable impact on both the effectiveness of current COVID-19 vaccines and the number of people who will need to be immunized to achieve herd immunity. Should this mutant strain be even partially resistant to current vaccines, drug makers like Moderna expect to be able to alter the composition of the vaccine and modify the injected mRNA, accordingly. Based on its previous approval, the FDA could grant emergency use authorization sooner, saving thousands of lives in the process. 3. Data analytics The coronavirus shined a bright and uncomplimentary light on chronic disease in the United States. According to mortality reports, of people whove died from COVID-19 had a chronic disease and 88% had two or more. Health experts have long understood the consequences of chronic diseases like diabetes and heart disease. In the United States, they account for 7 in 10 deaths and nearly 75% of aggregate health care spending. And yet, prior to the pandemic, these types of illnesses were seen as something Americans just had to live with, like gravity or traffic. That misperception is started to change as a result of the current pandemic. The United States is on pace to reach its grimmest milestone yet 500,000 COVID-19 deaths by this summer. The mounting death toll is helping Americans see chronic illnesses not as a common nuisance, but rather as a coconspirator, as guilty of death and destruction as the virus itself. Fortunately, technology provides a solution. To explain, consider the threat of hypertension, the No. 1 cause of stroke and kidney failure. Doctors are capable of helping 90% or more of patients control the problem and reduce the chances of life-threatening complications. In fact, the nations leading medical groups are 35% more effective than the national average at helping patients control this deadly disease. How do they do it? Technology and science play key roles. Most physicians, particularly specialists, focus on treating the strokes, kidney failures and heart attacks that result from high blood pressure (through surgery or expensive drug-treatment programs). But the most effective approaches involve prevention and optimal disease management, both of which are facilitated by comprehensive electronic health records (EHRs) and powered by evidence-based treatment algorithms. In these settings, EHR data is rigorously analyzed, giving doctors clear and effective guidelines for treating patients with chronic conditions. In the past, pandemic planning and preparedness focused primarily on how to treat the virus itself. In the future, should another pandemic threaten the health of millions, data analytics will allow more doctors to maximize the health of patients with chronic illnesses, thereby reducing mortality before a vaccine is available. 4. Patient decision tools In 2020, our nation applied a one-size-fits-all approach to managing the coronavirus. As a result, we over restricted some groups, like elementary school children, and under-protected others, particularly people in nursing homes. The consequences were lethal. This kind of assumptive error happens in health care settings, too, where doctors fail to personalize their clinical approaches and treatments for patients. As a result, they overtreat some and undertreat others. Whether patients have high blood pressure or atrial fibrillation, their physicians are likely to see all of them on a routine basis, usually every three or four months. That model makes no sense. What patients with a chronic disease need to know is whether they should continue taking the same medications at the same doses or alter them. If nothing needs to change, they may not need to see their doctors more than once a year. In contrast, if something is askew, they should be seen in a matter of days, not months. Technology offers a better and more precise approach. Todays health-monitoring devices can reliably measure blood pressure, heart rate, blood oxygen, blood sugar and other physiological signs. But without interpreting the data for the wearer (and without dispensing medical advice), the information is of little value. The next generation of home-monitoring apps will solve this problem by comparing the patients data with the most up-to-date treatment recommendations, thus informing patients whether everything is fine (and theres no need to see a doctor) or whether their problem needs immediate medical attention. Why doesnt this already exist today? Its not that Silicon Valleys largest companies lack the technology or know-how to manufacture such a device. They simply dont want to accept the medical liability should a deadly error occur. In the future, the opportunity to drive quality up and costs down will be too great for companies to resist. What remains is to be seen is who will have the courage to be the first. 5. Artificial intelligence Like the other technologies, artificial intelligence (AI) has been talked about for years as a game-changer in medicine. And yet, AI has not improved American health care so far. It wont stay this way for much longer. The COVID-19 crisis highlighted a problem for which AI offers a unique and powerful solution. There is a false perception among doctors that they treat all patients the same. The pandemic has proven otherwise. Throughout 2020, Black patients chances of dying were three times higher than that of white patients. Part of the problem began in the diagnosis stage. When two patients came to the emergency room with symptoms equally likely to be COVID-19, the white patient was tested far more often than the Black patient, according to national studies. Biased treatment is not a new phenomenon in medicine. For decades, studies have shown that white physicians regularly undertreat Black patients for pain, prescribing less medication than they do for their white patients. Research has shown that part of systemic racism in health care results from implicit bias, a set of prejudices and stereotypes doctors carry around without even knowing theyre there. But even when theyre subconscious, biases have a direct affect on a persons thoughts, actions, and decisions. AI can help identify and address this problem by assessing each doctors patterns of diagnosis and treatment. When AI determines the care provided to any group is discriminatory, doctors can be alerted in real-time and, consequently, learn from their mistakes. With the shift in presidential and Congressional leadership, health care equity is likely to be high on the national agenda. In the era before COVID-19, technology was used as a tool to attract patients, generate income, and maximize billing opportunities. In the post-coronavirus world, the United States will be reeling from the economic consequences of the pandemic. Health care technology can and will provide cost-effective solutions that improve our nations overall quality of care. Robert Pearl is a plastic surgeon and author of Uncaring: How the Culture of Medicine Kills Doctors and Patients. He can be reached on Twitter @RobertPearlMD. This article originally appeared in Forbes. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Progressives have been lambasting the Senate's top Democrat, Chuck Schumer, all over my social media feeds this week for failing to stand up to the Senate minority leader, Mitch McConnell. Those criticisms peaked this week as McConnell seemed to be calling the shots on the debt-limit impasse. Even though Schumer maneuvered to get what he wanted -- the Senate extended the debt ceiling (till December) -- there was no letup from the left. While many progressive lawmakers have deep disdain for their moderate colleagues, Senators Joe Manchin and Kyrsten Sinema -- who have been blocking Democrats' ambitious social spending infrastructure package -- they are also furious at Schumer, holding him responsible for failing to keep his caucus in line. Why can't he keep the caucus together, they complain, without seeming to recognize the bind Schumer is in. With Manchin and Sinema, the issue is leverage. Schumer has absolutely none over Manchin, who thus has enormous power within his caucus and can decide the fate of much of President Joe Biden's agenda. Theoretically, the more Schumer pushes Manchin, the more he may force the worst outcome of all for the Democrats -- Manchin switching parties and the Republicans taking control of the Senate. That could well unleash senators like Ted Cruz, Josh Hawley and Tom Cotton with new oversight powers to help fuel their own presidential ambitions. Giving any of those men a gavel would be a nightmare for Biden. And it would be easy for Manchin to run as a Republican in West Virginia, which went for Trump by a whopping 38 percentage points. But that would mean losing his leverage and power. He gets nothing for switching parties and loses nothing by staying a Democrat. What really makes things impossible for Schumer is Manchin has never delivered a specific plan or list of every program he wants eliminated from the bill, creating the impression that it's power he's after rather than specific problems with elements of the bill. He has scant pet programs that need to be funded with the help of other Democrat committee chairs, nor political allies he is looking to promote into senior government jobs that need Schumer's help in getting confirmed. In fact, his very power rests on the fact that power is all he seems to want. What frustrates progressives is their belief that he doesn't care about the actual programs, but has instead positioned himself as focusing on the top-line number of the reconciliation bill -- $3.5 trillion -- which he says he will never agree to and which he would shave down to something closer to $1.5 trillion. "I'm just not, so you know, I cannot accept our economy or basically our society moving toward an entitlement mentality...OK?" he said last week. Rep. Alexandra Ocasio-Cortez said it best in a tweet on Thursday, "Ah yes, the Conservative Dem position: 'You can either feed your kid, recover from your c-section, or have childcare so you can go to work -- but not all three. All 3 makes you entitled and lazy." The "you pick your poison" philosophy seems to reveal Manchin's thirst to be the kingmaker, without a real sense of how policies should be developed or implemented. And that's what makes Schumer look weak and ineffective. On the surface, not being able to control your own caucus would seem to disqualify one from leading the caucus. The better question here is who could do a better job? Progressives like Elizabeth Warren? She's tough so could whip people into line. Not likely that's an effective Manchin strategy. Maybe a popular moderate like Mark Warner from Virginia? Same result -- no leverage with Manchin. The fact is Schumer is doing the best he can in an impossible situation. Manchin holds the high cards and is using them well. Schumer is playing his hand as well as he can. And for those who think this is an unprecedented situation, close watchers of the Senate understand that sometimes the most powerful people are those who are only interested in power. Bottom line -- let's lay off Schumer for a while. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Less than a year out of high school, I was given a book that would rock my world and propel me to question everything I ever learned about US history. It was Howard Zinn's "A People's History of the United States." On the very first page, Zinn recounted what Christopher Columbus wrote in his log about the Arawak people he encountered upon reaching the new world: "They ... brought us parrots and balls of cotton and spears and many other things, which they exchanged for the glass beads and hawk's bells. They willingly traded everything they owned ...They were well-built, with good bodies and handsome features ...They do not bear arms, and do not know them, for I showed them a sword, they took it by the edge and cut themselves out of ignorance. They have no iron. Their spears are made of cane ...They would make fine servants ...With fifty men we could subjugate all of them, and make them do whatever we want." Up until that moment, Columbus Day, the second Monday in October, was in my mind always reserved for parades or barbecues -- a day to celebrate America's origins. After reading Zinn's book, the holiday became something else: a reminder of the conquest, displacement and even the genocidal origins of our nation. This knowledge would compel me to want to know more about -- and to even advocate for -- our native brothers and sisters who were violently driven off the land that we call home. Not long after reading Zinn's book, I learned about another dark episode in American history that pertained to people who look like me -- something that took place during World War II. After the Japanese government bombed Pearl Harbor in 1941, President Franklin Delano Roosevelt issued Executive Order 9066 that forcibly removed Americans of Japanese descent from their homes and into prison camps. That order imprisoned 120,000 people, including 17,000 children, for years. Across the country, fear spread that anyone who was even 1/16th Japanese could commit espionage against the United States government. I don't have the words to describe how it made me feel as I read about this period of American history. As a young Asian American growing up in Carmichael, California -- a less diverse suburb of Sacramento -- I was conflicted about my identity: I never felt totally American because I didn't look like most in my community, nor did I know anything about being Chinese because I wasn't from China. There was nothing in my history books about the contributions of Asians Americans or the discrimination and violence directed at Asians dating back over 100 years. There was just nothing. When there is no reference to one's inclusion, it can become easy to overlook and even dehumanize an entire population. One of the reasons why Asians have been so easy to scapegoat in the wake of the Covid pandemic, is because it is a community that some may not recognize as belonging here. In June of 2020, I opened social media and I saw people posting about Juneteenth. Though I had heard the word before, I didn't realize what a significant moment in American history it was: the official end of slavery. I was ashamed to have not known about it, but I don't recall it ever being included in my history books either. Author of the epic bestselling book, "Caste: The Origins of Our Discontents," Isabel Wilkerson recently posted to her social media something that gave me immense pause: "It will not be until the year 2111 that African Americans will have been free as long as they have been enslaved. No adult alive today will see the day when African Americans will have reached parity between freedom and bondage." That was the catalyst for wanting to dedicate this season of my show "This Is Life" to exploring events in American history that didn't make it into many history books but still impact our country today. The inner drive I felt to revisit these histories is one reason why, to me, the current opposition to teaching what many call "Critical Race Theory" is confounding. The term, which actually applies to a set of academic principles born in legal theory, has come to mean for some the teaching of all race-related issues in school. When immigration and race have played such significant roles in the evolution of our nation, what happens when we are afraid to address past errors around these issues head on? My high school US history classroom experience was pretty limited. Upon getting seated in class, I would listen as my teacher would assign a couple of chapters of a dryly written history textbook. We were instructed to answer the questions at the end of each one. Much of what I read highlighted the country's pioneers, the victors, the politicians, the heads of industry and inventors. It wasn't that these historical figures didn't deserve to occupy space in my textbooks. In fact, as I write this, I am sitting on an airplane flying from the West Coast to the East Coast and marveling at the ingenuity of my means of transport. But it never occurred to me as a school-aged girl that there might be other sides to the stories I learned in my history class -- the stories of the enslaved, the immigrants, the imprisoned, and the exploited. As Americans, we must continue to ask ourselves: In our quest to democratize this nation and even dominate the world, whose sacrifices may have been overlooked? How can we ensure their stories are never left behind? When we leave out large swathes of stories of the diverse peoples who call our country home, we effectively erase their contributions and their struggles -- and it becomes a lot easier to continually repeat the same mistakes. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. WASHINGTON A panel of vaccine experts will meet in early November to consider whether to recommend the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine for children younger than 12. The Advisory Committee of Immunization Practices scheduled a two-day meeting for Nov. 2-3, health officials said Friday. The Pfizer topic is expected to take up part of the agenda. The experts are anticipating the U.S. Food and Drug Administration will have decided by then whether to authorize use of the Pfizer vaccine for children between ages 5 to 11. The committees job is to help the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention develop recommendations for doctors and the public about which vaccines should be used and how they should given. Currently, Pfizer vaccines are authorized only for people 12 and older. Parents tired of worrying about classroom outbreaks and sick of telling their elementary school-age children no to sleepovers and family gatherings felt a wave of relief Thursday when Pfizer asked the U.S. government to authorize its COVID-19 vaccine for youngsters ages 5 to 11. Expanding vaccine availability to roughly 28 million more U.S. children is seen as another milestone in the fight against the virus and comes amid an alarming rise in serious infections in youngsters because of the extra-contagious delta variant. It would also push the U.S. vaccination drive further ahead of much of the rest of the world at a time when many poor countries are desperately short of vaccine. While kids are at lower risk of severe illness or death than older people, COVID-19 does sometimes kill children at least 520 so far in the U.S., according to the American Academy of Pediatrics. Pfizer and its German partner BioNTech said their research shows younger children should get one-third of the dose now given to everyone else. After their second dose, the 5- to 11-year-olds developed virus-fighting antibody levels just as strong as those that teens and young adults get from regular-strength shots. On Oct. 26, an independent expert panel that advises the FDA will publicly debate the evidence. If the FDA authorizes emergency use of the kid-size doses, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will make a final decision, after hearing from its outside advisers. To avoid mix-ups, Pfizer is planning to ship the lower-dose vials specially marked for use in children. Hotel and guesthouse across the country have experienced an estimated 5.3 billion collapse in revenues across 2020 and 2021, according to the Irish Hotels Federation (IHF). With occupancy figures nationally expected to reach just 32% for the year, compared to 73% for 2019, hoteliers in Carlow and Kilkenny are calling on the Government to retain existing business and employment supports, saying they are vital for the recovery of the sector and the wider tourism industry. Specifically, hotel and guesthouse owners are seeking the extension of the EWSS employment supports at current levels, to help businesses retain and develop their teams over the coming months along with the extension of the local authority rates waiver until June 2022, when the summer season begins. A failure to act decisively now would have major economic implications given the reliance of many parts of the country on tourism for prosperity and employment, including in Carlow and Kilkenny, says Colm Neville, Chair of the IHFs South East branch. The IHF is also calling for the 9% tourism VAT rate to be retained until after 2025. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider subscribing to our ePaper and/or free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. There's little doubt now -- study after study, in real life and in lab dishes, in the US and elsewhere -- that people's immunity starts to wane just months after they finish the two-dose series of Pfizer Covid-19 vaccine. While getting two doses of vaccine creates a strong immune response that reduces the risk of severe disease by more than 90%, the protection against milder and asymptomatic infections drops off gradually. That's why Pfizer has asked for and received US Food and Drug Administration authorization to add boosters for many people who are six months out from vaccination. But should others be seeking boosters, too? How much should people be worrying? "I think that we expect that immunity will slowly wane, over time, but it's not a reason for people to panic," said Dr. Ann Falsey, a specialist in viral respiratory diseases at the University of Rochester School of Medicine. "It's not like suddenly one day you're completely susceptible, like you were before you were vaccinated," added Falsey, who is helping lead clinical trials of Covid-19 vaccines. "The vaccines are all standing up pretty well -- Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson -- for severe disease," Falsey told CNN. "Now, that's not to say that we might not eventually get to a point where we really need people to get boosters to prevent more severe illness. But, really, the majority of the breakthrough infections are colds, maybe flu-like illness -- not the scary illnesses that we were facing before," she added. "So my main message is, don't panic. You're going to be okay." That hasn't stopped Americans from flocking to get boosters. This past week more people were getting booster shots than were getting their first round of a coronavirus vaccine. By Friday, more than 7 million Americans had received either booster shots or the third round of vaccines authorized for people with immunocompromising conditions who likely did not get adequate responses to the first two shots. This week, two more studies added to the growing evidence that immunity from Pfizer's vaccine drops off. One study from Israel covered 4,800 health care workers and showed antibody levels wane rapidly after two doses of vaccine, "especially among men, among persons 65 years of age or older, and among persons with immunosuppression." A second study from Qatar showed protection from the Pfizer vaccine peaked in the first month after vaccination and then began to wane. "These findings suggest that a large proportion of the vaccinated population could lose its protection against infection in the coming months, perhaps increasing the potential for new epidemic waves," the team wrote in a report published in the New England Journal of Medicine. How can protection wane against mild or asymptomatic infection while staying strong against severe disease? It's because the human immune system is complex. Antibodies form the first line of defense, stopping a virus from getting into some cells in the body. This is the protection that starts to wear off after time. But there's a second line of defense -- cell-based immunity. Cells called B cells and T cells can take longer to generate than antibodies, but they provide a longer-lived, broader defense against infection and are responsible for decreases in severe infections. So while people may be susceptible to mild illness after they've been vaccinated, they're much less likely to get really sick, end up in the hospital or die. "But there's a lot of reasons people don't want to get sick. They don't want to pass it to loved ones. People don't want to pass it to young children that can't get vaccinated yet," Falsey said. The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has been saying for months that's why even fully vaccinated people need to continue taking precautions against infection -- wearing masks when around a lot of other people who may or may not be vaccinated, especially indoors, and making sure rooms are well ventilated. The FDA is considering applications later this month from both Moderna and Johnson & Johnson to authorize booster doses of their vaccines. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has said he thinks a third dose of vaccine will become part of the standard regimen for Covid-19. "They just don't need to storm the pharmacies and panic." The people getting boosters now should have been among the first to have been vaccinated -- in January, February and March. They include people 65 and older, adults with conditions putting them at risk of severe disease and people in occupations or living conditions that put them at higher than average risk of infection. Everyone else should cool it for now. "They just don't need to storm the pharmacies and panic," Falsey said. People should not go ahead and get booster doses if it hasn't been six months since their last dose of Pfizer vaccine, because they will not get the best immune response, Fauci said in a White House briefing last month. "There will be temptations, for example, for people who recently got vaccinated to not wait for the six month period of time," Fauci said. But waiting for several months after the initial immunization to boost helps produce a stronger response. Immune system cells that help restore waning immunity respond more robustly if they are allowed to go into a resting state after the first round of vaccination. That said, most people should eventually plan on getting boosters, Falsey said. "Probably it's going to be true of any of the vaccines, not just Pfizer -- we'll benefit from boosting immunity. That's not the same thing as saying it's critically necessary," she said. While people who have recovered from an infection have some protection, they're even more protected if they get vaccinated, too. "I think that, depending on your own natural immunity because you feel like you're a strong person is like playing Russian roulette," Falsey said. Even young, seemingly healthy people have become seriously ill from Covid-19 and have died from it. "I would never depend only on my natural immunity to weather this virus. It's a very, very bad actor," Falsey said. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. CHARLES CITY, Iowa - For nearly 50 years, the Milwaukee Road Depot was the front door to Charles City. Robert Moen knows of the sons, brothers and fathers who headed off to war from this very depot. "There's a lot of emotional stories of people putting their older brother on the train. one guy talked about putting his older brother on the train, and he turned to walk back to the car and the father was crying cuz he wasn't sure he'd ever see his son again. this building has a lot of meaning to people, especially when they went away to war situations." Since the last train left the station in 1960, it has sat vacant, and the Canadian Pacific railroad was slated to have the depot demolished for safety reasons. Thanks to the work of generous donors, the depot is not only being saved, but is being moved to a new location and given new life. For Moen, who is the president of the organization who's goal is to save and preserve the depot, the move is the culmination of about three years of fundraising. "It all added up, and now we have the money to do this. And we're doing it!" So how do you move a 304 ton building? First, the concrete was cut from the depot's foundation, and dirt was dug underneath. Next, the depot was placed on I-beams which are rested on dollies. The move officially started Wednesday, moving inch by inch, and was a cautious process due to the possibility of tunnels that could collapse under the weight of the depot and equipment, and having to cross to railroad tracks. A new foundation was also dug up, and by Monday, the depot is slated to be rested on its new home. Moen says the generosity and hard work serve as a testament that people care about history. "To come up with this kind of money is very significant and rather surprising. It does show that the community really cared, and there were some key people in town that really cared about this and wanted to make it happen." The cost of the move was roughly $350,000. But the work is not over yet; the group is aiming to raise money for phase 2, which will be the restoration of the interior of the depot, as it's slated to be a part of the American Passenger Train History Museum. If you would like to donate, click here. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Lots of sunshine. High 44F. Winds WNW at 10 to 15 mph.. Tonight Clear to partly cloudy. Low 26F with temps rising to near freezing. Winds SSE at 10 to 15 mph. The Ministry of Justice has granted refugee status to an Angolan family with a Congolese background, citing the likelihood of persecution should they return home, officials said Saturday. The Refugee Council approved the application from Nkuka Lulendo and his family, who were in the media spotlight in 2019 for being stuck at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, for nine months after they were denied a chance to file for refugee status. "The possibility of them being persecuted by the government of their home country has become quite substantial due to media reports during their stay in Korea," the council was quoted as saying. Lulendo, his wife and four children arrived at the Incheon airport in December 2018 on a tourist visa. They asked for a chance to seek asylum, citing persecution against people with Congolese origins in Angola. The immigration office at the airport refused the request and denied them entry on the grounds that they had no clear reason to seek refugee status other than economic motives. After the decision, the family stayed at the airport's transit zone for nine months before an appellate court reversed a lower court ruling in September 2019 and allowed them to apply for refugee status. (Yonhap) Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Overcast. A few flurries or snow showers possible. High 39F. Winds W at 15 to 25 mph.. Tonight Cloudy. A few flurries or snow showers possible. Low 28F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Joe Mullins and the Radio Ramblers will be present Thursday, Oct. 21 at Founders Hall at Sauder Village to teach about the bluegrass movement and celebrate the music genres rich history and connections to Ohio. Patna (India) [India], October 9 (ANI): Former Civil Aviation Minister in the Atal Bihari Vajpayee government, Sharad Yadav on Saturday said that he hoped that the acquisition of Air India by the Tata Group would help revive the fortunes of the airline. Speaking to ANI, Yadav said that Air India could not be revived despite the government's efforts, however, the Tata company is capable of running everything and hoped that Air India's condition would improve. Also Read | Is Your Love Life Costing You Six Figures?. Talking about his interaction with Ratan Tata during his term in the office, the former union minister said that he had insisted that Tata buy the airline, but that did not happen "He had met me and I had told him to buy the airline but that did not happen. But I am happy that it has happened now. I welcome the move, Now Maharaja will be revived," he told ANI. Also Read | Mumbai Police Summons CBI Director Subodh Kumar Jaiswal in Phone-Tapping, Data Leak Case. He further said that he is happy that Air India belonged to them and now again belongs to the Tata group. Tata Sons had won the bid for acquiring national carrier Air India for Rs 18,000 crore, the government said on Friday. The transaction will be completed by December 2021, informed Department of Investment and Public Asset Management secretary Tuhin Kanta Pandey. The bid was filed by Tata Sons wholly-owned subsidiary Talace Pvt Ltd. Tata Sons were up against Spicejet promoter Ajay Singh-led consortium who had bid Rs 15,100 crore. The total debt of Air India as of August 31 stands at Rs 61,562 crore. Air India's reserve price was fixed after the bids were called to ensure that the bidders do not get to know about the reserve price prior to their bidding. It ensured utmost confidentiality when it comes to the reserve price. The government will divest its 100 per cent stake in Air India, Air India Express and 50 per cent stake in ground handling company AISATS. (ANI) (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) Washington, Oct 7 (PTI) The ambitious India-US partnership in the area of climate change underscores the joint commitment of the two countries to take decisive action in this critical decade from 2020-2030, a top American official said on Thursday, stressing that cooperation in this sector is a central pillar for the bilateral relationship. During his recent trip to India last month, US Special Presidential Envoy on Climate Change John Kerry said that he along with his Indian counterpart Bhupendra Yadav launched the climate action and finance mobilisation dialogue through which the two countries will work to chart pathways to decarbonise energy intensive sectors of the economy. Also Read | Nobel Prize in Literature 2021 Winner: Tanzanias Abdulrazak Gurnah Gets Nobel For 'Uncompromising Penetration In Effects Of Colonialism'. It will also mobilise the billions of dollars necessary to transition to clean technologies and fuels, and to construct a resilient infrastructure that is needed for the extreme weather being experienced now. This critical dialogue is one of two lines of effort under the US-India Climate and Clean Energy Agenda 2030 partnership, which was announced by President (Joe) Biden and Prime Minister (Narendra) Modi in April. Also Read | US at Risk of a Severe Flu Season This Year, Says CDC. "Our partnership underscores our joint commitment to taking decisive climate action in this critical decade 2020 to 2030, Kerry said in his address to the virtual India Ideas Summit being held by USD India Business Council. The agenda shows how cooperation on climate and clean energy is a central pillar of the US-India relationship, he said, observing that private industry leaders have a really crucial role to play in realising these goals. There's an enormous opportunity to continue growing the clean energy market in India, and many companies have made enormous pledges to build renewable energy toward that 450-gigawatt goal, he said. Frankly, there has never been a better time to invest in the energy transition. Renewable energy is now cheaper than ever. In fact, it's cheaper to build a solar farm in India than anywhere else on the planet. Investors are flocking to clean energy on a global basis, he said. In India, Kerry said, he is pleased to see that investment in the clean energy transition is already rebounding after the worst of the pandemic, and it is now on track to surpass pre-pandemic levels. Clean energy, he said, represents an enormous economic opportunity. The International Energy Agency forecast that if India seizes the clean energy opportunity, it could become the world's largest market for batteries and solar battles, he noted. There's a major opportunity for the two countries to expand our bilateral investment and trade and clean energy products and services to both of our economic benefit, he said. Beyond just deploying renewable energy, the two countries, he said, will also need to develop, demonstrate and scale up emerging technologies that will be crucial for a NetZero transition. The International Energy Agency forecasts that roughly half of the emissions reductions needed for net zero by 2050 will need to come from emerging technologies not yet ready for commercial markets. So, US-India collaboration on exciting technologies such as clean hydrogen can advance affordable climate solutions for all sectors of the economy. That's why we're excited to have launched the US-India hydrogen task force, Kerry said. (This is an unedited and auto-generated story from Syndicated News feed, LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body) USAs top digital marketing platform for brand marketers, Web developers, Web designers, SEO experts, Content writers, PPC specialists, and first-rate SMM providers Los Angeles, CA: Search Marketing Experts came into being in the year 2007, founded in the southern city of California. SME is a well-known digital marketing platform in Los Angeles that offers comprehensive online marketing, website design, and brand optimization solutions. It provides exceptional solutions to your most complex digital problems. With over 15 years of experience, Search Marketing Experts has expanded its online platform with across-the-board services for your online business. SME now offers exclusive marketing services that are goal-oriented, result-driven, and well-planned. 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Exceptional online business services include SEO services, social media marketing (SMM), Content marketing, Email marketing, Online reputation management (ORM), Paid marketing (PPC, etc.), and web designing services. During his visit to Kyrgyzstan, EMA call on the President of Kyrgyz Republic & meet his Kyrgyz counterpart. From 11-12 Oct, EAM will be in Kazakhstan to attend 6th Ministerial meeting of the Conference of Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia in Nur-Sultan. ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2021 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) EAM will be visiting Armenia on 12-13 Oct. This will be the first ever-visit of an External Affairs Minister of India to independent Armenia. He will have meetings with his Armenian counterpart as well as call on the PM and President of the National Assembly of Armenia. ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2021 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) External Affairs Minister Dr. S. Jaishankar will visit Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Armenia from 10-13 October. (file photo) pic.twitter.com/97YoI9fHt7 ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2021 (SocialLY brings you all the latest breaking news, viral trends and information from social media world, including Twitter, Instagram and Youtube. The above post is embeded directly from the user's social media account and LatestLY Staff may not have modified or edited the content body. The views and facts appearing in the social media post do not reflect the opinions of LatestLY, also LatestLY does not assume any responsibility or liability for the same.) Mexico officials discovered more than 600 migrants crammed inside shipping containers hauled by trailer trucks near the U.S.-Mexico border crossing late Thursday. The said discovery was made by Mexico's National Guardsmen, running a checkpoint on the Victoria-Monterey national expressway, The Daily Mail reported. The said migrants were reported crammed inside six shipping containers hauled by three trailer trucks. The discovery stemmed out when onsite Federal Migration Agents heard voices coming out from one of the containers, prompting the officials to utilize an x-ray that confirmed the presence of the illegal immigrants. READ NEXT: DEA Agent Dead, 2 Others, Including Police Officer, Hurt Following Amtrak Shooting in Tucson, Arizona Following the discovery, the trucks were pulled over on a highway located in the northern Gulf coast of Tamaulipas, The Guardian reported. The said location is 220 miles south of McAllen, Texas. Reports indicated that four arrests were made by the authorities with charges of human smuggling, but it was not clear if the said individuals were the smugglers. Migrants on Containers Towed by Trailer Trucks The said trailer trucks had padlocks on them, prompting the officials to transport the vehicles to state police facilities to cut them open. AT least 652 migrants were discovered in the six containers, with the majority of individuals from Central America. The 652 were composed of 564 Guatemalans, 28 Nicaraguans, 39 Hondurans, 20 Salvadorans, and one Brazilian. It was also reported that 198 among the 652 migrants are unaccompanied children. Officers described that the migrants were crammed inside the containers, huddled close together on the floor. Authorities furthered that nearly all the illegal immigrants discovered were wearing face masks. Most of the migrants in the trailer trucks complained about the lack of food and water, as well as the rising heat inside the containers. Moreover, all migrants were treated by Red Cross and were transported to a migrant center in Tamaulipas where their legal status will be reviewed. The migrants were also tested for COVID-19 on Friday, which identified at least nine came out positive for the disease. Officials assured that only mild symptoms were seen among those who tested positive. U.S. Officials Meet With Mexico Over Border Deal The intervention of the Central American migrants happened as the U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Department of Homeland and Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas, and Attorney General Merrick Garland met with Mexico President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, to discuss the 13-year-old agreement or Merida Initiative, between the United States and Mexico, which was considered unsuccessful. Blinken said that the new agreement between Mexico and the U.S. would focus on "root drivers" of problems on both nations such as public health, corruption, inclusive economic opportunities, and climate change. Mayorkas furthered that the new agreement will also concentrate on issues such as illegal drug trafficking and border crossing as the deal would focus on the "underlying reasons why they continue to exist. "We are open to cooperate for development, to work together, and to be respectful of our sovereignties," Lopez Obrador said, adding that the new agreement will construct a "new era" on the relationship between U.S. and Mexico. Despite announcing the new agreement that would replace the Merida initiative, none of the officials disclosed the specifics of the new agreement, including when it might be reached. READ NEXT: New Exit at California's Otay Mesa Border Creates Confusion, Excitement on First Day This article is owned by Latin Post. Written By: Joshua Summers WATCH: US seeing 'unprecedented' migration at border with Mexico - From Al Jazeera English After California Governor Gavin Newsom signed a bill against nonconsensual condom removal during sex, the state became the first state in the U.S. to make "stealthing" a civil sexual battery offense. The term "stealthing," is a slang term for the nonconsensual removal of a condom during sex, and California was the first state to prohibit it. California Against Nonconsensual Condom Removal According to Reuters, Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia, the bill's sponsor, said in a statement that the bill passed the Senate and the Assembly a month ago without any opposition. Signed by Newsom on Thursday, the bill made "stealthing " a civil offense under California law. There would be an offense once an individual removes a condom without their partner's consent during intercourse. READ NEXT: Prison Guard Who Plans to Sue California for Faking Documents and Planting Evidence on Inmates Dies After Reporting Corruption Inside State Correctional Facility Anti-Stealthing Law in California According to Garcia, the majority of the people considered the act immoral, and it should be illegal, NPR reported. The comments from a lot of individuals regarding stealthing prompted Garcia to sponsor the legislation. She said she could not believe that none in the U.S. considered it illegal. Moreover, Garcia noted that she was motivated to write a bill to ban the practice after reading the law journal article of law student Alexandra Brodsky on the topic in 2017, which has since been credited with kick-starting a broader discussion on stealthing. Brodsky, who is now a civil rights attorney and the author of the book "Sexual Justice," said that only a few people were talking openly regarding the nonconsensual condom removal at the time. She noted that the victims faced additional scrutiny because stealthing starts with consensual sex. Brodsky said that stealthing was not only a violation in itself, but it also posed the risk of an unplanned pregnancy, and it could lead to the transmission of a sexually transmitted infection. Brodsky told NPR that the experience of realizing that your partner or sexual partner has no concern for "your autonomy, your individual dignity, your right to make decisions about who you have sex with, when and how was a terrible violation" regardless of whether a physical injury or a pregnancy occurs. According to Brodsky, a small number of sexual assault cases brought to police had gone to court. She added that a lot of victims do not want to involve law enforcement and do not want to see the person who hurt them in prison. With the new law, people in California who experienced stealthing can sue the perpetrators directly in civil court if they choose to. A 2018 survey among patients at a sexual health clinic in Melbourne, Australia found that 32 percent of women have experienced stealthing. Aside from women, 19 percent of their male patients who have sex with men had experienced stealthing as well. READ MORE: California Family's Mexico Vacation Turns Into Nightmare; American Tourists Found Dead Following an Airbnb 'Gas Leak' This article is owned by Latin Post Written by: Jess Smith WATCH: 'Stealthing': California Makes it Illegal to Remove Condom Without Consent During Intercourse - From ABC7 A former Guantanamo detainee has issued a warning against the U.S. about "upcoming" attacks and praised the Taliban for their victory in Afghanistan. Ibrahim al Qosi, 60, started to appear in Al Qaeda videos just three years after his repatriation in 2012. He pled guilty to providing support for terrorism and Al Qaeda in 2010 in exchange for repatriation, Fox News reported. Al Qosi's most recent video was released on Wednesday by Al Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP). It was 20 minutes long, featuring images of 9/11 and footage of the U.S. military withdrawal from Afghanistan. He has congratulated the Taliban for their "magnificent victory" of taking control of Afghanistan "that shocked the world." Al Qosi also cited "the Emir of the Faithful" and "Muslims in general." "They are men whose hands by the grace of Allah alone, buried a third empire in the soil of Afghanistan, and restored the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan to rule by the Shari'ah of Allah, even if America and its allies hate it," Al Qosi noted. The former Guantanamo detainee became a senior figure in AQAP after he returned to Sudan and made his way to Yemen. He has also served Osama bin Landen in different roles before the 9/11 attacks and escaped from Tora Bora Mountains in late 2001 before his capture, The New York Times reported. Al Qosi was also identified as a member of the Yemen-based group's "war cabinet." He was also the first military conviction of the Obama administration. READ NEXT: Taliban Executes Public Hanging With a Dead Body Suspended From Crane; Note Says the Hanging Was "Punishment for Kidnapping" Ibrahim al Qosi Warns America According to Long War Journal, Ibrahim al Qosi said the greatest loss America has suffered besides its material and human losses, was its reputation and prestige as a superpower, being the most powerful country in the world. He also argued that if all America learned was that its entry into Afghanistan was a strategic mistake that led to their "shameful defeat," then "this means that they did not learn nor understand the lesson in all its aspects." He then said that American policy is the real cause of attacks such as 9/11, which was a claim long made by both the Taliban and Al Qaeda. Bin Laden stated many times that the reason for their disagreement with the U.S. was its support of Israel against the Palestinians. Al Qosi warned that Al Qaeda still intends to target America. He said the U.S. security is still at risk "as long as you do not comprehend the lesson in all its aspects" and "do not act to remove the reasons" for which the 9/11 events took place. He added that the U.S. would not "enjoy peace and security even if the "last man in Al Qaeda" is eliminated. Al Qosi deepened his threat to the U.S. by saying that the "mujahideen" today are not limited to borders, adding that they can move from any part of the world to execute what they wish to put off "your oppression." The former Guantanamo detainee has ended his video by quoting Bin Laden and said: "The days and nights will not pass until we take revenge like we did on September 11, Allah permitting." READ MORE: Taliban Wants Their Own Representative at the United Nations General Assembly This article is owned by Latin Post Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Taliban Enters Afghan Presidential Palace - From Al Jazeera English Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie had reportedly planned a beach wedding in Florida but postponed it due to the COVID pandemic. The two were engaged last July. They instead went on a road trip, leading to the disappearance and death of Gabby Petito, after they postponed their beach wedding. Petito's stepfather, Jim Schmidt, said the couple has planned a small ceremony but were forced to pause their wedding plan due to the pandemic, The Sun reported. Schmidt told Fox News that COVID happened, so the couple put the wedding on hold and "said they were going to live life." Petito's mother, Nichole Schmidt, said the wedding was not the main priority as the couple planned their cross-country trip. She added that Gabby Petito and Brian Laundrie had decided to call the wedding off and go back to dating. Nichole told Daily Mail that the couple was very excited at first, but they realized that they should wait since they were still young. "So, they were really just boyfriend and girlfriend," Nichole said. Gabby Petito has announced her engagement with Brian Laundrie last year. She uploaded a picture of them on social media, wearing matching blue hoodies while sharing sushi on the beach, and wrote in the caption that "Laundrie asked me to marry him and I said yes!" READ NEXT: Gabby Petito Case: Brian Laundrie's Father Joins FBI Search for His Fugitive Son at Florida's Carlton Reserve Search for Gabby Petito's Fiance Gabby Petito disappeared on a cross-country road trip with Brian Laundrie. The couple was traveling to Oregon when the YouTuber stopped communicating with her family in Wyoming in late August. Laundrie was named a person of interest by North Port police after returning home on September 1 or 10 days before Petito was reported missing by her family. Laundrie has been on the run for several weeks now. His parents announced that he was missing on September 17. On September 19, Petito's body was found at the Spread Creek Dispersed Campground near Grand Teton National Park in Wyoming. BBC News reported that a coroner made an initial finding that her death was a homicide but gave no indication of how she died. Petito's family believes that Laundrie holds the answers to what happened to their daughter. Nichole had called on Laundrie to turn himself in. She said it's only getting more and more frustrating as days go on, adding that she "don't know what's taking so long," Fox News reported. Brian Laundrie's father, Christopher Laundrie, has searched the Myakkahatchee Creek Environmental Park in Florida on Thursday to assist law enforcement looking for his fugitive son. Steve Bertolino, the Laundrie family attorney, said law enforcement asked Laundrie's dad to join the search to point out his son's favorite trails or spots in the park. But after they spent hours at the reserve, there were no discoveries. On Wednesday, a source close to the Laundrie family told CNN's Chris Cuomo that police had found "remnants" of a makeshift camp at the Carlton Reserve that appeared to have been recently used. But on Thursday, North Port Police spokesperson Josh Taylor said that no campsite was found. The FBI, the lead investigating agency in Brian Laundrie's manhunt, has also never confirmed the finding. Missing Florida Teen Found Amid Brian Laundrie's Manhunt Meanwhile, the North Port Police Department in Florida announced on Friday that missing Desirae Malava-Ortiz had been located as Brian Laundrie's manhunt continued. According to another Fox News report, the missing 16-year-old was reported missing on Thursday evening after she left her home in Roxbury Circle earlier this week. Josh Taylor said Malava-Ortiz has contacted her family on Thursday evening, and on Friday afternoon, the teen "was reunited" with them. North Port police are still trying to locate Gabby Petito's fiance after he was reported missing. His parents said they last saw him on September 13. READ MORE: Brian Laundrie Manhunt: Parents of Gabby Petito's Fiance Change the Date of Florida Fugitive's Disappearance This article is owned by Latin Post Written by: Mary Webber WATCH: Brian Laundrie's Dad Joins Search at Carlton Reserve - From Fox 13 Tampa Bay Portlaoise came to a halt for the second time this year for farmers to protest in the street over fears for the future of their industry. One of four regional marches by Irish Farmers Association (IFA) members took place in Portlaoise on Friday evening, October 8. Farmers from Laois welcomed others from Offaly, Carlow, Kilkenny, Wicklow, Wexford, Kildare and Dublin with hundreds taking part. Laois IFA Chairperson John Fitzpatrick told the Leinster Express why they are marching again, following a previous protest in Portlaoise just last June. "We're here because we feel the Department of Agriculture are not listening to us. They don't seem to be taking anything we say on board. There's nothing only fear, frustration, anger and uncertainty out there. "We understand that things have to change as regards environmental issues and we're willing to do it. But we must be helped and worked with, not be told what to do like a teacher to a pupil. We have to have a viable farm at the end of it," he said. "We hope for certainty in farming, that rural areas and local towns like here can still be vibrant, and that we'll be allowed to farm efficiently. Farming is a business and we want to keep it going," The Laois IFA chair said. President of the IFA Tim Cullinan addressed the large crowds gathered in the grounds of the Department of Agriculture. "It's three whammies; climate change, CAP reform and the nitrates directive and review. They have one thing in common, reductions, reductions, reductions, and more cuts. "The budget is for a 51% reduction in emissions by 2030. We're not going to cut cows or anything, but a 51% reduction is a serious place. We need our Government to get into negotiation with us, we have tried for the last two years. "The CAP was introduced in 1950 to protect quality food supply and farmers, that money is being robbed now. He said that they must be allowed to spread slurry until mid October as it is a valuable and organic fertilizer. Mr Cullinan said that Bord na Mona has been funded to transition out of peat harvesting but that farmers with bogs are getting no money. "Our horticulture sector is using peat imported from Russia, it's a ridiculous situation. There is a shipment of 42 thousand tonnes of woodchip coming to supply peat fired power station, and they are talking now about going back to coal in Moneypoint. it's absolutely ridiculous. We put forward credible proposals for renewable industries in Irleand, we are ready and willing, but there is no interest from our Government to do it. If we develop biomethane on just 5% of our grassland, we can supply and fuel all the trucks we have in Ireland. "We want to work in good faith with our Government but we can't do it while we are out on the streets, and we're not backing off on this if we don't get a response. There is no way we can back off and let our Government allow our industry to fail," he said. National Dairy Council chairperson Stephen Arthur said there is "no way we are giving up our cows or our business". "They asked us to raise our numbers and dairy farmers grew and invested in their own businesses. Up to 2.5 billion in the last five or six years. We followed them all the way to the top of the hill and now they are trying to shove us off. "Make no mistake, the Climate Change Bill is a massive and real threat to the agri sector, be it beef, dairy, tillage or sheep. It is a threat to your viability and economic wellbeing. We realise there is a lot to do and we can contribute, but we will not stand for being made scapegoats. I say this now to the Minister and the Government, we want negotiation. Keep those signs ready and keep those phones on because we will be marching again," he said. A Sligo man has been returned for trial to Roscommon Circuit Court on a charge of causing almost 150,000 in criminal damage to a hotel in County Roscommon, at Carrick-on-Shannon District Court. He is also charged with arson. Kevin Kelly (26) of St Marys, Pearse Road, Sligo is charged with damaging property to the building and contents to the value of 145,661 belonging to Andrew McGovern, Kilronan Castle Hotel, Keadue, Boyle on December 24 last year. He is also charged that on the same date and location he entered a building 38 OCarolan Court, as a trespasser and stole a lighter. And he is charged that on the same date and location damaged by fire a downstairs carpet and hallway belonging to another through arson. Roscommon State Solicitor Kieran Madigan said the book of evidence had been served in the matter. Judge Deirdre Gearty returned the defendant for trial to the next sitting of Roscommon Circuit Court on October 20. He was remanded on the same bail conditions as previously. The defendant was represented by solicitor John Anderson. Leitrim Volunteer Centre wish to recognise, value and show its upmost gratitude to the many people who volunteer and have volunteered in our county. Recognition will also be given to those who went well beyond the call of duty during Covid 19. The event will take place on Friday, November 5 between 12:00pm 14:00pm at at Drumsna Community Resource Centre. We want this to be a non-competitive event that will recognise all Volunteers in all categories including the following: - Environment, Diversity and Sustainability. - Older People - Children and Youth Community - Safety & Emergency Services - Health and Disability - Social Inclusion - Outstanding Group Award with particular emphasis on those who gave their time, talents and expertise during Covid 19. Nominations for the awards can be made by Volunteer Involving Organisations by emailing info@volunteerleitrim.ie outlining the following detail: Name of Volunteer, Organisation and Category and please also outline why you are nominating this individual. Leitrim Volunteer Centre established launched in May 2021 aims to match volunteers to suitable volunteer opportunities within community-based organisations. This is a great opportunity to engage transition year students looking for work experience, college-bound students looking to improve their employability, parents, guardians and children looking to engage in family volunteering, immigrants looking to meet people and learn about their locality, individuals looking for once-off micro volunteering opportunities that fit their schedule, professionals looking to share their knowledge, and retirees looking to become active. There is something out there for everyone and we can help you find a volunteering opportunity that suits your interests. Our vision is to support the people of County Leitrim in further enhancing its places and ways of living as flourishing, vibrant communities, with volunteering at its heart. Volunteers have the potential to build local value, increase their social capital, become active citizens, and provide support to community development projects states Brian Smyth, Chair of the Board of Directors. Individuals considering volunteering or have questions about what it entails are encouraged give the staff at Leitrim Volunteer Centre a call. They will be happy to help you identify what kinds of skills, knowledge and experience you would like to develop when giving your time to an organisation. They can also help you think about your interests and the kind of organisation that you would like to support. Please download the I-VOL app on your phone to find opportunities near you! If you have any queries please contact us on 071 9622537. BUS Eireann has announced the appointment of Emer Bambrick as its new Sustainability Senior Manager. Originally from County Laois but now living in County Clare, Ms Bambrick will be based at the company's depot at Roxboro Road in the city. She previously worked at Iarnrod Eireann, providing environmental support to Capital Investment projects and more recently she was appointed as Environmental Executive for the Department of the Chief Civil Engineer in Iarnrod Eireann Infrastructure. I am very pleased to join the Bus Eireann team at this exciting time with the company recently launching our first Sustainability Strategy, she said following her appointment. Our ambitious plans for climate action is targeting a 50 percent reduction in emissions by 2030 and a greater focus on energy efficiency and sustainable procurement. By 2030, our goal is to have half of our 1,100 vehicles as zero or low-emission models, continuing our commitment to customer service and sustainability in cities and communities across Ireland where Bus Eireann facilitates over 89 million passenger journeys in a typical year," she added. MS Bambrick has a Bachelors degree in Environmental Management from IT Sligo and a Masters qualification in Environmental Sustainability from University College Dublin. "I am delighted to welcome Emer Bambrick to the Bus Eireann team as our new Sustainability Senior Manager, said Rory Leahy, Chief Safety and Sustainability Officer, Bus Eireann. "With the launch of our Driving Change Sustainability Strategy 2030 earlier this year, Bus Eireann renewed our commitment to providing sustainable bus services to communities across Ireland. With her considerable previous experience and strong educational background in environmental management, Emer will be an important addition to our team," he added. As part of her role as Sustainability Senior Manager, Emer Bambrick will help to develop best practices in sustainability and environmental compliance, develop policies and procedures to ensure compliance with environmental legislation and will oversee the implementation of the Bus Eireann Driving Change Sustainability Strategy 2030, working from the Bus Eireann depot in Limerick. A CUDDLY teddy bear has been put up in Limerick city, with the aim of helping people struggling with their mental health. Pieta volunteer Mick Ryan, who lost his 22-year-old son Sean Paul to suicide in 2004, has been campaigning around the country to have the toys erected in places where people might need the most comfort. Uniquely, each bear is fitted with a solar light, which he hopes will enable someone in distress to be visible, and also to direct them to signage where details of support are available. Mick, who lives in Wexford, said: I could have just put up a sign, but then I thought, who will notice a sign? People driving by or walking by will notice a teddy bear. The teddy bear draws people in people will want to know what its about. If someone is in trouble, they might have had a teddy bear as a kid, theyd hug them, and it could prevent them from thinking about what they are doing to do. They might have a child at home that has a special teddy bear for example. Mick started putting bears on bridges across Ireland at the start of the pandemic, and was amazed by the response, with many of the cuddly toys donated. People mightnt be using the teddy bears for their kids any more, and theyd put them away, he explained, My son in heaven is giving me the push to do all this. Although only one bear has been put up here in Limerick, he hopes more are to come. A fella asked me once, whats my goal? I told him Id be happy if I get 100 bears around Ireland. He said to me, if you save one life for each teddy bear, thats 100 lives. I just thought wow, he is right, Mick added. Anyone who wants to get involved and erect more teddies in Limerick, please contact Mick on 087-9140261. If youre in distress, please call Pieta at 1800-247247, or text Help to 51444. THREE Limerick food producers are celebrating success in this year's Blas na hEireann Awards. With the annual pilgrimage to Dingle stalled because of the pandemic, this years winners tuned in from every corner of the country for a virtual celebration of the very best in Irish food. The team at Blas na hEireann has been working tirelessly since March to ensure that Blas 2021 went ahead, sustaining their commitment to celebrating the very best in Irish food and drink. Chairperson Artie Clifford feels that now, more than ever, it is essential to shine a light and give that all important boost to the talented producers dotted around the island. "Despite the very challenging situation, I am delighted to report a record entry level from producers right across the island. This large increase in entries has raised the bar across all categories, allowing us to introduce new products and producers to the buyers and press with whom we work, which is really exciting. Congratulations to all the winners and to every producer who participated. It is always such a rewarding experience to see the wealth of exceptional foods being produced on the island of Ireland, and this has been the best year yet, he said. Mike Cantwell, Head of Limerick Enterprise Office has praised the high quality of the Limerick food producers which were recognised in this years Blas na hEireann awards. "These 2021 winners reflect the range and quality of food produced in Limerick and showcase the very best of what is available. During Covid we have seen how people have supported local producers by buying local and the Blas na hEireann badge helps support consumer choices and recognition of local brands, he said. Ballyhoura Apple Farm won a Gold award and was named Best in County while West Limerick companies Cotter Organic Lamb and Kearney's Home Baking each won silver. Now in their 14th year, the Blas na hEireann awards are the all-island food awards that recognise the very best Irish food and drink products, and the passionate people behind them. The biggest blind tasting of produce in the country, the criteria on which the product is judged as well as the judging system itself, which was developed by Blas na hEireann with the Food Science Department of UCC and the University of Copenhagen, is now recognised as an industry gold standard worldwide. Products from every county in Ireland were entered into this years competition to win Gold, Silver or Bronze Blas na hEireann awards in over 150 food and drink categories, as well as key awards like Supreme Champion and Best Artisan Producer. THE preferred routes of the proposed bypasses for Newcastle West and Abbeyfeale could be known within weeks. And, once the preferred route for each town is known, the block on planning permissions along each of the other route options or corridors could be lifted as early as next February. Ger Carey, senior executive engineer with the Mid-West Road Design Office, told a meeting of the Newcastle West Municipal District, that they were on track to put the preferred route for the Newcastle West by-pass and the Abbeyfeale bypass on public display by the end of 2021. The signs are good, he said. He couldnt give a definite date, he continued, as some issues still remained to be signed off by Transport Infrastructure Ireland, but his hope was that it would happen in November. Back in February, Mr Carey explained, four route options for Newcastle West, two to the north of the town and two to the south went on public display. At the same time, four options for Abbeyfeale also went on display, one to the north and three to the south of the town. Because of Covid-19 restrictions at the time, the public display was online and thousands of people logged on. Some 5,339 people clicked into the Newcastle West in-room experience while 6,736 clicked into the Abbeyfeale plan. A total of 287 submissions were made in relation to the Newcastle West proposal and 194 regarding the Abbeyfeale one and over 200 consultations took place, Mr Carey told councillors. We shouldnt have been surprised, he said, but we reached an awful lot more people than through the traditional means. They planned to use the virtual experience for the preferred routes, he added, with a possibility of using some of the more traditional approach as well. Choosing the preferred route, Mr Carey explained, was based on scoring all the route options on a set of criteria laid down by Transport Infrastructure Ireland (TII) such as safety, environment etc. and submissions would also be taken into account. Once the preferred route for both towns is chosen, the next step to get approval from the TII to conclude this phase and publish the selection report. The next phase, Phase 3, involves developing the selected route within the 400m wide corridor. Just because you are in the corridor doesnt necessarily mean you will be directly affected by the road, Mr Carey stressed. You will be in proximity to it. But there was nothing definite yet about moving to Phase 3 or about funding for it, councillors were told. Replying to councillors who were concerned that peoples lives were on hold because of sterilisation along all four route options in both towns, Mr Carey said, lifting the sterilisations would not happen straight away. It could be maybe February before the others could be freed up, he said. An Bord Pleanalas decision about the Limerick to Foynes route, which includes a by-pass of Adare, has once again been delayed, Mr Carey told councillors. It was first expected in June, then on October 4 but the new date is October 26. It's the weekend and Ronan O'Meara has been scouring the TV schedules to find movies to watch over the next seven days...starting tonight. Here are 16 to choose from....enjoy! Game Night: Saturday, BBC One @ 10.35pm Every week a group of friends meet up for a night of chat, wine and boardgames. One night real life adds a shocking twist and the friends find themselves up to their necks in all manner of trouble. This is an entertaining Saturday night watch, a wacky blend of screwball madness, weird neighbours, sibling rivalry and competitive friendship. Rachel McAdams, our own Sharon Horgan and a delightfully odd Jesse Plemons all do well. Call Me By Your Name: Saturday, RTE 2 @ 11.45pm Elio, a teenager lives a carefree life in the early 80's Italy. Until he meets Oliver, an American man hired to work with his father and his life gets rather complicated when he starts to feel attracted to him. Lead Timothee Chalamet does his drippy thing as usual but here it suits the film. It's a heartfelt look at the pain and angst and discovery of your formative years. Michael Stuhlberg and the actor we don't talk about anymore also do strong work. Train To Busan: Sunday, Film4 @ 1.40am A zombie apocalypse hits South Korea and a father and daughter find themselves fighting for their lives on a train out of Seoul. Yes it's another zombie flick......no no come back......but seriously it's a wicked watch. It's full of heart, you'll genuinely care about the characters being menaced, it's really clever and the attack scenes are absolutely astounding. Yoo Gong & Su-an Kim as Dad and Daughter are aces. Valerie: Sunday, TCM @ 4.45pm Set during a murder trial in the old west, three very different testimonies are heard but which one is the truthful version? An unusual blend, a mystery western noir with a touch of Rashomon would be one way to describe it. Sterling Hayden and Anita Ekberg as the leads are mighty, Hayden his usual briary persona and Ekberg as a woman who isn't what she seems. OR is she? Or is he? Or are they? What? Who knows? A bleak, compelling and surprising film. The Last Tree: Sunday, Channel 4 @ 11.30pm Femi is struggling to find his place in life. As a child he was fostered and grew up in the idyllic rural surroundings of the English countryside but as a man he's gone home to London to live with the woman who bore him. A stirring, glorious looking and moving look at what it means to be black in modern day Britain. Sam Adewunmi is a powerful lead and an actor to keep an eye out for in the future. Countess Dracula: Sunday, The Horror Channel @ 11pm Countess Elisabeth has discovered the secret to eternal youth. Instead of radox bubble bath she's been using the blood of virginal women to bathe in and the increasing amount of missing villagers is starting to be noticed. This Hammer horror take on the legend of Elizabeth Bathory is trashy but intriguing look at the lengths people will go to to defy the aging process. Ingrid Pitt is potent in the lead role. Kiss Of Death: Monday, Talking Pictures TV @ 9pm After a failed bank robbery a thief gets jailed and keeps his mouth shut to protect his accomplices. When one of them betrays him he decides to help the cops as his way of getting revenge. But he didn't reckon for Tommy Udo. Richard Widmark's Udo set the bar for screen psychopaths back in the 40's when this film noir was released and his performance is still unsettling 74 years later. A lean and mean thriller that will grab you fast. The Glass Castle: Monday, TG4 @ 9.30pm Jeanette Walls had an unconventional childhood. Led by her nomadic & arty parents, life as a child was tough & sometimes poverty stricken. Decisions she makes as an adult disappoint them. Brie Larson does satisfying work as the lead in an often upsetting story that takes a rose tinted look at the mistakes parents make when they put their own desires before that of their family. Woody Harrelson and Naomi Watts make for a very effective pair of muppets The Little Stranger: Monday, Film4 @ 9pm Just after the second world war a doctor is called to a crumbling country mansion to tend to a patient. It's a mansion his family has been long connected to and there's secrets lurking behind the walls of the old family home. Irish director Lenny Abrahamson's 2018 gothic chiller is a sedately paced affair but it's atmospheric twists and finely tuned turns from Domhnall Gleeson, Ruth Wilson and Will Poulter will hook you in quickly. The Mother: Tuesday, BBC4 @ 9pm When her husband dies May takes a leap into the unknown and reinvents herself instead of fading away as her family expects. She even takes a lover. One half her age. All is well until people start noticing her smile again. A touching, intelligent and provocative look at a relationship you rarely see portrayed onscreen. Anne Reid creates a wonderfully drawn lead character and gets able support from Daniel Craig and Steven Mackintosh. Blindspotting: Wednesday Film4 @ 10.45pm With 3 days left on his probation Colin is nervous. He's a black man in a land of trigger happy police, his best friend is prone to instant trouble and the town they called home is being gentrified by coffee shops and vegan diners. A comedy drama about friendship that also manages to be a burning, angry look at race relations and the state of modern day america. Daveed Diggs and Rafael Casal rock the leads. The Conjuring: Wednesday, BBC Two @ 11.15pm The Perron's have moved into their new home but all is not well. They hire a pair of paranormal investigators to cure the sickness in their house and it isn't long before all hell breaks loose. A really effective old school haunted house film that's grounded by some superb showings from Lili Taylor, Ron Livingston and Vera Farmiga. This is one to record for Halloween and watch in a dark, quiet room with the curtains pulled. The Caine Mutiny: Thursday, Great! Movies Action @ 4.45pm The U.S.S Caine is a minesweeper sailing the Pacific during WWII. It's captain is Francis Queeg. Captain Queeg is acting a bit off and Lieutenant Marik is feeling the pressure. A tense and claustrophobic story of madness, bravery and doing the right thing despite the outcome. Humphrey Bogart is as always excellent as Queeg and Van Johnson does fine as Marik. A highly influential movie here, you'll recognise plenty of it even if you haven't seen it before. Mulholland Drive: Friday, TG4 @ 12.05am (midnight) A fresh faced ingenue looking to be a star and an amnesiac woman recovering from a car crash meet and lean on each other to find answers in a sinister Hollywood. David Lynch's startling LA set drama/horror/thriller is a film you'll either love or despise but it's one that will worm it's way into your head and set up camp for days. Laura Harring and Naomi Watts lead a stunning cast. Don't watch this one while imbibing in any mind altering substances. If you do say goodbye to your weekend. Primal Fear: Friday, RTE 2 @ 9.45pm A Chicago arch bishop has been butchered and the prime suspect is a quiet young man with psychiatric problems. Flashy lawyer Martin Vail wants to prove the youth is innocent but he hasn't a clue what he's dealing with. Edward Norton's film debut is what will stick with you from this solid legal thriller. It's the very definition of a career making role. Richard Gere and Laura Linney add good things to the mix too. The Mission: Friday, RTE One @ 11.35pm Jesuit priests head in the Amazon rainforest in an attempt to convert the tribes within to Catholicism. They want to bring civilisation but to no one's surprise civilisation brings with it pain and destruction. Remembered as the film that gave us Gabriel's Oboe, Roland Jaffe's 1986 drama is a amazing looking and beautiful sounding look at man's inhumanity to man led by a couple of hefty turns from Jeremy Irons and Robert De Niro. As always visit hamsandwichcinema.blogspot.com/ for more film and tv chat. As Delhi University is set to release its second cut-off list on Saturday, the varsity informed that more than half of the seats have been filled under the first cut-off. According to DU, a total of 36,130 students have completed their admission process under the first cut-off list. Delhi University had released the first cut-off list on October 1. DU informed that it had received a total of 60,904 applications under the first cut-off list. The university has nearly 70,000 seats for undergraduate courses. In the first cut-off list, prominent colleges in North Campus and even-off campus colleges saw over-admissions to some popular courses and will be treading a cautious path on reducing the marks in the second cut-off. Hindu College convener Mansih Kansal said they will be closed for most of the courses in the second cut-off list. "The only courses that will open are BA (Honours) Economics and BCom(Honours). In Political Science (Honours), we have had almost six times the admission as against 20 seats for the unreserved category. In Philosophy (Honours), we have had 100 admissions as against 50 seats and even in Sanskrit (Honours), we have had 51 admissions against 29 seats," he said. Rajesh Dwivedi, convener, admissions at Aryabhatta College, said they have had overadmissions to Political Science (Honours), a combination of History and Political Science under BA programme and BCom programme. The Delhi University will be releasing the second cut-off on Saturday with principals warning that the decline in the asking marks won't be more than 0.5% to 1%. Du will be releasing the third cut-off on October 16. Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Saturday that "reunification" with Taiwan must and will be realised and that this accords with the basic interests of Taiwan's people. While the governments in both Beijing and Taipei trace their origins to the 1911 revolution, the Communist Party was never able to capture Taiwan in a subsequent civil war and the Republic of China government lived on there. China still considers the island part of its territory and has asserted the right to take it by force, although Tsai argues she leads a sovereign nation. The anniversary follows a particularly tense week in the Taiwan Strait, with China sending scores of military planes into the islands air-defense-identification zone while the U.S. and its allies held military exercises in nearby waters. On Friday, Beijing urged Washington to abide by its agreement to keep troops out of Taiwan after an American defense official confirmed reports that U.S. military advisers had been deployed there. Xis earlier efforts to appeal to Taiwan, where government surveys showed fewer than 10% of its 23.5 million residents favor unification, have backfired. His January 2019 call for a one country, two systems" union similar to Hong Kongs was even rejected by Taiwans China-friendly opposition, and support fell further after the citys Beijing-appointed government crushed mass pro-democracy protests. Taiwans opposition Kuomintang last month elected moderate Eric Chu as its leader, providing a potential opening for Xi to resume communication with the island. Xi urged cooperation on national reunification" in a congratulatory letter to Chu, prompting the former New Taipei City mayor to pledge to affirm his opposition to Taiwans independence and find common ground." Subscribe to Mint Newsletters * Enter a valid email * Thank you for subscribing to our newsletter. Click here to read the full article. An event like the Festival Lumiere, with its wide remit that sees classic films and retrospectives rub shoulders with the very latest and chic-est new titles, is always going to boast a thicket of hidden connections and surprising collisions. This year, for example, you could go from watching 8 , Federico Fellinis 1963 metafiction about his relationship with filmmaking, straight into The Hand of God, Paolo Sorrentinos 2021 autofiction about his relationship with (among other things) Fellini. You could gorge yourself on Francois Truffauts Antoine Doinel films, starring Jean-Pierre Leaud, and then find yourself watching Gaspar Noes Vortex, featuring a superb Francoise Lebrun, who is best known for her role in Jean Eustaches The Mother and the Whore, where she starred opposite Jean-Pierre Leaud. Such coincidences and congruities are part of the joy of a film festival, but occasionally they can also point to something deeper. This edition features rediscovered and restored classics from Japanese director Kinuyo Tanaka, who appeared in films by Ozu, Naruse and Mizoguchi, playing alongside a selection from previous Lumiere honoree Ida Lupino, while elsewhere you can find the striking recent directorial debuts from Rebecca Hall and Maggie Gyllenhaal, giving a definite sense that Lumiere 2021 is the festival of the actress-turned-director. Halls Passing premiered at the beginning of the year in Sundance; Gyllenhaals The Lost Daughter bowed in Venice, where the first-time writer-director won the award for best screenplay. Both films deal with themes that are vitally personal to and deeply felt by their directors, but neither is autobiography; in fact both are based on books by acclaimed female novelists (Passing is adapted from Nella Larsens 1929 novel of the same name; The Lost Daughter is a 2006 book by Elena Ferrante). But while they may be kindred spirits in some ways especially in their focus on the fraught nature of female friendship, the films are radically different from each other in approach and execution, while still leaning into the received wisdom about actor-directors getting extraordinarily embodied and intricate perfromances from their stars. In Passing, shot in luminous, lustrous black and white, a rivetingly charismatic Ruth Negga plays a young, light-skinned Black woman in 1920s New York, who opts to pass for white, dyeing her hair and cutting her ties with her past. Its only when she happens to bump into an old friend, played with lovely, watchful wariness by Tessa Thompson, that her homesickness for her Harlem childhood starts to wear on her, and sets the clock slow-ticking toward tragedy. Halls approach is gorgeously delicate; with The Lost Daughter, Gyllenhaal opts for a spikier, less classical style that still yields another brace of performances that must rank among the best of the year. Olivia Colman plays Leda, a middle-aged academic who goes on a solo holiday to a Mediterranean island and develops an odd fixation on a glamorous young mother (Dakota Johnson). And just when you think no one but Colman could play such a contradictory character, Jessie Buckley shows up to prove you wrong, playing younger Leda with such an accurate emotional similarity to Colmans portrayal that the actresses physical dissimilarity doesnt matter at all. Both these wonderful films are about women negotiating with the shadows of the past, and so its appropriate and heartening to see them contextualized alongside Tanaka and Lupino. It makes a quiet but persuasive statement that cuts both ways, bringing the older films to a new audience, and creating for the new movies some continuity with a film history that has traditionally struggled to recognize the contributions of women, as soon as they move from the front of the camera to behind it. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The BBC has shared a new teaser for the upcoming thirteenth season of Doctor Who, revealing an official premiere date and giving fans a glimpse of what to expect from the show as series star Jodie Whittaker begins her final run in the role of the eponymous Time Lord. The series, titled Doctor Who: Flux, will premiere on BBC One, BBC America and BBC iPlayer on Oct. 31. The eight-episode season will serve as a larger narrative that will put a cap on Whittakers tenure as the Thirteenth Doctor. The actress will take her final bow in the role in 2022, with three feature-length specials planned to be released after the conclusion of the new season. The first special will premiere on New Years Day, with the next two to follow throughout the year. The new teaser features Whittakers Thirteenth Doctor warning of an incoming threat from the mysterious Flux, which will spawn any number of foes to combat against. Can you hear me? the Doctor asks in a transmission. Listen carefully. We dont have much time. The Flux is coming. Its bringing with it the Sontarans, Weeping Angels, creatures known as the Ravages and enemies from across the universe. This is the fight of our lives! Whittakers imminent departure from Doctor Who will mark the end of an era for the long-running series in more ways than one. Along with the actress, showrunner Chris Chibnall will also leave the series, making room for returning showrunner Russell T. Davies, who first revived Doctor Who in 2005 with Christopher Eccleston as the star. Watch the teaser for Season 13 below. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. The high-stakes negotiations between the studios and the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees will continue on Saturday, as the two sides continue to talk on a range of issues. The union is seeking movement on its key priorities including long hours and streaming pay scales but has advised that it will not let the talks drag on indefinitely. Its a matter of days, not weeks, International President Matthew Loeb said in a statement on Friday night. The 13 Basic Agreement locals also issued a statement, emphasizing the urgency of getting an agreement. While we remain committed to the bargaining process, there will come a point where words must be replaced by action. The two sides wrapped up their fourth day of bargaining on Friday, following the announcement on Monday that 99% of the voting membership had approved a strike authorization if the talks cannot produce a deal. We are committed to doing what it takes, said one union official. We are committed to getting to a deal. We need them to address our core priorities. Were not going to be baited into dragging this out for weeks and weeks. We need to see significant movement. The negotiations have continued under a media blackout, though a few details emerged on Thursday. A union official reported that the AMPTP had agreed to provide 10-hour turnarounds between shifts for all workers on all types of productions, which had been one of the key objectives of the IATSE negotiators. But some of the members many of whom already have 10-hour turnarounds did not think that was enough. If thats what we win, it doesnt feel like a victory, said Daniel Remillard, an electrician who works with Local 480 in New Mexico. As long as Ive been in this union, our leadership is weak. They consistently cave to production and the spirit of keeping people working and keeping things going. And for a long time Ive felt we need to plant our feet and ask for more because we deserve more The things were negotiating for this round are bare minimum. Lee Sablick, a member of the grips union, Local 80, also said that 10-hour turnarounds were still crap. A 10-hour turnaround would still mean that crews could work 14-hour days. Some members have advocated for 12 hours between shifts, which would result in 12-hour days, though the union has not advocated for that in the negotiations. Crew members have emphasized the strain that long hours puts on their health and safety. Theres been times when I was so exhausted they thought I was having a heart attack, Sablick said, adding that he has sometimes had to try not to fall asleep on the drive home. Theres been so many times Ive had to stick my head out the window screaming just to stay awake. Theres times when Ive had to pull over to get a quick half hour of sleep. The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers was also said to be willing to address weekend rest, which would be the first time that the IATSE Basic Agreement contained such a provision. The unions told members to discount what they read in the press, and wait for the full terms to become available. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Click here to read the full article. Fiona Lamptey, director of U.K. features at Netflix, has revealed a strategy to build a rival to Hollywood in the country using the best of British talent, who are often forced to move Stateside once they outgrow the British isles. Speaking at a Spotlight session during the BFI London Film Festival on Saturday, Lamptey said, My big strategy is to bring back British talent. I feel its ridiculous: weve got the talent, weve got the locations, weve got the production workforce, we nurture them to a certain point, and theres nowhere to go. I really want to bring back our stars, like people that have to leave their home to go make a film that feels aspirational, or ambitious, and that they can get paid for, Lamptey added. So I really want to make those projects that kind of feel big for the U.K. but are completely relatable to the U.K. And I want to do Hollywood films I feel like as a U.K. audience, and as U.K. talent, we have a very distinctive voice, so I want to do our version of that, not their version. Lamptey produces via her Fruit Tree Media and had a distinguished career at U.K. broadcaster Channel 4 and film division Film4 working on features and short film productions. She took up the newly created position at Netflix in 2020. Describing her stint at the giant streamer as amazing, the executive urged attendees at the event to read the Netflix culture document, which was updated in 2017. She said that it was great to work with full autonomy and that she feels empowered to do stuff. Lamptey said the streamer had trusted her to program and find scripts that work in the U.K. first and then have the thematic capacity to travel. This is what Ive been waiting for, my whole career to really be able to change the industry in a really big way, Lamptey said. So it just feels really empowering. It feels great to be kind of a new type of gatekeeper in the U.K. The busy executive said she is going through 400 scripts and when she commissions feature films, budgets begin at 8 million ($10.8 million). One of her objectives is to commission projects which are social commentary wrapped in genre. How do you do both? How do you entertain an audience and also say something? Lamptey said. Someone who hasnt got the same cultural references as you: how do they still enjoy that film? Thats what Im really interested in. Lamptey also revealed a new commission in Cold Harbour Lane, which she described as horror/home invasion and full of Black characters. Variety has reached out to Netflix for more details about the movie. Channel 4 sci-fi mini series Foresight, and feature film Ear for Eye, both produced by Lamptey, are playing at the festival, which runs Oct. 6-17. Sign up for Varietys Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. A business owner and footwear designer has admitted to attempting to smuggle more than $72,000 out of the United States, according to court documents. Linda Alcala pleaded guilty on Oct. 6 to bulk cash smuggling in or out of the country. A sentencing date is pending. On April 24, Alcala and another woman were exiting the country via the pedestrian lane of the Gateway to the Americas International Bridge. During an outbound inspection, Alcala provided a negative declaration to U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers for more than $10,000 in cash. Alcala stated that she and her companion were traveling from San Antonio to Mexico on vacation. CBP officers then discovered $72,355 in two pieces of luggage belonging to Alcala. In a post-arrest interview, Alcala told Homeland Security Investigations special agents that the money was hers and that her companion was unaware of the cash. Alcala stated that she was aware of the requirement to declare the money. She added she had transported more than $10,000 on several prior occasions when traveling to Mexico on commercial flights from the United States. Defendant designs and sells footwear and stated that she was taking the currency to Mexico to pay for production of her shoes and to pick samples, states her plea agreement. Alcala owns and operates Alcalas Footwear (alcalasboots.com), which imports and sells handmade, top-quality boots and other leather footwear. Laredo Morning Times staff file A man was sentenced to prison for the smuggling attempt of more than nine pounds of cocaine via the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge, according to court documents. Rafael Martinez was sentenced to 60 months in prison on Oct. 5. He had pleaded guilty to conspire to import cocaine on Aug. 3. To recognize the National School Lunch Program, serving 24,375 meals each day, Laredo Independent School District will celebrate National School Lunch Week from Oct. 11-15. The campaign theme, Feed Your Creativity with a Healthy School Lunch highlights the importance of a healthy school lunch to a students success both in and out of the classroom by expressing their creativity. Recent research shows children are getting their healthiest meals at school. National School Lunch Week will highlight the nutritious foods available daily at LISD schools. The Child Nutrition program provides support to all schools in an integral way in helping educate kids about healthy choices and physical activity. School lunches offer students fruits and vegetables, whole grains and milk, and meet federal nutrition standards limiting fat, calories and sodium, Director Robert Cuellar Jr. said. Thanks to pandemic waivers, school meals are free for all students this school year, so its a great time to give school lunch a try. National School Lunch Week helps us educate parents and students about all the wonderful benefits of our lunch program. NSLW will Kick off with a Proclamation Ceremony at K. Tarver Elementary at 11:15 a.m., on Monday, Oct. 11, 2021. Students at the elementary campuses will participate in lunch activities and be provided with fun coloring sheets and the opportunity to win prizes throughout the week. Leyendecker Elementary, Ligarde Elementary, Macdonell Elementary and Jose Gallegos Elementary will take part in the celebration and will receive a visit from CNPs Superhero, Health Charger or the CNP Foodie Fun Pal. During NSLW, secondary students (grades 6-12) have a chance to participate in our You Art What You Eat Student Art Contest to celebrate NSLW. Students are encouraged to use their imagination and illustrate healthy school meals while incorporating school lunch or breakfast items into their artwork. The winning entries inspire designs for cafeteria posters, flyers and other resources that will be used throughout the school year. Students should submit their artwork via email at lisdcnp@gmail.com. The federally-funded National School Lunch Program has been fueling students toward success for 75 years. Students can enjoy the convenience of a healthy school lunch at LISD absolutely free, under the Community Eligibility Provision. CEP is a federal option that allows high poverty schools to provide free meals both breakfast and lunch to all students without having to collect school meal applications. The Feed Your Creativity with a Healthy School Lunch campaign is made possible by the Texas Department of Agriculture. Parents and students can follow the fun using the hashtags #NSLW21 and #SchoolLunch. For more information on National School Lunch Week, visit squaremeals.org/Programs/NationalSchoolLunchProgram. A woman who tried smuggling a child via International Bridge 2 has received a probated sentence along with home detention, according to court documents. Josaid Lee Dimas pleaded guilty to conspire to transport an undocumented migrant within the United States on July 8. On Oct. 5, She was sentenced to three years probation with five months of home detention. After 1 years of no violations, the court will consider terminating it early, according to court documents. The case dates back to April 12, when Judith Ann Dimas, Josaid Lee Dimas and a child arrived at the Juarez-Lincoln International Bridge in a 2013 Buick Verano. Josaid Lee Dimas stated that the child was her daughter and provided a Texas birth certificate on behalf of the child. A U.S. Customs and Border Protection officer let them through, but CBP officers conducting random stops for X-ray inspection selected the car for inspection. During the secondary inspection, CBP officers told Josaid Lee Dimas to take the baby out of her car seat and walk to the side during the inspection. As (Josaid) Lee Dimas was moving the child, the child was crying out mama. (A CBP officer) asked (Josaid) Lee Dimas if the child was her daughter, and she stated yes. (Judith) Ann Dimas stated that the child was her niece, states the affidavit. Asked if she had photos of her child on her cellphone, Josaid Lee Dimas showed the officer a picture of a little girl that did not look like the child she was holding, according to court documents. The sisters along with the child were then taken to a secondary inspection area. After Miranda rights advisement and waiver, (Josaid) Lee Dimas stated that she agreed with her sister to smuggle the child into the United States. She stated that she was doing her sister, Judith Ann Dimas, a favor. She said that she agreed to provide her daughters birth certificate for the child in an attempt to cross her as her daughter, states the affidavit. Josaid Lee Dimas stated that she and her sister planned to cross the child the night before. Josaid Lee Dimas stated that Judith Ann Dimas had picked up the child from a hotel in Nuevo Laredo. Judith Ann Dimas has pleaded guilty to the same offense. She is pending sentencing. Courtesy /U.S. Border Patrol An alleged human smuggler landed behind bars after she allegedly sped off from a U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint, according to an arrest affidavit. A black sedan arrived at about 7:25 p.m. Oct. 1 at the U.S. Border Patrol checkpoint on U.S. 59 near Freer. The vehicle appeared to have one occupant who was identified as Maria Olga Sandoval. Asked about her destination, she stated she was on her way to see her brother who had passed away, according to court documents. The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks! Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics. The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc. The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics. The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates. Access to college recruiters and advisors its harder to line up higher education. Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family. Vote View Results A north Longford man rear-ended a car in Edgeworthstown, causing two of its occupants to be hospitalised, a court has heard. Thomas Reilly, 22 Colmcille Terrace, Granard, Co Longford, pleaded guilty to careless driving after colliding with another vehicle at Ballymahon Road, Edgeworthstown, Co Longford on October 26, 2019. Inspector Dave Jordan said the incident took place shortly after midday as Mr Reilly was travelling through the mid Longford town with four passengers in his vehicle. He (Mr Reilly) admitted he had mistaken the red light and driven through it rear-ending the vehicle in front, he said, revealing two passengers from the other car involved were taken to hospital but released later the same day. Inspector Jordan said Mr Reilly had one previous conviction to his name, dating back to a 150 fine in 2019 for driving without a valid NCT being in place. Defending, Brid Mimnagh, said Mr Reilly was a married man in his forties who simply misread the junction. She said Mr Reilly regretted the incident and was acutely aware of the consequences which awaited him. Judge Bernadette Owens said given Mr Reilly was fully insured, a 250 was deemed appropriate with the Granard man being given three months to pay. This month sees the publication of Old Ireland in Colour 2 - which like its best selling predecessor features amazing historical images painstakingly colourised and restored, accompanied by an informative and accessible short commentary. Old Ireland in Colour 2 features a portrait photo of Kitty Kiernan, who was engaged to Michael Collins when he was shot dead in August 1922. In 2020, Old Ireland in Colour 1 became the Irish publishing phenomenon of the year, winning the An Post Irish Book Award for Best Irish-Published Book and proving to be the most valuable single title in the Irish market. The book featured in every national newspaper, on The Late Late Show, on Ryan Tubridys radio show it even made the homepage of CNN. In their eagerly anticipated sequel, John Breslin and Sarah-Anne Buckley have delved even deeper into Irelands historical archives to uncover captivating photographic gems to bring to life using their unique blend of cutting-edge technology, historical research and expert colourisation. Old Ireland in Colour 2 further celebrates the rich history of Ireland and the Irish people, from all walks of life, with all thirty-two counties represented across the full-colour title. The book is divided into six sections under the broad headings of Politics and Revolution, Children and School, Working Life, Sport and Leisure, Ireland and the World, and Urban and Rural Scenes. With over 150 superb images, once again accompanied by insightful captions, the book is the perfect portrait of life in Ireland throughout the nineteenth and twentieth centuries. From the chaos of the revolutionary period to the simple beauty of the islands, from the iconic to the domestic, there is something new and inspiring to be gleaned from every single page. Rain fails to dampen spirits as centenary of Clonfin Ambush commemorated Longford County Council, in partnership with the Clonfin Commemoration Committee marked the centenary of the ambush at Clonfin at the weekend, with two memorable events at the site between Ballinalee and Granard. War of Independence: Death of Lieutenant John Scally, Gallagh in 1921 One hundred years ago, the War of Independence had reached an upsurge in activity with no end in sight. Ambushes, assassinations and reprisal killings were common events as the IRA and British forces were locked in a guerrilla war. Clonfin Ambush: North Longford Flying Columns finest hour as the elite British forces surrender to Sean Mac Eoin The War of Independence in County Longford: 100th Anniversary of Clonfin Ambush Sean O Suilleabhain, renowned local author and historian, has been researching Longfords part in the War of Independence for the past four years, for a book which he hopes to publish later this year. 2020 & 2021 marks the 100th anniversary of some key events in the War of Independence. Indeed, 1920 and 1921 were momentous years in Longfords history and the deeds of Sean Mac Eoin and his Flying Column were legendary. We are delighted that Sean O Suilleabhain is sharing some of his research with Longford Leader readers as he looks back on that era, and this week he looks at the Clonfin Ambush of February 2, 1921, when the elite British forces surrendered to Sean Mac Eoin. The author would welcome any feedback or comments at sosuilleabhain9@gmail.com The Burning of Granard by the Tans and Lancers and legendary defence of Ballinalee by the IRA Sean O Suilleabhain, renowned local author and historian, has been researching Longfords part in the War of Independence for the past four years, for a book which he hopes to publish next year. This year marks the 100th anniversary of some key events in the War of Independence. Indeed, 1920 and 1921 were momentous years in Longfords history and the deeds of Sean Mac Eoin and his Flying Column were legendary. We are delighted that Sean O Suilleabhain is sharing some of his research with Longford Leader readers as he looks back on that era, and this week he looks at some of the fiercest engagements, The Burning of Granard by the Tans and Lancers, and legendary defence of Ballinalee by the IRA. The author would welcome any feedback or comments at sosuilleabhain9@gmail.com A significant step in the War of Independence when RIC surrendered Ballymahon Barracks to the IRA Wednesday next, August 19, 2020 will mark the 100th anniversary of the first major War of Independence engagement to take place in South Longford. A WOMAN who is exceeding her monthly mortgage payments is still being pursued by a bank in the courts. County Registrar James Seymour, sitting in Tullamore, was told that Ulster Bank had instituted proceedings against the woman in 2013. The registrar was told she is paying 700 a month to Ulster Bank even though the normal payment was 627. She had been able to make the increase after speaking to the Money Advice & Budgeting Service (MABS). A barrister for the bank said he believed the matter was being re-entered by the bank because even that level of repayment would not clear the arrears of 27,000. He said personal insolvency would be the correct route but the borrower, who represented herself in court, stated she had explored that four years earlier. Mr Seymour adjourned the matter to March 10 next year for the borrower to engage a personal insolvency practitioner again, saying that process could force a solution, whether it be a writedown or a restructuring. In another case a couple told the registrar that they had their property valued and the asset's value would exceed the amount owed. Other proceedings involving Mars Capital, which manages mortgages for a so-called vulture fund, were adjourned when the registrar was told a personal insolvency practitioner (PIP) had been engaged. The registrar urged many of those in mortgage distress to explore the possibility of personal insolvency. In relation to one case where an order for possession was being sought by Pepper Finance, a firm which services loans on behalf of so-called vulture funds, Mr Seymour was told the arrears were now 325,000. Pepper Finance was represented remotely in court by a solicitor from the firm Sellors but the borrower appeared in person and represented himself. Eanna Bane, for Pepper, said the matter had been adjourned previously for the borrower to send on an income and expenditure report but he had been advised that no report has been received and no repayments had been made. Mr Seymour told Mr Bane that it would not be appropriate to hear an application for possession remotely and he would adjourn the matter for a physical hearing. The borrower told the court he had been in correspondence with Pepper about the forms for the income and expenditure report but he had not yet received them. The solicitor for Pepper said the last repayment was 600 and it had been made in February 2016. Proceedings had first been issued in 2014. Mr Seymour told the borrower that while he had every sympathy for anyone facing mortgage arrears, it was hard to have sympathy when they was no evidence of repayments for five years at a time when there were plenty of other people struggling and making repayments. The defendant said he had the house up for sale and had a client who was prepared to buy it and he was going to negotiate a writedown of the debt. The deal for the sale was near enough done but then fell through because of all the hullabaloo on the part of Pepper's solicitors. Mr Seymour said the case had been going on for seven years and he could not let it drag on because the debt was only getting bigger. He said he would adjourn the case once more, to December 16 next, but directed the borrower to speak to a personal insolvency practitioner immediately. The registrar added that he believed the only way Pepper would accept a sale of the house was if the proceeds went to them. When the borrower told him that he had been fighting with Pepper for a long time, the registrar said the country was full of people fighting with other people, including himself. However the money had been borrowed and while he had every sympathy for anyone who got into difficulties, in this case the defendant needed to go and make an insolvency arrangement. Mr Seymour said the insolvency provisions were for people like him who had a significant debt and need to get out from under it. In another case where an application was made to substitute Pepper Finance for the original lender, Ulster Bank, the registrar adjourned his decision because the borrowers were not present. The registrar heard the property was a family home and proceedings had first been issued in 2019 by Ulster Bank. Pepper Finance took over the servicing of some non-performing Ulster Bank loans later in 2019 when the bank sold them to the US fund CarVal Investors. A solicitor and an advisor from MABS were present at the sitting of the County Registrar where more than 100 cases involving mortgage arrears were listed. The registrar advised a number of borrowers to speak to MABS on the day and the solicitor, Mark Stafford, appeared for many others. The registrar heard that some borrowers had already been engaging with MABS and had been dealing with personal insolvency practitioners (PIP) or were attempting to enter into mortgage-to-rent arrangements. Along with Ulster Bank and Pepper Finance, numerous other banks and funds were taking actions against borrowers, including EBS, Start, Promontoria, Bank of Ireland, KBC, Haven Mortgages, AIB, Shoreline Residential and Mars Capital. One of the actions dated from 2003 but most were between 2008 and 2020. Longford motorist had not taxed vehicle in almost a year, court is told A Longford man who was caught driving without having taxed his car in almost a year has been hit with a 400 fine. Talk to Tormeys: Return to work, vaccinations and Covid-19 A gradual return to workplaces has begun from September 20, under the Governments new reopening roadmap. More than a third of Bank of Ireland branches across the country will close their doors for the last time today. The bank is ceasing services at 88 locations in the Republic along with a number of branches in the north of the the country, as part of significant changes to its branch network and local banking services first announced in March. It said that over the last three years, there has been a 60% drop in the number of customers visiting the branches in question, with a rise in those using online services. Bank of Ireland said an arrangement with An Post, to allow for lodgements and withdrawals, will "protect local access to over-the-counter banking", allowing account holders to conduct transactions at more than 900 post offices around the country. Customers affected by the closures have been written to in recent months, informing them of the changes and outlining where their accounts will be transferred to. Account numbers, sort codes, along with direct debits and standing order arrangements, will remain in place. While most of the branches being closed have post offices nearby, customers wanting to access other Bank of Ireland services may now have to travel significant distances to their closest branch. Revealed: Full list of 103 Bank of Ireland branch closures https://t.co/DztGNaBSb6 Irish Examiner (@irishexaminer) October 8, 2021 The Financial Services Union (FSU) has described the closures as "a sad day" for staff and customers and a real sign of the weakness of regulation in Ireland. John O'Connell, General Secretary of the FSU, said; "Despite cross party opposition in the Dail and in Stormont and across wide sections of the community, Bank of Ireland have continued along the pathway of eroding their footprint and removing vital services from communities across our country," "The Regulator has clearly failed in its role of protecting customers and communities in this instance," he added. Mr. O'Connell said the withdrawal of ATMs will mean there will be communities next week which will no longer have 24/7 access to cash adding that despite the increase in card payments, cash remains a vital payment method for customers. The FSU has called on the Central Bank to open a consultation paper on the future access to cash to ensure that the use of this access is safeguarded. It also called for the urgent consideration whether legislation and new enforcement powers are required in this area. "Our banking sector is at a crossroads and needs a commitment from the Central Bank that the banking network will not disappear, and that they will be proactive in ensuring that communities and vulnerable people will not once again be hit the hardest," Mr O'Connell added. Food, Wine, & Dining By Ls Cohen Published: October 09 2021 New pub says to come as a stranger, leave as a friend. A good Irish pub is worth its weight in gold. The latest incarnation on Long island opened in Wantagh this summer to rave reviews online. With a tagline, come as a stranger, leave as a friend, The Irish Poet seems to encapsulate everything you look for in a cozy, friendly pub. Photo: The Irish Poet Facebook page. The menu has what you would want in pub fare including Irish spring rolls ($12), loaded nachos ($12), friend mac & cheese bite ($10), and wings ($12).You can also order up anything from salads ($10-12) to sliders ($12-15), build your own burgers (starting at $12). Their sandwich menu features steak sandwiches ($18), Irish dip ($14) and a traditional reuben ($14). Then, of course, theres the fish & chips ($20) and shepherd's pie ($16). On Yelp, Bob C, from Massapequa Park, said he liked it from the first time he went. Striking open air pub, he wrote. ...awesome long impressive bar. Fantastic selection of on tap beers. True Irish feel to the place. Frank T, from Nassau County, said he went twice in three days. He sampled the menu and liked everything he ordered, including the fish & chips and shepherd's pie. The sausages are amazing, he wrote. ...the beer is cold. The atmosphere is great and the place looks awesome. Everyone is nice and We will be back. Location: 1891 Wantagh Avenue, Wantagh, (516) 588-1891. Advertisement "Out of ten, three students suffer from mental health issues. 14 per cent of our children are suffering from mental health issues," said Mandaviya, underlining the need to sensitize parents, teachers and other stakeholders to spot and assist young citizens in need of help."We need to the conversation on mental health issues first within the family and gradually include the school environment too. We need to train our teachers in such a manner that they will be able to easily detect mental health issues in children," said Union Health Minister.The event was organised by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in partnership with Hansraj College, Delhi to raise awareness on mental health as part of the activities being taken up during ongoing Mental Health Awareness Week, October 5-10.Source: IANS Back pain is one of the most common complaints and concerns of young adults these days. Whether the discomfort in the back is due to poor sitting posture while working from home or a sudden sprain while weight-lifting in the gym, back pains can be extremely excruciating and must not be ignored. While it is advised to get persistent back pain checked by a doctor or a physiologist, sometimes, you can treat nagging pain and discomfort on your own. There are a number of products ranging from back braces to massagers that can help soothe your back if it is temporary pain or provide an added benefit to your existing medical treatment in case of chronic conditions such as arthritis or spondylitis. Top 15 Products To Relieve Lower Back Pain These products have literally got your back and will help you ease back pain like magic: 1. Lumbar Back Support Cushion The lower part of your spine is called the lumbar region or lower back. Prolonged sitting and bad posture result in hunching, which affects the natural curvature of the lumbar spine. This can lead to pain and strain. Placing lumbar back support pillows behind your back can provide excellent support and comfort to your lower back. Consider this combo which consists of a dual-layered constructed seat cushion and orthopaedic foam car seat. Whether you are driving or working, this portable lumbar back support combo will help your spine maintain its natural curve and reduce pressure on your low back. Perfect to make your work from home easy, lumbar backrest comfort cushions work like magic to ease back pain. 2. Posture Corrector Studies have proved that people with poor posture often build back pain issues and practising better posture can help ease symptoms over time. You can consider doing posture exercises and daily stretches to correct your posture. Get a posture corrector to help you get your posture right fast and provide superior support to your back. Posture correctors will also prevent the onset of any further back, neck and shoulder pain and will help you get your confidence back. 3. Physio Gym Ball If you are working on exercises and stretches to treat back pain, physio gym balls can work as a useful tool. Often called yoga balls, they are extremely effective in the rehabilitation of the back because it strengthens the core body muscles that help to stabilize the spine. Whether you're working on flexibility, exercises to ease back pain, cardiovascular endurance or muscle building, this stability ball can work a variety of muscles and add intensity to your body-sculpting workout. 4. Massage Gun I dont like a good massage, said no one ever. Massage guns, also called percussive massagers, work amazingly to provide targeted relief to sore areas. The impact therapy of the percussion and vibration of these devices work on also help boost flow, alleviate aches and release lactic acid accumulation. Massaging your sore back muscles can also improve your range of motion and flexibility. 5. Back Massager Brush Easy to use in the shower, this back massage brush is designed to scrub and massage your back and other hard-to-reach body parts. The thick silicone bristles and rough base open up the pores and remove bacteria as well as dirt from the skin. Its ergonomic grip makes it easy to use without any necessary slippage, making it convenient to apply the desired pressure on affected areas. 6. L.S. Belt A lumbar spine belt offers the patient effective support, immobilization and comfort. It helps maintain the lumbar and sacral regions in the neutral position to allay low back pain syndrome. Opt for this L.S belt with monofilament striped elastic for better compression and light in weight and highly porous fabric, which provides better ventilation and comfort. Anatomical, pre-shaped, semi-rigid splints ensure perfect fitting, better immobilization and help relieve muscular stress due to the wrong posture. 7. Ergonomic Orthopedic Sleeping Pillow Good sleep and adequate rest is the best preventive therapy to relieve back pain. Get yourself a contour cervical memory foam pillow to provide your neck and back with the ultimate sleeping comfort: The special curve design gives better support to the cervical spine area than any traditionally shaped pillow. The wedge extension at the bottom helps support the spine and keep your head, neck, shoulder, hands and back well supported during sleep. 8. Silicone Insole Silicone insoles are designed to provide better and even distribution of weight and pressure on the feet, knees and spine. Their anatomical shape provides relief and reduces peak loading and strain on muscles and tendons, thereby easing pain in the lower back as well. The soft spots are thoughtfully made to provide focussed pain relief. 9. Acupressure Mat Just how silicone insoles work, an acupressure mat will activate the reflex points on the sole of your feet and provide relief in any kind of spinal discomfort as well. An acupressure mat is a holistic natural and handy healer that massages your foot and soul. 10. Warm Bag A warm bag is probably one handy tool for relieving pains that you would find in all households but also the one that works like magic. Keep yourself warm and alleviate your aches and pains with this great electric warm bag. This amazing item can be ready in just a minute after your pain shoots and hence works as a quick solution to manage back pain. 11. Muscle Rub Living by the clock and finding time to exercise can be challenging, especially when your lifestyle demands you to push yourself harder! And if while exercising you end up spraining your back, it can take you many weeks back in your fitness journey. In such cases, ointments and muscle rubs can come in handy to treat sore muscles, pains and aches and act as fast recovery agents to heal the pain. Consider this muscle rub and muscle and bone effervescent tablets to build stronger muscle and bone and support your back in case of sudden pain. 12. Back Brace People with spinal instability, shoulder dislocation or those recovering from spinal surgery, can benefit a great deal from a back brace along with their medication. For others, a back brace can help correct your poor posture. 13. Tummy Trimmer Tummy Trimmer or abdominal belt helps support and compress the abdominal muscles for waistline reduction and a flatter tummy. However, this fitness equipment also helps in improving your posture and aiding support to make your back stronger. 14. Ergonomic Office Chair Spending long hours sitting and working may result in stiffness and soreness in the back by the end of the day. Ergonomic office furniture like chairs with adjustable lumbar support and portable laptop desks can help support better posture and spinal alignment. Get this ergonomically designed chair that will offer you the ultimate level of comfort and luxury. It is sure to be the best seat of choice for work, play or rest, and will take your experience to the next level. It has a high backrest to support your spinal column, from the pelvis to the neck. The chair also provides a stable metal five-point base that allows you to adjust your height and posture and is made with breathable mesh to keep the occupant cool. 15. Portable Laptop Desk Once you get your back support cushion, get a portable laptop desk and enhance your work from home (read bed) experience. These tables are portable and work as a lap desk, workstation, item-holder, and also a mini writing table, keeping your spine straight and comfortable all along. USED Approves Michigan's Education Plan for American Recovery Plan Funding Martin Ackley, Director of Public and Governmental Affairs 517-241-4395 Education October 8, 2021 LANSING - The United States Department of Education (USED) approved Michigan's education plan for the federal American Recovery Plan Elementary and Secondary School Emergency Relief (ARP-ESSER) funding, freeing up $1.24 billion for Michigan schools, according to the Michigan Department of Education. U.S. Secretary of Education Miguel Cardona approved the plan that will complete the allocation of $3.72 billion in federal ARP funds to Michigan. Nearly $2.5 billion was released to Michigan in March and the remainder released today with the approval of Michigan's ARP ESSER plan. "This investment in Michigan's schools will help our kids thrive and ensure teachers and staff have the resources and support they need," said Governor Gretchen Whitmer. "I am grateful to Senators Stabenow and Peters, along with all of the Democratic members of Michigan's congressional delegation, for working to pass this funding in the American Rescue Plan, which we included in the education funding bill I signed earlier this summer making the largest K-12 investment in state history without raising taxes. That bill closed the funding gap between schools in Michigan and delivered critical mental health resources. Together, we can continue putting Michiganders first and get things done that make a real difference in their lives." State Superintendent Dr. Michael Rice said, "Our state ARP plan will help Michigan students better rebound from the disrupted learning that they experienced during the past year. I am very pleased that Secretary Cardona and the U.S. Department of Education approved our state plan and released the remaining $1.24 billion in federal funds for Michigan schools to improve our schools in myriad ways for children." These funds reimburse school districts to support safe, in-person instruction and meet the social, emotional, mental health, and academic needs of students-with a focus on the students most impacted by the pandemic. The approval of Michigan's ARP plan will allow for the use of $363 million in state equalization payments appropriated to districts that did not receive $1,093 per pupil in their ARP ESSER formula allocation. That formula allocates 90 percent of the ARP ESSER funds based upon federal Title I, Part A distributions defined in federal law. Michigan's plan includes: Returning to In-Person Learning in 2021: All traditional public school districts are operating predominantly in-person this year, and all students have access to in-person learning. All traditional public school districts are operating predominantly in-person this year, and all students have access to in-person learning. Safely Reopening Schools and Sustaining Safe Operations: MDE has promoted collaborative partnerships between districts and local health departments to conduct vaccination clinics. In partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the MI Safe Schools Testing Program supports schools in providing COVID-19 testing to allow for safe, in-person learning. MDHHS is providing over $24 million in additional federal funding to school districts and local public health departments to hire 220 Health Resource Advocates to effectively support school-based COVID-19 testing and reporting. MDE has promoted collaborative partnerships between districts and local health departments to conduct vaccination clinics. In partnership with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS), the MI Safe Schools Testing Program supports schools in providing COVID-19 testing to allow for safe, in-person learning. MDHHS is providing over $24 million in additional federal funding to school districts and local public health departments to hire 220 Health Resource Advocates to effectively support school-based COVID-19 testing and reporting. Addressing the Academic Impact of Lost Instructional Time and Expanding Summer and Afterschool Programs: School districts that receive state reserve funds will select evidence-based interventions that address the academic and social-emotional needs of their student populations that are most impacted by the pandemic. Districts will complete additional budget information and documentation on how they will use ARP ESSER funds for students disproportionately impacted by COVID-19. Local school districts will have until 2024 to use their allocated funds and will submit their plans for the use of the funds to MDE by December 14, 2021. An 18-year-old West Branch man and a 22-year-old Gratiot County woman died in a Friday crash on South Meridian Road, just north of East Freeland Road in Porter Township. According to the Midland County Sheriffs office, Samuel Neve of West Branch was driving a silver 2010 Dodge Avenger northbound on South Meridian Road with Gracie Hatton of Gratiot County as a passenger. In a Saturday press release, the investigation from Midland County Sheriffs department currently indicates Neve lost control of the Dodge Avenger on the wet roadway, causing the vehicle to cross the center line of the road and into the path of a black 2019 Ford F-250 that was traveling southbound on South Meridian Road, resulting in the crash. Both Neve and Hatton were pronounced dead at the scene, while the driver and lone occupant of the Ford F-250 was uninjured, according to the press release. All three involved parties were wearing seat belts at the time of the crash and airbags deployed in both vehicles, said the Midland County Sheriffs department. While there is currently no evidence to indicate that alcohol or drugs may have been a factor in this crash, the department is awaiting toxicology reports for a final determination. The report will be forwarded to the Midland County Prosecutors Office for review once it has been completed. Midland County Sheriff personnel were assisted at the scene by the Michigan State Police and their Third District Accident Reconstruction Team, Midland Township Fire Department, Mid-Michigan EMS and the Midland County Road Commission. Related content: Midland County Central Dispatch asks residents to avoid westbound US-10 Click here to read the full article. In campaign ads, Republican Glenn Youngkin boasts that he spent the last three decades building business and creating jobs, leading a team of nearly 2,000 people who trusted me to get things done. As co-CEO of the private equity firm the Carlyle Group, Youngkin was also party to one of the most contentious music rights disputes in recent memory Scooter Brauns purchase of Big Machine, the record label where Taylor Swift recorded her early hits. Now, 25 days out from election day, that sordid history is becoming a central plot point in the closely contested race for Virginia governor. It also led to a frantic scramble to yank merchandise emblazoned with a Swift trademark. Earlier this week, former Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe seeking a second non-consecutive term in office launched a five-figure ad buy on Facebook, Instagram and Google, drawing attention to Youngkins role in the fight over Taylor Swifts back catalogue. To review: back in 2019, Brauns Ithaca Holdings acquired Scott Borchettas Big Machine Label Group in a deal financially underwritten by the Carlyle Group. Under the agreement, the masters for Swifts first six albums became Brauns property. Swift who has a long, unhappy personal history with both Braun and his clients Justin Bieber and Kanye West was devastated. She posted a lengthy statement appealing to Youngkin and his colleagues at Carlyle to pull out of the deal. Im especially asking for help from the Carlyle Group, who put up the money for the sale of my music to these two men, the popstar wrote on Tumblr at the time. I just want to be able to perform my own music. The deal ultimately went through, despite Swifts public pleas, to which Youngkin never publicly responded. (At the time, Youngkins co-CEO, Kewsong Lee, defended Carlyles financing of the deal, saying, Ive got every confidence in the world that its going to turn out to be a successful investment.) Swift, who decided to re-record her first six albums in an effort to prevent Braun from profiting from her music, would go on to call out both Carlyle and the private equity industry more broadly after the sale. Private equity is what enabled this man to think that he could buy me, Swift said in a speech at the Billboard Music awards that year. (A rep for Youngkin did not immediately reply to a request for comment.) The McAuliffe campaign ads, which feature Swifts image and plays on her lyrics (e.g. Cause Glenn, now we got bad blood and Play Stupid Games, Win Stupid Prizes), debuted earlier this week and are micro-targeted at Swift fans and anyone else who searches her name. The Virginia Democratic Party, backing McAuliffes bid, even got in on the fun with tweets like, Theres bad blood between @taylorswift13 and @GlennYoungkin. Glenn has made clear that he will rip anyone off in order to make a profit. If hell do this to Taylor Swift hell do it to Virginians. Ironically, though, the McAuliffe campaign did not secure Swifts permission ahead of launching an ad campaign skewering Youngkin for profiting off the popstars work and image without her consent. (A spokesperson for McAuliffe confirmed to Rolling Stone earlier this week that the campaign had not had direct contact with Swifts team prior to the ad buy.) Virginia Democrats would have good reason to believe Swift would bless the effort after all, she is clearly not a fan of the Carlyle Group and has been vocally supportive of Democratic candidates. (She threw her full weight of her star power, for example, behind the Senate candidacy of Phil Bredesen in her home state of Tennessee back in 2018.) So it raised eyebrows when a line of Taylor Swift merchandise was abruptly pulled from the Virginia Democrats website on Thursday. The Washingtonian was first to report that, shortly after tweeting tis the damn season to get your swifties against youngkin merchandise on Thursday morning, the party deleted both the tweet and but purchase pages for sweatshirts, mugs, and buttons featuring the slogan. They subsequently deleted the entire category of products from its site. A source close to the situation says the items were removed from the site out of an abundance of caution those responsible for creating the merchandise werent aware that the pop star holds a trademark on the term Swifties. The same source, who was not aware of any request from Swifts team to remove the merchandise, added that refunds were processed for any individuals who bought the items in the short window when they were available online. (Swifts publicist did not respond to requests for comment.) Election day in Virginia is November 2nd; Red, Taylors Version, comes out November 12th. Bjoern Wylezich / TNS A Hartford man was sentenced to 18 months in federal prison Friday for his role in a gunfight in the city last year. William Tisdol, 22, also faces three years of supervised release at the conclusion of his sentence, the U.S. Attorneys Office said. GUILFORD The campaign manager for the Republican Board of Education candidates apologized Friday for making a clumsy comment about kids of color during a University of Connecticut education forum. Mary Beeman issued a statement Friday after drawing criticism for writing, helping kids of color to feel they belong has a negative effect on white, Christian, or conservative kids, in the comments section of the Zoom forum on race in education last week. In the course of an online chat exchange during a Zoom presentation, I made a clumsy comment, which I quickly corrected, Beeman said. Viewed in isolation, the single line taken from the exchange suggests a position far from my true and long-expressed beliefs, and it in no way represents who I am. Beeman said her comment was in response to a remark made by Guilford Public Schools Superintendent Paul Freeman, who was part of the event panel. Our superintendent of schools asserted that children of color need to belong, Beeman said in her statement on Friday. I say that they already do, as they should. Every child is a precious gift to our community, and I believe our school system must be and has been welcoming to them all. Paul Chello, chair of the Guilford Republican Town Committee, declined to comment Friday about Beemans remarks during the education forum. Chello also declined to say whether he would ask her to resign as campaign manager. Guilford Democratic Town Committee Chair Tara Hunt Melvin said Beemans statement and additional context does not change the mean-spirited remark. Hunt Melvin called on Beemans Republican school board candidates to reject what she said at the meeting. Given her role as the campaign manager for the Republican Board of Education candidates, Guilford parents and voters deserve to know if those candidates agree with Ms. Beemans sentiments that making children of color feel they belong has a negative effect on white children, Hunt Melvin said. So far, the Republican town chair and the Republican BOE candidates have chosen not to comment, and their silence speaks volumes about where they stand, she added. Freeman declined to comment about the Board of Education campaign, but said Friday children in the district are valued. It is not a zero-sum game. All our students belong, and we are committed to ensuring a safe and supportive environment in which they all know that they belong, and that they matter, and that they are valued, Freeman said. The belonging of one child in no way takes away from the belonging of any other. Board of Education Chairwoman Kathleen Balestracci, a Democrat, wrote in an email on Friday that Beemans comment is appalling because it demonstrates a lack of concern for children of color. She also said it represents a damaging and false narrative. She underestimates our childrens abilities to engage in thoughtful consideration of others experiences, and underestimates Guilford Public Schools faculty, staff and administration to simultaneously support all our students, Balestracci wrote in the email. Beemans Republican candidates have sparked an ongoing debate on how race is taught in Guilford schools. The candidates have claimed critical race theory is being taught in the towns schools. CRT is a controversial academic framework through which to view systems of racism and oppression in America. However, Freeman and other officials have said the theory is not being taught in town. In her statement on Friday, Beeman referenced critical race theory, claiming it divides people into oppressors and oppressed, creating divisions and resentments based solely on race. The Republican candidates did not respond to requests for comment. However, Beeman said the candidates support her statement, which was shared Friday on the Parents for Guilford Students Facebook page. I am truly sorry to have typed a sentence that takes attention from our five outstanding candidates, Beeman wrote in the statement. The voters of our town will make a grave decision next month, between board members who will be a rubber-stamp for critical race theory extremists, and a group of parents determined to provide our school system with true and transparent oversight, who will promote basics in education. Banu Ozkazanc-Pan, a parent of biracial and bi-religious students in the Guilford school system, feels Beeman should resign. How can you be in a position to impact school children and children in general if these are your views on minority kids? Its not OK, Ozkazanc-Pan said. Were kind of surfacing views that have probably been there for a long time that we didnt really catch. Staff writer Peter Yankowski contributed to this story. christine.derosa@hearstmediact.com Retired Army Gen. Ray Odierno, who rose to be the top U.S. commander in the Iraq War more than a decade ago, has died, according to a press release from the Association of the United States Army. He was 67 years old. He died of cancer, according to a statement from the family. The height of Odierno's nearly 40-year military career was serving as Army chief of staff from 2011 to 2015, but the towering New Jersey native was most known for his service in Iraq, which mirrored the entire trajectory of the war itself. Odierno helped lead the capture of former Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein, who was found hiding in a hole in the ground in 2003, and served as the top commander in the country until the war wound down in 2011. In total, he spent more than 55 months in Iraq over three tours. "Ray's legacy is like Ray himself -- it simply won't fit into the space behind a podium," former Defense Secretary Ash Carter said during a 2015 change-of-command ceremony for Odierno. "But let me characterize it this way: Ray Odierno's story is our Army's story. He's a consummate leader and more, the very symbol of the U.S. Army -- big, strong, capable, always willing." Gen. Mark Milley, who succeeded Odierno as Army chief and is now Joint Chiefs chairman, called the 6-foot-5 Odierno a "giant of a man" and a "moral giant" at his retirement. The search for Saddam in the months following the U.S. invasion of Iraq was a key point in the war, as the military worried he could fuel continued fighting if left free. Odierno was commander of the Army's 4th Infantry Division during that time and recounted in a 2013 interview "getting the call" that No. 1, the military's code name for Saddam, had been captured. "It was very important for us to capture him to make sure that he would never be able to come back and terrorize the Iraqi people," Odierno told interviewer Charlie Rose. Read Next: Pilot Errors Caused Fatal T-38 Training Crash, Air Force Probe Finds However, imprisoning Saddam did not end the war. Instead, an insurgency grew over the next two years into bloody fighting for the military. Odierno eventually became a top backer of new counterterrorism tactics and a surge strategy. "He educated himself and became the very best operational commander we have in conducting irregular warfare," retired Gen. Jack Keane, now chairman of the Institute for the Study of War, told the Los Angeles Times in 2008. President George W. Bush announced a surge of more than 20,000 troops in 2007 to secure Baghdad and Iraq's provinces amid the violence. Odierno was the operational commander of that surge as commanding general of Multi-National Force-Iraq. "We're doing this so we're able to give them [the Iraqis] the time necessary to mature as a government, to mature their security forces so we can move forward and allow them to take control of their own destiny as they all so much want to do, and we can then return home one day to our families," Odierno told his troops in a video message in 2007. The controversial move coincided with a drop in sectarian violence in the country and eventually paved the way for the U.S. to withdraw under President Barack Obama in 2011. As Army chief, Odierno was the top officer in the U.S. military's largest service branch when the Islamic State group overran northern Iraq in 2014, bringing a new era of violence and war to the country. Odierno stoked his own minor controversy going into retirement in 2015 when he gave a stark warning that the continued fight against the terrorist group was at a stalemate, and that sectarian violence in Iraq still could split the country in two. In retirement, he advocated for veterans. Odierno sat on the board of directors of The Mission Continues, a nonprofit aimed at helping vets adjust to civilian life, and was a member of the JPMorgan Chase Military and Veterans Affairs External Advisory Council. "What I've tried to do is share the experiences I've had, the challenges I've had, the mistakes I've made," Odierno said in a 2018 CNBC interview when asked how his Army career translated into retirement. "It's about getting people to come together to achieve extraordinary outcomes," he added. Odierno was married to his high school sweetheart Linda, according to his service biography. He had three children, including retired Army Capt. Tony Odierno, who is a combat veteran. -- Travis Tritten can be reached at travis.tritten@military.com. Follow him on Twitter @Travis_Tritten. Related: US Army Gen. Odierno Retires amid Controversy over Iraq Remarks The Enforcement Directorate (ED) is set to begin a probe into the Rs64.5 crore Telugu Akademi fixed deposit (FD) fraud in Hyderabad. The central agency is likely to register a case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) and take up investigations. As the case involves money laundering and the proceeds were used by the accused to purchase assets and make investments, the Hyderabad police made a request to the ED to initiate the probe. The central crime station (CCS), detective department has already 10 accused in the case. Six accused, including mastermind Chunduri Venkata Koti Sai Kumar, were arrested on Wednesday, while four were earlier taken into custody. The arrests were made during the investigation into three cases registered on the complaint of Telugu Akademi, Union Bank of India and Canara Bank. The case relates to fraudulent withdrawal of fixed deposits (FDs) from two public sector banks (PSBs) with the total amount involved being Rs64.5 crore. The fraud was committed by a group of bank agents in connivance with some bank officials and an employee of Telugu Akademi. Those arrested include Sagoori Ramesh, administrative officer and in-charge accounts officer at Telugu Akademi; M Sadhana, Canara Bank's Chandanagar branch manager, Sheikh Mastan Vali, chief manager, Union Bank of India's Karwan branch, BVVN Satyanarayana Rao, chairman and MD, AP Mercantile Cooperative Credit Society Ltd; and Vedula Padmavathi, manager (operations), AP Mercantile Cooperative Credit Society, who is sister of Satyanarayana. Investigations revealed that a total of 43 FDs were withdrawn fraudulently between December 2020 and September 2021 and transferred to AP Mercantile Cooperative Credit Society's account in Agrasen Bank. While seeking the police custody of the accused for further questioning, the police informed the court on Thursday that out of the siphoned off money, Sai Kumar took Rs20 crore, while Mr Satyanarayana pocketed Rs10 crore. A CCS official said in the remand report that one of the accused Nanui Venkata Raman, a realtor, received Rs7 crore. Mastan Vali and Sadhana, the two bank officials, received Rs2.5 crore and Rs1.99 crore respectively. Absconding accused Krishna Reddy and Ramana Reddy got Rs6 crore each. Bhoopathi received Rs2.5 crore. There was no mention of the money received by Telugu Akademi administrative officer Mr Ramesh, who was the main link between the criminal gang and bank officials involved. The police could not recover most of the siphoned off money as the accused purchased properties and made other investments. The ED is likely to identify those properties and seize them. Mastermind Sai Kumar reportedly purchased 35 acres of land on the outskirts of Hyderabad. He also told investigators that he paid Rs5 crore to a dealer who promised to supply diesel at low price. Sai Kumar was involved in three similar cases in the past. In 2012, he withdrew the fixed deposits of AP Minority Welfare Society in 2012 and the case is being investigated by the crime investigation department (CID). Sai Kumar was also accused in the AP Housing Board Scam of nearly Rs6 crore and Rs25 crore fixed deposit fraud of the Northern Coal Fields in Chennai. Both cases are being investigated by the central bureau of investigation (CBI). Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article. When a person dies intestate (without leaving a will), the transfer of certain assets to the heirs of the deceased requires a legal heir certificate, and in a few States a probate, in order to establish their claim. Mumbai-based lawyer Siddhartha Shah says A number of other documents such as legal heir certificate may be procured, as an alternative to a succession certificate, for the purpose of establishing an inheritance or aiding in the transfer of assets from the deceased. It is comparatively easier to obtain it. Mr Shah explained In some cases, a legal heir certificate may be used in the place of a succession certificate merely because family is able to obtain a legal heir certificate conveniently and quickly. Usually, families first apply for a legal heir certificate and in the event a legal heir certificate is not accepted by the relevant authority for some reason, then a succession certificate is applied for. A legal heir certificate is thus a crucial post-demise document to establish the relationship between the deceased and legal heirs and who the legal heirs are, in order to claim certain assets. One legal heir can apply for the certificate but he/she has to include the names of all possible legal heirs in the prescribed application form. A legal heir certificate establishes the relationship of the heirs to the deceased for claims relating to pension, provident fund, gratuity or other service benefits of central and state government departments, specifically when the deceased has not selected a nominee. Banks and private companies also accept such certificates for allowing transfer of deposits, balances, investments, shares, etc. Mr Shah cautions that the applicant legal heir must truthfully mention all other legal heirs apart from him/her on the application form. Remember that you are signing the document. Mr Shah said Do not leave out any legal heirs because it will tantamount to misrepresentation, manipulation and is a criminal offence and one could land up in jail. It will amount to perjury and you can be held liable for lying if the other legal heirs challenge the certificate later on or you are caught. Despite it being such a crucial document, misrepresentation and misuse often happens leading to long-drawn litigation. Mr Shah stressed that the legal heir certificate is revocable if someone later on objects that it should not be granted to you. It does not certify that you are the only legal heir of that deceased person or that you are entitled to all assets that have been left behind by the deceased person. For that you would need a succession certificate. Succession certificate is granted by a court of law after following the due process of issuing a public notice and inviting objections from the public at large as well as the other legal heirs of the deceased person. It is this succession certificate which grants the right to successors to claim all the movable assets of the deceased person. Mr Shah added Legal heir certificate is not conclusive when it comes to determining the legitimate class of heirs of a deceased person under the laws of succession or the title of heirs to any disputed property that belonged to the deceased. In case of any disputes between the heirs of the deceased, the revenue officer cannot issue a legal heir certificate and is required to direct the heirs to approach a civil court for determination of the rightful heirs. Mr Shah further clarified A legal heir certificate is issued to identify the living heirs of a deceased person whereas succession certificate is issued to establish the authenticity of the heirs and give them the authority to inherit debts, securities and other assets that the deceased may have left behind. The legal heir certificate names all the heirs of a deceased person, under the applicable law, after a proper enquiry. All eligible successors must possess this certificate to stake a claim over the deceased persons property. One needs the legal heir certificate for the following: Transfer of properties and assets of the demised person to his successors (such as transferring the car or telephone/ electricity connection) For insurance claims Sanction and processing family pension of the deceased employee. To receive dues such as provident fund, gratuity etc from the government or to salary arrears of the deceased (state or central government employee). To gain employment based on compassionate appointments File tax returns on behalf of the deceased: Legal heir certificate is also a must when one needs to file income tax returns on behalf of the deceased assessee (as a representative). As per Section 159 of the Income Tax Act, 1961, if an individual dies, then the legal representatives shall be liable to pay any sum which the deceased would have been liable to pay had the individual not died and were alive. A legal representative or legal heir is deemed to be an assessee (representing the deceased) and tax is payable on income/ earnings from 1st April to the date of death of the asset owner. However, the legal representative/ heir is not responsible to pay the income tax dues from his/her own pocket. Importantly, the legal heirs are liable only up to the extent of the assets that they inherit from the deceased asset owner. Who can apply for a legal heir certificate: As per Indian law, the following persons are considered legal heirs and can claim a legal heir certificate: Spouse of the deceased Children of the deceased (Son/ Daughter) Parents of the deceased Sibling(s) of the deceased Procedure to obtain legal heir certificate Once a death certificate is obtained from the municipal corporation, the legal heir can apply for the legal heir certificate to claim their right over the assets of the deceased person. The legal heir certificate can be obtained by approaching the area/taluk Tehsildhar, or from the corporation/municipality office of the respective area, or from the district civil court. In Mumbai, you can contact concerned window, Mumbai City Collectorate, Old Custom House, Ground floor, Fort Mumbai-400001. The main documents needed are - 1. Xerox copy of the first and last page of the ration card 2. Affidavit duly affirmed on stamp paper of Rs.20/- 3. Death certificate 4. Service record from the office of the deceased employee The process of obtaining a legal heir certificate are stated below: The legitimate heir of the deceased person must visit the appropriate authority listed above and seek an application form for the legal heir certificate application. This requisite application must include the names of all the legal heirs, their relationship with the deceased and addresses of the family members. This has to be filled up signed and submitted. All the required documents including the death certificate of the departed person should be attached to the application. An affidavit on stamp paper or self declaration needs to be submitted along with the application. Revenue Inspector/administrative officer conducts an inspection and completes the enquiry. Authorities after receiving the application will check the attached documents and details. If all are in place, they will make entries in their registry and provide you a record number for reference. Tehsildar will assign the application for further processing to the Village Administrative Officer (VAO) and Mandal revenue officer (MRO) OR the authorities concerned. There will be a ground level verification and scrutiny of the documents submitted by the above authorities. Enquiry will take place for the verification by the local revenue officers as well as village administrative officials. Generally, a statement by the administrative/gov employee who is known to the dead person and his/her family will be registered in the application form. After the verification, the officials will submit their report in the prescribed form. Once the verification is over, these revenue officer and village administrative officials will submit their report in due form to the Tehsildar to decide and issue the certificate to the applicant with the names of all legal heirs of the deceased. After the enquiry is completed successfully, the authorized officer issues the legal heir certificate. Applicant will get the certificate after due verification. After the due enquiry, based on the report presented by the revenue officer and village administrative officials the certificate will be issued by the competent authority in which names of all the legal heirs will be mentioned. The process of obtaining a legal heir certificate generally takes 30 days. If there is an unnecessary delay in receiving this certificate or the concerned authorities fail to respond, you should then approach the Revenue Division Officer(RDO)/sub-collector or Tehsildar. Documents required to apply for legal heir certificate Here is the list of documents required: Death certificate of the deceased Identity proof and address proof of the applicant (legal heir) written / prescribed application form Proof of residence of deceased person (voter ID / driving licence/ bank pass book etc) If spouse applies for certificate If the spouse survives, Aadhaar, marriage registration certificate or passport or Voter ID should be submitted Birth certificate or Transfer certificate of all Children Self declaration of the spouse indicating all other legal heirs (including mother-in-law if wife is the applicant) If child applies if parent are deceased Death certificate of the parents Birth certificate / Aadhaar / passport / transfer certificate of the applicant and adhaar card of all possible heirs In case a minor child applies when parents are deceased Death certificate of the parents Birth certificate / Aadhaar / passport / transfer certificate of the applicant and Aadhaar card of all possible heirs Guardianship order issued by the Honourable civil court to prove relationship to the heirs If parents or sibling apply (in case unmarried children pass away) Death certificate of the deceased Birth certificate / Aadhaar / passport / transfer certificate of the deceased Self declaration of the parents / siblings The applicant can opt for any of these: voter ID, Aadhar card, driving license, passport or any other government-issued identity card as the identity proof. Address proof of legal heir can be any valid identity proof or telephone/mobile bill, gas bill, bank passbook with the name and address of the legal heir. Date of birth proof of legal heir can be a birth certificate, school transfer/leaving certificate, PAN card, passport etc. Difference between legal heir certificate and succession certificate Many people get confused between legal heir certificate and succession certificate. Mr Shah pointed out that it is important to note that both legal heir certificate and succession certificate are not same. Both certificates are very different and serve different purposes. A succession certificate is issued by the civil court and there are separate procedures to obtain the same. Legal heir certificate is issued to build a relationship for claims related to pension, insurance, administrative/service advantages, retirement benefits of the state and central government offices, government works etc. and to get a government job on compassionate grounds. A succession certificate enables the legal heirs to transfer the property, shares, debentures, etc. of the deceased in their own name. Major differences between these two certificates are as follows: Legal heir certificate usage is limited to certain matters such as claiming employee benefits of the deceased, insurance claims, property registration etc. A legal heir certificate is not accepted as conclusive proof under the law of succession in India. With respect to the settlement of any property which is disputed or under court litigation, a succession certificate is vital. Click here to view Moneylife session on how to prepare a legal will or appoint a nominee for your assets. Note: This article intends to provide a general guide to the subject matter. Specialist advice should be sought about your specific circumstances. Lack of proper promotion and transfer policies leading to arbitrariness in decisions, amending eligibility conditions and qualifications after the recruitment process has begun, scrapping the recruitment process midway are some of the human resources (HR) issues afflicting the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI), said sources. Sources also told IANS that IRDAI, which governs the sensitive insurance sector deals in public money running into thousands of crores, does not have policies for Whistle-blowers and a Vigilance Manual. The human resources recruitment issue had even been raised in Parliament and other official fora, but no action has been taken, it is learnt. The Telangana High Court's recent verdict setting aside the promotion of Mamata Suri as the chief general manager (CGM) and ordering SN Jayasimhan, FCA, as the only person qualified for the CGM post will be the first of the several verdicts that may go against IRDAI, sources preferring anonymity told IANS. The court also held that the power of relaxing the qualification is not vested with the chairman since no resolution to that effect has been passed. Hence the action of the chairman in relaxing FCA to CFA/ICWAI and promoting Mr Suri is contrary to law, arbitrary, and without jurisdiction. On her part, Ms Suri preferred an appeal against the single judge's order. The Bench ordered an interim suspension of the single judge order, but added its order does not come in the way of the IRDAI promoting Mr Jayasimhan in the existing vacancies. According to sources, there are several cases filed against IRDAI by its employees against their non-promotion, transfers and other matters. It has been reported that the managing director of institute of Insurance and Risk Management (IIRM) had written to IRDAI that the institute cannot be a parking ground for some routine transfers at IRDAI to favour some and punish some. The IIRM is promoted by IRDAI and Telangana government. The Central government had once told the Rajya Sabha that IRDAI had received complaints relating to lowering of the age, reallocation of unfilled vacancies, pattern of questions in written exam, reservation of posts and rosters in connection with one of its recruitment drives that began in 2018. Replying to the question raised by Rajya Sabha member Javed Ali Khan, the government in 2019 said IRDAI had to cancel that recruitment process midway in May 2019 as it found the minimum experience criteria mentioned in the notification did not explicitly specify the sector or area of work in which work experience was required. This led to some candidates without useful experience being considered for further stages of the recruitment process. The government had told the Upper House that in order to avoid future litigation and to maintain transparency, IRDAI cancelled its recruitment exercise. The expenditure incurred in the process -- issuing advertisement, conducting written exam and evaluation of answer sheets was about Rs22.47 lakh. "However, no probe was ordered to fix accountability on allowing some candidates without useful experience being considered for further stages of recruitment process. Are eligibility and qualifications being prescribed to hire select individuals," questioned a source. In the absence of Whistleblowers policy in IRDAI, senior officials said the officials fear they would be subjected to revengeful action by the top management if they highlight the wrongs happening in the Authority. Curiously, way back in 2016, IRDAI had issued corporate governance guidelines for insurers in India where it has advised insurers to have a Whistle-blowers Policy. In a reply to a query raised under the Right to Information Act (RTI), IRDAI had replied that its staff regulations 2016 does not have any provision dealing with whistle-blowers. To another query about the avenues available to highlight or act as a whistle-blower in the Authority, IRDAI had replied: "The information sought is in the nature of a 'query' and does not qualify as 'information' as defined in Section 2 (f) of RTI Act, 2005." Perhaps, the governance policy is only for insurers and not for IRDAI like the view that a critic need not be a performer, commented a source. Disclaimer: Information, facts or opinions expressed in this news article are presented as sourced from IANS and do not reflect views of Moneylife and hence Moneylife is not responsible or liable for the same. As a source and news provider, IANS is responsible for accuracy, completeness, suitability and validity of any information in this article. October 09, 2021 The U.S. Wants Back Into Afghanistan Just six weeks after leaving Afghanistan the U.S. wants to get back in: A U.S. delegation will meet with senior Taliban representatives in Doha on Saturday and Sunday in their first face-to-face meeting at a senior level since Washington pulled its troops from Afghanistan and the hardline group took over the country, two senior administration officials told Reuters. The high-level U.S. delegation will include officials from the State Department, USAID and the U.S. intelligence community, will press the Taliban to ensure continued safe passage for U.S. citizens and others out of Afghanistan and to release kidnapped U.S. citizen Mark Frerichs, the officials said. That U.S. intelligence officials take part points to an effort to get an agreement on a long term and significantly sized CIA presence in the country. Such a station would target China and to a lesser degree Russia. The Taliban had previously rejected such a request (or at least had put some strong conditions on it which the U.S. did not fulfill.) For a normal CIA presence in Afghanistan the U.S. could of course simply reopen its embassy as the Taliban had asked it to do. But that is something the Biden administration does not want to do as it would give the Taliban international legitimacy: This meeting is not about granting recognition or conferring legitimacy. We remain clear that any legitimacy must be earned through the Talibans own actions. They need to establish a sustained track record, the official said. The Taliban want the U.S. to release the frozen reserves of the Afghan central bank. They need money to feed their country. There also seem to be some open points with regards to the previous agreement which included secret annexes: Taliban spokesman Suhail Shaheen, who is based in Doha, told the Associated Press on Saturday that the talks will also revisit the peace agreement the Taliban signed with Washington in 2020. The agreement had paved the way for the final U..S. withdrawal. Yes there is a meeting ... about bilateral relations and implementation of the Doha agreement, said Shaheen. It covers various topics. ... The U.S.-Taliban agreement of 2020, which was negotiated by the Trump administration, demanded the Taliban break ties with terrorist groups and guarantee Afghanistan would not again harbor terrorists who could attack the United States and its allies. It seems certain the two sides will discuss in the weekend talks how to tackle the growing [Islamic State] threat. The Taliban has said it does not want U.S. anti-terrorism assistance and have warned Washington against any so-called over-the -horizon strikes on Afghan territory from outside the countrys borders. The Taliban know who has founded and nurtured the Islamic State in Afghanistan. They suspect that the U.S. is still controlling it and that the recent Islamic State attacks in Afghanistan are just another form of U.S. pressure. Yesterdays suicide bombing in a Shia mosque in Kunduz was executed by an Uyghur Islamic State member. Trump had taken the Uyghur Eastern Turkistan Islamic Movement (ETIM) off the U.S. terrorist list and Biden has not reinstated it. This reinforce the impression that the U.S. is behind Islamic State attacks and that its real target is China: The United States, meanwhile, would seek to hold Taliban leaders to commitments that they would allow Americans and other foreign nationals to leave Afghanistan, along with Afghans who once worked for the U.S. military or government and other Afghan allies, a U.S. official said. The Taliban are not holding anyone back. It is the U.S. which is responsible for the travel difficulties: U.S. officials have cited the difficulty of verifying flight manifests without any American officials on the ground in Afghanistan to help, along with other holdups. To prepare for the meeting in Doha a U.S. delegation held high level talks with Pakistan: The meeting between Washingtons deputy secretary of state and Pakistan's leaders came amid an array of unsettled issues. They include questions such as the level of future engagement with the Taliban in Afghanistan, and the ongoing evacuation of foreign nationals and Afghans who want to flee the country's new Taliban rulers. Another question on the agenda is who will provide funds to stave off a full economic meltdown and looming humanitarian crisis in Afghanistan. Since the Taliban takeover, billions of dollars in aid have been frozen. Nearly 80% of the former Afghan government's budget was funded by international donors. Even as it shies away from any unilateral formal recognition, Pakistan has been pressing for greater engagement with the all-male, all-Taliban Cabinet that the insurgents set up after they overran Afghanistan in mid-August, in the final weeks of the U.S. and NATO pullout from the country. Pakistan has also urged Washington to release billions of dollars to the Taliban so that they can pay salaries of the many Afghan ministries and avoid an economic meltdown. The United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees has warned that s such a crash could unleash a mass migration. As a result of the talks Pakistan showed support for the U.S. demand of an 'inclusive government' in Afghanistan: Little information has emerged from the meetings. A statement from Pakistan's foreign ministry said an inclusive and broad-based political structure reflecting the ethnic diversity of Afghan society was essential for Afghanistans stability and progress. That was a clear message to the Taliban: An acceptable Afghan government is one that includes representatives of all Afghan minorities. The statement also had a message for the world, saying the current situation required positive engagement of the international community, urgent provision of humanitarian assistance, release of Afghan financial resources, and measures to help build a sustainable economy to alleviate the sufferings of the Afghan people. I do not see the U.S. getting what it wants from the Taliban. They know that a large CIA station in their country would also endanger their rule. If the U.S. continues to hold back Afghanistan's money it only increases the need for the Taliban to engage with China. While China will be stingy and have its own requests it at least does not work with terrorist and it sticks to its agreements. Posted by b on October 9, 2021 at 16:18 UTC | Permalink Comments As a wide variety of stakeholders the public, employees, investors and regulators call on oil and gas operators to develop ESG initiatives, information is needed to drive those efforts. Access to energy and energy security equates to economic growth, observed Gani Sagingaliyev, founder and chief technology officer of ESG Dynamics. Being that the US seeks energy independence long-term, theres a need to eliminate emissions sources and transparency around that effort and around that data. Participating in the Oilfield Strong webinar presented by OTA Environmental services, Sagingaliyev said that data is needed by a wide variety of stakeholders so they can make investment decisions and push the industrys performance better. Data can also help prospective buyers decide if they want to buy assets based on ESG performance. Access to that data has, frankly, not been as valuable a benchmark as needed, he said. We are probably in the second inning of where we should be, he said. His company offers web-based Environment, Social and Governance data visualization tools and related intelligence. It offers a view of the environmental footprint across land and assets at the heart of understanding oil and gas related emissions, risks and liabilities. Information navigates production, gas flaring and gas use trends, operations-related emissions and inactive wells. Data covers basins, counties, operators, leases and portfolios. A national Environmental Protection Agency data and benchmarking module will be launched soon. Providing an example of the companys data, Sagingaliyev provided a snapshot of Permian Basin for 2018-2021. In the first quarter of 2018, flaring doubled and reached 677 million cubic feet a day, enough to power 3 million households. A year later, flaring intensity remained high, peaking at 680 million cubic feet a day in the third quarter. By the second quarter of 2020, additional pipeline capacity had come online but the pandemic caused drilling activity to fall 60 percent and flaring to fall 50 percent. In the second quarter of this year, flaring continued to decline to 197 million cubic feet per day as of May -- but the rate of change slowed and further reductions will require an active ESG focus. He attributed growing associated gas production and pipeline bottlenecks with the increase in flaring from 2018-2019 -- with flaring in the Delaware Basin soaring because of high production rates and little infrastructure. Pipeline buildouts have nearly eliminated the need for routine flaring, with the Gulf Coast Express adding 2 billion cubic feet of capacity and the addition this year of the Permian Highway and Whistler pipelines adding 6.4 billion cubic feet of takeaway capacity. He said the top-50 Permian Basin producers -- who make up 91 percent of production -- are responsible for 76 percent of flaring at 0.9 percent intensity, versus Permian aggregate of 1.10 percent. The top-10 producers are achieving lower flaring, he said. Electrifying oilfield operations could address flaring, but Sagingaliyev noted there are issues with the grid and reliability. An interesting trend going forward is what happens when activity picks up, he said. The industry has made such progress and a commitment to not flaring. ... Activity is already picking up, but flaring is still coming down. Multiple reports indicate the Permian Basin, while leading the nation in energy production, also leads in methane emissions. The silver lining is everyone recognizes a huge opportunity for the Permian Basin to showcase to the world things can get better better practices, better technology, said Robert Kester, president and general manager of Honeywell Rebellion, which monitors for methane leaks. We can make the Permian Basin the leader in responsibly sourced gas. Another recognition is the need for continuous monitoring of methane emissions, something Kester told the Reporter-Telegram is complicated because there is such limited data. But again, the Permian Basin is in a unique position because its facilities are connected. Now we can take people off the road, monitor remotely and send people out to fix the problem rather than sending them out to search for problems, he said. Honeywell Rebellions monitoring is visual, which he said can help counter the non-government organizations and regulators that fly over facilities searching for emissions. Outsiders looking in will always see the oil and gas industry as bad actors, he said. In Texas we know thats not the case. Now we can provide proof companies are taking steps to address leaks and preserve this valuable natural resource. There are a lot of options in methane monitoring, and Kester said he hopes new methane rules expected from the Environmental Protection Agency soon will allow companies flexibility in what technology they use. Hopefully the rules will be less restrictive and more outcome-based, he said. Regulation, however, is not driving the conversation around mitigating methane emissions, said Steve Deiker, cofounder and chief executive officer of Kairos Aerospace during a visit to Midland. The real pressure is from customers and investors, he said. Thats been a big change. The movement toward methane mitigation began before President Biden took office, he pointed out. Noting what a bad year 2020 was for the oil and gas industry the pandemic destroying oil demand and oil market crashing, he said Kairos business still tripled during 2020. That shows investor pressure, customer pressure is real, he said. Deiker predicted the big movement next year will be for the industry to create a suite of solutions to methane leaks and emissions that lets operators choose the appropriate technology for individual wells, basins or supply chains. Regulators appear open to that approach, he said. Like Kester, he said the Permian Basin will have the advantage as customers and investors pressure operators to address emissions and leaks and increasingly demand specific intensity and leak measurements from the wellhead to the point of sale. The Permian Basin is the best-studied basin in the world on emissions. Its the only basin in the world that knows where the emissions are, Deiker explained The Permian Basin is moving faster than anywhere else in the world to address emissions, he added, because operators are more willing to be aggressive on the issue. As to technology, he said all the necessary technology is already available. It will get better, it will get cheaper. (But) detection is the least important part of the equation. Its all about repair and operations, taking the information we give them and acting on it, he said. Texas is currently experiencing a heat wave, but preparations are already under way for the coming winter. This week, the Railroad Commission sent a Notice to Operators, asking gas facility and gas pipeline facility operators to take all necessary actions to operate during the winter season. The notice details best practices and a reminder to update information with their electric service providers for critical load serving electric generation. The critical load application, an Electric Reliability Council of Texas form, is included in the notice. Best practices include methanol injection or drip, water removal by solid absorption, cold weather barriers, heat systems, glycol, drip pots and instrument filters. Another best practice is careful planning during the design stage for measurement and regulating systems to reduce the chances of freezing. Andrew Keese, RRC spokesman, told the Reporter-Telegram by email that recently passed Senate Bill 3 requires the agency to adopt rules requiring gas supply chain facilities and gas pipeline facilities to implement measures to prepare to operate in a weather emergency. Those rules will be adopted following a map published by the Texas Electricity Supply Chain Security and Mapping Committee. Deadline for publication of that map is Sept. 1, 2022. But even before that occurs, we want to work with operators for the upcoming winter, he wrote. The measures mentioned in the notice are not mandatory as the rules have not been adopted yet, but we will keep following up with operators to help ensure Texans safety for next winter. In addition, the agency will work with large gas producers, natural gas storage facilities and transmission pipelines around the state on their winter preparedness. Railroad Commission inspectors will also visit sites to observe preparedness of operators that are modifying their facilities as they transition from summer to winter operations. Keese told the Reporter-Telegram the agency is hiring inspectors for a new division that will oversee weatherization. While that division gets staffed, he said the agency will utilize the expertise of its current field inspectors. We want to ensure we have done our best to help protect Texans if there is severe weather next winter, said Wei Wang, the commissions executive director, in a statement. FORT HOOD, Texas (AP) U.S. Army officials unveiled a new resource and training center at Fort Hood on Thursday that aims to create a more supportive culture following reports of murder, suicide and sexual assault at the embattled Texas military installation. The People First Center will provide resources and support for soldiers who are victims of sexual assault or have had suicidal thoughts, and will aim to prevent such problems by training Fort Hood leaders on how to properly respond, Army officials said during a tour of the facility. The center will become fully operational in 2022. Lt. Gen. Gary Brito, the Army's deputy chief of staff for personnel, who attended the tour, said he hoped the changes implemented at Fort Hood and elsewhere would provide a very cordial, comfortable environment, responsive to any soldiers and victims, in a coordinated location, with experts that can also assist in other areas as well. The center is expected to provide training and resources on how to prevent sexual harassment and assault, as well as how to respond to allegations. Training and support services will also be available on equal opportunities, suicide prevention, substance abuse and spirituality. An independent review of Fort Hood prompted by the deaths of more than two dozen soldiers at the base in 2020 revealed that military leaders were not adequately dealing with high rates of sexual assault and harassment, drug use and other problems. It also concluded that the Army Criminal Investigation Division was understaffed, overwhelmed and filled with inexperienced investigators, and that female soldiers feared retaliation and compromised confidentiality if they filed complaints. In April, U.S. Army officials disciplined 21 officers and non-commissioned officers, including firing eight senior commanders, related to the murder of Spc. Vanessa Guillen, who was killed at Fort Hood in April 2020. According to Guillens family, she had been harassed in the months before her death. Fort Hood officials said Thursday that some additional recommendations have been put in place for the base while others still needed to be implemented, but did not provide details of programs to address soldiers concerns about how reports of sexual assault and harassment are handled at the Texas base. Brito said the People First Task Force was working to change these systems across the Army informed by data collected from pilot programs at other bases to address sexual assault and harassment reporting. He is one of the chairs of the panel. I know some goodness will come out of it over time, by doing this right, the intellectual energies behind it and more importantly the passion of leadership behind it, Brito said. The task force has helped to implement dozens of recommendations from the independent review. The People First Task Force has also established pilot programs at six other Army facilities that aim to improve services for soldiers who report sexual harassment or assault. Col. Kelly Webster, deputy director of the People First Task Force, told reporters Wednesday that the program would allow soldiers to report assaults outside their chain of command, while providing resources such as victim advocates, chaplains, heath care workers and more. Being allowed to go outside the chain of command has been a common request; Soldiers have said their reports are sometimes ignored or belittled by unit commanders, who often know the victim and alleged assailant. Kelly said the program would also reduce the possibility of a commander retaliating against a soldier who reports an assault. Col. Erica Cameron, who is leading the effort to revamp the sexual assault response program, said even though Fort Hood was a catalyst for the latest studies and changes, it was not included in the initiative because there were already changes afoot at that base. The six locations are: Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland; Schofield Barracks, Hawaii; Fort Bragg, N.C.; Fort Irwin, California; Fort Riley, Kansas; and Fort Sill, Oklahoma. The Army Reserve will set up a virtual center for the 99th Readiness Division which is based at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst in New Jersey. The pilot program is expected to launch early next year. ___ Baldor reported from Washington. Coronado is a corps member for the Associated Press/Report for America Statehouse News Initiative. Report for America is a nonprofit national service program that places journalists in local newsrooms to report on undercovered issues. Jacy Lewis/Reporter-Telegram The West Texas Food Bank is partnering with Pioneer Natural Resources to fund nine school pantries in five school districts across the Permian Basin. As part of the Food 2 Kids Program, the nine school pantries are available to students in five independent school districts. Pioneer has committed funds that will stock the nine school pantries for an entire school year, according to a press release. Twitter/@ChuysRestaurant Chuys Tex-Mex restaurant appears to be heading to Midland-Odessa. The information came Friday afternoon via Twitter. An official with the restaurant, using the companys account, responded to a tweet with rumors are true Chuys is coming to Midland in 2022. 2021 Olympia Classic Physique Judging Report Bumstead looking to 3-peat! Written by Ron Harris 09 October 2021 Team MD is On the Scene in Orlando, FL for the 2021 OLYMPIA WEEKEND! Stay with Us All Weekend! 2021 Olympia Classic Physique Judging Report Bumstead Looking to 3-Peat? by Ron Harris Chris Bumstead was a bit bigger than last year, if a touch less conditioned. Still, his total package is better today than anyone elses, and it should easily be enough to lock down his third Olympia title at age 26. Arnold Classic champ Terrence Ruffin looks even tighter today, but former 2X Olympia champ Breon Ansley came in with a crazy full, round look. He could claw his way back to second. Former Arnold champ Alex Cambronero is right on the money and should be a solid fourth place once again like last year. Fifth should go to 24-year-old German rookie Urs Kalecinski, with Brazilian newcomer Ramon Rocha Querioz looking to crack top 6 at his first O. Bryan Jones was off in conditioning as he was two weeks ago at the Arnold. Robert Timms has a phenomenal upper body, still needs more legs Wesley Vissers Needed better color, and I think he still needs to fill out his frame and add more size. Heres how I have it so far: 1 Bumstead 2 Breon 3 Ruffin 4 Cambronero 5 Kalecinski WATCH NOW! Catch all of the action on the MD Play by Play and Buy the live stream at: www.olympiaproductions.com DISCUSS ON OUR FORUMS SUBSCRIBE TO MD TODAY GET OFFICIAL MD STUFF ALSO, MAKE SURE TO FOLLOW US ON: FACEBOOK TWITTER INSTAGRAM YOUTUBE CARROLLTON County Market has ended its online grocery ordering and delivery to Carrollton after just a few months because of a lack of interest from the community. The mobile unit that was sitting in Carrollton so Greene County residents could pick up their orders has been removed and the services no longer is available. Carrollton Mayor Mike Snyder said its sad that the service has ended, but it was not being used enough to be profitable for the business. The interest wasnt there, Snyder said. I believe they started out OK, but then the numbers just started going down. County Market began providing online orders with delivery to the mobile unit in Carrollton after Krogers closed, leaving Greene County residents to travel outside the county for their groceries. The nearest grocery stores are in Jacksonville and Jerseyville, as well as Meehans in Greenfield. Snyder said he believe most people just didnt like ordering their groceries online. While people like to buy certain things online, I dont think groceries are one of them, Snyder said. They like to be able to go and pick and choose, compare items. Snyder said he believes many Carrollton residents are traveling to Jerseyville to buy their groceries, especially when they make the trip for other reasons. Those in the northern part of the county may be closer to Jacksonville, he said. They are going to these other towns for other things, so they are getting their groceries as well, Snyder said. They want to be able to pick their items out themselves. A representative of Neimann Foods, which owns County Market stores in Illinois, Indiana, Iowa and Missouri but does not own County Market in Jacksonville did not return calls Thursday or Friday. -- Updated Oct. 11, 2021, to add Meehan's in Greenfield as a shopping option. BLUFFS Village leaders say they still are making repairs after breaks in the main waterline resulted in residents having to boil water before consumption for some time. The main line broke in three places after a grain truck knocked over a fire hydrant in the village. Two breaks were to the bottom of the line and a third resulted in the need to replace 10 feet of pipe. Morgan-Scott Retired Teachers Association Morgan/Scott Retired Teachers Association met at 9 a.m. Sept. 2 at Nichols Park. The meeting was called to order by President Arlene Nortrup. She led us in the Pledge of Allegiance. Bonnie Glover gave the prayer. There were 22 members and one guest present. Pat Pinkerton made a few announcements. There is a problem with what we get for our insurance from the Legislature. CMS is trying to reduce the amount, which it legally cant do. This could end up in court. She also said the convention is going to be virtual. Pat and Bob Pinkerton and Arlene Nortrup are planning to attend. Also, PSA Army worms are in the area. They will kill grass in a few weeks or less. Our guest speaker was Dave Blanchette, president of the Jacksonville Area Museum. It opened Sept. 25. Donations can be made through the Illinois Historical Society. They need volunteers to work on Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays. Hours are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Exhibits coming include American Democracy and Voices and Votes. Claire Jerry will be speaking at the opening of the voting exhibit. The museum has a Facebook page, Jacksonville Area Museum. To see about making a donation, there is a collection policy. Minutes were approved as sent by email. Charlotte Hubbard moved and Marty Reid seconded. Toi Nicolet gave the treasurers report, which was approved. Thank yous were received from IRTA Foundation, IRTA PAC, Sheri Trace and the soup kitchen. We received notification from AARP that the local chapter was dissolved. Foundation no report. Members should have received a card holder for their COVID-19 vaccine. Membership Mary Jo Barker reported that we have 92 members. She will be getting a list from IRTA with address changes. Program October Brian Gillespie United Way November TRS Old Business The Area 4 conference was online. The IRTA conference will be online. Changes to be brought up at the conference are how committees are made up: Legislative Committee from 18 members to 9 Membership from 18 to six Information services will be taken out completely. Nomination six people We are in favor of changes so delegates can vote. Larry Pfeiffer is running for vice president of IRTA. He and Doug Strand also are on the TRS board of directors. Arlene Nortrup and Mary Reilly will send out a survey to see which members are interested in volunteering at the museum on the second or third Wednesday of each month from 10 a.m to 1 p.m. or from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Door prizes were won by Ellen McBride, Lois Herbst and Bonnie Glover. The meeting was adjourned. Our next meeting will be at 9 a.m. Oct. 7 at Rudis Grille. Come at 8:15 a.m. for breakfast. Our guest speaker will Brian Gillespie with United Way. Submitted by Becky Dimmick South Inn-Morganettes Home Extension Unit South Inn-Morganettes Home Extension Unit met Sept. 20 at the Nichols Park pavilion. Linda Griffin was hostess and led 10 members in the Pledge of Allegiance. Each member answered roll call by sharing a fun fall activity. The May minutes were read and approved. Treasurer Nancy Wynn reported the current account balance. There were no expenses to report for the month. Linda Settles collected donations for the Friendship Projects fund and dimes for the units special intention donation. Members were reminded to keep track of their volunteer hours. Leona Massey shared highlights of the Morgan Home and Community Education Fall 2021 newsletter. HCE International Day will be Oct. 21 at the Home Extension office. Registration will be at 9:30 a.m. with the program starting at 10 a.m. Canada is the country of study, with the program including trivia about Canada, food samples, a slide show and memories of Canada. There will be no lunch during this years event and face masks will be required. The HCE newsletter now will be published three times a year fall, winter and spring. Nancy Wynn will be hostess for the Nov. 15 meeting. Members will gather at 1:30 p.m. at the HCE office. The major lesson on senior credit scores will be presented by Leona Massey. Jane Hadden will share information during the minor lesson on iron. Submitted by Mary Jo Sparrow Jacksonville Noon Rotary Club President Cathy Jo Littleton Wahl called to order the Oct. 1 meeting of Jacksonville Rotary Club at noon at Waters Edge Winery. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited. The group sang America. The reflection was given by Cathy Jo Littleton Wahl. Volunteers were thanked, including: Linda Grojean, Steve Holt and Jane Breen, greeters and 50-50; Cathy Jo Littleton Wahl, Reflection; note taker Anne Jackson; Joe Kauffmann and Tom Luber, sergeants-at-arms; Todd Evans, Recognitions and Rotations; tech guru Craig Albers; and song leader Nancy Thorsen. Announcements: If you are interested in helping with the Valentine Day event, contact Samantha Boston. 5:30 p.m. Oct. 2 social at Steve and Nancy Holts home to celebrate a successful Oktoberfest. 5 p.m. Oct. 4 social at Bahans. Members were urges to give to the Polio Plus campaign. Volunteers are needed for Meals on Wheels deliveries. Oct. 17 We are sponsoring a table at the Fellowship of Christian Athletes banquet. 9 a.m. Oct. 23 Rotary Day of Service. We will be helping clean Town Brook. 5-7 p.m. Oct. 24 World Polio Day event on the rooftop at Guses. It is a district-wide initiative that is open to the public to raise money to fight polio. End of the month: Get ready for Squeal at the Wheel! Lynn was seeking volunteers to help with the drive-through flu clinic on Oct. 12. Two-hour shifts. Contact Lynn Sheaff if you can help. Susan Weikert was the guest of Cathy Jo Littleton Wahl. Woo-hoo Mickie Bourne and April Clark were welcomed as members! Karen Walker received her Paul Harris + 2 pin! Recognitions and Rotations were led by Todd Evans. Rotations were made and money was collected from Linda Grojean, Jenna Tucker, Kaylob Tang, Craig Albers, Dave Fisher and Jane Breen. Alberta Robinson introduced her Aunt Dot, who is a polio survivor. Aunt Dot Dorothy Baldwin gave an interesting program on her experience. This remarkably successful woman is a true inspiration. There was a good question-and-answer session following her remarks. Dorothy Baldwin drew unsuccessfully for the 50-50 drawing. The Four-Way Test was recited and the meeting was adjourned at 1 p.m. Submitted by Anne Jackson As duffel bags filled with packaged marijuana were pulled one by one from a recreational vehicle in December 2017, Morgan County law enforcement authorities knew the bust was going to be substantial. By the time the 30 duffel bags were tallied, a Morgan County Sheriffs Department deputys suspicions had led to the confiscation of 1,000 pounds of pot. The $5 million value made it the largest drug find in the county. Now, details are starting to emerge in court that it was connected to a major nationwide distribution network operated by an Oregon man who this week pleaded guilty to the charges against him. Robert Fiels, 33, of Springfield, Oregon, appeared this week before a federal judge in Buffalo, New York, and pleaded guilty to distributing or possessing, with the intent to distribute, 1,000 kilograms or more (2,200 pounds) of marijuana. Court documents contend Fiels supplied marijuana to several people, including Syed Ahmad of Houston, Texas. Ahmad was arrested at Loves Traffic Stop in South Jacksonville in the RV case. Charges are pending against him and two others, Frank Vacanti and Vincent Lopresti. Court records indicate Fiels used others, allegedly including Ahmad, to deliver marijuana and marijuana-based products that then were sold. Between late 2016 and June 2019, Fiels trafficked in thousands of pounds of marijuana, Assistant U.S. Attorney Joshua A. Violanti said. Police put Fiels on their radar in January, when he was stopped by Drug Enforcement Agency agents and Amtrak Police while traveling from Buffalo, New York, to Chicago. Agents seized $222,965 from a suitcase they believed was connected to the drug trade. Court documents indicate authorities believed the marijuana found in Morgan County and $48,000 in cash found during a search of another vehicle in January 2018 in Hobart, Indiana, were connected, as was $15,000 seized from the mail in Springfield, Oregon, in February 2020. In June 2020, police served search warrants at Fiels house, his work apartment and the residence of a former girlfriend. According to authorities, they recovered marijuana, marijuana-based products, postal parcels, drug paraphernalia, packing materials, scales, psychedelic mushrooms, two firearms and liquid steroids. Fiels is scheduled for sentencing Feb. 17. He faces from 10 years to life in prison and a $10 million fine. The case is being investigated by U.S. Homeland Security offices in Buffalo, Portland, Oregon, and Springfield, Illinois; Illinois State Police; Oregon State Police; Morgan County Sheriffs Department; Hobart (Indiana) Police Department and Springfield (Oregon) Police Department. This weeks wanted The following are being sought on arrest warrants, according to various sheriffs departments. The addresses listed are the last known addresses provided by the warrants and may be outdated. Joshua L. DeSherlia, age unavailable, of West Sand Lane in Meredosia is being sought on a warrant accusing him of violating probation. He has unrelated active warrants in Pike and Jersey counties and in St. Louis County, Missouri. He is a white male standing 5 foot 10 and weighing 190 pounds. He has brown hair and green eyes. Toney L. Prather, 34, of 650 S. Prairie St. is being sought on a warrant accusing him of failing to appear in court on charges of domestic battery and violating an order of protection. He is a Black male standing 5 foot 10 and weighing 170 pounds. He has brown hair and brown eyes. . Submit tips anonymously at tipsubmit.com, by calling 217-243-7300 or by text messaging CRIMES (274637) with payout as the first word of the tip. Jacksonville Police OTHER REPORTS Police are investigating a mans report that someone in a car pulled out a gun and threatened him about 9:45 a.m. Friday in the 300 block of East Morton Avenue. Compiled by David C.L. Bauer Whats new at Jacksonville Public Library: ADULT FICTION Beautiful World, Where Are You by Sally Rooney: Alice Kelleher, 29, has suffered a nervous breakdown as a result of her works popularity. After moving from Dublin to a small seaside town, she meets Felix, a local with a similar background they both grew up working-class and both have absent fathers who works in a shipping warehouse. She invites him to accompany her to Rome, where he falls in love with her but resents what he takes to be her superior attitude. Meanwhile, in Dublin, Alices university friend Eileen Lydon works a low-paying literary job and explores her attraction to a childhood friend who seems to return her feelings but continues seeing other women. Alice and Eileen update each other in long emails, which Rooney cleverly exploits for essayistic musings about culture, climate change and political upheaval. Its a bold change to her style, and it makes the illuminations all the more powerful when they pop. This book is challenging and inspiring. ADULT NONFICTION Beautiful Country by Qian Julie Wang: In this extraordinary debut, civil rights lawyer Wang recounts her years growing up as an undocumented immigrant living in the furtive shadows of America. During Chinas Cultural Revolution, her uncle was thrown in prison for criticizing Mao Zedong, leaving his parents and younger brother, Wangs father, to pay for his treasonous ways in the form of public beatings and humiliation. This fueled her fathers desire to find a better life in America, the Beautiful Country. In China, Wangs parents were professors but, upon arriving in New York City in 1994, their credentials were meaningless. Pushing past hunger pains, they took menial jobs to support Wang, who worked alongside her mother in a sweatshop before starting school at age 7. While Wangs story of pursuing the American dream is undoubtedly timeless, its her familys triumph in the face of xenophobia and intolerance that makes it feel especially remarkable and relevant. DVD Wander Darkly: A traumatic accident leaves a couple, Adrienne and Matteo, in a surreal state of being that takes them on a disorienting journey through the duality of their shared moments. By reliving fond recollections from the beginning of their romance while also navigating the overwhelming truths of their present, they must rediscover the love that truly binds them together. CHILDRENS BIOGRAPHY Try It!: How Frieda Caplan Changed the Way We Eat by Mara Rockliff: This picture book biography of Frieda Caplan looks at the produce pioneer who changed the way Americans eat by introducing exciting new fruits and vegetables, from baby carrots to blood oranges to kiwis. JUVENILE FICTION The Ambassador of Nowhere Texas by Kimberly Willis Holt: In 2001, seventh-grader Rylee Wilson and new student Joe, whose father was a New York City first responder on 9/11, decide to find Zachary Beaver and reunite him with Rylees father, Toby. Did you know? In-Person Story Times are held at 10 a.m. and 3 p.m. each Wednesday at the library. Come hear great stories and meet Courtney, our new childrens librarian. Provided Members of the Virginia FFA Land Use (Soils) Career Development Event team recently competed in the Section 12 Land Use (Soils) Career Development event, placing sixth overall. The competition involves agricultural land-use practices and students evaluating soil pits to determine soil properties. The team includes Izzy Garner (front row, from left), Mia Minor, Kylie Stock, Devin Cave, Emma Lyons, Natalie Force, Delaney Turner, Evan Bell (back row, from left), Steven Reynolds and Jack Cox. A collection of random thoughts and comments from the Journal-Couriers afternoon subscriber newsletter. . We need more Howard Beales in the world. He is the character in the 1976 classic film Network whose line Im as mad as hell, and Im not going to take this anymore has become a rallying cry for the frustrated, the disenfranchised, and those angry about the way society is going. Cass County Sheriff Devron Ohrn had a Howard Beale moment this week as police were making an arrest at a Beardstown house from which drugs reportedly were being sold. There was no Hollywood film set, no director and no script as he took to Facebook with a cellphone video from the scene just an honest, unguarded moment. I dont always post every drug arrest we have it would be every day but Im so sick and tired of people selling methamphetamine in Cass County, he said. You are ruining the lives of everybody. Whether doing the drugs or not, it destroys families, it destroys the lives of their children for a drug. Im sick and tired of it and, honestly, if you want to do that, move; get out of here. As long as Im around here, were going to keep fighting this and Im not going to give up. Im sure he isnt alone. Police have to dance around the topic a lot, though, because of the important presumption of innocence until conviction. Sometimes it seems as though the accused have more rights than the people and communities their acts devastate. I frequently write the daily roundup of arrests in the region for the papers Police Beat. Meth is a cancer in every community. While I have great sympathy for those affected by the disease that is addiction, that line is drawn at those who fuel the fire by dealing drugs. Its frustrating to see many of the same names over and over again. Sheriff Ohrn, we get it. Now, we just need more and more people to stand up and say Were not going to take this anymore. . God, guns and abortion: There are no more contentious hot-button issues in the United States these days, and they are all on the docket for the nations highest court. The U.S. Supreme Courts new term opened Monday. It is the first time since the start of the pandemic that oral arguments are being made in person. Its also a significantly different court its justices creating a more conservative panel than has been seen in decades. Those changes have resulted in the court being in a spotlight usually reserved for only its highest-profile cases. How that will translate into justices interpretation of the law largely remains a question mark. Whichever path they take will have ripple effects reaching out far from the cases considered. Will Dobbs v. Jackson Womens Health Organization a Mississippi case involving the banning of most abortions after 15 weeks of pregnancy essentially overturn the landmark Roe v. Wade case that in 1973 legalized abortion? Will New York State Rifle & Pistol Association v. Bruen affirm the rights of people to carry a concealed weapon and throw into question restrictions that states like New York (and Illinois) have in place? Will the line that separates church and state be moved by a decision in Carson v. Makin against Maines prohibition of student aid for schools that provide religious instructions? Oral arguments for the cases are scheduled between now and December. None of these or the other cases before the court will be decided quickly. But before the term ends in June, the law of the land could be significantly altered. That warrants paying close attention regardless of where you stand on the topics. David C.L. Bauer is editor and publisher of the Journal-Courier. Calaveras County Seal View Photo San Andreas, CA The investigation into a child with measles in Calaveras County at the end of September has concluded with no reports of others being infected, according to health officials. While there was the concern of others being exposed as the child had been to local playgrounds and healthcare facilities, which are listed in an earlier article found here, county health officials advise there was no spread of the virus. The case came to light when a local healthcare provider reported the childs illness to county health officials. The child who was under the age of five and was not vaccinated against measles has recovered. In a written press release, county health officials stressed, Cooperation by local health providers is essential in our ability to quickly respond to a potential public health concern. It also detailed the steps taken during the investigation. First, they determined that initial testing, signs and symptoms of the child were consistent with measles, which prompted an investigation. Then the California Department of Public Health and the public were notified immediately. After additional testing in coordination with the California Department of Public Health, county health officials stated, It was determined that the length of time a disease is in someones body before they feel or look sick, known as the incubation period, has passed. Any potential measles exposure would have already developed signs and symptoms of measles by now. Noting that measles is a very contagious and serious disease, health officials advise it is preventable. They recommend that parents check their childs vaccination status to make sure it is up-to-date on all childhood vaccinations to avoid any future risks and also check with their health care provider. Click here for the immunization schedule. COVID cases by episode date_10_8_21 View Photo Tuolumne County Public Health reports 21 new COVID-19 cases since yesterdays report, there are 293 residents with active Covid cases including 5 who are hospitalized. The total current case rate, a 14-day average for Tuolumne County is up to 37.5 from 37.4 per 100,000 population. There were 5 released from isolation since yesterday, there have been a total of 4,728 released. There have been 5,126 community cases, 105 deaths, and 1,620 inmate cases with no currently active inmate cases. The LHI testing site at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds will be closed Monday, October 11th for the Columbus Day holiday. Todays newly reported cases include 6 cases age 17 or younger and 5 cases age 60 or older. The gender and age breakdown is; 1 girl and 1 boy age 0-11, 1 girl and 3 boys age 12-17, 1 woman and 1 man age 18 to 29, 2 women and 1 man 30-39, 1 man age 40 to 49, 1 woman and 2 men age 50-59, 1 woman age 60 to 69, 2 women and 2 men age 70 to 79, and 1 woman age 80 to 89. Of the 21 new community cases, 18 were unvaccinated and 3 were vaccinated. Of Tuolumnes population eligible to be vaccinated 59% have been vaccinated. Tuolumne Countys active community cases went below 200 for 8 days before increasing. Cases were above 200 for 49 days between August 2nd and September 19th with a high of 407 active cases. During the previous surge, active cases were above 200 for 36 days between November 15th and December 20th with a high of 350. Active cases were below 30 between March 5th and July 14th. Calaveras County Public Health reports 7 new Covid cases since yesterdays report. Active cases decreased to 39, including two Covid hospitalizations. There are 4 new cases age 0-17 and no new cases age 65 years old or older. Since the pandemic began Calaveras has had 584 Covid-19 positive children who are 17 and under and 632 Covid-19 positive people 65 and over. Calaveras has vaccinated 54.2% of their eligible population. Last Weeks Overview (Oct 1 Oct 8) Tuolumne reported a total of 184 down from 197 last week and Calaveras reported 77 down from 151 new cases last week. Last week there were two Covid deaths in Tuolumne and two in Calaveras. COVID-19 Testing Public health recommends if you believe you have been exposed to Covid, schedule an appointment to get tested 5 days after exposure and if you are having any symptoms, please get tested right away. The Tuolumne County State testing site is open 7 days a week beginning from 7 AM to 7 PM at the Mother Lode Fairgrounds. Appointments can be scheduled at www.lhi.care/covidtesting or by calling 888-634-1123 the same website and phone number can be used to schedule tests in other counties. Testing is also available through some pharmacies, at Rapid Care, the hospital emergency department if you are experiencing any symptoms, or contact your healthcare provider. COVID-19 Vaccines Tuolumne Public Health says, Thank you for continuing to take the positive actions to protect ourselves and those around us from illness, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19. Vaccination is the most important step we can take to reduce the spread of disease, and reduce the impact to our healthcare system. In addition, the continued practice of other preventive actions like wearing a mask in public, keeping your distance, avoiding crowds, washing hands, cleaning surfaces, and staying home when sick will help slow the spread of the virus. Students as detailed here in the school term immediately after full FDA authorization and approval Governor Gavin Newsom plans to require COVID-19 vaccination for students in grades 7-12, and after that for students in K-6. Vaccine appointments can be made at local pharmacies and through myturn.ca.gov or by calling 833-422-4255. Anyone 12 and older is eligible for a COVID vaccine, Pfizer is approved for anyone age 12 or over. In Calaveras, mobile vaccination clinics now do COVID-19 testing. For COVID-19 testing times and locations go to: https://covid19.calaverasgov.us/. Walk-ins only for COVID-19 testing. No appointment is needed. Register online to reduce waiting time: https://bit.ly/3wpNEUU. The Pfizer vaccine requires 3 weeks between doses and the Moderna requires 4 weeks. The J&J vaccine requires only one dose. Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine booster shot information is here. Call or email with any questions you may have Tuolumne is available at (209) 533-7440 Health@tuolumnecounty.ca.gov, Mariposa at (209) 259-1332 or mariposacovid19@gmail.com more numbers are available on our COVID-19 vaccine page here. County/Date Tier Color Active Cases New Cases Total Cases COVID Deaths Amador 10/8 133 11 3,273 53 Calaveras 10/8 39 7 3,602 76 Mariposa 10/8 78 11 1,193 13 Mono 10/8 78 0 1,371 5 Stanislaus 10/8 1,557 192 75,219 1,301 Tuolumne 10/8 293 21 6,746 105 For other county-level statistics view our page here. Plainview Rotarians held their weekly meeting Tuesday. Isabella Becerra was introduced as the October Student of the Month. A senior at Plainview High School, she is the daughter of Miranda and Alberto Becerra. Isabella has been active in the Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps at Plainview High School and served as the commanding officer last year. She also has been active in Student Council, Future Farmers of America, National Honors Society, National Technical Honor Society, UIL academics and 4-H. She plans to attend Oklahoma State University and major in Animal Science. She was joined by September Student of the Month, Shirin Harleston. The program for the day was presented by Danny Milner, who is the President of the charitable organization, Plainview PayDay. The organization accepts monthly donations and then uses that money to help those in need in Plainview and the surrounding communities. Plainview PayDay was formed in 2017 and since its inception has given out $253,000 in gifts. In 2021 alone, the organization has given out $48,000. In this weeks news, United is adding capacity in expectation of a busy holiday travel season, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asks unvaccinated people to stay home this year; the agency also adds more countries to its do not travel list; a major U.S. bank wont allow unvaccinated employees to travel on business; Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and French Bee add flights at San Francisco International; American plans to revive LAX-Sydney flights; Air New Zealand sets a vaccine mandate for all passengers; Canada will start enforcing a vaccine rule for air travelers later this month; international route news from United, Aer Lingus, ITA, Volaris El Salvador and Alaska/Iberia; Oakland will get a new Delta route this spring, and winter routes ramp up at Palm Springs; Delta fights back at the AA-JetBlue alliance with an expansion at Boston; PayPal gives United customers a new in-flight payment option; Hawaiian Airlines moves its LAX operations; and new lounges open at Washington Dulles and Phoenix Sky Harbor. Its starting to look like domestic air travel over the November/December holidays will be booming this year although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesnt recommend it for unvaccinated people. United Airlines said this week that flight searches for holiday trips are up 16% this year not from 2020 levels, but from 2019, before the pandemic hit. Based on current booking trends, United said the busiest travel days for Thanksgiving will be Wednesday, Nov. 24, and Sunday, Nov. 28, and the most crowded days for the end-of-year holidays will be Thursday, Nov. 23, and Sunday, Jan. 2. The carrier said its December schedule will include 3,500 daily flights just 9% below its December 2019 capacity and its busiest schedule since the pandemic began. Uniteds vice president of network planning and scheduling, Ankit Gupta, said the company is seeing a lot of pent-up demand for year-end trips. We know families and friends are eager to reunite this holiday season, which is why were thrilled to add new flights that will help them connect and celebrate together. But the CDC, in an update this week to its web page of travel advice, urged Americans to delay travel until you are fully vaccinated. People who do complete their COVID-19 vaccinations can travel safely within the United States, the agency said. Those who arent fully vaccinated but must travel should get a viral COVID test one to three days before departure, the CDC said, and should practice social distancing, avoid crowds, get another viral test three to five days after traveling and self-quarantine at home for seven days after returning. And it reminded all travelers, vaccinated or not, about the federal rule requiring a mask for all travel on airlines and other public transportation. Meanwhile, the CDC continues to add more European nations to its Level 4 list of Do Not Travel destinations, based on risk levels from the latest COVID data. New on the list this week are Austria, Croatia and Latvia. Other European nations added to Level 4 in recent weeks include Norway, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Lithuania, Switzerland, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Spain and Cyprus. But the CDC this week also eased the travel advisory from Level 4 to Level 3 (dont visit without a full vaccination) for France, Iceland and Portugal as well as Morocco, Argentina, Nepal, South Africa and Lesotho. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images Weve noted before how foreign governments and even the U.S. are starting to treat vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals differently when it comes to travel i.e., making it easier for the former and more difficult for the latter. And now the private sector is moving toward a similar distinction. In a policy decision that could impact the recovery of corporate travel, the financial giant JPMorgan Chase said this week its employees will not be allowed to travel on business if they are not vaccinated or have not revealed their vaccination status to the company, according to a Reuters report. It will also require unvaccinated workers to be tested twice weekly and to pay more for health insurance. The travel news website Skift.com commented that the big banks new policy may trigger other companies to follow suit a trend that would set back the timeline for an already fragile corporate travel sector recovery even further. With the U.S. set to reopen to vaccinated foreign visitors next month and with travel to many overseas destinations getting easier for vaccinated Americans, airlines are starting to ramp up their international schedules. At San Francisco International, Virgin Atlantic last week resumed service to London Heathrow, which had been suspended since the pandemic started. Virgin, a trans-Atlantic partner of Delta, is operating 787-9 flights three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) and plans to add a Sunday departure as of Oct. 24. In November, Virgin plans to revive service from London to Las Vegas and Orlando and from Manchester to New York and Orlando. Robert Alexander/Getty Images British Airways said it will increase its San Francisco-London schedule to two flights a day starting next month and will operate two daily London flights from several other U.S. gateways including Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Washington Dulles, Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami. BA plans to offer daily departures to Heathrow from Phoenix, Philadelphia, Seattle, Denver, Atlanta and Houston. The airlines New York JFK-LHR schedule will get five daily departures starting next month and BA will resume flying to London from Austin, Orlando, San Diego, Tampa, Las Vegas and Baltimore/Washington. In December, the airline expects to bring back flights to Nashville and New Orleans. British Airways is seeing so much demand that it plans to bring four of its Airbus A380 super-jumbos out of storage this winter for use on select routes, including LHR-LAX and LHR-Miami. The Paris-based low-fare carrier French Bee plans to return to its Paris Orly-San Francisco-Papeete, Tahiti, route Nov. 2 after a lengthy hiatus when it operated via a stop in Vancouver instead of California. The airlines A350 flights will operate twice a week. According to French Bees website, one-way fares between San Francisco and Tahiti start at $329, with SFO-Paris beginning at $189. French Bee has already restarted its Newark-Paris flights and is due to increase frequencies on that route from three a week to four in December. With Australia tentatively planning to start reopening its borders to foreign arrivals in the months ahead, American Airlines expects to revive its Los Angeles-Sydney service in early January. The route has been suspended since late August. Australia is adopting a phased reopening, beginning with Australian citizens and residents in November, followed in subsequent months by skilled migrants and students; international tourist arrivals probably wont begin before March of 2022. Qantas said last month that as it gradually resumes long-haul international flying, it will require all passengers to be vaccinated against COVID, and now Air New Zealand is following suit. Effective Feb. 1, 2022, the company said, it will require customers traveling anywhere on its international network to be fully vaccinated. Air New Zealand said it is working with the International Air Transport Association to start using IATAs Travel Pass app, which will check customers' health information against flight details to ensure they are meeting entry requirements for that destination, and the airline. In August, the Canadian government said it planned to start requiring proof of COVID vaccinations for all international and domestic airline passengers, and now it has set Oct. 30 as the effective date for that new policy. The policy also applies to seagoing vessels like cruise ships and to interprovincial trains. For travelers who are in the process of being vaccinated, there will be a short transition period where they will be able to travel if they can show a valid COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours of travel, but that transition period will end on November 30, the government said. The requirement does not apply to children under age 12. Individuals who violate the rule could be fined up to $5,000. In other international route developments, United has set Nov. 13 for the resumption of service from Houston Bush Intercontinental to Rio de Janeiro, operating three flights a week with a 767-300ER, and expects to bring back Washington Dulles-Sao Paulo flights in mid-December. Aer Lingus plans to resume service from Dublin to Newark on Nov. 14 with four weekly flights, increasing to daily in December, and will put Orlando back on its schedule Nov. 27 with three flights a week. ITA (Italia Trasporto Aereo), the new Italian carrier that is replacing Alitalia, is set to begin its first U.S. service Nov. 4, offering three flights a week from New York JFK to Rome with a three-class A330. In March of next year, ITA will add Boston-Rome, Miami-Rome and JFK-Milan flights, followed by Los Angeles-Rome next summer and routes from Rome to San Francisco, Washington Dulles and Chicago in 2023. In Central America, a new low-cost affiliate of Mexicos Volaris called Volaris El Salvador has applied for U.S. permission to launch routes starting in March from San Salvador to Los Angeles, New York JFK and Washington Dulles. Mike Siegel/TNS That new code-sharing agreement between Alaska Airlines and Spains Iberia took effect this week, putting the latters code onto 40 Alaska routes via connections at San Francisco and Los Angeles. Both carriers are members of Americans Oneworld global alliance. The partnership with Iberia enables our Mileage Plan members to earn miles on Iberia flights and features reciprocal elite benefits, including preferred seat selection; priority check-in, security clearance and boarding; lounge access; and extra baggage allowance, with further enhancements coming over the next several months, Alaska said. In domestic route news, Oakland International announced that Delta will start flying between OAK and its Detroit hub on April 20 of next year, operating one daily flight with a 737-900ER. Delta already flies from OAK to Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Southwest this week introduced new service from Sacramento to Palm Springs the first of several new Palm Springs routes coming in the weeks ahead as winter approaches. American this week kicked off seasonal PSP-Chicago OHare flights and Alaska Airlines introduced seasonal service from Palm Springs to Portland, Oregon, and Everett, Washington. On Oct. 14, JetBlue begins seasonal flights from Palm Springs to New York JFK. Elsewhere in California, Canadas WestJet this week launched twice-weekly flights from San Diego to Calgary, Alberta. In the northeast, Delta Air Lines is fighting back against the threat to its market share posed by the American/JetBlue alliance at Boston and the three New York City-area airports. Delta said this week it will add several new routes out of Boston in 2022, including international service to Athens and Tel Aviv three times a week beginning in late May the same two destinations where American launched new service this year from New York JFK as part of its JetBlue partnership. Delta also plans to add new domestic flights from BOS to San Diego, Denver and Baltimore/Washington starting in July. The airline said that by next summer, its Boston schedule will offer 3,800 more seats per day than it did in summer of 2019. Delta also took a poke at American by starting new twice-daily A220 flights this week from Boston to AAs Dallas/Fort Worth hub. United Airlines is partnering with PayPal to give its customers another touch-free option for onboard purchases, allowing them to show a QR code in the PayPal app to the flight attendant. It should first be available in November on select flights from Chicago OHare and will be rolled out in the following weeks on other flights across Uniteds network. Fliers who want to use it should download the PayPal app and set their preferred payment method for QR code before leaving the gate. To buy a meal or drink, click the Pay with QR codes button in the app, then click the In-flight Purchase button and show the QR code to the flight attendant to scan. The user will get an emailed receipt upon landing. In airport news, Hawaiian Airlines is moving its operations at Los Angeles International on Oct. 12 from Terminal 5 to the Tom Bradley International Terminal, where its flights will depart from the new West Gates extension. The carrier has six flights a day at LAX. Guests departing to Hawaii from LAX should set aside approximately 15 minutes to transit from the third-floor check-in counters inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal to its West Gates via an underground walkway, the airline said. Hawaiians guests arriving at LAX from Hawaii will pick up checked bags at the first-floor baggage claim. Travelers can also connect between the West Gates and Terminals 4-8 through a sterile corridor without the need to clear additional security. United is reportedly planning to open a new Polaris Lounge later this month at its Washington Dulles hub, according to the Liveandletsfly.com blog. The IAD Polaris Lounge, open to international first and business class travelers, was almost finished a year and a half ago when the pandemic intervened and United closed all its airport lounges. This one is in Dulles C Concourse with space for 355 travelers; it will offer a private dining room, a bar and shower suites. Elsewhere, the new American Express partnership with Escape Lounges has just opened a new lounge in Terminal 3s mezzanine level at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. PHXs Terminal 4 already has an AmEx Centurion Lounge and a separate Escape Lounge. On Friday morning, I trekked over to the Olmos Basin to join the Central Texas Mycological society in a fungus-filled survey of some of San Antonio's native mushroom species. Little did I know that I'd discover all sorts of thriving species in the area tucked under Highway 281, including the recently inducted Texas state mushroom, The Texas Star (chorioactis geaster) an exceedingly rare specimen found only in parts of Texas and Japan. In this San Antonio park, we identified them clustered together like a bouquet, near a tree stump. To those who recently watched the Netflix documentary Fantastic Fungi and found yourself delighted, these may be your people. Lead by one of the Mycological Society's founding members, a man who goes by the name "Sam The Fungi" yes, I can confirm that he is, in fact, a fun guy the ecology walk proved to not only be pleasant but magically informative. Camille Sauers/MySA Camille Sauers/MySA We gathered in a cluster, not unlike a mycelial network. Standing in the ring were unassuming mushroom novices like myself, hurriedly downloading a citizen science app, and veterans wearing protective gloves and the sort of hats you'd envision topping an archaeologist. Sam, holding several dried specimens and appropriately wearing groovy mushroom socks, began enthusiastically running through some of the pillars of mycology. He explains that in the Olmos Basin Park, the verdant floodplain near the Quarry and adjacent to the highway, most of the mushroom species that grow are Saprotrophic, meaning they help to decompose all the dead wood. The decay is essential to the ecosystem, he explains. Without it, we'd be overrun by dead wood. Camille Sauers/MySA Camille Sauers/MySA He discusses the ethics of foraging, and how one must be respectful to a mycelial system when harvesting even the most edible treats, like chanterelles or turkey tails which parasitically grow from Olmos Park trees. As a forager, one must take only a little, as to not disrupt the reproductive capabilities of the system. It's a similar approach to gathering wild plants. The citizen mycologist, a vast resource of obscure mushroom knowledge, shares that he habitually documents where he discovers certain species, returning to them over time to harvest just a few to be tossed in the air-fryer and enjoyed over a nice salad. Something to remember: Not all mushrooms are good for you, even if theyre medicinal, says Sam The Fungi. It's important to heed caution when consuming, making sure to check if they might be poisonous, or if they disagree with any medications you might be on. For example, reishi mushrooms, popular in supplement aisles in health food stores, while lauded for their immune-boosting properties, should be avoided if on blood pressure medication. As someone with latent climate anxiety who is accustomed to eating their mushrooms on pizza, the most profound bit of knowledge Sam shares is his mention of mushrooms as beacons of environmental hope. "One of the most interesting mushrooms around," otherwise known as the Cordycep mushroom, feasts on insects. With the ability to zombify and colonize a whole colony of ants, Cordyceps are being considered as a bio-insecticide, an alternative to harsh chemicals present in most pesticides. Some species, like oyster mushrooms, also have the ability to decompose waste, like cigarette buds. The world is heavy, it's nice when natural solutions, no matter how small, present themselves. Camille Sauers/MySA We set out on our mushroom exploration, frolicking through the woods and dodging poison ivy. I couldn't remember the last time I was so up close and personal to dirt. I was humbled by this noble and multi-talented species that not only benefits the environment, but can be used medicinally, psychedelically, and as a protein-rich food source. During the hunt, we even encountered a variety sprouting from a dank log called "King Alfred's Cake" that due to its dark pigment, can be used for ink. I was surprised to learn that underneath the snapping branches and dead leaves we stood above were 3 to 12 miles of mycelium networks, connecting and communicating. The wood wide web, Earth's internet, Sam The Fungi calls it. After two hours crunching through the trees, I lost count of how many mushrooms we identified, hiding in plain sight. Camille Sauers/MySA Camille Sauers/MySA Another thing to remember: mushrooms can absorb their environment. In the park's often-flooded areas, near the pollutants of the highway, the mushroom expert advises against consuming even edible 'shrooms. If I hadn't gone on this informative excursion, I would have never guessed so many varieties existed so close to home. Psychedelic or not, I now know all mushrooms to be magical. The Central Texas Mycological Society seeks to "strengthen fungal understanding" and often hosts events like this throughout the Texas Hill Country, Austin and San Antonio. To keep up with their programming, you can find them on Instagram. Camille Sauers/MySA Camille Sauers/MySA Update: Christopher Ramirez was found alive and safe, according to Brhe Berry, Erica Simon and Roxie Bustamante at ABC 13. Original story below. The search for missing 3-year-old Christopher Ramirez enters its third day Friday as rescuers lament a "standstill" in the investigation. The boy went missing Wednesday near Plantersville, a small community in Grimes County northwest of Houston. Christopher was at his home in the 10000 block of Deer Park Lane when he vanished after chasing a neighbor's dog into the nearby woods. The boy's mother, Araceli Nunez, told reporters she thinks her son was abducted. Grimes County Sheriff Donald Sowell said there's no evidence the child was taken, but he conceded that investigators from the sheriff's office, FBI and Texas EquuSearch volunteers have yet to turn up actionable clues from combing the area. "At this moment, I have no leads to give you," Sowell said in a briefing with media Friday morning. "... Unfortunately, I have to say it's at a standstill right now." Investigators are now tasked with both the immediate search for the boy and looking into potential instances of foul play if any occurred. It's hard to determine, Sowell said, because investigators have received zero tips about the boy's whereabouts. Detectives are also working with the Mexican consulate, which reached out to the sheriff's office to offer assistance, the sheriff said. "We've got federal and international partners helping us in case there's any connection across the southern border," Sowell said. "(The boy's) biological dad lives in Mexico, so we're having people help on that. ... We still have nothing of any substance to follow up on." Crews are working day and night scouring the area near Christopher's home. That search area will be expanded Friday, according to authorities. Investigative teams will also take another look at areas they've already covered to double check their work, Texas EquuSearch director Tim Miller said. "We know where he's not," Miller said. "As long as we know where's he's not, we've got that hope that we're going to find out where he is and that he's okay." Anyone with any information about the boys' whereabouts is urged to call Texas EquuSearch at 281-309-9500 or the Grimes County Sheriff's Office at 936-873-2151. Goose Taps On Animal Hospitals Door, Comes To Comfort Injured Mate Animal Rescue (David L) INSANE Longboarding run down a GNARLY Romanian hill Flipboard (David L). I am not keen about videos that = surgery futures, but to each his own. Biden Administration Defends Wildlife Services Killing of Wolf Pups in Idaho Western Watersheds Project You thought the U.S. fire season was bad. Russias is much worse. Grist (resilc) Italian sailors knew of America 150 years before Christopher Columbus, new analysis of ancient documents suggests PhysOrg (Chuck L) The Neurologist Who Diagnoses Psychosomatics Nautilus UC Santa Cruz: Scientists Assemble A Biological Clock In A Test Tube To Study How It Works Patch (David L) Neuroscientists Roll Out First Comprehensive Atlas of Brain Cells ScienceDaily Having a sense of purpose linked to better memory Study Finds (Jim D) Feeling, in situ aeon. Important. People with higher socioeconomic status have lower emotional intelligence, especially at high levels of inequality PsyPost (David L) How do humans make sense of the bomb? Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists (guurst) #COVID-19 Naively ambitious: How COVAX failed on its promise to vaccinate the world STAT Snow Leopard Dies of Suspected COVID-19 Daily Beast. Consider the Snow Leopard Trust. Bare bones and they do practical things like pay poachers to become photographers and have members of communities that might profit from messing with snow leopards instead earn income from handicrafts which the Trust sells. I have one of their plush toys. Science/Medicine US China? Brexit The U.S. Is Organizing a $5 Million Gun Sale to Mexico Forces Accused of Murder and Kidnapping Intercept New Cold War Syraqistan Big Brother is Watching You Watch Imperial Collapse Watch 1/6 Ali Alexander, Jan. 6th Rally Organizer, Subpoenaed by House Committee Rolling Stone (furzy) White House orders release of Trump records to Jan. 6 committee The Hill Whistleblower: Capitol Police Leaders Acted With Intent and Malice on Jan. 6 Daily Beast (furzy) Biden The trillion-dollar coin scheme, explained by the guy who invented it Vox Why do people worry about deficits? Noah Smith (UserFriendly) Appeals court allows Texas abortion law to resume, stopping federal judges order to block its enforcement Texas Tribune A Company Family: The Untold History of Obama and the CIA CovertAction Magazine (resilc) Police State Watch Our Famously Free Press Woke Watch The Invention of Xenophobia Los Angeles Review of Books (Anthony L) Calpers Adds Managers, and Challenges, in Push to Diversify Wall Street Journal (Kevin W) The mystery of Elon Musks missing gas TechCrunch (Kevin W) PSERS, in a sweeping shift, agrees to buy more U.S. stocks and dump costly hedge funds Philadelphia Inquirer. Not just hedge funds, also private equity! Anyone Seen Tethers Billions? Bloomberg Countries Agree to Global Deal to Curb Tax Avoidance Wall Street Journal Class Warfare Antidote du jour (Chet G): And a bonus of sorts: And a more typical bonus: (Natural News) According to the Associated Press, it is materially different for the NSBA to urge Biden to investigate domestic terrorism versus crimes that could be the same as domestic terrorism. This alone, the agency seems to suggest, is enough to beat this fact check. They are factually incorrect. (Article by Tom Pappert republished from NationalFile.com) In reality, this is exactly what the NSBA wrote in a letter dated September 29, as National File previously reported, emphasis added: As these acts of malice, violence, and threats against public school officials have increased, the classification of these heinous actions could be the equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes. As such, NSBA requests a joint expedited review by the U.S. Departments of Justice, Education, and Homeland Security, along with the appropriate training, coordination, investigations, and enforcement mechanisms from the FBI, including any technical assistance necessary from, and state and local coordination with, its National Security Branch and Counterterrorism Division, as well as any other federal agency with relevant jurisdictional authority and oversight. Additionally, NSBA requests that such review examine appropriate enforceable actions against these crimes and acts of violence under the Gun-Free School Zones Act, the PATRIOT Act in regards to domestic terrorism, the Matthew Shepard and James Byrd Jr. Hate Crimes Prevention Act, the Violent Interference with Federally Protected Rights statute, the Conspiracy Against Rights statute, an Executive Order to enforce all applicable federal laws for the protection of students and public school district personnel, and any related measure. As the threats grow and news of extremist hate organizations showing up at school board meetings is being reported, this is a critical time for a proactive approach to deal with this difficult issue. While the AP relies entirely on a paragraph comparing crimes to domestic terrorism, the NSBA itself specifically urges the Biden administration to review potential violations of the PATRIOT Act in regards to domestic terrorism. In other words, the often criticized laws used against those suspected of either being terrorists or affiliated with them in the frenetic years following the devastating terrorist attacks on September 11, 2001 should now be used against upset parents who attend school board meetings. If found guilty, those parents would be labeled domestic terrorists. The AP fails to acknowledge this basic logical leap, or most of the second paragraph referenced above. Instead, the Associated Press quickly moves on. They refer to more than 20 instances of threats across the country referenced by the NSBA and seems to suggest the NSBA may only be referencing these instances of so-called threats. Here is what the NSBA actually wrote: Our children are watching the examples of the current debates and we must encourage a positive dialogue even with different opinions. However, with such acute threats and actions that are disruptive to our students wellbeing, to the safety of public school officials and personnel, and to interstate commerce, we urge the federal governments intervention against individuals or hate groups who are targeting our schools and educators. Other groups are posting watchlists against school boards and spreading misinformation that boards are adopting critical race theory curriculum and working to maintain online learning by haphazardly attributing it to COVID19. NSBA is committed to working with you and your Administration as a partner to address this crisis affecting Americas public schools, and greatly appreciates your prompt attention to our requests. We stand ready to work with you. Throughout the letter the NSBA always references the crisis as something that is ongoing. They urge the federal governments intervention against individuals or hate groups who are targeting our schools and educators in general terms, rather than specific. They reference other groups that may have led to specific actions being taken. The Associated Press appears to ignore most of this. Then, the AP takes a decidedly pro-school board stance by naming education activist Christopher Rufo and claiming he is the source of this alleged misinformation. Your fact check is false. It's easily debunked in the text of the NSBA's letter: pic.twitter.com/yIdezMmIHY Christopher F. Rufo (@realchrisrufo) October 6, 2021 While the Justice Department has thus far stopped short of invoking domestic terrorism or the PATRIOT Act, it appears the Biden regime is sympathetic to the plight of school boards confronted with parents upset over radical curriculum. This week, Biden aimed the FBI and Department of Justice at these parents with a statement from Attorney General Merrick Garland. Garland said the threats posed against school board members are not only illegal but run counter to our nations core values. Read more at: NationalFile.com (Natural News) Fatigue is tiredness from physical or mental exertion wherein a persons physical or mental capacities are reduced. Such fatigue not only causes a persons performance to deteriorate, but it can also lead to illnesses such as liver dysfunction and diabetes. To combat fatigue, South Korean researchers are looking to an unlikely food: aged garlic. Scientists from South Koreas National Institute of Agricultural Sciences and Korea University looked at aged garlic to see whether it could help reduce fatigue. To do this, they conducted a study on mice fed with a special low-temperature-aged garlic (LTAG). Their findings were published in the Journal of Medicinal Food. Testing the fatigue-fighting effects of low temperature-aged garlic The researchers chose to use LTAG because it lacked the pungent odor and spicy flavor of regular garlic, making it easier to use for animal testing. To create the LTAG, the researchers stored garlic in a sealed container, aging at 60 C for 60 days. The resulting LTAG was then peeled and pulverized, before being added to 200 milliliters of 70 percent ethanol (EtOH), which was then subjected to ultrasonic extraction three times. This 70 percent EtOH and LTAG extract was then concentrated under a vacuum at 45 C and then lyophilized to create a dry LTAG residue. After the creation of the LTAG, the researchers then separated mice into six groups. The first group was given a low dose of LTAG extract; the second was fed a high dose of LTAG extract; the third was given a low dose of garlic extract; and the fourth was given a high dose of garlic extract. The fifth and sixth groups consisted of normal mice that were given phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) instead of garlic. One of these control groups was made to exercise while the other group was not. The mice in the five groups were forced to run on a treadmill for four weeks. With each passing week, the amount of exercise the mice would have to do on the treadmills would increase. This was done by increasing both the speed that the mice had to run, and the amount of time they had to spend running. (Related: How to alleviate fatigue with herbal medicine.) After 28 days of treatment, five mice from each group were subjected to a final, exhaustive treadmill test. This test increased the treadmill speed from 15 meters per minute (m/min) to 40 m/min every 3 minutes. During this test, the running time was monitored until each mouse failed to follow the increase in speed on three consecutive occasions and lag occurred. At this point, the mouses total running time was recorded. The effect of the LTAG on the levels of glucose, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), free fatty acid (FFA) and lactate in the mices blood. Following the final exercise, the mice were killed and blood samples were collected from them. In addition, the mices gastrocnemius muscles were also isolated and frozen in liquid nitrogen for testing. LTAG treated mice demonstrated less fatigue Following the exhaustive running tests, the researchers found that the mice treated with LTAG extract were able to run for much longer than the control mice. Meanwhile, looking at the blood tests, they noted that the mice treated with LTAG extract exhibited lower levels of glucose, LDH, FFA and lactate. More importantly, the LTAG treated mice had increased amounts of glycogen and creatine kinase (CK) in their muscles. Glycogen storage is an important source of energy during exercise. It serves a central role in maintaining the bodys glucose homeostasis by supplementing blood glucose. Because of this, glycogen is seen as an accurate marker for fatigue, with increased glycogel levels closely associated with improved endurance and anti-fatigue effects. CK, on the other hand, is known to be an accurate indicator of muscle damage. During muscle degeneration, muscle cells are dissolved and their contents enter the bloodstream. As a result, when muscle damage occurs, muscle CK comes out into the blood. As such, fatigue tends to lead to lower muscle CK levels and higher blood CK levels. Higher levels of glycogen and muscle CK in the LTAG treated mice indicated that they experienced less fatigue than the other groups. Based on these findings, the researchers believe that LTAG has potential for use as an anti-fatigue agent. Follow MensFitnessFocus.com for more studies on endurance, physical fitness and beating fatigue. Sources include: Science.news LiebertPub.com Journals.Physiology.org EuropePMC.org (Natural News) According to a pair of lawsuits made public on Tuesday, Facebook board members overpaid the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) an extra $5 billion in fines to settle a complaint by the agency and keep CEO Mark Zuckerberg from being held personally liable for the Cambridge Analytic data breach. The lawsuits claim the massive payment was contingent upon the FTC dropping plans to sue Zuckerberg and COO Sheryl Sandberg. (Article by Michelle Edwards republished from UncoverDC.com) Shareholder Lawsuits Reveal Plan to Shield Zuckerberg The lawsuits, filed by two groups of Facebook shareholders in Delawares Chancery Court, maintain that in early 2019, a draft complaint from the FTC listed both Zuckerberg personally and Facebook as co-defendants. The complaint asserts that Facebooks lawyers had determined the company was looking at a fine of close to $107 million but instead agreed to pay a $5 billion penalty to the FTC to shield Zuckerberg and Sandberg. Two democratsCommissioners Rohit Chopra and Rebecca Kelly Slaughtervoted against the settlement, stating Zuckerberg should have been held personally responsible. Citing internal discussions among the social media giants board members authorizing the massive overpayment of the FTC fine, one of the lawsuits declares: Zuckerberg, Sandberg, and other Facebook directors agreed to authorize a multi-billion settlement with the FTC as an express quid pro quo to protect Zuckerberg from being named in the FTCs complaint, made subject to personal liability, or even required to sit for a deposition. The claim points out that on the same day the FTC settlement was announcedthe largest settlement in U.S. historythe Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) issued a statement saying it would fine Facebook $100 million as part of a settlement related to its investigation into the companys handling of the data. Since the settlements, privacy and misinformation have remained an issue across Facebook and its other platforms, along with harassment and double standards for elite users, according to a recent WSJ series. With Facebook admittedly neglecting to keep user privacy promises for nearly a decade, the second lawsuit claims the company failed in its obligation to protect the private data of its users. Neglecting to notify any of its 530 million customers that their information had been exposed, the lawsuit quotes an internal memo stating Facebooks intention to minimize the Cambridge Analytics situation and not take measures to address it properly. The claim describes the social media monsters plan to normalize the fact that this [scraping of user data] activity is ongoing and avoid criticism that we arent being transparent about particular incidents. The lawsuit declares: Facebook thereby deliberated that it would not attempt to comply with its obligations to safeguard user data, further reflecting the companys pervasive internal governance failures and the Individual Defendants continuing breaches of fiduciary duty. The Backstory of FTC Investigation The FTC began investigating Facebook (again) in 2018 after the company admitted Cambridge Analytics had captured data from close to 87 million of its users without their permission. The agencys probe focused on whether Facebook had violated a legal agreement with the U.S. government to keep its users data private. As part of the companys 2019 agreement with the FTC, Facebook agreed to establish a privacy committee (which also covers Instagram and WhatsApp) and appoint officers in charge of the privacy program. With these and other actions, the FTC hoped to take some power away from Zuckerberg, who owns approximately 14 percent of the companys stock. In one of the lawsuits, shareholders maintain: The Board has never provided a serious check on Zuckerbergs unfettered authority. Instead, it has enabled him, defended him and paid billions of dollars from Facebooks corporate coffers to make his problems go away. Major new plaintiff allegations many long concerning: 1 FB spent billions to protect Zuckerberg personally 2 claims "epic corporate governance breakdown" 3 adds list of "insider trading" defendants 4 documents Zuckerberg misled Congress /2 pic.twitter.com/XyKkLu82K4 Jason Kint (@jason_kint) September 21, 2021 Insider Trading Allegations Insider trading allegations revealed in the partially redacted lawsuits show hundreds of billions of dollars made by key Facebook insiders. Detailing the overwhelming gains realized by each Facebook player, the lawsuit states: Instead of providing the market with correct information, as they were obligated to do under their duties as fiduciaries of the Company, the Insider Trading Defendants used their knowledge of Facebooks material, non-public information to sell their personal holdings while they knew the companys stock was artificially inflated during the Relevant Period (June 26, 2013, through July 23, 2019). As officers and directors of Facebook, the Insider Trading Defendants were privy to material, non-public information about the true state of Facebooks business and operations. The bombshell revelations came about following a February 10, 2021 decision by Delaware Chancery Court Judge Joseph Slights III. The judge ruled that Facebook had to furnish some internal files, including board-level notes and emails, to Rhode Islands public employee pension fund, which began questioning how the company came to its settlement terms with the FTC following the agencys extensive investigation of Facebooks misuse of consumer data. Slights stated the pension fund is right to question whether internal communications among Facebook executives and directors might shed light on the boards thinking in this regard. The judge acknowledged that Facebook had already turned over thousands of documents about the Cambridge Analytica disturbance but added: [The current documents] provide no insight into why Facebook would pay more than its (apparently) maximum exposure to settle a claim. Read more at: UncoverDC.com and MarkZuckerberg.news. (Natural News) A German court has ruled that the restrictions imposed in Bavaria that forbade citizens to leave their homes between April 1 and 19, 2020, were ineffective and unnecessary. It also violated the prohibition of excess from higher-ranking laws. Bavarias Prime Minister Markus Soder announced strict orders last year that Bavarians were required to stay at home and could only leave in exceptional cases. This roughly translated to citizens being able to leave their homes only for essential reasons such as work and sustenance needs. The Bavarian Ordinance on Protective Measures Against Infectious Diseases in Response to the Corona Pandemic required the police to check compliance with the stay-at-home restrictions, in which citizens were forced to provide credible reasons for being outside. The order demanded that every individual reduce all physical and social contact with other persons, except family members living in the same household, to the absolute minimum extent possible. It also introduced a mandatory five-feet physical distancing rule. The ruling from an Administrative Court in Ansbach has declared the restrictions to be ineffective. In essence, the restrictions constituted a violation of principles in German law, which forbade the introduction of any law that disproportionately disadvantaged those who are affected, no matter the intentions. It was determined that the government defined the valid reasons for leaving home so narrowly that the principle of the law had been violated. (Related: Helge Braun: Vaccinated people will definitely have more freedom than unvaccinated people.) The court has declared that Soders restrictions, imposed as a strategy to mitigate the spread of COVID-19, were not necessary. The judges say that the government was careless to choose the less burdensome of the basic rights when selecting measures from several equally suitable means. In the 31-page ruling, the judges also criticize the governments appreciation of human nature, given that the state proposed staying in public to be a danger. The judges conclude that an appeal to the Federal Administrative Court would be permissible as the legal matter is of fundamental importance. The possibility of a final decision on the matter can still be made by the highest court in Germany. New rules for the unvaccinated in Germany German health authorities have decided that beginning Nov. 1, the unvaccinated will no longer receive compensation for lost pay if the coronavirus measures forced them to remain in quarantine. The mandate will affect people who tested positive for the virus as well as those returning from trips to countries that are designated to be high risk for COVID-19, including the U.K., Turkey and parts of France. Critics have decried the move as equivalent to making COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory, saying that workers could not afford to stay home without pay. Health Minister Jens Spahn defends the move, saying that others should not pay for the fact that someone decided not to be vaccinated. While it is the right of every citizen to choose not to, he insists that it was about fairness, not pressure. Those who cant be vaccinated for medical reasons will be allowed to show a medical certificate to prove this. In addition, compensation will be available for citizens for whom no public vaccination recommendation has yet been given, Bavarian Health Minister Klaus Holetschek says. Find more news and updates about the COVID-19 situation at Pandemic.news. Sources include: LifeSiteNews.com DW.com (Natural News) A hot mic from Israels Channel 12 News caught the countrys health minister admitting that vaccine mandates are about coercion and social control, not science or medicine. Israels Health Minister, Nitzan Horowitz, was having a candid conversation with Interior Minister, Ayelet Shaked, about the countrys draconian Green Pass vaccine passport system. Neither Minister knew that their conversation was being recorded and broadcasted. This digital surveillance system bars individuals from public life if they do not show digital proof of being triple jabbed. Using this system of coercion and social control, Israel has enslaved most of its population and segregated the rest. Israelis are required to update their Green Pass every six months, in compliance with new body requirements set forth by the new medical Apartheid. Israel Health Minister admits that vaccine mandates are about social control, contradicting his statements to the High Court Minister Horowitz admitted on the hot mic that the purpose of the passport system is simply to pressure citizens into vaccine acceptance. Theres nothing ethical or scientific about it. Horowitz told Shaked, there is no medical or epidemiological justification for the Covid passport. It is only intended to pressure the unvaccinated to vaccinate. As the Minister of Health, Horowitz had previously gone before the High Court and declared that the green label is a net health consideration. Now we know full stop that Horowitz is fully aware that he is using the vaccine mandates as a tool of propaganda and social control. He admitted on the hot mic that vaccine mandates only exist to shame the unvaccinated for causing a pandemic, even though evidence shows that the vaccinated make up the bulk of hospitalizations, as vaccine failure and adverse events take hold of the population. In August, the Medical Director of Herzog Hospital in Jerusalem told Channel 13 news that 95 percent of the hospitals severely symptomatic COVID-19 patients were already vaccinated. Israeli leaders imply they would like to refuse medical services based on vaccination status The two dictators, Horowitz and Shaked, joked about using the Green Pass to give the people some of their freedoms back incrementally. Shaked told Horowitz, I also think you can remove the Green Pass for outdoor restaurants. Horowitz concurred, saying Epidemiologically its correct, to allow the unvaccinated to take part in some outdoor events such as outdoor dining and attending public pools. Horowitz stopped himself short, however, saying that once he starts making exceptions to passport requirements, people will want more freedom. I cant let them have full access to pools, because then they will say if not pools, then why water parks? Horowitz remarked. Horowitz expressed concern that the Green Pass System is not being properly enforced across the country, and that unvaccinated people are being allowed into hospitals. We have a problem. The Green Pass is not enforced, especially in the Arab sectorit does not exist, and I see it in hospitals, he balked. Intelligence Minister Elazar Stern chimed in on the conversation, Its irritating that [the unvaccinated] are taking up beds. The Israeli leaders revealed their tyrannical intent to deny treatments and basic medical care to people, forcing both segregation and death on those who do not follow vaccination requirements. By its very premise, a vaccine mandate is a violation of informed consent. A vaccine mandate implies the use of force and is an illegal act of intimidation, duress and coercion. A vaccine mandate is not rooted in science, law, ethics or medicine. There are no instances in American law where the rights of one person supersede the body autonomy rights of another. When coercion is used in medicine, an official or medical professional is in violation of the American Medical Associations code of ethics. When informed consent is bypassed and coercion is introduced, a medical product or procedure becomes a medical experimentation and is in violation of the Nuremberg Code. Sources include: VisionTimes.com NaturalNews.com Twitter.com NaturalNews.com Ushmm.org (Natural News) Russia has successfully test-fired a new hypersonic cruise missile from an underwater vessel. The countrys defense ministry said on Oct. 4 that the Tsirkon hypersonic missile hit its intended target after being fired from a Russian submarine. Russian President Vladimir Putin has lauded the missile, which forms part of Russias novel arms systems. The Russian Ministry of Defense (MoD) has confirmed the missiles successful launch from the Severodvinsk submarine while in the Barents Sea. Footage from the ministry shows the Tsirkon missile shooting upwards, lighting up the night sky and the water. The test firing of the Tsirkon missile from a nuclear submarine was deemed successful, it says. Russian state news agency TASS reported back in July that the Tsirkon hypersonic missile was successfully test-fired from an above-water vessel. According to the report, it was launched from the Admiral Gorshkov frigate while the vessel was in the White Sea. A July 19 MoD statement said: According to live monitoring data, the Tsirkon missile successfully hit a target directly at a range of over 350 kilometers. The missiles surface target was located on the coast of the Barents Sea, which the Tsirkon hit. The statement added: During the test, the tactical and technical characteristics were confirmed [and the] flight speed reached nearly Mach 7. The Tsirkon missile is just one of many armaments in Russias arsenal against the United States. Back in 2018, Putin announced an array of new hypersonic weapons. He said in a speech that year that these new weapons could hit almost any location around the globe and even bypass the U.S. defense system against such missiles. Some Western experts have questioned the full extent of advancement in Russias new hypersonic weapons, but they recognize the difficulty of tracking and intercepting hypersonic missiles due to the combination of speed, maneuverability and altitude. Russias hypersonic weapons put the US at a disadvantage The National Interest mentioned a number of hypersonic weapons in the Russian arsenal in a December 2019 article. These three weapons were first announced by Putin in his March 2018 state of the nation address. First is the Kinzhal, a nuclear-capable ballistic missile that can be launched by air. It boasts of a reported maximum range of up to 3,000 kilometers when fired from a Russian Tu-22M3 bomber. The Kinzhals capabilities increase when fired from a Russian Tu-22M3M bomber, reaching a top flight speed of up to almost 15,000 kilometers per hour about Mach 12 speeds. It entered service in the Russian Armed Forces in 2018, and was test-fired from a MiG-31K fighter jet in December 2019. Second is the Avangard, which combines the benefits of a high-performance ballistic missile with an unmanned glider vehicle. According to the Kremlin, this makes the Avangard a fast and agile missile that cannot be reliably intercepted. The first two serial Avangard systems entered a service trial period in late 2019. (Related: New Russian hypersonic missile can achieve speeds of Mach 27 and will become operational in 2020.) Third is the Sarmat, a 200-ton liquid-fueled intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM). Putin touts the advantages of Sarmat in a speech, calling it a heavy ICBM [with a] practically unlimited range that cannot be intercepted by any current or prospective air defense system. From 2015 to 2017, Sarmat suffered from delays owing to design flaws with the ejection mechanism. However, the MoD later confirmed that Sarmat is scheduled to finish trials by 2021 and enter service in 2024. Putin said in a December 2019 MoD meeting: Now, we have a situation that is unique in modern history where they are trying to catch up to us. No [other] country has hypersonic weapons, let alone hypersonic weapons of intercontinental range. American experts have been sounding the alarm and saying that the U.S. military is lagging behind Russia and China in developing hypersonic weapons and countermeasures for them. U.S. Air Force Gen. John Hyten, the former head of the U.S. Strategic Command, admitted in 2018 that the country has no weapon for intercepting an Avanguard weapon system. We dont have any defense that could deny the employment of such a weapon against us, he told Congress in March 2018. (Related: STRATCOM commander sounds the alarm bell, says nuclear war very real possibility with Russia or China.) WWIII.news has more articles about Russias development of hypersonic weapons. Sources include: News.Trust.org TASS.com NationalInterest.org (Natural News) Health authorities in Sweden and Denmark have put a stop to the use of the Moderna COVID-19 vaccine for younger people on account of its serious side effects. On October 6, health officials in Sweden announced that they would be pausing the use of the Moderna vaccine, which is known as Spikevax, in younger people following reports of side effects such as myocarditis, a type of heart inflammation. The ban applies to anyone who was born in 1991 and later due to an increased risk of side effects such as inflammation of the heart muscle or heart sac according to a translation of the Swedish health agencys official statement. However, they are still recommending that people in this age group get vaccinated with the Pfizer vaccine in a suspension that will be valid until December 1. Authorities have also advised people in that age group who have received their first Moderna dose not to get a second one. Although their statement noted that myocarditis and pericarditis may go away on their own, people with suspicious symptoms should see a doctor or go to the emergency room as medical treatment and hospital monitoring may be necessary. Meanwhile, Denmark is halting the shot for children under the age of 18. Health authorities there said that data obtained from four Nordic nations indicates a link between heart inflammation and the Moderna shots in younger people. In an interview with The Associated Press, Danish health official Bolette Soeborg said that young people will only be invited to get the Pfizer jab: Based on the precautionary principle, we will in future only invite children and young people to receive this vaccine, not least in view of the fact that it is for this vaccine that the largest amount of data from use exists for children and young people, especially from the USA and Israel. Norway, meanwhile, had already been recommending the Pfizer shot to minors and reiterated this on Wednesday, reminding citizens that the risk of heart effects is particularly high among boys and young men after the second dose. Finland is expected to publish its own decision on the matter soon. Regulators approval doesnt mean serious adverse effects wont occur In July, EU drug regulator, the European Medicines Agency recommended authorizing the Moderna jab for young people aged 12 to 17 in what was the first time any nation had authorized the shot for children. The approval came several months after their January approval of the Moderna vaccine for people aged 18 and older. However, European and American regulators have warned that the mRNA vaccines from Moderna and Pfizer have been linked to heart inflammation and chest pain in young people. Several young people have died from heart problems shortly after receiving the Pfizer jab, although health authorities seem hesitant to admit an official link. A healthy 13-year-old Michigan boy died in his sleep three days after getting his second dose of the Pfizer vaccine, while a 15-year-old California boy with no health issues died of heart issues two days after getting his second dose of the same vaccine. Although the vaccines from both Moderna and Pfizer rely on mRNA technology, which delivers genetic code to cells, their dosages are different. Pfizers offering contains 30 micrograms of vaccine per dose, while Modernas is more than three times greater at 100 micrograms per dose, which may explain why its heart effects are more pronounced. The U.S. governments vaccine development program has asked Moderna to test whether it is possible to lower the dosage without compromising its protection. These and other potential side effects are something that all parents must weigh when deciding whether their children should get the vaccine. Although some authorities insist these incidents are rare, they are serious enough and common enough to drive several countries to stop using certain vaccines, and they have already robbed young people of their lives. Those who have already gotten the jab are advised to be vigilant for signs of heart problems such as chest pains, shortness of breath, and a pounding or fluttering heart, particularly in young boys in the days and weeks following the second dose. Sources for this article include: TheEpochTimes.com News.Trust.org NYPost.com CitizenFreePress.com (Natural News) Officials in Texas are preparing for the largest surge of migrants attempting to enter the U.S. illegally from Mexico. They claim that 60,000 migrants from Haiti are expected to arrive at the southern border, following an earlier batch awaiting custody. This comes as the Biden administration limits both Border Patrol and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Texas Gov. Greg Abbott tweeted on Oct. 3: [The] Texas National Guard is gearing up at the border for increased caravans attempting to cross the border caused by [President Joe] Bidens open border policy. They are working with the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) to seal surge locations at the border and arrest trespassers. The governors spokeswoman, Renae Eze, told the Washington Examiner the next day that Texas has deployed thousands of guard members and DPS troopers to the border over the past seven months. However, she refused to disclose how many are on border duties. According to a DPS official, more than 1,000 officers from the department were sent to Del Rio, Texas in late September after 15,000 Haitian migrants reached the city. Eze writes in a subsequent email: When the recent caravan of Haitian migrants crossed into Del Rio, Gov. Abbott surged additional law enforcement personnel to the region. [He also] directed the [national guard] and DPS to create a steel barrier with hundreds of their vehicles and Humvees to deter further crossings. Abbott mentioned the states preparations for the influx of Haitian migrants during a Sept. 29 interview on the Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. We have multiple reports about different caravans coming to different regions across the border, he said at the time. Abbott told the hosts that the national guard and DPS lining up their armed vehicles where people cross had been effective in deterring Haitians attempting to cross. We need to obviously first identify the exact location [where migrants cross.] Then second, we will identify where we will set up these barricades. This successful strategy will be utilized for other caravans headed towards our southern border. (Related: Breitbart: Numbers swell overnight to 12k migrants detained under border bridge in Texas.) Biden sleeping at the wheel on border security President Joe Biden has limited the arrest powers of Border Patrol and ICE, resulting in fewer deportations and more illegal immigrants being released into the United States. The Biden administrations espousal of the catch-and-release scheme has inadvertently made illegal immigration a more attractive prospect. Abbott criticizes Bidens move in an interview. He says: I find despicable the attack on Border Patrol officers by the Biden administration. You have the commander-in-chief attacking his own officers who are on the front lines doing their best to safeguard our border. It is wrong for the president to attack them. To address this, Abbott has issued an order based on federal immigration laws mandating the arrest of illegal immigrants. He explains: Its a violation of law when you do come across the border. [We] stepped up and created our own court system in south Texas where we are arresting and processing and then jailing people who are coming across the border for criminal trespass. Abbott adds: Because I declared a disaster in this region along the border, it immediately elevates the time in jail and the penalties for trespass in the state of Texas. [It] turns into a six-month to a year [imprisonment] penalty. [We] opened up thousands of jail cells where we now have more than a thousand people behind bars who crossed the border illegally and trespass on areas in the state. (Related: Texas GOP lawmaker goes there, calls on Gov. Abbott to disregard hapless Biden regime and take control of border himself.) According to the governor, illegal immigrants arrested by state law enforcement have to be turned over to the federal government. When Trump was [president], the federal officials would not use catch-and-release. However, under the Biden presidency they use catch-and-release, he says. The governor also notes that no one from the Biden administration has actively offered help to alleviate the situation in Texas. They have never even talked to us. None offered help or any assistance. They never even offered any challenge to us, which is good because it means we are able to step up and do more than has ever been done to prevent these people from coming in, Abbott says. Abbott ultimately slams the federal government for failing to secure the southern border. This is a complete dereliction of duty by the Biden administration. They are acting contrary to the constitutional command for them to secure the border, and I hope Congress holds this administration accountable, he says. OpenBorders.news has more news about the ongoing border crisis in Texas. Sources include: WashingtonExaminer.com Twitter.com ClayAndBuck.com (Natural News) Kaiser Permanente has placed about 2,200 unvaccinated employees on unpaid leave due to their resistance to the Wuhan coronavirus (COVID-19) vaccine, which was against the companys policy. The employees are given until Dec. 1 to get their dose of the COVID-19 vaccine. The company says that more than 92 percent of its employees have already been vaccinated, and the number continues to grow. We hope none of our employees will choose to leave their jobs rather than be vaccinated, but we wont know with certainty until then, the company says in a statement. The company also notes that it will continue to work with the employees to allay their concerns and educate them about the risks and benefits of vaccines. Hospital systems issue vaccination directives Other large hospital systems have also issued similar directives. New York-based Northwell Health has announced that it terminated 1,400 employees who refused to get their COVID-19 shot following the New York governors vaccine mandate for healthcare workers. The system says that having a fully vaccinated workforce is an important measure of its duty to protect the health and safety of its staff, patients and the communities that it serves. North Carolina-based Novant Health has also terminated more than 100 employees following the vaccine mandate, although it gives a five-day unpaid suspension period for those who want to comply with the directive. If a team member remains non-compliant after this suspension period, he or she will have their employment with Novant Health terminated. The Henry Ford Health System in Detroit has seen 400 workers walk out rather than take the required COVID-19 vaccines, comprising about 1 percent of the 33,000-strong workforce. Henry Ford is the first Michigan health system to require its employees to get vaccinated as a condition of continued employment and is among more than a half-dozen large Michigan health systems to impose the vaccine mandate. The vaccination mandates are not limited to healthcare systems, either. United Airlines has stated that about 96 percent of its employees have already been vaccinated, and fewer than 1 percent will be fired. No unemployment benefits for the unvaccinated Employees who are hoping to avoid vaccinations can face an uphill battle in staying employed. With more and more businesses requiring their employees to get a COVID-19 vaccine, thousands who have been holding out are at risk of losing their jobs and it is likely that they cant collect unemployment benefits, either. (Related: People who get fired for refusing covid vaccines can be denied unemployment benefits, media says.) Christopher Moran, a partner and employment attorney at Troutman Pepper Hamilton Sanders, says that those who dont want to be vaccinated or dont have religious or disability exemptions could lose their jobs, and will likely be found ineligible for unemployment compensation. While companies like Kaiser Permanente, Northwell Health and United Airlines have employees that represent only a small share of the companies overall workforce, the issue may affect more people in the future. Around 46 percent of organizations say that they plan to institute a vaccine mandate. The Department of Labor is also expected to issue a rule mandating vaccines or COVID testing among businesses with at least 100 employees. The White House itself has required vaccines for all federal workers, contractors and other federal government and health care workers at facilities receiving Medicare and Medicaid reimbursements. Workers usually qualify for unemployment benefits in cases of eligible job separation. However, states differ in their definitions. In some cases, workers can collect benefits after they are laid off, quit a job for good cause or get fired for a reason other than misconduct. According to Anne Paxton, an attorney and policy director at the Unemployment Law Project, a labor agency could categorize the refusal to comply with a vaccine mandate as misconduct. Thus, losing ones job as a result of refusing the vaccine could disqualify a worker from benefits if the refusal does not stand on medical or religious grounds. The consensus is that employers are within their rights to protect workplace safety, and employees are not within their rights to refuse to comply, Paxton says. Get more updates about the COVID-19 situation at Pandemic.news. Sources include: TheEpochTimes.com CNBC.com Freep.com ABCNews.go.com The number and intensity of extreme weather events fueled by climate change that ravaged not just Australia, but many other regions of the world in the 2019-2020 era were unprecedented: massive fires, high heat, powerful cyclones, and devastating floods. The effects of severe weather on our health and well-being are becoming more pronounced. Nearly 500 Australians were killed in recent bushfires. The flames killed 33 individuals immediately, while another 429 perished as a result of smoke inhalation. Heatwaves kill more Australians than all other severe occurrences put together. Floods, droughts, and strong storms caused by climate change all have an impact on our personal and communal well-being. Climate-Related Financial Risks in Australia Extreme weather may be costly. The cost of extreme weather in Australia has more than quadrupled since the 1970s, reaching $35 billion in the last decade, according to new research from the Climate Council. Extreme weather events caused by climate change, as well as the effects of sea-level rise, might cost Australia $100 billion per year by 2038. Climate change is limited to a 1.7C increase over pre-industrial levels under "low emissions," with emissions dropping to zero by 2100. In the "medium" scenario, emissions begin to fall by 2045, but in the "high emissions" scenario, no attempts are made to reduce emissions, leading temperatures to increase by more than 2 degrees Celsius by 2040 and 3 degrees Celsius by 2060. According to the research, Queensland and New South Wales would bear two-thirds of the expense, with Melbourne particularly vulnerable to floods due to its closeness to key rivers. Natural catastrophes, such as fires, floods, hailstorms, and hurricanes, already cost Australia $39 billion annually. This number is likely to skyrocket as property prices rise and more people relocate to locations where extreme weather events occur more frequently and with greater severity. Australia's severe susceptibility to climate effects is highlighted by the deadly Black Summer fires, a debilitating drought, and yet another major bleaching of the Great Barrier Reef. According to Erwin Jackson, policy director of the Investor Group on Climate Change, Australia is very vulnerable to climate change's physical effects, and the government alone will not be able to cover the costs. He stated that the private sector would invest in resilience and adaptation measures if policy guidance was provided. That began with the government's excellent reaction to the royal inquiry on bushfires and the establishment of a National Recovery and Resilience Agency, but he warned more was needed. Also read: High Temperatures and Warm Weather Forecasted to Roast the North-Central U.S. Climate Change in Pacific Region The frequency of Pacific rainfall disruption events such as droughts and floods has already increased by 30% as a result of global warming, according to Australian Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) modeling and will increase by 90% by mid-century and 130 percent later in the century unless emissions are reduced. As climate change wreaks havoc on Pacific weather, droughts and deluge rains are becoming more common. With record flames breaking out in Australia and throughout the world, fire seasons are becoming longer and hotter, increasing the frequency and severity of fire hazard days. Also read: 5 Billion People May Suffer From Water Shortage by 2050, Warns United Nations SHERMAN Students in the Sherman school district who must quarantine due to exposure to COVID-19 can now participate in school remotely, right along with their in-person classmates. The program is called Knight School and is named after the Sherman Knight, which is the schools mascot. It was developed by Sherman Schools Superintendent-Principal Jeff Melendez, in collaboration with staff and administration. Students participating in Knight School meet remotely at the same time as their peers do in the classroom. Using age appropriate technology, they take part in their classroom virtually, in whatever activity or lesson the rest of their class is doing. For example, the preschool will be heavily parent organized and dictated where both parents and students have specific roles and responsibilities, Melendez said. We want them to eat breakfast, establish a morning routine, be prepared for school. In the primary grades, therell be opportunities for interaction such as a read aloud. So the teacher will turn the camera on so the kids can see their peers and students at home can see his or her classmates and they can maintain that connection. Additionally, there will also be special events Knight School Students can watch, such as an upcoming math competition where teachers will battle it out, Melendez said. In grade two, the students are going to review on their own and as they get to middle school, it will be much more asynchronous as opposed to synchronous work, Melendez said. Melendez added the goal is for students to take as much action and ownership of their education as they can. As they get older, therell be a lot more independent work. Why Knight School? Knight School is based on guidelines and requirements issued by the state Department of Education and the current input of local entities and public health officials. The plan is being developed because the State of Connecticut has not approved remote learning as an option available to families. Students can be part of Knight School if theyre physically well and able to participate, and have been required by the district or a physician to quarantine due to an exposure to COVID-19, and are therefore not able to physically attend school. If a kid is not well, they need to be at home, resting, Melendez said. Most quarantine periods run for about eight days, Melendez said. To put the plan together, administration met with teachers in all grade levels and received feedback about what they think would be the most ideal way to teach remotely. Through Knight School, quarantined students will be part of the academic work, get opportunities to engage with peers, and receive live feedback. It was very collaborative. The teachers are the experts in the classroom so we wanted this to be reflective of what they felt the work involves, Melendez said. He said the idea behind Knight School is students and teachers both feel personal interaction is best. The feedback that we received from 15 months of online and hybrid learning is that students and teachers value personal interactions, Melendez said. Because our students educational needs vary, our plan is different for each grade level. Additionally, he said because the quarantining period is temporary, the Sherman School worked to make the exit and reentry from Knight School to be very smooth and seamless. Thirdly, we wanted to make sure that it is manageable for parents and provides students with as much independence as possible, he added. How it works The Sherman School will use three primary technology tools to make Knight School possible: Google Meet for Preschool to eighth grade; Seesaw for Kindergarten to third grade; and Google Classroom for fourth to eighth grade, which is used to distribute assignments, send feedback, and see everything in one place. In Google Classroom, students can use Google tools such as docs, slides, sheets, drawings, and more to create their responses. Depending upon their grade level, students in Knight School will either receive an iPad, Chromebook or Jamboard. Jamboard allows teachers and students to share a whiteboard in real time. Those who receive special education services would get that service remotely at their normally scheduled time. So the teachers dont need to modify their schedule, and the kids can just slide right in and do it remotely, he said. Melendez added speech therapists have told him speech and language skills are easy to teach over Google Meet or Zoom because you get to see the face better you can zoom in, he said, adding that is especially the case in current times since in person, teachers now wear a mask and it may be harder for them to emulate mouth movements and orientations. Melendez said he thinks Knight School will be more effective than what some neighboring districts he heard are doing in regard to quarantined students which is hiring outside staff to work with students. The concern that I had and the reason we didnt go in that direction was because whats most important is the relationship between the teacher and their student. What (hiring an outside educator) does is it puts them in a situation where they have to now forge a relationship with a separate person for a very short period of time. Knight School can change according to changes that may develop over time. Plans are meant to be flexible and responsible to need, he said. We had three versions of our reopening plan last year. Should the entire school should have to quarantine at once, the Sherman School District is ready for that, too. Over the last year and a half, we planned to have the resources we need, to have the equipment we need, to have the technology we need. The teachers have been trained, the students have been acclimated to these different platforms, Google Meet, Google Classroom, Seesaw so I feel confident that we could do this seamlessly. Additionally, Melendez said perhaps in the future, Knight School could be utilized for students in extenuating circumstances such as if a child has an extensive recovery period due to a surgery. He added, however, this would be evaluated on a case by case basis. To date this school year, very few students have been quarantined, Melendez said. Should the pandemic get fully under control, Knight School wont be needed, which, Melendez said, he hopes will happen. Sherman Board of Education Chairman James Neunzig said Knight School is destined to be a success. It was developed collaboratively between our school's administration and faculty, he said, adding it is that collaboration that proved successful in the first year of the pandemic. Our district was able to remain open for full-day, in-person learning for all but 14 days of the year, Neunzig said. This was the result of both the development of a very thoughtful plan and cooperation among the faculty, parents, and students in our community. sfox@milfordmirror.com Our County Editor Dave Hinton is editor of The News-Gazette's Our County section and former editor of the Rantoul Press. He can be reached at dhinton@news-gazette.com. Reporter Debra Pressey is a reporter covering health care at The News-Gazette. Her email is dpressey@news-gazette.com, and you can follow her on Twitter (@DLPressey). (Newser) The White House told the National Archives on Friday that President Biden won't exert executive privilege over documents sought by the panel investigating the Capitol riot, as former President Donald Trump had requested. That leaves the National Archives free to turn over the first batch of Trump files to the House committee, NBC reports, which is trying to determine the former president's actions on Jan. 6. After consulting the Justice Department, White House counsel Dana Remus wrote that "President Biden has determined than an assertion of executive privilege is not in the best interests of the United States, and therefore is not justified as to any of the Documents." story continues below The issue could go to court. Trump sent his own letter to the National Archives on Friday, saying that certain files the committee wants "contain information subject to executive privilege, including the presidential communications and deliberative process privileges." His letter also says that when there isn't enough time for a complete review of the documents, "there is a longstanding bipartisan tradition" of making "protective assertions of executive privilege," per the Washington Post, with the idea that a final assertion of protection could be made later. A Trump spokesman, Taylor Budowich, issued a statement calling the committee's move an "outrageously broad records request." This isn't the last request for Trump Jan. 6 files, and White House press secretary Jen Psaki said they'll be evaluated individually, per CNN. But Biden considers it "of the utmost importance for both Congress and the American people to have a complete understanding of the events of that day to prevent them from happening again," Psaki said. Past presidents' files are held by the National Archives, but they have to ask the current president if they want any documents to be withheld. Trump could sue the National Archives over the matter, though. Trump has told former aides subpoenaed by the committee to refuse to provide documents or agree to interviews, promising he'd go to court if needed to successfully claim executive privilege. Former White House strategist Steve Bannon did that Friday, telling the panel he won't comply with his subpoena. The committee gave indications that Mark Meadows, once Trump's chief of staff, and Kash Patel, a national security aide, are negotiating with the panel. Former adviser Dan Scavino was served Friday, per Politico, but no one would say what his situation is. (Read more Capitol attack stories.) (Newser) The Taliban on Saturday ruled out cooperation with the US to contain extremist groups in Afghanistan, staking out an uncompromising position on a key issue ahead of the first direct talks between the former foes since America withdrew from the country in August. Senior Taliban officials and US representatives are to meet Saturday and Sunday in Doha, the capital of the Persian Gulf state of Qatar. Officials from both sides have said issues include reining in extremist groups and the evacuation of foreign citizens and Afghans from the country. The Taliban have signaled flexibility on evacuations, the AP reports. story continues below Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen said there would be no cooperation with Washington on going after the increasingly active Islamic State group affiliate in Afghanistan. IS has taken responsibility for a number of attacks, including a suicide bombing that killed 46 minority Shiite Muslims and wounded dozens as they prayed Friday in a mosque in Kunduz. "We are able to tackle Daesh independently," Shaheen said, when asked whether the Taliban would work with the US to contain the Islamic State affiliate. He used an Arabic acronym for IS. The group has carried out relentless assaults on the country's Shiite Muslims since emerging in eastern Afghanistan in 2014. IS is also seen as the greatest threat to the US. The weekend meetings in Doha are the first since US forces withdrew from Afghanistan in late August and the Taliban rose to power. The US has made it clear the talks are not a preamble to recognition. The talks come on the heels of two days of difficult discussions between Pakistani officials and US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman in Islamabad. Pakistani officials urged the US to engage with Afghanistan's new rulers and release billions of dollars in international funds to stave off an economic meltdown. Pakistan also had a message for the Taliban, urging them to become more inclusive and pay attention to human rights and its minority ethnic and religious groups. (Read more Taliban stories.) (Newser) Abolhassan Banisadr, Iran's first president after the country's 1979 Islamic Revolution who fled Tehran after being impeached for challenging the growing power of clerics as the nation became a theocracy, died Saturday, reports the AP. He was 88. Banisadr's family said in a statement online Saturday that he died in a hospital in Paris after a long illness. Iranian state television followed with its own bulletin on his death. Neither elaborated on the illness Banisadr faced. story continues below Among a sea of black-robed Shiite clerics, Banisadr stood out for his Western-style suits and a background so French that it was in philosopher Jean-Paul Sartre that he confided his belief he'd be Irans first president some 15 years before it happened. Those differences only isolated him as the nationalist sought to implement a socialist-style economy in Iran underpinned by a deep Shiite faith instilled in him by his cleric father. Banisadr would never consolidate his grip on the government he supposedly led as events far beyond his controlincluding the US Embassy hostage crisis and the invasion of Iran by Iraqonly added to the tumult that followed the revolution. True power remained firmly wielded by Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ruhollah Khomeini, whom Banisadr worked with in exile in France and followed back to Tehran amid the revolution. But Khomeini would cast Banisadr aside after only 16 months in office, sending him fleeing back to Paris, where he would remain for decades. A parliament controlled by hard-line clerics under Khomeini's sway impeached Banisadr in June 1981 for his opposition to having clerics in the country's political system, part of a long-running feud between them. A month later, Banisadr boarded an Iranian Air Force Boeing 707 and escaped to France. "I was like a child watching my father slowly turn into an alcoholic," Banisadr later said of Khomeini. "The drug this time was power." He emerged from the flight with his trademark mustache shaven off; Iranian media alleged he'd escaped dressed as a woman. He would remain outside of Paris for the rest of his life, under police guard after being targeted by suspected Iranian assassins. (Read more Iran stories.) (Newser) Tensions have been growing of late between China and Taiwan, with an incursion last weekend of Chinese fighter jets into Taiwan's air defense zone, and Taiwan's defense chief stressing the "urgency" of the situation. On Saturday, Chinese President Xi Jinping noted he wants all remain to peaceful between the two, but that there's a larger goal he's got in mind. "Reunification of the nation must be realized, and will definitely be realized," he said at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, during a celebration to mark the 110th anniversary of the revolution that overthrew the country's last imperial dynasty, per the AP. story continues below Xi added, "Reunification through a peaceful manner is the most in line with the overall interest of the Chinese nation, including Taiwan compatriots." What Xi blames for holding up such reunification efforts, per CNN: Taiwan's movements toward independence. "Those who forget their heritage, betray their motherland, and seek to split the country will come to no good," he said, warning that the "Taiwan question is purely China's internal affair" that warrants no outside "interference" from other countries. Since Taiwan's split from China in 1949 due to civil war, Taiwan has ruled itself, but China doesn't recognize its sovereignty, and it hasn't ruled out force to bring Taiwan fully back under its umbrella. Still, the BBC notes that Xi's latest remarks were more "conciliatory" than they usually are, such as in July, when he vowed he would "smash" any formal moves by Taiwan to establish its independence. Xi has said previously he'd like to see Taiwan as a semi-autonomous part of China under a "one country, two systems" model, akin to how Hong Kong functions. (Read more Xi Jinping stories.) (Newser) In August 2020, just months after the protests that followed George Floyds murder by Minneapolis police officer Derek Chauvin, a police officer in Kenosha, Wisconsin, shot a Black man in the back, leaving him paralyzed. That shooting, too, sparked protests, and the protests were deadly. Kyle Rittenhouse, a 17-year-old from Illinois, was charged with shooting three people and killing two. Kenoshas district attorney decided not to charge Rusten Sheskey, the officer who shot Blake. Michael Gravely, the DA, said video of the incident showed Blake had a knife and felt he was about to be stabbed. story continues below The Justice Department decided against pursuing federal charges, too. In a statement released Friday, the DOJ said they had no evidence Sheskey willfully used excessive force, the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports. Video of the shootingseven rounds into Blakes back and sidewas recorded by a neighbor. The DOJ said they couldnt prove beyond a reasonable doubt that Sheskey intended to do something illegal. Neither accident, mistake, fear, negligence, nor bad judgment is sufficient to establish a willful federal criminal civil rights violation," the statement reads. Sheskey told investigators that he was afraid Blake would fee the scene with a child in back seat of the vehicle he was getting into, CNN reports. Jacob Blake sued Kenosha police for damages, but they rejected his claim. He also filed a federal lawsuit against Sheskey. Blake told CNN he doesnt feel like he survived the shooting, saying it could happen again. I have not survived until something has changed, he said. Blakes brother, Justin Blake, told ABC7, "If we had a heart to be broken, it would be." (Read more Jacob Blake stories.) (Newser) The Philadelphia city government is fine with leaving Christopher Columbus right where he is, which is in a box in Marconi Plaza. A judge issued an order Friday that the box around the controversial statue be removed. Judge Paula Patrick said that a clear structure should be put around the statue instead to preserve it, 6ABC reports. But the mayors office doesnt want to do it, and there is no plan to remove the box, a spokesperson said. story continues below Mayor Jim Kenneys administration wants the statue gone altogether, and has been seeking to have it removed from its South Philadelphia perch since June 2020, NBC10 reports. A group of people, some armed, gathered at the statue last year after rumors spread that the city was going to remove it. The group sought to protect the statue. Last September the Philadelphia Board of License and Inspection Review decided to let the removal to go forward, but Patrick overturned that decision. At the heart of the controversy, which erupted in the wake of protests in summer 2020, is Columbus treatment of Indigenous people in the Americas. But some Italian-Americans in Philadelphia see the removal of the statue as tantamount to erasure of their cultural heritage. George Bochetto, a lawyer for Friends of Marconi Plaza, said he was delighted by the judges ruling. It comes on the eve on our most important day in the Italian American culture, which is to celebrate Columbus Day, he told 3CBS. Philadelphia Arts Commissioner Robert Roesch, a sculptor, doesnt see the issue that way at all. When I see a work of art being spray painted and people standing around it with guns and bats, I find that very upsetting, and thats not the purpose of public art, he said. (Read more Indigenous People's Day stories.) (Newser) A New York prosecutor will seek an indictment in the coming weeks against millionaire real estate scion Robert Durst for the death of his former wife, Kathie Durst, who disappeared in 1982, a person familiar with the matter told the AP on Friday. Westchester District Attorney Mimi Rocah decided in recent days to take the case to a grand jury in the next week or two, according to the source, who wasn't authorized to speak publicly about the matter. The grand jury process is expected to take about a month, the person said. The news was first reported Friday by News 12 in Westchester. story continues below Kathie Durst was 29 and in her final months of medical school when she vanished on Jan. 31, 1982. She and Robert Durst, who was 38 at the time, had been married nearly nine years and were living in South Salem, near the Connecticut border. Her body was never found. At the request of her family, she was declared legally dead in 2017. Robert Durst claimed to police that on the night of her disappearance, he'd put her on a train to New York City, had a drink with a neighbor, and then spoke with his wife by phone while she stayed at their Manhattan apartment. They'd been fighting earlier in the evening, he said. A few weeks before that, Kathie Durst had gone to the hospital with facial injuries she said were caused by Robert Durst. In the 2015 HBO documentary The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst, he admitted he made up the details about seeing his neighbor and talking to Kathie Durst by phone, saying he did so because he was "hoping that would just make everything go away." Robert Durst, who divorced Kathie Durst in 1990 citing abandonment, has never been charged in her disappearance, despite several efforts over the years to close the case. Authorities reopened the case in 1999, searching a lake and the couple's home. A message seeking comment was left Friday with the Westchester DA's office, which previously said that it reopened the investigation into Kathie Durst's death. In a statement issued after Durst's conviction last month, a spokesperson for Rocah's office said its investigation was ongoing. Meanwhile, Durst's lawyer, David Chesnoff, said: "I don't respond to rumors." Robert Durst, 78, is jailed in Los Angeles and scheduled to be sentenced Oct. 14 for the 2000 killing of his friend, Susan Berman. His first-degree murder conviction carries a mandatory sentence of life in prison without the possibility of parole. (Read more Robert Durst stories.) (Newser) The handling of the last Iowa Democratic caucuses mostly just pleased Republicans. On top of several other reasons why the exercise isn't a great way to deliver the first campaign victory to a presidential candidate, technical problems derailed the counting of results in February 2020. It's enough to make top Democrats think about not doing that again, the Washington Post reports. "We have to be honest with ourselves, and Iowa is not representative of America," Tom Perez, former Democratic National Committee chairman, said Friday. "We need a primary process that is reflective of today's demographics in the Democratic Party." story continues below In addition to the lack of racial diversity, Democrats cite the shift to the right by Iowa's voters while the party's candidates have moved to the left as reasons to move Iowa to later in the campaign. And the barriers to taking part in the one-evening process are high. One party official said Iowa's process that requires an investment of hours, in person, on a winter weeknight, is more restrictive than the new voting law in Texas. "It is not suited to normal people, people that actually have daily lives," he said. After the mess in 2020, a party strategist said, "It's hard to see how anyone can make the case for keeping it first with a straight face." The count was so muddled that the AP decided against declaring a Democratic winner. The first step toward a change could happen this weekend, when Democratic leaders and President Biden's aides start filling committees and discussing the 2024 campaign calendar. One possibility is the party prohibiting the selection of convention delegates early for the race. Perez wants several states to vote on the same day. Many Democrats still like the idea of candidates being able to meet with voters, as they do in Iowa, and a process that gives less prominent candidates a chance. And there's a wariness of letting large states have a large role in the beginning of the campaign. "With California, Texas, Florida and New York as the first four, you would know who the nominee is before you even started," said a campaign adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders. In 1978 and '81, the party lost its attempts to move the date of the Iowa caucuses, per the Post. But that was before the debacle last time. "Iowa had no friends before the 2020 race, or it had very few friends," one Democrat said. "And it certainly doesn't have any friends after the 2020 race." (Read more Iowa caucuses stories.) TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com The European Council yesterday recommended removing all travel restrictions on Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates. The recommendation for a gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel follows a new review. EU is lifting restrictions considering Bahrains overall response to COVID-19, reliability of available information and data sources. Both Bahrain and UAE, in the recent week, had marked a drop in the number of coronavirus cases. The new decision is in force, effective yesterday. Australia, Bahrain, Canada, Chile, Jordan, Kuwait, New Zealand, Qatar, Rwanda, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Ukraine, UAE, Uruguay and Chine, subject to confirmation of reciprocity, are on the EU approved list for non-essential travel. Following a review under the recommendation on the gradual lifting of the temporary restrictions on non-essential travel into the EU, the Council updated the list of countries, special administrative regions and other entities and territorial authorities for which travel restrictions should be lifted. In particular, Bahrain and the United Arab Emirates were added to the list, notes a press release of the Council, issued today. The Council said it would continue to review the list every two weeks. The Council also said that the list is not binding, and the member states are free to remove the entry ban for travellers from countries that are not listed. The Council added Chile, Kuwait and Rwanda to the list and removed Moldova and Bosnia and Herzegovina on September 23. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Bahrains decision to open its transit facilities to ease evacuation from Afghanistan was thanked by the US Homeland Security. In a letter to Interior Minister General Shaikh Rashid bin Abdullah Al Khalifa, Secretary of Homeland Security Alejandro Mayorkas expressed thanks and appreciation to Bahrains efforts in facilitating the evacuation of Afghans. The US official appreciated Bahrain for its immense coordination, planning, and resources to accommodate a large influx of visitors on short notice. He also hailed the ability of the two states to tackle regional and global challenges together, highlighting dedication to strengthen the bilateral relationships to pursuing shared strategic and security objectives. Bahrain opened its transit facilities as the US faced issues with its facilities at Al-Udeid Air Base with those fleeing the Taliban takeover of the country. Gulf Air had also joined international efforts to resettle Afghan refugees to become the first commercial company to fly Afghan refugees to the US. Gulf Air flew Afghan refugees from Isa Air Base to Dulles International Airport. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com A Bahraini man lost BD3,000 from his account after fraudsters allegedly stole his ATM Card details by misleading him into believing that they were bank employees in a phone call. Case files say the caller reportedly requested the man his ATM card details for updating their database. Police arrested two suspects in the case, but they denied any involvement during a trial before the High Criminal Court. The Bahraini victim told the court that the whole episode began with a call from a man who claimed to be a bank employee. He requested my ATM card details to update their database, and I gave it without smelling any foul-play. However, after some time, I received an SMS showing that someone withdrew BD3,000 from my account, the victim said. I immediately contacted the bank and requested to suspend my account, he added. Police later found two suspects in connection with the fraud. Both of them are Asians by nationality. According to investigators, the men transferred the money to another man residing outside the Kingdom, and he, in return, sent the money back to their accounts. Based on the evidence, the Police arrested them. However, the first defendant denied involvement in the scam during the trial. He told the court that the second defendant offered to work with him for selling electronic equipment. And he told me that money will come to his account, and he needed to re-send them to other accounts. I didnt know from where the money was coming, he said. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Yemen deserves to be dealt with in a more equitable and efficient manner on human rights issues, said Bahrains representative to United Nations Office, Dr Yusuf AbdulKarim Bucheeri, following a vote ending UNHRCs probe into war crimes in Yemen. Bahrain, Russia and other member states voted against a resolution to extend a probe by the UN Human Rights Council into war crimes in Yemen on Thursday. The vote pronounced a stinging defeat for Western states who sought to keep the mission going. In the vote called by Bahrain, the 47-member Council narrowly voted to reject a resolution led by the Netherlands to give the independent investigators another two years. It marked the first time in the Councils 15-year history that a resolution was defeated. During a debate ahead of the vote, Dr Yusuf AbdulKarim Bucheeri, the Permanent Representative of Bahrain to the United Nations Office and other international organisations in Geneva, said Bahrain and the countries of the Coalition to Support Legitimacy in Yemen were essential parties in establishing the UN Group of Eminent International and Regional Experts. We had cooperated full and transparently with the experts, but unfortunately, the GEE misused its mandate and overlooked the provisions of the UN Security Council Resolution, he said. The GEE describing the Houthi militia leader as the Leader of the Revolution and militias de facto authorities contradict the Security Councils resolutions and legitimises the coup in Yemen, he added. He also pointed out that the investigating teams reports contributed significantly to deepening the gap between the Yemeni parties. Their reports, Dr Bucheeri said, impeded the return of the legitimate government by confusing international public opinion regarding the Yemeni crisis by considering that it began with the intervention of the coalition. Yemens Minister of Legal Affairs and Human Rights, Ahmed Oman Arman, stressed that the Human Rights Councils refusal to extend the mandate of the expert group on Yemen was its first positive message to Yemenis regarding their position on the Houthi militia. Bias and unprofessionalism In a statement to the Emirati Al-Bayan newspaper, the Yemeni minister said the Houthis considered the vote to extend the mandate of GEE as a green light for them to continue their crimes for the past three years. He added that they have always warned against bias and unprofessionalism. GEE falls under the influence of forces that support the Houthis, tries to improve their image, and mislead international public opinion about the reality of the situation in Yemen, he said. He described the vote to reject the extension as a victory for the Yemenis. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Anti-Narcotics Police yesterday arrested a 35-year-old man for growing narcotic drug plants in his home. The General Directorate of Investigation and Criminal Evidence announced the arrest. The arrest followed a tipoff received at the directorate regarding the mans activities. Police, based on a warrant from the Public Prosecution, searched the suspects residence. Officers said they seized narcotic substances and tools used by the man for growing the plants. Public Prosecution is pursuing legal actions against the suspect. TDT | Manama The Daily Tribune www.newsofbahrain.com Legal procedures for processing traffic violations continue to remain the same since its implementation in February 2015, the Director-General of the Traffic Department said. Brigadier Shaikh Abdul Rahman bin Abdulwahab Al Khalifa confirmed that all the procedures, including those for exceeding the speed limit, are unchanged. He also pointed out that speed limit violations remain one of the most prominent causes of accidents on the roads of Bahrain. Speed limits for a street are set based on multiple considerations, at the forefront of which is protecting lives, he added. Street design, number of lanes, the distance between intersections, curves, inclines, ascents influence speed limits. Therefore, it is important that motorists stick to speed limits, Shaikh Abdul Rahman said. The development of traffic system and law had resulted in bringing down injuries and deaths by 60% until 2020, despite an increase in the number of vehicles, he pointed out. No change in speeding fines The General Directorate of Traffic had earlier issued a clarification on speeding-fine refuting claims of changes. The notice on the directorates Instagram post said the procedures for speed detection and fines are unchanged. The directorate said it allots a 10% grace margin for checking speed to account for the driving conditions and pay the fines at a rate of 50%. Questing birders may persist, but the Holy Grail bird the ivory-billed woodpecker is, like the passenger pigeon or the Great Auk, a gone bird. Last month, the US. Fish and Wildlife Service announced it was no longer listing the ivory-billed woodpecker last seen for sure in Louisiana in 1944 as an endangered species because it considers the bird extinct. Its about time, said Yale ornithologist Richard Prum, who has been skeptical about recent ivory-billed sightings. Theres some romance and some sorrow here. But we need more realism and less faith. The Great God bird so called because thats what people said when they saw the crow-sized woodpecker of the southern woods and hardwood swamps isnt the only species the fish and wildlife service demoted from endangered to extinct. In all, it proposed dropping 23 species including nine birds, eight freshwater mussels, one bat, one fish and one plant into extinction because decades of field work shows theyre no longer on this planet. One of the birds Bachmans warbler, last seen in South Carolina in 1962 and in Cuba in 1981 has long been considered extinct. The Fish and Wildlife Service is now considering whether to drop another bird the Eskimo curlew, last seen in Barbados in 1963 to the same status. Among the species the fish and wildlife service delisted, the ivory-billed woodpecker is a special case. Although it was last identified 77 years ago, people persist in insisting theyve seen one. In 2005, the Cornell Laboratory of Ornithology announced, with trumpets, that it had video of an ivory-billed woodpecker taken in 2004 in the Big Woods region of Arkansas. The video became the Zapruder film of birding what do the wing beats really show? and sent some of the worlds best birders to Arkansas in search of the ivory-billed to no avail. Theres been no confirmed sightings or even wildlife cam shots. The fish and wildlifes announcement which will become official in 60 days, giving the Sir Galahads among field biologists time to ask for a little more time is a reason to pause and mourn. None of us has seen Bachmans warbler or the Little Mariana fruit bat of Guam the bat on the list but they were once living things. Its disappeared, said Jenny Dickson, director of the wildlife division of the state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection. Its something thats ended, thats out of our lives. The sobering thought was Not enough was done when we could do it, said Yales Prum. And it comes with a warning. There may be more species added to the list unless humans step in to reverse the desecration theyve caused. Patrick Comins, executive director of the Connecticut Audubon Society, can easily list some of the birds that are of immediate concern in the state saltmarsh sparrow, wood thrush, red knot, roseate tern, black rail, cerulean warbler. The long term may be grimmer. There are three billion fewer birds than there were in 1970, Comins said. Adding climate change to habitat loss and despoilment only makes things more difficult. Sometimes, even the human presence hurts things. Comins gives the semipalmated sandpiper as an example. These birds are long-distance migrators, flying from the far north of Alaska and Canada to the northeast coast of South America in the fall, then back in the spring. When they pass through Connecticut, they need time to roost, rest and fatten up before the next long leg of their trips. People strolling the beach and admiring the sandpiper flocks scattering them in the process may prevent the birds from getting in good trim to head off again. These places are in heavy demand for recreation, Comins said It may mean we even have to rethink the use of our nature preserves, Prum said. Dickson said the delisting of the 23 species is also a convincing argument for the U.S. Congress to pass the Recovering Americas Wildlife Act, which will dedicate $1.3 billion a year for wildlife conservation. Connecticut would get about $12 million a year from the funding. Dickson said that money will allow the state to get a much better idea of whats happening in its ecosystems and how best to protect them. Doing that could, in turn, bring back endangered species. Holy Grail searches wont be needed. People think Maybe we can do this later, Dickson said. Now is the time. Contact Robert Miller at earthmattersrgm@gmail.com NEW MILFORD After opening its primary care practice in 2017, New Milford Hospital saw a need for further specialty services to better serve patients. A third-floor wing that opened at the end of February is meeting that need and doing it New Milford style. The wing, which had housed administrative offices, is a multi-speciality unit with four medical specialty offices and a fifth office for cardiology on the first floor. Added services include pulmonology, gastroenterology and general surgery. Dr. Thomas Koobatian, the hospitals executive director, said the multi-speciality services have made hospital care more convenient for patients. Primary care doctors do rely on specialists like a cardiologists or pulmonologists for patients with special needs in those areas, he said. Since they serve so many older residents in New Milford, allowing them options that eliminates extra travel, even as close as Danbury, can lessen the burden. I think the access really is the most important thing, Koobatian said. According to Koobatian, the primary care addition was very successful and has kept them busy in recent years, but actually created a need for specialists that doctors could refer patients to. The hospital has already logged roughly 3,000 visits to the wing so far, according to Koobatian. Its been very successful. Theyve really gotten quite busy, quite quickly. Its a beautiful, brand new design, all the equipment is modern, he said. But it wasnt just about adding new specialties to the wing. The hospital wanted to make the area inviting and familiar. We also wanted to make it really comfortable a lot of people dont like going to a hospital, Koobatian said. They turned to art. Serving the people, not just the ailment The 100-year-old hospital hasnt just focused its services to the needs of the community, but also to the character and style of New Milford, as well. All along the corridor leading to the multi-specialty wing are photos of New Milfords Barn Quilt Trail. So, as patients wander through the new wing, they will get a glimpse of home. Thanks to a donation from Julie and Bob Bailey, this gallery of photos, depicting the 19 different quilts on the states only Barn Quilt Trail, will be on display for all to see. It really does connect our patients to our community, Koobatian said. As soon as they get out of the elevator, theyre looking at two beautiful barn quilt photos. Terri Nackid, Nuvance Healths leadership and planned gifts officer, brought the idea for this new gallery to Julie Bailey, a member of the Barn Quilt Trail committee. Soon, the hallway was filled with images of New Milfords art. It was a happy thing that this came together in this way and it was a perfect way to show the barn quilt in a setting that really made sense, said Nackid. The hospital is really at the heart of the greater New Milford community. We just really wanted to have another way to celebrate that. The large 8 foot by 8 foot squares depict colorful, hand-painted, historical quilt patterns that were uniquely chosen by barn owners with input from local artists. Each barns quilt square is made in the traditional New England or modern original style and contains elements of the family or farms story. Thats part of the reason for the gallerys inclusion in the hospital. The hospital is really at the heart of the greater New Milford community. We just really wanted to have another way to celebrate that, said Nackid. While the idea for the project dates back to 2013, the first phase of painted quilt square installations began in 2017. The photos on display at the hospital were shot by local photographer and graphic designer, Linda Pouder, and are also featured on the New Milford Barn Quilt Trail website. Julie Bailey said she hopes people will be inspired to bring a Barn Quilt Trail to neighboring towns, and create an even larger network of trails to attract tourists. They will have hundreds if not thousands of patients who will pass through those doors every year, said Julie Bailey. Koobatian has even picked out some favorites photos that remind him of another time in his life. I went to medical school at the University of Vermont, so I just love the ones with the cows, he said, referring to three patterns hanging at farms in the area titled Grandfather Hipps Cow, Holstein Cow and Cows and Baskets. The art also serves a larger purpose. If it is convenient to access the services and its comfortable, theyre more likely to make that connection and to follow through on other appointments later on because it is an easy thing to get to, and its a pleasant atmosphere, Koobatian said. Anything that we can do to reduce stress will help with the patients overall health. NEWTOWN - Well before last weeks headlines that Alex Jones lost three defamation cases to Sandy Hook parents in Texas, a Connecticut judge threatened the conspiracy extremist with a similar default judgment in two other lawsuits brought by eight Sandy Hook families. On Thursday, state Superior Court Judge Barbara Bellis announced she will take up the question of sanctions against Jones - including a potential default ruling for the eight families - based on (Jones) conduct in this matter to date, including conduct relating to discovery. Bellis is referring to the legal process of pretrial evidence exchange known as discovery that got Jones into such trouble in Texas that he lost his cases by default when the judge ruled he had shown flagrant bad faith and callous disregard for the responsibilities of discovery under the rules. On Oct. 20, Bellis will rule on a request by the eight families to default Jones for a series of allegations, including withholding pretrial data, manipulating evidence, and violating an order of protection, which resulted in Jones attorneys trying to subpoena Hillary Clinton. The Jones defendants have demonstrated they are incorrigible, reads an argument filed by the families attorneys last week. No sanction other than default will remedy their misconduct, and the danger posed by their disregard for the courts authority will significantly increase. Jones Connecticut attorneys counter argue that the families are attempting to obtain an improper default sanction through an unethical motion. Bellis, for her part, has twice threatened to sanction Jones with default, and has promised three other times in the last two months in her orders that she would soon address the appropriate sanctions. In a Sept. 30 ruling over allegations that Jones failed to turn over Google Analytics data to the families, for example, Bellis wrote: The Jones defendantsseem to take the position that the rules of practice do not apply to them. There is no dispute here that the Jones defendants failed to follow the rules as they relate to discovery. And in an Aug. 5 ruling where Jones attorneys were accused of using testimony covered under a court-approved protection order as the basis for questioning Hillary Clinton about her alleged role in a vendetta to silence Alex Jones, Bellis wrote: Given the cavalier actions and willful misconduct of Infowars in filing protected deposition information during the actual deposition, this court has grave concerns that their actions, in the future, will have a chilling effect on the testimony of witnesses who would be rightfully concerned that their confidential information, including their psychiatric and medical histories, would be made available to the public. Jones attorneys meanwhile call the families accusations procedural gamesmanship. If this motion is allowed, it will demonstrate to the world that the fix is in - that there cannot be justice in this Court if your name is Alex Jones, the attorneys write. Eight families and an FBI agent in two cases are suing Jones, the host of Infowars, for calling the 2012 massacre of 26 first-graders and educators at Sandy Hook Elementary School staged, synthetic, manufactured, a giant hoax, and completely fake with actors. Jones has said in court papers that he no longer believes that the worst crime in Connecticut history was a hoax, and that he has a right to be wrong under the First Amendment. Jones attorneys will not be able to develop that argument in Texas, where the cases of the three Sandy Hook parents will now go to a jury to decide damages. In Connecticut, Joness attorneys are still arguing the merits of the case. On Oct. 20, Bellis will also rule on Jones motion to dismiss the Connecticut cases. Bellis has already sanctioned Jones for his blood on the streets rant against an attorney for the families during a 2019 broadcast. That 2019 sanction denied Jones what he considered a key line of defense. After the Connecticut Supreme Court upheld Bellis sanction, Jones high-profile New Haven attorney Norm Pattis petitioned the United States Supreme Court, which declined to review it, sending the case back to Bellis trial court. In court papers last week arguing against the families motion for default, Jones attorneys suggested the writing was on the wall. If the Court thinks (albeit erroneously) that a dispositive sanction is warranted, it should go ahead and issue it, rather than delaying the inevitable, Jones attorneys wrote to Bellis on Oct. 7. The Court cannot be part of the prosecution, using the process to punish defendants because Mr. Jones had the audacity to exercise his First Amendment right to question perhaps the most sorrowful official narrative in U.S. history. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 Contributed / Getty STORRS Part of the University of Connecticut campus was evacuated Friday evening for a hazardous materials situation after a lab cleanup went wrong. Stephanie Reitz, a spokeswoman for UConn, said the person cleaning the lab accidentally mixed two chemicals together, causing the container to rupture and creating an odor in that fourth-floor room and nearby. Teni's son Ashish Mishra will appear before Uttar Pradesh Police for questioning at 11 am on Saturday in connection with Lakhimpur Kheri violence where eight people lost their lives. Hours after Ashish Mishra, son of MoS Home Ajay Mishra Teni arrived at the Crime Branch office in connection with the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, Punjab Congress chief Navjot Singh Sidhu on Saturday said that truth has triumphed. Earlier today, he ended his hunger strike with the family of journalist Raman Kashyap, who died in the violence on October 3. Broke my fast with family of Raman Kashyap After Ashish Mishra surrenders to join investigations. The Almighty gave me the strength to fight for a Just cause Path of Truth will always Triumph !! #SatyamevJayate, he tweeted. Sidhu was demanding the arrest of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Tenis son Ashish Mishra. As many as eight people died in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident on October 3, said Uttar Pradesh police. The Uttar Pradesh Police on Monday filed an FIR for murder against Ashish Mishra. Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of several farmer unions, alleged that Ashish Mishra Teni, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni arrived with three vehicles around the time that farmers were dispersing from their protest at the helipad and mowed down farmers and towards the end also attacked SKM leader Tajinder Singh Virk directly, by trying to run a vehicle over him. However, Ashish Mishra refuted SKMs allegations and said he was not present at the spot where the incident took place. The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. United Nations Security Council (UNSC) has condemned the deadly attack on a Shia mosque in Afghanistans northern Kunduz province, preceding recent attacks against religious institutions in the country. We underline the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice, the UNSC statement said on Friday (local time). According to the statement, the members of the Security Council condemned in the strongest terms the atrocious and cowardly terrorist attack in Kundth, Afghanistan on 8 October 2021. The attack, which was claimed by Islamic State in Khorasan Province (ISKP).. resulted in more than 100 casualties killed and wounded, it read. The statement further stated that its members expressed their deepest sympathy and condolences to the families of the victims and they wished a speedy and full recovery to those who were injured. The members of the Security Council reaffirmed that terrorism in all its forms and manifestations constitutes one of the most serious threats to international peace and security. They underlined the need to hold perpetrators, organizers, financiers and sponsors of these reprehensible acts of terrorism accountable and bring them to justice, as per the statement. The members of UNSC urged all states, in accordance with their obligations under international law and relevant Security Council resolutions, to cooperate actively with all relevant authorities in this regard. They reiterated that any acts of terrorism are criminal and unjustifiable, regardless of their motivation, wherever, whenever and by whoever committed and reaffirmed the need for all States to combat by all means, in accordance with the Charter of the United Nations and other obligations under international law, including international human rights law, international refugee law and international humanitarian law, threats to international peace and security caused by terrorist acts. Contributed photo NEW HAVEN Connecticut CASA, or Court Appointed Special Advocates, has received more than $120,000 in grants to continue its mission of advancing the best interests of children who have experienced abuse or neglect ... so every child can find a safe, permanent home to thrive, according to a release. The grants will allow the organization to add two staff members to recruit, train, and support additional volunteers for children in need, while facilitating a merger toward greater efficiency, it said. A 2016 state law requiring all hotel employees to receive human trafficking awareness training is not being enforced, experts say. Due to a lack of resources, the legislature did not set up an enforcement mechanism when it passed the mandate five years ago, said Rep. Jillian Gilchrest, D-West Hartford, chairwoman of the states Trafficking in Persons Council. Experts also are concerned that many state residents are not aware of the issue of human trafficking and lack of resources contributed to lack of enforcement. The final version of the bill mandating the training simply asked businesses to internally track their employees training records. Im frustrated because these are peoples lives that were talking about, and we enact policies because they have the potential to save people from experiencing significant trauma, she said. When we dont have the means to enforce those policies we know that that means lives are being jeopardized, Gilchrest said. Experts worry most members of the public are unaware of Connecticuts human trafficking problem. Though human trafficking tends to be underreported and relevant data is limited, the available numbers are alarming, they say. Christine Stuart / CTNewsJunkie.com / Between 2016 and 2018, the state Department of Children and Families received roughly 200 reports annually of suspected cases of child trafficking , according to Quinnipiac University School of Laws Human Trafficking Prevention Project. The program conducts awareness campaigns and offers training on how to spot signs of trafficking. According to the National Human Trafficking Hotline, there were 40 Connecticut human trafficking cases reported to it in 2015 and 52 cases reported to it in 2019. But the exact number of child trafficking victims is unknown and likely to be significantly higher than the reported rate given that it continues to be difficult to identify victims due to lack of self-identification and recognition as victims, the hidden nature of human trafficking, and the use of the internet in its facilitation, according to an anti-trafficking report by DCF. Connecticut is an attractive location for trafficking activities given its high-density interstate highways connecting New York and Massachusetts, the report notes. Trafficking & hotels Kaylyn Fagan, a third-year law student and the projects executive chairperson, defined trafficking as making someone do work by using force, fraud or coercion . Perpetrators may, for example, threaten their victims families or use blackmail, she said. Trafficking does not always involve smuggling people across borders, according to Fagan, who said trafficking can happen to anyone but disproportionately affects immigrants and communities of color. While trafficking takes place across service industries, sex traffickers often target hotels for use in their operations, experts said. In sex trafficking, transient locations ... are key, Fagan said. If you think about it, how often are you paying attention to other hotel guests? Thats a place where trafficking can be happening right in front of your eyes. Between 2016 and 2020, 400 of the countrys 499 federal criminal cases involving sex trafficking listed hotels as sex act locations, according to an email from Lindsey Roberson, director of legal engagement at the Human Trafficking Institute. When Connecticuts hotel employee training mandate was proposed, it included language enabling the state to fine noncompliant operators of hotels, motels and other lodging businesses. The revenue would go toward police investigations of prostitution and human trafficking, the bill said. But since the state could not find the capacity to carry out enforcement, Gilchrest said, the final version of the bill omitted an enforcement mechanism. There just never has been the follow-up, she said, noting that a government entity would need to be responsible for maintaining a database tracking compliance. Five years later, the resource dilemma remains. At the time the bill passed, the Permanent Commission on the Status of Women was a likely candidate to track compliance, according to Gilchrest. It since has been consolidated with five other commissions and had its resources slashed, she said. Gilchrest hopes Connecticut will update the legislation. Where wed like to go in the future is that that fine (for lack of compliance) would go to support victim services, she said. It would be great if we could get the enforcement mechanism in place. Raising awareness Even if compliance rates are unknown, those familiar with the issue believe the training and other forms of awareness campaigns are making a difference. Sheila Hayre, faculty adviser to Quinnipiacs Human Trafficking Prevention Project, said reports of trafficking have exponentially increased in recent years. The trend likely is an indication of higher awareness around the issue rather than rising trafficking levels, she said. In Connecticut, for 2013 through 2018. there were 513 human trafficking-related arrests, from 141 arrests in 2014 to 58 arrests in 2016, according to the Office of Legislative Research. The Connecticut Lodging Association, or CLA, works with the DCFs Human Anti-trafficking Response Team to connect hotels, motels and similar businesses with training resources, according to CLA Executive Director Ginny Kozlowski. (In addition to Quinnipiacs program, HART offers training sessions.) Especially when it comes to brand hotels, much of the lodging industry long has been battling to keep trafficking out of its facilities, Kozlowski said. Still, the mandatory training has without a doubt made some businesses and front-line employees more cognizant, she said. She thinks training should be brought to a wider audience. I think there isnt a broad recognition of how significant this challenge is. Weve been doing this training for several years (but) its not as if the problem has stopped, she said. (Theres) got to be widespread education. If the state were to start tracking compliance, Kozlowski said, training should be mandatory across other sectors. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Experts agree awareness is a problem, particularly around labor trafficking, victims of which may be forced to work in restaurants, homes and other locations for little to no pay. Trafficking can happen in any context where services are performed, according to Alicia Kinsman, an attorney for the Connecticut Institute for Refugees and Immigrants. On any given year, CIRI represents between 50 and 100 human trafficking victims, according to Kinsman. Most of those cases involve labor trafficking and not sex trafficking, she said. She named examples of clients forced to work as domestic servants and threatened with serious physical harm if they did not comply. And the restaurant industry has seen instances of workers being threatened with deportation, she said. In other cases, traffickers recruit victims through legal visa processes, but once they get here their employer confiscates their passport (and) pays them very little or nothing at all, she said. In the United States people are less aware of labor trafficking even though the numbers are probably much higher than sex trafficking, said Hayre, the Quinnipiac Trafficking Prevention Projects faculty adviser. The projects latest awareness campaign focuses on labor trafficking, which also could become a subject of future legislation. This month, the states Trafficking in Persons Council is launching a subcommittee to address labor trafficking, according to Gilchrest. We havent even begun to scratch the surface of that problem, she said. The National Human Trafficking Hotline provides referrals for human trafficking victims and fields tips about potential trafficking cases. It can be reached at https://humantraffickinghotline.org/ , by text at 233733 or by phone at 1-888-373-7888. meghan.friedmann@hearstmediact.com A Connecticut lawmaker is defending her comments comparing Gov. Ned Lamont to German dictator Adolf Hitler over the governors COVID-19 vaccine policy for state employees and other mandates. In a statement posted Friday night on her Facebook page, state Rep. Anne Dauphinais, R-Killingly, responded to the criticism by further drawing comparisons between the Democratic governor and Hitler. This governor, with the help of the one-party rule we have in this state right now, has taken dictatorial powers for himself for what will be almost two full years when this latest extension expires, Dauphinais said. Hitler, too, was a dictator enabled by the rule of the single Nazi party. When reached on Saturday, Dauphinais declined to comment further than the statement she posted Friday on her Facebook page. This dictatorial madness must stop, Dauphinais wrote in the statement. Nonetheless, I do want to take this opportunity to not apologize, but clarify to Governor Lamont, for I was not clear that I meant that he was acting like Hitler in the early 1930s to date, he has not called for putting the unvaccinated in camps. Ben Proto, chairman of the state Republican party, did not respond Saturday to a request for comment. Dauphinais has come under fire since commenting Thursday night on the CT News Junkies Facebook post about a story on some state employees not being in compliance with Lamonts order to submit proof of COVID-19 vaccination or agree to weekly testing. King Lamont aka Hitler dictating what we must inject into our bodies to feed our family! Dauphinais wrote in the Facebook comment. Max Reiss, Lamonts communications director, on Saturday called Dauphinais comments disgusting, repulsive and disrespectful to the history and memory of victims of the Holocaust. Such antisemitic rhetoric has no place in state government, and no place in our public discourse, Reiss said. In her statement, Dauphinais said her comments were neither antisemitic nor factually inaccurate. This governor is dividing us, calling on those that are vaccinated to discriminate against those that are unvaccinated, she said. Segregating us from our workplaces coercing people to make unwanted medical choices in order to keep their jobs, pay their mortgages and feed their families. This is no longer land of the free. Dauphinais, whose district includes Killingly and Plainfield in eastern Connecticut, said in the statement that Lamont has used these dictatorial powers to force healthy children who have a statistically ZERO % chance of dying from this virus and who are minimal spreaders to wear dehumanizing, restrictive face masks. State data shows that nearly 68,000 Connecticut residents 19 years or younger have contracted COVID, and five have died with the disease. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also said children and adolescents are typically asymptomatic or have mild symptoms. Because of this, they may not know they are infectious and can still spread the virus, the CDC and health experts have said. In her statement, Dauphinais included a quote from the Holocaust Encyclopedia on the Nazis use of camp prisoners to test immunization compounds and antibodies. Dauphinais continued to compare mask and vaccine mandates, as well as alleged censorship of questions about the vaccines, to the plight of Jewish people in Nazi Germany. Whats worse, the governor is using these dictatorial powers to force an experimental medicine, with unknown and untold side effects, onto the public at large, Dauphinais wrote in the statement. In August, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccine for those 16 years and older. Acting FDA Commissioner Janet Woodcock said the vaccine met the high standards for safety, effectiveness, and manufacturing quality the FDA requires of an approved product. Under an FDA emergency-use authorization, children 12 and older are also eligible for the vaccine. liz.hardaway@hearst.com NEW HAVEN There are times in every Dominican friars life when he must move on to a new ministry, called to serve Jesus and the Roman Catholic Church in a new place, among new people. But Dominican friars are priests who live in community, relying on each other as a spiritual family. The priory at 5 Hillhouse Ave., next to St. Mary Church, where the Dominicans have lived since it was built in 1907, is not just a home, say the friars there, but the center of Dominican life in New Haven. Now that Archbishop Leonard Blair has told the Dominicans that St. Mary soon will be served by diocesan priests, the friars in the priory will go in different directions. These familiar faces these white habits will no longer be here, said the Rev. John Paul Walker, pastor of St. Mary for six years. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media The friars serve not only St. Mary, but work in other ministries, such as at colleges and the Knights of Columbus. Our communities are very diverse, said the Rev. Jordan Lenaghan, executive director of religious life at Quinnipiac University and part-time chaplain at Albertus Magnus College. Its unusual to find a community thats small in number and only serving a parish. Lenaghan calls the priory a beehive of activity. The friars welcome seminarians during the summer and visiting friars doing research at Yale University. One, the Rev. Marcel Sigrist, comes to study Sumerian cuneiform. Hes come here for 40 years every summer to work in Yales collection, Lenaghan said. The nature of such a community requires a residence like the priory, with its 18 bedrooms, Walker said. Unlike, say, a diocesan priest that can live in a rectory or a smaller space, in order to fulfill the obligations of our religious life we need a larger space because we need a space like a refectory, the large dining room, he said. Having meals in common is very sacred to our life. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media This room is the second-holiest room in the house after the chapel, said Lenaghan. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media What is important is not the carved, dark wood and religious art in the priory. A group of people living together does not necessarily make a community, Lenaghan said. Our lives are gathered. These are my brothers. Most of the priory is private. We make a distinction between what we call cloistered space and public space, Lenaghan said. Only ordained men normally are allowed in the private living quarters. In order to give two lay visitors a tour of the building, though, Were going to lift cloister, he said. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media The upper floors include the plainly decorated bedrooms, but most of the friars life in the priory is in common. They pray twice a day in the chapel, a gift from the Knights of Columbus. There are two common rooms, small and large. The large room, with comfortable leather chairs, is where much of the communitys time is spent. This is where the Christmas tree goes. This is where the Super Bowl party goes off, Lenaghan said. Celebrating together, as well as praying together, is sacred time for us, he said. Its a time when we build our relationships with each other as brothers. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media The kitchen is industrial size, to accommodate the friars and their visitors. We have to be able to cook frequently for four, six, 10, 15 people, Lenaghan said. Walker said the student brothers who visit know how to pack it away. Lenaghan, 56, said six friars are needed to make up a priory, but one of their brothers, the Rev. Ignatius Schweitzer, recently was elected prior of St. Catherine of Siena Priory in Manhattan. The oldest, the Rev. Henry Camacho, 85, is visiting Peru, where he has spent much of his ministry. The youngest, the Rev. Joachim Kenney, associate pastor of St. Mary, is 34. This was his first assignment when he was ordained four years ago. Being the youngest member, when I first got here I was very welcomed and have learned a lot from the brothers Ive lived with, he said. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Lenaghan and the Rev. Jonathan Kalisch, prior, who works at the Knights of Columbus, will stay in New Haven while the others will be assigned by the Very Rev. Kenneth Letoile, their provincial, to new ministries in other states in the Northeast and upper Midwest, which form the Province of St. Joseph. Lenaghan said Blair has offered a rectory, likely at a church that is closed, for him and Kalisch. Letoile will have a conversation with each friar about what would be a good next assignment for us, Walker said. My six years as pastor here have been an incredible blessing. The people of this parish are truly amazing in so many ways. St. Mary was Walkers first ministry as pastor. He previously worked in college ministry and taught at the Dominican House of Studies seminary in Washington, D.C. Lenaghan has worked everywhere from Zanesville, Ohio, which is in Appalachia, to St. Petersburg, Russia, since Ive been a priest. Their diverse ministries and experiences are what invigorate the community, the friars said. When we come together, were not all at the same place, Lenaghan said. It adds a depth to our life together. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Its very hard to go because Ive loved this place so much and loved the people so much, Walker said. We pray that it results in many blessings both for the archdiocese and the people of this parish. Letoile said Dominicans moving from one ministry to another is not unusual. Just in terms of our own charism or lifestyle we tend to move more frequently than diocesan priests, he said. We work in a fraternal, communal and consensus way in our governance as opposed to a top-down, more military approach. The Dominicans only priory in Connecticut is on Hillhouse Avenue. St. Mary is where the Rev. Michael McGivney, assistant pastor, had formed the Knights of Columbus in 1882. But after he left to be pastor of St. Thomas Church in Thomaston, St. Mary fell on hard times. The Dominicans were invited to pastor St. Mary in 1886. We were invited to reverse the debt, which we did rather quickly, Lenaghan said. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Since then, St. Mary has grown into a diverse parish of more than 400 families, Walker said, including Yale University students attracted by the Dominicans values of learning, prayer and service. Founded by St. Dominic Guzman 800 years ago, they are formally known as the Order of Preachers. Walker said the friars watch out for each other as a family would. Praying together and eating together, all of the things youd have in a family, we have with each other, he said. When you live so intensely with each other you learn the art of apologizing. You learn mercy. They accept me with all of my flaws, faults and limitations, and they know them, Lenaghan said. As I age, I realize there will never be a time when, if I needed someone, had to go to a doctors appointment, that there would not be a brother who would say, OK, Ill get the keys. Theres a calmness about them. Theyre welcoming, said Joann DAuria of East Haven, who was leaving the noon Mass Kenney had celebrated Friday. I just told him Id like to carry you around. Id like to put you in my pocketbook. Ive been coming here since I was younger than 5, said her niece, Maggie Acabbo of North Haven. I made my first Holy Communion here. They are by far the best Ive seen at all the churches Ive been to. David Elliott, spokesman for the Archdiocese of Hartford, said in a statement, The Archdiocese of Hartford is very grateful for the years of service that the Dominican Friars have given to St. Marys Church, and we welcome individual Dominicans continuing to minister within the Archdiocese. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media Letoile said he had faith the future would be positive for the Dominicans and St. Mary. In this instance, its not something we would have chosen, but we trust that Jesus will bring about through this change new life. There are blessings that we cant see right now but he does. Ned Gerard / Hearst Connecticut Media edward.stannard@hearstmediact.com; 203-680-9382 Hartford Police / Contributed Photo HARTFORD Two men in their 30s were shot in separate incidents overnight, according to the Hartford Police Department. Officers were alerted to the shootings via their gunshot detection system. The first shooting occurred around 11 p.m. near the Lyceum conference center on Lawrence Street, police said. The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said in spite of the huge challenges inherited by the current administra... The Minister of Information and Culture, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, has said in spite of the huge challenges inherited by the current administration, President Muhammadu Buhari has steered the country in the right direction and returned the economy to the path of sustainable growth. The Minister made the remarks in Abuja on Friday when he received a delegation from the African Union Development Agency-New Partnership for Africas Development (AUDA-NEPAD), which is in the country for the second peer review. We came into government in 2015 and by the time we came to government, three things happened, the impact of which we did not know. The first is that by the time we assumed office in 2015, a huge part of the North East was under the effective occupation of Boko Haram. When we came in in 2015, the economy had virtually collapsed. Oil prices crashed from a high of about $120 per barrel to about $28 a barrel. Production went from about 2.1 million barrels per day to about half a million barrels a day. These were the challenges we faced on day one when we came in, he said. Alhaji Mohammed, therefore, urged the AUDA-NEPAD to always consider the peculiar challenges of a country while making conclusions on the governance structure for the peer review. While we can have some basic tenets of governance, governance is a bit peculiar to the locality, and the kind of challenges we face will determine to a large extent the mechanism we are going to use to resolve them. I look at Nigeria as an extremely interesting project, especially in the last six years. I think the kind of challenges we faced as a government coming in in 2015 till today will challenge the most resourceful persons, he said. The Minister hailed the governance style of President Buhari which, he said, is driven by experience, wisdom, tolerance, patience and listening to all shades of opinion in his effort to chart a new course for the country that has been plagued by numerous challenges. While speaking on the economy, he said the President has diversified the economy as oil is no longer the driving force behind economic growth. In the area of economy, I am proud to say that we are not just in the process of diversifying the economy, we have diversified our economy because the last report (of the National Bureau of Statistics) showed that while the non-oil economy did very well, the oil-related economy did poorly. That after two-quarters of recession, we were able to record 5.01%growth in GDP was not at all based on the oil economy but on the non-oil economy, Alhaji Mohammed said. He said the Federal Government has scaled up the fight against insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and other forms of criminality in the country. The Minister also highlighted the contributions of the creative industry to the growth of the economy, saying apart from agriculture, the sector creates the highest number of jobs, especially for women and the youth. He also commended Mr Presidents foresight in the fight againstCOVID-19 and disclosed that Nigeria is targeting about 90 million doses of COVID-19 vaccine by the end of the year. In her remarks, the National Coordinator of NEPAD, Princess Gloria Akobundu, said the AU Development Agency is in the country to assess the implementation of the National Programme of Action arising from the first peer review conducted in 2008. She said so far, Nigeria has consolidated democracy, scaled up the provision of infrastructure and is in the process of attaining self-sufficiency in food production through massive investment in agriculture. The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned international human rights organisation, Amnesty International over allegation of bei... The Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB) has condemned international human rights organisation, Amnesty International over allegation of being responsible for the killings in the South East. The group said the allegation by AI was unfounded and unsubstantiated, insisting that the statement credited to Amnesty International was very disappointing for a group of that standing. In a statement by the spokesperson of IPOB, Emma Powerful, the group said: It is baffling that a reputable global organisation like Amnesty International will condescend into making statements without investigations. How did Amnesty International arrive at its conclusion that IPOB is responsible for the killings in South East? In case Amnesty International has forgotten, let it be reminded that IPOB had suspended its earlier order for Ghost Mondays before hooligans sponsorsed by politicians hijacked the exercise to unleash mayhem on innocent citizens under the guise of enforcing the suspended order just to implicate IPOB and we still stand by that order and decision that Monday sit at home has been suspended. The group said anybody purporting to enforce Sit-At-Home on Monday was not from IPOB, and that last weeks murder because of enforcement of sit at home by angry mob in Mbaise Imo State was not by IPOB family members, insisting that Amnesty International must verify information before making pronouncements to the public. IPOB also said that Amnesty International was not aware that Gov. Willie Obiano of Anambra State has accused his fellow South East governors of sponsoring the killings in his state. He said: How will it be IPOB that is behind the killings and the governor with all the intelligence at his disposal will still be pointing accusing fingers at his fellow governors? Or is Amnesty International suggesting that South East governors are now members and sponsors of IPOB? Why is Amnesty International beginning to drift away from its respected position as fearless Rights defender? We understand its predicament having come under fire and pressure by the oppressive Fulani controlled federal government of Nigeria over its critical stance against the governments excesses. But its not enough to jolt the reputable organization into making unsubstantiated utterances. Amnesty International were you not seeing the numerous attacks and killings going on in Awka Etiti Community, how Nigeria army murdered brother and sister who were coming back from mortuary where they deposited the lifeless body of their mother, Nigeria security agents shot them dead and one innocent young man at Izombe Community who stood at the front of his compound was murdered today by Nigeria army and burnt his his house at Izombe village in Oguta LGA Imo State. Nigeria Army burnt down more than 50 houses and property worth of #500m at Izombe Community in Oguta LGA, Amnesty International never seen the barbarity going on in Imo State now, they will come out and talk unsubstantiated statement about IPOB that we are behind the killings and attacks going on in South East. Nigeria army burning properties in that area, IPOB will never succumb to their threat because we knew that they are not Nigeria army but fulani jihadists soldiers disguised as Nigeria army and they are here for mission we know their antics. Watertown, NY (13601) Today Periods of rain. High 44F. Winds WSW at 10 to 20 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall around a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Cloudy skies early, then partly cloudy after midnight. Low near 35F. Winds W at 10 to 20 mph. Ethan Ellestad is the executive director of the Music & Culture Coalition of New Orleans, which supports and advocates on behalf of musicians and culture bearers in the city. Hes been involved since the organizations inception nine years ago and became executive director around 2015 when the group achieved its official nonprofit status. A native of Madison, Wisconsin, Ellestad moved to New Orleans in 2009 to pursue graduate work in urban planning and community development. Gambit: What does your job entail? Ethan Ellestad: I do a lot of the back-end work that allows the organization to run and to do its forward-facing work but also because my background is also in urban planning and development. What I always say is it's the least sexy part of cultural work, which is looking at the zoning ordinances, analyzing how that impacts the culture; watching city council meetings, looking at the city calendar; and seeing all the different ways and aspects that decisions the city makes impact how cultural activity happens on the ground. So, keeping track of that. Gambit: So basically, you're the even-less-sexier version of the triangle players, is what you're saying? E: [laughing] Yes, I'll just say yes. Gambit: What are some of the challenges right now that musicians are facing in the realm of urban planning and zoning? E: I think there's a real significant challenge. We're sort of in this rolling series of disasters, for lack of a better term ... people have now experienced physical damage potentially where they live, but also just a massive amount of economic damage because there's been so little opportunity, so many canceled gigs. And tourism has been way off, so there's been this long-standing struggle, particularly now, just to make ends meet. And so that's one piece. Meanwhile, the city processes are still ongoing. There are still City Council meetings, there are still planning commission meetings, there are still people advocating in various aspects. So, this continuing level of our traditional work the things that people have always struggled with whether that be a zoning ordinance that restricts live music, particularly outdoor music [or] people that are still trying to shut down street performers during the pandemic. Were trying to provide that assistance while we also try to provide direct aid to folks. There's this dual challenge of people trying to make ends meet, just to get through the day-to-day, but then also having to try to figure out a way that they can still advocate for their own interests. +2 MaCCNO director Ethan Ellestad on the cultural community's needs during the pandemic In April, The Music & Culture Coalition of New Orleans (MaCCNO) began to distribute relief grants to musicians, artists and culture bearer Gambit: One of the big things you guys have been working on obviously is this outdoor music issue. E: Correct. And this is a great example of the immediate needs versus the ongoing effects and how they interrelate. Because the outdoor music issues we had been working on pre-pandemic and it goes back to early to mid-2019, when we realized somewhere along [the way] the city had determined that outdoor live music was essentially not legal anywhere in the city without a special event permit, with one exception, which is Bacchanal. This is a very flawed interpretation of the law that is detrimental to livelihoods and really to the way that the world should function, and is damaging small businesses. So, we advocate around that. Then, the pandemic hit and live outdoor music is more important than ever and is, in fact, one of the tools we need to be using to provide relief for musicians, and then a pathway to sustainability for small businesses. The interrelatedness of these two things is an issue we should have been working on to resolve and resolved before the pandemic hit. We would be in a much better spot to support these businesses. To the city's credit, they've created this temporary permitting plan, but that's sort of nebulous and you've created this limbo for many businesses. I would maintain that something like outdoor music is in fact now a recovery tool post-Ida, because we think musicians need safe and legal places to be able to make some money and make a living, and people need a place to go experience some of these normal day-to-day things, like seeing live music in a way that is also safe. Particularly when the weather's beautiful, right? Gambit: Right. I mean, that's the irony of it if theres a city that is well-situated for having a lot of outdoor music, it would seem to be here. E: Yeah, and it's so counterintuitive, and people don't realize it. We're really so far behind so many other cities whove actually resolved this issue and figured it out, and we're sort of stuck. The best way that I can sort of describe it is that Spiderman meme where every Spiderman is pointing his finger at the other Spiderman. And that's what's happening with our music rules. The Department of Safety and permits is pointing its finger at the Council, and the City Council is pointing their finger at the mayor's office and the mayor's office is pointing its finger at the permits office saying, No, no, you gotta fix this. It turns out that outdoor music in New Orleans, when the weather is nice, is extremely popular, people really like it, and the places that sprung up are doing it in a family-friendly way that is safe, that people feel safe and comfortable and want to go and enjoy it. And the city is going to shut those places down then. Gambit: I realize the irony of two dudes who were not born here discussing this, but that seems to fit into this broader concern folks have that the culture of New Orleans has become diluted and changed. E: To your point, I can give my perspective of it, which is likely different from some people that were born here and is generations deep. But from the work that I do and the perspective that I have ... look what happens with neighborhood bars, particularly Black-owned neighborhood bars Often, they're the canary in the coal mine of gentrification. It's hard to get a liquor license for neighborhood bars, extremely hard, which certainly increases value there. The property values are rising. And so, there's an incentive for some of the long-term business owners to sell, because they can finally get some money. And then there is: Who has the resources to buy? And its often largely people not from here. They are often wealthy and white [people] that can come buy in a place and want to shape it into what they think is a good neighborhood spot for them, like craft cocktails. I don't want to jump into too many cliches. But often theyre not too far off. Commentary: City Hall, please dont stop the music The Music and Culture Coalition of New Orleans (MaCCNO) last week called on New Orleanians to contact city officials, particularly City Counci And I think in some ways there's a danger there. Because when we're losing these spaces, and because of the way that the city's zoning codes now work, there's not necessarily a next spot for those kinds of spaces to go. So, these neighborhoods spaces that are really the incubators of the culture, whether it be at second line bars, whether it be a spot that has a brass band or has birthday parties on a weekend, however that goes, there just aren't as many places where those things can happen. To me that's really indicative of what some of the danger [is when you] have gentrification displacement. It's one of the big realities of a zoning code that is not updated in a way that will allow for these spaces, not just music venues like Tipitinas, but rather a neighborhood space where people can get together. Often that's where the real creativity and culture and forward movement things happen. It's not just about selling a ton of tickets and making money, but rather a small community gets together and just doing this thing. And I think those are the places that are really in danger. Gambit: It almost seems like there are opposing views on what these spaces are for. Are we supporting or wanting places that make money and that's their goal, versus places that are designed to allow the culture to happen and people to gather? E: Yeah, and I think they can do both. You could have a place that makes money that allows the culture to happen. But I think it doesn't have to be, if you're getting X amount of money to businesses, it's not either worth investing in or sustaining, right? ... I think we really saw this during the pandemic. So many spaces are fragile, and labors of love are here because whoever the matriarch or patriarch of that place and the owner is, is keeping it alive because it matters to them and members of the community. And when those people pass, then a lot of spaces really become much more in jeopardy, because there's not strong succession planning for the next person to take over. So, some of those places started to disappear during the pandemic. And that is something that is not necessarily replaceable. But I think we need to keep in mind that that culture is also dynamic, so we need to create spaces where there can be new things that happen and new people come in and do something new. I think that's all really important. But we've got to figure out a way that it can be really done in an equitable way, because a lot of people have speculated, buying up spots. And that can be extremely damaging. Gambit: Do you guys have anything coming up here that people should be on the lookout for in terms of projects you're working on or things that you're going to be pushing? E: We still have ongoing relief we are doing, hurricane relief, that we want to try to keep doing to provide assistance to as many people as possible, for as long as possible. We're looking at ways that we can partner to raise money and to get people other types of assistance. But then also, we can't just keep going from disaster to disaster and looking at how can we raise money to support the community. Building a long-term safety net is more and more urgent. And we've got to figure out a way that we can coordinate that, because we know there's never going to be enough resources coming from the federal government, from the city or from outside. We've got to figure out a way to leverage what we've got and how we can collectively create a stronger safety net, so that's something we've been working on with a number of other arts and cultural organizations. Outdoor music is still not finalized. A few places, I think will become legal in perpetuity, but there's a number of places that are still in jeopardy. And just the idea that some of these things that we really enjoyed during the pandemic, some of the bright spots, could still go away I just look at some of these businesses, some of the bars that have been having outdoor music one night a week. Those kinds of things may or may not be able to continue much longer, so we want to make sure [they] are. +5 The Gambit Q&A: Author Maurice Ruffin Gambit spoke with author Maurice Carlos Ruffin about surprising influences, advice and where he finds all that energy. CHILL: The city of Covington's Chillin' at the River Concert Series continues Oct. 14 with Lost in the '60s on the Bogue Falaya Park stage, 213 Park Drive, in downtown Covington. The free concert is scheduled from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Bring chairs and blankets; food and beverages will be available to buy. Free parking at nearby public parking lots and throughout the downtown neighborhoods, but do not block driveways. CONCERT: On Oct. 15, more free music, this one from the next Sunset at the Landing Concert on Columbia Street. It's from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m., but the city doesn't usually identify the band until closer to the performance. Bring chairs, blankets and refreshments. ART SMART: On Oct. 16, the St. Tammany Art Associations Covington Art Market will be held on Lee Lane, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. STRINGS: The Third Sunday Concerts at Christ Episcopal Church Covington continues Oct. 17 with a performance by the James Carter String Quartet of Loyola University in New Orleans. The one-hour concerts are free and open to the public. Performances begin at 5 p.m.; doors open at 4:30 p.m. in main church building. Masks required and social distancing in effect. All quartet members serve in various capacities on Loyola's faculty and have strong ties to the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra. Church at 120 S. New Hampshire; handicap accessible entrance on the park side of the main church. For more, call (985) 892-3177. ROOTS: The 10th annual Abita Springs Busker Festival Oct. 17 at the Abita Springs Trailhead & Park includes a free day of music and dance, along with the Abita Springs Art & Farmers Market starting at 11 a.m. Music until about 7:15 p.m., including Washboard Chaz and the Tin Men, The Bad Pennies Pleasure Makers, Catie Rodgers and the Gentilly Stompers, The Sam Doores Band, The Smoking Time Jazz Club, and the perennial closer, Tuba Skinny. GIROD: On Oct. 16, stroll Girod Street from the Trailhead to the lake, with 20-plus stops en route for light tasting plates by top local chefs and classic cocktails, each with a twist. Stroll will also feature local artists selling original work; the raffle of a live painting of the stroll created on-site by artist Andrew Wilkie; and hear live music by the 10th Street Brass and several Ozone Songwriters Festival artists. Buy a $40 stroll cup online at www.oldmandevillebiz.com in order to sample all food and beverages. For more info, see the Old Mandeville Business Association website or Facebook page. (Rain date is Oct. 17.) SUNSET SYMPHONY: The Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra will perform free Oct. 23 at 5:30 p.m. at the Mandeville Lakefront Park, 2623 Lakeshore Drive. It will be conducted by LPO Assistant Conductor Chelsea Gallo. No tickets are required, but masks are, except when eating or drinking, and social distancing is encouraged. Visit lpomusic.com for more details. The event, designed to celebrate the community, will include the music of Mozart, Bernstein, Stravinsky, Tchaikovsky and more. MUSIC VIDEO: The deadline to enter the first Louisiana Made Music Video competition has been extended to Oct. 17. To compete, all music videos and short films must either be made in Louisiana; or by a Louisiana resident; or with a Louisiana band or songwriter, according to the Louisiana Made Music Video Showcase co-sponsors, The Pontchartrain Film Festival and the Ozone Songwriter Festival Symposium. The competition will be presented as part of the showcase Nov. 6 at 11:30 a.m. atop the Old Rail Brewing, 639 Girod St., in Mandeville. Enter online at filmfreeway.com/PontchartrainFilmFestival-350581 or for more, email info@pontchartrainfilmfestival.com or visit www.ozonemusic.org. LIVE THEATER CABARET: The Cutting Edge Theater at 757 Robert Blvd. in Slidell is showing Cabaret through Oct. 16, a reshuffling of the previous schedule to deal with Ida issues. Set in 1929-30 Berlin, the award-winning musical focuses on the hedonistic night life of the seedy Kit Kat Klub and revolves around the relationship of American writer Cliff Bradshaw and English cabaret performer Sally Bowles. Rated NC-17. Tickets start at $27.50 online at cuttingedgetheater.com, by phone (985) 649-3727 or text to (985) 285-6666. St. Tammany top stories in your inbox A weekly guide to the biggest news in St. Tammany. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up SECRETS: Playmakers Theater will reopen for an Oct. 15-21 run of Wedding Secrets. Written and directed by Joe Starzyk, the show includes in-laws colliding, menopause meeting impotence, drunken debauchery and more. Get $20 tickets online. A GUMBO Of EVENTS HELP: The next Northshore Families Helping Families Center will hold its next financial planning workshop at the center in Covington on Oct. 14 from 6 p.m. to 7 p.m. All self-advocates, parents, caregivers and professionals wanting more information about financial planning for an individual with a disability is invited to attend this free workshop at the 108 Highland Park Plaza Center. Space is limited and registration required. Find the link to do that at fhfnorthshore.org. SWEEP: On Oct. 16, there will be a Keep Covington Beautiful Bogue Falaya River Sweep at Bogue Falaya Park, 9 a.m. until noon. Volunteers should meet in the park ready to work. DONATE: Mayor Mark's Blood Drive Oct. 19 from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at Bogue Falaya Hall. BUSINESS: The St. Tammany Chamber of Commerce has rescheduled its State of Economic Development Breakfast for Oct. 20 at 8 a.m. at the Tchefuncta Country Club. Registrations will automatically transfer to the new date. Anyone with questions or a need to cancel should contact the chamber. TOMB: A replica of the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier will be in Covington on Oct. 12-13 for visits to see and pay respects in Veterans Plaza at the St. Tammany Parish Justice Center, 701 N. Columbia St., from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. each day. No cost. In case of rain, the replica will be inside the center. Sponsored by local chapters of Daughters of the American Revolution. New Orleans police are investigating a triple shooting that erupted in the 100 block of Carondelet Street on the edge of the Central Business District late Friday, according to officials. The shooting occurred about 9 p.m., and paramedics brought a wounded man who appeared to be in his mid-30s to University Medical Center's trauma unit, said Jonathan Fourcade of New Orleans Emergency Medical Services. Patients who are treated by UMC's trauma unit are typically in critical condition. Later, two other men who were injured on Carondelet took their own rides to the hospital, one with a bullet wound to the hip and the other struck in the leg, police said. Authorities didnt immediately release any details about whether any suspects had been arrested or if they had identified a possible motive in the shooting. At least one person in the area who spoke with The Times-Picayune | New Orleans Advocate reported hearing about 10 gunshots at Carondelet's corner with Common Street, possibly coming from two different weapons. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The sight of police combing the shooting scene drew numerous onlookers shortly afterward, though foot and car traffic appeared to be flowing as it normally would late Friday. The shooting came at the end of a particularly bloody week in New Orleans. Before Friday nights violence in the CBD, at least 20 people had been wounded in shootings across the city since Sunday. Two separate shootings had involved four victims. Two died in one of the quadruple shootings, and one was killed in the other. One man accused of having a hand in a triple shooting in New Orleans Central Business District late Friday has been arrested while police continue searching for a second suspect, according to authorities. Shawn Breaux Jr., 29, faces allegations of illegally possessing a gun as well as trying to flee the scene of the shooting, police said in a statement Saturday. But the statement stopped short of alleging that Breaux actually shot someone. Meanwhile, the statement announcing Breauxs arrest contained the most detailed account yet of the shooting in the 100 block of Carondelet Street that left three men wounded. Two men wielding guns showed up at Carondelet about 9 p.m. and shot the group of three victims, police said. Paramedics were called out to the scene and brought one of the injured men to University Medical Center's trauma unit to be treated for multiple bullet wounds, police said. The remaining two wounded men took their own rides to the hospital, with one struck in the hip and the other hit in the leg. Officials didn't provide details about the victims' medical conditions. Yet people brought to UMC's trauma unit are typically in critical condition. +2 Shooting at edge of New Orleans' CBD wounds 3, officials say New Orleans police are investigating a triple shooting that erupted in the 100 block of Carondelet Street on the edge of the Central Business Police allege they saw Breaux getting into a car in an attempt to flee from officers shortly after the shooting. Officers soon managed to catch Breaux, but a second suspect whose name wasnt immediately released was still at large as of Saturday morning, police said. Breaux was jailed on counts of illegally possessing two guns despite a prior felony conviction, unlawful handling of a machine gun, aggravated flight from police as well as possession of a stolen firearm. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Friday was not the first time Breaux had been linked to violence in the city's downtown area. In 2010, police arrested him in connection with two shootings, including the slaying of Pat O'Brien's bartender Earl Wheeler near the French Quarter, court records show. Breaux ultimately pleaded guilty to attempted murder as well as being an accessory to second-degree murder. In 2014, he received a 10-year prison sentence with credit for time served, a punishment that he had completed prior to Friday's triple shooting, according to records. The bloodshed on Carondelet capped off an extraordinarily violent workweek in New Orleans. At least 20 people had been wounded in shootings across the city since Sunday. Two of those shootings had each involved four victims. Two died in one of the quadruple shootings, and one was killed in the other. Another of the shootings this week injured two people Monday night at the corner of Commerce and Girod streets, also in the CBD. On Friday, police arrested two suspects in that case: Jerry Rodriguez, 19, and Olivia Turner, 22. Rodriguez faces two counts of aggravated second-degree battery while Turner is accused of being a principal to two aggravated second-degree batteries. Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office detectives have arrested a New Orleans woman who is accused of killing her 1-month-old son. Shankia Walls, 21, was booked Oct. 4 with first-degree murder in the death of Sherwin White Jr., said Capt. Jason Rivarde, a Sheriff's Office spokesperson. The infant died of blunt force trauma, according to authorities. +2 After newborn girl dies from fentanyl-tainted breast milk, Kenner mom booked with murder: JPSO Lana Cristina was sentenced to five years in prison after a negligent homicide conviction in which she supplied the heroin that killed her friend, court records said. Walls was staying with Sherwin at a motel in the 3400 block of Jefferson Highway in Old Jefferson when she called 911 on the morning of Aug. 7 after she realized the child was not breathing, according to a Sheriff's Office incident report. The baby was taken to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The Sheriff's Office on Friday did not disclose how investigators believe Sherwin died or the evidence against Walls. But blunt force trauma is typically caused by a forceful blow to the body. 1 man dead, another jailed on murder charge after Metairie shooting Thursday morning A man who claimed he acted in self-defense when he fatally shot another man outside of a Metairie business early Thursday morning has been arr Detectives obtained a warrant for Walls' arrest on Sept. 14. She was arrested in Atlanta and extradited back to Jefferson Parish on Oct. 4. Walls was being held without bond Friday at the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna. A confrontation between an employee at a Metairie strip club and a Kenner man who authorities say may have been a patron ended in gunfire early Thursday morning, with one of the men fatally shot. Michael Rivera, 33, died of his injuries, and Byron Franklin, 29, a Metairie man who worked at the club, was arrested and booked with second-degree murder, according to the Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office. The shooting occurred about 2:30 a.m. outside Cabaret NOLA at 3229 Lisa Drive, a Sheriff's Office report said. Authorities did not say what sparked the disagreement between Franklin and Rivera. "It began as a disturbance between the two," said Capt. Jason Rivarde, a Sheriff's Office spokesperson. "At some point during the fight, [Franklin] pulled out a gun and shot the victim." New Orleans mother booked with murder of 1-month-old son: JPSO Jefferson Parish Sheriff's Office detectives have arrested a New Orleans woman who is accused of killing her 1-month-old son. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Rivera suffered multiple gunshot wounds and was taken to University Medical Center in New Orleans. But he later died of his injuries. Franklin stayed on the scene after authorities were called. He told investigators he acted in self-defense, according to the Sheriff's Office. But detectives found that evidence in the case that "cast doubt on that claim," Rivarde said. Algiers man arrested, accused of cashing checks stolen from Gretna Post Office boxes Gretna police have arrested an Algiers man accused of stealing mail from the large blue collection boxes in front of the Gretna Post Office an A call to Cabaret Nola requesting comment went unanswered. No one came the door of the locked business Friday evening. Franklin was booked into the Jefferson Parish Correctional Center in Gretna. Bond information was not immediately available. New Orleans garbage collections are shifting to a once-per-week schedule as Mayor LaToya Cantrells administration searches for a permanent fix to the citys troubled sanitation system. The two primary solid waste contractors, Metro Service Group and Richards Disposal, are supposed to collect twice weekly, but they have fallen behind throughout the year. The problem blew up into a public health crisis after Hurricane Ida, when garbage bags piled up next to overstuffed bins throughout the city. Sanitation Director Matt Torri said the shift to once-weekly pickup is temporary, but the administration is not committing to any collection schedule in the future. The problem has been most severe in the Metro service area, which covers New Orleans East, Gentilly, Lakeview and neighborhoods that are downriver of Esplanade Avenue. The administration has previously announced that it will rebid Metros seven-year contract before the end of the year, and it reiterated that point in a statement Saturday. +2 New Orleans to close trash drop-off site to public as emergency crews make progress Mayor LaToya Cantrells administration is preparing to shut down public access to its solid waste transfer station on Elysian Fields Avenue, a Once the contract has been awarded, information about the frequency of collections will be shared, the statement said. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The city plans to monitor Richards service area, which covers Algiers, parts of Mid-City and upriver neighborhoods, to determine whether a return to twice-weekly collection is feasible in the near future, according to the statement. Cantrell announced on Sept. 23 that she had hired four emergency contractors to clear out the backlog while Metro and Richards resumed regular collections. The emergency effort is expected to last a month and is estimated to cost between $20 million and $30 million, exceeding the annual cost of regular collections in the Metro and Richards service areas. More than 22,000 tons of solid waste had been collected since Sept. 1, according to the administration, and the stench of rotting garbage has lifted from many neighborhoods. But only a handful of areas have been completely cleared, the administration said. The Federal Emergency Management Agency has agreed to reimburse the city for a single pass of emergency collections, but it is not clear how much of the cost the city will recoup. Our emergency solid waste collection contracts are progressing well, but our team continues to focus on other complementary solutions, Torri said in the administrations statement. We are collectively beginning to see the progress on the ground, but its time to bring some predictability so that our residents can better prepare for their trash collection. City officials plan to have more information about the new garbage collection schedule online at nola.gov/sanitation/schedules. Peter C. Bunnell, who over a 35-year career at the Museum of Modern Art and Princeton University transformed the history of photography from a side interest among professional photographers to a rigorous academic discipline, died on Sept. 20 at his home in Princeton, N.J. He was 83. Malcolm Daniel, an executor of his estate who studied under Professor Bunnell and is now a curator at the Museum of Fine Arts, Houston, said the cause was melanoma. It is a measure of Professor Bunnells success that today photography is unquestionably accepted as both a fine art and a discipline worthy of historical scholarship. Things were different in the late 1950s, when he entered college: He had to struggle to find professors, let alone programs, that took the subject seriously. There were lots of schools where you could learn to take pictures, he said in an interview with The New York Times in 1972. But despite a growing awareness of still photographys importance, there was no program anywhere to study its aesthetics and history. Could Jonathan Kanter have better timing? I hardly think so, given the lovefest on display this week at his Senate Judiciary Committee hearing. Nominated to lead the Justice Departments antitrust division, the decidedly tough-on-tech Kanter spoke to lawmakers just as Facebook was getting a shellacking by the persuasive whistle-blower Frances Haugen. Meanwhile, the social media giant was spinning in all sorts of directions about Haugen. Among the whispered and very loud aspersions from the company is that she is a nobody who was not in the room where it happened and does not understand the documents she provided. But there was also darker stuff. People speaking on behalf of the company have implied that Haugen was a thief by calling said reports stolen. (She is not, given her whistle-blower status.) Perhaps worst of all, there is a crazy conspiracy theory lurking around conservative news outlets that she is a plant inside Facebook for Democrats/Google/socialist demons. Its more than a little sickening to attack the messenger, although not at all unusual, of course. Facebook is also trying to create confusion about what Haugen said. On Twitter, the longtime political operator Steve Schmidt nailed the companys effort perfectly, deconstructing a CNN interview with the Facebook executive Monika Bickert. You should read the whole thread, but here was my fave line: The quagmire that results is purposeful. The answers are supposed to be stultifying, boring, inaccessible and incomprehensible. To say that Facebook has worked D.C.s last nerve is an understatement, and Kanter benefited from all of it. He sailed through his hearing with bipartisan praise to spare, indicating a rallying by lawmakers to hold Big Techs feet to the fire. He certainly has the juice as one of the most prominent antitrust lawyers in Washington. INTERNATIONAL An article on Friday about the new malaria vaccine in Africa referred incorrectly to malaria in one instance. It is caused by a parasite, not a virus. NATIONAL An article on Thursday about the Biden administrations proposed changes to the National Environmental Policy Act misidentified a key environmental law in one instance. It is the National Environmental Policy Act, not the National Environmental Protection Act. BUSINESS An article on Friday about negotiations to overhaul the international tax system misspelled the given name of Irelands prime minister. He is Micheal Martin, not Michael. WEEKEND ARTS Because of an editing error, a review on Friday of the reinstallation Companions in Solitude: Reclusion and Communion in Chinese Art at the Metropolitan Museum of Art misstated the position held by Joseph Scheier-Dolberg at the museum. He is associate curator of Chinese painting and calligraphy, not assistant curator. The review also misspelled the surname of the Chinese artist who painted Famous Women. He is Gai Qi, not Gia Qi. The defiance of Sheriff Villanueva a politically divisive figure underlines the difficulty of trying to lift lagging vaccination rates among law enforcement officers across the country. In many cities, officials are worried about losing officers. The New York Police Department, the nations largest, said that 67 percent of its staff have had at least one dose. Thats despite a city mandate that went into effect last month that requires city workers to get vaccinated or submit to weekly testing. I would be supportive of a vaccine mandate, Dermot F. Shea, New Yorks police commissioner, said on Thursday during a news conference with Mayor Bill DeBlasio. Other cities forces have far lower vaccination rates. Memphis and Louisville recently reported that fewer than half of its officers have been vaccinated. The Fraternal Order of Police, a national union that represents 356,000 officers, estimates that 724 officers have died from Covid-19 since the pandemic began. In Los Angeles, Hilda Solis, the chair of the countys board of supervisors, signed an executive order in August directing all county employees to show proof of a coronavirus vaccination by Oct. 1. The order did not provide for a testing option as some other local governments have done. Sculpture is by its nature materially and spatially assertive, so a sculptor needs logistical and material support, as well as the endorsement of others who believe in the undertaking and in the case of dealers believe they can realize a return on their investment in a market dominated by male artists and male collectors. Search online for women sculptors and youll find a meager list in comparison to a male search. Search for most important or successful artist of any gender and the results are dominated by painters, highlighting the particular difficulties and market status of making sculpture. Still, female representation for me has been one of the biggest changes in my career, in part driven by the market: If people want to buy work by women, theres stuff to sell. Most collections are male oriented, but as collectors change their view of what they want to buy, that broadens the arena for women and for artists of color. Is curating different for a private gallery than for a public museum? Oh, so different! A commercial space helps build an artists career and their sales base in order to sell. In Yorkshire, our remit is to support artists and to create and hold new audiences for art. Were intent on reflecting the global developments in art, expanding to include works from places like Africa, Indonesia, South America, and we work with incredible artists at all stages of their careers. Are curators frustrated artists at heart? Or art lovers who prefer the art of the deal? Artists often make brilliant curators, although they tend to have more narrow tastes than a curator working in an institution can afford to have. Art dealing is a whole different thing its absolutely fascinating and were all part of an ecosystem, but its different. People working in the commercial sector and auction houses really know their stuff. Im not suggesting that they are just there making bucks: Their knowledge is really exceptional, but the purpose of those industries is to sell. As a curator, being aware of the art market is increasingly important. Every project we do we have to fund it in some way, and working with artists, their dealers and galleries, working with collectors is really important. One picture shows the actress Shannen Doherty completely bald, a bloody cotton ball in her nose as she stares straight at the camera, looking almost confrontational. Another is more playful Ms. Doherty, 50, is in bed wearing Cookie Monster pajamas and a Cookie Monster eye mask. She confesses to how exhausted she is, how the chemotherapy she has had to undergo for Stage 4 breast cancer has left her plagued by bloody noses. Is it all pretty? NO but its truthful and my hope in sharing is that we all become more educated, more familiar with what cancer looks like, Ms. Doherty wrote on Instagram this week. The images are unsettling to any member of Generation X who remembers her as Brenda Walsh, the feisty, polarizing teenager she played for four years on the hit 1990s show Beverly Hills, 90210, which brought her international fame and infamy. The willingness of the Federal Reserve and other central banks to flush trillions of dollars into the global economy to limit downturns also means that other lenders, aside from the I.M.F., have enough surplus cash on hand to lend money to strapped nations. China has also greatly expanded its lending to foreign governments for infrastructure projects under its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative. At the same time, long-held beliefs like the single-minded focus on how much an economy grows, without regard to problems like inequality and environmental damage, are widely considered outdated. And the preferred cocktail for helping debt-ridden nations that was popular in the 1990s and early 2000s austerity, privatization of government services and deregulation has lost favor in many circles as punitive and often counterproductive. The debate about the role of the I.M.F. was bubbling before the appointment of Ms. Georgieva, who this month started the third year of her five-year term. But she has embraced an expanded role for the agency. A Bulgarian economist and the first from an emerging economy to head the fund, she stepped up her predecessors attention to the widening inequality and made climate change a priority, calling for an end to all fossil fuel subsidies, for a tax on carbon and for significant investment in green technology. She has argued that however efficient and rational the market is, governments must step in to fix built-in flaws that could lead to environmental devastation and grossly inequitable opportunity. Sustainable debt replaced austerity as the catchword. When the coronavirus pandemic brutally intensified the slate of problems malnourishment, inadequate health care, rising poverty and an interconnected world vulnerable to environmental disaster Ms. Georgieva urged action. Here was a once in a lifetime opportunity, she said, to support a transformation in the economy, one that is greener and fairer. Moderna, whose coronavirus vaccine appears to be the worlds best defense against Covid-19, has been supplying its shots almost exclusively to wealthy nations, keeping poorer countries waiting and earning billions in profit. After developing a breakthrough vaccine with the financial and scientific support of the U.S. government, Moderna has shipped a greater share of its doses to wealthy countries than any other vaccine manufacturer, according to Airfinity, a data firm that tracks vaccine shipments. About one million doses of Modernas vaccine have gone to countries that the World Bank classifies as low income. By contrast, 8.4 million Pfizer doses and about 25 million single-shot Johnson & Johnson doses have gone to those countries. Of the handful of middle-income countries that have reached deals to buy Modernas shots, most have not yet received any doses, and at least three have had to pay more than the United States or European Union did, according to government officials in those countries. SUNDAY PUZZLE This is one of those sliced-bread themes that makes you wonder why nobody thought of it before, the mark of a great invention. We get movie puzzles (which are always fun) and we get a mystery every so often (please, if you missed it, solve McGuffin Manor next). But it took Brandon Koppy to make the connection that makes this puzzles theme, as far as I know, so I give him applause. This is a Sunday debut for him, although hes already produced four themed daily puzzles for The Times. He works for a digital ad agency in Austin, Texas, and got into constructing around 2018. The inspiration for this grid came to him when he stumbled across an old poster for the movie Clue and thought, Hmm, that could work for a puzzle title. Tricky Clues I think the fill is tough today in general, but its vibrant, especially if you consider the constraints of a large theme set. There are two thick crosshatches of good debut entries in the northeast and southwest corners, as well as a brand name, PELOTON, that Im amazed has never been in a puzzle before. 22A: This linguistic term is a debut that refers to what happens when you try to buy a toy yoda and end up with a Camry. Not quite a mondegreen and not quite an eggcorn, the ORONYM is a coinage from Joy of Lex, a 1980 book by Gyles Brandreth. Among Black New Yorkers, only 48 percent of those between 18 and 44 have gotten at least one dose of the vaccine, compared with roughly 60 percent of those 45 and older, according to city data. Gen Z and millennials have a different relationship to the institutional Black church, said Nichole R. Phillips, the director of the Black Church Studies program at Emory Universitys Candler School of Theology. If you have a generation that isnt as present in the pews, that will impact the use of the church as a place of public health education. Dr. Easterling said city health officials know outreach efforts at churches will primarily engage an older population, but he said those efforts to address vaccine hesitancy could have a subsequent effect on the young. We know particularly in Black churches, we have seen it is primarily older generations that have really focused on going to church in person, he said. We also do see parents in their 40s or 50s, as well, and they play an important role because they talk to their adolescents and their children. They share information. More than one million people in New York City have contracted Covid-19 and over 34,000 have died from it since the citys first confirmed case on Feb. 29, 2020, according to city data. That includes 175,751 Black New Yorkers who contracted the coronavirus by October, or roughly 9 percent of the citys Black population, compared with 245,536 white New Yorkers, or roughly 7 percent of the citys white population. According to city data, 31,108 Black New Yorkers had been hospitalized because of Covid-19 and 14,820 have died of it as of this month. The coronavirus has taken a steep toll in neighborhoods like Hunts Point, which is home to the Word of Life International Church, a Pentecostal congregation that Pastor Udo-Okon started 21 years ago in his living room. As the world grapples with Covid-19, influenza isnt getting much attention these days. But the flus global impact is staggering: three million to five million cases of severe illness every year, and up to 650,000 deaths. Every few decades, a new flu strain spills over from animals and leads to a pandemic. The deadly toll of influenza is all the more striking when you consider that we have had vaccines to fight it for eight decades. But they remain mediocre. A flu shot is good for only one flu season, and its effectiveness typically reaches somewhere between 40 and 60 percent. In some years its as low as 10 percent. But a new generation of highly effective flu vaccines may emerge in the next few years, based on the same mRNA technology that has protected hundreds of millions of people against Covid-19. While traditional influenza vaccines are grown for months in chicken eggs, mRNA vaccines are manufactured relatively quickly from scratch. In theory, their faster production may make them better matched to each seasons flu strains. And when theyre injected into people, they may provoke a stronger immune response than traditional flu vaccines do. Perhaps the best chance of a crackdown on the industry is if President Biden and his administration act forcefully. He has not yet put his weight behind any bills, but has placed some of the industrys leading critics in top regulatory jobs. Lina Khan, the chair of the F.T.C., and Jonathan Kanter, the nominee to run the Justice Departments antitrust division, have promised to hobble the power of the companies. Facebook took a big hit this week, but they are capable of taking many hits just as the tobacco industry was, said Allan Brandt, a professor at Harvard and an expert on the rise and decline of the tobacco industry. It took more than 50 years from the first published research about the dangers of cigarettes, and more than a decade after a whistle-blower shared internal documents proving that the tobacco companies hid its knowledge of the ills of their products, before there was meaningful government regulation, he said. There will be regulation for Facebook and other tech companies, Mr. Brandt said, but Im skeptical of a route to successful regulation anytime soon. The European Union has for years been more aggressive against the tech companies than the United States, on issues including antitrust and data privacy. This past weeks testimony from the Facebook whistle-blower, Frances Haugen, intensified calls to adopt proposals that would impose tougher rules for how Facebook and other internet companies police their platforms, and add stricter competition rules in an effort to diminish their dominance over the digital economy. The laws could be adopted as early as next year. But in Washington, a key impediment to legislation is that Democrats and Republicans view the issues of tech power and speech on social media differently. Democrats want to address the spread of misinformation and the amplification of harmful political rhetoric, while Republicans argue that Facebook, Google, Twitter and other social media platforms censor conservative views. And when it comes to questions about whether to break up the companies, many Democrats see antitrust action as a way to slow the most powerful tech platforms and address data privacy, security and misinformation. Some Republicans say that there is plenty of competition in the industry, and that breaking up the companies would be an example of government overreach. Three weeks after he had been charged with trying to fraudulently obtain Covid-19 relief loans, David A. Staveley escaped by faking his own suicide, prosecutors said. He cut off his electronic monitoring bracelet and left suicide notes with friends and family members, including his 80-year-old mother, prosecutors said. He also left his wallet and a suicide note in his unlocked car, which he parked by the ocean in Massachusetts, federal prosecutors said. Many of his family members believed he had died by suicide, although the ones who knew him best informed law enforcement that they suspected this to be yet another scheme orchestrated by Mr. Staveley, prosecutors wrote in a court filing. On Thursday, Mr. Staveley, 54, of Andover, Mass., was sentenced to 56 months in prison. He had pleaded guilty in May to one count of conspiracy to commit bank fraud and one count of failing to appear in court, prosecutors said. Vaccine hesitancy among police officers in the United States has been one of the themes of pandemic news this year, but in some places, firefighters are joining the resistance. This week, hundreds of firefighters in Los Angeles filed a notice of intent to sue the city over its vaccine mandate, saying an Oct. 20 deadline to get vaccinated is extreme and outrageous. The notice, filed on Thursday, said each of the 871 firefighters would seek $2.5 million each if the lawsuit is filed for a projected total of over $2.1 billion. A lawyer representing the group said that the city would have 45 days to evaluate the notice and that he expected to file the suit immediately after that period. Firefighters in Spokane, Wash., joined state workers in a lawsuit over statewide vaccine mandates, according to KXLY-TV. In Orange County, Fla., a group of firefighters upset by a vaccine mandate sued the county, WFTV reported. FALLS CHURCH, Va. Three weeks before he died, Sam Anthony, 52, mailed his last wishes to a man he had never met. He was dying, he wrote in a letter postmarked Aug. 2, of an aggressive cancer in his mouth and throat that he had been struggling with since 2005. He enclosed a copy of a college alumni magazine article about his high-ranking job at the National Archives. He was writing, he explained, because the two men shared ancestors, a fact he had learned from DNA matches and public records. He had recently learned that his biological fathers name was Craig Nelson. I am wondering, Mr. Anthony wrote, if you are that Craig. In Green Valley, Ariz., on Aug. 9, Mr. Anthonys letter found its way into the hands of a 78-year-old retired airline worker. KIGALI, Rwanda As the sun scorched the hilly Rwandan capital on a recent afternoon, a motorcycle taxi driver, two women in matching head scarves and a teenager wearing headphones all separately sauntered into a small roadside kiosk to drink the only thing on tap: milk. I love milk, said Jean Bosco Nshimyemukiza, the motorcycle taxi driver, as he sipped from a large glass of fresh milk that left a residual white line on his upper lip. Milk makes you calm, he said, smiling. It reduces stress. It heals you. Mr. Nshimyemukiza and the others were all seated at a milk bar, one of the hundreds found everywhere in the capital, Kigali, and scattered all across this small nation of 12 million people in central Africa. In Rwanda, milk is a beloved drink and the milk bars are a favorite place to indulge, combining the pleasures of the beverage with a communal atmosphere. Men and women, young and old, sit on benches and plastic chairs throughout the day, glass mugs before them, gulping liters upon liters of fresh milk or fermented, yogurt-like milk, locally known as ikivuguto. At one particularly tense moment, in October 2020, American intelligence reports detailed how Chinese leaders had become worried that President Trump was preparing an attack. Those concerns, which could have been misread, prompted Gen. Mark A. Milley, the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, to call his counterpart in Beijing to assure otherwise. The Taiwan issue has ceased to be a sort of narrow, boutique issue, and its become a central theater if not the central drama in U.S.-China strategic competition, said Evan Medeiros, who served on President Obamas National Security Council. Chinas ambitious leader, Xi Jinping, now presides over what is arguably the countrys most potent military in history. Some argue that Mr. Xi, who has set the stage to rule for a third term starting in 2022, could feel compelled to conquer Taiwan to crown his era in power. Mr. Xi said Saturday in Beijing that Taiwan independence was a grave lurking threat to national rejuvenation. China wanted peaceful unification, he said, but added: Nobody should underestimate the staunch determination, firm will and powerful ability of the Chinese people to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity. Few believe a war is imminent or foreordained, in part because the economic and diplomatic aftershocks would be staggering for China. Yet even if the recent flights into Taiwans self-declared air identification zone are intended merely as political pressure, not a prelude to war, Chinas financial, political and military ascendancy has made preserving the islands security a gravely complex endeavor. Until recently, the United States believed it could hold Chinese territorial ambitions in check, but the military superiority it long held may not be enough. When the Pentagon organized a war game in October 2020, an American blue team struggled against new Chinese weaponry in a simulated battle over Taiwan. MONTREAL Since Aude Le Dube opened an English-only bookshop in Montreal last year, she has had several unwelcome guests each month: Irate Francophones, sometimes draped in Quebec flags, who storm in and berate her for not selling books in French. You would think I had opened a sex shop at the Vatican, mused Ms. Le Dube, a novelist from Brittany, France, and an ardent F. Scott Fitzgerald fan. Now, however, Ms. Le Dube is worried that resistance against businesses like her De Stiil bookshop will intensify. A new language bill that the Quebec government has proposed would solidify the status of French as the paramount language in Quebec, a move that could undermine businesses that depend on English. BERLIN Chancellor Sebastian Kurz of Austria announced on Saturday that he would resign, days after prosecutors began a criminal investigation into allegations he used public money to pay off pollsters and journalists for favorable coverage. The move came amid intense pressure from all sides, with Mr. Kurzs partners in the government, the Greens, threatening to quit the coalition unless his conservative Peoples Party replaced him as chancellor. The countrys president issued a stern statement urging all players to put party politics aside in the interest of stability. I admit that it is not an easy step for me, Mr. Kurz told reporters at a news conference in Vienna on Saturday evening. My country is more important than my person. What it needs is stability. Mr. Kurz, 35, said that he would suggest Alexander Schallenberg, 52, the countrys foreign minister, as his replacement in the chancellery. He said he would stay on as the leader of his party and the head of the conservative caucus in Parliament positions that would keep him close to the new chancellor. MADRID In a letter to Mexican bishops last month, Pope Francis called for a revisiting of the countrys history, especially the role of the Roman Catholic Church, and urged clergy members to recognize the painful errors committed in the past. Yet it wasnt in Mexico where his remarks drew controversy, but in Spain, where the right wing soon rallied behind the countrys role in conquering the Americas, alongside the church, more than 500 years ago. Isabel Diaz Ayuso, the conservative leader of Madrid, said she was surprised that a Catholic who speaks Spanish would talk that way, adding that Spain had brought civilization and freedom to the Americas. And a former prime minister said he was proud of the conquest. The reactions, on the eve of Spains celebration of its version of Columbus Day, were less about history and more about Spains current political moment: Just how far should the countrys conservatives tilt toward nationalism in attempting to boost their popularity? OTTAWA A Canadian man admitted in court on Friday that he made up tales about serving as an Islamic State fighter and executioner in Syria. In exchange, Canadian authorities dropped criminal charges against him of perpetrating a hoax involving the threat of terrorism. The man, Shehroze Chaudhry, had spread fabricated stories of life as a terrorist in Syria on social media beginning in 2016, according to an agreed statement of facts between prosecutors and the defense. He then repeated them to several news outlets, including The New York Times, which then amplified his tales, the statement said. Mr. Chaudhry, who is now 26, had come to regret giving interviews to the news media and wanted to finish school and turn his life around, the statement said. Prosecutors agreed to drop the charges because Mr. Chaudhrys tales were mistakes borne out of immaturity not sinister intent and certainly not criminal intent, his lawyer, Nader R. Hasan, wrote in an email. Abdulrazak Gurnah, who was born in Zanzibar but now lives in Britain, won a Nobel Prize for his compassionate penetration of the effects of colonialism and the fate of the refugee in the gulf between cultures and continents. Which Nobel did he win? Average fuel sales and deliveries per gas station 30,000 liters On Sept. 24, fuel sales spiked to almost twice the previous Fridays total as shortages at some gas stations became front page news. Fuel deliveries increased a few days later, but they came too late to avert a crisis. 20,000 Typical pattern of sales and deliveries 10,000 0 Aug. 1 Aug. 15 Sept. 1 Sept. 15 Oct. 1 Average fuel sales and deliveries per gas station 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 liters Aug. 15 Typical pattern of sales and deliveries Sep. 1 On Sept. 24, fuel sales spiked to almost twice the previous Fridays total as shortages at some gas stations became front page news. Sep. 15 Oct. 1 Fuel deliveries increased a few days later, but they came too late to avert a crisis. Average fuel sales and deliveries per gas station 0 10,000 20,000 30,000 liters Aug. 15 Typical pattern of sales and deliveries Sep. 1 On Sept. 24, fuel sales spiked to almost twice the previous Fridays total as shortages at some gas stations became front page news. Sep. 15 Oct. 1 Fuel deliveries increased a few days later, but they came too late to avert a crisis. Average fuel sales and deliveries per gas station 30,000 liters On Sept. 24, fuel sales spiked to almost twice the previous Fridays total as shortages at some gas stations became front page news. Fuel deliveries increased a few days later, but they came too late to avert a crisis. 20,000 Typical pattern of sales and deliveries 10,000 0 Aug. 1 Aug. 15 Sept. 1 Sept. 15 Oct. 1 Source: U.K. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy | Note: The data is a sample that covers about 80 percent of typical gas sales. 10,000 liters is equal to 2,642 gallons. New government data shows how the ongoing fuel shortage in Britain turned into a crisis overnight. On Sept. 24, panicked drivers bought twice as much fuel as the previous week while deliveries to most gas stations remained at normal levels. After the widespread closure of gas stations and long lines clogging roads, the worst of the crisis now appears to be receding. But in the South East and London, deliveries still remain constrained and the military has been deployed. About 200 soldiers are driving gas tankers and providing logistical support. In these areas, 12 percent of gas stations are still without fuel, according to the Petrol Retailers Association. Fuel stocks have begun to rebound across the country, but London and the South East still lag other regions Average stock levels at sampled gas stations East East Midlands London North East North West Scotland 50% 40% 35% 33% 30% 28% 22% 19% 24% 20% 18% 19% Fuel stocks are typically around 40-50%. 16% 14% 13% 10% 12% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. South East South West Wales West Midlands Yorkshire 50% 40% 30% 30% 28% 26% 26% 20% 16% Fuel stocks in the South East have been the slowest to recover. 16% 15% 14% 14% 10% 12% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. East East Midlands 40% Fuel stocks are typically around 40-50%. 22% 19% 20% 13% 12% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. London North East 40% 33% 18% 20% 19% 14% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. North West Scotland 40% 35% 28% 20% 24% 16% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. South East South West 40% 26% 20% 16% 15% 12% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. Wales West Midlands 40% 30% 26% 20% 14% 14% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. Yorkshire 40% 28% 20% 16% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. East East Midlands London 50% 40% 30% Fuel stocks are typically around 40-50%. 22% 19% 18% 20% 14% 10% 13% 12% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. North East North West Scotland 50% 40% 35% 33% 30% 28% 20% 24% 19% 16% 10% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. South East South West Wales 50% 40% 30% 30% 26% 20% 16% Fuel stocks in the South East have been the slowest to recover. 15% 14% 10% 12% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. West Midlands Yorkshire 50% 40% 28% 30% 26% 20% 16% 14% 10% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. East East Midlands 40% Fuel stocks are typically around 40-50%. 22% 19% 20% 13% 12% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. London North East 40% 33% 18% 20% 19% 14% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. North West Scotland 40% 35% 28% 20% 24% 16% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. South East South West 40% 26% Fuel stocks in the South East have been the slowest to recover. 20% 16% 15% 12% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. Wales West Midlands 40% 30% 26% 20% 14% 14% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Aug. Sep. Oct. Yorkshire 40% 28% 20% 16% 0% Aug. Sep. Oct. Source: U.K. Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy | Note: The data is a sample that covers about 80 percent of typical gas sales. Government officials have said that the cause was not the supply of fuel itself, but rather a chronic lack of trained drivers to make deliveries. The fuel crisis has been the most visible impact of the truck driver shortage that is hampering the U.K.s economic recovery from the pandemic. And, with Christmas fast approaching, businesses could face more challenges. Andrew Opie, the director of food and sustainability at the British Retail Consortium, a trade association, has said that supermarkets alone need about 15,000 additional truck drivers to avoid disruption this Christmas. The commercial hauling industrys long-term issues have been compounded by Brexit and the pandemic. The work force tends to be older, and training for new drivers is expensive. Today, there are 30,000 fewer truck drivers than a year ago. Britons have left the industry in droves and deteriorating roadside facilities and grueling hours away from home have not encouraged new workers to join. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has denied that Brexit is the cause of the driver shortages, instead singling out the trucking industry for underinvestment. The fact is that they havent been putting money into truck stops, into conditions, into pay, Mr. Johnson said, so there is no supply of young people in this country who frankly at the moment are thinking of becoming truck drivers. But analysts say that Britains exit from the European Union shrunk the labor market and that it will take time for businesses to adapt. According to the Road Haulage Association, an industry group that has advocated for more visas for drivers, Britain has a shortage of up to 100,000 truckers, with 20 percent of them having left since the U.K. voted to leave the European Union. Britons account for two-thirds of the reduction in truck drivers Change in the number of truck drivers in employment, by nationality +5 5 0 25 thousand 20 15 10 U.K. 20,027 E.U. nations 11,390 Others +575 +5 5 0 25 thousand 20 15 10 U.K. 20,027 E.U. nations 11,390 Others +575 +5 5 0 25 thousand 20 15 10 U.K. 20,027 E.U. nations 11,390 Others +575 Source: U.K. Office for National Statistics | Note: Data shows the change in employment of truck drivers in the U.K. from July 2019 to June 2020, compared with the same period through June this year. Because of the pandemic, the supply of newly trained drivers is tighter than ever. More than 40,000 people usually pass their truck driving exams each year, but last year that fell to just 16,000 as national lockdowns closed driving test centers and created a huge backlog. The number of people passing the trucking test was down 25,000 in the last year over the previous year 41,434 The number of passed exams decreased by more than 60 percent at every test center in Scotland. Year-over-year decrease in passed tests < 20% 20-40% 40-60% > 60% Circles are sized by the number of passed tests in 201920 At the Transport Training Academy in Manchester, just 439 people passed their exams last year, down from 1,207 the prior year. There were 75 percent fewer passed exams at the Enfield test center. The number of people passing the trucking test was down 25,000 in the last year over the previous year Year-over-year decrease in passed tests <20% 20-40% 40-60% >60% 41,434 Circles are sized by the number of passed tests in 201920. At the Transport Training Academy in Manchester, just 439 people passed their exams last year, down from 1,207 the prior year. There were 75 percent fewer passed exams at the Enfield test center. The number of people passing the trucking test was down 25,000 in the last year over the previous year Year-over-year decrease in passed tests <20% 20-40% 40-60% >60% Circles are sized by the number of passed tests in 201920. 41,434 The number of passed exams decreased by more than 60 percent at every test center in Scotland. At the Transport Training Academy in Manchester, just 439 people passed their exams last year, down from 1,207 the prior year. There were 75 percent fewer passed exams at the Enfield test center. Source: U.K. Driver and Vehicle Standards Agency | Note: The map shows only test centers with data for the year spanning July 2019 to June 2020 and also for the same period through June 2021. The chief executive of the Road Haulage Association, Richard Burnett, said that it will take at least 18 months to train enough drivers to meet demand. To provide short-term relief for the industry, the government has announced temporary visas for 5,000 fuel tanker and food truck drivers. But industry experts predicted that the visas would be too little, too late, given the Europe-wide demand for truck drivers. Recent figures from Transport Intelligence, an analysis firm, estimated a shortage of about 400,000 truckers across Europe, with Poland, Germany and the U.K. most affected. An Offaly man who spent 25 days in intensive care battling Covid-19 has urged people to get vaccinated. Nicky Keogh from Mucklagh contracted Covid in mid-August, despite having received two doses of the Pfizer vaccine, and received treatment for over a month in the Midland Regional Hospital, Tullamore. But, speaking to the Tribune last week, Nicky stressed if he had been unvaccinated he would have died from the virus and transmitted it to his family and friends. He condemned anti-vaccine campaigners who he said were spreading false information and targeting vulnerable people. Nicky paid tribute to the doctors, nurses and staff at Tullamore hospital for what he termed the fantastic treatment he received. All the staff dealing with the virus were very thorough and professional in their work, he stressed. The commitment of the staff in the hospital, particularly in the intensive care unit, was phenomenal. He also praised his GP, Tullamore based Dr Frank Fahey for his ongoing care and advice. Retired since 2010, the Mullingar native, who is in his late 60s, worked as the fire prevention and safety manager with the Health Service Executive in Tullamore and prior to that with Offaly County Council. He is also a past national President of the trade union Impact. Affable and outgoing, Nicky said he does not know how he contracted the virus as he kept socialising to a minimum and observed all the Covid guidelines. I don't know where I picked it up as I wasn't socialising or meeting people and only went out to the shops and supermarkets. Though feeling unwell he said he did not have symptoms such as the loss of smell and taste. On the advice of his son he took the Covid test in the vaccination centre in Tullamore. But the following day, Wednesday, August 18 last, before his test results were returned, he attended the accident and emergency department at Tullamore hospital following directions from his GP. When he arrived at the hospital, he was unable to walk from the car to the accident and emergency department and had to be brought in a wheelchair. He was immediately tested and the result was positive. He said the virus attacks organs in the body such as the kidneys and lungs and any part of the system that is weak. My advice to anyone who feels unwell and has coughs and pains is to get tested, Nicky advised. Transferred to the intensive care unit he was placed in a hood and received constant one-on-one nursing and consultant care for a total of 25 days. The ordeal was very physically and mentally challenging said Nicky who was isolated from other patients in ICU. His oxygen levels were extremely low and he found breathing extremely difficult. I remember in the first few days I looked up at the crucifix in ICU and said Lord if you are going to take me I'm ready to go but if you're not let me go back for another while. He was encased in a hood for the first three weeks in ICU and after that wore a mask and received oxygen through his nostrils via a tube. If the anti-vaccine campaigners saw what goes on in ICU they would change their minds, stressed Nicky. He was released from hospital on Monday, September 20 last and is making a steady but slow recovery. Recuperating at his home in Mucklagh, Nicky finds it difficult to move around the house and requires regular oxygen boosts. It'll be a while before I'm out and about again, he admitted. Nicky stressed the importance of everyone receiving the vaccine and getting tested if feeling unwell. He said if he hadn't been vaccinated the virus would have killed him. And he added that being vaccinated meant he did not transmit the virus to his family, friends and those he came into contact with. All my family and close contacts were tested and they were all negative, outlined Nicky. Now enjoying a new lease of life, Nicky expects it will be at least a month before he returns to normal. But he is looking to fully engaging in society and socialising with family and friends in the not too distant future. BJP National President Nadda after seeing the warmth and enthusiasm of the people of Manipur, said that he was sure they about BJP tcoming back to power. Guwahati: BJP on Saturday formally launched its campaign for the 2022 Manipur assembly election. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president JP Nadda arrived in Imphal on Saturday on a two day visit, to discuss the party's political strategy for the upcoming state assembly election due early next year. Nadda was accorded a warm welcome by BJP leaders of Manipur, including Chief Minister N Biren Singh, BJP state president A Sharda, BJP Manipur in-charge Sambit Patra, among others. Various BJP supporters and well-wishers from different ethnic groups of Manipur also welcomed him at the exit gate of the Imphal airport. Following his arrival, Nadda will head directly to the Utlou SAI Ground, Bishnupur to attend a public meeting of the party. The BJP national president in his speech said that, seeing the warmth and enthusiasm amongst the people throughout his journey from the airport, he is sure that people have decided to bring back the BJP to power again in the state. Chief minister N Biren Singh, state president A Sarda, Union ministers Rajkumar Ranjan Singh, Pratima Bhowmik, BJP leader Sambit Patra and many top leaders were present in the mega rally. Later in the evening, Nadda will be holding a review meeting of the BJP with its ministers, MLAs, MPs and other leaders at Hotel Classic Grande in Imphal in regards to the preparation of the upcoming Assembly election. On Sunday, he will visit the Shree Shree Govindajee Temple to take the blessing and inaugurate the BJP Manipur head-office at Nityapat Chuthek, Imphal West. Later in the afternoon, Nadda will be interacting with achievers, prominent citizens and celebrities of Manipur at the City Convention Centre in Imphal. India and China are set to hold on October 10, the 13th round of talks to address the ongoing military stand-off between the two Asian countries, according to Army sources. The sources also divulged that the talks will be held at Moldo (Chusul) on the Chinese side of the Line of Actual Control (LAC). Resolution of friction point at Hot Springs will be discussed during the talks, added the source. The Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Thursday had said that it expected China to work towards early resolution of the remaining issue along the Line of Control (LoC) in Eastern Ladakh by fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols. Addressing a weekly media briefing, the MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said, "It is our expectation that China will work towards early resolution of the remaining issue along the Line of Control (LoC) in Eastern Ladakh while fully abiding by bilateral agreements and protocols." Earlier, External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, on the sidelines of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Summit in Dushanbe, Tajikistan, met Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and both the leaders discussed the border tensions and disengagement along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in border areas. Soldiers of India and China clashed last year resulting in the loss of several lives on both sides. The clashes erupted after the transgression by Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) in Galwan Valley. More than a year had passed since the incident, but tensions continue to simmer between the two Asian giants. More than 12 rounds of military talks and a series of diplomatic parleys were held between India and China, but the tensions still continue. (ANI) The much hyper-inflated success story of the Kerala government in handling COVID-19 cases has been busted by the recent reports. The government is accused of reducing the COVID-19 tests to lower the number of people who have been tested positive. The tendency of reduced tests can be noticed from the past few weeks. Today on October 9th, 9470 people are reported to be COVID-19 positives, with a test positivity rate of 10.72%. 16,758 people have been recovered from the disease. With almost all the other states showing minimal COVID-19 cases per day, Kerala is trying to save its face by showing a lesser number of cases. Currently, there are 1,13,132 active COVID-19 cases in Kerala. Uttar Pradesh Minister Sidharth Nath Singh on Saturday slammed Samajwadi Party (SP) chief Akhilesh Yadav over his remarks accusing the state government of crushing the Constitution, saying that more than 200 riots took place under Yadav's regime in the state. Citing the incident where a journalist was burnt alive, Singh said, "Between 2012-2016, more than 200 riots happened during Akhilesh Yadav government. A journalist from Shahjahanpur was burnt alive after he said something against his government." The minister further told ANI that a fair investigation is taking place in connection with the violent incident that took place in Lakhimpur Kheri last Sunday. "In the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, a fair investigation is underway under retired High Court judge and some have been arrested and some have been called for questioning," said Singh. As many as eight people including four people died in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident that took place on October 3. Samyukta Kisan Morcha (SKM), an umbrella body of several farmer unions, alleged that Union Minister of State Ajay Mishra Teni's son Ashish Mishra arrived with three vehicles around the time that farmers were dispersing from their protest at the helipad and mowed down farmers. However, Ashish Mishra refuted SKM's allegations and said he was not present at the spot where the incident took place. The Uttar Pradesh Police has arrested two accused in connection with the case. The arrested persons have been identified as Luvkush and Ashish Pandey. The police on Monday had filed an FIR for murder against Ashish Mishra. Ashish Mishra, who was summoned by police in connection to the probe of the violence, did not report on Friday. His father had said that it was due to "health reasons." However, he arrived at the Crime Branch office, Lakhimpur on Saturday. Meanwhile, Akhilesh Yadav, who previously served as the chief minister of Uttar Pradesh, on Friday alleged that the state government is working only for powerful people and not for farmers. He had also alleged that the government is trying to protect those who are guilty of the incident. "Whoever saw the video of the Lakhimpur incident has condemned the incident. This is a government that crushes the constitution. Everyone has seen everything, yet the guilty have not been caught. Every family I met said that the guilty should be punished," the SP leader had said. (ANI) After the Chinese President Xi Jinping's vowed to "reunify" with Taipei, Taiwan on Saturday said that the island is an independent country, and not part of the People's Republic of China, local media reported. Taiwan's Presidential Office Spokesperson Xavier Chang said that Taiwan is a sovereign and independent country, and not part of the People's Republic of China. He added the future of the country rests in the hands of Taiwanese, Taiwan News reported. This comes after Chinese President Xi Jinping earlier today vowed to pursue "reunification" with Taiwan by peaceful means and asserted that the country firmly opposes any foreign interference in the matter. "The Taiwan issue is exclusively an internal affair of China, and any external interference is inadmissible," Xi Jinping said during his address to mark the 110th anniversary of the Xinhai Revolution. Reacting to Xi's remarks, Chang said "what followed the 1911 Xinhai Revolution was the establishment of a democratic republic, referring to the Republic of China, and not an authoritarian dictatorship. The current situation in Hong Kong proves that China has abandoned its promise to preserve the autonomous territory's freedom and democracy for 50 years," Taiwan News reported. The spokesperson said that Beijing's handling of Hong Kong also proves that "one country, two systems" is not feasible. Mainstream public opinion in Taiwan is very clear," Taiwan News quoted Chang as saying. He further added that the Taiwanese reject "one country, two systems" and will defend their democratic and free way of life. Beijing claims full sovereignty over Taiwan, a democracy of almost 24 million people located off the southeastern coast of mainland China, despite the fact that the two sides have been governed separately for more than seven decades. Taipei, on the other hand, has countered the Chinese aggression by increasing strategic ties with democracies including the US, which has been repeatedly opposed by Beijing. China has threatened that "Taiwan's independence" means war. On June 1, Chinese President Xi Jinping pledged to complete reunification with self-ruled Taiwan and vowed to smash any attempts at formal independence for the island. (ANI) The unique idol of Ardhanarishvara depicts the face of Lord Shiva on one side and Goddess Parvati on the other and has not been immersed for four years. Kolkata: The transgender community in Kolkata celebrated Durga Puja with the idol of 'Ardhanarishvara'. The unique idol of 'Ardhanarishvara' has not been immersed for four years and depicted the face of Lord Shiva on one side and Goddess Parvati on the other. "The idol depicts Parvati and Shiva. It has not been immersed for four years," said Ranjeeta Sinha, a member of the association of Transgender. "We are celebrating Durga Puja in Garima Griha given to us by the Central Government for the training purpose of the Transgender Community. We are happy to celebrate Durga Puja here following all COVID-19 protocols," Ranjeeta added. The fervour and festivity surrounding Durga Pooja and Navratri started with Mahalaya on Wednesday. Courtesy: ANI India and Denmark have vigorous trade and investment ties, as over 200 Danish companies are present in India, and over 60 Indian companies are in Denmark. New Delhi: Ahead of the Glasgow climate change summit, Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Saturday (October 9) said that India is keen to take responsibility for the issue of 'Green transition' in the country and the rest of the world. "Last year, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and I signed and agreed on a green strategic partnership. We see an ambitious Indian government who wants to take great responsibility when it comes to green transition in India and the rest of the world," said Denmark PM. "I am very glad to have a cooperation about the Green transition. In a few weeks from now, COP26 Glasgow is coming up and we also hope that we can use this meeting on how to support the rest of the world," she added. Danish PM arrived in New Delhi on Saturday for her 3-day visit to India. She was received by the Minister of State (MoS) for External Affairs Meenakshi Lekhi at Delhi airport. Later, PM Modi received Mette Frederiksen at the Rashtrapati Bhavan in Delhi, where she was accorded a ceremonial welcome. She also paid tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat. External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said the Danish PM's visit is an opportunity to review and further the India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership. Frederiksen will call on President Ram Nath Kovind and hold bilateral talks with Prime Minister Modi. She will also interact with think tanks, students and members of civil society. India termed Mette Frederiksen's visit very important, as she is the first head of state visiting India since COVID-19 restrictions have been in place since last March. External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar also visited Denmark earlier this year. India and Denmark have strong trade and investment ties. More than 200 Danish companies are present in India, and over 60 Indian companies are in Denmark. There is a strong collaboration in renewable energy, clean technologies, water and waste management, agriculture and animal husbandry, science & technology, digitisation, including ICT, smart cities, shipping, etc. Courtesy: ANI EAM Jaishankar spoke about the relationship between India- Afghanistan, India-Bangladesh and UK easing Covid restriction for Indians after India reciprocated with its own restrictions. New Delhi: Unlike his usual mild manner but very assertive, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar has used very strong words vis-a-vis seeking ties with a neighbour such as Pakistan and insisted that Islamabad's use of terrorism was not acceptable as a term of friendship in a 'civilised world'. "Everybody wants to be friends with their neighbours. But you want to be friends on terms which a civilised world will accept. Terrorism is not one of those terms," Dr Jaishankar said at the DD News Conclave Finale, focusing on India First Foreign Policy. He said that Pakistan uses terrorism as an instrument of 'statecraft', which is unacceptable. He also said that neighbours exist to foster connectivity, trade, bilateral cooperation and growth. "All of that has not happened with this neighbour," he pointed out, and the scenario was quite in contrast with the eastern neighbour Bangladesh. Elaborating on various facets of the India-Pakistan relationship, he said whether the same kind of ties would remain between the two countries in the next 75 years as has been the case in the past," a lot of it would depend on their (Pak) mindset". "Because...what is the difference between us. The difference is in many ways we have been increasingly democratic," he said, adding in contrast, Pakistan has "artificial uniformity" (perhaps in the form of religion) and "which did not last (split of Bangladesh)". "Their mindset has been very much to use terrorism as a statecraft, which is something we would never accept." In this context, he said India has had a long history of friendship with Afghanistan. "Afghan people know what India has done for them, what kind of friends we have been, I am sure they are contrasted with what Pakistan did for them in the same period. I think the differences are obvious," Dr Jaishankar said. The Minister also maintained that - "We should not try to imitate ourselves to make ourselves acceptable. We are what we are; we should be proud of it." He said India is an old civilisation and now a modern state playing an important role globally. "Lot of us have grown to believe that democracy is a western concept....," he said, suggesting this was erroneous and pointed out that India for long has had wide diversity and this diversity 'makes a democracy', "Agreed to facilitate travel....," says Jaishankar on vaccine row with the UK Hours after Britain relaxed norms on Covid vaccines, giving ease to Indians travelling to that country, all the bitterness of 'tit-for-tat' rhetoric seems to be over. On Friday (October 8), External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar spoke to his counterpart, Liz Truss, tweeted rather in a soft tune - "Good to talk to UK Foreign Secretary @trussliz'. . Dr Jaishankar further wrote - "Agreed to facilitate travel between our two countries. This will help to implement the Roadmap 2030". "No quarantine for Indian travellers to the UK fully vaccinated with Covishield or another UK-approved vaccine from October 11. Thanks to the Indian government for close cooperation over last month," tweeted. British High Commissioner to India, Alex Ellis, is ending the stalemate on October 7. Making the United Kingdom understand things in a language and gesture it understands better, on October 1, the Indian government finally decided to impose 'reciprocity' on all British nationals arriving in India from the UK with regard to the vaccine and COVID-19 protocols. But now, things appear to have been resolved, and ties will be back to normal soon. For her part, Ms Liz Truss has also retweeted Dr Jaishankar's message on the microblogging site. The unilateral restrictions on Indian travellers and not to recognise Indian vaccination had certainly irked Indian authorities. At some quarters, the observers found the British decision (of restrictions and quarantine for Indians) reflected the 'colonialist mindset'. Surprisingly, the UK norms had said that while those who received Covishield in the UK count as vaccinated, those who got it in India are not. Notably, the Covishield is a formulation of Oxford University's vaccine against Covid-19, manufactured locally in India by the Serum Institute of India. New Delhi had earlier 'exported' the vaccine to the UK, which means many people in the UK got vaccinated with Covishield from India. Last week, UNewsTV released undated audio alleged to be of Maulana Abdul Aziz, the head cleric of the Lal Masjid. An interviewer questions him about his mission in inviting people to dawah/dawats (a gathering called to appeal to non-Muslims to convert to Islam). Islamabads Lal Masjid is again in the news, and for all the wrong reasons, as has been the case on other occasions. The mosque, prominently situated in the Pakistani capital, is the oldest and second-largest mosque in the national capital. It made headlines in 2007 when hundreds of jihadists were killed there in a military raid by the Pervez Musharraf government. Last week, UNewsTV released undated audio alleged to be of Maulana Abdul Aziz, the head cleric of the Lal Masjid. An interviewer questions him about his mission in inviting people to dawah/dawats (a gathering called to appeal to non-Muslims to convert to Islam). Our goal is that in this world we want Islamic rule to be established in Pakistan, Islamic rule to be established in Bangladesh, Islamic rule to be established in Hindustan (India), and eradication of Christianity in the world, eradication of Judaism, eradication of the Hindus, and eradication of the Sikhs, and apart from this, eradication of the Shias and the rawakhis, and the Qadianis [a demeaning word used to refer to Ahmadiyya]. In the whole wide world, as Prophet Muhammad had professed, by the end of times, the sound of kalma will be emanating from every mud house as well as concrete house, and the entire world will become Muslim, says the Maulana. Kalma is the Islamic oath of allegiance that proclaims that Islam is the only true religion. Non-Muslims are made to recite the kalma for their conversion to Islam. He adds, We want to make the entire world embrace Islam. He (Prophet Muhammad) had affirmed that the entire world will have to embrace Islam. Those who are men of honor will gracefully accept Islam, and those who are bereft of honor will be disgraced until they accept Islam. Our goal is to compel the whole world to embrace Islam, be it America, be it India, whether they are Hindus, Sikhs or any other community, they will have to convert to Islam. And that time is approaching, inshallah [Allah willing]. It is about time and there will be no other religion in the world except Islam, and in this land of Allah, the law of Allah only shall prevail, others will be finished. That is our mission. The one-minute-40-second-long soliloquy may appear to be the irrational rant of a deranged Pakistani extremist, but it would be foolish to dismiss Maulana Abdul Azizs ambitions as the fantasies of an old Islamic cleric. A passionate supporter of terror organizations such as the Taliban and al-Qaeda, Maulana Abdul Aziz was expelled from the Lal Masjid in 2007, but he managed to gain control over the mosque in 2009. In 2014, a leaked video from his madrassa showed his students declaring their support for the Islamic State. The same year, Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan bombed Peshawars Army Public school, killing 148 students and leaving over 110 children severely injured. Aziz defended the blast, for which he was banned from the mosque again. However, he stormed into the establishment again in 2020 and took complete control of the mosque. He also forced the Imran Khan government to grant him two large plots of land for building madrassas. He also demanded his reinstatement as the Lal Masjid chief, and his demands were duly honoured. Aziz wields immense influence over Pakistans government, and this has been so for generations. His father, Muhammad Abdullah Ghazi, was allegedly a close associate of the dictator Zia ul Haq. During the 1970-the 80s, he had sent thousands of his madrasa students to fight as mujahideen (warriors of jihad) in Afghanistan. After Ghazis assassination in 1998, Azizs brother Abdul Rashid Ghazi, another hardliner, began training mujahideen, while Aziz succeeded his father as the mosque's cleric. During his reign as the mosque chief, he shot to prominence for promoting jihad activities against the West, delivering inflammatory sermons, and promoting Islamic jihadist beliefs among thousands of his students. His foot soldiers took his message to the streets of Islamabad by abducting Chinese masseuses and vandalizing un-Islamic CD and DVD shops, which resulted in murderous clashes in the capital. This is what called for the siege of Lal Masjid by Pakistans military in 2007. The clerics brother, Abdul Rashid Gazi, was killed during this military raid. Interestingly, the Army apprehended Maulana Abdul Aziz while he attempted to run away hiding in a burqa and was given the mock name Mullah Burqa. On the other hand, the attack on the religious establishment led to an uprising in Pakistans Waziristan that could be crushed only after the slaughter of hundreds of Pakistani soldiers. The influential Maulana hoisted the flag of the Taliban in Pakistans capital city last month, and the authorities stood there as mere spectators. Aziz maintains amicable relations with both the Afghan Taliban and the Pakistani Taliban, though these entities often conflict with each other. Prime Minister Imran Khan, who leads the reigning Islamic government in Pakistan, bows down to Aziz. He is aware of the immense authority he commands over the people of Pakistan. His power and position have been emboldened after the occupation of neighbouring Afghanistan by the Taliban jihadis. An advocate of Islamic jihad across the world, Aziz is looking forward to the global caliphate, not sparing his home country of Pakistan. A generation of home-grown jihadis who are ready to go to any extent to establish the rule of Islam backs him worldwide. Courtesy: Weekly Blitz To this day, Osama bin Laden is a popular icon in Pakistan. Mosques and affiliated madrasas schools in Pakistan teach hatred of America and all that is not Islam, wrote high-ranking National Security Council veteran Richard Clarke in 2004. His memoir Against All Enemies: Inside Americas War on Terror provided ample proof of Pakistans duplicity as a frenemy to the West, facts that undermined again his previously examined optimism about real Islam. Just as Clarke analyzed Saudi Arabias ambiguous relationship to jihadist threats, Pakistan had been tentative and bifurcated before September 11 regarding Al Qaeda and its Taliban allies in neighbouring Afghanistan. He explained: The militarys Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate had provided the Taliban with arms, men, and information. ISID personnel had trained Kashmiri terrorists at Al Qaeda camps and worked with Al Qaeda-related terrorists to put pressure on India. On the other hand, Pakistani police and security services had arrested Al Qaeda personnel transiting en route to Afghanistan when given specific information by U.S. authorities. Americas hunt for Al Qaeda leader Osama bin Laden after he orchestrated August 7, 1998, bombings of American embassies in Kenya and Tanzania brought Pakistans dual allegiances into sharp relief. Clarke noted: Al Qaeda members had moved freely through Pakistan to Afghanistan. Although Pakistans Inter-Services Intelligence Directorate trained, equipped, and advised the Taliban in Afghanistan, they Although no ability to influence that group to close terrorist camps and hand over bin Laden. Such excuses left Clarke unimpressed: I believed that if Pakistans ISID wanted to capture bin Laden or tell us where he was, they could have done so with little effort. They did not cooperate with us because ISID saw Al Qaeda as helpful to the Taliban. ISID also saw Al Qaeda and its affiliates as helpful in pressuring India, particularly in Kashmir. Like General Hamid Gul, the former director of ISID, also appeared to share bin Ladens anti-Western ideology. In response to the East African embassy bombings, President Bill Clinton ultimately ordered cruise missile strikes on Afghan Al Qaeda camps on August 20, 1998, which involved flight paths across Pakistani airspace. During strike planning, American policymakers considered forewarning Pakistan, particularly given that the Pakistanis might misperceive the American missiles as an attack from neighbouring India, Pakistans historic enemy. In the end, Clarke and others rejected advising the Pakistanis, for [i]f they were told in advance, some of us believed that the ISID would alert the Taliban and possibly Al Qaeda. During the missile strikes, Clarke recalled, Pakistani ISID officers were killed. The Pakistanis were reported by media sources to be present at the camp training Kashmiri terrorists. ISID had several offices around Afghanistan and was assisting the Taliban in its fight to gain control of the northern part of the country where the Northern Alliance still held out. In any future strikes on Al Qaeda, American conflicts with Pakistan, a country of 238 million as of 2021, entailed serious ramifications, particularly given that Pakistan and India face each other as nuclear powers. So warned Marine General Anthony Zinni, commander of United States Central Command (CENTCOM), which covered Afghanistan and neighbouring Southwest Asia. He, Clarke recalled, advised against further bombings because of the negative effect they had in Pakistan. Zinni was afraid that we would cause a public outcry in Pakistan, forcing nuclear power to distance itself from us. We could lose the leverage necessary to prevent India and Pakistan from going to war, nuclear war. More disturbing, Clarke added, are reports that some scientists who had worked on Pakistans nuclear program are also Al Qaeda sympathizers and have discussed their expertise with Al Qaeda, Libya, Iran, North Korea, and others. He moreover did not necessarily trust Pakistani security over nuclear materials. Large areas of Pakistan along the Afghan border are still not controlled by the central government and offer sanctuary to the Taliban and Al Qaeda. All of this is true about a country that also has nuclear weapons, he wrote. Clarke saw a certain glimmer of hope in General Pervez Musharraf, who was Pakistans dictator during 9/11 after having become in 1999 the latest general in Pakistani history to seize power. After 9/11, Clarke wrote, and despite the popularity of Al Qaeda in parts of Pakistan, General Musharraf courageously pressed his agencies to help the U.S. find any Al Qaeda presence in the country. Two of al Qaedas top operational managers, Khalid Sheik Muhammad and Abu Zubayda, were among those found and arrested in joint Pakistani-American actions. Yet CIA analyst Michael Scheuer emphasized in his 2002 book, Through Our Enemies Eyes: Osama bin Laden, Radical Islam, and the Future of America, Musharrafs precarious position. Scheuer, then the head of the CIAs Bin Laden Unit in the years before and after 9/11, wrote that: Since September 11 2001, attacks in the United States, Pakistani president Pervez Musharraf appears to have taken up permanent residence between the proverbial rock and a hard place. To avoid American ire and win Western aid for Pakistans failing economy, Musharraf provided bases from which the U.S. military has attacked bin Laden and took an array of policy gambles that would have stunned the most experienced riverboat gambler. In fewer than ninety days, Musharraf reversed twenty-two years of Pakistani Afghan policy and helped unseat the first genuine pro-Pakistan government in Kabul since the partition of the subcontinent. He next announced steps to begin backing Pakistan away from its historical support for the jihad in Kashmir. Likewise, Scheuer noted, Musharraf embarked on a program to reduce the political power and armaments of the countrys religious parties and mandated changes that would moderate the content of the Islamic education presented by the vast mujahedin-producing, the network of religious schools, or madrasas, in Pakistan. However, such bold moves, Scheuer warned, for Musharraf has not yet earned an even remotely acceptable return on his investment. He was won some economic aid, but not enough to stop the economys deterioration. He also has not been able to pry loose from the United States Pakistans long bought-and-paid-for F-16s [American relaxation of nuclear sanctions on Pakistan, given its post-9/11 importance, finally allowed the acquisition in 2006.]. Thus, his support for the U.S. war on terrorism has not won the expected large-scale benefits. Scheuer concluded that the goal of Musharrafs moves to tame militant Islam in Pakistan had received some positive domestic response, but they are increasingly opposed because they are being characterized as kowtowing to the Americans. In the face of such daunting challenges and grim prognoses, Clarke advocated development aid for perennially unstable Pakistan, which he puzzlingly described as [o]nce an example of an Islamic democracy with a high-tech future. Despite repeated documentation in the years since 9/11 that jihadists do not come from poor backgrounds, he wrote that the ideological battle for the hearts and minds of Pakistanis would only be won by the secular modernists if they can be seen to be improving the standard of living for the many poor, uneducated Pakistanis among whom al Qaeda derives much of its support. Clarke speculated about what his hero Bill Clinton would have done were he still president after 9/11 for stabilizing Pakistan. This would have included pushing hard for a security arrangement between India and Pakistan to create a nuclear-free zone, Clarke wrote. Given that India desires nuclear deterrence against Pakistan and China, denuclearizing the Indian subcontinent seems even more utopian than Clintons 1994 attempt to denuclearize North Korea. For all the difficulties Clarke described in Pakistan, as confirmed by Scheuer, Clarke once again exhibited his habit of looking on Islams bright side. He did not indicate any awareness that American material largesse might be incapable of overcoming factors such as Islamic fanaticism, Pakistans definitions of national interest, or simple corruption. Unsurprisingly, Clarke revealed himself in his 2004 memoir as an advocate of nation-building in Afghanistan, a project that would finally catastrophically collapse 20 years after 9/11, as a future article will analyze. Courtesy: Weekly Blitz This is an excerpt of a column that was published in The Midland Sun's second development edition in November 1926. The author most likely is Roy Osmun, assistant superintendent for Dow. "To understand why a great chemical concern has grown and flourished in the central part of Michigan, employing hundreds of technical men and comparatively distant from industrial centers, one must look to the geological conditions of the earth's crust in this state. "The rock formations of the southern peninsula consist of a series of limestone, shale and sandstone beds with which are associated deposits of coal, gypsum and salt, each in its own particular zones. None of these rock formations have been subjected to severe upheavals and foldings and all lie in a nearly horizontal position with a gentle dip toward the center of the peninsula. "...During the early carboniferous (Mississippi) period extensive deposits of salt were formed in three general areas. First in southeastern Michigan, second in Alpena and Presque Isle counties and third in Mason and Manistee counties ...Water seeping through these beds formed brine in the upper Marshall sandstone and flowed naturally to the lowest region in the basin-shaped formation. This region approximately underlies Midland and adjacent counties. "In the early days of the lumber industry, wells were drilled into this brine stream and salt was prepared, using scrap wood from the sawmills as a source of fuel for evaporation. In the late 1880s Herbert H. Dow, the founder of The Dow Chemical Company, analyzed these brines and, noting their unusual bromine content, realized the potentialities for a great industry. "As a result of his investigations, a company was organized in 1890 for the purpose of extracting bromine from the Marshall brines. A few years later this company was incorporated into The Dow Chemical Co. ...Each product being related to other products assists in the economical manufacture of the finished materials; and as a basis for them all is the composition of the brine - rich in bromine, chlorine, calcium and magnesium." Rep. Annette Glenn, R-Midland, this week voted in favor of a proposal that would put whistleblower protections directly into the Michigan Constitution. If the measure is eventually approved by a two-thirds votes of the Legislature, the measure could head to voters for final consideration as early as the November 2022 election. The measure was unanimously approved by the Senate earlier this year, but the House failed to get the necessary two-thirds vote Wednesday because of Democratic opposition. The measure would prohibit a state department or agency from taking disciplinary action against employees for communicating concerns to the Legislature. The protections also would cover legislative employees who raise concerns. Parents, students, staff and administrators were looking forward to a return to normal times this year. But the Delta variant, among other concerns surrounding the pandemic, has steered greater Midland area public officials toward similar and new COVID-19 mitigation strategies almost 19 months after the initial cases were reported in Michigan. As our society wants to desperately get back to normal, the highly transmissible Delta variant isn't cooperating with us really well, Midland Countys Health Officer Fred Yanoski said on Wednesday. That's likely why we're still seeing a lot of community transmission. The Midland County Department of Public Health Director also noted the health department is currently encouraging mask use regardless of vaccination status in crowded indoor and outdoor spaces as the CDC recommends. However, Yanoski said its up to schools to make their own recommendations and/or mandates. Classes took place as normal for about two thirds of the 2019-20 school year before all classes went virtual in March 2020. In-person classes resumed at the beginning of the 2020-21 year, with the option for students to attend a virtual academy or participate in a hybrid of the two. Comparing the spread in schools from one year to another is difficult, Yanoski said. Often last year, when we looked at the rates in our community and the rates in our schools, the schools were doing better largely because of the public health measures they had in place like cohort, social distancing and masking. This year, our schools aren't much different in their transmission than the community. I think that's in part due to some of the provisions they have in place and in part due to a highly transmissible Delta variant. Since school returned to session this year, forms of a mask mandate have been adopted by Midland area schools due to virus transmission, particular for grades K-6, where students aren't old enough to get the COVID vaccine at this time. Midland County is currently designated as having a high COVID transmission rate. Midland, along with a majority of counties across the United States, has a high level of community transmission, with 100 or more cases per 100,000 in a seven-day period. Yanoski said schools play an important role in public health and COVID transmission. School districts make up one of the Midland areas largest congregate facilities. MPS did not offer the option of virtual learning for the 2021-22 school year. Yanoski noted that schools differ from large business corporations that can easily pivot to health precautions such as remote or telework. And children under 12-years-old are not eligible for the COVID vaccine. For these reasons, schools and the health department focus on mitigation efforts catered to the various education facilities. The schools are more of a closed environment, there's some opportunities to try to mitigate disease within their student/staff population, Yanoski said. But if those students have public health measures in place during the day, then they leave the safety of the school zone, and they have no public health measures in place in any other parts of their life there are absolutely opportunities to be exposed to COVID in other areas of life. To help keep kids in schools, the Midland County Health Department and Midland Public Schools reported last month new testing protocol. Disclosing the spread of COVID in our schools On Oct. 7, 2020, the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services issued an emergency order requiring K-12 schools to provide public notice to the school community about probable and confirmed cases of COVID-19 within 24 hours. Nearly a week later, Midland Public Schools reported that five MPS staff/students had tested positive with 96 staff/students in COVID-19 related isolation or quarantine. At the beginning of August 2021, it was the districts policy to recommend, but not require, staff or students wear masks except for while on school buses (where masks are required, per federal transportation guidelines). MPS modified its policy at the end of that month, requiring masks for staff and students in grades K-6 while they are indoors, as children ages 12 and under are not able to receive the COVID-19 vaccine. Local schools and universities have been battling outbreaks of the virus among students and staff. On Sept. 8, Adams Elementary had 23 cases, making it the largest K-12 outbreak in the state. Three weeks into its school year, Northwood University was listed as having the largest case outbreak in schools across the state, with 25 student cases on Sept. 13. On Sept. 28, the state reported 11 outbreaks in Midland County, the largest number in any county; that same report noted Meridian Early College High School had 23 cases, the largest new outbreak in the state. As of Friday, MPS reported 112 staff/students were in close contact with an individual who was confirmed COVID-19 positive and 25 staff/students currently tested positive for the virus. House Bill 4837, Restrict outside groups access to state voter database: Passed 21 to 15 in the Senate To restrict access to the state's qualified voter file (QVF) database to the Secretary of State office and other authorized election officials, local and county election clerks, and state employees or vendors who do maintenance and security work on the QVF. The bill would remove a provision authorizing access by a designated voter registration agency. The Senate also passed House Bill 4838 by the same margin, which would have banned connecting the electronic poll book at election precincts from being connected to the internet on election day. Note: Both bills were vetoed by Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Oct. 3. 31 Sen. Kevin Daley R - Attica Y 32 Sen. Kenneth Horn R - Frankenmuth Y 36 Sen. Jim Stamas R - Midland Y Senate Bill 321, Require teacher mental health first aid training: Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate To add to teacher continuing education courses a requirement that they include mental health first aid training, and require the Department of Education in conjunction with the Department of Health and Human Services to "develop or adopt" a program for this. This would include "identifying potential risk factors and warning signs for mental illness, and strategies for helping an individual experiencing a mental health crisis." 31 Sen. Kevin Daley R - Attica Y 32 Sen. Kenneth Horn R - Frankenmuth Y 36 Sen. Jim Stamas R - Midland Y Senate Bill 664, Count quarantined public students for funding allocation purposes: Passed 36 to 0 in the Senate To include absent students who are "in quarantine" and "being educated through physical educational materials as defined in the bill to be deemed present on the school district enrollment count days" on which state aid is determined. 31 Sen. Kevin Daley R - Attica Y 32 Sen. Kenneth Horn R - Frankenmuth Y 36 Sen. Jim Stamas R - Midland Y House Bill 5007, Eliminate charge to get state ID: Passed 20 to 16 in the Senate To eliminate the charge for getting a state identification card. 31 Sen. Kevin Daley R - Attica Y 32 Sen. Kenneth Horn R - Frankenmuth Y 36 Sen. Jim Stamas R - Midland Y Senate Bill 258, Mandate newspapers post printed legal notices on free website: Passed 34 to 0 in the Senate To require a newspaper in which government legal notices are published to also place these on a section of a website that can be accessed at no charge. 31 Sen. Kevin Daley R - Attica Y 32 Sen. Kenneth Horn R - Frankenmuth Y 36 Sen. Jim Stamas R - Midland Y Senate Bill 280, Put time limits on initiated law petition signature counting: Passed 20 to 16 in the Senate To require the board of state canvassers to complete the canvass of signatures collected on an initiated law petition within 100 days after it is filed with the Secretary of State. If canvassers declare there are enough valid signatures then the proposed law must be immediately forwarded to the legislature for consideration. Under the state constitution, unless the legislature enacts the law proposed by an initiative that gains the required number of signatures, it goes on the next general election ballot for a vote of the people. 31 Sen. Kevin Daley R - Attica Y 32 Sen. Kenneth Horn R - Frankenmuth Y 36 Sen. Jim Stamas R - Midland Y Senate Bill 280, Put time limits on initiated law petition signature counting: Passed 55 to 48 in the House The House vote on amending the initiated law process described above. 95 Rep. Amos O'Neal D - Saginaw N 96 Rep. Timothy Beson R - Bay City Y 97 Rep. Jason Wentworth R - Clare Y 98 Rep. Annette Glenn R - Midland Y 99 Rep. Roger Hauck R - Mount Pleasant Y Source: MichiganVotes.org, a free, non-partisan website created by the Mackinac Center for Public Policy, providing concise, non-partisan, plain-English descriptions of every bill and vote in the Michigan House and Senate. Visit www.MichiganVotes.org. While attendance and truancy will always be on school districts' radar, Midland Public Schools Associate Superintendent Jeff Jaster says MPS is currently taking into consideration the COVID-19 pandemic and the challenges that it creates for students and their families. "We have to do our best to monitor situations as they are changing and evolving," said Jaster, who oversees administration and student services for MPS. "We are trying to support students as well. We hope we never have the reputation of being only punitive, especially as it relates to truancy. We will work with families far sooner than we would have in the past and we are going to be far more understanding of difficult circumstances as well." Jaster said 10 unexcused absences per semester is the "threshold" beyond which MPS considers a student to be truant. "That being said, there are exceptions made. Certainly, COVID is a consideration, so that isnt going to be held against students," Jaster said in reference to instances where parents or guardians keep kids home from school out of an abundance of caution even though they are not medically required to do so. "A typical truancy case, at least those I have seen move into the court system in the last year, has been 20 or 30 absences or more where the student is just not attending," he added. In any case, school principals will contact parents early on in order to try to avoid a truancy case. Eddie Hinson is a school resource officer for Midland High School and the Midland Police Department. His duties are to protect students and staff, along with keeping the building secure. He also assists MPS with truancy cases. However, this does not mean the resource officer handles the cases. Hinson said the principal or assistant principal will contact him if a student has not been coming to school. From there, he will contact, or attempt to contact, the parents and let them know they need to call the school about it. "Maybe as early as five, six, seven absences, administrators are going to reach out to the home at that point to understand the circumstances causing the absences," Jaster said. "There may be a meeting with parents. Many administrators try to form a truancy agreement. But the goal is to work with the family to come up with solutions to problems that may get in the way of that student attending." With the COVID-19 pandemic, Hinson noticed a slight decrease in the amount of truancy calls from the school when the classrooms were virtual. If the administrator feels they have done everything they can to resolve an issue and the absences still continue, MPS will bring the Probate Court into the picture. "Once there has been a good-faith effort, if the problem doesnt improve and absences go up, a referral will go to the Probate Court system to be reviewed. Then it is out of (MPS's) hands to an extent," Jaster said. "In the most severe cases, it could lead to the assignment of a probation officer. And the consequences are ultimately decided by the probation officer and the court system. Again, we partner with families to prevent that from happening." Jaster said that in the 2020-21 school year, Midland County Probate Court showed more leniency than normal in terms of truancy. "At one point, the court system was not actively pursuing issues with truancy given the number of COVID cases," he said. "As we have gone back to normal in some areas, (absences) are going to be monitored more closely. And I anticipate truancy cases are going to be followed up on more closely this year." Complying with state requirements for attendance Monitoring the overall attendance of students in a district is vital in ensuring both that a district meets the required minimum 180 days of instruction per year, and that it receives the amount of state funding that it needs. During the 2020-21 school year, Jaster explained, the Michigan Department of Education temporarily modified the requirements for a school day to count as a day of instruction. Whereas normally, 75% of students have to be in attendance on a given day for that day to count as a day of instruction, that benchmark last year was modified to requiring that each student have at least two two-way interaction with a teacher each week. This accommodated the format of remote learning that was prevalent in many districts last year, including for a minority of students in MPS. Now, the state has returned to the 75% requirement, Jaster said. "This is obviously a much more strict requirement and has been in place for decades," he said. "That is the standard we have gone back to this year, even though we are still in what most would consider to be pandemic circumstances." But the return to the 75% standard has not been an issue for MPS, Jaster said, noting the district's weekly average attendance rate was above 95% for each of the first five weeks of this school year. "For last year, based on much more lenient accounting rules, we averaged about 93% of students with two two-way interactions with a teacher each week," he said. Count days This past Wednesday, Oct. 6, was a key day for school districts across the state, being the second and by the far more significant of two "count days" in each calendar year which determine the amount of funding that a district receives from the state. Count days fall on the second Wednesday in February (Feb. 10, 2021) and the first Wednesday in October each year. According to MPS, the number of students verified at the spring count is weighted at 10% of the district's total and the number of students verified at the fall count is weighted at 90% of the district's total. After the formula has been applied and these numbers are reported, districts will typically receive their first state aid payment of the school year in late October. Week 4 of the United Way of Midland County community campaign marks its halfway point, and support remains strong. United Way is reporting pledges totaling $2,720,841, representing 58% of the overall campaign goal of $4.7 million. DuPonts employee campaign kicked off at the beginning of this week and saw great engagement from their team, a true reflection of DuPonts commitment to giving back. Our team is showing up in a big way this year, said Kayley Lyons, DuPont community relations leader. Its our culture. Our employees are passionate and are making differences in our communities, and our teams support of United Way reflects our commitment to the area where our employees live and work. As part of their campaign, DuPont is offering several baskets that employees can win. The baskets feature unique themes with related items, such as a Care Package, a Fall into Cooking (complete with a $50 gift card, Instant Pot Pro and many kitchen utensils) and more. They are also offering a coloring contest for employees kids to get involved. Many local small businesses are showing their support in a fun way. Serendipity Road is hosting United Way raffle for a basket of Michigan made items. Tickets are one dollar each and are available for purchase at their store, located in Downtown Midland, through Oct. 15th. Great Lakes Investment Advisors hosted a book signing event as their United Way kickoff. Co-authors Jason and Carl Cryderman offered signed copies of their new book Empower Your Retirement. Guests made donations throughout the event to benefit United Way. Workplace campaigns are continuing to kick off across the county including: Midland Business Alliance, Yeo & Yeo, AMPM, Arbury Insurance, Midland Road Commission and more to come. McKay Press is a dedicated partner with United Way. They generously donate the printing of campaign materials and other items throughout the year. We are so grateful to McKay for all of their support, said Holly Miller, president and CEO of United Way. Messaging is a key component of the campaign in order to spread the word, and that in-kind gift helps us inspire the community while saving precious dollars. The United Way partner agencies create change every day through their impactful programs and services. They also run impressive internal campaigns, seeing firsthand the impact of their communitys investments. This week, the Arnold Center also began their campaign. Their goal is to have fun while raising funds to help others in need and get 100% staff participation. Their theme this year is Staycations. Boarding passes will be distributed to their team to set them on make-believe trips to Mexico, Italy or China by having a chance to win prizes to local restaurants who feature cuisine representing these destinations! Its so inspiring to see our nonprofits be so engaged and having fun to support their United Way campaigns, shared United Way staffer, Jesse Pero, senior relationship manager. They do such incredible work in our community and have so much passion around helping our neighbors in need. United Ways team kicked off their internal campaign volunteering to help a local homeowner who was impacted by the flood with fall yard cleanup. They are also hosting a raffle and received donations from local businesses like Ace Hardware, Isabella Bank, Grove Tea and Wellington Ltd. for their employees to bid on. With just a few weeks left in the United Way community campaign, there is still time to join in and make a difference in our community. For more information about how you can help improve lives in our community, visit unitedwaymidland.org. To the editor: The membership of the Midland County Health & Human Services Council offer our support to the fourth iteration of the Profiles of Student Life: Attitudes and Behaviors Study, which is being conducted this fall by The Legacy Center for Community Success and Midland Kids First. Implementing the complete survey will provide our community with data on 40 Developmental Assets and 24 risk-taking behaviors. This study will provide the community with robust data about adolescents wellbeing and risk factors. Given the challenges youth have faced in the past 12 months, with the pandemic causing disruption to schooling and an historic flood event, it is more important than ever before to understand the challenges our youth are facing. The data from the Attitudes and Behaviors Study will provide us with insight into the specific needs our youth currently have, which will guide programming in our schools and community agencies. Data from past studies have resulted in meaningful educational and asset-building programs in schools and agencies that have created impactful changes in students lives. Historically, the impact of the study has been powerful in Midland County. Since the first study in 2006, youth in our community have experienced increases in Developmental Assets and reductions in risk-taking behaviors. With the Legacy Center for Student Success allowing for parents and students to opt out or skip questions, we strongly urge the community to support the survey and for parents to encourage their 6th-12th grade students to participate and answer honestly. The results will help our community continue to positively impact youth for the next several years. SARAH KILE Health & Human Services Council Chair 2021 Geneva, Switzerland (PANA) - The United Nations on Friday welcomed the signing of a long-awaited Action Plan to withdraw mercenaries, foreign fighters and foreign forces from Libya, after years of fighting between warring factions across the oil-rich nation Photo: (Photo : Image by Jan Vasek from Pixabay ) Preparing for college is a scary time for both parents and their kids. For college-bound students, the few months leading up to moving out and attending a new and more challenging school are immensely nerve-wracking, with unique anxieties about living alone and attending college for the first time. For parents, however, watching their children leave home is far from easy as well. Many parents find themselves hit with feelings of sadness or loss at the idea of their child not living at home for the first time, as well as worry about how their kids will fare on their own. For both parents and students alike, it can be helpful to simply focus on the transition to college life slowly, one bit at a time. Despite the emotion behind this time, the transition to college requires a lot of work and preparation beforehand from both parents and their children. By focusing on making sure students are prepared to move out for school, both kids and their parents can put their minds at ease and quell their anxieties about the process. Here is a checklist of the most important things to do before your kid moves out for college. Show Your Child Basic Chores While ideally college-aged children should have some idea of how to perform basic chores already, the fact is that a lot of students moving out for college aren't completely equipped or comfortable with many of the necessary skills adults need to have in order to live on their own. You can help your child (and yourself) feel much more secure about moving out by taking the time to show them how to do simple tasks such as basic cleaning, laundry, cooking, and grocery shopping. Have your child shadow you while you do these tasks to begin with if they don't usually help out with chores at home, but encourage your child to perform these chores for themselves for at least a few weeks before they move out so that they'll be ready to live on their own. Teach Your Child About Money Another common adult skill that many college-aged students lack is financial literacy. Most teenagers don't actually learn much about how money works in high school. After turning eighteen, college-aged adults are suddenly thrust into a world of credit cards, credit scores, bank accounts, and student loans that they were never prepared to face. Explaining how these financial systems work and ensuring that your child understands how to spend and save responsibly can help your child avoid huge mistakes down the road and manage their money appropriately while they're living alone. Go Shopping While preparing your child for university may involve a lot of brunt realities about adulthood, that doesn't mean it can't be fun too! College students require a lot of supplies for school, from laptops and stationery to furniture and decor to toilet paper and necessities. Odds are that your child probably hasn't shopped for a lot of the things they need to live alone before, so going with your child to buy supplies for college can help them feel much more confident about their purchases. As a parent, you also get the peace of mind of knowing that your child has everything they need once they get to their dorm. Personalize The Dorm Room Speaking of which, for many college students living on their own for the first time, a drab and plain dorm room can quickly drag down their state of mind and make them homesick. Personalizing the dorm room is a fantastic way for college students to feel more at home in their new living space. Personalization can range from adding furniture and decorations to even painting the walls of the dorm if the school allows it. Painting the walls of a dorm room is one of the best ways to make it feel a little more like home, and some universities allow dorm rooms to be painted so long as they're reverted back to their original color when students move out. Since other students are probably moving into their dorm rooms as well and ventilation in dorm rooms tends to be poor, it can be worthwhile to do a quick online search for a "professional painter near me" to do the job instead of trying to do it yourself. Stay In Touch Finally, the best thing you can do for yourself and your child during this difficult time as a parent is to make sure they know that you're still there for them even though they're living alone. Try to keep in contact with your child as much as possible without being overbearing. As long as your child knows you're there to support them, they will do absolutely fine living alone, and you'll feel a lot better knowing you'll be able to help them if they need it. Photo: (Photo : David Dee Delgado/Getty Images) New York City is pushing with the phase-out of its gifted children program by 2022 after criticisms that it had further compounded the problems of racism and segregation impacting students in the Black community. Mayor Bill de Blasio confirmed that the Gifted and Talented Program would be scrapped in favor of Brilliant NYC. Under this new program, kids up to eight years old will be instructed and educated with a different assessment model and will no longer be separated from the regular classes. Brilliant NYC is expected to benefit 65,000 New York City kindergarteners as opposed to the 2,500 kids who gained from the old program every year. Representatives from the city's Department of Education said it would begin looking for qualified educators to implement the new model for the next school year. "The era of judging 4-year-olds based on a single test is over," the mayor said. "Brilliant NYC will deliver accelerated instruction for tens of thousands of children, as opposed to a select few," he said. Read Also: New Yorkers May Use SNAP Food Stamps at Restaurants Under New Program What was the Gifted and Talented Program? Every year, New York City conducts an assessment test for four-year-old kids entering big schools if they could qualify for the gifted children program. Most kids who pass are either Asian American or White, prompting some parents and advocates to file a lawsuit against the city, citing that the criteria for the program were polarizing and discriminatory of Black or Latino children. A study from the UCLA Civil Rights Project showed that one of the most segregated public school districts in the U.S. is New York City. That status had not changed in the updated report from 2018, which showed that there is only 10 percent of White students in a public school with a predominantly (75 percent) Black and Latino student population. Yet these minority students make up just 14 percent of the gifted program, while 80 percent of the slots usually go to Asian Americans or White kids. In 2021, changes were made to the Gifted and Talented Program that did away with the tests for four-year-old children. Instead, enrollees to the program were picked either through a school lottery or a nomination. However, admissions dropped due to the pandemic, but some attributed it to families now aware that the process is slanted against minority kids. What is Brilliant NYC? Once Brilliant NYC is implemented, the student's acceleration to the gifted classes will be determined after third grade and based on the teachers' assessment of their performance. Meanwhile, those in kindergarten until the second grade will be trained with skills, especially in computer and science, that could likely help them get accelerated when they are in third grade. The National Association for Gifted Children Board of Directors president Lauri Kirsch said they support Brilliant NYC but noted that its equity problems should be addressed. As this is De Blasio's final term as mayor, Kirsch hopes that the next mayor will make more improvements to the new program and keep the children's best interests in mind. This will level out the playing field for some parents and give all kids a chance to shine. However, Asian American advocates do not want the original gifted children program scrapped or changed because it is an "assault on high achieving students." Related Article: New York Hospitals Aren't Blocking Unvaccinated Parents From Taking Newborns Home THE CHAMBER of Petroleum Consumers (COPEC) has appealed to Government to review the price build-up of petroleum products so as to ease the impact of the constant hikes on Ghanaians. It said this has become necessary because fuel prices at the pump could hit GH7 a litre soon especially if the government does not institute measures to control it. Duncan Amoah, Executive Secretary of COPEC, who spoke to journalists in Accra, indicated that Fuel is now threatening to get to almost GH7 a litre. Currently, some major firms are trading at over GH6.50 and so any other increases that may come in subsequent days or weeks may push the price per litre to GH7. That is woeful. The government projection for 2021 is $57.8 per barrel for our crude exports. Crude has hit above $80 as we speak. So in the plus and minus game, the government is even making far more than it had projected within its budget. Yet the taxes that we enforced on the trotro drivers at 46 pesewas when crude was $30, we are still collecting it today when crude has gone up by more than an additional $50. This is bad and the earlier the Finance Minister and authorities decide to sit and look at the tax structure on our fuel prices; the better it will be for all of us. Currently, oil price on the international market is over $80 dollars a barrel, after starting the year at a little over the $50 mark. But with the reopening of economies across the world due to the efficacy of the COVID-19 vaccines, demand for fuel has experienced a sharp climb. Earlier in the year, the government as part of its revenue mobilisation drive introduced some levies and taxes in the 2021 budget, a move many criticised. The taxes are the COVID-19 Health Recovery Levy Act, 2021 (Act 1068), Financial Sector Recovery Levy Act, 2021 (Act 1067) and the Energy Sector Levy (Amendment) Act, 2021 (Act 1064). Such taxes coupled with the constant hike in oil prices on the global market have accounted for the increase in prices at the pumps. Already, a multinational investment bank and financial services company, Goldman Sachs Group, is projecting global prices may hit $90 a barrel in the near future. Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Agriculture Mechanisation Services (AMSECs) module of the Planting for Food and Jobs (PFJ) initiative is making impact in the transformation of the agriculture sector in the country, the Food and Agriculture Minister, Dr Owusu Afriyie Akoto, has said. According to him, plans were underway by the government to increase the thirty-two (32) mechanisation centres set up in the 32 District Assemblies across the country. The Akufo-Addo administration in 2019 set up these mechanisation centres in various district assemblies with an initial importation of two hundred and sixty (260) tractors and other farm machinery from Brazil. So far the District Assemblies where these mechanisation centres have have done well with the Planting for Export and Rural Development (PERD) module of the P&J in terms of the number of seedlings they have produced, Dr Akoto contended. Dr Akoto made the observation on Friday, October 8, 2021 when he paid a working visit to farmers under the PFJ on their maize farms in Gomoa West. The farmers were very delighted to meet the agriculture minister. They told the minister how PFJ has helped boost their maize yields. They also pleaded with the minister to assist them with at least two (2) tractors. In addition to the mechnisation centres, Dr Akoto said his ministry supplied farm machinery to commercial farmers and the private sector at a discounted rate of 40%. That was an Akufo-Addo decision in Cabinet that farmers machinery imported into the country should attract a subsidy of 40% in order to support the farming industry, he disclosed. In the next months, before the end of year, we are expecting another batch from Brazil and we will continue to expand the numbers in the commercial area, he said. He indicated that the Gomoa story with respect to the agriculture mechanisation module was an interesting one. The demand generated by these machinery is such that Gomoa is expanding very rapidly, and we have been told that its maize and other crops under PFJ. So we are going to look at their books, see the extent of services they provided to our farmers and then based on that we will then decide on individual basis the extent to which we are going to expand these facilities. They have only two tractors and from what they are saying they will need 7 0r 8 tractors, he noted. However, according to Dr Akoto, this time around the purchase of the tractors and farm machinery will not be on credit bases, adding that the farmers would have to be able to use the proceeds from the work that they have done in the last 2 years to pay off and buy off in cash whatever equipment they will need to expand the facility. Earlier, the minister paid a courtesy call on the Oguamanhene, Osabarima Kwesi Atta II, where he informed him that President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo ouldl be celebrating this year's Farmers Day in Cape Coast. From the chiefs palace, the minister visited Ghana Productive Safety Net Project (GNPSP) at Ekumfi where he interacted with about 121 coconut farmers. And here the farmers seized the chance to appeal to the minister to support them with cutlasses, safety boots among others. Source: Peacefmonline.com/ghana Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A 30-year-old taxi driver, Kwame Osei Banaman, has been shot and killed with his 2021 registered Toyota Vitz taxi robbed at Greda Estate in Accra. Police say his body was found in a pool of blood with gunshot wounds on his head. The Teshie District Police Commander, DSP Ransford Nsiah spoke to Citi News about the incident. We saw him lying in a pool of blood. So while we were trying to organize ourselves to convey the body to the mortuary, one man who claimed to be the owner of the taxi car which the victim was using came to tell us that he knows the victim and that he gave him the car to operate on a work and pay basis. He then proceeded to give the car number, the car type, and the colour of the car to us. However, upon inspection of the body, we found gunshot wounds on him. DSP Ransford Nsiah called on the public to assist police investigations with relevant information to nab the perpetrators. We have information that the perpetrators have removed the car number plate and have embossed another number, but we dont have the actual number now to confirm it. Just yesterday, Thursday, October 7, 2021, a 35-year-old worker of G4 Security was found dead at the premises of the Atonsu-Agogo branch of the Adansi Rural Bank Limited in the Ashanti Region. The lifeless body of Alex Opoku was bundled with his mouth sealed. Source: Citi News Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video A political analyst and lecturer at the University of Ghana, Legon, Dr. Kobby Mensah, has stated categorically that the Vice President Dr Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia has no solid foundation in the New Patriotic Party (NPP) that could make him to become the Presidential Candidate for the party after the exit of President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo. According to him, Dr Bawumia hasnt grown into the party stalwart that could keep taps on party agitation and ensure coherence. The researcher pointed out that on the other hand, the Minister for Trade and Industry, Mr Alan John Kwadwo Kyerematen, who he reckons as a formidable candidate for the flagbearer in the NPP has a consolidated constituency over the period of having contested three consecutive primaries of the party. According to Dr Mensah, the other party stalwarts and their followers who have been in contests with Mr Kyerematen and President Akufo-Addo all these while, such as the Former Member of Parliament for Offinso North constituency, Dr Kofi Konadu Apraku, Member of Parliament for Essikado, Hon. Joe Ghartey amongst others will find it humiliating to accept Dr Bawumia leadership and that can destabilise the NPP. He underscored that going into the flagbearership race, the contribution of the contestants to the party since its formation would be critical. According to him, the NPPis an establishment party and that the internal party campaign is fought on stewardship, loyalty and electability - based on your ability to mobilise a coalition of votes. Dr Mensah explained that there has been a particular voting preference in Ghana and across the African continent that limits the winnability coefficient of young presidential aspirants during general elections. He told the host of Good Evening Ghana, Mr. Paul Adom-Otchere, that Ghanaians like most African countries easily trust their votes with elderly candidates than younger ones who contest elections. You realize that the Ghanaian voter often goes for an elderly person, and not only that, almost all African country, you see a certain level of age. And I think a reason why President Mahama struggled was because of the age-factor. People associated young persons with a certain lifestyle he noted. The political analyst stressed that his argument are not based on any empirical research but on mere observations of voting preferences in Ghana and across Africa. Dr. Mensah posited that the only factor that could alter his prediction is the pending primaries of the New Patriotic Party. Albeit he believed his analogy could find prominence in the NPP's internal election, adding that "it's more of a contest between Alan and Dr Bawumia." Dr. Kobby Mensah avers the NPP has an inherent leadership path that had remain typically traditional, which ascribes power to persons in an ordered sequence based on 'seniority' and consistency. Although the President hinted to the Asantehene in Manhyia last week that Mr. Kyerematen and Hon. Afriyie Akoto, Minister of Agriculture would be contesting for the Presidential slot, so far, only two persons have declared their intention to contest the flagbearership. Hon. Joe Ghartey, former Minister for Railway Development, was the first to have announced his interest for the flagbearer-ship. Former Minister for Energy, Mr Boakye Agyarko had recently announced his interest too. Dr Bawumia and Mr Alan Kyerematen are yet to publicly declare their intention but the rumours and secret campaign makes it obvious they will soon join the race when the party gives the green light for them to campaign. Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Even after dropping its membership requirement, the Summerland branch of the Royal Canadian Legion is still struggling to get people through the door and facing an uncertain future as a result. The Peace Tower glows orange as Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau participates in a ceremony on Parliament Hill on the eve of the first National Day of Truth and Reconciliation, in Ottawa, Wednesday, Sept. 29, 2021. Trudeau says he regrets the mistake of travelling to British Columbia to join his vacationing family on a day meant to honour Indigenous survivors of Canada's residential schools system. Failing to react and adapt to threats posed by climate change and extreme weather could seriously interrupt operations at the Department of Energys many installations and could lead to a significant loss of time and research, the agency warned in a plan recently made public by the White House. Both the Energy Departments national defense and environmental cleanup portfolios are endangered by climate-change inaction, the 2021 Climate Adaptation and Resilience Plan suggests. So, it emphasizes, a proactive problem-solving approach is necessary. Even as we are full speed ahead in our efforts to slow climate change, Secretary of Energy Jennifer Granholm said in a statement Thursday, its devastating effects are undoubtedly impacting our strategic mission. Nuclear security work on the atomic arsenal, for example is largely conducted at DOE sites that are vulnerable to extreme weather conditions and climate events, the report reads, and remediation efforts could be disrupted if facilities dedicated to processing radioactive wastes are impacted by climate hazards or if groundwater remediation systems are impacted by droughts. The departments specialized facilities require significant water and energy resources, the 26-page road map continues, meaning shortages or natural disasters could dishevel its particle accelerators, bio-refinery pilot plants, supercomputers, and waste processing facilities. The Energy Communities Alliance on Friday pointed out that climate change has long afflicted the sensitive sites under DOE watch: Wildfires have caused millions of dollars of damages, power outages, and temporary shutdowns of sites at Los Alamos and Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, the coalition of governments noted in an update. Extreme cold has damaged critical facilities at the National Nuclear Security Administrations Pantex plant in Texas. But, the Energy Department noted in its package, a proven process to identify and respond to hazards is on the books; stringent rules, prerequisites and redundancies already guide construction of nuclear labs, plants and sites. So far, 51% of Energy Department complexes have been screened for climate risks and their potential impacts. Facilities and operations critical to the DOE mission and national security, generally, will be prioritized moving forward. Sustaining DOEs mission in this changing environment is dependent on DOEs ability to successfully identify aspects of climate change likely to impact our mission and operations, the report states, as well as our ability to respond strategically. At the Savannah River Site, specifically, the Office of Environmental Management is shoring up defenses against scorching temperatures and raging storms spurred by a warming planet, and is working to modernize the electrical grid. At the Hanford Site in Washington, wildfire-tolerant vegetation has been planted and ice vests are used to combat heat stress among workers. The DOE blueprint was one of more than 20 published this week, the result of an executive order from President Joe Biden. Officials have for months worked on the plans, which show how key government agencies will navigate the climate crisis and its short- and long-term consequences. DOEs operations must adapt to this changing environment to mirror the bold agenda that President Biden has set for America, Granholm said. This first-of-its-kind plan shows our commitment to being a changemaker and tackling this existential threat. The White House on Thursday said the array of plans reflect Bidens whole-of-government approach to confronting the climate crisis. Taking holistic action now, the administration said, will minimize damage down the road. The Aiken Department of Public Safety is investigating a potential child abduction attempt that occurred Wednesday. The incident happened between 5:15 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. in a toy aisle near the sporting goods section of the Walmart on Whiskey Road, according to an incident report from the Aiken Department of Public Safety. The victim's parent stated the victim's sibling saw a male "almost put his hands around the victim's waist," according to police. The victim's sibling "asked the victim to walk toward them and the man took off," according to the report. The suspect was described as a Black male with a short hair cut, wearing a gray shirt, according to the report. Police provided information to Walmart Loss Prevention in an attempt to get video footage, according to public safety. The case is still currently under investigation. This story will be updated as new information becomes available. The Aiken Department of Public Safety recently placed a new message board on Whiskey Road following numerous muffler noise complaints from area residents. The message board simply reads "state law, loud muffler, $155 fine." Lt. Jennifer Hayes said Public Safety has received several complaints about loud mufflers throughout the city, prompting the new signage. The portable message board was placed near the H. Odell Weeks Activities Center on Sept. 23. Public Safety chose the location because "it is a safe location to deploy the sign with no impact on visibility at intersections. It is also a well-traveled thoroughfare which gives a lot of exposure to the messages displayed," Hayes said. Jan Fedarcyk, who lives in the historic district, reached out to the Aiken Standard in July after she said her complaints to Public Safety went unanswered. "Public Safety said they were going to issue tickets for mufflers, but nothing was done," Fedarcyk said. "It creates a quality of life issue. It poses a safety risk and deteriorates the environment It's deliberate, to disrupt the neighborhood." The South Carolina Code of Laws states, "every motor vehicle shall at all times be equipped with a muffler in good working order and in constant operation to prevent excessive or unusual noise and annoying smoke and no person shall use a muffler cutout, bypass or similar device upon a motor vehicle upon a highway." Hayes said Public Safety is "actively enforcing the state law and issuing citations." Hope Mitchell, an Aiken resident, said she hates "nanny laws" but thinks this one is valid. "There is no mechanical reason for these exhaust systems," Mitchell said. "They're a nuisance, bad for the environment and plain disrespectful. If that's what trips your trigger, please do so with other enthusiasts that enjoy that sort of thing." However, some citizens do not believe these are the types of issues law enforcement should be focusing on. "This statute itself is just too broad to truly be enforceable," said Aiken resident Meghan Scoggins. "We have many problems in this area when it comes to traffic issues. Loud mufflers are annoying, for sure. However, I don't think it's where we should be putting our focus." Another Aiken resident, Cheyanne Seibert, said the mufflers are just "one more thing to complain about." "It is apparently obvious that Aiken County and it residents can complain about any and everything," Seibert said. "Instead of pulling someone over about a loud exhaust system that does absolutely no harm to anyone from my understanding, they should be more worried about speeders and other major violators. Like almost like saying you could get a fine for a diesel blowing out that black smoke it produces. The car/truck community shouldnt have to deal with any type of discrimination over a loud exhaust/muffler. If these kids arent doing any harm then why punish them?" Overall, Hayes said the public's reaction to the new message board has been positive. "We have already received a message from a citizen in support of the signage and enforcement," Hayes said. She added Public Safety has received requests for the message trailer to be deployed in other areas of the city as well, with the same message. Youre seeing The Post and Courier's weekly real estate newsletter. Receive all the latest transactions and top development, building, and home and commercial sales news to your inbox each Saturday here. 365-unit apartment project proposed for upper peninsula Charleston rents jump 19% year over year in October Another huge apartment development is proposed for Charleston's upper peninsula. FIDES Development of Atlanta wants to build a 365-unit multifamily project called The Darby on Meeting Street Road near Greenleaf Street on slightly more than 3 acres owned by Cooper River Corp. LLC, according to a filing with the city of Charleston. Plans show a 419-space parking deck on the back of the L-shaped site. A few buildings are on part of the site. The property is north of the US Foods Chef'Store at 1510 Meeting St. The plans are making their way through the city review process. The site also is south of The Refinery office and retail building and north of the soon-to-be-redeveloped Pepsi plant into a mix of uses and the 300 or so units Miami-based Lennar's apartment division is building where Morrison Drive meets Meeting Street Road. The newly proposed complex comes as San Francisco-based rental housing site Apartment List shows rental rates skyrocketed 19 percent in the Lowcountry from October 2020. Last year at this time, the year-over-year rate was down 1.0 percent. Apartment rental rates in Charleston jumped 2.5 percent in October from September, also ahead of the national median price spike. Median rents in Charleston currently stand at $1,448 for a one-bedroom apartment and $1,692 for a two-bedroom unit, according to Apartment List. Nationally, the median rent climbed 15 percent in 2021, more than three times the average growth rate in recent pre-COVID-19 years. Median rates nationally rose 2.1 percent in October, matching the August percentage jump, and ahead of rates in recent pre-pandemic years. Want to receive this newsletter in your inbox every Saturday? Sign up for free. Sign up for our real estate newsletter! Get the best of the Post and Courier's Real Estate news, handpicked and delivered to your inbox each Saturday. Email Sign Up! Strata Equity Group acquired the 241-unit Sage Apartments at 1240 Winnowing Way in northern Mount Pleasant for $50.5 million and the 288-unit Aster Place Apartments at 1840 Carriage Lane in West Ashley for $37 million. By the numbers 4: Number of new Greek restaurants coming to the Charleston area after two previously unannounced venues are on the way. 31.25: Millions of dollars paid for three-building office complex in West Ashley three years after it sold for $23 million. 4: Millions of dollars paid by Charleston County Aviation Authority for 137 acres on Johns Island to prevent a 242-unit housing development from being built and establish a clear zone for a possible future third runway at Charleston Executive Airport. This week in real estate + Inns in new hands: A longtime, family-owned lodging on Folly Beach is now under new ownership after selling for $3.35 million and a historic overnight accommodation in downtown Charleston was sold for $18.5 million. + Firm acquisition: Commercial real estate firm Cushman & Wakefield now owns Virginia-based Morton G. Thalhimer Inc.s South Carolina operations. The two firms have been affiliated for several years. + Sale pending: The developers of the Charleston Trade Center in Summerville have a buyer on the line that, in turn, has a tenant on the line for one of its new cavernous industrial-grade buildings. Built around 1897 with flankers added in 1935, the main house at Bonny Hall sits on 86 acres near the Combahee River in Beaufort County. It recently sold for more than $100,000 above the list price. Did a friend forward you this email? Subscribe here. Craving more? Check out all of the Post and Courier's newsletters here. The wave of investment from deep-pocketed national buyers continues to wash over the Charleston region as three apartment communities recently sold to two California firms in separate deals valued at $117.5 million while an Ohio company paid more than $31 million for a West Ashley office complex. San Diego-based real estate investment firm Strata Equity Group paid $87.5 million for two multifamily properties while Santa Monica-based Lincoln Avenue Capital bought another community for $30 million. Strata Equity Group acquired the 241-unit Sage Apartments at 1240 Winnowing Way in northern Mount Pleasant for $50.5 million, or roughly $210,000 per key, and the 288-unit Aster Place Apartments at 1840 Carriage Lane in West Ashley for $37 million, or just over $128,000 per unit. Affiliates of The Solomon Organization of Summit, N.J., previously owned the two properties. MP Owner 1 LLC paid $44.2 million for the Sage complex in 2017, and Aster Owner 2 LLC paid $30.375 million for the Aster Place apartment community in 2018, according to Charleston County land records. Sage was built in 2012 and includes ground-floor commercial space. The older Aster Place community in West Ashley will see $4 million in improvements to units, amenities, clubhouse and grounds. The new owner noted the Charleston region's population gains in recent years as reasons to invest in the community. "Deploying equity from our latest fund ... into a robust growth-oriented metro provides a perfect risk-adjusted return for our investors," said Justin Shifrin, Stratas director of acquisitions. During the past seven years, Strata has acquired more than 20,000 apartment units in 75 multifamily properties across the U.S. In Goose Creek, Lincoln Avenue Capital bought the 170-unit Brandywine Townhomes at 202 St. James Ave. from Massachusetts-based VTT Management on Sept. 23, according to the commercial real estate firm Berkadia. The units sold for about $176,500 each. The 11-acre property sold in 2016 for $8.075 million, according to Berkeley County land records. Sign up for our real estate newsletter! Get the best of the Post and Courier's Real Estate news, handpicked and delivered to your inbox each Saturday. Email Sign Up! Brandywine features one-, two- and three-bedroom floorplans. Community amenities include a swimming pool, playground and laundry facility. Handling the sale for the seller and buyer were Mark Boyce and Blake Coffey of Berkadia in Charleston and Paul Vetter, Andrew Mays and Matt White of the firm's Atlanta office. Changing hands In West Ashley, a three-building office park is now under new ownership after selling for $31.25 million, about $8 million more than the previous sale three years ago. Boyd Watterson Asset Management of Cleveland, Ohio, bought South Park Plaza at 1-3 South Park Circle near Citadel Mall in mid-September, according to the commercial real estate firm CBRE Inc. The previous owner of the 139,060-square-foot property on 7.6 acres was JEMA II LLC of Charleston. It paid $23 million for the site in 2018, according to Charleston County land records. "Charleston is quickly rising on the list of target investment markets for national investors," said Patrick Gildea, a CBRE vice chairman. He pointed to the region's rising population during the past decade and said the sale "reflects on the high demand we have been seeing here in recent years." Charles Carmody of CBRE's Charleston office noted the firm has now brokered the property's sale three times during the past 14 years. In 2007, the site sold for $11 million before changing hands again three years ago, public property records show. For the past three years, South Park has been about 91 percent occupied by the Medical University of South Carolina Hospital Authority. Also representing the seller in the transaction were Matt Smith, Grayson Hawkins and Ryan Carmody of CBRE. HUGER When Edward Beaufort-Cutner was growing up, he could walk 3 miles in almost any direction from his modest one-story wooden home before reaching another house. Today, all Beaufort-Cutner, 77, needs to do is walk a few feet out his front door to realize that his familys 50-acre homesite will soon be overwhelmed by new residential developments. Over the next five years, as many as 700 new homes in two developments D.R. Hortons French Quarter Creek and Toll Brothers Forrest Edge will rise in this rural section of S.C. Highway 41 just steps from Beaufort-Cutners property. The two developments served as prime hunting grounds in Beaufort-Cutners youth and were used as farmland by his extended family. The new developments are going to affect our quality of life in a major way, he said. The increase in traffic, the noise will change the complexion of this area that has been the same since, really, the end of the Civil War. Im not against growth, its progress and I understand that progress can be good if its done in the right way. Its just very concerning whats happening to this area and Im not sure what, if anything, can be done about it. The chances of the Highway 41 corridor around in this tiny Berkeley County community turning into another of the countys mega-developments like Cane Bay or Carnes Crossroads are unlikely. The majority of land along the Highway 41 corridor north of Clements Ferry Road is zoned as an agricultural or preservation residential districts, which are designed to preserve and protect the rural residential character and sensitive natural and historical resources of the area. The Francis Marion National Forrest and large-scale private conservation efforts have limited the amount of land available to developers to about 8,000 acres around Huger. With limited public sewer availability and the existing capacity of Highway 41, the area is not equipped to manage the demands generated by suburban development similar to Cainhoy Plantation off of Clements Ferry Road or in nearby Mount Pleasant across the Wando River. This is not a place to have suburban-sprawl style developments like weve seen in Mount Pleasant or in the northern part of Berkeley County, said Coastal Conservation League senior development director Jason Crowley. It just doesnt make sense. The county would cripple themselves financially if they were to extend water and sewer lines out to that area. Thats also the heart of the Cooper River Historic District. Most of the families that live on the lands are in settlement communities and have lived there for generations. More development would only upset their way of life. Feeling the pressure The Highway 41 corridor around Huger is feeling the pressure from suburban sprawl that is taking place in Mount Pleasant and in Cainhoy Plantation. Cainhoy Plantation stretches across 9,000 acres along Clements Ferry and Cainhoy roads, between the Cooper and Wando rivers. When the last moving boxes are unloaded over the next decade about 9,000 homes will stand on the tract north of Daniel Island. It already features schools, apartments, a Publix supermarket, a few restaurants and retailers. Huger residents dont want to see a similar scene take place in their backyards. The 259,000-acre Francis Marion National Forest takes up a huge swath of land along Highway 41 and serves as a quasi-buffer between developers and the established settlement communities already in place. The Francis Marion forest is true a blessing for us, Beaufort-Cutner said. Local conservation groups have done their share to gobble up land and keep it out of the hands of developers. The Keystone Tract, a 4,300-acre parcel surrounded on three sides by the national forest, has been a sought-after property since International Paper put it up for sale in the early 2000s. The land was peppered with controversy amid developers plans to build thousands of homes along the Highway 41. That triggered challenges from conservation and environmental groups that said the tract was an opportunity to connect the Francis Marion to the Cooper River and preserve safe passage for wildlife between the watersheds of the Santee and lower Cooper rivers. In 2014, a local conservation group purchased a large piece of the Keystone Tract around Huger in an effort to preserve the ecologically important property on the edge of the national forest. The Lowcountry Open Land Trust, under the name Quemby Barony LLC, paid $6.7 million for 1,677 acres along Highway 41. The property was part of the wetlands mitigation deal that Boeing Co. agreed to for its expansion of 500 acres at Charleston International Airport. Its still making its way through of U.S. Corps of Engineers, but once thats done it will be transferred to the (S.C.) Department of Natural Resources as a public access, wildlife management area and heritage preserve, said David Ray, chief conservation officer for the Lowcountry Open Land Trust. Over the next three years, the Land Trust secured another 1,000 acres along Highway 41, including a $3.5 million purchase of 600 acres of the Hyde Park Planation in 2017. The group has helped preserve thousands of acres along the corridor, which includes property like old rice plantations and land near industries, such as Nucor Steel and BP. In all, Ray estimates the land trust has acquired more than 5,900 acres around Highway 41 and another 6,300 acres is being protected by private conservation efforts. This is a way to connect protected properties from the national forest to the river, Ray said. The national forest is home to more than 400 species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles and 1,600 species of plants, including 12 types of orchids and 12 species of carnivorous plants. Who will remember us? Despite the best efforts of conservation groups, growth and development is coming to Highway 41. Theres still a threat to this area, Ray said. There are still large tracts of land that developers can buy. We still have not bridged that gap to maintain the wildlife habitat that spans across that area. We want to work with those local landowners to protect those properties. The growth on Highway 41 begins just over the Wando River from Mount Pleasant. Homebuilder PulteGroup has broken ground on Wando Village, which when finished will have 120 homesites. Three miles up the road, D.R. Hortons Seven Bridges at Seven Lakes, a 353-acre development, is nearly sold out of its 150 homesites. French Quarter Creek and Forest Edge take up a 922-acre pocket around Beaufort-Cutners property and will have almost 700 units when completed. The pressure coming up from Mount Pleasant and Cainhoy may make this seem like an ideal growth area, but it's not because this is a culturally historic area, Crowley said. These one-off suburban style developments will upset the balance between humans and nature. Preserving this area should be a high priority for the federal and local governments. Berkeley County is putting the final touches on its 10-year comprehensive plan, which will address land use along Highway 41. The countys plan is expected to be approved by the end of spring 2022. One of the biggest issues facing development in the area is the lack of public water and sewer lines. The county currently has no plans to extend water and sewer lines along Highway 41. There are not a lot of people clamoring for sewer because they know what that means, and they dont want it, said Berkeley County Supervisor Johnny Cribb. Most of the development in that area is zoned for about one unit per acre. Those types of developments dont go up like a bunch of cookie-cutter neighborhoods that end up with real high density. They tend to fit the character of the community a little better. If more development does come to Highway 41 it will be as a result of current land owners selling off their property. The landowners will control growth around Huger, Cribb said. A lot of times growth happens because an individual sells 500-600 acres to a builder. If they dont sell it to a builder, growth wont happen. The great thing about our county is that we offer a diverse place to live. If you want to live out in the country in Huger or Jamestown, you can do that. If you want to be a part of a development with an HOA like Cane Bay or Nexton, you can do that, too. I wouldnt want to see the county all rural or all urbanized. Like the oceans tides, Beaufort-Cutner understands that development and growth are going to be constant and inevitable. The Air Force veteran would just like to see it done in the right way. The folks that have lived here have been here for generations, he said. We want to hold onto our language and our traditions. If we lose them for the sake of development and growth, who will we be? Who will remember us? We will be gone forever. Now is a rare opportunity to truly grasp the vast and varied work of artist Romare Bearden, the subject of a new exhibition at the Gibbes Museum of Art. Some might know that Bearden was born in Charlotte and raised in New York City and Pittsburgh after his family moved to escape the Jim Crow South. His home became a hub of the Harlem Renaissance. Bearden then ran with a crowd that was a who's who of 1950s and '60s artists, crossing disciplines and upending narratives to illuminate the Black experience. As part of that cultural groundswell, he parsed words with literary greats like James Baldwin, Ralph Ellison, Langston Hughes and Toni Morrison, and was a wordsmith in his own right, publishing many books and essays. He designed sets and costumes for choreographer Alvin Ailey. He could artistically carry a tune, too, penning songs for Dizzy Gillespie. And he traded painterly perspectives with Jacob Lawrence and Faith Ringgold. Others know his collage work, which is widely recognized and included in public collections at museums such as the Metropolitan Museum of Art and the Whitney Museum of American Art. But even with his prolific creative output and integral role among the mid-century avant-garde A-list, many contend that Bearden has yet to receive full due. An entire portion of his work has been excised from the discourse on Bearden, and that work represents a significant contribution to 20th century art. His abstractions, among them energized paintings in oil and casein or kinetic works of mixed media on painted board, appear to have first enjoyed a long-overdue 15 minutes of fame as recently as 2017. That's when Tracy Fitzpatrick, director of the Neuberger Museum of Art at Purchase College, SUNY, in Harrison, N.Y., first put together "Romare Bearden Abstraction." In 2020, when the abstract works he made from 1958 to approximately 1962 appeared at DC Moore Gallery, Roberta Smith of The New York Times wrote, "These paintings should startle. They are elegant, gritty works, alive with spontaneous splashes, pours and rivulets of paint, and they effortlessly claim a place in the history of American postwar abstraction, stain painting division." The Gibbes from the get-go And it all starts at the Gibbes. The exhibition, "Romare Bearden: Abstraction," launches its national tour there on Oct. 15, where it will remain through Jan. 9, 2022. It is the only museum in the South to show it. It was organized by the American Federation of Arts, a nonprofit touring organization dedicated to raising public awareness of visual arts, and the Neuberger Museum of Art. For Gibbes Museum of Art Executive Director and Chief Curator Angela Mack, the exhibition furthers a trajectory at the museum, one that has in the past involved the curation of shows of Black artists. It also moves forward a partnership with the American Federation of Arts, which in 2019 joined with the Gibbes in the exhibition "Black Refractions: Highlights from The Studio Museum in Harlem." "It takes the conversation a step further in terms of no longer looking necessarily at who the artist is, but the quality of their work and how they contribute to the entire conversation of American art," Mack said. When it comes to press-worthy moments, she observes that this new look at Bearden, who died in 1988, warrants its place in the current conversation. She cites the swell of press surrounding the Jasper Johns retrospective that recently opened simultaneously at the Whitney Museum of American Art and the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Sign up for our new opinion newsletter Get a weekly recap of South Carolina opinion and analysis from The Post and Courier in your inbox on Monday evenings. Email Sign Up! The current exhibition may change that. "Nobody has really focused on Romare Bearden in this way before. He was an incredible abstract artist, and yet do you ever see him listed with regards to the great abstract artists of our times? This is an opportunity to right that conversation." Rarely seen works on a national tour That first 2017 volley over the unbudging fence of the abstract canon is now aimed for a further push against previous assumptions with this ambitious national initiative. And it may have the force to correct the longstanding Bearden lapse. "Romare Bearden: Abstraction" is set to tour 55 paintings, works on paper and collages representing the artist's abstract works, many of which are held in private collections that are seldom seen hung on museum walls. Romare Bearden is one of the 20th century's great American artists," Pauline Willis, director and CEO of the American Federation of Arts said in a statement. "While Bearden's significance is recognized by the public and art establishment alike, the many layers of innovation within his body of work are relatively unknown." Getting abstract Bearden is most known for the collages he began in the 1960s that layer fragments of memory in bits of paper, snipped from magazines, which piece together in striking forms and figures the collective Black experience beyond the the propaganda Bearden expressed encountering. But right before he fully engaged in the collages, he divested from specific regional and cultural references, instead entering the realm of the abstract. Such a departure was the direct precursor to the works for which he is most associated, largely eclipsing them. Sara Arnold, director of curatorial affairs of the Gibbes, said that the goal is to show how influential this period of abstract painting was to the rest of his career that many are much more familiar with. "The curators have tried to draw those connections." According to Fitzpatrick, who curated the exhibition, scant substantive scholarly attention has previously been paid to this body of work. The exhibition corrects that omission. "The project contributes to the development of alternate storylines around the dominant narrative of post-war abstraction while at the same time revealing, for the first time, the roots of the body of work for which Bearden is best known, she said in a statement. An opening weekend deep-dive As the launching museum of the exhibition, its opening weekend is particularly robust, with partners and sponsors converging in Charleston at the Gibbes to delve deep into this period of Bearden's career. On Oct. 15 at noon, "The Spaces Between" conversation with Fitzpatrick and Bearden Exhibition Curator and Diedra Harris Harris-Kelley, co-director of the Romare Bearden Foundation, centers on the artists abstractions, what they offer our understanding of his overall body of work, and their relevance today. On Oct. 16 at 11 a.m., collector Walter O. Evans will join the Gibbes for an in-person presentation on his extensive collection of works by such major American masters, including Bearden, Elizabeth Catlett, Aaron Douglas and Jacob Lawrence. "Having Walter with us is really going to be amazing because Walter knew him well. We're having Romare come to life through him," Mack said. More events will take place over the course of the exhibition. Through the works and the exchange surrounding them, the Gibbes is poised to further the conversation and forge vital new narratives. For more information, go to gibbesmuseum.org. Kingstree, SC (29556) Today Some clouds. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 47F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Some clouds. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 47F. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Darlene Jordan has lived on the third floor of Charlestons Joseph Floyd Manor for only five months, but she is already making plans to move out. The 62-year-old said she was fed up with maintenance requests going unmet and the lack of security inside the 13-story high-rise. If I had the opportunity to transfer and move right now, Ill go and get some boxes and start packing up my stuff, she said. This place is falling apart. Im thankful to be on housing, but housing needs to step up their game. The Manor, located off Interstate 26 in the northern part of the citys peninsula, houses some of the areas most vulnerable residents. All of them live below the poverty line, and many have physical or mental impairments. The 158-unit brick building is more than 70 years old, and has been the subject of several Post and Courier reports in which residents detailed deplorable living conditions. The Charleston County Housing and Redevelopment Authority owns and operates the high-rise as a business entity, independent from both the city and county of Charleston. The authority receives most of its funding from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development. Federal inspectors from HUD toured the building in October 2020, giving it a failing score of 19 out of 100 possible points. Housing authority officials said theyve been working for months to address the more than 400 health and safety violations inspectors projected were at the building. A new chief executive will soon take over, and an updated heating system is set to be installed in December. Plans to tear down and rebuild the high-rise, which would take at least three years, continue to be in the works. For some residents, the changes cant come soon enough. Jordan, for instance, will happily point out the two windows in her living room she cant open because of the enormous wasps nest outside, or her air-conditioning unit, which leaks every time she turns it on. Her front door has been without a peephole since she moved in, leading to worries about her safety. Someone could knock on her door claiming to know her, and she would have no idea, Jordan said. The resident said she tried going through the proper channels of placing work orders for her maintenance requests something housing authority officials stress is imperative to fixing problems in the building but hasnt had much success. Im not doing no more work orders, none of that, she said, exasperated. The work is not getting done. Staff shortages There is disagreement among residents and officials about who or what is to blame for the buildings decrepit conditions. Even though elderly residents make up the majority of the Manors population, the building is not considered a senior assisted-living facility. Staff members are not responsible for making sure residents are being fed, for example, or taking their medication. Its also not the job of staff members to ensure residents keep their homes clean, said Sandino Moses, chairman of the housing authority. We dont have staff to run behind grown people that live in our facility, he said during a July board meeting, and tell them, Make sure you cut your water off at night,' or, 'Make sure that you clean your closet out. The chairman repeated this sentiment during a September meeting: Our tenants, theyre responsible for some of the things thats going on in there, too. They live in there, so everything is not happening by itself. So weve got to hold somebody accountable ... for things thats going on wrong. Some residents who spoke with The Post and Courier acknowledged there were certain neighbors who refused to keep a tidy home. Bugs, rodents and other pests would congregate in those apartments and spread through the building, residents said. Many, like Jordan, have to stuff towels in the cracks under their front doors to keep cockroaches or water bugs from crawling inside. But others disagree with Moses belief that the residents share some of the responsibility for the buildings disrepair. If maintenance workers stopped doing coverups when they came to fix tenants apartments and spent more money up front so repairs could be done the proper way, you wouldnt have people complaining over and over about the same issues, Jordan said. There is a patch of drywall next to her stove top, its bottom corner badly peeling. A worker tried to stick it back in place with glue, she said, but it popped up again the next day. Part of the reason work requests inside the building get so backed up is due to short staffing. There are only two maintenance workers employed by the housing authority to service its two buildings plus scattered single-family homes, which house around 400 people in all. The housing authority has also not had an official CEO since its former executive was fired 17 months ago, in May 2020. Someone has now accepted an offer, Moses told The Post and Courier on Oct. 7. Moses did not provide a name, and said he wasnt sure when the new CEO would begin. But hiring more staff members will be one of their top priorities, Moses said. Another short-term goal is to install new boilers inside the aging high-rise. The housing authority will purchase the heating system using leftover funding from the federal governments COVID-19 relief package. Moses hopes it will be in place by December. Plans for a new home Quicker fixes such as a larger maintenance staff and improved heating will serve residents in the interim, as rebuilding the Manor is expected to take three to four years, Moses said. The housing authority has been working since last year to get the process moving forward. In December, Moses told The Post and Courier he hoped to narrow down a list of one or two developers in the first five months of 2021 who would be responsible for the redesign. He said in July the board had yet to hire this consultant who would walk the authority through the planning and design process. As of Oct. 7, the housing authority still had not placed a proposal request for this developer. The hiring process has taken several months because board members want to make sure they get it right the first time, Moses said. The housing authority also plans to hire someone who can provide an assessment of the Manors foundation. We already know that Joseph Floyd Manor needs to be demolished (and rebuilt), Moses said, but the authority needs to have the buildings structural issues documented on paper in case it needs to ask the state or federal government for funding. The housing authority envisions tearing down the building and replacing it with multiple smaller buildings, Moses said. The plan is to use both the high-rises current lot and the green space behind it, which the authority also owns, to make room for additional residents. While the plans remain months or years in the making, current Manor residents shouldnt worry about being displaced during the rebuilding process, Moses stressed. We are not building another Joseph Floyd Manor if we dont have a place to put them, he said, adding the consultant would help figure out how to temporarily house the residents. Any public housing authority must get permission from HUD prior to selling, demolishing or building its properties. Moses was not sure as of Oct. 7 whether his agency had submitted its formal application, but he said HUD was aware of its plans to move forward with rebuilding the Manor. For city attorney Kelly Zier, working for North Augusta was the easiest decision he ever made. Its been rewarding because Ive been able to be involved in everything going on, Zier said. Zier, celebrated 50 years as the citys attorney during a council meeting on Oct. 4. Zier started his work in North Augusta on Oct 1. 1971, which coincidentally matches Walt Disney Worlds opening. Zier has lived in North Augusta for the majority of his life. Moving to the CSRA from Indiana as a toddler, he went to Furman University and UofSC Law School and saw an ad in the paper for the job in North Augusta. He accepted the position and also created his own law firm out of the 506 Georgia Ave. building. Zier has said working alongside good people over the course of 50 years has been wonderful. During his tenure, he has worked under seven mayors, five city administrators and several city clerks. He has helped preside over the creation of the North Augusta community center, Riverview Park Activities Center, North Augusta Municipal Building, and Riverside Village. Its been good. Ive had a good family behind me, Ive had good people to work with, and you cant ask for much more; and Ive enjoyed my 50 years, he said. When I get to the point where I dont enjoy it or cant do it anymore, Ill look for something else; but, for right now, Im enjoying it and planning to continue. Many of his colleagues, from over the years, agree. Kelly kept us out of trouble and got us out of trouble, former North Augusta Mayor Lark Jones said. ... But the fact that youve got representatives, senators, former administrators, former council members, former mayor, that says we think a lot of you. I truly appreciate all the time and effort that Kelly has given the city over his 50 years as city attorney, former North Augusta council member Ken McDowell said. While the city may get a new attorney one day, Kelly will never be replaced. The city of North Augusta has been fortunate to have him on our team. Ive talked to Kelly more in the last five months as mayor than the previous 25 years Ive known him, North Augusta Mayor Briton Williams said. I did not know what the dynamic of what a mayor and city attorney relationship is, and Kelly has been amazing. He has been open to listen to my ideas and very politely correcting me on what we cant do so I dont get myself and the city in legal trouble. But Kelly has been a great confidant. Zier received a resolution written by his son, Patrick Zier, for his 50 years of service. He also received drafts of resolutions from the South Carolina House and Senate by S.C. Rep Bill Hixon, R-North Augusta, and S.C. Sen. Tom Young, R-Aiken. I wanted to thank you as a citizen and as an elected official for what you do for North Augusta, and I hope you do many more years of this, Hixon said. Over 50 years, Zier has created his family practice alongside his son Patrick and seen the growth and development in North Augusta. He hopes to stay involved as the years go on. I have been lucky to work with good people and that goes not just for the mayor and council, city administrators and staff and the general city workers, Zier said. It's been a lot easier for me than a lot of city attorneys at a lot of places. If I had the choice to make it all over again, Id do the same thing. At my retirement party in about 15 years, Ill say a little more, he said. Some lawyers win their cases by running the table: They have the best witnesses, the best facts and the best legal and constitutional arguments. Theyre the ones who, in a just world, ought to win. Others win or at least cut their clients losses by running out the clock: Delay the briefs. Delay the depositions. Delay the procedural hearings. Delay the trial. With each delay, memories fade, witnesses move away or quit or die. Even if they still lose, their criminal clients get to stay out of jail a little longer, and their civil clients get to keep using their money or despoiling the environment or doing whatever a judge eventually makes them stop doing. We saw this justice delayed/denied scenario this summer, when Charleston City Councilman Harry Griffin walked away from a DUI charge after the arresting officer decided he was tired of being a police officer, and therefore wasnt available to testify against him. And that was before any slow-walking. Of course, those delays arent automatic, and eventually judges get impatient and stop granting them. So what if a lawyer had a trump card he could play when a judge got tired of the delays? Would that make the lawyer a lot more attractive to a certain kind of client? Theres a provision in the S.C. Constitution that says legislators "shall be protected in their persons and estates during their attendance on, going to and returning from the General Assembly" and 10 days before and after the session. Legislators rely on Highway Patrol troopers being aware of that provision to insure them against speeding tickets, even though attorney general opinions have said it doesn't apply. And the language is broad enough that some lawyer-legislators used to tell judges and prosecutors they couldnt be forced to appear at a hearing or deposition to represent clients during the annual legislative session thus winning a six-month annual delay for criminal and civil cases. I say used to because then-Chief Justice Jean Toal put an end to those dubious constitutional arguments in 2001 by issuing a blanket order automatically excusing lawyer-legislators from trials and hearings from January through June, and during special sessions. That initial Lawyer-Legislator Protection During the Legislative Session order allowed judges to hold hearings on legislators' cases only in extraordinary circumstances," involving emergencies or immediate threat to substantial rights. Otherwise, their hands were tied. Justice Toal wrote a new order in 2004 that added a lot more language about how important it is for legislators to be able to be legislators. A 2010 order extended the protection to depositions and removed that extraordinary circumstances exception. In 2017, current Chief Justice Don Beatty extended the immunity through the end of July, in keeping with lawmakers' changing schedule. Then on Aug. 4 of this year, Justice Beatty extended that protection beyond recognition. Because the Legislature is holding hearings out of session on legislative redistricting and federal American Rescue Plan Act funding, and in order to ensure that participating lawyer-legislators are able to prepare for, attend, and provide their full attention to these important hearings and meetings, the chief justice wrote, they are now excused from court until the process is completed or until this order is amended or rescinded. That's quite generous given that the Legislature has lost interest in allocating the federal funding this year, or in debating redistricting before December. If you were cynical or if you simply were imagining how far it could be stretched youd say this judicial "protection" means lawyer-legislators rather than the judge or prosecutor now control when their cases are heard. You'd say it means that, if he so chooses, a lawyer-legislator can ensure that his case never goes to trial. Thats what one prosecutor suggested to me after I wrote about House Ways and Means Chairman Murrell Smiths new gig defending the owner of the convenience store that sold beer to the underage Paul Murdaugh before the boat crash that killed Mallory Beach. Mr. Smith, you might recall, is also chairman of the state Judicial Merit Selection Commission, which must give its blessing before a judge can run for reelection or a candidate can seek a judgeship, and the judge in the case, Daniel Hall, is up for reelection in a few months. Im not convinced that Mr. Smith is the type of person who would take advantage of the chief justices extraordinary gift to run the clock. But he certainly could if he wanted to. And things certainly could play out that way in lower-profile cases where the lawyer is a legislator. In fact, its easy to imagine that theres a connection between those standing protection orders that legislators are well-aware of and the frequency with which legislators hire a lawyer-legislator to represent them when they find themselves in legal trouble. Easy to imagine, too, legislators building up their law practices by getting the word out that they can make sure their cases never come up for trial. A retired judge told me this week that while most lawyer-legislators are careful not to abuse the chief justice's protection, some aren't. I could go down a list of lawyers in the General Assembly and say (this one uses it) rarely, seldom, frequently, all the time. I can see how even chief justices who dont have to get legislators votes to keep their jobs would want to make it easier for lawyers to serve as legislators; after all, we need a decent number of people who understand legal and constitutional principles writing our laws. But the latest expansion raises questions that probably should have been raised two decades ago about whether lawyers in the Legislature really ought to have those get-out-of-court-free cards. Here are some things that are unquestionably true: Tourism is essential to South Carolinas economy, and brace yourself, Charleston the Grand Strand is the main engine of our states tourism industry. Maybe not its crown jewel, but its main engine. Its dangerously difficult to get all those tourists (and residents) out of Myrtle Beach in the event of a hurricane even more dangerous than it is to get tourists and residents out of Charleston. Horry County is the fastest-growing county in South Carolina, and now the state's fourth most populous, so its infrastructure understandably struggles to keep up even without all the tourists. This, too, is unquestionably true: Building a whole new interstate highway is not the best way to get more tourists into Myrtle Beach or to get them out more quickly the next time a hurricane threatens the Grand Strand. Its not the most cost-effective way. Its not the most environmentally friendly way. And its not the quickest way. Instead, it's the way Grand Strand officials have focused on for more than three decades now, as they dreamed of a new Interstate 73 to connect Myrtle Beach to Michigan or at least to I-95. Its also the way Gov. Henry McMaster has been focusing on for years a project he has used his office to breathe life back into in much the same way he used his office to revive the should-have-been-left-for-dead I-526 extension in Charleston County. On Monday, Mr. McMaster went to Myrtle Beach to announce that he plans to use $300 million in American Rescue Plan Act and surplus state funds as a down payment on the $1.6 billion construction project; the state would still have to come up with another $495 million after the federal COVID-19 well has run dry and the state surplus has been spent. Its not necessarily a bad idea to spend some of the states federal COVID-19 funding on roads, since thats one-time money that cant responsibly be used to create new programs, and it makes sense to spend some surplus state funding on major road projects, for the same reason, if were in a moment when the long-term savings from building now are significant enough to justify diverting money from needs that dont have the dedicated funding source that roads do. But that $1.6 billion figure is noteworthy, because thats not the cost of building an interstate from Myrtle Beach to Michigan. Its not even the cost of building an interstate to North Carolina. Its the cost of building an interstate 40 miles from I-95 toward Conway. The state Transportation Departments plan calls for tying into S.C. 22 to extend I-73 from Aynor to the beach, but thats a separate project. And the leg from I-95 to the N.C. line between Bennettsville and Rockingham the part of the project that turns it into an actual interstate well, nobodys talking about that. Sure, were committed to that, I-73 backers say, before turning their gaze back to the east. You can also find partial support all along the route, which, if its ever built, will be called I-74 in some areas and I-75 in others and will include a mix of new construction and upgrades to existing highways. Those upgrades would make a lot more sense in South Carolina than clearing out a whole new road bed through wetlands, forests and people's homes and businesses to construct a major highway from scratch. A big part of the years-long debate over raising South Carolinas lowest-in-the-nation gas tax was how much new revenue was actually needed. The Transportation Department and the business community insisted that we needed $1.5 billion a year, but tax opponents correctly noted that we could do with a lot less money if we stuck to a fix-it-first approach of repairing, upgrading and widening existing roads and bridges rather than constructing new interstates. In fact, the Transportation Commission nearly torpedoed the entire gas-tax effort in 2015 when it once again demonstrated what lousy judgment it had by trying to revive its dream of constructing a $105 million interchange to nowhere, from I-95 to the nonexistent I-73. (That would be the first phase of the I-73 project if Mr. McMaster's plan goes through.) The Legislature ended up voting in 2017 to raise the gas tax enough to generate $630 million a year, which was about $370 million less than the Transportation Department finally acknowledged would cover the cost of repairing, preserving and modernizing the existing road system. Mr. McMaster vetoed the bill (the Legislature quickly overrode his veto) that did not include enough money for any new interstates. Yet just four years later, hes South Carolina's top build-new-interstates cheerleader. Fortunately, the Legislature has to approve any I-73 funding, from federal or state funds; it shouldnt. Instead, lawmakers should find a way to invest in upgrading existing highways to increase access to and from Myrtle Beach. That's an important part of our state with significant needs. We just need to meet them in the way that makes the most sense. This is a public health safety advisory. Ivermectin is used to treat parasitic infections in large animals and humans but there is no proof that it has any effect on viruses such as COVID-19. No clinical or other studies have demonstrated any beneficial effect of ivermectin for the treatment of COVID-19 infections. The drug will not prevent users from getting infected with COVID, nor will it cure an infection. Signs and symptoms of ivermectin toxicity include gastrointestinal issues (nausea, vomiting, abdominal pain and diarrhea), headache, blurred vision, dizziness, fast heart rate, low blood pressure, visual hallucinations, altered mental status, confusion, loss of coordination and balance, central nervous system depression and seizures. Ivermectin may increase sedative effects of other medications such as benzodiazepines and barbiturates. The national poison control center has had a five-fold increase in ivermectin calls since the start of the pandemic. This is a testimony to the toxicity of ivermectin for human consumption. If you have any of the above symptoms, call the poison control center hotline (800-222-1222) for advice on what course of action to take. There are now multiple safe and proven treatments for COVID-19 infections. More importantly, get a COVID-19 vaccine, which is extremely safe and effective and there will be no need for treatment of a serious infection or the toxicity of ivermectin. Dr. PERRY HALUSHKA River Reach Way Charleston Educate about words Anyone who spends time around teenagers will no doubt agree that their jargon often includes a variety of slurs. These can be racial, religious, ethnic or gender in variety. Their usage can become so commonplace that the actual meaning and origin of the word is lost, as is the awareness of the hurt that can be imparted on the receiver. This situation is exacerbated when peer groups lack diversity. For this reason, I hope that teachers and counselors will not be deprived of educating our youth as to the connotation of such words, and the historical background regarding their evolution. If the Cane Bay High School teacher loses her job because she tried to explain why a certain word is racist and wrong, then it is a sad day in South Carolina. Obviously, if such words are ever used by professionals to insult, get a laugh or for any other reason, then they should be sanctioned. If students are not taught the reality of slavery, ethnic cleansing, religious persecution, gender inequity and the many injustices of world and local history, how can they truly grasp the meaning of words? MARSHA MORELAND Cherokee Rose Circle Mount Pleasant Flag lifts spirits Kudos and blessings to the Rick Hendrick dealership on Savannah Highway. Every time I travel by and see that large, glorious flag unfurled, my heart leaps and spirits soar. Thank you. RHODA BUTLER Ethel Post Office Road Yonges Island Bartelme appreciated I wonder if any other mid-size city in the country has a local newspaper like Charlestons Post and Courier, with so many reporters recognized nationally for their superb writing? The latest national honor goes to local reporter Tony Bartelme, who has won the prestigious 2021 John Chancellor award for his many investigative stories in The Post and Courier, most recently The Greenland Connection. The announcement of the award on Sept. 30 did not mention that Bartelme also has written several books on a variety of subjects. I especially recommend A Surgeon in the Village: An American Doctor Teaches Brain Surgery in Africa. This inspiring, true account of how a visionary American doctor found a way to save lives in Africa is a real page-turner. Lastly, I want to send appreciation to Tony Bartelme and the other prize-winning writers at our local paper who daily keep readers informed and interested. SHARON FRATEPIETRO George Street Charleston I will vote for keeping most of them in elected office I will vote to replace most of them I will vote to replace some of them I will vote for just a few, if any I will not vote Vote View Results The Washington Post reports that Mike Pence and his allies are gearing up for a possible run at the presidency in 2024. According to the Post, Pences friends and advisers say hes likely to run for president, especially if Donald Trump doesnt. Accordingly, Pence is taking all the traditional steps to position himself for a. . .presidential bid. Hes hopscotching the country giving six-figure speeches, sitting down for interviews with friendly conservative media outlets, and hosting fundraisers for Republican causes. One potential problem for Pence is that he refused, in his Senate role, to do Trumps bidding when it came to blocking Joe Biden from becoming president. Some of Trumps most ardent supporters consider Pence a turncoat because of that refusal. Pence calls January 6 a dark day at the Capitol and says his focus is entirely on the future. This stands is contrast to Trump, who in his various interviews seems focused largely on the past. In my view, Pences actions on January 6 count in his favor. The Post reports that Pence wants credit for what he sees as the good of the Trump administration. This raises the question of whether Pence influenced that administration and, if so, in what ways. Theres no doubt that Pence influenced the administration. Trump entered office with very little knowledge of the Republican Party. Not all that long before, he had been a Democrat. Pence, a Republican insider, was there to help guide Trump when it came to selecting key personnel like White House chief of staff and the Cabinet. Pence wasnt responsible for all of these selections Trump took advice from other sources, too. But Pence was probably the most influential, and it was thanks in part to him that Trump imported the GOP establishment into his administration. In my view, and eventually in Trumps, many of those thus imported were sub-optimal selections, to put it gently. For example: Reince Priebus for chief of staff, Rex Tillerson for Secretary of State, Betsy DeVos for Secretary of Education, and Alex Acosta for Secretary of Labor. Not all of these sub-optimal selections were at Pences recommendations, but some were. Its my understanding that Betsy DeVos was. An ally of Jeb Bush, DeVos was considered a supporter of Common Core. (She denounced Common Core once in office and claimed to have ended it, but did not.) As governor of Indiana, Pence himself was disappointing from a conservative perspective on Common Core. The record of DeVos and other top officials appointed at the outset of the Trump administration is mixed. Without getting into specifics at this time, many key appointees were less aggressive than I had hoped in overturning leftist polices and implementing conservative ones. Alex Acosta was downright resistant, as I showed in a series of posts. Towards the end of his administration, Trumps drain the swamp effort picked up steam. But this was after most of those who initially staffed the top positions were gone. I like Mike Pence and believe he would make a good president. However, if he runs for that office, it will be fair to ask about his staffing recommendations in the early days of the Trump administration and to scrutinize the records of the people who gained positions in the administration thanks in part to Pence. Other than Trump and Pence, Ron DeSantis is the name we hear most commonly as a possible 2024 GOP candidate. DeSantis and Pence have both served as governors. In deciding which of the two would be a better president, its reasonable to compare their records as governor allowing for the fact that they held the office at different times. For me, the question will be which man governed his state more effectively and more conservatively. This weeks episode is sans-guests and sans-metaphysics, as Lucretia and I kick around the news of the week, which is a mix of the usual ominous portents from Washington, along with some evidence that Democrats are in free-fall with the public. First up is a look at the egregious Department of Justice letter identifying parents protesting at local school board meetings as a threat to the regime (in an ironic way, the DoJ is right!), wondering just what the federal question under the law is, and noting how this step certifies the open contempt Washington has for local self-government (thank you for your candor Terry McAuliffe!). Then we look at the Ezra Klein NY Times article about Democratic data-maven David Shor, who is trying to warn Democrats that the public is swiftly turning against them. I offer some historical perspective to show how insane Democrats are in thinking they can govern the country as though they had the same kind of huge and durable majorities that FDR and LBJ had once upon a time. And this leads into another of our friendly arguments about how to judge Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell, who I think has performed brilliantly in dividing House Democrats and showing that Chuck Schumer and Nancy Pelosi are actually terrible political strategists, while Lucretia is naturally less enamored of this thesis. And forget Joe Manchinwhats up with Kyrsten Sinema? Shes rapidly becoming our favorite Democrat senator (a low bar to clear, to be sure, but Sinema is starting to look . . . interesting). And finally, a Lucretia shout out to Andrew Klavans new article in City Journal on what lies at the heart of our political divisions of the moment, and what is necessary to fix it. Exit music this week is Whats In the News by MacMillan, Bell, and Alexander. You know what to do now: listen here, or put down your newspaper or tablet and head over to our great virtual newsstand over at Ricochet. The most tasty political race this year takes place in Virginia, where Democrat Terry McAuliffe seeks a return to the governors mansion. His opponent is Glenn Youngkin. McAuliffe is one of the great rogues of American politics. Hes an old school Democratic pol, which makes him preferable to the new, more rigidly ideological kind, though not by much. All politicians like power, but McAuliffe likes it more than most. How can we tell? In Virginia, governors must step aside after one term, but they can run again later on. Very few do. If he wins, McAuliffe will be the first Virginia governor since Miles Godwin to serve two terms. Godwin served from 1966-1970 and 1974-1978 one term as a Democrat and one as a Republican. Before that, you have to go back to the 19th century. Weve know for some time that McAuliffe is in a tough race. However, my working assumption has been that hell squeak by, Virginia having become essentially a blue state. In last debate with Youngkin, however, McAuliffe opined that parents shouldnt be telling schools what to teach their children. This statement may have shifted the race in Youngkins favor, and I no longer assume McAuliffe will win. Last night two smart, politically knowledgeable Virginia residents told me they believe Youngkin will win. Im on the fence, but find it interesting that McAuliffe is now complaining that Joe Biden is dragging him down. Hes probably right, but it occurs to me that candidates who think they will win dont start blaming their partys president for their woes. Earlier in this race, the political class thought that if any national figure pulled either candidate down, it would be Trump burdening Youngkin. Much of McAuliffes campaign has been built around tying to Youngkin to Trump. Youngkin has maintained some distance from Trump. Hes trying to walk that narrow, but hopefully walkable, line between alienating Trumps base of support and turning off suburban voters. Both groups are needed for him to prevail. McAuliffe has hammered Trump for claiming that he won the 2020 presidential election. Youngkin tried not to take a position on Trumps claim. Im not sure why he should have to. The claim has no relevance when it comes to governing Virginia, nor is Youngkin in a position to know the extent to which voting irregularities affected the outcome. Hes shouldnt be required to adopt the medias view that Trumps claim is baseless, any more than hes required to adopt Trumps view that he was robbed. Recently, though, Youngkin has stated that he would have voted to certify the election, which is not the same thing as rejecting the merit of Trumps claims of outcome-determinative fraud. (He also rejects claim that the 2020 election in Virginia was marred by fraud.) Whether this will be enough to keep Trumps core supporters in line and placate swing voters who cant stand Trump is unclear. McAuliffe, though, has a problem when it comes to attacking Youngkin, or Trump, for not accepting the view that Joe Biden won the 2020 election fair and square. McAuliffe himself did not accept George W. Bushs victory in the 2000 election. In fact, McAuliffe stated from the podium of the 2004 Democratic National Convention that the 2000 election was stolen from Al Gore. And apparently, he still has not repudiated this claim. According to Dan McLaughlin, all McAuliffe will say is that Bush became president. Yes, he did. So did Joe Biden. Even Trump agrees that this happened. McAuliffe has tried to distinguish his claim that Bush didnt really win from Trumps claim that Biden didnt really win. McLaughlin shows that these attempts are futile and border on the absurd. My favorite attempt is McAuliffes reminder that he was Democratic party chairman in 2004. He seems to be saying it was his job to reject the outcome of the 2000 election. Im not sure why. Few party chairmen have felt compelled to make such claims about the last election. Moreover, as McLaughlin says, McAuliffes defense not only reminds voters that hes a political operative to the core, it robs his attack on Youngkin of any moral force. Hes acknowledging that if he had been chairman of the Republican Party between November 2020 and January 2021, he would have claimed that the 2020 election was stolen a claim, by the way, that Youngkin isnt making. Lets hope this campaign is the last we hear of sleazy Terry McAuliffe. On Thursday President Biden spoke at the Clayco data center construction site in Elk Grove Village, Illinois. Biden was promoting compulsory Covid vaccinations (White House transcript here). Has OSHA the federal agency assigned to promulgate the regime of compulsory vaccinations on the private sector gotten around to issuing the emergency regulation Biden has ordered up? Answer: No. On Thursday the White House also issued a 26-page report on the utility of vaccine requirements (posted here). Biden referred to it in his Elk Grove remarks. Biden singled out FOX News for mockery in his remarks: Even this I always get a kick out of Fox News. (Laughter.) Fox News requires vaccinations for all employees. (Applause.) Give me a break. Fox News. Is that true? Answer: No. (According to a memo from a Fox executive, some 90% of full-time employees said they were fully vaccinated; those who are not must take a daily COVID test.) Its interesting to see the corrections marked in the White House transcript of Bidens remarks. Here is a good one: Ive not only purchased enough vaccine to make sure every single American can get a vaccine shot, get the full dose and a booster, but provide already weve put out a million eight hundred thousand [one hundred and eighty million] doses of vaccines to other parts of the world. Biden introduced the local eminences attending his reading from the teleprompter (video below). Thats easy for him to say! The Chairman, National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Buba Marwa, says the proponents of the legalisation of Cannabis sativa, also known as Indian hemp, cannot have what they desire. Mr Marwa also warned that the population of Nigerians hooked on cannabis alone was more than the population of Portugal, Greece or the Republic of Benin. Portugals population is estimated at 10.1 million; Greece, 10.7 million and Benin Republic, 12.1 million. Nigeria has a population roughly estimated to be 206.1 million. Cannabis, from the plant Cannabis sativa is also known as marijuana. Cannabis, which is being abused globally via smoking, is also used for recreational or medical purposes. Mr Marwa, a retired brigadier-general, spoke at the 2021 Ulefunta annual public lecture organised by the Deji Akure, Aladetoyinbo Ogunlade Aladelusi, in Akure. In a statement by the agencys Director Media and Advocacy, Femi Babafemi on Friday in Abuja, the NDLEA boss emphatically laid the basis for his position. Mr Marwa, represented by his Special Adviser on National Drug Control Master Plan, Lanre Ipinmisho, said that in advanced world, drugs had been the driver of high crime rate and violent killings. According to him, in developing or third world countries, drugs are the escalator of strife, pogroms and war. We have seen narco-terrorism in Colombia and Mexico where drug cartels are law unto themselves and are as powerful, if not more powerful, than the state. So, there are real cases, not scenarios, of where and how illicit substances played a role in a societys rapid descent into chaos and tethering on the brink of a failed state. So the pertinent question for us today is: Has drugs played any role in the festering insecurity in Nigeria? The answer is yes. Of this we have ample evidence. Cannabis sativa is the most abused of all illicit drugs, and from the findings of the National drug Survey of 2018, it is becoming a national albatross, he said. He said that as such, the nation could not afford to toy with the grim reality of the danger of legalising cannabis when all the needed infrastructure to monitor and control that were still far from being in place. Canada that is pro-cannabis has strong and efficient institutions that are way ahead of Nigeria, he said. The NDLEA boss warned that people should stop treating cannabis like some sweet candy without any side effects, saying that its repercussions outweighed the vaunted benefits. He said that legalising its cultivation for a country such as Nigeria would not do any good. Cannabis remains an illicit substance. The agency shall always campaign against its cultivation, possession, trafficking, sales and use. Offenders will face the wrath of the law. And, if I may add, our conviction rate is 90 per cent successful, he said.(NAN). Nigeria has declined to join an international agreement that has several other countries of the world sign up to a historic deal to ensure big companies pay a fairer share of tax. Some 136 countries of the world agreed to enforce a corporate tax rate of at least 15 per cent, as well a fairer system of taxing profits where they are earned. The decision follows concern that multinational companies are re-routing their profits through low tax jurisdictions to cut their bills. The Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), an intergovernmental organisation, had led talks on a minimum rate for a decade, saying that the deal could bring in an extra $150bn (108bn) of tax a year, bolstering economies as they recover from Covid. The move is expected to hit digital giants like Amazon and Facebook, as well as firms with global sales above 20 billion euros and profit margins above 10 per cent. A quarter of any profits they make above the 10 per cent threshold will be reallocated to the countries where they were earned and taxed there. But critics have said that a 15 epr cent rate is too low, and firms will get around the rules. Earlier in July, more than 100 countries supported the initial OECD proposals when they were made public.Countries that initially resisted, including Ireland, Hungary and Estonia, are now on board. However, Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have not yet joined the agreement. In July, PREMIUM TIMES reported how ActionAid Nigeria commended the Nigerian governments reluctance to sign onto the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development, (OEDC) tax deal. The statement said it was in support of the reluctance of Nigeria to sign onto the OECD global tax reform deal as it considered the new plan unhelpful to Nigeria. The gains may be to maximize tax collection or maximize FDI inflow. However, the current global minimum tax of 15 percent is a threat to both gains, the organisation said. Nigeria set up rules and regulations with the corporate tax at 30 percent for big and multinational companies. The average Corporate Tax Rate for African countries is 28 percent. However, the 15 percent minimum corporate rate is too low and therefore inadequate to stop the race to the bottom. The benefits of a proposed minimum tax will be far below what is expected to fund the budget deficit in Nigeria, which will translate to the countrys inability to meet up with the fight against poverty and unemployment. For a moderate stand, Nigeria, like most other African countries will need the global minimum tax rate to stand between 25 percent to 30 percent above the 21 percent as initially proposed by the United States. The registrar and chief executive officer of the Teachers Registration Council of Nigeria (TRCN), Olusegun Ajiboye, has said the planned payment of N75,000 and N50,000 as bursaries per semester for students studying education programmes in Nigerian universities and colleges of education respectively, will only come with appropriate terms and conditions. Mr Ajiboye, a professor, made the clarification on Saturday during a virtual lecture organised to commemorate the annual World Teachers Day. The event was organised by an online media platform that is dedicated to education reporting -Educeleb. The guest lecturer spoke on the theme; Cultivating Teachers Professionalism for Education Excellence. On bursary Reacting to inquiries on the modalities for the implementation of the pay package for the students, especially in the face of dwindling revenues in the country, the TRCN boss said the guidelines are currently being finalised by the national implementation committee. He added that the implementation would not commence until 2022, and that such is not the only item on what he described as the robust welfare package being planned for the Nigerian teachers. Mr Ajiboye, whose second term tenure of five years was recently approved by President Muhammadu Buhari, said the efforts are geared towards reclaiming the lost glory in the nations education sector. He said; Of all the items on the list, it is only the implementation of the 65-year-retirement-age that commenced in January, this year. Others are scheduled for implementation next year. Apart from the bursary, we also have a rural housing initiative and allowances for teachers who may be posted to remote locations, teaching practice allowances for both students and lecturers, among others. On sustainability The registrar, who thanked both the president and the education minister, Adamu Adamu, for what he described as their strong support for revitalisation of Nigerias education sector, and teaching profession in particular, said Nigerians need not nurse any fear about sustainability. He said apart from currently working on the terms and conditions to be attached to some of the welfare packages, the government is also considering putting in place appropriate laws and regulations to avoid policy summersaults. We are aware that one of the major challenges governance faces in Nigeria is policy summersaults. So we are working towards ensuring that relevant laws are passed by the legislators towards ensuring their permanence. And apart from that, some of these packages will be enjoyed by only those who satisfy some specific terms and conditions. And we have already concluded that some of the packages will be directly handled by existing funding parastatals like the Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFund), the registrar added. Mr Ajiboye added that education was too important to be neglected, saying some of the initiatives of his agency towards professionalising teaching in Nigeria including the mandatory qualifying examination, mandatory continuing professional development programme (MCPDP), and partnerships with relevant global, regional and national agencies are already yielding rewarding fruits. He said; Today, if you carry TRCN certificates and licence you are qualified to teach anywhere in the world. I can assure you that this year alone, I have signed not less than 40 letters of good standing for Nigerian teachers who relocated to Canada to work as teachers. Today, because of 65-year-retirement-age, some civil servants are already seeking conversion to teaching careers, claiming they have a background in education. They should know that terms and conditions apply. He added that where the government is driving the teaching profession in the country is to make it highly competitive and very rewarding, saying it is the mother of all professions. It is sad that Nigerian teachers resign in droves and take up even some highly degrading jobs. That is unacceptable, and we will reclaim the lost glory. We must emulate Germanys former leader, Angela Merkel who insisted she could not pay other professionals higher than teachers because they were taught by the teachers, he said. Backstory The education minister, Adamu Adamu, had on October 5 announced the planned payment of N75,000 per semester for every student of public universities studying education programmes. Similarly, students of colleges of education are also billed to receive N50,000 per semester. Mr Adamu, who made the disclosure in Abuja during the commemoration of 2021 annual World Teachers Day, was represented by the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Education, Sonny Echonu. He said the package was aimed at promoting quality education in the country, and urged the 36 states of the federation and the federal capital territory to support the federal governments efforts. However, since the announcement on Tuesday, many Nigerians have queried the sincerity of the government and the sustainability of the initiative. The Kwara State High Court has sacked the Transition Implementation Committees (TICs) appointed by Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq to run the 16 local governments of the state. Governor AbdulRazaq had appointed the caretaker committees after suspending the elected officials of the councils. But on Friday, Justice Hassan Gegele of the state High Court in Ilorin described the governors replacement of the suspended officials with his own appointees as executive rascality and an abuse of power. Mr Gegele gave the judgment in a suit by a civil society group, Elites Network for Sustainable Development (ENetSuD), challenging the appointment of TICs to run the LGAs. The group urged the court to declare the appointments null and void, and to order the conduct of elections in the councils. Justice Gegele, in his judgment, granted the two reliefs sought by the group. We will appeal judgment State Govt Reacting to the judgment, however, the state Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Salman Jawondo, said the government would appeal the judgment, and seek a stay of execution. We wish to state that the reasoning of the trial judge is not a finality on the issue as it is subject to appeals at the higher benches, up to the Supreme Court. This allowance is guaranteed under our law, Mr Jawondo said in a statement. In exercise of its right of appeal as enshrined under the 1999 constituion as amended, the state government intends to explore that right. It will also, as allowed under the law, seek immediate stay of execution of the judgment of the trial Court. PDP says welcome development Also commenting on the judgment, the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), in a statement by its spokesperson in the state, Tunde Ashaolu, hailed the ruling as a welcome development. It described the ruling as a welcome development and victory for democracy and the rule of law. The party also commended ENetSuD for fighting illegality, demanding justice and making efforts to deepen democracy in Kwara. The ruling of the Court did not come as a surprise to us. It is in line with our earlier position that the Governor lacks power to sack elected council chairmen and that the appointment of Transition Implementation Committee (TIC) by him is unconstitutional, undemocratic, null and void. Todays judgment is a victory for democracy, rule of law and the good people of Kwara State who have always demanded justice and adherence to due process. Now that the Court has ruled that the caretaker committees are non-existent in the eyes of the law, we expect Governor Abdulrazaq to immediately initiate process to conduct local government elections, the PDP said. Abia State-based journalist, Norah Okafor, will not forget September 23 in a hurry. The broadcast journalist had been telling the stories of others. But on that day, she told her own story, and she did it, in pain. In a series of social media posts, Ms Okafor narrated how operatives of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) besieged her house at 1:36 a.m. that Thursday. According to her, the officers, who she initially mistook for armed robbers because of the masks they wore, forced their way in through the electric fence surrounding the compound. I was alerted by my brother that there were armed robbers at my gate. I didnt bother because I felt they couldnt make their way in, due to the electric fence surrounding our compound. I was wrong. They came prepared. After gaining entry into the premises and later into their apartment, Ms Okafor said the officers ordered her at gunpoint to hand over her phone. The next thing I realised was that about seven of them were already in my room, shouting lie down, facedown, Where is your phone? Seeing over 25 hefty men with different kinds of guns, I handed the phone to them with the car keys. By then, they had already taken my laptop. At this time, they had given my brother the beating of his life. They went out and unlocked all the cars. After searching through the phones and laptops, three of them came in and that was when we realised they were EFCC. In August, it was the home of a former Big Brother Naija Lockdown Season housemate, Dorathy Bachor. Ms Bachor, in a post on her Instagram page, said EFCC operatives broke the door to her house at about 4 a.m. on a Monday, searching for someone who ran into her estate in the Lekki area of Lagos. The former TV reality show housemate said the operatives made their way into her living room in search of the suspect. While condemning the officers invasion, Ms Bachor said the incident left her shaking and her mother in a panic state. At 4:45 a.m., I heard a loud sound, and voices followed after. I rushed out almost naked to see fully armed @officialefcc men in my living room, Ms Dorathy partly stated on her Instagram story. One of them said, Oh no, that Big Brother babe be this; in my confused state, I am trying to understand what in the hell was going on. Why did they break down my door? Although EFCC later explained that its operatives executed a search warrant at Ms Bachors house, the agency admitted breaking into the house forcefully. Ms Bachors apartment happened to be one of the flats in the building. EFCC operatives had knocked on her entrance door, identified themselves as being from the Commission on a mission to execute a search warrant. But they were refused entry, for several minutes by Bachors sister. The operatives were left with no choice than to force their way in, lest suspects escape or destroy vital evidence, the anti-corruption agency defended the action of its operatives in a statement. In July, Biodun Stephen, a Nigerian filmmaker and screenwriter, also narrated how operatives of the commission broke into her hotel room in the middle of the night. She said two men dressed in black weapons identified themselves as EFCC officials. That is how I slept in a hotel whilst filming last week. Next thing, I opened my eyes at a little past 3 a.m. What did I see? Two men dressed in black weapons. I thought I was dreaming. Then I heard the door to my room close, she wrote. These scenarios are snapshots of the experiences of many Nigerians coping with EFCCs crude tactics in battling internet fraud. EFCC operatives have invaded at least nine different hotels, in Lagos, Ogun and Enugu states between July and September 2021, media reports monitored by our reporter show. In July, operatives of the commission invaded Parkitonian Hotel, Lagos, where they arrested over 30 suspected internet fraudsters. Operatives of the commission also invaded an unnamed hotel in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, in August and arrested an Italian. On August 17, they arrested 10 suspected internet fraudsters at a hotel along Karji Expressway, Kaduna State. They raided three different hotels in Abeokuta, the Ogun State capital, where they arrested suspected cybercrime offenders on September 14. The hotels are Daktad Hostel in Quarry Road, Cecilia Suites located in the Ibara GRA, Abeokuta and a government-owned hotel, MITRO Residences Annex in Abeokuta. Three days later, on September 17, EFCC operatives invaded three hotels in Enugu and arrested about 16 suspected internet fraudsters. An official of Celia Suites, Abeokuta, Ogun State, described how the operatives allegedly seized hotel master access cards from the reception and opened the rooms one after the other on their own during the September 14 raid on the hotel. The operatives were said to have barged into the rooms with some guests naked and woke others from sleep. At least 56 lodgers were arrested on the suspicion of being involved in cybercrimes during the operation. Legal and public affair experts expressed concerns about the trend as many Nigerians now see a similarity between the tactics of the EFCC and the defunct and disbanded Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS), a notorious police unit whose inhuman activities triggered a nationwide #EndSARS anti-police brutality protest last year. Unfulfilled promise Ms Okafors and others experiences speak to loss of will by the EFCC chair, Abdulrasheed Bawa, to redirect the Nigerian foremost anti-corruption agency to the path of professionalism and rule of law. EFCC was established in the early 2000s by the former President Olusegun Obasanjo administration to fight financial and economic crimes like advance fee fraud, money laundering, and terrorism-financing, among others. In the past few years, the battle against cybercrimes through which EFCC earns quick convictions at a high rate, has been high on the commissions agenda. As the activities of Internet fraudsters appear to be on the increase with many falling victim to Nigerian scammers, EFCC appears to have thrown caution into the winds in hunting down suspects, commonly referred to as Yahoo Boys at nightclubs, pubs, hotels and private homes. The rights of many innocent Nigerians are often violated in the process, as it was in the cases of Ms Okafor and others. In his first television interview after his appointment as EFCC chair in February, Mr Bawa promised Nigerians to ensure the anti-corruption agency operated with fear of God and in line with the rule of law. I will continue to do what is right, he said, adding, The commission under my watch will continue to abide by the rule of law. If anybody asks me to do anything contrary to my conscience or against the rule of law, I will resign my appointment. However, little has changed in the operations of the commission since the 41-year-old assumed office in February. While the parade of suspects continues, illegal raids of homes and hotels in search of internet fraudsters have heightened on his watch. Unjustifiable Festus Ogun, a lawyer and human rights activist, believes that while corruption should be fought to a standstill, EFCC gangster-like invasion of hotels and homes cannot be justified under any guise. The senseless and malicious attacks on hotel lodgers in the middle of the night is blatantly unlawful. While the selective fight against corruption remains a thing for the anti-graft agency, it lacks power in law to arbitrarily disturb the peace of others; not even in the dead of night. Mr Ogun stated that a recent judgment delivered by the Oyo State High Court in favour of Sunday Adeyemo, Yoruba nation agitator whose house was raided by Nigerias secret police a few months ago, should remind all Nigerians that security agencies cannot continue to act like thugs in a constitutional democracy. The court also ordered the federal government to pay Mr Adeyemo N20 billion in damages. According to Mr Ogun, continuous invasions do not only constitute a violation of human rights but an attack on the economic rights of hoteliers to means of livelihood. What is the essence of the right to life without means of livelihood? The despicable trend must be immediately halted or the EFCC is made to face stern legal consequences. Another lawyer, Eluma Aswogua, cited sections 34 and 35 of the Nigerian constitution which provide for the right to dignity of human persons and right to personal liberty respectively. Much as it is understood that the EFCC has the powers to proceed against anyone it reasonably suspects to have committed a financial crime, such should be conducted in a manner that preserves the dignity of suspects who are still presumed innocent until pronounced guilty by a court of competent jurisdiction. Such braggadocio, aside from the media frenzy, has never been known to produce any results in the fight against financial crimes. Mr Aswogua claims to be dealing with a case of a client who was arrested in that manner by the EFCC for dealing in cryptocurrency. The intelligence the anti-graft agency got against him was that he spends too much time on the computer and the agency immediately concluded he was an internet fraudster. EFCC should understand that there are legitimate persons who conduct 100 per cent of their businesses online. EFCC investigation is being carried out in a manner that suggests the commission lacks the ability of intelligence gathering, says Inibehe Effiong, a Lagos-based lawyer and human rights activist. Mr Effiong said EFCC should be able to deploy necessary machinery to effect the arrest of suspects after doing due diligence and proper checks. But the situation where they would just invade peoples homes in the dead of night and ransack the place and leave, only to say they have a search warrant, is not acceptable. It is a violation of the privacy of any individual, as stipulated under section 37 of the Nigerian constitution that guarantees the privacy of home. The EFCC should be circumspect and cannot continue to behave like some thugs or some untrained miscreants who are just embarking on attacks on citizens. Because of the way they are going, they are losing public sympathy day by day. It does not paint the commission in good light as people would continue to see them as an enemy of young people on account of their recent recklessness and irresponsibility. Mr Effiong said these must stop, adding that the commission could not continue to infringe on peoples right to privacy by invading hotels and targeting both suspects and innocent people in the process. Like the case of the former BBN lady that her home was invaded, it was later found out that she was not involved in any crime that warrants the harassment or intrusion into her home by the agents of the commission. And they can likewise not say a suspect is inside a hotel and the entire hotel has to be brought down. That doesnt make sense. It is senseless and someone needs to tell them that. Are hoteliers liable? Amid outrage against the incessant raids on hotels in July, EFCC said hoteliers would be contravening section 3 of the Advance Fee Fraud and Other Fraud Related Offences Act if they continued to allow fraudsters to check in. The agency, in a statement, said the Act recommends five years imprisonment for hoteliers who are accomplices of cybercriminals. Responding to this, Mr Aswogua countered the anti-corruption agency, saying it is preposterous for the EFCC to believe hoteliers were under obligation to know all that their guests do within the corners of their rooms. While hoteliers should always deploy a good KYC (Know Your Customer) strategy when admitting guests, it is a violation of the right to the privacy of guests for hotel management to be snooping around to know what a guest does inside the room he/she occupies. He wondered why EFCC failed to apply the same stick in dealing with top hotels where all manner of financial crimes perpetrated by public office holders take place. Wilson Uwujaren, the EFCC spokesperson, could not be reached for comments as of the time of this report. Drastic problem calls for drastic solution The problem of cybercrimes in Nigeria is very alarming and requires a drastic solution, Jide Ojo, a social commentator, said in support of EFCCs approach to tackling the rising incidence of cybercrime. So many of our youths are now engaged in what they now call Yahoo Yahoo-plus and the rest. It is a very unfortunate development if the youths of Nigeria are now finding solace in internet fraud. Now, how do you arrest these people unless you have intelligence? He added, And from what I learnt, those that were found to have not been involved in any criminal activity were usually left out at the end. Mr Ojo fears that the EFCC might be handicapped, considering the concerns about human rights and invasion of privacy its methods raise. It may so happen that EFCC may be handicapped without being able to achieve much in helping to deal with these issues of cybercrimes. He added, If you go by human rights or due process the problem plaguing Nigeria may never be overcome. Because these people who are criminals are also very smart and some are lawyers and they always find loopholes within the law. The social commentator, who said one of his uncles once fell victim of Internet fraud in the past, suggested to the EFCC to obtain a search warrant anytime they have intelligence that a particular hotel is harbouring Internet fraudsters. And it wont be on an individual, it would be on the hotel facility that would say we have intelligence that this facility is harbouring some criminal elements. However, he advised the EFCC to review its operation in tandem with human rights exercises. I do not support a breach of human rights, but a drastic problem needs a drastic solution, Mr Ojo concluded. The former governor of Lagos State, Bola Tinubu, returned to Nigeria Friday after weeks abroad during which he underwent surgery on his right knee, his office has said. Mr Tinubu, who is believed to nurse a presidential ambition, spent several weeks abroad, including at a London home owned by Governor Gboyega Oyetola of Osun, his protege. PREMIUM TIMES, as part of its Pandora Papers reporting, showed how Mr Oyetola bought the controversial property, using offshore firms and accounts, from fugitive businessman Kola Aluko. While staying in the house, Mr Tinubu hosted several guests including President Muhammadu Buhari and Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila. He has returned fully healed from the knee surgery and fully committed to doing his modest part of advancing the cause of progressive democratic good governance throughout our beloved nation, his office said. Read the full statement from the Tinubu media office below. Asiwaju Tinubu is Back His Excellency, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu returned to the country, landing in Lagos Friday evening, October 8. He arrived from London, United Kingdom. During his trip abroad, he underwent surgery on his right knee as well as rigorous post-surgery physiotherapy on the said knee. Contrary to unfounded rumour, he underwent no other surgical procedures and contemplates none in the future. His recuperation has been without complication and ahead of the schedule by the attending surgeon. He has returned fully healed from the knee surgery and fully committed to doing his modest part of advancing the cause of progressive democratic good governance throughout our beloved nation. Asiwaju, first and foremost, would like to thank President Muhammadu Buhari for taking the time to visit him in London to express his wishes for a speedy recovery from the knee operation. He thanks House of Representatives Speaker Femi Gbajabiamila, governors, party leaders, members of Northern Caucus of the House of Representatives, members of the Lagos State House of Assembly and indeed many others who called on him in London to wish him well. He is also not forgetting others who would have loved to visit him but couldnt make it and his numerous friends, associates, supporters and well wishers who have been with him in prayers and supplications to Allah. Asiwaju Tinubu thanks you all. Tinubu Media Office, October 8, 2021. As resident doctors resume work after a two-month-long strike, the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) has promised to tackle unresolved issues arising from the action in some states. The resident doctors, under the aegis of the National Association of Resident Doctors (NARD), had on August 2, commenced the industrial strike over what they described as poor treatment by both the federal and some state governments. They demanded, among others, payment of COVID-19 treatment allowances in the absence of death-in-service insurance, having lost over a dozen of its members to the pandemic, even as they also protested the shortage of manpower in public hospitals. After series of meeting with the federal government, the resident doctors announced the suspension of the industrial action, while urging the government to fulfill its own part of the agreement that led to the suspension of the action. At the NGFs teleconference meeting on Thursday, the governors noted that there were unresolved issues in some states. This was made known in a communique issued at the end of the meeting and signed by the Chairman of the Forum, Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State. The states include Abia, Imo, Ondo, Kaduna and Ekiti. The issues were, however, not disclosed. The Forum advised that state governors appoint either the deputy governor or another high-ranking official such as the Commissioner of Health to take up the discussion with the Association at the State level. The Forum also resolved to make a collective pledge to support research in priority medical fields in the country, and called on all state governments to individually advance support for this initiative at the state level. The resolution was sequel to a presentation by Babatunde Fashola, who is the Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research Foundation. The presentation was based on a national fundraising initiative that seeks to mobilise resources for the establishment of an endowment for medical research in the country. The Country Coordinator for PEPFAR in Nigeria, Mark Giambrone, also briefed the governors on the status of state engagement that is paving the way towards HIV epidemic control in the country. With the country on the verge of reaching control status by the end of 2022, governors pledged to continue to facilitate access to HIV testing and treatment for more Nigerians and committed to supporting campaigns and initiatives that will reduce stigmatisation among people living with HIV/AIDS, the statement said. There was a separate presentation from the representative of the Nigeria-Arabian Gulf Chamber of Commerce on a memorandum signed with the Federal Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment to attract foreign direct investment into the country via the ongoing Dubai Expo 2020. After that, the Forum consented to the representation of state governments and the presentation of a set of bankable projects selected from 12 participating states; two per geopolitical zone in the country, in areas such as energy, technology, fintech, transportation, manufacturing, and agriculture. Two courts in Makurdi, Benue State, on Friday heard part of the defence of a couple standing trial regarding the alleged rape and subsequent death of 13-year-old Ochanya Ogbanje, the news of which sparked public outrage in 2018. Andrew Ogbuja, a Benue State Polytechnic lecturer, is standing trial before the Benue State High Court in Makurdi for allegedly raping Ochanya serially that she fell sick and later died of ailments attributable to prolonged sexual exploitation in October 2018. His wife, Felicia Ochiga-Ogbuja, also an employee of the polytechnic, faces separate charges at the Federal High Court in Makurdi for negligence by allegedly failing to take action to stop the sexual exploitation of the minor by her husband, and son, Victor Ogbuja, who is said to be on the run. Ochanya, until her death, a JSS1 pupil of the Federal Government Girls College, Gboko, Benue State, was Mrs Ochiga-Ogbujas maternal niece, and had lived with the family during her primary school years in Ugbokolo, the town where the state polytechnic is located. Mr Ogbuja, a senior lecturer at the Department of Catering and Hotel Management at the state polytechnic, and his son, Victor, a final year student at the Federal University of Agriculture, Makurdi, until his disappearance, allegedly raped the girl between 2014 and 2018 while the minor was living with the family. Ochanya was said to have later fallen sick with ailments allegedly attributable to the prolonged rape by the two grown-ups. She was admitted at the Federal Medical Centre in Makurdi for two months before she died in October 2018. While Mr Ogbuja is detained in prison from where he attends his trial, Victor remains at large. Mrs Ochiga-Ogbuja, on her part, was granted bail by the court where she is being prosecuted. As the police manhunt for Victor had yet to yield any result, the Benue government on October 10, 2019, arraigned 54-year-old Mr Ogbuja before the Makurdi High Court on four counts bordering on rape and Ochanyas death. Defence hearing starts PREMIUM TIMES gathered from reporters monitoring the trial that the Mr Ogbuja, who is on suspension by the polytechnic, opened his defence on Friday, after the Benue State prosecutors closed their case in August. The prosecutors had closed their case after playing a video clip in court showing the last moments of the deceased schoolgirl speaking of how Mr Ogbuja and his son allegedly raped her serially until she fell ill and was later admitted in the hospital. The states Director of Public Prosecution (DPP), Peter Ukande, who got the courts permission to play the video recording, told the judge, Augustine Ityonyiman, that the deceased teenager was interviewed on court premises in August 2018 when Mr Ogbuja was first arraigned at an Upper Area Court in Makurdi in connection with the rape allegation. Ochanya was said to have later died in October 2018. Mr Ogbuja had denied the charges, and his case has now been adjourned till November 12 for continuation of his defence. Wife closes defence Meanwhile, Mrs Ochiga-Ogbuja also opened his defence and closed it after calling her elder sister, Ann Ochigia, as her only defence witness at the Federal High Court in Makurdi on Friday. The defendant, now 45, who was arraigned by the National Agency for the Prohibition Trafficking In Persons (NAPTIP) in 2019, had told the court of her intention to enter a plea-bargain agreement with the prosecution, before making a U-turn when talks between the parties collapsed. Led in evidence by the defence lawyer, David Ojile, Ms Ochigia confirmed that Ochanya began living with the Ogbujas when she was five years old. The witness said she was not sleeping in the same room with the deceased Ochanya to know what was happening to her at nights. Under cross-examination by the prosecuting counsel, Mary Fagwam, the 57-year-old witness, spoke of how Ochanya started to fall ill. Ochanya started feeling sick and was taken to a healthcare centre at Ugbokolo (in Benue State), and her mother (Rose Abah) was in the village. I followed her to hospital the first time but subsequently, I did not follow. Ochanya was taken to Federal Medical Centre Makurdi, too, Ms Ochiga told the court, adding that she was not aware of the late teenagers debilitating health conditions. She was asked whether she knew the whereabouts of Mr Ogbuja and his son, Victor. Responding, the defence witness said Mr Ogbuja was in prison while his son, Victor, was still at large. The suit was adjourned till November 12 for adoption of final written addresses. Background The Federal High Court had on June 25, 2020, dismissed Mrs Ochiga-Ogbujas no-case-submission in the case. In the suit marked: FHC/MKD/CR/12/2019, the prosecution alleged that the defendant did omit to take action against the sexual exploitation of one Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje (Female) 13 years by your husband, Andrew Ogbuja and your son, Victor Ogbuja between 2014 and 2018. The offence is contrary to section 13 (4) (b) of the Trafficking in Persons (Prohibition) Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015. In another count, the prosecution alleged that she did keep, detain or harbour one Elizabeth Ochanya Ogbanje (Female) 13 years, knowing that she is likely to be sexually exploited by your husband, Andrew Ogbuja and your son, Victor Ogbuja, thereby committing an offence contrary to Section 15 (b) of the Trafficking in Persons Prohibition Enforcement and Administration Act, 2015. The court had dismissed her no-case submission which she filed after NAPTIP called a total of six witnesses. Prosecution witnesses called by NAPTIP included a medical expert from the Benue State University Teaching Hospital, Makurdi, and family members of the deceased teenager. The Nigerian government has filed criminal charges against Olanrewaju Suraju, the head of a non-governmental organisation, Human and Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA), over alleged cyberstalking. Mr Suraju was accused of peddling falsehood against a former Attorney-General of the Federation (AGF), Mohammed Adoke. In a four-count charge filed at the Federal High Court in Abuja, the federal government accused Mr Suraju of allegedly circulating fake email and audio interviews about Mr Adoke on his social media handles. The charges come months after Mr Suraju filed a N100 million libel suit against Mr Adoke for allegedly defaming him with the claim of alleged fabrication. Mr Suraju, who has denied any wrongdoing in a series of statements he issued on the matter, had said the items he was accused of fabricating featured as exhibits in the Malabu Oil scam trials in Milan, Italy. The Nigerian government, through the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), is currently prosecuting Mr Adoke in connection with the controversial $1.1 billion Malabu Oil case in 2011. In the charges filed by the Attorney-General of the Federations office and marked FHC/ABJ/CR/370/2021, Mr Adoke was listed as one of the four proposed witnesses to testify against Mr Suraju. No date has been fixed for Mr Surajus arraignment. Charges A copy of the charges seen by our correspondent on Saturday, which was endorsed by a Deputy Director at the Federal Ministry of Justice, A. O. Shaibu, reads as follows: Count One That you Olanrewaju Suraju, Male, of 20, Mojidi Street, Ikeja, Lagos, sometime in 2018, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did intentionally circulate an audio telephone interview alleged to have occurred between one Miss Carlamaria, rumour a reporter with RIA in Italy, and Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN via your Twitter handle @HEDAagenda which you knew to be false for the purpose of causing insult to Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention ETC) Act 2015 and punishable under the same Section of the Act. Count Two That you Olanrewaju Suraju, Male, of 20, Mojidi Street, Ikeja, Lagos, sometime in 2018, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did intentionally circulate an audio telephone interview alleged to have occurred between one Miss Carlamaria, rumour a reporter with RIA in Italy, and Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN via your Facebook page with the handle @HEDAresourcecentre which you knew to be false for the purpose of causing insult to Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention ETC) Act 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act. Count Three That you Olanrewaju Suraju, Male, of 20, Mojidi Street, Ikeja, Lagos, sometime in 2018, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did intentionally circulate an email dated 21st June, 2011 with the email address agroupproperties@yahoo.com owned by A Group Properties and received by a certain Osoluke Bayo O with the email address address bayo.o.osoluke@jpmorgan which you knew to be false via your Twitter handle @HEDAagenda for the purpose of causing insult to Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention ETC) Act 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act. Count Four: That you Olanrewaju Suraju, Male, of 20, Mojidi Street, Ikeja, Lagos, sometime in 2018, within the jurisdiction of this Honourable Court, did intentionally circulate an email dated 21st June 2011 with the email address agroupproperties@yahoo.com owned by A Group Properties and received by a certain Osoluke Bayo O with the email address bayo.o.osoluke@jpmorgan which you knew to be false via your Facebook page with the handle @HEDAresourcecentre for the purpose of causing insult to Mr Mohammed Bello Adoke SAN and you thereby committed an offence contrary to Section 24 of the Cybercrimes (Prohibition and Prevention ETC) Act 2015 and punishable under the same section of the Act. Background The former AGF had petitioned the Nigerian police over the circulation of the audiotape and email which Mr Adoke said were forged to rope him into the Oil Prospecting Licence (OPL) 245 prosecution in Milan, Italy. Mr Adokes petition to the police concerned the email and audiotape that featured in the transfer of about $1.1 billion by Shell and ENI through the Nigerian government to accounts controlled by a former Nigerian petroleum minister, Dan Etete. Investigators and activists suspect Mr Etete bribed some top officials of the Goodluck Jonathan administration after Eni and Shell controversially acquired OPL 245, one of Nigerias richest oil blocks. Mr Etete had awarded the block to his Malabu Oil and Gas Limited while serving as petroleum minister in the late Sani Abacha`s regime. Mr Adoke was the AGF who advised the Goodluck Jonathan-led regime on the OPL 245 transactions at the time. His name has repeatedly featured in matters connected to the deal. The Nigerian government did not benefit from the $1.1 billion transferred for the acquisition of the rich oil field. It has, therefore, been part of civil and criminal cases in the U.K., Italy, and the U.S. in a bid to bring beneficiaries of the fraudulent transactions to book and to recover proceeds of the controversial deal from them. The Milan court has acquitted Eni, Shell and their managers earlier indicted by Milan prosecutors in respect of the Malabu Oil scandal. The EFCC had also accused Mr Adoke of accepting N300 million from Abubakar Aliyu, a controversial businessman and one of Mr Etetes cronies through whom proceeds of the controversial Malabu deal were allegedly funnelled to government officials and others. Mr Adoke had, however, denied any wrongdoing, saying his transaction with Mr Aliyu was a property purchase deal that fell through after he could not raise the monetary balance for the asset. Mr Suraju and the Malabu matter Mr Suraju, who denied fabricating either the email or the audio interview, which featured in the Milan trial, accused Mr Adoke of defaming him by levelling the fabrication allegation against him in a February 2021 letter published in various media platforms. The anti-corruption activist had said items he was accused of fabricating were exhibits tendered in the criminal case involving OPL 245 controversial deal, generally referred to as the Malabu Oil scam, in a Milan court in Italy. Mr Suraju, whose organisation has been providing support for Milan prosecutors, had also said the said email was used by the Nigerian government in its civil case against Chase Morgan Bank which played a role in the controversial $1.1 billion. Despite ravaging insecurity and crimes in virtually all parts of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari says the Federal Government will do everything within the law to protect Nigerians from criminals. The criminal activities, according to the president, include insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and politically motivated killings. Presidential spokesman Garba Shehu, in a statement on Saturday, said Mr Buhari made this known in Kaduna at the Passing Out Parade for Cadets of 68 Regular Course (Army, Navy and Air Force). The president said that more equipment had been received from some friendly countries to improve the security operations in Nigeria. According to him, the government remains focused on its priority of improving security, bolstering the economy and fighting corruption. Buharis vow As you are all aware, our beloved nation Nigeria is facing many security challenges at this period. We continue to face security threats and violent crimes such as insurgency, banditry, kidnapping and politically motivated killings which threaten our national integration. I assure you that this administration will continue to do everything within the ambit of the law to eliminate all forms of violent crimes that are creating fear and anxiety among the citizenry. It is pertinent to state in this regard that we have received new equipment in our fight against any form of insecurity from our friendly countries. These assets will be deployed to accelerate the fight against insecurity in all parts of the country, he said. The president noted that security had assumed priority in governance and public policy in international scheme of affairs. It is against this backdrop that we introduced a new Landing Ship Tank early this year to replace the first set of naval ship tanks which were decommissioned by the Nigerian Navy. The introduction of the Landing Ship Tank is expected to bolster the Navys Sealift capability and promote our global maritime commerce, peace and safety within the Gulf of Guinea and our maritime neighbourhood, he added. Corruption The president said the administration was poised to eliminate the incentives for corruption by addressing some of the remote causes as part of a long term strategy for a more effective and sustained war on the act. He said improvement of livelihoods of citizens had been going on in partnership with relevant organised private sector. According to him, some of the interventions by government are a smart law enforcement and provision of improved access to education that prepares our youths for global competitiveness. Provision of quality health services for improved life expectancy and decent and affordable housing, among others. It is the conviction of this administration that ineffective policies for social provisioning must be redressed in our efforts to tackle the fundamental causes of corruption in our society. This is how best to give vent to the much cherished values of fairness, equity and justice to the people of this nation. I must also emphasise here that for us to achieve a peaceful, prosperous and democratic country that will attract foreign investors we must be law abiding, committed and promoters of peaceful co-existence. This is a collective responsibility which will definitely yield the Nigeria of our dreams, the President noted. He commended the Commandant of the NDA, Ibrahim Yusuf, a major general, for the infrastructural upgrade in the military institution and the colourful parade by the cadets of 68 Regular Course. It gladdens my heart to see the level of infrastructural development in the academy. It is a clear testament to the vision, dedication and excellence in the best tradition of the NDA. Nigerians acknowledge that the academy has consistently justified its existence over the years by turning out well trained and disciplined officers for the Armed Forces of Nigeria, as well as the militaries of allied nations. The NDA has over the years trained and graduated military and paramilitary personnel, as well as interested civilians, seeking postgraduate education. It is, therefore, not surprising that the academy has earned a reputation as an outstanding military academy in Africa, he said. The President, who was the Reviewing Officer, told graduating officer cadets that the world they were entering was very different from that which confronted many of their predecessors. The contemporary security environment has been described as violent, uncertain, complex and ambiguous. You can, therefore, expect that the missions that you will be tasked to undertake will be similarly complex. Beyond these significant rationales, I am convinced that we have a real stake and an abiding self-interest, in making sure our children and our grandchildren grow up in a world where school children are not kidnapped and where individuals are not slaughtered because of their tribe, faith or political beliefs, he said. The president expressed the belief that a world of greater freedom and tolerance is not only a moral imperative, but also a fundamental requirement for collective safety. He, however, expressed delight with the training you have undergone as you have been well prepared to meet the challenges you will face in the field. You have all been carefully nurtured by competent instructors and staff during your time in this academy. In the course of your training, you have been subjected to gruelling regimes of exercises, simulations and bespoke programmes that have prepared you for the tasks ahead. On your behalf, I offer heartfelt thanks to every one here at NDA for the skills, competences and confidence they have embedded in all of you. The president also presented awards to cadets that distinguished themselves in academics and various military trainings and commissioned all the officers. In his remarks, the Deputy Commandant of NDA, A.I. Ahmodu, thanked the President for his unwavering commitment and support for the NDA over the years. (NAN) One person was reportedly shot by operatives of the Nigerian Customs Service on Saturday in Mani Local Government Area of Katsina State. The police said the victim, Auwal Sani, 35, was shot in the leg and later taken to the Orthopaedic Hospital in Katsina for treatment. The incident occurred when Customs operatives stormed Fadi Gurje village in Mani Mani council area in a patrol vehicle and shot sporadically. The police spokesperson in the state, Gambo Isah, said efforts were on to identify the officers involved and bring them to justice. Mr Isah said the Commissioner of Police in the state has called for calm in the affected community, urging people to go about their lawful businesses. The spokesperson said the police were working with the Customs to resolve the issue. PREMIUM TIMES recalls that in August 10 people were killed and others injured after officers of the Nigeria Customs Service rammed their vehicle into a gathering while pursuing a suspected rice smuggler in Jibia local government area. The spokesperson for the Custom Service in Katsina, Danbaba Isah, could not be reached on Saturday throigh his known phone contact to shed light on the development. The governor of Akwa Ibom State, Udom Emmanuel, has inaugurated a committee saddled with the responsibility to enforce the anti-open rearing and grazing of livestock law and provide for the establishment of ranches and livestock administration, regulation and control. The inauguration was conducted on Friday at Government House, Wellington Bassey way, Uyo. The governor was represented by the Secretary to State Government, Emmanuel Ekuwem. The team is led by the Commissioner for Agriculture, Glory Edet. The Akwa Ibom State Governor, Udom Emmanuel, on September 15 signed into law a bill that prohibits open grazing of cattle in the state. Akwa Ibom, Benue, Ekiti, Rivers, Bayelsa, Oyo, Ekiti, Abia, Lagos and Enugu States have enacted anti-open grazing legislations in a bid to check encroachment of farmland by cattle. The Akwa Ibom law provides for the establishment of ranches in the state. It followed a resolution by southern governors on July 5 in Lagos for member states to enact legislations against open grazing of cattle in their states on or before September 1. Only five states were able to meet the deadline. While congratulating members of the committee, the representative of the Akwa Ibom governor, Mr Ekuwem, charged members of the implementation committee to be committed, fair and firm in the discharge of their duties, adding that their appointment was a call to service. The chairperson of the committee and Commissioner for Agriculture, Mrs Edet, appreciated the governor for his passion and commitment to ensuring that the state is safe for investors and promised to discharge the responsibility with the members accordingly. Training on Tomato and Onion Farming Meanwhile, in a bid to boost food production and ensure food availability in the state, the Akwa Ibom government has trained farmers on effective planting of onions and tomatoes. The exercise which is organised by the Akwa Ibom State Ministry of Agriculture was flagged off Thursday by the agriculture commissioner, Glory Edet at the Green House Farm, Uyo, the state capital. The commissioner said the state government is taking the step to help farmers to acquire skills for an increased vegetable productivity in the state. This is part of deliberate efforts by the state government to improve the skills of farmers and intended farmers in the state for improved efficiency and increased productivity in vegetables, the official said. The commissioner during the training tasked the participants to subsequently put the skills that will be acquired into practice. The chairman, All Farmers Association of Nigeria, Akwa Ibom State Chapter, Bassey Inyang, acknowledged that the exercise will help farmers mentally. This training will build the mental capacity of the farmers and also add to the level of their productivity, Mr Inyang said. The Federal Road Safety Corps (FRSC), Ondo State, has confirmed the killing of a hawker by an overspeeding vehicle in Akure on Friday. Ezekiel SonAllah, the Sector commander in the state, told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) that another hawker was severely injured in the accident that occurred along Airport Road, Oba-Ile. The sector commander said the driver of the vehicle ran away without reporting to the law enforcement agencies. The corpse of the dead victim has been deposited in the morgue while the injured person has been taken to the hospital for treatment, he said Mr SonAllah urged motorists to obey traffic rules and avoid overspending in the interest of their lives and those of other road users. Some witnesses told NAN that an unregistered Toyota Camry hit the two hawkers, who were selling mobile phone accessories. They also said that the driver ran away after the accident. (NAN) " As a Swiss company with a rich 126-year history, Firmenich is delighted to be the Swiss Pavilion's fragrance partner in designing this multi-sensorial experience for visitors at the Expo ," says Ilaria Resta, President, Global Perfumery. " In line with the expo's theme of 'Connecting Minds, Creating the Future', we will also be showcasing our industry-leading efforts towards Clean Fragrances in Conscious Perfumery." An active leader of sustainability efforts in the fragrance business, Firmenich was the first in the industry to develop a holistic fragrance sustainability measurement tool, EcoScent Compass, that determines a fragrance's sustainability footprint across three criteria: intrinsic green properties, environmental and social impact. BREATHE IN was created with our CreateForGood Conscious Fragrance design process, and has an EcoScent Compass triple A, science-based, positive impact score across Renewability, Biodegradability, Green Chemistry, Carbon, Water and Social criteria. The scent combines responsibly and ethically sourced ingredients from its Naturals Together initiative, with ingredients from its Firgood collection a brand new range of pure, 100% natural extracts obtained by a revolutionary, sustainable proprietary extraction technology. The fragrance is also vegan and 100% biodegradable. "When creating the scent, I envisioned someone emerging after a hike in the magical Swiss Alps, surrounded by fog and mountains, and greeted by a scent of positive energy that is regenerating, pure, fresh and bright," said Hamid Merati-Kashani, Principal Perfumer at Firmenich behind the fragrance. "This aligns with our vision of perfumery to be conscious and positive and supports Switzerland's commitment to build a sustainable future." BREATH IN has been created using some ingredients from Firmenich's Naturals Together program, with Patchouli from Indonesia, Clary Sage Pays from France, upcycled Cedarwood Virginia from USA, as well as Firgood Pear from France. Lastly, the scent also includes Clearwood, a 100% natural, renewable and biodegradable biotech ingredient by Firmenich. The scent conveys pure Swiss mountain air, with a sense of calm to regenerate the body and soul in a deep breath. Firmenich is at the Expo 2020 Dubai until March 31, 2022 and invites visitors to explore opportunities to collaborate, co-create and innovate the future of Fragrance together. About Firmenich Firmenich, the world's largest privately-owned fragrance and taste company, was founded in Geneva, Switzerland, in 1895 and has been family-owned for 126 years. Firmenich is a leading business-to-business company specialized in the research, creation, manufacture and sale of perfumes, flavors and ingredients. Renowned for its world-class research and creativity, as well as its leadership in sustainability, Firmenich offers its customers superior innovation in formulation, a broad and high-quality palette of ingredients, and proprietary technologies including biotechnology, encapsulation, olfactory science and taste modulation. Firmenich had an annual turnover of 4.3 billion Swiss Francs at end June 2021. More information about Firmenich is available at www.firmenich.com. SOURCE Firmenich LONDON, Oct. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Highgate, a leading real estate investment and hospitality management company, has announced two new additions in the UK market the acquisition of Dorsett City London Hotel and the management of Grosvenor House Suites in London's Mayfair District. The additions mark Highgate's return to the UK and European markets and the company's confidence for tourism and business travel to return. "Highgate's philosophy over three decades of investing in Europe has been to acquire well-located real estate at discounts to replacement cost, and to pursue opportunities where Highgate has a distinct ability to add value. The Dorsett City London Hotel exemplifies that strategy," said Mehdi Khimji, Managing Principal at Highgate. "Highgate plans to continue pursuing single asset, portfolio and platform wide opportunities throughout Europe by adhering to the key principles that have contributed to the company's historical success fostering relationships with key industry constituents; innovating around operational, distribution, and hotel positioning capabilities; targeting opportunities where Highgate has a distinct ability to add value; and acting as a highly-reliable and collaborative counterparty on transactions." Located in the heart of London's financial district, with a strong reputation for luxury and service, the Dorsett Hotel London is well-positioned for a new surge of business and leisure travel. This hotel offers a unique blend of British charm and Asian hospitality, with awe-inspiring views of London's iconic skyline, and is situated near the vibrant Shoreditch and its array of galleries, as well as the Tower of London, Tate Modern and Tower Bridge. The deal is the latest partnership between Cerberus and Highgate. The Grosvenor House Suites is a 130-unit, luxury, aparthotel, located in the Mayfair neighborhood on Park Lane. As part of its management services, Highgate is partnering with the property's ownership to develop the future positioning and renovation to relaunch the property and capitalize on its unique apartment-style accommodations and location, which caters to discerning international travelers looking for long-term stays and impeccable service. "In addition to our acquisition platform, we are focused on growing our UK and European management platform through strategic single asset and portfolio management contracts, operating company M&A and, in certain situations, leases," said Richard Russo, Principal at Highgate. "Highgate will have a particular focus on opportunities where the company can see an ability to add value through operational improvements, business plan repositionings, and partnerships with talented management teams." For more information, visit Highgate.com. ABOUT HIGHGATE Highgate is a global real estate investment and hospitality management company. We have a 30-year track record as an investment manager, operating partner, and developer for REITs, private equity firms, sovereign wealth funds, high net worth individuals, and other institutional investors. With a particular focus in hospitality real estate, Highgate's portfolio includes over 350 owned and/or managed hotels comprising over 65,000 rooms across Europe, the United States, Latin America, and the Caribbean. Highgate maintains corporate offices in London, New York, Dallas, Miami, Seattle, and Waikiki. www.highgate.com. SOURCE Highgate Related Links https://www.highgate.com/ Following the second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, countries across the world have adopted stricter safety guidelines. This has resumed manufacturing activities and increased the number of construction activities worldwide. The resurgence of these activities is increasing the demand for hydraulic equipment such as valves, pumps, cylinders, and filters. The market is expected to be driven by factors such as the mechanization of agriculture and growth in the agriculture machinery market, and increased growth in the global construction machinery market, and a growing commercial aircraft leasing market. The report also offers information on the upcoming trends and challenges that will influence market growth. Have a Quick Look at Our Sample Report Before Purchasing Hydraulic Cylinder Market: Opportunities Governments across the world are focusing on developing and revamping their infrastructure. For instance, governments in countries such as Saudi Arabia and the UAE are making significant investments in the development of luxury hotels, resorts, parks, and religious monuments to accommodate the increasing tourist population from the Middle East. Such developments are increasing the demand for construction machinery, thereby creating several growth opportunities for market players. Hydraulic Cylinder Market: Segmentation by Type Based on the segmentation by end-user, the market generated maximum revenue in the CMMH segment in 2020. The segment is driven by the advantages of CMMH machinery such as ease of mounting and high precision compared with substitutes such as pneumatic cylinders. Also, the growth of the global construction industry is contributing to the growth of the segment. Hydraulic Cylinder Market: Segmentation by Geography APAC held the largest market share in 2020 and the market growth in the region is expected to be faster compared to the growth of the market in other regions. The growth of the market in APAC can be attributed to the rapid growth of the construction industry coupled with the high adoption of construction machinery and material handling equipment in the region. Also, the strong growth of the automotive industry is contributing to the growth of the hydraulic cylinder market in APAC. One of the fortune 500 companies had used the detailed research report on the hydraulic cylinder market and had decided to increase their market share in the APAC region which offers the highest market opportunities during the forecast period. Explore more about market opportunities: Request PDF Sample Now Hydraulic Cylinder Market: Major Vendors Aggressive Hydraulics Inc.: The company offers hydraulic cylinders such as welded hydraulic cylinders, telescopic cylinders, mill duty hydraulic cylinders, and others. Bailey International LLC: The company offers hydraulic cylinders such as maxim tie rod hydraulic cylinder, WSB swivel ball welded hydraulic cylinder, and others. Bosch Rexroth AG: The company offers hydraulic cylinders such as mill-type cylinders, tie rod cylinders, large cylinders, and others. Caterpillar Inc.: The company offers hydraulic cylinders namely CLY GP-1090, Head70X45, ROD AS-HYD-YM, and others. Eaton Corp. Plc: The company offers hydraulic cylinders namely, EH series, IHM and TV series, N series, and G series. Along with the market data, Technavio offers customizations as per the specific needs of companies. The following customization options are available for the hydraulic cylinder market report: Regional Analysis Further breakdown of the market segmentation at requested regions. Market Player Information Detailed analysis and profiling of additional market players, vendor segmentation, and vendor offerings. Know the strategies adopted by vendors during the COVID-19 Recovery Phase. Speak to our Analyst for a Customized Report Related Reports: Global Hydraulic Accumulators Market Global hydraulic accumulators market is segmented by end-user (agriculture and forestry, oil and gas, and others) and geography (APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America). Download Exclusive Free Sample Report Global Control Valves Market Global control valves market is segmented by product (sliding shaft and rotating shaft), end-user (power, oil and gas, chemical, water and wastewater (WWI), and others), and geography (APAC, Europe, North America, MEA, and South America). Download Exclusive Free Sample Report Hydraulic Cylinder Market Scope Report Coverage Details Page number 120 Base year 2020 Forecast period 2021-2025 Growth momentum & CAGR Accelerate at a CAGR of about 5% Market growth 2021-2025 $ 2.53 billion Market structure Fragmented YoY growth (%) 3.50 Regional analysis APAC, North America, Europe, MEA, and South America Performing market contribution APAC at 47% Key consumer countries The US, China, Germany, Japan, and the UK Competitive landscape Leading companies, competitive strategies, consumer engagement scope Companies profiled Aggressive Hydraulics Inc., Bailey International LLC, Bosch Rexroth AG, Caterpillar Inc., Eaton Corp. Plc, HANNON HYDRUALICS LLC, HYDAC Verwaltung GmbH, Ligon Industries LLC, Parker Hannifin Corp., and Wipro Enterprises (P) Ltd. Market Dynamics Parent market analysis, Market growth inducers and obstacles, Fast-growing and slow-growing segment analysis, COVID 19 impact and future consumer dynamics, and market condition analysis for the forecast period. Customization purview If our report has not included the data that you are looking for, you can reach out to our analysts and get segments customized. About Us Technavio is a leading global technology research and advisory company. Their research and analysis focuses on emerging market trends and provides actionable insights to help businesses identify market opportunities and develop effective strategies to optimize their market positions. With over 500 specialized analysts, Technavio's report library consists of more than 17,000 reports and counting, covering 800 technologies, spanning across 50 countries. Their client base consists of enterprises of all sizes, including more than 100 Fortune 500 companies. This growing client base relies on Technavio's comprehensive coverage, extensive research, and actionable market insights to identify opportunities in existing and potential markets and assess their competitive positions within changing market scenarios. Contact Technavio Research Jesse Maida Media & Marketing Executive US: +1 844 364 1100 UK: +44 203 893 3200 Email: [email protected] Website: www.technavio.com SOURCE Technavio Related Links https://www.technavio.com/?utm_source=prnewswire&utm_medium=pressrelease&utm_campaign=Exp7.1_004_wk17_homepage&utm_content=IRTNTR70524 Investment Community Teleconference Set for November 9, 2021 at 8 a.m. ET TORONTO, ON, Oct. 8, 2021 /PRNewswire/ - Hydro One Limited (TSX: H), the largest electric transmission and distribution utility in Ontario, plans to release its third quarter financial results the morning of November 9, 2021 before North American financial markets open. A summary of the results will be distributed by newswire and the complete MD&A and financial statements will be posted at hydroone.com/investors and www.sedar.com. Hydro One's management will host a teleconference with the investment community at 8 a.m. ET that same morning to discuss the results and outlook. Those wishing to listen to the teleconference should access the live webcast on the Investor Relations Events and Presentations section of Hydro One's website at www.hydroone.com/investors. A rebroadcast of the teleconference will be available following the call at the same link. Those members of the North American financial community wanting to ask questions during the call should dial 1.866.221.1674 at least ten minutes prior to the scheduled start time and request Hydro One's third quarter results teleconference, conference ID 8546552 (international callers should dial 1.270.215.9604). Other interested parties and media are welcome to participate on a listen-only basis. Hydro One Limited (TSX: H) Hydro One Limited, through its wholly-owned subsidiaries, is Ontario's largest electricity transmission and distribution provider with approximately 1.4 million valued customers, approximately $30.3 billion in assets as at December 31, 2020, and annual revenues in 2020 of approximately $7.3 billion. Our team of approximately 8,700 skilled and dedicated employees proudly build and maintain a safe and reliable electricity system which is essential to supporting strong and successful communities. In 2020, Hydro One invested approximately $1.9 billion in its transmission and distribution networks, and supported the economy through buying approximately $1.7 billion of goods and services. We are committed to the communities where we live and work through community investment, sustainability and diversity initiatives. We are designated as a Sustainable Electricity Company by the Canadian Electricity Association. Hydro One Limited's common shares are listed on the TSX and certain of Hydro One Inc.'s medium term notes are listed on the NYSE. Additional information can be accessed at www.hydroone.com; www.sedar.com or www.sec.gov . SOURCE Hydro One Limited To portray the life of the Sage of Poetry in a one-hour documentary and make sure foreign audience could get the culture and spirit of the East may seem to be "mission impossible". But Michael Wood did it. Michael Wood fell in love with Chinese culture in college. When he first set foot in this mysterious and charming country in the East in 1984, he made up his mind to let the world know about her stories. Wood's documentaries about China have created waves of "China fever" in many countries. More noteworthy is that his works, such as The Story of China, The Story of China's Reform and Opening Up, and Du Fu: China's Greatest Poet, have not only touched many in the West, but also been accepted and appreciated by Chinese audience. In Wood's view, there are already plenty of works about China's rapid economic growth, but many in the West want to know more about its history and something deeper. He wants his documentaries to reach the viewers' hearts. In 2007, the success of The Story of India inspired Wood to make a documentary featuring China's history. At the time, the 2008 Beijing Olympic Games had thrust China onto the global stage. As the world turned its attention to the country, some ill-intentioned started to distort stories of China. Wood thought it was time to make The Story of China. Wood and his team made 12 trips to China, visiting places across the vast country. It took them three years to finish shooting. To make it as objective and truthful as possible, Wood reached out to many Chinese people who were kind and warmhearted. Wood recalled that in Shexian County in Anhui Province, there is this September Huizhou Inn which was his favorite place. Its hospitable owner took them around to see the beautiful scenery, including a lucid brook nearby. Wood said if he were to make another film on China, he would revisit those who had helped him with shooting and recording. Dedication makes good work. The Story of China made him famous. It was aired during prime time on BBC and attracted twice as many viewers as other shows. When walking on the streets or travelling by train, Wood would be recognized by people who would come up to him and tell him how much they liked The Story of China. Greatly encouraged, Wood set off to produce another documentary, The Story of China's Reform and Opening Up. Again, he poured his heart into it. In the short span of a summer, he carried his camera and travelled across the United Kingdom, the United States, and around 10 Chinese provinces and cities including Guangdong, Jilin, Beijing, and Shanghai. It was exhausting. Wood was so tired that on the high-speed train from Xiaogang Village to Hangzhou he fell asleep sitting on the floor. In making The Story of China's Reform and Opening Up, as he did in The Story of China, Wood interviewed some 50 Chinese who had first-hand experience about reform and opening-up. One time, he visited the assembly line of the Fuxing high-speed trains and spoke to one of the engineers. "That's incredible," said Wood. "25,000 km of the high-speed network! Looking at the future, the network is still expanding. How do you see the future?" The engineer answered, "By 2025 the network will have 38,000 km of track in China. And we are getting ready to go abroad any time!" This short conversation received 301,000 likes and 11,000 replies on Douyin, a Chinese social media platform. Film-making is a process of learning. Looking into the camera, Wood raised a question: "China became a global economic force. But what actually happened 40 years ago? And How did China do it?" When the film was finished, he found the answer. Those who have devoted themselves to China's reform and opening-up did that not only to build a better life for themselves, but also for their family, their children, and future generations. Wood commented in his documentary that this is the will of the Chinese people. Many in the West see China's economic growth and the rise of a major country but know little about the tribulations China went through in modern times, still less China's history and culture. Wood's documentaries helped fill the gap. Wood's latest work in 2020------Du Fu: China's Greatest Poet-----probed into the core of Chinese culture------the spirit. In this documentary, Wood referred to Du Fu as the "greatest" because, to the Chinese people, he was not only a poet but also a guardian of the country's conscience. To Wood, great poems transcend culture and language and focus on eternal humanity. Du Fu's poems are great as they convey the shared experience and spirit of humankind. That includes love, friendship, family, children, happiness, loss, and the much-needed solidarity and empathy in the fight against the virus. Aired during the pandemic, the documentary brought relief to the global audience grappling with COVID-19. For the audience, the story of the ancient Chinese poet evoked humanity that is shared by all. This is also what Wood aspired to. He noted that there are too many walls in today's world, if he could, through his documentaries, help bring out more understanding and empathy among the audience, that would be great. In the views of Joris Ivens, a master in documentary, a creator should faithfully present "people" as well as his true feelings. Wood's documentaries are full of his love for the Chinese culture, and he managed to pass on that to his audiences with different cultures experiences. This might teach us something: understanding of a culture doesn't necessarily need to be done through grand narratives, and feelings are not always conjured by dramatic stories. The beauty of humanity is what is appreciated by all. SOURCE chinadaily.com.cn During the AGM, a decision was made in addition to the announcement of host city of the next Annual General Meeting. IATA officially announced that Chinese is to formally become a language of International Air Transport Association. As the only newly added language, Chinese joins English, French, Spanish and Arabic, bringing the number of languages for the body to five. "We look forward to gathering the aviation industry in Shanghai for the 78th Annual General Meeting of IATA. China is a dynamic aviation market, with the domestic market among the fastest to recover from the damage brought by COVID-19," said Willie Walsh, IATA's director general. "China Eastern Airlines is excited to host the IATA Annual General Meeting and to welcome our industry colleagues to our home city of Shanghai to share this charming city's openness, inclusiveness, fashion and innovation. We look forward to the discussion on the development prospect of the aviation industry and joint efforts in promoting the healthy development of our industry," said Liu Shaoyong, chairman of China Eastern Airlines. IATA, founded in 1945, is a worldwide non-governmental organization. IATA represents about 290 airlines in over 130 countries and regions. The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of IATA, held in June every year, is the world's largest and preeminent gathering of airline leaders. It attracts 800-1000 participants each time. Image Attachments Links: Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=403391 Caption: China Eastern Airlines will host the 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Shanghai, China, on 19-21 June 2022. Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=403396 Caption: China Eastern Airlines will host the 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Shanghai, China, on 19-21 June 2022. Link: http://asianetnews.net/view-attachment?attach-id=403397 Caption: China Eastern Airlines will host the 78th Annual General Meeting (AGM) and World Air Transport Summit in Shanghai, China, on 19-21 June 2022. SOURCE China Eastern Airlines MIAMI, Oct. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Ashley Stewart, the leading American plus-size retailer, and lifestyle brand, is excited to announce the grand opening of two new retail experiences in the South Florida market. With these openings, Ashley Stewart explores new growth opportunities in two of the country's premier outlet retail shopping centers - Dolphin Mall and Sawgrass Mills. "We've been in the business for 30 years, and throughout that time, we've continued our commitment to body diversity and inclusion. We believe we have the best fit in the world for plus-size women and pride ourselves on boldness, individuality, color, and pattern," said Gary Sheinbaum, CEO of Ashley Stewart. "In addition to great fashion options, we believe our product assortment will resonate with the local consumer base. We're excited to test-and-learn as we grow in response to her evolving needs." Proud to be the sole plus-size retailer in both shopping centers, Ashley Stewart will utilize this exclusive access to highlight the company's sub-brand, Curvy Girl. A more youthful, edgy aesthetic, Curvy Girl provides sexy, fashion-forward pieces perfect for festivals, concerts, and informal gatherings. The collection offers two-piece sets with modern embellishments, jumpsuits, distressed denim, joggers, and other fashion options. In addition to a greater assortment of Curvy Girl, Ashley Stewart will spotlight special designer lines, including partnerships with DKNY Sport, FILA, Champion, and future capsule collections. The extended pop-up locations will also carry denim, dresses, intimates, including the brand's patented Butterfly Bra, along with Ashley Stewart fashion and accessories. Ashley Stewart will launch each extended pop-up in partnership with Leap, Inc. (Leap), the omnichannel retail platform for modern brands. An innovator in immersive retail marketing, Leap's adaptive platform supports Ashley Stewart's customer acquisition and retail marketing strategies. The brand will leverage Leap's infrastructure, operations, and technology to engage a new customer segment while creating scalable growth channels. "We're excited to have this opportunity to take a deeper look into our consumer base within South Florida. We see Leap's turn-key platform as a tool to build deeper connections and increase our omnichannel customer experience," said CEO Gary Sheinbaum. The grand opening for the first extended pop-up, designed within a 3,397 square-foot space, is slated for Saturday, October 9 in Dolphin Mall, Miami's largest outlet shopping center, located at 11401 NW 12th Street in Miami, FL. Ashley Stewart is pleased to also join the retail roster at Sawgrass Mills, a tourist destination and one of the largest outlet shopping centers in the U.S. located at 12801 W Sunrise Blvd, Sunrise, FL. Just in time for the holiday season, this second pop-up encompassing a 2,896 square-foot retail space is set to open on November 6. About Ashley Stewart Since its founding in 1991, Ashley Stewart has stood for uncompromising style, fashion and value, championing the confidence and empowerment of women. Today, Ashley Stewart is a leading omnichannel retailer offering the hottest looks for women sizes 10 to 36 with a significant e-commerce presence at www.AshleyStewart.com and 82 stores across the United States. About Leap Leap enables brands to deploy modern, immersive retail stores that drive growth and acquire customers. By leveraging millions of data points and a platform strategy, Leap makes physical retail more productive and less risky for brands. Discover and learn more about Leap's platform and brand stores powered by Leap at http://leapinc.com . Media Contact: Myescha Joell Morris Street Media 631-742-6728 [email protected] SOURCE Ashley Stewart Related Links https://www.ashleystewart.com BEIJING, Oct. 9, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) and RED CLUB x Cartier are pleased to announce their collaboration on the Young Leader Award. The Young Leader Award, to which CKGSB is a Knowledge Partner, aims to empower young entrepreneurial leaders. Open to talented entrepreneurs across the globe, the award aims at providing them with the necessary financial, mentoring, and social support. "At Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business, developing future business leaders who are global in perspective and responsibility, embrace and drive innovations and pursue a higher purpose for society has been at the heart of what we do," says CKGSB Founding Dean Xiang Bing. "That is why we are thrilled to partner with Cartier on the Young Leader Award to celebrate and nurture promising entrepreneurs, who are catalysts for positive change and for global and long-term good. It is critical that the next generation of entrepreneurs connect and inspire each other in order to address humanity's most pressing issues, such as sustainability, income and wealth inequality, and diminishing social mobility." As the two Knowledge Partners for the Young Leader Award, CKGSB and ESCP Business School invite students, alumni and friends in their networks who meet the criteria to apply for this unique opportunity that can help entrepreneurs further their startups. "ESCP Business School is delighted to bring its knowledge and expertise to support the Young Leader Award for young entrepreneurs," says ESCP Business School Dean and Executive President Franck Bournois. "Our school, thanks to its six European campuses, has a long tradition to support young entrepreneurs from a range of diverse backgrounds," he adds. Entrepreneurs who meet the criteria for the Young Leader Award are encouraged to apply from now until November 30th, 2021. Centered on the theme of "Building Bridges across Cultures," the 2021 Young Leader Award offers each of the two awardees a EUR 50,000 grant and EUR 10,000 grant to each of the four finalists, in addition to mentoring support and publicity for the recipients. Applicants must be between 20-35 years old and have either founded or own their organization, where they currently hold an executive position. To find out whether you meet eligibility criteria for the Young Leader Award, please click here. Media Contact: Jessica Wang, +86-13683090394, [email protected] SOURCE Cheung Kong Graduate School of Business (CKGSB) Winners were announced and celebrated at the Next-Generation Pharmacist of the Year gala in Charlotte, N.C. Tweet this Although she has many roles and responsibilities, Adams remains committed to her goal of keeping those in her community healthy. To continue doing so, she recently was awarded a research grant by the American Cancer Society. Adams has served as an invaluable resource to the central Florida region and to the entire pharmacist profession. The category winners are as follows: Civic Leader: Angela D. Adams, Pharm.D., M.P.H., Central Florida Pharmacy Council Entrepreneur: Casey Villhauer, Pharm.D., BCGP, Vaxi Taxi Future Pharmacist: Raneem Pallotta, B.H.S., Northeast Ohio Medical University Health System Pharmacist: Kara Piechowski, Pharm.D., BCPS, BC-ADM, CTTS, WVU Medicine, Tobacco-Free Me Lifetime Leadership: John A. Pieper, Pharm.D., FCCP, FAPhA, FFIP, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy in St. Louis Patient Care Provider: Alicia B. Forinash, Pharm.D., FCCP, BCPS, BCACP, University of Health Sciences and Pharmacy Rising Star: Captain Stephen J. Sullivan Jr., Pharm.D., United States Air Force, Joint Base Elmendorf Richardson Element Chief, Inpatient Pharmacy Specialty Pharmacist: Chelsea Hustad, Pharm.D., CSP, Lumicera Health Services Technician: Amber Suthers, CPhT, MSAH, Surgoinsville Pharmacy Technology Innovator: Hugh Heldenbrand, Pharm.D., M.S., CPESN "Congratulations to this year's Next-Generation Pharmacist category award winners and our 2021 Next-Generation Pharmacist, Dr. Adams," said Mike Hennessy Jr., president and CEO of MJH Life Sciences, parent company of Pharmacy Times. "This program is designed to recognize and honor exceptional individuals within the pharmaceutical industry and winners should be very proud of this well-deserved achievement." "We are proud to be a part of an incredible recognition program that has once again done an exceptional job of identifying the industry's current and future pharmacy leaders," said Mark Longley, Chief Strategy Officer for Parata Systems. "We offer our most sincere congratulations to Dr. Adams and thank her for her vast contributions to the field of pharmacy." Pharmacy Times and Parata Systems thank the following program sponsors: BD, CeraVe, National Healthcareer Association, Pharmacy Development Services, NCPA, and Americorp Financial LLC. About Pharmacy Times Pharmacy Times is the industry-leading multimedia pharmacy network of community, health-system, oncology and specialty pharmacy platforms, providing practical clinical and professional information pharmacists can use in their everyday practices when counseling patients and interacting with other health care providers. Each issue and the website contain articles and features covering industry trends, medication errors, drug interactions, patient education, disease state management, patient counseling, product news, pharmacy law and more. Additionally, Pharmacy Times Continuing Education is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education as a provider of continuing pharmacy education. About Parata Systems Parata provides pharmacy technology solutions to reduce costs, improve health outcomes and enhance the patient experience by offering the most comprehensive pharmacy automation portfolio with medication adherence packaging, high-speed robotic dispensing technologies and pharmacy workflow solutions. Discover how Parata powers pharmacies to help people lead healthier lives at parata.com. Media Contact Alyssa Scarpaci, 609-716-7777 [email protected] SOURCE Pharmacy Times Riyadh, Oct 9 : The Saudi-led coalition announced on Friday five minor injuries in a Houthi attack that targeted Saudi Arabia's King Abdullah Airport in Jazan, a southwestern port city bordering Yemen. Spokesperson of the coalition Brigadier-General Turki Al-Malki said that the attack was through a projectile that fell on the airport, the Saudi Press Agency reported. The five injuries were among civilian travelers and airport staff, said the spokesperson, noting that the airport is used by thousands of civilian nationals and multinational expat travelers, Xinhua news agency reported. The Houthi militia targets various Saudi cities with missiles and drones, especially the border areas. Most of the attacks had been foiled before reaching their targets. Saudi Arabia has been leading the Arab military coalition that intervened in Yemen in 2015 to support the government of President Abd-Rabbu Mansour Hadi after Houthis forced him into exile. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Chandigarh, Oct 9 : South Asians in Canada's British Columbia came together to protest against the violence in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri which erupted on October 3, claiming the lives of nine persons, including four farmers. Organised by Radical Desi, an online magazine that covers alternate politics, the rally was held on Friday right outside the Indian Visa and Passport Application Center in Surrey. The participants demanded justice for the victims' families and the arrests of those involved, besides the suspension of Mishra. The farmers have been holding peaceful protests against the farm laws. They believe the laws threaten their livelihood and have been camping outside New Delhi since November last. The participants at the Surrey rally demanded action against the father and son and the repeal of the farm laws. A moment of silence was held at the start of the rally and the victims' names were read out on the occasion. Raman Kashyap, a freelance journalist, who died during the violence that followed the killing of the four farmers was also remembered. Those in attendance held out signs asking for justice to the victims. Among the speakers were renowned community activists Rakesh Kumar, Imtiaz Popat, Kulwinder Singh, Kesar Singh Baghi, media personalities Gurvinder Singh Dhaliwal, Navjot Dhillon and Radical Desi director Gurpreet Singh. Story writer Harpreet Sekha was also present. New York, Oct 9 : The main India-US strategic defence coordination panel has discussed increasing cooperation in the Indo-Pacific region with "like-minded partners" as security ties between the two countries expand, according to US Defence Department spokesperson Lt Col Anton Semelroth. Thursday's meeting of the US-India Defence Policy Group (DPG) co-chaired by India's Defence Secretary Ajay Kumar and Colin Kahl, the US Under Secretary for Defence Policy, "discussed opportunities for enhanced cooperation with like-minded partners to sustain a free and open Indo-Pacific", Semelroth said. Although the leaders of the Quad -- the group of India, the US, Japan and Australia -- have so far ruled out a defence pact component to their cooperation mainly because of New Delhi's wariness, Indian and US leaders have spoken of expanding security cooperation in the region. The only joint action of the Quad members has been the annual Malabar naval exercises, which reincluded Australia last year. The latest exercise took place in August. "The (DPG) Dialogue advanced an ambitious set of bilateral priorities, including information-sharing, high-end maritime cooperation, logistics, and defence trade, reflective of the flourishing defence ties between the US and India," Semelroth said in a readout issued in Washington of the 16th meeting of the group. "The leaders reinforced their commitment to deepening joint cooperation and interoperability between the US and Indian militaries to work more seamlessly together, including strengthening cooperation in new defence domains, such as space and cyber," he added. The meeting of the defence officials was the latest in a series of high-level meetings between the two countries as they draw closer in the face of an aggressive posture by China in the region. US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman met India's External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar and Foreign Secretary Harsh Vardhan Shringla in New Delhi on Wednesday for discussions that included growing security relations. Last month in Washington, Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Joe Biden, who "reaffirmed the strength of the defense relationship between the US and India and the unwavering commitment to India as a Major Defense Partner", according to the White House. Two areas that figured in the DPG meeting -- expanding defence cooperation with regional partners and information sharing -- were emphasised by Biden during the meeting with Modi. That was followed by a summit of the Quad which Modi and Biden held with Prime Minister Scott Morrison of Australia and Yoshihide Suga, who was at the time Japan's Prime Minister. Before that in September, India's Chief of Defense Staff General Bipin Rawat met with US Defence Secretary Lloyd Austin and discussed expanding multilateral cooperation with regional partners and enabling the militaries of the two countries to work together in operations. Austin was the first cabinet-level official to visit India when he met with Modi and Defence Minister Rajnath Singh. The DPG meeting also "laid the groundwork" for the 2+2 dialogue of Jaishankar and Singh with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Defence Secretary Austin to be held later this year, Semelroth said. Looking to strengthen defence against China's aggressive actions in the Indo-Pacific, the US and Australia set up a security pact with the UK called 'AUKUS' last month. (Arul Louis can be reached at arul.l@ians.in and followed @arulouis) -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Nairobi, Oct 9 : The adoption of resolution on the right to a clean, healthy and sustainable environment by the UN Human Rights Council is a breakthrough moment for environmental justice, said UN Environment Programme (UNEP) Executive Director Inger Andersen. This right has been rooted in the 1972 Stockholm Declaration. Five decades later, it is greatly encouraging to see it formally recognised at the global level through a UN Human Rights Council resolution. "The decision, taken on Friday in Geneva, is a shield for individuals and communities against a plethora of risks to their health and livelihoods. The recognition of the right to a healthy environment is a historic landmark in our ongoing work for social and environmental justice," she said in a statement. "It is a message to one billion children at extremely high risk of the impacts of a changed climate: a healthy environment is your right. No one can take away nature, clean air and water, or a stable climate from you. The UN Environment Programme considers this an important step in building the planet as a safe and fair home to all." UNEP commends the relentless advocacy on the right to a healthy environment, supported by over 13,000 civil society organisations and indigenous peoples' groups, more than 90,000 children from around the world, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions, and by private sector stakeholders. "Thank you for contributing to the momentum that made this day possible." The resolution emphasiSes "the rights to life, liberty and security of human rights defenders working in environmental matters, referred to as environmental human rights defenders". Physical attacks, detentions, arrests, legal action and smear campaigns are the daily realities of citizen groups, indigenous peoples and others. Over 200 environmental defenders were murdered in 2020 alone. In the coming months, the UNEP will deepen its commitment to protecting and promoting environmental human rights defenders and civic space, said Andersen. "We expect this resolution to embolden governments, legislators, courts, and citizen groups in pursuing substantial elements of the Common Agenda for renewed solidarity, presented last month by the UN Secretary-General, as well as the 2020 Call to Action on Human Rights. "Let no one be left behind, as we forge a healthier planet with less conflict and more space for youth to be heard. It is they who inherit this earth as we face a multitude of complex challenges that can only be addressed through a rights-based and multilateral approach," she added. Srinagar, Oct 9 : Jammu and Kashmir authorities on Saturday prevented former chief minister Mehbooba Mufti from visiting Anantnag district. Police locked the main entrance of Mehbooba Mufti's high security Gupkar Road residence and cross parked a mobile bunker vehicle at the gate in order to prevent her from undertaking her scheduled visit to south Kashmir's Anantnag district. People's Democratic Party (PDP) headed by Mufti on Friday demanded the resignation of Lt governor, Manoj Sinha due to deteriorating security situation in Kashmir. After selective targeting of a Kashmiri Pandit pharmacy owner, a non-local street vendor, a Sikh school principal and a scheduled caste teacher belonging to Jammu division, there has been fear and consternation in the minds of both Muslims and non-Muslims in the Valley. Quito, Oct 9 : Ecuadorian President Guillermo Lasso has called for greater international cooperation to protect the Amazon through the sustainable use of biodiversity in the world's largest tropical rainforest. "Only joint effort will allow us to protect the Amazon, one of the most important ecological communities in the world and source of life for the planet," Lasso said while addressing the third Presidential Summit of Amazonian Countries via teleconference on Friday. The virtual summit, held to address climate change, biodiversity loss and pollution, was led by Colombian President Ivan Duque. The Presidents of Brazil, Bolivia, Guyana, Peru and Suriname also participated in the meeting, representing nations that in 2019 signed the "Leticia Pact", seeking the cooperation of countries in favour of protecting the Amazon. According to Lasso, the pact is a tool that "recognises the strategic value of the Amazon for the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity at a global level", since it represents 20 perc ent of the planet's fresh water, and is a key regulator of the global climate system and home to more than 34 million people, including indigenous communities. Moscow, Oct 9 : The Russian Foreign Ministry has announced that three employees of the US Embassy in Moscow have been suspected of stealing personal belongings of a Russian citizen. In a statement to TASS News Agency on Friday, the Ministry said that Russia has sent an official diplomatic note to the Embassy asking to withdraw diplomatic immunity of the suspected employees in order to press criminal charges against them. "A note was sent to the US Embassy with a request to yank the diplomatic immunity from three employees of the American diplomatic mission over their designation as theft suspects of personal belongings from a Russian citizen. "Should the embassy refuse to withdraw the immunity, the mentioned people must leave Russian territory immediately," the Ministry added. No other details, including the identities of the the suspects, were revealed. Paris, Oct 9 : The Paris-based Organisation for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD) announced that a major reform of the international tax system has been agreed, ensuring that multinational enterprises will be subject to a minimum 15 per cent tax rate from 2023. Some 136 countries and jurisdictions have agreed to the reform, Xinhua news agency quoted the OECD as saying in its announcement on Friday. From 2023, a global minimum corporate tax rate of 15 per cent will apply to companies with revenues above 750 million euros ($870 million). It is estimated this will generate around $150 billion annually in additional global tax revenues, the OECD explained. The deal should reallocate more than $125 billion of profits from around 100 of the world's largest and most profitable multinational companies around the globe, ensuring that these firms pay a fair share of tax wherever they operate and generate profits. However, the OECD stressed that the agreement does not seek to eliminate tax competition, rather impose multilaterally agreed limitations on it. "Today's agreement will make our international tax arrangements fairer and work better," said OECD Secretary-General Mathias Cormann. The deal is a "major victory for effective and balanced multilateralism", he added. "It is a far-reaching agreement which ensures our international tax system is fit for purpose in a digitalized and globalized world economy." The OECD has confirmed that its members are aiming to sign a multilateral convention in 2022 for the effective implementation of the new international corporate tax reform in 2023. Film: Muppets Haunted Mansion (Streaming on Disney+ Hotstar). Duration: 50 minutes. Director: Kirk R. Thatcher. Cast: William Emerson Arnett; Voice Cast: Darren Criss, Dave Goelz, Bill Barretta, Eric Jacobson, Matt Vogel, Peter Linz and David Rudman. Rating: ***1/2'Muppets Haunted Mansion' is Disney's Halloween special. With its vibrant, energetic pace, glowing ghost imagery, brilliant humour and fluid narrative, it is a visual treat for both young and old. The Muppets, created by puppeteer Jim Henson in 1955, are an ensemble cast of puppet characters known for their absurdist, burlesque and self-referential style of variety-sketch comedy. This film includes most of the Muppet characters, but the stars clearly are Gonzo, the hooked-nosed dare-devil, and Pepe the King Prawn, whose full name is Pepino Rodrigo Serrano Gonzales -- he speaks with a heavy Spanish accent and gets offended if anyone calls him a shrimp. Gonzo (David Goelz) and Pepe the King Prawn (Bill Barretta) decide to skip the Muppet Halloween party to attend the Halloween Challenge. The challenge is to spend one night in the Haunted Mansion. If they don't survive the night in the mansion, they'd have to stay there forever. Gonzo is excited to spend the night at the mansion because the house belonged to the magician, The Great MacGuffin, who disappeared 100 years ago, and also because he is constantly seeking out death-defying experiences to bolster his title of 'Gonzo the Great'. On the other hand, Pepe, the name-dropping socialite, is excited because he would get to party with celebrities. They are forewarned by the 'Ghost Host' (William Arnett), "Within these walls are your fears and your frights, face them all bravely to survive through the night." The setup is pretty ghoulish, with mirrors, smokescreens, and animatronics, the entry room stretches, the portraits change, and the room has no doors or windows. During their tour in the Mansion, Pepe meets and nearly lands up at the altar with the six-time widow Constance Hatchaway (Taraji P. Henson), who is now seeking out a new bridegroom. Several celebs such as the late Ed Asner, Danny Trejo, Yvette Nicole Brown, Chriss Metz and Darren Criss turn up in cameos. They all burst into songs at one point or another, usually twists on familiar tunes. To add credence to the visuals, Director Kirk R. Thatcher has very ably managed to match the stellar voice cast with his characters and they all are charming in their respective roles. To name a few: Matt Vogel lent his voice for Kermit the Frog, David Goelz for Gonzo, Bill Barretta for Pepe, and Eric Jacobsen for Miss Piggy. Overall, the film in its entirety is a horror-musical that feels like a good fun film. (Troy Ribeiro can be contacted on troy.r@ians.in) -- Except for the title, this story has not been edited by Prokerala team and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed Washington, Oct 9 : A US delegation will travel to Doha over the weekend to meet senior Afghan Taliban representatives, the State Department has announced. It will be the first in-person meeting between the US and the Taliban since America's withdrawal from Afghanistan in August and the latter's takeover of the war-torn nation. "This meeting is a continuation of the pragmatic engagements with the Taliban on issues of US vital national interest," Xinhua news agency quoted a Department spokesperson as saying to reporters on Friday night. The spokesperson noted that it is "not about granting recognition or conferring legitimacy". The key priorities of the meeting are "the continued safe passage out of Afghanistan of US and other foreign nationals and Afghans to whom we have a special commitment who seek to leave the country and holding the Taliban to its commitment not to allow terrorists to use Afghan soil to threaten the security of the US or its allies", according to the spokesperson. US officials in the meeting will also press the Taliban to respect the rights of women and girls, form an inclusive government, and allow humanitarian agencies free access to areas of need, the official added. According to media reports, the American delegation will include officials from the Central Intelligence Agency, the State Department, and the US Agency for International Development. But US Special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad, who has for years spearheaded Washington's dialogue with the Taliban in the Qatari capital and been a key figure in peace talks, will not be part of the delegation, TOLO News reported. Meanwhile, Acting Foreign Minister Amirkhan Motaqi, who is leading the Afghan Taliban delegation comprising cabinet officials, left for Doha on Friday night. Kabul, Oct 9 : The Islamic State (IS) terror group has claimed responsibility for the suicide bombing at a mosque in Afghanistan's Kunduz province that left at least over 45 people dead and hundreds of others injured, the media reported on Saturday. In a statement issued on Friday night, the terror group identified the suicide bomber as Muhammad, an Uyghur Muslim, reports Khaama Press. The blast occurred inside a Shia Muslim mosque building in Kunduz city, the provincial capital, at around 2 p.m. when over 300 hundred people were attending the Friday prayers. However, there were conflicting reports over the death toll. While the director of the culture and information department in Kunduz said that 43 people were killed, local Afghan media have put the toll between 46 to 50. Local security officials said over 300 hundred people were at the mosque during the time of the blast. Witnesses have said over 100 worshippers were killed and wounded in the attack. The UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan had also said in initial reports that over 100 people were killed and wounded . The Taliban have condemned the attack and pledged to bring the perpetrators to justice. Chennai, Oct 9 : The retrenched workers of Hindustan Motors/Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation Ltd and their family members are waiting for a decision on their future from the DMK government headed by Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. It has been over a week since they wound up their indefinite sit-in protest at the Tiruvallur District Collectorate demanding back their land or a job in PCA Automobiles India Private Ltd. Car maker PCA Automobiles located in Tiruvallur is a joint venture between global automotive manufacturer Stellantis Group and India's C.K. Birla group. Hindustan Motors Ltd/Hindustan Motor Finance belonged to the C.K. Birla group. "We had stopped our protest on the assurance given by the Collector that our issue would be sorted out this week. But no progress has been made," E. Srinivasan, Secretary of the Hindustan Motors Land Giving Farmers Progressive Association, told IANS. He also said the CPI leaders have assured them that they will take up the issue with the Chief Minister for a solution. On Oct 1, the retrenched workers and their family members began their indefinite sit-in strike. The protest was flagged off by CPI MP K. Subbarayan and was wound up late that night. According to a worker, the state government did not want a protest on the day of Gandhi Jayanti --October 2. The workers were earlier employed by Hindustan Motors Ltd/Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation at its Tiruvallur car plant rolling out Japanese Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's models like Lancer, Pajero and also under contract manufacturing deal for Isuzu Motors MU 7 model. Later about 175 permanent workers and over 150 contract workers were retrenched by Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation and the plant was transferred to PCA Automobiles. "We were retrenched despite an agreement signed between the two joint venture partners that the workers will be absorbed by PCA Automobiles," H. Ismail, one of the retrenched workers whose grandfather's land was acquired by Hindustan Motors in 1968 had told IANS. "Based on this Employee Transfer Agreement, Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation got permission from the Tamil Nadu government to transfer the plant and other assets to PCA Automobiles. Post transfer of assets, the workers -- permanent and on contract -- were sent out," Srinivasan said. According to Srinivasan, Hindustan Motors acquired about 356 acres of agricultural land in 1968 at Tiruvallur for its earthmoving equipment division. Initially Hindustan Motors bought the land directly from the owners. But it was not able to get the extent it wanted and sought the District Collector's help. Later the company deposited the land cost with the government treasury and the government transferred the land to the company, Srinivasan said. At that point of time, the District Collector had assured that the land owners will be employed by the company at its earthmoving equipment plant. However, the landowners were not given employment as promised earlier and after protest, Hindustan Motors employed 82 persons -- mostly the grandsons of the landowners -- in the 1980s. "After a decade of protests another batch of 82 workers were hired as trainees in 1997," Srinivasan said. Srinivasan and Ismail said Hindustan Motors confirmed the trainee workers only after 10 years. Hindustan Motors hived off a sizable portion of the land for its car plant to roll out Mitsubishi Motors Corporation's models like Lancer, Pajero. And some workers of the Hindustan Motors' earthmoving equipment division were transferred to the car plant. Some years later, the Indian company transferred the plant to Hindustan Finance Corporation and then to PCA Automobiles while sending out permanent and contract workers. Hindustan Motors sold its earthmoving equipment division (that made dumpers, loaders and others) to Caterpillar, US. Barring the 22 workers whose grandfathers had given their land to the factory and some others, the majority of the permanent workers had agreed to take lump sum compensation from Hindustan Motor Finance Corporation. "The company had deposited the lump sum in our bank accounts without our consent. We wrote to the company, Tamil Nadu government and also to PCA Automobiles stressing our demand for jobs and the amount deposited would be treated as our monthly wages," Srinivasan had said. According to Srinivasan, the PCA Automobiles plant has about 190 acres of land of which about 150 acres are vacant. "We want our land back so that we can do farming and manage our families," Srinivasan said. "Our land is there. The old owner -- C.K. Birla group and new owner Stellantis Group -- are also there. The car plant is also rolling out Citroen brand cars. Only we are not there. This is not just," Ismail and Srinivasan had said. Washington/Delhi, Oct 9 : United States Chief of Naval Operations (CNO) Adm Mike Gilday is scheduled to travel to India next week where he will meet with Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Karambir Singh and other senior leaders from the Indian Navy and the government. Gilday is visiting India to reaffirm the growing level of naval cooperation between the two nations. During meetings, security challenges in Indo-Pacific region would be deliberated upon at length. "Make no mistake, India is one of our closest strategic partners, and our relationship is a stronghold of a free and open Indo-Pacific," said Gilday. "This visit is a great opportunity for me to meet with my counterpart in India and discuss areas for continued mutual cooperation. No doubt, there are many areas where we can partner and collaborate," he said. There is no better signal of the US Navy's desire to maintain a free and open Indo-Pacific than operating in the region. "I am grateful for our navies' continued cooperation in the Indo-Pacific to create an inclusive, free and open rules-based order," said Gilday. "And by continuing to work closely with the Indian Navy, we will increase our interoperability for decades to come as well as maintain security, stability, and prosperity." This visit will also underscore the growing strength of the US-India Defence partnership as the two countries work in concert with like-minded partners to promote shared goals. The United States designated India as a Major Defence Partner in 2016. Michael Martin Gilday is the 32nd chief of naval operations serving since August 22, 2019. He has commanded two destroyers, served as Director of the Joint Staff, commanded the Tenth Fleet/Fleet Cyber Command, and led Carrier Strike Group 8. His visit comes in the backdrop of US Deputy Secretary Wendy Sherman's statement on the importance of a "free, open, and inclusivea Indo-Pacific region. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Islamabad, Oct 9 : Pakistani Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi met visiting US Deputy Secretary of State Wendy Sherman, discussing Afghan affairs and bilateral ties, the Foreign Ministry in Islamabad said. Regarding the situation in Afghanistan, Qureshi on Friday stressed that "the current situation required positive engagement of the international community, urgent provision of humanitarian assistance, release of Afghan financial resources, and measures to help build a sustainable economy to alleviate the sufferings of the Afghan people", the Ministry said in a statement. He noted that an inclusive and broad-based political structure reflecting the ethnic diversity of Afghan society was essential for Afghanistan's stability and progress, Xinhua news agency quoted the statement as saying. In the context of Pakistan-US bilateral relations, Qureshi underlined his country's commitment to forging a broad-based, long-term and sustainable relationship anchored in economic cooperation, regional connectivity and peace in the region. A regular and structured dialogue process between the two countries is vital for promoting common interests and advancing shared regional objectives, he said. During the meeting, Sherman appreciated Pakistan's support for the evacuation of US citizens and others from Afghanistan, and its continued efforts for peace in the region, the Ministry said. After concluding her India tour, Sherman arrived in Pakistan on Thursday for a two-day visit. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Mumbai, Oct 9 : Continuing its swoop on Bollywood, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) conducted raids on the home and office of Bollywood producer Imtiyaz Khatri in connection with the rave party operation of October 2, officials said here on Saturday. The raids which started early on Saturday in Bandra, followed the revelation of Khatri's alleged involvement during the interrogation of some of the accused persons arrested earlier by the NCB. Khatri's name had also cropped up during the investigations into the death of Bollywood actor Sushant Singh Rajput last year for allegedly supplying drugs to him and other film personalities. The latest action - details of which are not available - came in the ongoing probe into the rave party busted aboard the luxury ship Cordelia Cruise last Saturday (October 2) when the NCB apprehended 8 persons including Aryan Khan, son of Bollywood megastar Shah Rukh Khan, sparking of a huge sensation. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Juba, Oct 9 : The government of South Sudan has approved $10 million as an emergency relief package to support people affected by floods in seven states across the country since May. Michael Makuei Lueth, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, said that the relief package approved by the cabinet will be used to help resettle those displaced from their homes, in addition to providing food relief to them, reports Xinhua news agency. "The people who are displaced are very much affected by floods, and after the floods have subsided they need to be resettled in their areas of origin because they don't have anything at present and all that they need is to be rescued now," he told journalists after the weekly cabinet meeting. An estimated 400,000 people have been affected and displaced by heavy flooding, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA recently revealed that the worst affected populations by floods are in Jonglei, Unity, Warrap, Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Lakes, Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal and Upper Nile state. New Delhi, Oct 9 : Aiming to boost the trade and energy sectors among others, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will embark on a trip to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Armenia from October 10 to 13. According to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry on Saturday, Jaishankar's first stop is Kyrgyzstan from October 10 to 11. This will be Jaishankar's first visit to the country as External Affairs Minister. He will hold a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev, apart from calling on President Sadyr Japarov, it said. Some agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) are also expected to be signed during the visit, the statement. From October 11 to 12, Jaishankar will be in Kazakhstan to attend the 6th Ministerial meeting of the Conference of Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Nur-Sultan. Kazakhstan is the current Chair and initiator of the CICA Forum. Jaishankar is also expected to hold bilateral talks with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and call on the Kazakh leadership. His last stop is Armenia from October 12 to 13. The statement said that this will be the first ever-visit of an External Affairs Minister of India to independent Armenia. He will have meetings with his Armenian counterpart as well as call on the Prime Minister and President of the National Assembly. "The visit will provide an opportunity for reviewing the progress in our bilateral ties with the three countries as well as share views on developments in the region. It will be a continuation of our increased engagement with countries in our 'extended neighbourhood'," the Ministry statement added. Seoul, Oct 9 : The South Korean Ministry of Justice has granted refugee status to an Angolan family with a Congolese background, citing the likelihood of persecution should they return home, officials said on Saturday. The Refugee Council approved the application from Nkuka Lulendo and his family, who were in the media spotlight in 2019 for being stuck at Incheon International Airport, west of Seoul, for nine months after they were denied a chance to file for refugee status, reports Yonhap News Agency. "The possibility of them being persecuted by the government of their home country has become quite substantial due to the media reports during their stay in Korea," the Council was quoted as saying. Lulendo, his wife and four children arrived at the Incheon airport in December 2018 on a tourist visa. They asked for a chance to seek asylum, citing persecution against people with Congolese origins in Angola. Seoul, Oct 9 : North Korea appears to be still operating its uranium enrichment plant at the Yongbyon nuclear complex, a US website monitoring Pyongyang's activities said on Saturday. "Imagery shows water being discharged from August 25 to at least September 9; no water was observed on October 1, but it was detected again the next day," Yonhap News Agency quoted the website, 38 North as saying in its latest article. The website also stressed although there were no other indicators, such as the emission of steam from the facilities, "intermittent discharge is not uncommon when the reactor is operating". Earlier this week, 38 North also said satellite images suggested Pyongyang has been carrying out construction activities at the venue. The suspicion comes in line with the International Atomic Energy Agency's report released in August, which suggested Pyongyang appears to have reactivated its 5-megawatt nuclear reactor at the complex, also judging by possible activities indicative of a discharge of cooling water. The North previously re-processed spent fuel rods from the reactor to harvest plutonium for nuclear bombs. Earlier this month, the North reopened its direct communication lines with the South, raising hopes for the resumption of stalled inter-Korean dialogue amid a drawn-out deadlock in denuclearization talks. Last year, North Korea blew up a liaison office in its border town of Kaesong and unilaterally cut off all inter-Korean communication lines in anger over anti-Pyongyang leaflets sent from South Korea. New Delhi, Oct 9 : In his message to mark the Indian Foreign Service Day, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar on Saturday said that IFS officers work tirelessly to advance our national interests and security. Taking to Twitter, the Minister wrote: "Greetings to the Indian Foreign Service on their founding anniversary. They work tirelessly to advance our national interests and security. Stepped up, in particular, to the challenges of the Covid period. "Confident they will keep our flag flying high across the world." Expressing his gratitude to the IFS, Minister of Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri, also a former civil servant, said in a tweet: "From the day when UPSC results were pasted on the walls of Dholpur House in 1974 with my name in the list began a journey of responsibility and pride which gave me the opportunity to represent India at various international fora around the world." The IFS is a central civil service which marks India's presence abroad and is entrusted to conduct diplomacy and manage foreign relations of India. It is the body of career diplomats, serving in more than 162 Indian Diplomatic Missions and International Organisations around the world. In addition, they serve at the headquarters of the Ministry of External affairs in Delhi and the Prime Minister's Office too. As a career diplomat, an IFS officer is required to project India's interests, both at home and abroad on a wide variety of issues. These include bilateral political and economic cooperation, trade and investment promotion, cultural interaction, press and media liaison as well as a whole host of multilateral issues. They also head the Regional Passport Offices throughout the country and hold positions in the President's Secretariat and several ministries on deputation. In 1948, the first group of IFS officers recruited under the combined Civil Services Examination administered by the Union Public Service Commission joined the service. -- The story has been published from a wire feed without any modifications to the text Brussels, Oct 9 : European Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson said that she did not support the use of EU funds for member states to build fences to protect the bloc's external borders. She was questioned on the matter during a press conference here after a justice and home affairs ministers' meeting, reports Xinhua news agency. While Johansson said she agreed that more had to be done to protect external borders, and had nothing against member states opting to build fences, the Commissioner believed that the use of EU funds to finance these projects was a bad idea. A new pact on migration and asylum is available for the member states to adopt, and they have agreed to take important steps to better protect external borders. "We have a lot of things on the table that need to be adopted and need to be implemented to protect our external borders before we present anything new," Johansson said. She was reacting to a letter sent to her and EU Commission vice-president Margaritis Schinas by interior ministers from 12 member states on Thursday, asking for EU finances for border projects to stop illegal migrants from entering. The letter was signed by the interior ministers of Austria, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Greece, Hungary, Lithuania, Latvia, Poland, and Slovakia. "Physical barriers appear to be an effective border protection measure that serves the interest of the whole EU, not just member states of first arrival," they said in their letter. "This legitimate measure should be additionally and adequately funded from the EU budget as a matter of priority," they added. Gujarat police is trying to find the parents of this 1.5 yrs old child, who someone left outside a cattlepond in Pethapur, Gandhinagar in Gujarat. Image Source: IANS News Gujarat police is trying to find the parents of this 1.5 yrs old child, who someone left outside a cattlepond in Pethapur, Gandhinagar in Gujarat. Image Source: IANS News Gujarat police is trying to find the parents of this 1.5 yrs old child, who someone left outside a cattlepond in Pethapur, Gandhinagar in Gujarat. Image Source: IANS News Gandhinagar, Oct 9 : Gujarat Minister of State for home, Harsh Sanghavi on Saturday said that the Police has sent requests to other states regarding the whereabouts of a 8-9 month-old-child who was abandoned on Friday evening in Gandhinagar. Since Friday night all the attempts to locate the parents of this child through the social media have not yielded any results so far. "Today I visited the Gandhinagar Civil Hospital to have a look at the 8-9 months old baby, who has been named as 'Smit' by the police. The baby is healthy and is being taken care of by Municipal corporator Diptiben Patel as well as the hospital staff and the police. We have set up a number of teams to search the person who abandoned the child at the gates of Swaminarayan cattlepond in Gandhinagar on Friday at around 9 o'clock. I am personally monitoring the situation. We also request the public to share information if they have and utilise the social media platform to find the parents of the abandoned child," said Harsh Sanghavi at Gandhinagar Civil hospital. "The Gandhinagar police has formed 7 teams to locate the whereabouts of this person and the parents of this child and now has also roped in the Ahmedabad Crime Branch to widen the search. Gujarat Police have also sent emails to other states for information on the parents. Now we are contacting the other state police on one-on-one basis, as we believe that the abandoned child might belong to other state," said an official of Gandhinagar Police. The police is investigating the CCTV footage of the nearby areas and shops to locate this person who abandoned the child at the gate of Swaminarayan cattlepond on Friday night. The Gandhinagar civil hospital has collected the DNA samples of the child and is into the process of sending them to other states. According to sources, it is learnt that the child will be shifted to the Child Protection Home in Odhav in Ahmedabad. San Francisco, Oct 9 : San Francisco Mayor London Breed and the Port of San Francisco have announced the return of cruise ships to and from the US city. The first vessel to call on the Port of San Francisco will be Majestic Princess on October 11, Xinhua news agency reported. The port is expecting 21 cruise calls through the remainder of 2021 and a record 127 calls in 2022, according to the announcement. "I am so excited to welcome cruises back to our Port, and visitors back to our city," said Breed. "Tourism is a critical part of our city's economy, helping to pay for important services that allow us to take care of our most vulnerable residents." In 2019, San Francisco welcomed 280,000 cruise visitors, contributing $27 million to the city's economy, the announcement said. "The port supported our small and family-owned businesses during the pandemic, and will continue to do so with the safe return of cruise, expected to bring thousands of people to our waterfront," said Elaine Forbes, executive director of the Port of San Francisco. The port's Cruise Terminals at Pier 27 and Pier 35 are rolling out new Covid-19 informed protocols to ensure the safety of staff, passengers, and the public. Passengers embarking and disembarking will be staggered to minimize passenger congregation. Masks will be required indoors throughout the terminal, which will now be a touchless environment. San Francisco is home to the only passenger cruise terminals in the Bay Area. Brussels, Oct 9 : Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, has expressed concerns after a court in Poland ruled that the country's Constitution was above the European Union (EU) law. "I am deeply concerned by yesterday's ruling of the Polish Constitutional Tribunal. I have instructed the Commission's services to analyze it thoroughly and swiftly. On this basis, we will decide on next steps," Xinhua news agency quoted the Commission President as saying in a statement. "EU law has primacy over national law, including constitutional provisions. This is what all EU Member States have signed up to as members of the EU," she affirmed. On Thursday, the Polish Constitutional Tribunal had ruled that Poland's constitution had primacy over EU law in Poland. "Namely, that constitutional law is superior to other sources of law. The same has been confirmed in recent years by the constitutional courts of many Member States," Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki wrote on Facebook on Friday morning. Morawiecki argued that double standards are applied regarding different member states. However, EU leaders disagree. "Today's verdict in Poland cannot remain without consequences. The primacy of EU law must be undisputed. Violating it means challenging one of the founding principles of our Union," tweeted European Parliament President David Sassoli on Thursday. In a press statement, the European Commission said it "upholds and reaffirms the founding principles of the Union's legal order, namely that EU law has primacy over national law, including constitutional provisions". The European Commission will proceed with its analysis of the Polish ruling, after which it "will use all the powers that we have under the Treaties to ensure" compliance with EU law. CM UDDHAV THACKERAY inaugurated the new Chipi Airport in presence of Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia (virtual) & Narayan Rane, Ramdas Athawale, DyCM Ajit Pawar, and other top dignitaries, in Sindhudurg, with the maiden flight from Mumbai Lansing Image Source: IANS News CM UDDHAV THACKERAY inaugurated the new Chipi Airport in presence of Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia (virtual) & Narayan Rane, Ramdas Athawale, DyCM Ajit Pawar, and other top dignitaries, in Sindhudurg, with the maiden flight from Mumbai Lansing Image Source: IANS News CM UDDHAV THACKERAY inaugurated the new Chipi Airport in presence of Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia (virtual) & Narayan Rane, Ramdas Athawale, DyCM Ajit Pawar, and other top dignitaries, in Sindhudurg, with the maiden flight from Mumbai Lansing Image Source: IANS News CM UDDHAV THACKERAY inaugurated the new Chipi Airport in presence of Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia (virtual) & Narayan Rane, Ramdas Athawale, DyCM Ajit Pawar, and other top dignitaries, in Sindhudurg, with the maiden flight from Mumbai Lansing Image Source: IANS News CM UDDHAV THACKERAY inaugurated the new Chipi Airport in presence of Union ministers Jyotiraditya Scindia (virtual) & Narayan Rane, Ramdas Athawale, DyCM Ajit Pawar, and other top dignitaries, in Sindhudurg, with the maiden flight from Mumbai Lansing Image Source: IANS News Sindhudurg : , Oct 9 (IANS) Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray inaugurated the new greenfield Chipi Airport, putting the pristine coastal Konkan region on the national air-map, here on Saturday. Present on the occasion were Union Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya Scindia in New Delhi, MSME Minister Narayan Rane, Minister of State for Social Justice Ramdas Athawale, Deputy Chief Minister Ajit Pawar and other dignitaries. The inauguration was preceded by the maiden Mumbai-Chipi Alliance Air commercial flight making a smooth landing amid loud cheers and music, bringing a host of VVIPs for the event. More than two years ago, then Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and former Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu had inaugurated the new terminal building and other facilities at the Greenfield Airport as flights under the UDAN scheme were expected to be launched from there. After overcoming a series of delays the Chipi Airport - first in the Konkan - was finally ready at a cost of around Rs 520 crore under DBFOT and launched operations from Saturday. Aviation circles said that most seats are booked till Diwali on various flights connecting Sindhudurg with Mumbai, Pune, Aurangabad, Nashik, Nagpur and gradually other cities. With a runway length-breadth of 2,500 metres X 45 metres, which can be extended by another 1,000 metres, the airport can manage up to 400 passengers or two flights per hour with an estimated annual capacity over a million passengers. The airport can handle aircraft like A-320 and B-737 and give a huge fillip to tourism in Konkan, renowned for its magnificent coastline, dazzling beaches, big and small rivers, creeks, abundant greenery and natural beauty, ancient temples, sea and land forts, a rich cultural heritage, unique lifestyle and major historical landmarks. Built by the IRB Sindhudurg Airport Pvt Ltd, a SPV, the Maharashtra Industrial Development Corporation was the nodal agency to facilitate and supervise the entire project. The Chipi Airport will also create more opportunities for the regional economy as the state government has announced plans to develop the coastal region as a major tourist and business-cum-leisure travel hub, hoping to convert 'Konkan to California'. Initially scheduled to operate intra-state flights, later the Chipi Airport would offer inter-state connectivity to Goa, Karnataka, Kerala, Tamil Nadu, etc, with a target for over two-dozen daily services in five years, according to Scindia. New Delhi, Oct 9 : One of India's leading skincare and largest dermatologist network-enabled brands has unveiled a new identity, symbolic of a strategic realignment with its ever-growing young consumer base. Kaya's new brand narrative is inspired by its young customers -- Gen Zs and Millennials. The new vision seamlessly integrates an omnichannel experience successfully straddling the in-clinic and digital space by building experiences of the future via artificial Intelligence enabled websites. Kaya advances its commitment towards ever-evolving and enabling everyone to find their own beauty. Punctuated by the its new mantra, "Beautiful is You", the brand will continue to bring alleviated personalization to help consumers discover products and services that are right for their unique selves. Beautiful is you is a choice to help you define and achieve your own best beautiful. Speaking on the new approach, Rajiv Nair, Group CEO, said, "Kaya has always been ahead of its time and for almost two decades has been a standard-bearer for beauty and healthy skin in India. Constantly improving upon and redefining our services with our consumers are integral to the brand's ethos. Kaya's community is only growing, and our goal is to meet their standards of taste, quality, and inclusivity. With Beautiful is You, we are recrafting the brand identity, which not only upholds our legacy but also re-establishes our expert position in Indian skin culture?" Samyukta Ganesh Iyer, VP and Head of Marketing, said, "Being future relevant for our younger audience is about empowering them with the freedom of "choice" to find "their own best beautiful". The new purpose-driven, Gen Z focussed, digital-first brand identity reaffirms our authority in the industry, and represents a shift that will boost Kaya to reach yet another pinnacle for building a holistic skin and haircare destination of the future." The elevated digital experience is also established across marketplaces -- Amazon, Nykaa, collaborations -- Cult Fit, Cred and across India. The digitization mirrors offline customization via an all-new AI assessment tool on the website. The website reflects the changing expectations and aspirations of the new consumer, customized to individual needs. (IANSlife can be contacted at ianslife@ians.in) Brasilia, Oct 9 : Brazil's overall Covid-19 death toll, which is currently the second highest in the world after the US, has topped the 600,000 mark, according to health authorities. As of Saturday, the toll stood at 600,425 after 615 fresh fatalities were reported in the last 24 hours, Xinhua news agency quoted the Health Ministry as saying. At least 18,172 more people tested positive for the virus in the same period, which took the country's overall infection tally to 21,550,730, currently the third highest after the US and India. Brazil managed to emerge from the healthcare collapse caused by the second wave of the pandemic between March and June, and is currently in a stable situation, with an average of 453 deaths per day, the lowest figure since November 2020. It took the country 111 days to go from 500,000 Covid-19 deaths to 600,000, in contrast to the 51-day period it took to jump from 400,000 to 500,000 fatalities registered in the first half of the year. According to official data, Brazil has fully vaccinated 97.2 million people, or 45.5 per cent of the population, while 148.8 million people, or 69.7 per cent, have received one dose. Canberra, Oct 9 : The Australian government on Saturday revealed a plan to bring thousands of international healthcare workers into the country to relieve pressure on the healthcare system amid the ongoing battle against the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Under the plan, which was announced by Health Minister Greg Hunt, about 2,000 doctors and nurses mainly from Britain and Ireland will be exempted from strict travel restrictions to take up jobs in Australia as the country's international border is expected to re-open in November, reports Xinhua news agency. Hunt described it as a "one-off boost" for the health system after he rejected a plea from state and territory governments for more hospital funding to cope with a surge in coronavirus cases. "This will be a one-off boost to provide additional support. The Commonwealth is committed to it and the states are working constructively with us on it," he told the local media. "These are people coming from all around the world. That free flow of people is very important. Some may be joining families, some may be moving for a new life. That is an ordinary part of life and it is up to individuals to be able to choose, subject to a nation's needs." On Saturday morning, Australia reported a new record 2,570 new locally-acquired Covid-19 cases, a second day in a row with more than 2,500 new infections recorded nationwide. The new cases increased the overall tally to 125,080, while the death toll stood at 1,421. According to the latest data released by the Department of Health, 81.5 per cent of Australians aged 16 and older have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose and 60.2 per cent are fully vaccinated. Latest updates on Coronavirus (COVID-19) New Delhi, Oct 9 : India and China will hold 13th round of Corps Commander talks on Sunday, at Moldo on the Chinese side, to resolve border dispute in Eastern Ladakh. Both the countries will discuss phase-III of disengagement and also overall de-escalation along the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh. The talks are scheduled two months after both the countries withdrew troops from friction Patrolling Point (PP) 17A in Gogra at the Line of Actual Control in Eastern Ladakh. The disengagement process was carried out over two days i.e. August 4 and 5, 2021. The troops of both sides are now in their respective permanent bases. It happened soon after twelfth round of talks between the Corps Commanders on July 31, 2021. As an outcome of the meeting, both sides agreed on disengagement in Gogra. The troops in this area have been in a face-off situation since May last year. With disengagement reached between both the countries for Gogra, India will now take up other remaining friction areas like Hot Springs and 900 square km Depsang plains during 13th round of military talks. India has insisted during recent military commander meetings to resolve all issues across the Line of Actual Control. Till now, apart from 12 round of Corps Commanders-level talks, the two forces have also held 10 Major Generals level, 55 Brigadiers-level talks and 1,450 calls over the hotlines. Earlier, the troops of two Himalayan giants have disengaged from both the banks of Pangong Tso in February this year. India and China have been engaged in border disputes for the last 16 months. Srinagar, Oct 9 : An organisation of Kashmiri Pandits said on Saturday that the targeted killings of minorities in Jammu and Kashmir is part of a terror plan to prevent them from returning to the Valley. Satish Mahaldar, chairman of reconciliation, return and rehabilitation of migrants, said in a statement on Saturday, "Recent killings of minority civilians in Kashmir is part of a well planned terror action plot, at the core of which is to drive out remaining minorities in the Valley and create fear psychosis so that no one can return. "On 2nd October 2021, when the whole world was observing non-violence day on Gandhi Jayanti, a temple was desecrated in Jammu and Kashmir's Anantnag district namely Bargheshekha Bhagwati Mata Temple in the Mattan area of the south Kashmir district. "On October 5, Makhan Lal Bindroo was shot dead by terrorists as he sat in his shop in Srinagar's Iqbal Park, an area dotted with police and paramilitary installations. He was in love with Kashmir. "He never wanted to leave Kashmir even when we urged him to leave. He would often say: "I will give my life, but I won't leave". "Bindroos were also among the Kashmiri Pandit families who had chosen to stay on in the Valley even after targeted killings had forced a mass migration of the community in 1990s. "A terrorist group called The Resistance Front claimed responsibility for the killings of Bindroo and claimed he was "posing as a medical professional" and "conducting secret seminars" backed by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh after serving Kashmiri people for nearly 32 years. "Terrorists shot dead principal and teacher in a Srinagar school after separating Muslim and non-Muslim teachers. "Another deceased was identified as Virendra Paswan, a native of Bhagalpur district of Bihar who was residing in Alamgari Bazar, Zadibal. "He was a street vendor by profession who used to sell bhelpuri in Hawal area of Srinagar. The Resistance Front claimed responsibility for his killing also claiming that he was OWG for GoI agencies. "We had already intimated the GoI several times through media and otherwise that the launch of Migrant distress sales portal will trigger an anti-minority feeling in some quarters, especially in the Land Mafia. "Premature and triumphant claims about normalcy in Kashmir got exposed two months ago when the LG was informed in writing by Kashmiri Pandits that there are rumours that minorities in Kashmir will be targeted. "Unfortunately, the LG's office and security agencies ignored our inputs. "Despite the inputs to security agencies, the UT govt and GoI failed to provide security/protection to minorities of Kashmir. "Now it is easier to politically use the plight of minorities/Kashmiri Pandits of Kashmir". Dakshina Kannada, Oct 9 : The Karnataka police have arrested two persons in connection with the kidnapping and gang rape of a 16-year-old school girl in Dakshina Kannada district of Karnataka on Saturday. The incident came to light after the school girl came forward to lodge a police complaint. The victim stated that the accused persons came in a car at about 8.15 a.m. on Friday while she was going to the school near the bus stop in Bantwal town. One of the accused got down from the car and told her that he was her friend. When she said that she did not know him, he maintained that they knew each other through social media platforms. While talking he gave her a bar of chocolate and by the time she put the chocolate in her bag, she fell unconscious, the girl told the police. When she woke up, she was in a bed and the accused took turns to rape her. She lost consciousness yet again and when she regained consciousness, the girl found herself in the car. The accused left her near Bantwal town and the victim reached home after calling her mother, the police said. The police have registered a case under the POCSO Act, arrested two persons in this connection and launched a search for others. The victim underwent treatment at a government hospital. State Women's Commission President Pramila Naidu has contacted the Superintendent of Police of Dakshina Kannada regarding the case and got details. Naidu has asked the police to initiate action against the accused persons and also to provide security to the victim and her family. She has also given directions to the district Women and Child Welfare department to help the girl. Talking to IANS Pramila Naidu stated that the girl is being treated at a one-stop centre where medical, legal and police help is available under one roof. Naidu stated that the Dakshina Kannada SP has said that they have got clues about the other accused persons and they will be arrested soon. Los Angeles, Oct 9 : 'Peaky Blinders' star Cillian Murphy will play J. Robert Oppenheimer, the American physicist whose role in running the Los Alamos (Nevada) Laboratory and involvement in the Manhattan Project has led him to be dubbed the "father of the atomic bomb", reports Variety.com The upcoming historical epic will be directed by Christopher Nolan, who has previously collaborated with Murphy in 'Batman Begins' (where the actor memorably essayed the role of Scarecrow), 'Inception' and 'Dunkirk'. Universal Pictures, according to Variety.com, will make the $100 million film after winning the rights in "a feverish bidding war that also saw the likes of Paramount, Sony and Warner Bros". The latter studio had released nearly every Nolan picture, the latest being 'Tenet', but their relationship grew strained after the filmmaker criticised Warner Bros for releasing its entire 2021 slate simultaneously in theatres and on HBO Max because of the Covid-19 pandemic. 'Oppenheimer' is slated for a July 21, 2023 release across North America. Chennai, Oct 9 : Pattali Makkal Katchi (PMK) founder S. Ramadoss on Saturday questioned the delay in arresting DMK MP from Cuddalore T.R.V.S. Ramesh by Tamil Nadu Police in a murder case. In a statement issued here, Ramadoss said the probe by the CBCID in the murder of K. Govindarasu is progressing in the right direction. He said the police have arrested five persons in connection with the murder of Govindarasu, a worker in the cashew processing unit of DMK MP Ramesh. The arrested persons are also workers in Ramesh's cashew unit. Police said, Govindarasu was working at Ramesh's unit for the past seven years. On September 20, Govindarasu was alleged to have stolen cashew nuts and was beaten up at the premises by five persons. Later Govindarasu was taken to the police station for lodging a theft complaint. The police on seeing the injuries asked the cashew unit workers to take him to a hospital. However, Govindarasu was taken back to cashew unit and later he was found dead. Ramadoss said Ramesh would have been under CBCID's surveillance as the First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged against him and his workers for various charges including murder. Hence Ramesh should be immediately arrested so that the witness and murder proofs are protected, Ramadoss said. Police are on the lookout for the DMK MP Ramesh. The police department is under DMK President and Chief Minister M.K. Stalin. During the run up to the assembly elections Stalin had promised that he would bring to book whoever commits and illegal act. San Francisco, Oct 9 : US-based search engine giant Google recently announced that it will be launching Pixel 6 series smartphones on October 19 and now a new report has claimed Pixel Fold, Pixel Watch as well as new Nest speakers may launch alongside the Pixel 6 series. If not launched, Google could tease the device or at least give us a little bit of information regarding its development, reports GSMArena. Google in 2019 disclosed its development on foldable smartphone prototypes and it will use an LTPO OLED display. Meanwhile, the first Pixel-branded smartwatch may run on the new WearOS, which offers a merged experience of Wear OS and Samsung's Tizen OS. Both Pixel 6 and Pixel 6 Pro will share the same main, ultrawide camera. The devices will come with a 50MP Samsung GN1 main camera and a 12MP Sony IMX286 ultrawide camera. The Pro model will have a 48MP Sony IMX586 telephoto camera sensor with 4x zoom support, reports XDADevelopers. For selfies, the vanilla Pixel 6 will have an 8MP sensor, whereas the Pro model will come with a 12mp Sony IMX663 sensor. The Pro model's front camera will offer two zoom levels: 0.7x and 1x. The primary camera will likely support 4K video @ 60fps with a maximum zoom level at 7X. While recording at either 4K or FHD @ 60fps enabled zoom up to 20X. Chennai, Oct 9 : More than two decades have passed since the setting up of the Insurance Regulatory and Development Authority of India (IRDAI). It is time for a committee to review it, said its first Chairman N. Rangachary. Echoing his views were several industry experts who were past members of IRDAI and the head honchos of life and non-life insurance majors. Insurance industry officials concur with this view given IRDAI's human resources issues and the problems faced by the regulated entities for the past several years. "It is time to do a review of IRDAI. It is more than two decades since IRDAI came into existence. As a matter of fact, every regulatory organisation should be reviewed at regular intervals," Rangachary told IANS. It was Rangachary who had paved the regulatory path for the sector as the first head of IRDAI. "There should be a review committee to go into all regulatory aspects. It is time to see whether the original goal of forming the regulatory body has been fulfilled and if not, the action to be taken," Rangachary suggested. Echoing similar views was R. Ramakrishnan, Member of the Malhotra Committee on Insurance Reforms. "It is high time the IRDAI is completely reviewed. This should have been done at the end of the first five years. Better late than never," Ramakrishan told IANS. Queried as to what is to be reviewed, experts said the entire organisation, its structure, and regulations governing the sector. "The review should be on IRDAI's human resource policies and the regulatory aspects including the procedures and the organisational set up. The IRDAI should be made transparent," S.B. Mathur, former Chairman, Life Insurance Corporation of India, told IANS. Mathur was also a part-time Member of IRDAI between 2007-2012. During the initial years, IRDAI was on virgin territory and there was a lot of experimentation, trial and error. Over the years IRDAI has done reasonably well, Mathur said. "The IRDAI Chairman would hold a monthly meeting with the CEOs of insurance companies during the first four years of its existence," Mathur said. "On the twin aim of IRDAI Act 'to protect policyholders interests and promote orderly growth of the industry' IRDAI seems to have done a reasonably good job in the 20 years of its existence," K.K. Srinivasan, former Member, IRDAI, told IANS. According to him, a Government review of IRDAI be taken up after reviewing the older financial services regulators like the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI). "But the internal organisation of IRDAI needs to be professionalised and strengthened. There is an undeniable perception that compared to its rather small size, there is excessive trade unionism within the Body," Srinivasan said. "This is perhaps attributable to a large extent to the inevitable and somewhat not desirable back-door recruitment of employees in the initial years of its formation. However, this may get corrected in due course when retirements take place," he added. Be that as it may, industry experts said presently the decision making power is centralised with the IRDAI Chairman while the Members seem to have only a recommendatory role. "The IRDAI should be made a multi-member body with powers given to its Members. Times are changing fast along with technology. The regulations should also change in tune with them," K.N. Bhandari, former Chairman and Managing Director of United India Insurance Company Ltd, told IANS. "The tenure of IRDAI's Chairman should be a minimum five years. It takes at least two years for a person to learn about the industry," Bhandari added. One of the reasons for allowing the private players into the sector two decades back was to increase the insurance penetration. "Nothing much is happening to promote the penetration of insurance. Curiously it is the government schemes like health and life insurance that have increased the penetration while the insurers have not done much," Bhandari said. Further transparency is also at a premium at IRDAI, when it comes to fixing of premium rates and others that affect the policyholders, he said. Industry officials also said it is time to ponder on the reasons for the absence of any new player setting up shop during the last couple of years. "It is time to relook the solvency norms. Like standalone health insurers there will be standalone vehicle insurance companies and the like. So, the solvency norms should be fixed in line with the kind of business that is being done," Bhandari said. Similarly, the system of management expense ceiling should also be reviewed and see the possibility of having an overall ceiling on expenses, he added. According to Bhandari, the IRDAI is dealing with regulations which were largely framed two decades back and they have to be revised. Experts are frowning at IRDAI's practice of issuing new regulations in the guise of Guidelines which needs to be halted. During its initial days, IRDAI made the regulations or the subordinate legislations after a process of public consultation with the clearance of the advisory committee. The draft regulation was placed before Parliament and implemented after 60 days. Industry experts were of the view that the regulator's action may be challenged in the court of law in the future as guidelines are not regulations in the strict sense. (Venkatachari Jagannathan can be contacted at v.jagannathan@ians.in) Panaji, Oct 9 : Former Union Finance Minister and senior AICC observer for the 2022 Goa assembly polls P. Chidambaram on Saturday promised to put the party's "shameful chapter" of offering tickets to habitual defectors behind in the upcoming elections. Speaking at a party function in Canacona town, 70 km from Panaji, Chidambaram also said that the challenge for the Congress party ahead of the election was to redeem the reputation and honour of the Congress party. "I was shocked to learn that a defector was given the ticket not once, not twice, but thrice. That is a shameful chapter of the Congress history. I have come here to assure you that the shameful chapter is closed. Never again never again will we repeat that shameful chapter," Chidambaram said. "I promise you on behalf of the leadership of the Congress party that that this shameful chapter will never be repeated again in Goa," the All India Congress Committee (AICC) official added. "Our challenge is to redeem the reputation and honour of the Congress party. I know that the Congress workers have been totally loyal to the party. Every time you elected a Congress candidate as the MLA. That victory is your victory. You worked hard. You campaigned among the constituency, you went door by door," Chidambaram said, adding that it was unfortunate that after getting elected Congress MLAs, quit the party and joined the BJP. "While you remained loyal to the party, the winning candidate betrayed the party," Chidambaram said. He also said that henceforth, Congress candidates for the assembly polls would be selected based on nomination by active members of the Congress block committees. "We will select a candidate only among names selected by you. You have to select names based on loyalty, integrity, acceptability among the workers and number four is winnability among the larger electorate," Chidambaram also said. A total of 13 Congress MLAs have quit the Congress, after getting elected on the Congress ticket, before defecting to the Bharatiya Janata Party since 2017. Panaji, Oct 9 : The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) in Goa on Saturday accused Chief Minister Pramod Sawant of copying the Arvind Kejriwal-led Delhi government's doorstep delivery of government services module in the coastal state, with its 'Sarkar Aaplya Daari' outreach programme. "The concept of 'Sarkaar Aaplya Daari' (government at your doorstep) has been copied from Delhi government's doorstep delivery of government services. But it is a parody of the AAP concept which has been implemented in Delhi," Goa AAP spokesperson Valmiki Naik told a press conference in Panaji. The 'Sarkaar Aaplya Daari' concept involves holding of government functions in various sub districts, where grievances as well as applications for government services are acted upon on-the-spot by government officials accompanying the Chief Minister and top bureaucrats. Naik also accused the BJP of politicising the government outreach programme which was introduced just months before the 2022 state assembly elections. "The programme actually underlines the failure of the Goa government for the last 10 years. Government machinery is being used to promote the BJP with these outreach meetings," Naik said. "Chief Minister Pramod Sawant has a habit of imitating the AAP government policies, but he does not have the intelligence to even copy them right," Naik said. Thiruvananthapuram, Oct 9 : The fourth accused in the Kerala gold smuggling case, Sandip Nair, on Saturday walked out of the Central jail on getting bail after the Kerala High Court on Friday dropped the charges registered against him under the Conservation of Foreign Exchange and Prevention of Smuggling Activities (COFEPOSA) Act. Following the high court order, the charges registered against the prime accused in the case, Swapna Suresh, under the COFEPOSA Act were also dropped, but she continues to be in jail as she still faces other charges slapped by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) probe team. Last year, Sandip Nair, the fourth accused in the case registered by the NIA, had submitted a plea in a special court in Kochi, stating that he is willing "to reveal the entire facts voluntarily under the provision of Section 164 (recording of confessions and statements) of the Code of Criminal Procedure" and "is ready to turn approver with the permission of the court". The smuggling case came to light on July 5, 2020, when the Customs arrested Sarith, a former employee of the UAE Consulate here, for allegedly smuggling gold in a diplomatic baggage destined for the Consulate. Swapna Suresh, who previously worked in the UAE Consulate, and her associate Sandip Nair were arrested in the case by the NIA from Bengaluru a few days later. Since then, all three have been in judicial custody. Speaking to the media soon after he came out on bail, Nair said that Sarith was his good friend for many years and it was through him that he came to know Swapna Suresh. "I am no big businessman, as I had started my own business after availing various bank loans. I turned approver by telling the facts of the case to the court and I stand by what I have said. Please wait for a while, the entire truth will come out," Nair said. Incidentally, when strict restrictions were imposed on travel last year to arrest the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic, both Swapna Suresh and Nair had managed to drive from here to Bengaluru from where they were arrested by an NIA team a few days later. Eyebrows were raised at that time on how they managed inter-state travel. Beijing, Oct 9 : realme, which is set to release its GT Neo 2 smartphone both in India and Europe, now plans to release another device from the GT lineup that will be powered by a customised version of MediaTek Dimensity 1200 chipset. realme CMO Xu Qi Chase took to the Chinese microblogging platform Weibo to hint at the launch of a new realme GT Neo 2 series handset. According to Digital Chat Station, a realme smartphone with RMX3357 model number has received CMIIT certification, and it would be called the realme GT Neo 2T. The original GT Neo was powered by a MediaTek Dimensity chip. The company then replaced it with the Snapdragon 870 in GT Neo 2 and now again it has offered MediaTek Dimensity 1200 in the realme GT Neo 2T. The realme GT Neo 2T smartphone will come in two RAM and storage configurations - 8GB RAM + 128GB storage, and 12GB RAM + 256GB storage. The smartphone is expected to house a triple camera setup at the back -- 64MP main camera, 8MP secondary sensor, and 2MP third sensor. It will feature a 16MP selfie camera. The smartphone will pack a 4400mAhmAh battery. New Delhi, Oct 9 : Senior Taliban officials and US representatives have discussed "opening a new page" in their countries relationship, as they kicked off talks in Qatar, according to Afghanistans acting Foreign Minister, Al Jazeera reported. The in-person meetings that began in Doha on Saturday are the first since the US forces withdrew from Afghanistan in August, ending a 20-year military presence, and the Taliban's rise to power. Afghanistan's acting Foreign Minister Mullah Amir Khan Muttaqi said the focus of the Afghan delegation was humanitarian aid, as well as the implementation of the agreement the Taliban had signed with Washington last year, which paved the way for the final US withdrawal, the report said. The minister said the Afghan delegation had asked the US to lift its ban on the reserves of Afghanistan's central bank. He also said that the US would offer Afghan people vaccines against Covid-19, the report said. The Taliban delegation will later meet the representatives from the European Union. A spokesperson of the US State Department said on Friday evening that the talks are not about recognising or legitimising the Taliban as Afghanistan's leaders, but are a continuation of the pragmatic talks on issues of national interest for the US. He said the priority is the continued safe departure of Afghans, US citizens and other foreign nationals from Afghanistan, adding that another goal is to urge the Taliban to respect the rights of all Afghans, including women and girls, and form an inclusive government with broad support. Al Jazeera reported that expectations of a breakthrough in the talks should be "tempered" because there is still quite a "chasm" between what the US wants and what the transitional government in Afghanistan wants. "The Taliban are describing their delegation as high level, being led by its acting foreign minister," the report said, adding, "On the US side, there will be diplomats from the state department, members of USAID and from the intelligence department." Notably absent is Zalmay Khalilzad, who has been the US' point person in talks with the Taliban for years, the report said. Dhaka, Oct 9 : Five more Rohingya militants have been arrested at Cox's Bazar in Bangladesh for their alleged involvement in the murder of Rohingya leader Mohammad Mohib Ullah, officials said on Saturday. The fresh arrests came a day after the Armed Police Battalion (APBn) had held six others in connection with the case. "A special APBn team conducted raids at various Ukhiya camps (in Cox's Bazar) to maintain law and order in the wake of the killing of Rohingya leader Mohib Ullah," a police officer said. A group of unidentified gunmen had killed 48-year-old Mohib Ullah at a refugee camp in Ukhiya on September 29. Mohib Ullah was the chairman of a moderate Rohingya group, Arakan Rohingya Society for Peace and Human Rights, and was known as a 'voice for the Rohingya' in the Western media. The five were arrested following raids at different Rohingya camps in Ukhiya from Friday night until Saturday morning, Md Naimul Haque, superintendent of police and captain of the 14th Armed Police Battalion, told IANS on Saturday. The arrested individuals have been identified as Khaled Hossain, 33, Master Syed, 38, Mohammad Shaker, 35, Mohammad, 18, and Mohammad Ilias, 22. "Five members of a militant outfit centered on the Rohingya camps were detained. They have been accused of extortion, murder, kidnapping, robbery, drug trafficking, human trafficking, and assault on police," the APBn captain said. The detainees were handed over to the Ukhiya police. Terming Ullah's murder as an "unfortunate incident", Bangladesh Foreign Secretary Masud Bin Momen told IANS that the government would not spare the killers. The killing or any disturbance will not hamper the repatriation process of the Rohingyas, he said on Saturday after visiting the Bhashan Char Rohingya camp. Rohingya refugees said the arrested individuals are members of the 'Arakan Republican Salvation Army' (ARSA), a banned Rohingya militant outfit. New Delhi, Oct 9 : The Delhi University colleges have started releasing the second cut-off list for admission to the various undergraduate courses of the university for the academic year 2021-22. Several colleges such as Ramjas College, Aryabhatta College, Swami Shraddhanand College, Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College, Jesus and Mary College and College of Vocational Studies have released their second cut-off list. The admission under the second cut-off list will commence on October 11 and will continue till October 13. So far, at least 41,211 candidates have successfully secured seats across colleges. At Aryabhatta College, economics and mathematics cut-offs have gone up to 97 per cent and 95 per cent respectively. The History (H) cut offs came down by 0.5 percentage points and is 94.5 per cent. The Hindu College has released the cut-off for only two subjects -- economics and commerce. The admissions for the remaining subjects have been closed. The Economics (H) cut offs are at 99.25 per cent and for B.Com at 99 per cent. Hansraj College has released second cut off list for BA (H) economics at 99 per cent, English (H) 98.5 per cent, Hindi (H) 94 per cent, History (H) 98.75 per cent, and Philosophy 96.75 per cent. Ramjas College requires 100 per cent for admission in political science as per the second cut off list. At Aryabhatta College, economics and mathematics cut-offs have gone down from 98 per cent and 97 per cent to 97 per cent and 96 per cent, respectively. English and History cut-offs also came down by 0.5 percentage points and are now at 95.5 per cent and 94.5 per cent, respectively. New Delhi, Oct 9 : The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Saturday got three-day custody of alleged conman Sukesh Chandrasekhar, and his wife and actress Leena Maria Paul in a Rs 200 crore-money laundering case. The case is in connection with extortion of money from an industrialist's wife. Two separate applications have been moved by the ED seeking remand of accused Sukesh Chandrashekhar and Leena to their custody for a period of 14 days. It was submitted that during the investigation, searches were conducted at various places linked to Sukesh Chandrashekar and his associates which revealed that the properties in Tamil Nadu where Leena was residing, was purchased by Jitendra Kothari's Shree Jai Jinendra Construction Ltd as per the directions of Chandrashekar. All the payments towards purchase of the property were arranged by Sukesh in cash in Chennai through his associates, it added. That during search proceedings carried out in that regard, 16 high-end vehicles were seized under section 17 PMLA and these cars are either in the name of firms of Leena Paul or in the name of third parties. It is further submitted that when the above stated properties were purchased, Sukesh was lodged in jail and Leena was enjoying the said properties. The businessman and his brother were booked by the Delhi Police's Economic Offences Wing and the ED in 2019. Chandrashekar, currently lodged in Tihar Jail, is an accused of running an extortion racket worth Rs 200 crore from inside the jail. On Friday, a Delhi court allowed the ED to interrogate the businessman and his wife inside the jail and if need be, arrest them. They were later arrested. During proceedings, counsels submitted that the department can interrogate the accused in Tihar Jail premises in presence of other police officials and to that extent, both the accused have no objection. Mumbai, Oct 9 : In what is said to be an unprecedented development, the Mumbai Police has summoned the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) director Subodh Jaiswal for the probe into the illegal phone-tap case, officials said here on Saturday. Vide an email, the CBI chief has been asked to come here on October 14 for recording his version in the matter which had sparked a massive political row after it leaked out in March this year. Jaiswal was the Maharashtra Director-General of Police at the relevant time the alleged phone-tapping took place when the former State Intelligence Department was headed by IPS officer Rashmi Shukla, during the tenure of the former Bharatiya Janata Party Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. However, now both IPS officers have been transferred out of the state and Shukla has already recorded her statement with the Mumbai Police. The ruling Maha Vikas Aghadi government had conducted a preliminary enquiry and later appointed a 3-member probe panel to investigate all the phone-tapping cases ordered during the erstwhile BJP-led regime. Imphal, Oct 9 : BJP President J.P. Nadda said on Saturday that strikes, blockades, atcs of terror and corruption were the order of the day in Manipur before, but under the governance of the BJP, stability has been restored in the northeastern state. Claiming that the BJP would return to power in the next Assembly scheduled early next year, Nadda said that peace has been restored in Manipur, while accelerated growth has provided much-needed stability to the northeastern state. "Due to the policies of the Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led government, Manipur has now become a key destination for sports. Two indigenous sporting events of Manipur were included in the Centre's Khelo India scheme," the BJP President said while addressing a public gathering at the SAI ground in Utlou Nambol. Claiming that the Congress leaders have gone into isolation, Nadda said that the northeast region is the gateway of development and without its development India's growth can not be possible. He said: "Manipur under the BJP government is progressing in the path of development. Development was stopped during the Congress rule in Manipur." The BJP President, who came here on Saturday on a two-day visit to the poll-bound state, also highlighted the various flagship schemes of the Centre and how the people of Manipur are getting benefits from these welfare schemes. He said that Manipur was the gateway of India's freedom struggle and India's tricolour was first hoisted here. Nadda said that now it is the time for innovation and expansion of infrastructure in Manipur under the leadership of the Prime Minister. "Manipur is witnessing a wave of 'Sabka Saath, Sabka Vikas'. Under (Chief Minister) Biren Singh ji, transformation took place in several sectors," he said. Nadda also said that 2.6 lakh toilets have been built in Manipur, while 10 lakh women account holders in the state have received financial assistance directly into their accounts during Covid-19 under the Jan Dhan Yojana. Manipur also got 1.56 lakh LPG gas connections free of cost, he said, adding that all these measures have further empowered the women in the state. Chief Minister N. Biren Singh also addressed the gathering and praised the efforts of the Prime Minister and other central leaders for undertaking ambitious development projects in Manipur. On Sunday, Nadda would pay a visit to Rajya Sabha MP and BJP leader Maharaja Leishemba Sanajaoba at his residence in Imphal. Elections to the 60-member Manipur Assembly are likely to be held in February-March next year. The BJP-led alliance government has been in power in Manipur since 2017. The National People's Party (NPP) led by Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K. Sangma and the Naga People's Front (NPF) are the two main allies of the ruling BJP. The NPP and the NPF have four members each in the Assembly. New Delhi, Oct 9 : India has till date operationalised 381 air routes under the regional connectivity scheme 'Ude Desh Ka Aam Nagrik' or RCS-Udan. The scheme was launched in 2016. Under it, airlines are provided with a 'Viability Gap Funding' to keep fares affordable and accessible. "To date, 381 routes and 61 airports including 5 heliports and 2 'Water Aerodromes' have been operationalised under the Udan scheme," the Ministry of Civil Aviation said in a statement on Saturday. The announcement comes on the day when Sindhudurg Airport also known as Chipi Airport in Sindhudurg district of Maharashtra was inaugurated by Civil Aviation Minister Jyotiraditya M. Scindia, under the Udan scheme. Consequently, the inauguration marked the commencement of the 61st airport under the scheme and successful operationalisation of the 381 routes under Udan. "Now people can fly at ease by opting for a flight of 85 minutes from Sindhudurg to Mumbai while earlier they were forced to opt for a road or train travel of more than 10 hours between these two cities." Accordingly, Alliance Air was awarded the Sindhudurg-Mumbai route under the Udan 3.1. "The financial incentives in the form of Viability Gap Funding (VGF) is being provided from the Centre, State governments and airport operators to selected airlines to encourage operations from unserved and underserved airports under the scheme." New Delhi, Oct 9 : Iran President Ebrahim Raeisi has condemned the recent terrorist attack in Afghanistan's Kunduz, saying the heinous crime was carried out with US support, Mehr News Agency reported. Raeisi has issued a message of condolence over the martyrdom and injury of a large number of innocent people in a recent terrorist attack in Afghanistan's Kunduz. He also blamed the US for backing the Takfiri terrorist groups, saying, "The US has facilitated the expansion of the activities of ISIL criminals in Afghanistan and prevented up-rooting them." Raeisi also expressed concern over the continuation of terrorist actions and the combination of "religious sedition" with "ethnic sedition", saying that creating division and sedition is part of the new US security plot for Afghanistan, the report said. Raeisi further called for the formation of an inclusive government in Afghanistan as a way of thwarting the plots for Afghanistan, underlining Iran's support for Afghan people. Raeisi offered his condolence to the people of Afghanistan and to all humanity on the martyrdom and injury of a large number of innocent people of Afghanistan who were worshipping in a holy place when they were attacked. A suicide bomber attacked a mosque in Afghanistan's northeastern Kunduz province on Friday, killing at least 46 people and wounding more than 140 others. The Daesh (ISIL or ISIS) terrorist group claimed responsibility for the attack. Kolkata, Oct 9 : The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI)that is probing the post-poll violence in West Bengal under the directive of Calcutta High Court arrested 11 persons including Mamata Banerjee's election agent in Nandigram Sk Sufian's son-in-law Sk Habibul in Nandigram murder case wherein BJP worker Debabrata Maity was allegedly murdered by Trinamool Congress workers. This is the first time CBI arrested so many people in a particular case. On Saturday morning, all the accused were asked to present at the Calcutta Port Trust guest house in Haldia that is around 40 km away from Nandigram. The accused included Sheikh Baitul Islam, son-in-law of Trinamool leader Sufian, who is the head of Nandigram's anchal no 4, Sheikh Shahabuddin Kendamari who is the former head of anchal No. 3 and Sheikh Habibur Rahman is the head of region number two of Mohammadpur. The CBI also arrested 9 more people. It is to be mentioned that the probe agency had interrogated Sufian also in the murder case but his name did not figure out in the charge-sheet that CBI submitted before the Additional chief judicial magistrate of Haldia sub-divisional court on Friday. Though Sufian claimed it to be the moral victory of the party, the arrest of his son-in-law has definitely pushed the ruling party to the back seat. In the chargesheet submitted before the court on Friday the agency had registered a case over Maiti's death on September 30 following a Calcutta High Court order. The chargesheet, had names of Sk Mijanur, Sk Fatenur and Sk Emdadul Islam who were arrested by Nandigram police following investigations into the fatal attack, allegedly orchestrated by Trinamool Congress supporters. Debabrata Maiti, a BJP activist from Chillagram in Nandigram, was killed after the results of the state assembly elections came out. Trinamool was accused of killing him. After the arrest, tensions erupted after the arrest near the temporary CBI camp in Haldia. Local grassroots leaders and activists gathered and started shouting slogans in front of the gate of district Trinamool president Devprasad Mandal was also allegedly prevented from trying to enter the temporary CBI camp. Later, the police personnel of Haldia police station reached the spot and all the accused were then produced in the Haldia sub divisional court. Lots of police and CRPF personnel were deployed in the court premises. Hyderabad, Oct 9 : Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao on Saturday directed the officials to launch an action plan from the third week of October to settle the Podu land (shifting agricultural land) issue in the state. The decision comes in the wake of increasing incidents of disputes and even clashes between tribals and forest officials. He made it clear that once the Podu land issue comes to a logical end, the officials should take all measures to ensure that even an inch of forest land is not encroached and there should be an end to the land grabbing in the forest areas. The chief minister said the state government would not hesitate to take any stringent measure to protect the forests in the state. He said if need be, an all-party meeting would be convened as part of finding a solution to the Podu lands issue and he would demonstrate and practically show with evidence to the leaders on how forestland is being encroached upon. KCR, as the chief minister is popularly known, instructed the officials to prepare guidelines to appoint the Forest Protection Committees in the state. The Chief Minister said the Podu cultivation which is taking place in the middle of the forest would be shifted to the edge of the forest areas and land would be allotted. Those who are shifted will be given certificates. They will also get power and water supply and will also be extended benefits of Rythu Bandhu and Rythu Bhima schemes. The chief minister on Saturday held a meeting with senior officials to review Podu land issue. The Chief Minister has instructed Chief Secretary Somesh Kumar to start taking applications on Podu lands from October third week, based on the information given in the applications field level survey should be done and ascertain facts about the land details. He said meetings should be held with all the district collectors and required orders should be issued. He said suggestions and advices given by the MLAs should be taken. He wanted forest department officials in coordination with the Tribal Welfare department to play a key role in the protection of forestlands. The Chief Minister declared that the forestland survey would begin from November. He wanted forestland boundaries should be fixed with the coordinates. He instructed the officials to set up fencing or dig trenches for the proper protection of the forestlands. New Delhi, Oct 9 : Scores of Kashmiri Pandits staged a demonstration at the Jantar Mantar here on Saturday demanding security for the minority community in Jammu and Kashmir in the light of the recent targeted killings of civilians by terrorists in Srinagar. "We demand security for the Kashmiri Pandits in Jammu and Kashmir. A few of us on behalf of the community will also submit a memorandum to Home Minister Amit Shah on this," a person named Rakesh (40) told IANS. In what is being called selective and systematic killings, three Hindus and one Sikh teacher were gunned down by terrorists in Srinagar recently. Warnings were also issued against a few others. The killings created panic amongst the community members, due to which many people have reportedly fled Srinagar, drawing a comparison with the exodus of 1990. "The killings are not new in Kashmir. Such incidents have occured earlier as well. These terrorists enter universities and forcefully check everyone's identity card. Those who are found to be non-Muslims are either taken away or killed," another person who took part in the demonstration said on condition of anonymity. A demonstrator named Aarti, a housewife who had fled from Kashmir in the 90s, questioned the BJP, saying, "In the past the party had assured the Kashmiri Pandits that it will fight for justice for us. But none of us have seen anything happening on the ground." The demonstrators carried out a candle light vigil holding placards. They also raised slogans against Pakistan for sponsoring terrorism in the Union Territory. "Kashmiri Pandits who had fled their homes in 1990 were promised that they will soon be able to return to their homes. How can that happen when the ones living in Jammu and Kashmir are not safe. We appeal to the government to ensure their safety first," said Shalini Chakko, a young Kashmiri Pandit born and brought up in Delhi. Harare, Oct 9 : Openers Gaby Lewis, and Leah Paul put together a hundred-run stand as Ireland chased down 179 to beat Zimbabwe by eight wickets with 11 overs to spare and take a 2-1 lead in the four-match ODI series. Choosing to bat first after winning the toss, Zimbabwe were all out for 178 in 47 overs. In response, Ireland 179/2 in 39 overs with Gaby Lewis hitting 96 off 129 balls and Leah Paul scoring 63 off 83. Chasing 179 for the win, openers Leah Paul and Gaby Lewis continued where they left off in the previous game where they each scored a half-century in Ireland's 80-run win. They ensured that Ireland did not lose early wickets and built a solid partnership to take the team to 37/0 in 10 overs. Leah and Gaby soon reached their respective fifties for the second game in a row and also brought up their second consecutive 100-run opening stand. Zimbabwe finally got a breakthrough and broke the 145-run opening stand. Tasmeen Granger dismissed Leah for 63. Four over later, Amy Hunter was Granger's next victim as she fell for 4. Gaby and Orla Prendergast then took Ireland to victory with 11 overs to spare, with the former left stranded on four runs short of her maiden ODI century. Earlier, openers Chiedza Dhururu and Modester Mupachikwa got Zimbabwe off to a steady start with a 39-run stand. The decision to introduce spin and bring Cara Murray into the attack proved to be a brilliant one as she removed the openers off consecutive overs. Mary-Anne Musonda's counter-attacking 22-ball 26 helped Zimbabwe keep the scoreboard ticking but her wicket triggered a mini-collapse. The hosts lost three wickets for five runs in a span of four overs, with Leah Paul accounting for two scalps as they lost half their side for 81. Loreen Tshuma and Precious Marange revived Zimbabwe's innings with a 34-run partnership but Celeste Raack broke the back of the lower-order with three wickets. The tail did not offer much resistance as Zimbabwe were bundled out for 178. The two teams will clash in the final ODI on Monday. Lucknow, Oct 9 : Ashish Misra, the son of Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Misra, has been arrested by the Uttar Pradesh Police after 12 hours of interrogation on Saturday for his alleged role in the October 3 violence in Lakhimpur Kheri that left nine persons dead, confirmed Upendra Agrawal, DIG, Saharanpur (Range). According to sources, Misra has been arrested for not cooperating with the ongoing investigation by the police. After being served a second notice, Ashish Misra, who has been accused of running over farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri, appeared before the police on Saturday to record his statement. Many of his supporters also reached the Crime Branch office in Lakhimpur Kheri where the interrogation took place. His lawyer Awadhesh Singh was also present along with Sadar MLA Yogesh Verma. The second notice sent by the police had asked Ashish Misra to appear before it on Saturday after he failed to do so on Friday. The notice had also warned Ashish Misra that if he fails to appear, necessary legal action would be initiated against him. New Delhi, Oct 9 : The United States and the Taliban are meeting again in Doha. This will be the first meeting after the takeover of Kabul in August by the insurgent group. But the US special Representative Zalmay Khalilzad, an icon of the Doha round of talks, is not part of the US delegation. Instead, his deputy Tom West and the chief of USAID, Sarah Charles will be leading the US delegation. Zalmay Khalilzad is said to be the one who has for years spearheaded US talks with the Taliban in Doha. The dialogue did not go according to plan, and the Taliban returned to power in Afghanistan ahead of schedule, through unilateral military action. There is a change in the Taliban side too. Instead of Mullah Baradar, now acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi is leading the delegation with all new faces. The delegation includes information and culture minister Khairullah Khairkhwa, the director of intelligence Mullah Abdulhaq Wasiq, interior deputy minister Malwlawi Noor Jalal, Shabuddin Delawar and Haji Mohammad. Most of them are close aides of the Interior Minister Sirajuddin Haqqani. "This meeting is not about granting recognition or conferring legitimacy. We remain clear that any legitimacy must be earned through the Taliban's own actions. They need to establish a sustained track record," reports Reuter quoting the US official sources. It was only last year when Khalilzad and Mullah Baradar were credited for the US-Taliban historic Doha agreement and after the Taliban's victory, it was believed that Baradar will be leading the new Taliban government in Kabul. But thanks to Pakistan, he lost to the powerful Haqqanis and had to lick his wounds. He was "demoted" as one of the deputies of the Prime Minister of the new Taliban government. But Baradar's dear friend, the US envoy Khalilzad who got him out of the Pakistani jail to kick start the peace talks, is still on the job. Despite a clamour that his head should roll after the Afghan fiasco, US President Joe Biden has refused to sack him. The US lawmaker Michael Waltz, an Afghan veteran, sent a letter to Biden pillorying Khalilzad's performance. "Khalilzad has provided you with poor counsel and his diplomatic strategy has failed spectacularly", reported AFP quoting his letter. Khalilzad's last tweet was begging the Taliban to pull back its fighters as they converged on Kabul."We demand an immediate end to attacks against cities, urge a political settlement, and warn that a government imposed by force will be a pariah state," the envoy wrote. Once a prolific social media bullhorn, Khalilzad has gone silent since the Taliban returned to power and the chaos that followed during the US evacuations. He was seen as the main precursor to the Pashtun-dominated group's lightning victory in Afghanistan. He was the one who insisted that the Taliban had changed and said that they were not the same group who deceived the Clinton administration in pre-9/11 diplomacy. According to US analyst Loannis Koskinas, a senior fellow in the international security programme of New America told TRT World, "The Taliban were explicit in their intent of a total takeover of Afghanistan. Ambassador Khalilzad's efforts were supposed to be about a graceful exit for the US that didn't leave a mess behind, in Afghanistan. The Taliban achieved their goal; Ambassador Khalilzad did not." Now the US and Taliban are meeting again at the same venue in Doha for a two day talks and from the US side, the agenda is clear. The US will remind the Taliban of its commitment that it will not allow Afghanistan to again become a hotbed for Al-Qaeda and other extremists while pressing the group to improve access for humanitarian aid as the country faces the prospect of a "really severe and probably impossible to prevent" economic contraction. It will press the Taliban to ensure continued safe passage for US citizens and others out of Afghanistan and to release kidnapped US citizen Mark Frerichs who has been under the custody of the Haqqani Network. (The content is being carried under an arrangement with indianarrative.com) --indianarrative Gandhinagar, Oct 9 : A man who had abandoned an 8/9-month-old boy child here on Friday evening, following which the police swung into action to collect the infant's whereabouts, has been finally traced to Kota in Rajasthan, officials said on Saturday. Gujarat Minister of State for Home, Harsh Sanghavi, had earlier in the day said that the police have sent requests to other states regarding the child, who was abandoned on Friday evening. The man has been identified as Sachin Kumar Nandkishor Dixit, a resident of Sector 26 in Gandhinagar. The details were gathered by the police through the registration number of the car from which a man was seen coming out -- in the CCTV footage -- and dumping a child. Interacting with the media, Sanghavi said: "The police came to know that the child's name is Shivansh. His father had been living at that place since 10 years... he was working with a Vadodara-based company called 'Ozone'. Sachin originally belongs to Uttar Pradesh. The police also got this information that the child was not the son of his wife and currently, the identity of the child's other parent is dubious. Once we question his father, more details will emerge." The police have named the child Smit. Sanghavi said the Gandhinagar Police team has reached Rajasthan to bring back the abandoned child's father. The minister also said that there were more than 190 requests from couples who wished to adopt the child. The boy was found in an abandoned state on the gates of Swaminarayan cattlepond on Friday evening. "The child was abandoned over an altercation between the husband and his wife -- who is not the mother of the child," Sanghavi told the media. "Within 4 to 5 hours, the police will be bringing back the boy's father and interrogate him for further investigation. We have received help from all sections of the society -- from the police, the hospital staff and the media -- who did a fabulous job in finding the whereabouts of the child," added Sanghavi. "When I held the child on my arms on Saturday morning, I just wondered how could someone abandon such a beautiful boy? Throughout the day, we have received requests from over 190 couples who wanted to adopt this child," added Sanghavi. Speaking on the future of the child as he is torn between the biological mother and the 'stepmother', the minister said: "The government's priority is to hand over the child to the parents and if any imbroglio follows, the state government would take action." When the police went to Sachin's Gandhinagar residence, the house was found locked and the cellphone switched off. The neighbours told the police that Sachin had left for Rajasthan on Saturday morning, the minister said. Hyderabad, Oct 9 : Leading actor Jagapathi Babu has welcomed Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao's proposal to create a Green Fund, terming it as a very good development. He said the Green Fund would create an opportunity for everyone to increase and grow green cover as their responsibility. Jagapathi Babu participated in the shooting of the film 'Simbaa, the Forestman' at the Dhulapally Forest Academy on the outskirts of Hyderabad. The film is being made with a tag line 'Let us allow the plant that allows us to live, to live'. Jagapathi Babu is portraying the character of a forest officer and the film is based on forest and environment protection. Jagapathi Babu along with director Sampath Nandi and other unit members also participated in the Green India Challenge Programme of MP J. Santosh Kumar and planted saplings. Jagapathi Babu said that the steps taken and the measures initiated by the Telangana government to protect and preserve nature are very good and the Green India Challenge programme launched by Santosh Kumar is instilling confidence in everyone. Bengaluru, Oct 10 : IT raids have continued on the third consecutive day in Karnataka on Sunday. The IT sleuths have continued to their searches in the residence of Somashekar, a class one contractor close to Umesh, the aide of former Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa. The officers have zeroed in on the residence of Somashekar in Bengaluru and questioning him about the transaction of money between him and Umesh. Sources explained that Somashekar was very close to Umesh and they jointly operated deals related to the projects and tenders of the Irrigation Department. IT officers said to have obtained crucial documents from the residence of Umesh and are now questioning Somashekar. Sources explain that this will lead to the raids on many more contractors in the state. However, Karnataka Congress President D.K. Shivakumar attacked the ruling BJP government in this connection. "The intention of the raids is to control Yediyurappa. His close aide's residences and offices have been raided to tame him. There is politics behind the raids," he said. "I know about few ministers who are presently sitting in New Delhi and pleading with authorities not to conducts raids on them. I have knowledge about 'certain meetings' of the Irrigation department held in Bengaluru hotels. Why raids are not conducted on them. Few are protected," he alleged. IT raids targeting close circles of Yediyurappa and his son B.Y. Vijayendra has given room for many suspicions. "I believe there is politics behind IT raids," Opposition leader Siddaramaiah maintained. As many as 300 officers from the IT department conducted raids in 50 locations across Karnataka on Thursday (September 7) from early morning. Sources said that the raids were conducted on the specific inputs regarding huge kickbacks while implementing various schemes to the tune of Rs 20,000 crores in the Water Resources Ministry during the tenure of Yediyurappa. The officers raided the house of Umesh, who was the BMTC conductor cum driver turned contractor, who is allegedly made fortunes after coming into the close circles of Yediyurappa. He worked as the Personal Secretary of Yediyurappa and his services were also continued by the Bommai government. However, after this fact came out in open, his appointment was taken back. Even former Chief Minister H.D. Kumaraswamy has also stated that IT raids are done to take Yediyurappa and his son Vijayendra into control. ArhamSoft (Pvt) Ltd. is pleased to announce its participation in the worlds biggest tech show, GITEX, at Dubai World Trade Center UAE. As a significant part of the digital revolution, ArhamSoft believes in the interconnected power of business, innovation, and technology. We recently won the Pakistan Digital Award, and Clutch also recognized us as a top-rated custom software development company. With this all and a lot more at our end, we are pleased to join in big tech players appearing at GITEX Technology Week. GITEX is one of the most significant community events that bring the leading brands, next-gen innovators, global startups, investors, and founders under one roof. Mr. Irfan Zafar, CEO of ArhamSoft, said, We are delighted to confirm our place at GITEX and display our creative and exciting array of business solutions once again. We see our continuous presence at GITEX as a significant achievement in the companys expansion strategy in the Middle East. We are eagerly waiting to connect with IT consumers and tech partners from around the world, he added. ArhamSoft takes on this opportunity to showcase its innovative range of IT products and business solutions, offering unbeatable performance at a highly competitive cost. The event will take place at Dubai World Trade Center from 17 to 21 October. This year it will be home to: 700+ startups from 60+ countries 400+ of the most active investors 450+ Speakers ArhamSoft always strives to ignite positive and productive change in the business community in particular and society on the whole. So, it is a proud moment for us to exhibit at the worlds gigantic hub for business owners, innovators, entrepreneurs, and investors from around the globe. Meet us at: Stand Number Z5-309 Zabeel Hall 5 Dubai World Trade Center United Arab Emirates About ArhamSoft: ArhamSoft (Pvt) Ltd. is a global software services provider. Established in 2007, the company has matured into a mid-sized, ISO-certified IT organization delivering innovative business solutions and technology services across multiple domains. It devotedly operates with a synergistic approach and aims to set a benchmark of excellence and perfection in providing enterprise-grade custom software solutions. ArhamSoft uses the best industry practices and modern technology stack to build business solutions for companies and serve the community through innovative projects like Mathlete. In addition, ArhamSoft has developed a full-fledged offshore outsourcing division to provide IT services to clients worldwide through dedicated resources. Portfolio: https://bit.ly/3AeALPB Contact Person: Name: Danish Hameed Designation: BD Manager Mobile No: 923459666526 Email: danish.hameed@arhamsoft.com Website: https://www.arhamsoft.com/desktop-development Brandon Bir My hope is that bringing attention to this subject will spark more conversations and more movement towards a better tomorrow for ALL people involved in coffee, especially for the people least represented. Brandon Bir, director of sustainability for Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea, will speak on a panel about Information and Education Access as a Consumer-Side Change Agent" on October 21, 2021 at 12 p.m. CDT. Other panelists include Cheyenne Xochitl Love, Founder of Queer Wave Coffee; Lori Jones, Owner of Blackology Coffee; and Darrell Baskin, Retail Educator at Groundwork Coffee. The panel is the second in a four-part Equity in Coffee conversation series presented by the Coffee Equity Lab, an experiential learning and research lab at The Wondry, Vanderbilt Universitys innovation center. Register at this link for the free online series. Im honored to be given a platform to talk about my experience within the industry, Bir said. Bringing attention and equity to all involved in the value chain has always been my underlying goal as a coffee professional. The series addresses how race, gender, socioeconomic class, geographic location, native language, and other factors affect coffee professionals access to information, education, and professional development experiences. Moderators and speakers will share their unique perspectives and offer insights to create a more equitable coffee sector for all. My hope is that bringing attention to this subject will spark more conversations and more movement towards a better tomorrow for ALL people involved in coffee, especially for the people least represented, Bir said. These types of events are important for the sustainability of our industry, as more and more people who are treated unfairly are leaving coffee altogether. What a loss! With over 14 years of specialty coffee experience, Bir serves as East Regional Coordinator for the Specialty Coffee Association USA Chapter Committee. He joined Crimson Cup in April 2010. As Director of Sustainability, he travels over 100,000 miles in an average year to grow relationships with coffee farmers and processors. Through its Friend2Farmer initiatives, Crimson Cup works hand-in-hand to connect farmers and cooperatives to resources that allow them to increase the quality of coffee and life for their communities. Birs team makes several trips a year to source exceptional coffees, strengthen relationships and help fund community-enriching projects like schools, homes and water filtration. The roaster maintains over 50 mutually rewarding relationships with smallholder coffee farmers in Central and South America, Africa and Asia. The initiatives contribute to The Ripple Effect: a focus on good that ripples outward to affect the lives of Crimson Cups team, partners and community for years and generations to come. Bir also teaches classes and judges at coffee industry events, including the Golden Bean North America and Australia/New Zealand coffee roasting awards. Among other coffee industry qualifications, he is an Assistant Q Instructor for the Coffee Quality Institute, SCA Lab/Campus Inspector, Authorized SCA Trainer (AST), SCA Specialized Instructor and SCA Lead Instructor. He also serves on the board of the Ohio Culinary Science Advisory Board and volunteers as an SCA Sensory Skills Course Contributor. He earned a Master of Business Administration in International Business and Sustainability from The University of Wisconsin. About Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea Columbus, Ohio coffee roaster Crimson Cup Coffee & Tea is celebrating 30 years of Coffee + Community. Since May 1991, Crimson Cup has roasted sustainably sourced craft coffee for consumers and wholesale coffee customers. It is a 2020 Good Food Award winner, 2019 Golden Bear Champion for Small Franchise/Chain Roaster and Roast magazines 2016 Macro Roaster of the Year. Through its 7 Steps to Success coffee shop startup program, the company teaches entrepreneurs to run independent coffee houses in their local communities. By developing a coffee shop business plan, entrepreneurs gain insight into how much it costs to open a coffee shop. Crimson Cup also supports life-enriching projects through its Friend2Farmer initiatives, promoting the education, health, sustainability and economic growth of small-plot coffee farmers and their communities. Crimson Cup coffee is available through over 350 independent coffee houses, grocers, college and universities, restaurants and food service operations across 30 states, Guam and Bangladesh. The company also operates several Crimson Cup Coffee Houses and a new Crimson retail flagship store. To learn more, visit crimsoncup.com, or follow the company on Facebook and Instagram. i95Dev has helped 250+ customers across 25+ industries and 15+ countries in minimizing their Time to Market and Maximize their ROI. i95Devs integrated eCommerce solution offers a powerful, secure, and agile platform with world-class capabilities to empower eCommerce businesses worldwide. i95Dev, a leading provider of solutions that power eCommerce businesses globally is a Gold sponsor at the Community Summit North America 2021. Summit North America is the largest independent gathering of prominent players from the Microsoft ERP ecosystem. i95Dev will exhibit its futuristic eCommerce solution for Dynamics ERP and its all-new enterprise-grade Integrated solution that would drive the future of eCommerce. i95Dev helps eCommerce businesses worldwide to delight their customers, drive business process efficiency and maximize their ROI by unleashing the power of integrated eCommerce. i95Dev has helped 250+ customers across 25+ industries and 15+ countries in minimizing their Time to Market and Maximize their ROI. CEO of i95Dev, Vanit Kumar, says, An Integrated approach to the eCommerce value chain is essential for eCommerce businesses looking to grow and thrive in the digital world. We are excited to be at Summit North America 2021 to showcase our robust integration products and an all-new Integrated eCommerce Solution with world-class capabilities built for speed to market, agility to change, and flexibility to scale. i95Dev offers integration products that are robust and support more than 150 touch points between eCommerce and Dynamics ERP systems. The All-new enterprise-class Integrated eCommerce solution offers businesses unmatched agility to meet customers evolving and rapidly changing needs. The integrated eCommerce solution is both B2B and B2C ready and offers an out-of-the-box eCommerce store powered by industry-leading eCommerce platforms. Streamline your business process with integrated support for Microsoft Dynamics ERP systems (Finance, Business Central, AX, NAV, and GP). Leverage in-built advanced analytics tools to enable data-driven decisions. Achieve seamless integration with eBay and Amazon along with access to 2000+ extensions on the marketplace. To learn more about i95Dev and the all-new integrated eCommerce Solution, visit https://www.i95dev.com or drop an email at info@i95dev.com. About i95Dev: i95Dev is a global eCommerce agency that specializes in B2B/B2C integrated omnichannel eCommerce solutions. i95Devs Integrated eCommerce solutions are powered by industry-leading shopping carts (Adobe Magento, BigCommerce, and Shopify) and ERP Platforms. i95Devs eCommerce integration products work with various ERPs, POS, CRM, mobile and social applications that are globally recognized. Over 250+ Retailers, manufacturers, and distributors have leveraged i95Devs products and solutions to delight their customers and drive business process efficiency while maximizing their ROI. With a strong workforce of 300+ eCommerce enthusiasts worldwide, i95Dev has helped energize digital commerce initiatives of clients globally. Two attorneys from global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP were recognized as Attorney of the Year at the Euromoney Legal Media Groups annual Women in Business Law Awards Americas. Presented virtually on Sept. 29, 2021, the awards recognized the firm in two categories. The following attorneys were recognized: Cindy J.K. Davis, chair of the Banking and Financial Services Practice, was named Banking & Finance Lawyer of the Year. Jillian Kirn, a shareholder in the firms Environmental Practice in the Philadelphia office, was named as Environmental Lawyer of the Year. The firm also won awards for Talent Management International Firm and U.S. Midwest Firm of the Year. The firm was also shortlisted by Euromoney in 14 categories and 11 women were shortlisted for individual awards. According to Euromoney, winners are chosen based on their ability to support the development of women in the legal profession and provide a work/life program that empowers women to pursue legal careers. Criteria include the ratio of female-to-male lawyers (at all levels of seniority), the retention of women associates to partner level, and relevant diversity initiatives. Individual winners are selected based on their professional accomplishments as well as advocacy and influence over the last 12 months. Davis, who is based in the firms Atlanta office, focuses her practice on representing domestic and international banks, finance companies, hedge funds, private equity sponsors, and corporate borrowers in complex financing transactions. She frequently represents lead arrangers and agents in structuring and underwriting syndicated loan transactions. Her typical transactions include U.S. and international asset-based and cash-flow secured and unsecured credit facilities, acquisition financings and other leveraged buyouts, and first and second lien credit facilities. Davis also has experience in structuring complex credit transactions, including those involving multicurrency facilities and cross-border lending arrangements. Daviss finance practice ranges from middle-market club deals to multibillion-dollar investment-grade widely syndicated credit facilities. She has represented clients on financings in virtually every type of industry, including food and agribusiness, retail, health care, media/telecom, and gaming. Kirn, who is based in the Philadelphia office, focuses her practice on complex environmental and energy litigation, regulatory compliance counseling, and resolution of environmental liabilities identified in the course of transactions. She has wide-ranging experience representing clients in litigation in state and federal courts and routinely assists clients with risk management matters in the context of project redevelopments, renewable energy transactions, and the acquisition, sale, and financing of contaminated real estate. Kirn regularly counsels clients regarding environmental issues arising from innovative projects and the development and implementation of sustainability, ESG, and environmental, health, and safety management programs. About Greenberg Traurigs Womens Initiative: Greenberg Traurig is committed to its women lawyers success, which includes a firmwide womens affinity group encompassing recruiting, retention, and business development. The firm regularly collaborates with like-minded organizations to address these issues on a broader scale in a variety of industries and communities. Greenberg Traurig also takes thoughtful action to address issues such as maintaining a healthy work-life balance, breaking the glass ceiling, mentoring, creating and maintaining healthy lifestyles, and giving back to the community. Twitter: @GTLawWomen About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has approximately 2300 attorneys in 40 locations in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia, and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, diversity, and innovation, and is consistently among the largest firms in the U.S. on the Law360 400 and among the Top 20 on the Am Law Global 100. The firm is net carbon neutral with respect to its office energy usage and Mansfield Rule 4.0 Plus Certified. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Queens Quay Energy Centre We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work alongside West Dunbartonshire Council and Vital Energi and are proud to be leading the way in delivering low carbon district heating The groundbreaking district heating system was commissioned by West Dunbartonshire Council in 2019, in conjunction with Star Renewable Energy (Star Refrigerations renewable heating business) and developers Vital Energi. The renewable energy system will provide affordable low carbon heating and hot water to around 1,200 homes and businesses across an entire district. The Queens Quay district heating system uses pioneering heat pump technology to extract cold water from the River Clyde at a rate of 125 litres per second. Two large-scale industrial heat pumps use ammonia as a refrigerant to increase the temperature of the river water from 6-12C, up to 80C. Hot water is then supplied via a 2.5km pipe network to heat residential and commercial buildings across the 23-hectare development. Star Refrigerations Group Sustainable Development Director, Dave Pearson said: The Queens Quay project is the first large-scale deployment of this renewable energy technology in the UK. We are delighted to have had the opportunity to work alongside West Dunbartonshire Council and Vital Energi and are proud to be leading the way in delivering low carbon district heating. Renewable energy experts believe that utilising water for heating has a long list of benefits compared to burning fossil fuels. Engineers behind the project are confident that water source heat pump technology has the ability to transform the way the UK generates low carbon heat. Dave Pearson adds: There is extraordinary potential for water source heat pumps to be deployed across the UK by extracting heat from rivers, canals and coastline. With a ban on gas heating for new homes coming into effect in 2025, many building developers and local authorities are interested in exploring low carbon options. To encourage uptake, we need a joined-up and incentivised UK energy policy to ensure renewable energy schemes are economically supported. Inspired by the success of the Queens Quay project, many local authorities are now looking to invest in large scale district heating systems. Star Renewable Energy and Vital Energi are currently working with a number of clients to help them achieve their vision and develop further heat pump projects in the UK. The Queens Quay district heating system was recently awarded a top accolade by the European Heat Pump Association (EHPA), receiving the Heat Pump City of the Year title. Now in its eleventh year, the EHPAs annual Heat Pump Awards recognise five of the most efficient, smart and sustainable heat pump projects across Europe. Star Renewable Energy is committed to developing large-scale heat pump systems to offer effective, reliable and sustainable solutions that are both technically and financially viable. For more information, please visit https://www.neatpumps.com/case-studies/queens-quay-water-source-heat-pumps-for-district-heating/ Barbados-born Sueann Tannis, Senior Director, Integrated Communications at the United Nations Foundation, has been accepted into the Forbes Communications Council, an invitation-only community for executives in communications, marketing, and public relations. Sueann was vetted and selected by a review committee based on the depth and diversity of her experience. Criteria for acceptance include a track record of successfully impacting organizations growth metrics, as well as personal and professional achievements and honors. We are honored to welcome Sueann into the community, said Scott Gerber, founder of Forbes Councils, the collective that includes Forbes Communications Council. Our mission with Forbes Councils is to bring together proven leaders from every industry, creating a curated, social capital-driven network that helps every member grow professionally and make an even greater impact on the business world. As an accepted member of the Council, Sueann has access to a variety of exclusive opportunities designed to help her reach peak professional influence. She will connect and collaborate with other respected local leaders in a private forum. Sueann will also work with a professional editorial team to share her expert insights in original business articles on Forbes.com, and to contribute to published Q&A panels alongside other experts. I am thrilled to have been accepted into the Council, and honored to be named among this outstanding global community of communication leaders. I am looking forward to sharing my perspectives and insights on Forbes.com, and to learning from my peers on the Council, said Sueann. Sueann has worked in the communications sector for more than 15 years, nearly seven of which have been in international development. Prior to joining UN Foundation, she was Head of Corporate Communications at the Caribbean Development Bank. Sueann holds a Masters degree in Public Relations from Georgetown University, and an undergraduate degree in Communication and Culture from Howard University. ABOUT FORBES COUNCILS Forbes Councils is a collective of invitation-only communities created in partnership with Forbes and the expert community builders who founded Young Entrepreneur Council (YEC). In Forbes Councils, exceptional business owners and leaders come together with the people and resources that can help them thrive. For more information about Forbes Communications Council, visit forbescommcouncil.com. To learn more about Forbes Councils, visit forbescouncils.com. ABOUT UN FOUNDATION The United Nations Foundation is an independent charitable organization created to be a strategic partner for the United Nations to address humanitys greatest challenges, build initiatives across sectors to solve problems at scale, and drive global progress. Learn more at unfoundation.org In Stacy Willinghams thriller A Flicker in the Dark (Minotaur, Jan. 2022), a convicted killers daughter grapples with her fathers legacy, and with her terror as young girls begin disappearing, once again, from her Louisiana hometown. Her father cant be responsible this timehes serving decades behind barsand shes determined to find out who the culprit is. PW spoke with Willingham about how she crafted her psychologist-turned-sleuth protagonist and how she hopes her book, which has been optioned for a limited series by actor Emma Stones production company, will challenge readers. Describe the inspiration for your book. I always had a fascination with serial killers and psychology. There are a lot of great books already in this space, but the ones I knew and loved focused on the cat-and-mouse game between detective and killer. I wanted to look at this story through the eyes of someone who loved the killer. It wouldnt be just this one-dimensional wicked killer story. It would explore complicated emotions through his daughters eyes. Your protagonist, Chloe, is a psychologist. Whats it like writing a character who knows so much about human nature? Shes so far from perfect, which makes her interesting but frustratingI just wanted to shake her sometimes. She gives herself the advice she gives her clients, but doesnt always follow it. Chloe knows a lot about trauma because of her childhood, but its not so easy for her to accept her own advice. She needs to move past the trauma, but shes still wrapped up in it. As the daughter of a convicted murderer, Chloe is naturally distrustful. Does that make her a better investigator? She looks at everyone with suspicion, even herself. She thinks about all these red flags in her childhood that she didnt see until it was too late. As an adult, shes distrustful of people who may not deserve itand of those who do. This is good and bad. It allows her to look at people carefully, but its tough, and it puts her at a disadvantage, not to be able to trust herself. You live in Charleston, S.C., and your book is set in Breaux Bridge, La. What interests you about the South? Theres something so visceral and unique about a Southern setting. The air is so thick and hot you can feel it. Its like butter. The sound of the shrieking cicadas, the frogstheres a real white noise. This story needed to be in the South, and Louisiana just felt right. I needed a small town, because the disappearance of six girls in a small population would be so huge. Breaux Bridge is also the crawfish capital of the world. The crawfish festival scene was my favorite chapter to write. What do you hope readers will take away from your book? I want to challenge every reader. If you were Chloeif you came from an otherwise loving family, had fond memories of a parent, and then realized something was going on under your own roof that was so evil and you had no ideahow would you see the world? How would you see yourself? Back to Main Feature. Joseph Knoxs True Crime Story (Sourcebooks, Dec.) plays with genresboth as a postmodern crime novel that reads like a case file and as an examination of the fascination with true crime itself. The novel, which was a bestseller in the U.K., centers on the case of Zoe Nolan, a young British woman who walks out of her dorm in Manchester in 2011 and is never seen again. Knox, a former crime fiction buyer at the British bookstore chain Waterstones, tells the story through oral histories, emails, and other assorted documentsand even appears himself, as a character whos drawn into the mystery by friend. PW talked with Knox about the popularity of true crime and how book buying plays into book writing. What sparked the idea for this book? The oral history idea had been bubbling away at the back of my mind. In the intervening years, true crime had risen up as this incredible force, and the two things began to cohere. I was listening to a lot of true crime podcasts that used the oral history formatintercutting interviews to allow people to argue and rebut these matters of life and death. I also knew that circling events around the disappearance of a young woman would allow me to ask questions about the ways in which male writers approach that kind of violence, and to hold myself accountable for it in some sense. What does the book say about our fixation on true crime, especially the dead girl narrative? While the book is critical about media exploitation of dead or missing girlsgirls being essential to the narrative; women rarely making the cut in the same way, and this is before we take race into accountand while it casts a glance at young men writing about butchered women to sell books, ultimately and awfully, I think this kind of violence is a fact of life rather than just a fact of true crime. I dont think a writer working in these genres is really doing their job if they just pretend its not there. Thats no excuse for sloppy or salacious work, though. For me, everything in books is about approachstyle, atmosphere, and tone. What do you think is behind the booming interest in true crime? I think its no coincidence that the real boom in true crime came from podcasts and documentaries. The voices, the transient community we briefly become a part of, create a weird kind of togetherness where we can safely look at our greatest fears. Youre familiar with crime writing not only as an author but a former book buyer. Did that experience influence the writing of True Crime Story? Only in so far as I read more crime novels than is probably commonor sensibleand knew which cliches to avoid and which to steal. I never bought true crime for the company, just crime fiction. Perhaps that was useful, though. In writing, the great trick is to stop thinking and just fully inhabit whatever world youre trying to create. Back to Main Feature Tom Bissell isnt quite sure what to call himself. Is he a fiction writer, a journalist, a cultural critic, a video game writer? Hes all of these things and, by own his admission, none of them. When it comes to form, Bissell says, I view myself as completely homeless. I dont have one, I dont want one. Nevertheless, its hard not to see his new story collection, Creative Types (Pantheon, Dec.), as something of a return. In 2005, after his nonfiction book Chasing the Sea, Bissell published the collection God Lives in St. Petersburg, as auspicious a fiction debut as any. Its title story won a Pushcart Prize, and two others spawned film adaptations, including one directed by Werner Herzog. Pankaj Mishra, lauding the book in the New York Times, said the short story seems the right form for him. Bissell, 47, has not heeded that guidance. Since then hes amassed a CV of almost dizzying variability. Hes published several nonfiction books, including The Disaster Artist (with Greg Sestero), a history of Tommy Wiseaus The Room, widely considered one of the worst films ever made; contributed reported pieces, travel essays, and criticism to magazines including Harpers and the New Yorker; and worked as a writer on at least a dozen video games, including installments of the hit franchise Gears of War. Hes also forayed into Hollywood, having recently served as a writer and co-developer on the Apple TV+ series The Mosquito Coast, starring Justin Theroux. Bissell, speaking from his home in Los Angeles, describes his iron-in-every-fire resume with charming, mordant equanimity. My entire career has just been an accidental stumble from one way to make a living as a writer to another, he says. Short fiction has expressly not been one of the ways Bissell has made a living, and that, he says, is why he loves the form so much. To me, short fictiona thing that is guaranteed not to make you moneyis always the place where I go when I have time, when I need to recharge myself, when I need to remind myself that I actually like writing, he explains. Its coming from a completely different place. Stories might be a refuge from Bissells jobbier jobs, but the entries in Creative Types clearly take inspiration from them. The characters include a reality TV producer, a Hollywood assistant, a magazine journalist, and a travel writer who by his own description has never made it off the worstseller list. For Bissell, the stories function as updates about my own career anxieties, going through the last 10 years. And since, he says, writers career anxieties tend to be the most boring things imaginable, he decided to make them funny. I always try to create exaggerated versions of myself and then beat the shit out of them on the page. The characters in the collection share more than largely unsatisfying creative careers. They also tend to be peripheral figures: people adjacent to power or major events but terminally excluded from them. In My Interview with the Avenger, a writer for Esquire profiles a mysterious man whos become a vigilante crime-fighting sensation. In The Hack, the assistant to James Franco teeters between his worship of celebrities and his simmering ambition to rise through the ranks and become their lord. (If it werent already an Ava Max song, that story could be called Sweet but Psycho.) Bissell says this peripheral perspective comes from his work as a journalist. I instinctively go to that position in fiction because its a position Im so used to as a nonfiction writer, he adds. Youre constantly looking around the edges of the significant thing thats happening. Bissells journalism has informed his fiction in other ways. Most of these storiesI weirdly reported them, he says. I have a hard time writing about places I havent been to. I take a lot of notes, just like I would in a reported piece. For some entries, such as Love Story, with Cocaine, he even interviewed people. That story focuses on two characters in Tallinn, Estoniaone a native party girl and the other a washed-up American writerwho form a relationship, half friendship and half romance, centered mainly around the drug of the title. To flesh out the natives backstory, Bissell interviewed a close friend whose childhood, like the characters, coincided with the restoration of Estonias independence. When Im trying to describe the contours of the mind of a rich young woman who came of age right after the fall of the Soviet Union, he says, that is hard to come upon without a native informant. Tallinn, where Bissell lived for a year, is also the setting for what may be the loudest story in Creative Types. In The Fifth Category, a fictionalized version of John Yoo, the legal architect of the Bush administrations infamous torture memos, undergoes a hellish experience on an airplane after attending a conference in the Estonian capital. (Much fun can be had imagining the sniffling protagonists of Love Story, with Cocaine intersecting with Yoo on Tallinns cobbled streets.) Bissell, who in his nonfiction has written extensively about Americas conflicts abroad, says that story was born of anger: a sense of rage that my country was torturing peoplea sense of impotent rage that the people who basically legalized it paid almost no professional price, seemed to pay no moral price. Yoo may seem like a stark departure from the collections other characters, but he shares important qualities with them. He too is a peripheral figure, a henchman to a superpower, and he too is, in his way, a creative type. What are his torture memos if not a literary endeavor? Confronted with the ambiguities of relevant legal and medical literature, Yoo provides his own definitions for things like severe pain and prolonged mental harm. Peripheral figures, the story implies, can become accessories to extravagant cruelty, exemplars of what Hannah Arendt called the banality of evil. That phrase was concocted to diagnose people like John Yoo, Bissell says. I wanted him to pay for that. At the same time, Bissell concedes that rage is a terrible impulse for a fiction writer. Fiction that begins in anger and ends in anger is never good fiction, he says. Perhaps the most disarming thing about The Fifth Category is how human its protagonist seems. For Bissell, fiction is a process of realizing everyone is redeemable. Bissell may have high-minded ideas about fiction, but hes skeptical about its ability to make sense of the worlds horrorsof geopolitical malice, of endless warsin any comprehensive way. All fiction can do is soothe individual people who need answers for something that was traumatic to them, he says. And as much as he enjoys the short story form, he has no plans to make it his main trade. If I were primarily a short story writer, he says, I think I would come to resent that as much as I do anything. The cruel fact of life is that eventually everything becomes your job. The central importance of immigration to the American experience is evident in the heated and polarizing debates over immigration and refugee policy today. The complex issues behind such topics as the history of immigration, forced migration, the undocumented, human trafficking, citizenship, and assimilation continue to inform our understanding of American history and national identity. PW spoke with several publishers about publishing titles on immigration and related issues. Those who weighed in were Wesley Adams, executive editor, FSG Books for Young Readers; Donna Bray, v-p, copublisher, Balzer + Bray; Mary Cash, v-p, editor-in-chief, Holiday House; Alicia Kroell, associate editor, Catapult; Karen Lotz, president and publisher, Candlewick; Amanda Maciel, executive editor, Scholastic; Tracy Mack, v-p, publisher, Scholastic; Andrea Davis Pinkney, v-p, executive editor, Scholastic; Kathy Pories, executive editor, Algonquin; Neal Porter, v-p, publisher, Neal Porter Books; Chloe Ramos-Peterson, book market and library sales manager, Image Comics; Kendall Storey, senior editor, Catapult; Liz Szabla, associate publisher, Feiwel and Friends; Olivia Valcarce, editor, Scholastic; Jeffrey West, assistant editor, Scholastic; Clarissa Wong, senior editor, HarperCollins Childrens Books; and Benjamin Woodward, editor, the New Press. Check out our listing of new and forthcoming immigration-focused titles. How does the subject of immigration and related topics fit within your acquisitions strategy? Wong: As an Asian American, I am a child of immigrant parents and my family and past are intertwined with Asian diaspora. Given how immigration reflects my own family, I tend to look for stories that mirror or are similar to my familys story. Growing up, there were hardly any childrens books about being Asian American; Im working on filling that void and acquiring books that cover the full breadth of the Asian American experience. Ramos-Peterson: As a comics and graphic novel publisher whose model is entirely creator owned, we work to foster a wider, more diverse range of storytelling. That lends itself naturally to passion projects and emerging voices. Many of those voices are dedicated to shining a light on the integral part immigrants play in the tapestry of America, and were excited to be a part of that. Szabla: I look for stories in which kids might see themselves. Does this mean I believe only recent immigrants from Japan will connect with the debut Misako Rocks! graphic novel, Bounce Back? Not at all! The beauty of this and other stories that include immigration experiences is that they are journeys of self-discovery, belonging, and new adventureselements of storytelling that speak to young readers of many different backgrounds. Pinkney: Immigration-related stories are needed more than ever, because immigration is about resilience and trusting in a new future. By building a canon of immigration-related literature, we provide an important tapestry for kids learning in classrooms. One upcoming novel that Im particularly proud of is Sonia Manzanos Coming Up Cuban, set in 1959 at the height of Fidel Castros reign, which delves into the plights of four different children who rise past tyrannys shadow. Pories: For many years, Algonquins lists have been deeply international. Accordingly, we have published and continue to publish many immigration-related books: Julia Alvarezs novels How the Garcia Girls Lost Their Accents and her latest, Afterlife; National Book Award finalist Lisa Kos The Leavers; Shugri Said Salhs The Last Nomad; Layla AlAmmars Silence Is a Sense; and Thrity Umrigars Honor. Forthcoming are Peace Adzo Medies Nightbloom; Nyugen Pha Que Mais Dust Child; and Silas Houses Lark Ascending, which imagines a world where Americans will be the immigrants, fleeing their own country. Lotz: At Candlewick, over the past few years we have seen an increase in immigration-related titles, although of course the topic is not new. With more than 82.4 million forcibly displaced peoples around the globe right now, per the UN Human Rights Council, including an estimated 35 million children under the age of 18, the status of refugees is an incredibly important subject for our times. We hope all our relevant titles, including the upcoming The Waiting Place by Dina Nayeri, help spread that critically important message to help communities come together and individuals to support each other. Storey: Even though immigration is something that touches all our daily lives and family histories, immigrant stories are often shoved to the margins, published in their own genre and functionally ghettoized. We want to publish exciting new immigrant voices in fiction for the same reason we want to publish any great literature: to serve the needs and curiosities of a diverse and serious literary readership. Bray: At Balzer + Bray, we are always looking for new voices in picture books, middle grade, and YA that reflect a variety of childhood experiences. Immigration is such a huge part of the story of America, past and present; its important that children of all ages see that reflected in their books. Mack: Reflecting the immigrant experience in books that I acquire and edit has always been important to me. Twenty-one years ago, I published Pam Munoz Ryans bestselling Esperanza Rising, inspired by her grandmothers journey from Mexico to the United States in 1930, but it feels even more relevant today. We hear that repeatedly from teachers across the country, many of whom have students who relate personally to Esperanzas story. I am looking forward to the release of Alina Chau and Aida Salazars In the Spirit of a Dream, which I inherited from Kait Feldmann, who is now at Harper, and which celebrates immigrants of color. It is essential that we tell all sides of this story to give young readers a full and honest picture of our complicated history. Porter: I look for important stories that need to be told by people who have the authenticity and talent to tell them, verbally and visually. That was certainly the case with Yuyi Moraless Dreamers and her new book, Bright Star. Woodward: Publishing books on immigration-related issues has always been a fundamental part of the New Presss mission to foreground social and racial justice issues and to give a platform to marginalized voices. Most of what we have published has been nonfiction by scholars, activists, and journalists, and some fiction anthologies. Cash: Because we are a country that is continually replenished by immigrants from around the world, we are enriched by an abundance of diverse life experiences, gifts, traditions, perspectives, and insights that these newcomers bring with them. We are challenged to understand these differences, help incorporate newcomers into our society, and learn from themso we need books for children that meet these challenges. If you publish for children, what do you look for in prospective titles and authors? Pinkney: Each author has a story to tell that often stems from their lived experience. And its not only what that story is, its how the story is told. Aida Salazars Land of the Cranes is a powerful example, mixing verse poems, mythology, cultural history, and the real-world realities faced by families torn apart by deportation laws. Readers will experience immigration from behind nine-year-old Betitas eyes. This is what I look for in the novels I publish: being invited to inhabit a characters deepest realities. Cash: I look for authors, illustrators, manuscripts, stories, and ideas that can help illuminate the lives of all people, especially those from people whose experiences have not been widely told, including immigrants. I look for materials on this topic that are relatable and accessible to children, from which they can learn and be inspired. Bray: We love to be surprised, enlightened, moved, and delighted by writers or illustrators storytelling and perspective on the world. We love it when a book shows us a new experience, or a new angle on an experience, that opens our minds and hearts. Were looking for creators who want to engage with children and teens with great empathy. Lotz: We look for writers with expressive writing styles from a diverse range of backgrounds who can tell a story that respects and engages young readers, while drawing from their own unique perspectives. We look for authenticity in voice, accurate social representation, and a strong emotional connection between the writer and the material, whether the book is fiction or nonfiction. West: Im always on the lookout for talented writers who are unapologetic about the stories they want to tell and stories that show the complexity of the immigrant experience. In Zara Hossain Is Here, Sabina Khan draws on her own experience to inform the Hossain familys sudden uncertainty when theyre at risk of losing their permanent residence status. With Freedom Swimmer, Wai Chim has written about choosing to leave the only life youve known behind in search for freedom, inspired by her fathers story of escaping mainland China in the early 1970s. Ramos-Peterson: Regardless of the intended audience age range, a good book is a good bet. Julio Anta and Anna Wieszczyks teen title Home stood out as a story that needed to be told and that had wonderful crossover appeal in that it is an immigrant story told through the lens of the superheros journey. Mack: I am looking for stories that have yet to be told, voices that are underrepresented, and unexplored angles on the stories we think we know. Within these stories, I look for a unique voice, exceptional writing on a sentence level, and multilayered characters who make me feel. I am drawn to authors and artists who create with passion and conviction for their subjects and who want to be true partners. For some, success may come quickly, but for the vast majority, building a career takes time. So patience, persistence, positivity, and openness to self-promotion are key. Adams: I am eager to help amplify the voices of authors and visions of illustrators who lay waste to stereotypes of the immigrant experience in the United States and around the world. Wong: I am typically drawn to picture books and graphic novels that are more lyrical in writing with a strong voice and themes of empowerment. Porter: Authenticity, emotional honesty, and a willingness to tackle subjects not usually thought appropriate for young children. Are new topics emerging under the broad subject of immigration? If so, why do you think this is happening? Bray: In the YA space, were seeing more intersectionality: Laura Gaos Messy Roots and Abdi Nazemians Like a Love Story explore both immigrant and queer identities. Were also starting to publish the work of immigrant authors from outside the U.S., such as Dean Atta and Rahma Rodaah. In picture books, we see more stories that feature intergenerational families, celebrate cultural traditions, and affirm the beauty of different races and ethnicities. The work of organizations such as We Need Diverse Booksamplified by social mediahas been an incredible force in showing that readers are hungry for these books. The embrace of immigration stories in libraries, awards lists, and retail promotions confirms the need for these titles in the market. Woodward: The impact of climate change on migration is certainly receiving more widespread attention than it has previously, since its clear that climate change will only continue to displace more people in greater numbers in the not-too-distant future. But it isnt so much that new topics have emerged under the subject of immigration as it is that there is a greater interest or awareness. Partly because of the appalling anti-immigration policies and rhetoric of the Trump administration, the sheer scale and cruelty of the immigration enforcement machine, and the growing number of refugees along the border, immigration is on peoples radarand you can see that reflected in the number of people writing about immigration and the number of proposals that are being circulated on immigration-related issues. Alongside that, there are more writers, especially younger writers, writing about immigration and migrant identity, and questioning the ways in which immigrants are portrayed. Lotz: Focusing specifically on the plight of refugee peoples is increasingly topical, unfortunately underscored by a shockingly broad lack of political, governmental, and social support for these individuals and families here in the U.S. and in some other countries. Mack: I have noticed a richer array of cultural representation in both the books being published and the submissions I am receiving. I also see more sensitivity around differentiating specific Hispanic cultural experiencesMexican, Cuban, Honduran, etc.from the umbrella of Latine, as one example. Maciel: The childrens book industry has been working for years to diversify and expand its own bordersto debatable success, of courseand the nationwide conversation about immigration policy has absolutely influenced what people want to write and read about. Books about moving to the U.S. provide insight that many readers need, and just as crucially, they can serve as validating mirrors for readers who have lived those stories. Novels like Room to Dream by Kelly Yang keep the conversation going even further, showing readers what happens once a family has established roots in America, and how they still must work to feel American and fulfill their dreams. We owe readers a look at what it takes to come here, and also what it means to stay and thrive. Ramos-Peterson: New stories about the immigration experience, particularly in comics, are always emerging. You might occasionally see some trepidation in the market toward certain genre takes for certain topics, but sometimes opening the door to more creative and unique approaches is as simple as one success. The more that books like Chuck Brown, David Walker, and Sanford Greenes Bitter Root; Pornsak Pichetshote and Alexandre Tefenkgis The Good Asian; Jeremy Holt and George Schalls Made in Korea; and Julio Anta and Anna Wieszczyks Home gain critical acclaim and industry attention, the more itll inspire new stories from different perspectives to come forward, and motivate more publishers to take them on. Adams: With the rise of anti-immigrant rhetoric and policies, immigrant communities are under threat as never beforein this country and elsewhere. But in response, these communities are defending and defining themselves in ever more vocal, creative, and norm-challenging ways, including publishing stories peopled with representative characters and filled with authentic experiences. Wong: Were starting to realize that the immigrant story isnt siloed to only a group of people but rather to everyone. Lately, stories of immigration have become more prominent in the media largely due to the last presidential administration. Joanna Ho was inspired to write Playing at the Border after seeing Yo-Yo Ma perform at the Rio Grande in April 2019 at the U.S.-Mexico border. Yes, its a picture book biography of Yo-Yo Ma, but the larger story is about building bridges to unite people between communities and cultures rather than walls. Two years later, we see a similar story with what is happening in Afghanistan and the influx of refugees. Cash: As the places from which immigrants comeas well as the circumstances under which they comechange, so do the topics and needs. Topics such as the history and culture of Mexico, Chinese holidays and traditions, growing up Dominican in the U.S., having a parent from the Philippines, arriving from Pakistan, and others are partly a result of recent changing demographics. Amiras Picture Day by Reem Faruqui, about the Muslim holiday Eid, and Sunday Is Funday in Koreatown by Aram Kim are two newer titles weve published to celebrate these changes. Porter: People are looking at the subject of immigration from a vast array of perspectives. There are books that deal with the specific immigration experience of today, either directly or obliquely, like Dreamers or Bright Star; books that highlight the experience of children of immigrants and the complexities of those relationships, such as Andrea Wang and Jason Chins Watercress; and books that look at the subject from both a personal and historical perspective, like Terry Catasus Jenningss forthcoming The Little House of Hopealso publishing in Spanish as La casita de esperanzabased on her memories of emigrating from Cuba as a child in the 1960s but still just as relevant today. Howard Schwartzs All You Need, which were publishing next spring; it wasnt conceived of as an immigration story, but the gifted Chinese artist Jasu Hu chose to interpret it visually as her own experience of coming to New York and emerging as an artist. Szabla: In Watch Me: A Story of Immigration and Inspiration, author Doyin Richards recounts his fathers journey from Sierra Leone to the U.S. by bringing readers right into the experience. Immigration isnt a new topic in picture books, but Doyins voice is powerful and refreshing, encouraging readers to put themselves into the journey. Along with the empathic and poignant paintings by Joe Cepeda, this is an immersive experience that transcends the politics and vitriol of recent headlines. What have you heard from your publishing partnersagents, distributors, retailersabout demand for titles on immigration and related topics? Cash: We hear regularly from distributorsand from our educator partnersthat there is a need for more bilingual titles, stories about immigration, and books that reflect the changing diversity of our country. Pinkney: Whether immigration has touched your own life or not, the topic is front and center in the minds and hearts of kids today. My colleagues and I have talked about the importance of illuminating a range of immigration stories across cultural linesand keeping those stories in the forefront. Porter: Ive certainly seen an uptick in submissions that deal in some way with the immigrant experience, as well as other books that embrace diversity and inclusion. The need for such books is apparent, and retailers and distributors are responding to that need. The fact that weve sold a quarter of a million copies of Dreamers in English and Spanish editions is testament to that. Ramos-Peterson: Immigration and related topics as a focus has been growing for several years, but in 2020 and 2021 weve really seen a significant uptick in demand from publishing partners, particularly in the library and educator market, where immigration stories specifically and stories focused on BIPOC voices generally are being used increasingly in programming, curricula, and civic engagement projects. Wong: There has been a rise in immigrant stories written by BIPOC creators. Ive seen an increase in Asian American immigration stories since the hate crime in Atlanta that took eight lives back in March. Though its sad that such a horrific event must happen first before people take note, the silver lining is that our stories are gaining more prominence. Kroell: The titles we publish at Catapult are often worldly in focus, and I think many of our editors naturally gravitate toward stories that address immigration and class issues. With The Four Humors, theres been a lot of excitement and enthusiasm for this blend of a disaffected millennial narrative and sweeping family saga that Mina Seckin has pulled off in a seemingly effortless way. Bray: I think the best measure is the increasing number of submissions were receiving on the subject and the enthusiasm we see in terms of buy-in and sell-through on these books. Thanks to proven successes in the industry, retailers have recognized that there is a need and a market for these stories, and they have responded by promoting diverse authors more aggressively. What are your plans for acquiring immigration-related titles in the future? Valcarce: Im looking for entertaining books that authentically reflect todays world back to our readers. In kids books, hope is an especially crucial ingredient as well. Something that I particularly love about Wish upon a Stray as an immigration story is that it encompasses the anxieties, difficulties, and complexities of immigration, while also being a heartwarming and fun book. Its important to me not to reduce any topic down to a single experienceor to my own expectationsas I look for books that I believe will resonate with kids. Ramos-Peterson: Were always on the lookout for comics that provide a fresh perspective or innovative style, and with the publication of titles like Bitter Root, The Good Asian, Home, and Made in Korea, the circle of talent we hope to work with in the future is only continuing to grow. Cash: We are actively and enthusiastically pursuing authors, illustrators, and projects that will shed light on immigrant experiences and inspire all young readers. We have several outreach efforts in place to help us find talented creators among these newcomers. Wong: My goal is to uplift voices from BIPOC and marginalized communities. Im trying to find a balance of immigration-related titles that are not only about surviving but also thriving. Bray: Id love to see more humorous middle grade from the point of view of an immigrant child or a first-generation American. But Im always open to anything fresh and exciting across category and genre. Kroell: Im continuing to look for works with a sense of political and cultural urgency while being grounded in a personal narrative. Woodward: We will continue to publish on immigration-related issues. I would like to see a greater diversity of people writing about the current immigration system and more nuanced portrayals of migrants that moves away from the standard narratives of passive victims or overachieving good immigrants. Id like to see books that highlight what immigration advocates and migrant activists have been doing and continue to do, and to see more books that dont focus exclusively on the border region. Anything that can illuminate how the complex immigration enforcement system operates would be great to see, as would anything that makes readers question their basic assumptions about migrants, migration, and borders. Pories: As the daughter of an immigrant who fled his country as a child with only the clothes he was wearing, I cannot fathom what would have been my father and his familys fate if they had not been accepted here. But I dont think someone has to have immigrant parents to want to understand and connect to the strangeness of arriving in a country that has little to no connection to your own culture. Ultimately, those stories are about empathy, the strangeness of life in a different country, the sorrow for what you had to leave behind, the divided self you often become. So yes, we will continue to seek out and publish stories that can capture this complicated experience. They wear snazzy disguises. They have neato gear. They drink their martinis shaken. From Baroness Orczys The Scarlet Pimpernel to Rudyard Kiplings Kim to the novels of John le Carre, who died last year, spy stories have enjoyed consistent appeal across generations. But how do these classic, even nostalgic, stories maintain their appeal in an ever more complicated world? In a particularly difficult year, when a global pandemic vies for attention with one geopolitical crisis after another, espionage stories, editors say, provide a much-needed diversion, an escape to a world where the good guys (almost) always win. Spy novels have excitement, fear, anxiety, says Vicki Crumpton, executive editor at the Revell/Baker Publishing Group, which in November will publish Natalie Walterss Lights Out, the first entry in a Christian suspense series, this one starring a CIA analyst. Youre reading from the safety of your home, but youre still getting action and adventure. For many readers, the continued appeal of the spy genre lies in its comforting glitter and shine, says Lee Harris, executive editor at Tordotcom. In March 2022, the publisher will release Sylvain Neuvels space-race thriller Until the Last of Me, the second in the authors Take Them to the Stars trilogy. Harris adds that even as spy novels satisfy readers craving for glitz, they can also shade in the granular details of espionage. Theres a little part in all of us that thinks wed make a great spy, he says. Hollywood has glamorized it so much. We dont think about the actual work, but about the champagne and cocktails. Other readers flock to spy novels for the mesmerizing agents themselves, according to Jessica Case, deputy publisher at Pegasus Books. In February, Pegasus will publish Alan Judds A Fine Madness, a historical spy novel in which Christopher Marlowe, the alluring bad-boy rival to Shakespeare, serves as an agent for the queens chief spymaster, Francis Walsingham. In a good spy novel, you always have a charming, charismatic protagonist, Case says. Spy novels dont rely on the grizzled, damaged PI. The appeal of the genre goes beyond chilled cocktails and dapper protagonists, however. Spy novels bring readers into the nerve center of the world power, and for all their nostalgic satisfaction, they seek to document how the global order is changing. The romance of international espionage gives us something thats missing in the contemporary geopolitical world, says Brian Tart, president and publisher at Viking. It raises the question, What would you do for your country? A private detective or a copthats a personal story. But a spy story has a larger theme. In November, Viking will publish Ken Folletts latest, Never, which features a female American president navigating tensions with China and a spy infiltrating the Islamic State. The book explores one of the great big themes of spy thrillers, Tart says. How do you stop a world war? Or can you? PW called the book a powerful, commanding performance from one of the top writers in the genre in its starred review. Tom Colgan, editorial director at Berkley, agrees that spy novels offer a window onto the inner workings of power. Its a complicated world, he says. Espionage books give readers a look, real or not, behind the curtain. How are the levers being pulled? Parts of the way the world works are opaque to us. Spy novels give you the feeling that you now know something you didnt know before. Berkleys forthcoming Ted Bell novel, Sea Hawke (Dec.), offers an example. The book follows gentleman spy and MI6 legend Alex Hawke as he fights antidemocratic countries while on a round-the-world sailing trip with his teenage son. In Tom Rosenstiels The Days to Come (Ecco, Nov.) a billionaire entrepreneur turned U.S. president wrestles with the ghosts of his past, unveiled by a malicious cyberattack, and tries to save both the environment and a country that is split down the middle. Assistant editor Norma Barksdale sees real-life parallels as key to making spy stories ring true. Spy fiction is one of the most intriguing genres, she says. There are always endless variations to play off of, because politics and the relationships between countries worldwide are always changing. I see readers getting frustrated with contemporary literature that exists within a bubble, that ignores the major facts of our world. Helga Schier, editorial director at CamCat, has a unique perspective on stories about global politics, having grown up in Germany during the Cold War. In March the publisher will release her acquisition The Wayward Assassin, the second in a series by former CIA analyst Susan Ouellette. The book follows its protagonist as she chases a female Chechen terrorist in a political landscape shaped by both the Cold War and the war on terror. When characters are risking their lives for the greater good of their nation, the stakes couldnt be higher, Schier says. During the Cold War, we looked at two diametrically opposed societies, two groups of spies with the same motivation. Now motivations may not be political, but religious, more emotional. Such changing motivations, she adds, raise more complex questions. Do we take revenge? What do we take revenge for? If anythings certain, its that the spy genre will endure, adapting to a changing world one shaken martini at a time. Liz Scheier is a writer, editor, and product developer living in Washington, D.C. Her memoir Never Simple will be published by Henry Holt in March 2022. Read More From our Mysteries and Thrillers 2021 Feature: Mysteries and Thrillers 2021: When Crime Goes to the Country A slew of forthcoming novels set in rural spaces and small towns pose spine-tingling questions about what we want, and what we get, when we retreat from the world. Mysteries and Thrillers 2021: First-Time Offenders Readers looking for fresh blood, rejoice: theres plenty to be found in this seasons mystery, thriller, and crime debuts. From a stolen Stradivarius to a Burmese pythonobsessed party girl, these first-time authors deliver enticing works. Mysteries and Thrillers 2021: Politics Is Murder These mystery and suspense novels set in and around the White House threaten both individuals and geopolitical stability, and theres always someone willing to kill to keep them hidden. The White Noise of the South: PW talks with Stacy Willingham In Stacy Willinghams thriller 'A Flicker in the Dark' (Minotaur, Jan. 2022), a convicted killers daughter grapples with her fathers legacy, and with her terror as young girls begin disappearing, once again, from her Louisiana hometown. True Crime 2021: What Makes Them Tick? After the murder of seven-year-old Susie Jaeger in 1973, many tales of criminal profiling, including 'The Silence of the Lambs' and the Netflix series 'Mindhunter' reflect the investigative methods that helped capture her attacker. True Crime 2021: Catch Her If You Can These books tell the stories of women who used the gender bias towards them to their advantage in conning the one percent at their own game. Crime Wave: PW Talks with Joseph Knox Joseph Knoxs 'True Crime Story' (Sourcebooks, Dec.) plays with genresboth as a postmodern crime novel that reads like a case file and as an examination of the fascination with true crime itself. True Crime 2021: Once upon a Crime Forthcoming true crime books include studies of persuasive inmates, a primer on poison, and a look at one of the most infamous serial killers of all time that puts his victims at the forefront. Mysteries & Thrillers 2021: YA Thrill Seekers Teens are clamoring for suspenseful page-turners. During the Covid-19 pandemic, many have abandoned cities, temporarily or permanently, for less human-clogged pastures. But remote settings, however dreamy, bring their own frights. A slew of forthcoming novels set in rural spaces and small towns pose spine-tingling questions about what we want, and what we get, when we retreat from the world. The countryside has always exerted a nostalgic pull: one readily conjures barns, apple pies, serene fields. But the authors of several upcoming books challenge this idea, presenting the cozy countryside as a cover for a terrifying reality. Dane Bahrs The Houseboat (Counterpoint, Feb. 2022) takes places in 1960s small-town Iowa and centers on a series of murders that rattles its community. Harry Kirchner, editor-at-large at Counterpoint, says Bahr takes what should be a bucolic place and turns it upside down. The cornfields turn to muck in the rain, the back borders are dangerous, and theres a maniac lurking back there. The book, he adds, suggests that our rosy ideal of the bygone countryside has never had a counterpart in reality. That time was a fabrication of our own imaginations. There are no halcyon days to go back to, because they never really existed. Small towns also mean a limited cast of suspects, a variation on the classic locked-room mystery. Erin Youngs The Fields (Flatiron, Jan. 2022) takes place in Iowa and turns on the discovery of a young womans body on one of the few family farms that has held on in the age of Big Agriculture. The best crime stories are set in a place that has its own life and subculture, says Zack Wagman, editorial director and v-p at Flatiron Books. The rural South and the Midwest offer opportunities for settings that are insular, where the investigatorwhether law enforcement or a journalistexplores the nooks and crannies of a new place. Heather Gudenkaufs The Overnight Guest (Park Row, Jan. 2022) also takes place in rural Iowa. The novel focuses on a true crime writer who, while snowed in at a secluded farmhouse in Iowa, finds a mysterious child on her doorstep. When crime happens in an isolated place, its a big deal, says Erika Imranyi, editorial director at Park Row. It creates much more intrigue. Novels set in remote locations show that wide open spaces can feel as suffocating, in their way, as city apartments. A setting thats closed feels natural during quarantine, says Chantelle Aimee Osman, editor at Agora Books. In February Agora will publish Wayne Johnsons The Red Canoe, which takes place on the border of Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community reservation and follows a boatbuilder who helps a troubled girl. When the story can only happen in this controlled environment, with a limited cast, Osman adds, the author has to come up with ways to make the story limitless. In such stories, the lonely-outpost setting can become a character unto itself. Catherine Jinkss Shelter (Text, Oct.) takes place in the Australian interior and centers on a woman who harbors a young mother fleeing an abusive relationship. According to Mandy Brett, senior editor at Text, the novels setting touches on Australias peculiar relationship to its geography. Australians have always perched ourselves in large cities on the edge of our continent, she says. The fear of the interior is our national mythology. Brett adds that the novels setting ties into the countrys growing environmental crisis. Everyones coming around to the fact that were approaching climate calamity, she says. Our notion of our country as geographically extreme really fits with how crime fiction can be emotionally extreme. Mystery fans are volume readers, and settings are often what make them stick around. In many really successful series, location is part of the premise, says Kelly Ragland, associate publisher and editorial director at Minotaur, whether its Michael Connellys Los Angeles or Louise Pennys Three Pines. Despite their spookiness, or maybe because of it, rural settings can prove enticing. In February Minotaur will publish Kelley Armstrongs The Deepest of Secrets, the seventh in a series of mysteries set in the small Yukon town of Rockton. In this installment, things fall apart when the inhabitants secrets, which theyve come to Rockton to escape, begin to be exposed. The isolation of Covid times makes these books more resonant, Ragland says. Were all thinking about isolation, whether in a personal or grander, societal way. Whos your community? What do you really know about them? What happens when something goes awry? For readers who have been stuck where they are for much of the past year and a half, these are chilling questions indeed. Back to Main Feature. Americans are arguing about national identity. Is our nations identity wrapped up in slavery as alleged by the 1619 Project? Or is the Declaration of Independence, signed on July 4, 1776, a testimony to the nations ideals of liberty and equality and the basis of American pride? Its a fundamental disagreement and one that echoes an older one from a few years ago. President Obama used to refer to so-called untoward aspects of American life as not who we are. Then came Trump voters who disagreed. New York Times columnist Ross Douthat captured this disagreement as one between views, the first being that America is not-Anglo-Saxon, not-European; the prototypical American is not-white, not-male, not-heterosexual. Trump supporters, by contrast, identified with the Pilgrims and the Founders, with Lewis and Clark and Davy Crockett and Laura Ingalls Wilder. The latest addition to the ongoing debate about American identity is the question of work. Jonathan Malesics recent essay in the New York Times discounting the importance of work in Americans lives doesnt address the question of American identity per se. But since many of the myths Americans have told themselves for almost 250 years start with rags-to-riches tales of folks of humble origins working their way to prosperity, prominence, and influence, Malesic is implicitly challenging one of the more enduring and laudable features of the nation. Part of Malesics argument is that the older approach to work the sanctity of the 40-hour week to the ideal of upward mobility has produced widespread dissatisfaction and ubiquitous burnout. Yet this was true even before the pandemic, when either the lack of work or working from home prompted Americans to rethink labor. Malesics point is conventional in many respects. Indeed, work is where we often find meaning and purpose and how we prove our moral character. Malesic then pulls at the fabric of Americas national ethos. Since work leaves people dissatisfied, Malesic proposes an alternative to human dignity and purpose: he advocates leisure. Dinner parties and concerts and in-person civic meetings and religious worship are the sorts of activities where we are fully ourselves and aspire to transcendence. Acknowledging the importance of leisure means that each one of us has dignity whether we work or not. The problem is that Malesics objections to works importance undermine a narrative of America as a society of immigrants, inventors, and industrialists whose labor made America remarkable, if not great. The original hard-working American who became part of national lore was Ben Franklin. A man of unlimited energy and curiosity, Franklin worked his way up from a printing business to a community organizer to an inventor and internationally recognized scientist to a prominent diplomat. His advice, published in his Autobiography, was standard fare for American schoolchildren for generations. In it he recommended industry and frugality as the way to wealth and success. But in Franklins case, labor and modesty were useful for more than acquiring wealth. It was also the path to distinction and accomplishment the way he literally [stood] before kings. The value of work even influenced Americas greatest contribution to philosophy: pragmatism. The simple idea that William James explained in his famous 1907 book Pragmatism: A New Name for Some Old Ways of Thinking was that something is true if it works. Truth happens to an idea, he wrote. It becomes true, is made true by events. Its verity is in fact an event, a process. Such a utilitarian approach, whatever its philosophical merits, was a call for more work by all people, from college professors to ordinary day laborers and shopkeepers. Everyone had the capacity to verify the truth of an idea or belief by testing its practical effects. Franklin and James both point to the productive nature of national ideals. Hard work is how you earn your way in America. Specific thoughts about ordinary activity are how Americans gain wisdom. Leisure and speculation may be valuable for an elite class of philosophers and nobles. But the democratic side of America calls for something more accessible, practical, and empirical. Melasic acknowledges that questioning the importance of work could have consequences. Work sits at the heart of Americans vision of human flourishing. Its much more than how we earn a living. Its how we earn dignity: the right to count in society and enjoy its benefits. But like others who have recently raised doubts about the nations past, Malesic presses on. America needs a humane ethos. The nations work ethic is not yielding it. But what would America be without its work ethic? President Obama was hard-pressed to find an alternative to the work ethic as the basic ingredient of the American character. On Labor Day in 2011, he affirmed an economy built on middle-class security, fairness, the same set of rules for everybody from Wall Street to Main Street. America was a nation where hard work pays off and gaming the system doesnt pay off. In fact, the American Dream depended on the industriousness of our nations workers. The time may have come for a different set of myths to unite and inspire Americans. Perhaps the virtue of hard work is to give way to leisure as part of that revision. If so, it will be a serious break with the way important Americans, from Franklin to Obama, have understood the nation. D. G. Hart is a distinguished associate professor of history at Hillsdale College and writes about Christianity in the United States. He is the author of several books, including most recently, Benjamin Franklin: Cultural Protestant (Oxford University Press). By Elizabeth Kwiatkowski, 10/09/2021 ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT ADVERTISEMENT Elizabeth Kwiatkowski is Associate Editor of Reality TV World and has been covering the reality TV genre for more than a decade. alum Geoffrey Paschel has been found guilty of aggravated kidnapping, domestic violence and interference with an emergency call.Geoffrey, who starred on Season 4 of : Before the 90 Days with Russian beauty Varya Malina , was found guilty at his assault trial for a June 2019 domestic dispute with former live-in fiancee, Kristen Wilson , In Touch Weekly reported Geoffrey had pleaded not guilty in February 2020 during a court hearing in Tennessee after Kristen alleged in a petition requesting a restraining order against Geoffrey that he had "repeatedly bashed/slammed my head into the hardwood floors" of the home they shared, the Knox News Sentinel previously reported."He dragged me through the house by my hair and continued throwing my body into walls and furniture. I know this because of blood on my walls, furniture, etc."Geoffrey also allegedly disabled Kristen's phone before she took off to a neighbor's house and called the police from there.A judge reportedly revoked Geoffrey's bail after the guilty verdict and the TLC star was subsequently taken into custody by the Knox County Sheriff.Geoffrey, who began dating Kristen in 2017 and split in 2018, will remain in custody until he attends a sentencing hearing scheduled for December 3, 2021, according to In Touch.Geoffrey said on The Domenick Nati Show in May 2020 that he believed he was going to beat the charges against him and expected nothing less than to walk away fully exonerated.Geoffrey's hearing date for the June 2019 allegations was delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic."I have been very eager to go and reveal the truth surrounding the evidence in question. I have continually requested the earliest possible dates every time so that I expeditiously clear my name," Geoffrey wrote on Instagram in May 2020."These claims are the main reason I've been lambasted with such vitriol. I can assure you, if any of these fables were true, I would bow out and accept responsibility. Not all is as it seems."Geoffrey insisted Kristen had made the allegations to sabotage a custody battle he was going through at the time involving a different woman, Geoffrey's estranged fourth wife. (Geoffrey has been married a total of four times)."I am 100% categorically innocent and I cannot wait to share my trove of evidence... soon. From the onset of these allegations, there has always been an agenda with the sole purpose of sabotaging my custody battles," Geoffrey claimed last year."There was never any sort of accusations until court proceedings were initiated. Furthermore, at no point was there any violence exhibited toward that woman or any other woman ever. These are merely combined battles to win their selfish war."The night Geoffrey was arrested in June 2019, officers noticed "bruises" and "abrasions" on Kristen, which Geoffrey claimed were "self-inflicted," according to In Touch.Kristen reportedly sought medical treatment at a local hospital that evening and was told by doctors she had suffered a concussion.The June 2019 allegations prevented Geoffrey from attending : Before the 90 Days' Tell-All event, which really seemed to frustrate him In addition, Geoffrey was also reportedly accused of "pushing, hitting, choking" and verbally threatening Kristen on four other occasions dating back to September 2018.Multiple women have made numerous disturbing accusations against Geoffrey -- who has an extensive criminal history and served nearly three years in federal prison between 2000 and 2003 for dealing drugs, according to Starcasm -- over the years.In her 2005 divorce documents, Geoffrey's second ex-wife -- whom he married in 1998 and had two sons with -- claimed he "repeatedly raped" and assaulted her during their marriage, Starcasm reported.After obtaining an order of protection against Geoffrey, Geoffrey's second ex-wife also reportedly filed court papers alleging he had "assaulted" and tried to "choke [her] to death."Some of her other allegations reportedly included claims that she had to "wrest a shotgun away from him" when he threatened to kill them both, and that he also "held a knife to her throat [and] told her he would kill her" during two additional incidents.In 2013, Geoffrey was also reportedly charged with felony larceny for an incident in which he and a friend attempted to steal more than $500 worth of lights from a Home Depot store.He eventually pleaded guilty to a lesser misdemeanor charge and was sentenced to 11 months and 29 days in jail, but he appears to have actually served nearly all that time on supervised probation.In 2014, Geoffrey was also arrested on theft and battery charges in Florida, according to Starcasm, which reported that, in addition to his second wife, Geoffrey's third and fourth wives have also accused him of abuse in legal filings.Geoffrey's third wife -- who was reportedly 21 when they got married in 2007 -- accused Geoffrey of being an opiate drug dealer and using his children as a "cover" or "mule" in a protection order request she had filed in 2018 during the couple's ongoing custody case, Starcasm reported.The couple reportedly separated in 2013, less than two years after the birth of their only child, and finalized their divorce in 2014.And in court documents, Geoffrey's estranged fourth wife Brittany -- who was reportedly 19 when they began dating in 2014 -- claimed he "strangled, slammed and punched" her several times, restricted her access to automobiles, and even "abandoned Brittany in a hotel room" when she was in heavy labor with their second child.Due to his jaw-dropping past, many TLC fans petitioned for Geoffrey, who was billed as a landlord from Knoxville on the series, to be kicked off : Before the 90 Days shortly after his season began airing in early March 2020.Want more spoilers or couples updates? Click here to visit our homepage! Guinness World Records announced Friday that Tony Bennett has broken a record with his latest album. At 95 and 60 days, Bennett becomes the oldest person to release an album of new material. ADVERTISEMENT Bennett and Lady Gaga released the album Love For Sale on Oct. 1. On the album, Bennett and Gaga sing Cole Porter standards. Gaga and Bennett first collaborated on the 2011 track "Lady Is a Tramp." In 2014, they released the album Cheek to Cheek together. Tracks on Love For Sale include the title track, "Night and Day," "Love For Sale" and "I've Got You Under My Skin." A video for "Skin" premiered Friday on MTV. Bennett previously set Guinness World Records for "oldest person to reach No.1 on the US Album Chart with a newly recorded album" for Cheek to Cheek and longest time between an original recording and its re-recording, for recording "Fascinating Rhythm" again nearly 69 years later. Bennett's 70 year recording career includes such hits as "I Left My Heart in San Francisco," "Rags to Riches" and "Because of You." Other famous covers by Bennett include "Fly Me to the Moon," "The Very Thought of You," "MacArthur Park" and "For Once In My Life." Bennett has won 19 Grammys including a Lifetime Achievement Award. He also won two Emmys for his 1996 and 2007 television specials. Athens is home to an abundant population of immigrants from different backgrounds who contribute to the community, but many face challenges in their daily lives. Some organizations have stepped up to help. Brattleboro, VT (05301) Today Sun and clouds mixed. High 67F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Becoming partly cloudy after some evening light rain. Low near 35F. Winds WNW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. TORRINGTON Election Day is around the corner, and city clerks are reminding voters that if they want to vote with an absentee ballot, they should do it now. We want to encourage people to get them in early, this week or next, said Torrington City Clerk Carol Anderson. Often they dont think about voting until the last week of October, but by then itll be too late, or very close. Election Day is Nov. 2, so it comes up pretty fast this year. The office also is short-staffed. One of our staff retired in 2020, and the position was only recently posted, Anderson said. So were looking to hire someone, and weve had no one in the outer office. Then, my assistant left in September. So its a little hard, being short-staffed. Absentee ballots are mailed automatically to people with permanent disabilities. But unlike last year, when every registered voter received an application to vote by absentee ballot, people have to request one this year. Those disabled persons still have to return those ballots in the mail or to City Hall, Anderson said. The Republican registrar has been running ballots over to people, but they still have to get them back to us. Its up to them. In Winsted, Town Clerk Sheila Sedlak is facing some of the same concerns, but said absentee ballots are becoming more normal for people to use. In my opinion, its a system thats always worked for this town, she said. Weve never had any fraud issues, and weve been audited. Were accountable for every ballot. Anderson said she has heard of about a dozen voter fraud cases reported in Connecticut. In some cases, she said, parents are signing their childrens name because theyre away at college. Its understandable, but you cant do that, she said. Its against the law, and the ballot wont count. ... Thats why its good to plan ahead. Sedlak encouraged absentee ballot voting. I had one person who said, Ill never do an absentee ballot, because he didnt trust them, she said. I said to him, think about this: the day before elections, you get sick, I mean, really sick, and you cant leave the house. Right there, you just lost your right to vote. Without an absentee ballot, you have no rights, just because you got sick, she said. I think thats why theyre so valuable to voters, because it gives them that chance to vote no matter what. Winsteds mailbox isnt filling up right now, but its still early. Were not bombarded right now, Sedlak said. I think weve had about a dozen so far, but people to tend to wait. With the elections being on the 2nd of November, it will come up fast. Just call us, and well get the application in the mail that day, she said. Once we get it back, we mail the ballot out within 24 hours. The state gives us 48 hours to respond, but we do it in 24. Or people can come in and well give them a back room with full privacy to fill out the ballot, and we put it in the vault, sealed, until Election Day when it goes to the registrars. Those who are ill and in the hospital or at home can appoint a designee to fill out the ballot. Thats another option for people if they get sick very close to the elections, Sedlak said. Additionally, to register to vote, visit https://rb.gy/pantla; for absentee ballot information and requests, visit https://rb.gy/ddfk9e; and to check voter registration status, go to https://rb.gy/345g6o. STAMFORD A city middle school was placed on lockdown Friday afternoon after two students discovered a message threatening a school shooting, the schools principal said in an email to parents. Cloonan Middle School principal David M. Tate wrote in the email that two students found a specific threat of a school shooting written on a table in the courtyard during a classroom mask break Friday morning. Tate said the two students alerted their teacher who then relayed the message to school administrators leading to a lockdown. Whenever we have information of any potential threat to our school we take every precaution to safeguard our students and staff while communicating with our families and others, Tate wrote in the email. Tate said Stamford police had a swift response to the reported incident, quickly arriving on school premises to investigate and secure the grounds. Police found that there was no credible threat to the school at this time, according to a school district spokesperson. While police determined there was no threat Friday, officers remained on the premises throughout the remainder of the day, the spokesperson said. In the wake of the incident, Tate commended the students and staff for their prompt and appropriate response to the message. We are especially indebted to the two students who found the note and alerted their teacher as well as her immediate response to the information, he said in the email. Police did not immediately respond to requests for comment on the incident. There have been no reported arrests as of 4 p.m. Friday. When such threats or incidents arise, Tate said the first step is to order a lockdown, a shelter-in-place command or an evacuation of the school, depending on the situation. Next, Tate said, the school notifies first responders and citywide school administrators, like associate superintendents and the superintendent, of the incident. Lastly, the school principal alerts families to the schools status, then sends updates to student families to either inform them that the situation has been resolved or to provide them with explicit instructions as to where and when to pick up your child if that is necessary, Tate wrote in the email. This allows us to minimize any interference with First Responders as they attend to the situation, Tate wrote in the email. Hopefully these incidents will be few and far between. Still we can never be too prepared for emergencies. This is why we run monthly safety drills and special emergency drills so that we can be prepared for the unthinkable, he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Saturday, October 9, addressed a joint press meet in Delhi after holding bilateral talks over various issues, including India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership. PM Mette Frederiksen stated that she is proud that PM Modi has accepted the invitation to visit Denmark, who is an inspiration to the whole world in terms of achieving many ambitious projects for the development of the country. Danish PM Mette Frederiksen in Delhi said, "You (PM Modi) are an inspiration for the rest of the world as you have set some very ambitious targets when it comes to clean water for over 1mn households and renewable energy. I'm proud that you have accepted my invitation to visit Denmark". Highlighting the role of being a democratic country in the world, she added, "We are two democratic nations that believe in an international system based on rules. Cooperation between India and Denmark is a great example of how green growth and green transition can go hand in hand". While PM Modi told the media that even during the COVID-19 pandemic times, both India and Denmark maintained good cooperation. Further speaking on the Green Strategic Partnership, Modi said that both the countries have reviewed and reiterated their commitment on this. Denmark PM arrives in India PM Mette Frederiksen is on a three-day visit to India. Upon her arrival, she was accorded a ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhavan followed by wreath-laying at Mahatma Gandhis samadhi at Rajghat. Speaking of the visit to India, she said, We consider India as a close partner. I see this visit as a milestone for Denmark-India bilateral relations". India-Denmark Green Strategic Partnership Earlier on September 28, 2020, Frederiksen and PM Modi had co-chaired a virtual summit between India and Denmark following which a joint statement was issued, informing that the green strategic partnership was a mutually beneficial arrangement aimed to advance political cooperation, expand green growth and economic relations, provide employment opportunities and strengthen collaboration on addressing global challenges; in line with the implementation of the UN Sustainable Development Goals and Paris Agreement. Image: @ANI/TWITTER Prime Minister Narendra Modi welcomed Prime Minister of Denmark Mette Frederiksen at the Rashtrapati Bhawan in New Delhi on Saturday morning. Frederiksen was received by PM Modi and was greeted with a ceremonial reception by the Indian forces. After her warm welcome, the leader delivered a short address from the Rashtrapati Bhavan, calling the bilateral meeting a 'milestone' for India-Denmark relations. PM Frederiksen is on a 3-day visit to India during which she will call on President Ram Nath Kovind and hold bilateral talks with PM Modi. "We consider India as a very close partner to Denmark. That's why I am here for co-operation. Last year, Prime Minister Modi and I agreed on a partnership. I am glad to meet Prime Minister Modi today. We see a very ambitious Indian government. I see this visit as a milestone for Denmark-India bilateral relations," said PM Mette Frederiksen. Delhi: Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen receives ceremonial reception at Rashtrapati Bhawan. She was received by PM Narendra Modi. pic.twitter.com/Iu0LV6wTAP ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2021 Delhi | Danish PM Mette Frederiksen pays tribute to Mahatma Gandhi at Rajghat pic.twitter.com/Vos1lrSfMn ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2021 Agenda of India-Denmark bilateral meeting According to the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA), Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen's visit to India would be an opportunity to review the green strategic partnership between both countries. The two nations would discuss areas like renewable energy, clean technologies, agriculture, science and technology, digitisation, smart cities, water and waste management. Trade and investment are also on the agenda given the 200 Danish companies working in India and the 60 Indian companies that have invested in Denmark. "This is a very important visit. This is the visit that's happening actually by the first head of state or head of government level visit which is happening since unfortunately, it did not happen earlier as the COVID restrictions kicked in last March," MEA spokesperson Arindam Bagchi said during the weekly media briefing. New Delhi is also expected to raise the issue of Kim Davy's extradition, known to be a key conspirator of the 1995 arms drop in West Bengal's Purulia. India had last raised the issue during the virtual dialogue between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Denmark PM Mette Frederiksen last year. The Danish PM will be in India from October 9-11. (With Agency Inputs) Following the bilateral meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his Danish counterpart, Mette Frederiksen, India and Denmark reached four agreements, said the Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) on Saturday, 9 October. In the official release of the Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) inked between both the countries MEA said that the first was signed between the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research- National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, Aarhus University, Denmark and Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland. Great pleasure to welcome PM Mette Frederiksen on her first visit to India. Our Green Strategic Partnership is focused on clean technologies and green growth. Our collaboration across sectors is vibrant and dynamic. @Statsmin pic.twitter.com/fgyuoMp8TF Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 9, 2021 The first MoU between India and Denmark is on the mapping of groundwater resources and aquifers. The second agreement is signed over the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library Access Agreement between the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research and the Danish Patent and Trademark Office. The third was between the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru and Danfoss Industries Private Limited to establish a Centre of Excellence towards natural refrigerants for tropical climates with potential applications, said MEA. Meanwhile, the fourth MoU was the Joint Letter of Intent between the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, the Government of the Republic of India and the Government of the Kingdom of Denmark. Apart from PM Modi, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar also met with Danish PM Mette Frederiksen and noted that her India visit will elevate the Green Strategic Partnership between both nations. Welcomed Denmark Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on her first visit to India. Our Green Srategic Partnership will advance further as a result. pic.twitter.com/QRCZbHlSyq Dr. S. Jaishankar (@DrSJaishankar) October 9, 2021 India-Denmark committed to increasing cooperation Meanwhile, in the joint press conference with the Danish PM, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the relationship between both nations. He noted that even though both leaders met in person for the first time, amid COVID-19 the communication remained steady. On Saturday, PM Modi said, Today's meeting may have been our first face-to-face meeting, but even during the Corona period, the pace of contact and cooperation between India and Denmark remained steady. In fact, a year ago today, in our Virtual Summit, we took the historic decision to establish a Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark. This is a reflection of the foresight of both of our countries and respect for the environment. He added, Today we not only reviewed the progress made under this partnership, but also reiterated our commitment to increasing cooperation on climate change in the near future. In this context, it is a great pleasure that Denmark has become a member of the International Solar Alliance. This has added a new dimension to our cooperation. IMAGE: Twitter/AP A day after skipping the Uttar Pradesh Police's summons in connection with the Lakhimpur violence probe, Ashish Mishra reached the Crime Branch office on Saturday. This comes even as speculation was rife that Mishra has fled to Nepal. As per sources, the police is likely to question him on his location at the time of the incident and whether he has any evidence to prove that he was not at the spot. Moreover, he is likely to be quizzed on if he visited the spot before or after the violence happened. #WATCH Son of MoS Home Ajay Mishra Teni, Ashish Mishra arrives at Crime Branch office, Lakhimpur He was summoned by UP Police in connection with Lakhimpur violence. pic.twitter.com/g6wMpHYOKr ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 9, 2021 Sources added that Mishra shall also be grilled on whom did he send to receive UP Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya and whether the Mahindra Thar vehicle involved in the incident belongs to him. The appearance of the Union MoS Home Ajay Mishra's son comes in the wake of the Supreme Court pulling up the UP government for not arresting him. A division bench of CJI NV Ramana, Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli was hearing a plea based on the letter written by advocates Shiv Kumar Tripathi and CS Panda. Dissatified with the investigation so far, the CJI observed, "What is the message that we are sending? In normal circumstances, if 302 case (murder case) is registered what will police do? Go and arrest the accused"! Directing Queen's Counsel Harish Salve to suggest an alternative agency that can conduct the probe, the SC adjourned the matter to October 20. Lakhimpur violence probe Violence broke out in Uttar Pradesh's Lakhimpur Kheri district on October 3 leading to the death of 8 persons including 4 farmers. Immediately after the horrific incident, UP CM Yogi Adityanath promised that the state government will expose the elements involved in the incident and take strict action against them. As per the FIR lodged by the UP police on Monday, Ashish Mishra and 15-20 unknown accused persons have been booked under IPC Sections 120B, 147, 148, 149, 279, 302, 304A and 338. Apart from an SIT, the state government constituted a single-member Commission of Inquiry of Justice (retd.) Pradeep Kumar Srivastava to probe the Lakhimpur violence. As per a notification issued on October 6, the commission has to complete its probe within a period of two months. Moreover, the UP police formed a 9-member monitoring committee led by DIG (Headquarters) Upendra Agrawal in connection with this case. So far, the police have arrested two suspects- Luvkush and Ashish Pandey. Marking this as his second visit recently, Prime Minister Narendra Modi is all set to reach Uttar Pradesh to inaugurate Kushinagar International Airport on October 20. The International Airport is expected to strengthen international cultural ties with tourism and development. The Prime Minister had made the announcement regarding the international airport in June 2020, and at that time, he added that the airport would improve connectivity 'significantly' and increase tourism opportunities. PM Modi had also assured that it would bring better opportunities for the local population as well. According to the senior Government official, PM Modi will also lay the foundation stone of a medical college in the Kushinagar district of UP. PM Narendra Modi to inaugurate Kushinagar International Airport on October 20 and will also lay foundation stone of a medical college there: Senior govt official Press Trust of India (@PTI_News) October 8, 2021 Kushinagar International Airport While announcing the decision last year, the Union Cabinet had stated that the Buddhist Circuit is a key pilgrimage destination for 530 million practising Buddhists across the globe and the declaration of Kushinagar Airport as an 'International Airport' will offer improved connectivity, a wider choice of services at competitive costs to the air-travellers resulting in boosting of domestic/international tourism and economic development of the region. Kushinagar is an important Buddhist pilgrimage site, where Gautama Buddha accomplished Mahaparinirvana. It is considered a very sacred Buddhist pilgrimage centre where Buddhists pilgrim from all over the world come for a pilgrimage. Kushinagar is dotted with several other Buddhist sites in the nearby surroundings like Sravasti (238 km), Kapilvastu (190 km) and Lumbini (195 km) that makes it an attraction for both followers and visitors alike. Kushinagar already serves as the presenting site for Buddhist circuit pilgrimage spanning across India and Nepal. PM's earlier UP visit During his September visit, the Prime Minister had laid the foundation stone of Raja Mahendra Pratap Singh University in Uttar Pradesh's Aligarh. He had hailed UP CM Yogi Adityanath while describing his governance as 'double-engine government' for swift development. PM had further revealed that more than half a dozen companies related to defence production in Aligarh were going to create thousands of new jobs with an investment worth hundreds of crores. In his concluding remarks, he said that the state was turning into a very attractive place for every small and big investor of the country and the world. Image: Twitter/BJP4India/PTI/RepresentativeImage Amid Aryan Khan's Arrest, Shah Rukh Khan's Driver Summoned By NCB; Being Questioned In a breaking development in the Mumbai cruise ship drug bust case which has seen the arrest of Aryan Khan, his father and Bollywood star Shah Rukh Khan's driver has been summoned and is currently at the NCB's office. Sources have informed that he entered the NCB premises when the NCB Zonal Director Sameer Wankhede was conducting the press conference just a short while earlier. Read more here Lakhimpur Kheri Violence: MoS Home's Accused Son Ashish Mishra Detained By UP Police Union Minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra has been detained by the police on Saturday for his alleged involvement in the October 3 Lakhimpur Kheri incident which resulted in eight deaths, sources have told Republic, adding that he may soon be arrested. Earlier in the day, Ashish appeared before UP SIT (Special Investigation Team) in connection with the violence. Read more here Congress To Convene CWC Meeting On October 16 Amid Leadership Crisis; Elections On Agenda In a massive development, a meeting of the Congress Working Committee will be held on October 16 in the national capital amid the ongoing infighting in the party. As per Congress general secretary (organisation) KC Venugopal, the CWC members will commence their deliberations at 10 am and discuss the current political situation and the Assembly polls in Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Punjab and Manipur. Most importantly, organisational elections shall also come up for discussion during the CWC meeting. This implies that the schedule for electing a new Congress president might be finalised. Read more here Mayawati Launches No-holds-barred Attack On Opponents; Unveils BSP's Roadmap For UP BSP supremo Mayawati tore into her political opponents while addressing a massive rally in Lucknow on the occasion of party founder Kanshi Ram's death anniversary. Alleging that BJP was misusing state machinery to turn the tide in its favour, she also warned that the saffron party might accrue political advantage by communalising the upcoming Uttar Pradesh Assembly polls. She added, "All farmers of the country are holding an agitation against the Centre's three farm laws. Now, the protesting farmers are being heavily exploited. The incident in Lakhimpur-Kheri is a prime example of this". Read more here UK To Offer New Vaccinations To Volunteers Of Novavax COVID Vaccine Trial On Friday, October 8, the United Kingdom decided to offer new vaccinations to the thousands of people who volunteered for trials of the Novavax COVID-19 vaccine. The decision has been taken because the Novavax is yet to be approved for use in any country, reported The Associated Press (AP). As part of a clinical trial, almost 15,000 people in the United Kingdom received Novavax shots. While the UK acknowledges them as vaccinated, most other nations don't, which means they are restricted from travelling. Read more here UP Min Terms Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's Sweeping Antics 'drama'; Says Public Well Aware Of It Uttar Pradesh Cabinet Minister Nand Gopal Gupta 'Nandi' termed Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's antics of sweeping the floor of a house with a broom at a Dalit community in Lucknow 'drama'. "Priyanka Gandhi did various types of drama in the 2019 elections also. Drama like cleaning floors with a broom and clashes with police, all these things are well known to the general public," remarked Nandi. Read more here Columbia Looking Forward To Obtain COVID Vaccines From India As Vaccine Maitri Resumes Colombia's ambassador to India Mariana Pacheco on Saturday said that her country was looking forward to obtaining vaccines from India for the country's refugee population. This comes after India's announcement that it will restart the export of COVID vaccines to the rest of the world under the Vaccine Maitri. According to Ambassador Pacheco, Colombia has over two million Venezuelan refugees, who are eager to receive the Indian vaccination through the Covax programme. She also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam initiative. Read more here NCB Panchnama Says Aryan Khan Admitted To Consuming Charas, Arbaaz Had It In His Shoes In a massive development, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has alleged in its panchnama that Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan wanted to consume Charas and his friend and co-accused Arbaaz A Merchant had brought it to the Cordelia Cruise ship for that purpose. Republic Media Network has accessed exclusive details of the NCB Panchanama on Saturday which has mentioned that during the search operations on October 3, Arbaaz A Merchant admitted that the quantity seized from his possession was going to be used for smoking by Aryan and him. After NCB confronted Aryan Khan based on Arbaaz's statement, he also admitted that the Charas was going to be consumed by the two of them onboard the Mumbai-Goa cruise ship. Read more here Arvind Kejriwal Writes To PM Modi Alerting Coal Shortage, Potential Power Crisis Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Saturday penned a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi spotlighting a coal shortage crisis that has affected the power generation plants supplying power to the national capital. Kejriwal urged the Prime Minister to look into the matter. "I draw your attention to the prevailing coal shortage situation that is continuing since August/September 2021 for the third month in a row, which has affected the power generation from the major Central Generation plans supplying power to the NCT of Delhi," the letter to PM Modi read. Read more here BJP Slams Robert Vadra's Remarks On Lakhimpur Probe, Bashes Congress On Farmers' Concerns Bhartiya Janta Party (BJP) spokesperson Gaurav Bhatia on Saturday lashed out at the Congress party after its general secretary Priyanka Gandhi Vadra's husband Robert Vadra made comments on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident. Robert Vadra, who made a public appearance after a break, took credit for action taken in the case. Union Minister Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra appeared before the UP SIT in connection with the Lakhimpur-Kheri incident on Saturday. Read more here Image: Republic World The carcass of a male tiger was found floating in a canal in the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Bahraich on Saturday evening, forest officials said. No external injury marks were found on the carcass, they said. The carcass, which was floating under the Chaudhary Charan Singh Barrage built on a canal connected to the Ghaghra river, was spotted by locals, Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) Akashdeep Badhawan told PTI. The locals immediately informed the forest and irrigation departments. A Forest Department team was rushed to the spot to bring the carcass to the Katarniaghat forest range office, he said. Prima facie, the tiger was 3-4 years old. No external injury marks were found on the carcass. A panel of veterinarians will conduct a post-mortem examination to ascertain the cause of death, he added. The Ghaghra river is connected to the neighbouring district of Lakhimpur and rivers in Nepal. Whether the tiger came from the Katarniaghat forest will be known only after the investigation has been completed, Badhawan said. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) The Ministry of External Affairs(MEA) on Saturday, October 10, informed that External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar will be undertaking an official visit to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Armenia. EAM Dr S Jaishankar will be on the official tour from October 10 to 13. The three-nation visit will give an opportunity to review the progress of India's bilateral relations with the three countries and exchange views on developments in the region. EAM to visit three nations According to the ministry, Dr S Jaishankar will be in Kyrgyz Republic on October 10 and 11, and will head to Kazakhstan on October 11. The Minister will be in Kazakhstan on October 11 and 12, and will head to Armenia on October 12. As per the Ministry of External Affairs press release, the visit will be an opportunity for reviewing the progress of India's bilateral ties with the three countries and share views on the developments in the region. The ministry further stated, "It will be a continuation of our increased engagement with countries in our 'extended neighbourhood'." EAM @DrSJaishankar will pay an official visit to Kyrgyz Republic, Kazakhstan and Armenia from October 10-13, 2021. Press Release https://t.co/9o5eMPkqka Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) October 9, 2021 This will be Dr Jaishankar's first visit to Kyrgyz Republic as India's External Affairs Minister. During his visit to Kyrgyzstan, the EAM is scheduled to hold a bilateral meeting with his Kyrgyzstan counterpart, apart from calling on the Kyrgyzstan President. According to MEA press release, several agreements and Memorandum of Understandings (MoUs) are expected to be signed during the visit. During his visit to Kazakhstan, the minister will be attending the 6th Ministerial meeting of the Conference of Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Nur-Sultan. Furthermore, External Affairs Minister Dr S Jaishankar is expected to hold a bilateral meeting with Deputy Prime Minister and Kazakhstan Foreign Minister. Dr Jaishankar is also expected to call on the Kazakhstan leadership. From October 12-13, EAM will be in Armenia, where he is scheduled to meet his Armenian counterpart. As per the MEA, this will be the first-ever visit of independent Armenia by an Indian EAM. Dr Jaishankar will also call on the Armenian Prime Minister and President of the National Assembly of Armenia. Image: PTI Astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, Kayla Barron, and Matthias Maurer, in a recent Q&A session, came out to answer questions sent by space enthusiasts who await the Crew-3 launch to the International Space Station (ISS) on October 30. Talking about their excitement ahead of the launch, the astronauts also weighed on their plans when they reach the ISS. Here are some of the highlights from their LIVE Q&A. What will the crew be dressing for, for Halloween? Kayla Barron, @SpaceX Crew-3 mission specialist, tells @DaneTheCane about #Halloween plans after she and her crew arrive at the station at the end of the month. #AskNASA pic.twitter.com/pTQLkFyHIQ International Space Station (@Space_Station) October 7, 2021 A smile spread across the face of all four astronauts when they were asked about their plans for Halloween costumes aboard the ISS. In response, Kayla Barron, Crew-3 mission specialist replied, I dont think we have necessarily decided yet, but I heard a rumour that Mark Vande Hei, who is currently on the space station might have some plans in store for our Halloween costumes. She further added, I think we may have a surprise in store when we cross the hatch. What places on Earth are they excited about photographing? .@SpaceX Crew-3 Mission Specialist @Astro_Matthias from @ESA tells @WhitneyBMay about the places on Earth he is most excited about photographing from the station. #AskNASA pic.twitter.com/WnR7dq9lKn International Space Station (@Space_Station) October 7, 2021 In reply to this question, the European Space Agencys (ESA) astronaut Matthias Maurer said that he will be revisiting the places he has travelled before becoming an astronaut, but this time from space. I also want to discover Africa, because I havent seen a lot of Africa, and perspective from Space is something really fabulous and every time I think about it, I get goosebumps, Maurer said. What did the crew of previous flights tell Raja Chari about return to Earth? .@ADS_TC asks Crew-3 Commander @Astro_Raja what the previous @SpaceX crews have told him about the return to Earth and splashdown in the #CrewDragon. #AskNASA pic.twitter.com/gPceMQjkKN International Space Station (@Space_Station) October 7, 2021 Raja Chari, who will be leading the flight crew said that the previous flights, Demo-1 and Crew-1 have provided data about landing in both daytime and nighttime respectively. He further revealed that crew of both the flights expressed their satisfaction with the quickness of recovery after splashing down. He also lauded NASA and SpaceXs efforts to make the process extremely efficient. Were physically and mentally very excited about the recovery. Tom Mashburn about his flight in third different spacecraft Veteran astronaut and @SpaceX Crew-3 Pilot @AstroMarshburn talks about launching to space soon on the #CrewDragon Endurance, his 3rd different spacecraft. #AskNASA pic.twitter.com/V5iFV13RBZ International Space Station (@Space_Station) October 7, 2021 NASA astronaut Tom Mashburn will be going on his third trip to space about which he said that it is a huge amount of excitement. Moreover, he said that he loves to talk about it and will be looking forward to talk about it when I get back. Meanwhile, Chari recently announced Endurance as the official name of the SpaceX spacecraft which he said is a tribute to human tenacity. Image: Twitter/@Space_Station Religious leaders in Nigeria encouraged people to get the COVID-19 vaccination as Africas top public health official issued a strong reminder about the danger of the continent not having enough doses of COVID-19 vaccines. At Kuje Mosque in Abuja, the deputy Imam received a Moderna vaccine after Friday prayers in an effort to promote getting the jab. Alhaji Lubisalah welcomed the efforts made by the government to combat the coronavirus. Dozens of worshippers followed example and took the vaccine outside the mosque. After attending prayers, 31-year-old trader Usheni Bako Zakaria called on others to get the jab. "I'm happy taking it" he said, while criticizing those who were reluctant. A massive campaign including more mobile vaccination units near mosques and churches will be launched in the coming days, according to local officials. According to the Johns Hopkins university, by Friday Nigeria registered more than 207 thousand coronavirus cases and 2,742 deaths. So far, more than 7 million doses have been administrated in the country of 206 million people. While commending the government on the rollout of the COVID vaccination programme, Lubisalah said the authorities should pay more attention to the continent's battle against malaria, which he said was killing more people than COVID-19. "But government says nothing," he added. The WHO endorsed the world's first malaria vaccine on Wednesday after clinical trials carried out in three African countries - Ghana, Kenya and Malawi - where more than 800,000 children have received the vaccine since 2019. The news has been received with excitement in Africa which accounted for 94% of the world's malaria cases in 2019 with an estimated 215 million cases, according to the WHO World Malaria Report 2020. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) The Kenyan fishing town of Homa Bay is facing a "triple tragedy" of malaria, HIV and the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, according to a doctor who spoke to British broadcaster Sky News. Homa Bay's Director of Public Health, Dr. Gordon Okomo, said the mix was "crazy" and "taking its toll on the health systems." The town on the shores of Lake Victoria has one of the highest rates of HIV anywhere in Kenya, as well as more malaria cases than almost anywhere in the country, according to Sky. Okomo is hopeful the worlds first malaria vaccine endorsed by the World Health Organization will help reduce the number of concurrent health emergencies. African health officials say the new malaria vaccine is a game-changer in combating the disease which accounts for hundreds of thousands of deaths each year across the continent. The WHO endorsed the vaccine on Wednesday based largely on clinical trials carried out in three African countries - Ghana, Kenya and Malawi - where more than 800,000 children have received the vaccine since 2019. The news has been received with excitement in Africa which accounted for 94% of the world's malaria cases in 2019 with an estimated 215 million cases, according to the WHO World Malaria Report 2020. Malaria killed 386,000 people in the continent in 2019, more than 90% of the global toll, with six African countries accounting for more than half of the malaria deaths across the world, according to the WHO report. The Mosquirix malaria vaccine, which GlaxoSmithKline has been working on since 1987, has limited efficacy of about 30% in preventing severe malaria and comes after decades of unsuccessful attempts to find protection against malaria. It offers some hope to children in African countries where there is limited access to bed nets and other preventive measures. The Kenya Medical Research Institute, which has helped to evaluate the vaccine, said in a statement it is delighted with the WHOs endorsement. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR), on Friday, called for an end to the arrest of asylum seekers in Libya and also urged the resumption of humanitarian flights to expatriate refugees out of the country. The North African country has been shadowed by an excruciating migrant crisis pertaining to its geopolitical location. While Libya itself does not offer great employment opportunities, it acts as a transit for hundreds of thousands of Africans travelling to Europe for a 'better future.' The humanitarian organisation pointed out that Libyan authorities have conducted multiple raids in the past week, particularly targeting refugees and migrants. Buttressing its stance further, UNHCR said that at least one person was killed and 15 others injured in recent raids. In addendum, it highlighted that more than 5,000 refugees have been arrested by Libyan authorities as of now. Concluding its statement, UNHCR called on the Libyan administration to resume humanitarian flights that have been suspended for a year now. We are increasingly alarmed about the humanitarian situation for asylum seekers and refugees in Libya. Following a large-scale security operation by the Libyan authorities in the past week, arrests and raids have been taking place in many parts of Tripoli, targeting areas where asylum seekers and migrants are living, the organisation. We continue to call on authorities to: respect at all times the human rights and dignity of asylum seekers and refugees, stop their arrests, and release those detained, including those who had been due to leave on evacuation and resettlement flights." Authorities detain over 5,000 refugees The number of people arrested in detention centres in Tripoli, Libya, has tripled in the previous five days, after at least 5,000 migrants and refugees were detained amid violent mass arrests across the city since October 1, according to Doctors Without Borders/Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF). MSF provides medical services in three Tripoli detention institutions and has seen numerous detainees confined in overcrowded and unclean conditions with insufficient food, water, shelter, or medical care. Many of those detained have already spent years in custody after fleeing conflicts or dictatorships across Africa. The EU-backed Libyan coastguard intercepted them as they attempted to reach Europe via sea. The arrests, according to Libyan police, are linked to illegal immigration and narcotics trafficking. Image: AP South African travel agencies report a surge in reservations for travel to and from Britain on Friday ahead of the country being removed from the U.K.'s COVID-19 red list next week. Some companies said they were being overwhelmed by the number of people looking to travel since the British government announced it will lift restrictions on travelers arriving from 47 countries, including South Africa. The change will come into effect on Monday. The decision to keep South Africa on the red list had been criticized by the country's government, tourism operators and scientists, leading to a series of discussions between the leaders of both countries and their respective health experts. The British rules banned anyone who had been in a red list country in the previous 10 days from visiting Britain. Only U.K. and Irish nationals or returning residents were allowed to enter from South Africa or other red list countries, and they faced a mandatory 10-day quarantine. The rules also severely limited British tourists visiting South Africa as they were advised by their government they should not travel to red list countries and faced expensive hotel quarantine stays on their return home if they did. The U.K. is South Africas biggest tourism source market outside Africa with more than 400,000 British travelers ordinarily visiting every year, according to official figures. That figure plunged to less than 10,000 so far this year because of the pandemic. Flight Centre, one of South Africa's biggest travel agencies, said it was struggling to cope with the demand sparked by the British announcement. The minute the announcement came through we could see on our online booking tools as well as our email inquiries and telephone calls this morning that there was a big surge," Andrew Stark, Flight Centre Travel Group managing director, said Friday. It has been pretty manic. We see this as most source markets open up, the following day we are inundated, we just cannot keep up with the demand, to be honest," he said. Rosemary Anderson, chairwoman of hospitality association FEDHASA, said she is also seeing a flurry of activity of South Africans wanting to travel to the U.K. and British people wanting to come to South Africa. We are going into summer, the U.K. is going towards autumn and many British people have not been able to travel to sunny places, so that makes South Africa a great destination for them, she said. South African tourism minister Lindiwe Sisulu also welcomed the British decision, which comes in time for the start of the country's peak tourism season near the end of the year. We look forward to welcoming our British visitors in time for the South African summer season and we will continue to work tirelessly with all our national and international partners to ensure the success of South Africas tourism recovery, Sisulu said in a statement. South Africa's important tourism industry has been decimated by the pandemic and the damage was prolonged by the U.K. keeping it on the red list, stakeholders said. South Africa is Africa's worst-affected country by the virus, with more than 2.9 million cases and 88,000 deaths reported. It is also the country where the beta variant was first detected. It has vaccinated 16% of its population of 60 million people, according to Johns Hopkins University, and started issuing digital vaccine certificates which may be used by travelers on Friday. All of the 22 other African countries still on Britain's red list will also be removed on Monday, leaving the strictest travel restrictions in place for just seven countries: Colombia, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Haiti, Panama, Peru and Venezuela. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) Chinese hackers are targeting political issues and universities in Taiwan and Hong Kong, according to Microsoft's 2021 Digital Defense Report. As per the report, which covered the period between July 2020 and June 2021, government entities account for 47% of hackers' targets, reported Taiwan Times. The "Chromium" cyber activity group targeted important social, economic, and political concerns surrounding Hong Kong and Taiwan, as well as China's neighbours India, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, and Thailand. Chromium was actively targeting universities in Hong Kong and Taiwan, as they serve as centres for Beijing resistance groups. Besides, they also targeted government bodies and telecommunication providers in the other nations, claimed the report. The report suggests that Chinese nation-state hackers are not only interested in stealing intellectual property, but also "target the US political environment for insight into policy movements. It also stated that they will continue to be a concern to entities seeking intelligence on investments and discussions related to China's Belt and Road Initiative. However, China did not even come close to being at the top of the list for the majority of cyber-attacks launched as Russia accounted for 58% of state-sponsored hacking in the past year. It largely targeted government agencies and think tanks in the United States, followed by Ukraine, the United Kingdom, and European NATO allies, claimed Microsoft's report. 'Russian state-backed hackers' success rate surged to 32%' The long-unnoticed SolarWinds hack - which mostly targeted information technology companies like Microsoft - pushed Russian state-backed hackers' success rate to 32% this year, up from 21% the year before. China, on the other hand, accounted for less than one out of every ten state-sponsored hacking attempts detected by Microsoft, but was successful 44 % of the time in breaking into targeted networks. The report stated that Ransomware attacks are a severe and growing problem, with the United States by far the most targeted country. These attacks are usually criminal and financially motivated. State-sponsored hacking, on the other hand, is mainly about acquiring intelligence - whether for national security, commercial, or geopolitical gain - and is thus widely condoned by governments, with US cyber operators among the most skilled. Microsoft's report, which works closely with Washington government agencies, does not address government hacking in the United States, reported The Associated Press (AP). Image: Pixabay/Representative Finland has joined other Nordic countries in halting or discouraging the use of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine in certain age groups. This comes after an elevated risk of heart inflammation, a rare side effect connected with the shot was noted. On Thursday, October 7, the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare stated that the shot will not be given to males under the age of 30. Instead, they will be administered the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. According to the government agency, young men and boys have a slightly increased risk of contracting myocarditis, according to a report by The Associated Press (AP). Finland's move comes after three neighbouring countries made similar choices on Wednesday, October 6. Sweden has banned the use of Moderna for those under the age of 30. Meanwhile, Denmark has stated that the Swiss-made vaccine will not be supplied to anyone under the age of 18, and Norway advised those under the age of 30 to acquire the Pfizer vaccine instead, reported The AP. The decision was taken by these four countries on the basis of an unpublished study with Swedens Public Health Agency. The study revealed that it signals "an elevated risk of adverse effects such as inflammation of the heart muscle or the pericardium." However, it also added that the risk of being affected is minimal. EU approved Moderna vaccine for 18 and above in July It should be mentioned here that the Nordic study's initial findings have been referred to the European Medicines Agency's adverse reaction committee for review, reported The AP. Earlier, Anders Tegnell, Sweden's chief epidemiologist, stressed that they will closely monitor the situation and respond quickly to ensure that COVID-19 vaccines are always as safe as possible while still offering excellent disease protection. The COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna was approved for children aged 12 to 17 by the European Medicines Agency in July, marking the first time the vaccine had been licenced for people under the age of 18, reported The AP. Moderna's vaccine was licenced by the 27-nation European Union in January for use in anyone aged 18 and above. It was also given the licence in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, however, it has not been yet made available to children. Meanwhile, the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is the only one approved for children under the age of 18 in Europe and North America. Earlier this week, the European Union's drug regulator approved booster doses of the Pfizer-BioNTech COVID-19 vaccination for anyone aged 18 and above. The European Medicines Agency (EMA) stated that the booster doses for the above-mentioned age group should be considered at least 6 months after the second dose, reported The AP. Image: Pixabay/Representative Europe should take security threats that might stem from the migration out of the war-ravaged Afghanistan more seriously, warned the European Union (EU) Home Affairs Commissioner Ylva Johansson on Friday, October 8. In a press conference following a meeting with her EU counterparts in Luxembourg, she said, On the terrorist threat from Afghanistan, I must say that my assessment is that the alert level is not high enough. We really need to do (more). Afghanistans takeover by the Taliban in August triggered fears across Europe of a replay of 2015. As per Aria News report, six years ago nearly one million refugees including mostly Syrians, Iraqis and Afghans reached Europe crossing from Turkey to Greece. The EU Home Affairs Commissioner noted that presently, a massive number of Afghan nationals are moving towards the war-torn country's borders and the world has a moral responsibility to shelter the vulnerable people. However, she called on the 27 EU member nations to perform checks on people arriving from Afghanistan. Johansson cited a range of reasons for Afghan citizens to flee their home country amid the Taliban takeover. She said, The situation in Afghanistan is really dire, there is a huge risk of economic collapse, there is a huge risk of famine and humanitarian catastrophe while adding that even before the Taliban took over, millions of people from the South Asian country had been living in Pakistan, Iran and Turkey. Within just a few months, as per UN, at least 5,00,000 people have been displaced within Afghanistan. LIVE IN A FEW MINUTES Press conference by @EU2021SI Minister @aleshojs and Commissioner @YlvaJohansson following the home affairs part of the #JHA Council Watch here: https://t.co/RlxeutAnUG pic.twitter.com/M4AQOPUJxn EU Council Press (@EUCouncilPress) October 8, 2021 Families living in Kabul ordered to go home Meanwhile, hundreds of families who were living in Kabul as the offensive broke out due to the Taliban takeover in August, have been ordered to return to their homes. As per Tolo News, the Taliban-led governments Deputy Minister of refugees and repatriation Arsalan Kharotai has said, This process began today and will continue, thus all (displaced) families in Kabul will go back to their provinces. The Taliban has even said that at least 2,000 families, who were living in Kabul, have been displaced. Reportedly, the evacuation of the displaced families is presently being done in cooperation with donor organisations. Image: PTI, AP In a key development, Iceland on Friday, October 8, decided to halt the use of Moderna's COVID-19 vaccine citing growing concerns over risks of heart inflammation. According to a statement published on the website of the Health Directorate, the country's chief epidemiologist decided to suspend the use of the Moderna vaccine stating that the vaccination will not be hampered as the supply of Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine is sufficient in the territory. This decision was made at a time when more than 88% of the eligible population, aged 12 and above, have already been fully inoculated. Iceland had been almost exclusively administering the additional doses of Moderna vaccines to locals. Additional doses of Janssen, a single-dose serum made by Johnson & Johnson, were also used in the country for the elderly and those with weakened immune systems. Even patients who were already inoculated with the first two doses of another vaccine were given these doses, as per the country's Health Directorate reports. Earlier in June, Iceland became the first country in Europe to put an end to all COVID-19 curbs for vaccinated tourists. Nordic countries halt use of Moderna's COVID vaccine It should be mentioned here that prior to Iceland, Nordic countries including Sweden, Denmark, Norway and Finland suspended the use of Moderna's COVID vaccine citing increased risk of side effects such as inflammation of the cardiac muscle or the pericardium. The Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare stated that the shot will not be given to males under the age of 30. Sweden has banned the use of Moderna for those under the age of 30. Meanwhile, Denmark has stated that the Swiss-made vaccine will not be supplied to anyone under the age of 18, and Norway advised those under the age of 30 to acquire the Pfizer vaccine instead, according to a report by The Associated Press (AP). Despite the fact that the number of cases of heart inflammation is still fairly low, research from the Nordic countries suggests that taking Moderna shots may increase the risk of heart inflammation. The COVID-19 vaccine from Moderna was approved for children aged 12 to 17 by the European Medicines Agency in July, marking the first time the vaccine had been licenced for people under the age of 18. Moderna's vaccine was licenced by the 27-nation European Union in January for use in anyone aged 18 and above. It was also given the licence in countries such as the United Kingdom, Canada, and the United States, however, it has not been yet made available to children, reported The AP. Image: AP More than 130 countries agreed on Friday to sweeping changes on how big multinational companies are taxed in order to deter them from avoiding taxes by shifting their profits to nations with lower rates. French finance minister, Bruno Le Maire made the announcement in a video address where he described the changes as a "tax revolution." Under the agreement announced, countries would enact a minimum global corporate tax of 15% on the biggest companies, reaping an estimated $150 billion for government coffers once implemented. U.S. President Joe Biden has been one of the driving forces behind the agreement as governments around the world seek to boost revenue following the COVID-19 pandemic. The agreement among 136 countries was announced by the Paris-based Organization for Cooperation and Economic Development (OECD), which hosted the talks that led to it. This accord opens the way to a true tax revolution for the 21st century, said Le Maire. "Finally the digital giants will pay their just share in taxes in the countries - including France - where they profit. The deal faces several hurdles before it can take effect. U.S. approval of related tax legislation proposed by Biden will be key, especially since the U.S. is home to many of the biggest multinational companies. A rejection by Congress would cast uncertainty over the entire project. The deal is an attempt to address the ways globalization and digitalization have changed the world economy. Alongside the minimum tax, it would allow countries to tax some of the earnings of companies whose activities, such as online retailing or web advertising, don't involve a physical presence. The big U.S. tech companies like Google and Amazon have supported the OECD negotiations. One reason is that countries would agree to withdraw individual digital services taxes they have imposed on them in return for the right to tax a part of their earnings under the global scheme. That means the companies would deal with just the one international tax regime, not a multitude of different ones depending on the country. On Thursday, Ireland announced that it would join the agreement, ditching a low-tax policy that has led companies like Google and Facebook to base their European operations there. Although the Irish agreement was a step forward for the deal, developing countries have raised objections and Nigeria, Kenya, Pakistan and Sri Lanka have indicated they will not sign up. The deal will be taken up by the Group of 20 finance ministers next week, and then by G-20 leaders for final approval at a summit in Rome at the end of October. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) World Post Day is celebrated on October 9 every year to mark the anniversary of the Universal Postal Union (UPU). The UPU, which was started in 1874 in Switzerland, played a pivotal role in world history as a mediator of communication. The organisation became a part of the United Nations in 1948. Way before digitalisation, sending letters through the post was the only way to communicate and reach the near and dear ones. Every year over 150 countries observe this with recreational activities for employees and awareness activities for the curious. On the occasion of World Post Day 2021, let's look at the significance, World Post Day theme, quotes and messages that can be sent to commemorate the importance of postal services. World Post Day Significance Communication plays a significant part in establishing and developing social and economic relations. World Post Day is celebrated as an ode to the contribution and efforts of the postal industry. On the occasion, UN General Secretary Antonio Guterres explained the significance of the day through a message. "On World Post Day, invaluable contributions of postal workers to our societies and economies. The vast postal network- involving millions of workers moving billions of pieces of mail to hundreds of thousands of post offices- is woven into our societies, connecting communities the world over," he said. World Post Day Theme World Post Day is not guided by a particular theme. However, according to a statement by UPU Director General Bishar Abdurahman Hussein, "When COVID-19 affected all countries of the world including established supply chain infrastructure and the postal found a way to continue offering services to the communities," therefore in the year 2021 the theme for World Post Day is "Innovate to Recover." "In this innovativeness of Posts, and their resilience in serving communities that we are celebrating on the occasion of World Post Day," Mr. Hussein said. (Image: Unsplash) World Post Day Messages: Wishes to share Distance is a barrier that can only be overcome with the help of communication. Best wishes to you on the occasion of World Post Day. Dedicate your time to honour the service that links friends and family with each other from across borders. Wish you a very Happy World Post Day. Postal workers dedicate their lives to helping people. Let's dedicate this day to honour and respect them. Best wishes to you on this occasion of World Post Day. On the service that brings people closer every day. Wish you a very happy World Day Post Day. The internet creates as well as destroys whereas a post always just gives. Happy World Post Day. (Image: Unsplash) In a second attack within a week, at least 10 civilians were injured in an explosive-laden drone explosion at King Abdullah bin Abdulaziz International Airport in the southwestern border city of Jazan in Saudi Arabia. The hostile projectile was target-fired by the Saudi-led coalition Houthi rebels from Yemen late on Friday, Xinhua reported citing Saudi Press Agency (SPA). Initial reports suggested about 5 minor injuries from the falling debris of the shot-down missile, however, the state media later updated the toll to 10. The official spokesperson of the Saudi-led coalition Brigadier General Turki al-Maliki, later on Friday, informed that among the injured were civilian passengers, including six Saudis, three Bangladeshi nationals, and one from Sudan, and airport workers. The intensity of the explosion shattered glass windows at the airport and caused minor injuries. The attack comes after the Houthis launched another similar Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) towards Abha International Airport in the Kingdom's southwestern Asir Province on Wednesday. The strike reportedly injured at least four airport employees. Yemen-Houthi Conflict The Yemen-Houthi Conflict began in September 2014, when the Iran-backed militia seized the capital city of Sanaa. The rebel group toppled President Abed Rabbi Mansour Hadi's government and formed the Supreme Political Council along with its allied forces supported by the former President Ali Abdullah Saleh. Following the annexure, Yemen's recognised government backed by Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates (UAE) engaged in war with the rebel group since March 2015. The battle forced the last President Hadi to flee the country to Saudi Arabia. In January 2021, former US State Secretary Mike Pompeo proposed to declare the Houthis as a "Foreign terrorist organisation." However, the Biden administration after a month in the White House withdrew arms backing to UAE and Saudi Arabia and called for a ceasefire. The State Department also said that it would revoke Houthi's "terrorist group tag." A series of strikes and counterstrikes since 2015, has killed thousands of civilians and pushed Yemen to the brink of famine and humanitarian crisis. The shaky cease-fire to end Yemen's civil war has been under the debris of truce breaches and sporadic military escalation by both sides. Image: Unsplash (representative) Sitting in his house in Basra under posters showing his assassinated brother, Mohammad Abdul Samad remembers his brother Ahmed by watching videos of him on his mobile phone. Ahmed Abdul Samad was killed on 10 January 2020 alongside his cameraman as two men on a motorbike shot at them, with Ahmed receiving a fatal shot to the head. As well as being an activist, Ahmed tried to be an advocate for people and helped to convey the voice of Basra protesters to the Iraqis in power, according to his family. His brother, Mohammad, is continuing his brother's work and is raising concerns about Iraq's upcoming elections. "Ahmed, the protesters and the Tishreen (October 2019) uprising, were trying to change the situation, like the electoral commission and the electoral law, but nothing has changed," said Mohammad, who works as a radio anchor. "As long as the electoral commission has not changed and the entire authority is in the hands of the militias and the (political) parties, how would anyone participate? How can any independent candidate participate," asked Mohammad. A vote is being held six months before the elections were due, in line with a promise made by Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi when he assumed office in 2020. He is seeking to appease anti-government protesters who rose up in October 2019 in Baghdad and Iraq's south. Iraqi security forces, displaced people, patients in hospitals and prisoners across the country cast their ballots on Friday, two days before the rest of the nation votes in parliamentary elections. The so-called special voting is meant to free up police and soldiers so they can provide security on Election Day. There are 3,449 candidates vying for 329 seats in parliament in Sunday's vote, which will be the fifth held since the fall of Saddam Hussein after the US-led invasion of Iraq in 2003. More than 24 million of Iraq's estimated 38 million people are eligible to vote. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) In a number of UN-backed radio programs in Central Afghanistan, civil society representatives have urged parties involved in the Afghanistan conflict to cease fighting and approach a negotiating point. The series of programmes were part of a United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) outreach initiative to encourage community interaction. In a statement, UNAMA said that during the radio shows held across Panjshir, Parwan, and Kapisa provinces, speakers from religious organisations, civil society, women councils, academics, as well as youth groups highlighted the fact that there is no justification for violence, armed war, or loss of life. They claimed that peace negotiations should be the central focus for the well-being of all Afghans. Speakers talk about Afghan crisis in a series of radio programs Shayesta Mehraban, a rights activist in Panjshir stated that women and youth are the biggest victims of the conflict in Afghanistan and must oppose wars. She went on to say that the younger generation must persuade one another that violence is not the answer since all are suffering and dying as a result of it. The conflict will certainly end if the youth cease fighting, she added. While, Najibullah Rahimi, a former member of the Kapisa Provincial Council, spoke at one of the radio shows that war is strongly discouraged by the Sharia and international rules as it is killing several people, demolishing houses and public infrastructure. Citing Rahimi said, It is the religious and moral responsibility of every Afghan to play their role in stopping the war because war cannot be won with war, it must end, Afghans are no longer able to tolerate it." Another speaker, Shamela Begi, emphasised the need for tolerance and respect for one another's viewpoints in resolving disagreements via reason and nonviolent methods. She added that Afghans should intensify efforts to build peace and stop the conflict by battling all ethnic, religious, and regional divisions. Roya Sabet, a women's rights activist from Parwan stated that war has catastrophic repercussions on the individual, family, and societal lives, notably more painful for women. To achieve a prosperous and successful Afghanistan, Roya Sabet urged the warring parties to stop killing, avoid civilian fatalities, and terminate the conflict. Furthermore, a religious scholar in Panjshir, Maulavi Ahmadullah Hasheminajad stated that if fighting could provide progress and prosperity, then Afghans would have been the most affluent existence in the world. But unfortunately, because of the longstanding conflict we are staying behind. Peace is the guarantor of any progress," stressed Hashminajad, ANI reported. Radio Kechken in Panjshir, Radio Dunya Naween in Parwan, and Radio Sada-e-Nijrab in Kapisa organised and broadcast the UNAMA-sponsored radio programs. UNAMA collaborates with a variety of organisations and people, which comprise local leaders, youth groups, women, and local media stations, to develop opportunities for Afghans to engage in conversation on important problems impacting their neighbourhoods via radio, social media, and television. (Image: AP) Uzbekistan Foreign Ministry on Saturday, October 9, condemned the attack at a mosque in Kunduz city of Afghanistan. The Uzbekistan Foreign Ministry stated that such acts prevent the establishment of peace in Afghanistan, according to ANI. The ministry offered condolences to the families who lost their loved ones in the attack. Uzbekistan condemns mosque attack In the statement, the Uzbekistan Foreign Ministry condemned the attack that was carried out during the Friday prayers in Shia Mosque in Kunduz, ANI cited Sputnik. The United Nations Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) informed that initial data indicates that over 100 people died and several were wounded in the suicide blast. The ministry asserted that such acts obstruct the establishment of a peaceful Afghanistan. The Foreign Ministry also paid condolences to the victims families who were killed in the attack on October 8 in Kunduz. "Uzbekistan strongly condemns the terrorist act committed on October 8, 2021, during the Friday prayers in the Afghan city of Kunduz, which led to many casualties", Sputnik reported citing a statement from the Uzbek ministry. According to ANI, Taliban spokesperson Zabihullah Mujahid informed that the security personnel were at the spot and investigation was being carried out. Meanwhile, United States also condemned the attack in the Mosque in Kunduz. United States State Department Spokesperson Ned Price condemned the attack on the people during the Friday prayers in Kunduz and paid condolences to the victims and their families. "The United States condemns in the strongest terms todays attack on worshippers at Friday prayers in Kunduz, Afghanistan. We offer our deepest condolences to the victims and their families. The Afghan people deserve a future free of terror", Ned Price said in a statement. Blast in Afghanistan An explosion took place at a Shia mosque in Afghanistan's northern Kunduz province on Friday, October 8, according to AP. Terror organisation ISIS has claimed responsibility for the deadly suicide bombing which jolted the war-torn country on Friday. Informing that the attack was targeted against both Shiites and the Taliban, AP cited Aamaq news agency. Taliban spokesman Bilal Karimi told the Associated Press that 46 people died and 143 were injured in the explosion. Inputs from AP, ANI Image: AP/Twitter/@UzbekMFA Hundreds of Russian citizens have flocked to Serbia in recent weeks in a bid to receive a Western-approved coronavirus vaccine. It was a source of national pride for Russian regulators to approve the country's indigenous coronavirus vaccine, but the Sputnik V shot is yet to get the nod from international health authorities, reported The Associated Press (AP). Serbia, which is not a member of the European Union, is a viable option for Russians looking for vaccines because it allows them to visit without a visa and offers a wide range of Western-made vaccines. The number of organised tours for Russians has surged significantly, and many can now be found in hotels, restaurants, clubs, and vaccination clinics across Belgrade, reported The AP. According to Russia's Association of Tour Operators, vaccination tour packages for Russians seeking jabs recommended by the World Health Organization hit the market in mid-September. The group's executive director, Maya Lomidze informed that prices range from $300 to $700 depending on different facilities included in the vaccination tour packages. Sputnik V, hailed by Russian President Vladimir Putin as the world's first registered coronavirus vaccine, was approved in more than 70 countries including Serbia in August last year. However, the WHO has stated that global certification is still pending, citing issues at a manufacturing plant a few months ago, reported The AP. Sputnik V requires approval from WHO as well as European Medicines Agency On Friday, September 8, a top World Health Organization official stated that legal issues stalling the review of Sputnik V are going to be dealt out soon which will help in resuming the process towards emergency use authorisation. Meanwhile, Dr Mariangela Simao, WHO associate director-general, claimed that a few roadblocks for the Russian application still persist, including a lack of complete scientific information and inspections of manufacturing locations. Apart from the WHO, the European Medicines Agency must also approve Sputnik V so that travel restrictions can be lifted for people who have taken Russian jabs. It should be mentioned here that Serbia is offering the Pfizer, AstraZeneca and Chinese Sinopharm vaccines. Russian tourist firms are also organising tours to Croatia, where visitors may obtain the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine without having to return for a second dosage. Notably, Serbia introduced vaccination for foreigners in the month of August when the country's vaccination drive slowed after inoculating roughly 50% of the adult population. According to official Serbian government figures, approximately 160,000 foreign citizens have been vaccinated in the country so far, but it is unknown how many of them are Russians, reported The AP. Image: AP The International Monetary Fund's (IMF) Executive Board has authorised a fourth tranche of debt relief from the Catastrophe Containment and Relief Trust (CCRT) on October 6, 2021, for the 24 member nations who are having qualifying debt due during the timeframe through January 10, 2022. This relief will be provided to the low-income countries to assist them in fighting against the COVID pandemic, Xinhua reported. According to a press release from the IMF, the Executive Board further accepted the addition of the Kyrgyz Republic and Lesotho as beneficiary nations, allowing these low-income countries to obtain debt relief from the IMF until January 10, 2022. The fourth tranche of debt relief, worth about $124 million was authorised after three previous tranches which were approved on 13th April 2020, 2nd October 2020, as well as 1st April 2021. This debt relief will help in providing financial resources for critical health, societal, as well as economic solutions to combat the COVID pandemic's consequences. Debt service relief for all beneficiary countries might be given for the remaining period from January 11, 2022 to April 13, 2022. Kristalina Georgieva, the Managing Director of IMF, had announced an emergency fundraising drive in March 2020 to generate $1.4 billion USD in donations for the CCRT. This drive would allow the CCRT to give financial help for debt service relief for up to two years. There were several donor countries that provided funds to the CCRT. The European Union, United Kingdom, Japan, Germany, France, The Netherlands, Spain, Switzerland, Norway, Singapore, Greece, China, Mexico, The Philippines, Sweden, Bulgaria, Luxembourg, as well as Malta, were among the countries who have made contributions, amounting to a total of over $860 million, the release read. Executive Directors remark on the fourth tranche of debt relief As per the press release, the Executive Directors have supported the staff's recommendation for a two-step method to approve debt service relief under the CCRT for funding the poorest and most vulnerable members until April 2022. This would imply an instant fourth payment for the period ending January 10, 2022, backed with a consideration of a final tranche in January 2022 based on a review of CCRT resources. The funds released so far by CCRT debt service relief have assisted in reducing the impact of the COVID outbreak on CCRT-eligible nations, according to the directors. Directors further agreed that nations that have received CCRT debt relief funds are usually implementing suitable macroeconomic measures in response to the worldwide pandemic's economic consequences. They have also observed that a number of these nations have continued the shift to higher-quality credit tranche programs that would offer a better regulatory framework for the recovery phase and expressed optimism for future advances in this area. Directors highlighted the varying progress made in CCRT-eligible nations in fulfilling governance safeguards obligations connected to COVID-related expenditure. As a result, the directors emphasised the necessity of continuing to follow through on governance and transparency pledges, backed up by technical help where necessary. (Image: AP) In the wake of new developments in Palestine, as reported by local media and Red Crescent Society, at least 74 Palestinians were said to be brutally injured in Nablus city after clashes erupted with Israeli forces in the West Bank. On Friday, violent fights erupted in the south of the Nablus city, where a Jewish settlement is being built, violating international laws. According to reports by Sputnik, the skirmishes broke out in the region after hundreds of Palestinians set tired on fire and hurled stones at personnel guarding the construction site. The developments were reported just four days after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas and Israeli Ministers held talks to initiate the "peace process" between two sides of the West Bank city of Ramallah. The current protests by Palestinians, reportedly third in two months, opposed the building of Israeli wildcat settlements in the Beita district. Clashes continue to erupt in flashpoint West Bank Three months into the ceasefire, Israel and Palestine have often engaged in minor clashes along the West Bank region. Frequent skirmishes along the Gaza perimeter fence were at pinnacle on August 21 when hundreds of Palestinians were involved in violent conflicts with the Israeli security personnel, UN special ambassador to Middle East Peace Process; Tor Wennesland said at a press briefing last week. Similar protests broke out on September 8th when about 100 Palestinians were injured in Nablus after a violent tussle with Israeli Forces. According to Sputnik, the Palestinians launched rallies in groups to demonstrate support to prisoners in Israeli jails. Following the September 8 clashes, the total tally injuries surpassed 500 bar, which was 270 in August after 12 Palestinian protestors were injured in the Beita district, Red Crescent noted. In the same week, two Palestinian demonstrators were shot fatally by Israeli army gunfire in the district. Another round of clashes in July resulted in gruesome injuries of over 320 Palestinians who protested against the Jewish settlements in Evyatar, located nearby. Image: AP Singapore on Saturday reopened its border for nine nations amid the COVID-19 pandemic still soaring across the globe. As per the latest travel guidelines, Singapore has allowed vaccinated travellers from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, and Spain. Starting from October 19, air passengers from the said nine countries will not be required to adhere to the quarantine rules if the COVID-19 test came out negative. Notably, India is still not a part of Singapores new travel lane arrangement. The official website stated, No vaccinated travel lane arrangement for travellers departing from India". It further read, "Non-Singapore Citizens and permanent residents with travel or transit history through India in the 14 days before arrival are currently not allowed to enter Singapore. Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, South Korea, Spain, the United Kingdom, and the United States of America are now included in the Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL), in addition to Brunei and Germany. Find out more at: https://t.co/ww1Y8KVxkI. pic.twitter.com/ks0MquMnnD Singapore Airlines (@SingaporeAir) October 9, 2021 Singapore PM suggests 'living with COVID' Travel from Singapore to the nine countries can be on any Singapore Airlines flight but travel from the nation must be part of the designated Vaccinated Travel Lane (VTL) flights. Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong, as per BBC, said that it was time to pursue the strategy of living with COVID-19. He also noted that the so-called vaccinated travel lanes established previously with Germany and Brunei were successful and hence, it would be extended to nine other nations. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, Singapore had stringent COVID-19 guidelines to tackle the pandemic. Even though Coronavirus-related fatalities in the country remain comparatively low, the strict lockdown wavered the South Asian islands status as a business and aviation hub. In a televised address, Singaporean PM also said that the Delta variant made it evident for the people that the Coronavirus will not be going away. He added that the new normal included life with vaccinations, social distancing measures coupled with careful monitoring. "It will take us at least three months, and perhaps as long as six months, to get there," he said adding that a likely increase in Coronavirus cases would be monitored specifically that would emerge once the restrictions are eased. He noted that the expansion in the arrangement with other nations with a balanced number of cases would keep us connected to global supply chains and help to preserve Singapore's hub status. IMAGE: Unsplash In a major development, the Taliban on Saturday has demanded that Afghanistan's foreign assets be unfrozen during negotiations with the United States in Doha, as per reports. Taliban has reportedly also asked America to not violate Afghanistan's airspace and refrain from interfering in their internal affairs. However, as per a statement by the Afghan Foreign Ministry, the US has pledged to provide Afghanistan with COVID-19 vaccines. According to reports, the Taliban described the talks as a push for a "new page" in relations between the two nations. A US delegation is set to travel to Doha to meet with senior Taliban representatives, more than a month after the extremist group reconquered Afghanistan. The US State Department announced on Saturday, October 9, about the first in-person meeting between the US and the Taliban after the crisis engulfed the South Asian country in the months after both sides reached a peace deal under the administration of former US President Donald Trump. US State Department spokesperson Ned Price said that the main priorities of the meeting in Doha are to ensure the continuation of a secure passage of the people seeking to leave the conflict-stricken Afghanistan including Afghan nationals and foreigners. Price stated that the US side will also be pressing the Taliban to uphold the rights of women, form an inclusive government and allow the humanitarian agencies for free access to the vulnerable areas of need. During the Doha talks, US officials will also seek to hold the Taliban to commitments that they would allow Americans and other foreign nationals to leave Afghanistan, along with Afghans who once worked for the US military or government and other Afghan allies, a US official said. Will not cooperate with America to contain Islamic State: Taliban Taliban on Saturday ruled out cooperation with the United States to contain extremist groups in Afghanistan, staking out an uncompromising position on a key issue. Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen told news agency AP that there would be no cooperation with Washington on going after the increasingly active Islamic State group affiliate in Afghanistan. IS has taken responsibility for a number of attacks, including a suicide bombing that killed 46 minority Shiite Muslims and wounded dozens as they prayed in a mosque. (With Agency Inputs) Image: AP Alex Ellis, UK High Commissioner to India, said that he is delighted that India and the UK cooperated and found an agreement over travel restrictions. He said, We are delighted with UK-India cooperation on Covishield, those travelling from India can now enter the UK without quarantine. He further added, The people are desperate to come here. Our next step is to ease the way for travellers to come here, opening up more flights so we can get people moving between UK and India. Earlier this week, British Prime Minister Boris Johnson lifted the travel restrictions imposed on Indian travellers and reversed the decision of compulsory quarantine for fully vaccinated Indians. The UK government has allowed Indian travellers to visit the UK from October 11, 4 am onwards and will no longer have to quarantine for ten days. The UK government further announced that the fully vaccinated individuals inoculated with the Covishield vaccine will be treated the same as the returning fully vaccinated UK residents. #WATCH We are delighted with UK-India cooperation on Covishield, those travelling from India can now enter the UK without quarantine, says Alex Ellis, UK High Commissioner to India pic.twitter.com/EPY1X1BTy6 ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2021 The sudden U-turn by the UK Along with India, the British government removed over 37 countries from the travelling red list. Fully vaccinated people from over 37 new countries and territories like Brazil, Ghana, Hong Kong, and Pakistan will be allowed to travel. MP Rt Hon Grant Shapps announced the decision on Twitter that only seven countries are on the red list as of now. Although, the rule states that the traveller must not have visited a red-listed country or territory in the ten days before arriving in England. He also announced that fully vaccinated passengers from 37 countries, including India, Turkey and Ghana, will be treated as citizens vaccinated in the UK. He posted, "I'm also making changes so travellers visiting England have fewer entry requirements, by recognising those with fully-vax status from 37 new countries and territories including India, Turkey and Ghana, treating them the same as the UK fully vax passengers." The UK government made a statement saying that the policy was altered to allow the travel and tourism industry to flourish. The reversal of the decision came after several talks between India and the UK about the latter's travel policy discriminating against vaccinated Indians. (with ANI inputs) Image: AP A British Minister has said that the UK must become a science superpower with rockets built in the country, launching British-built satellites, handling a range of activities such as delivering pizza. UKs new science minister George Freeman told Sky News that he wished to put the days of Britain as a science leader but innovation laggard behind. He reportedly argued UK consumers are now ready to embrace new products such as gene-edited meat that would further enhance animal welfare and combat climate crisis. Additionally, on Saturday, Freeman will be announcing 440,000 of new funding from the UK Space Agency to research astronaut health., as per the report. The research would determine how the body of an astronaut including bones, muscles, and eyesight of astronaut begin to deteriorate just after a few days in space. The study would also be important for sending astronauts on a long space mission to Moon and Mars. Just last month, the missions that the UK wishes to participate in were launched under its new National Space Strategy. As per the report, the government has invested nearly half a billion pounds into the countrys space industry in 2021 under the recently rolled out National Space Strategy. The new strategy is designed in order to help the 16billion sector compete with those in the US, China and Europe. Freeman told Sky News, The Americans are chucking huge money at this. The Chinese are chucking huge money at it. The Russians have got their own programme. Russia or the Chinese or bad actors Freeman noted that investing in the countrys space industry and collaborating with the allies such as Europe would contribute to increasing Britains strategic influence across the globe. He told the outlet, There are a lot of nations - Japan, Australia, the Philippines, who want to be secure in space, and don't want to be vulnerable to Russia or the Chinese or bad actors. "They want to be part of a network, a Commonwealth, if you like, of space scientists and businesses that are operating at the highest values. And I think that's a big opportunity for the UK, he added. IMAGE: PTI Britains top steel manufacturer, on Friday, slammed the Boris Johnson administration for its failure to halt soaring energy prices in the country. Speaking in the aftermath of the Energy-Intensive Industries meet with the country's Business Secretary Kwasi Kwarteng, entrepreneur Gareth Stace said that the UK cannot wait till Christmas or beyond or even a few weeks. Furthermore, he asserted, We need action now, it needs to be swift, decisive action. Earlier this week, Johnson told reporters that this years festive season would be considerably better than last year, suggesting the possibility of the country's revival from the ongoing crisis. Prices of gas, specifically the Russian imports, have surged 250 per cent since January this year. Speaking to BBC News, Stace said that although Kwarteng listened to the problems of the industries, he failed to provide an immediate solution for it. Comparing the UK administration to other European Countries, the steel boss said that other countries including France and Spain have ramped up efforts to support their industries. Meanwhile, Kwartengs office said that it would work with the businesses and access the options proposed by them during the meeting. "We recognise the recent increase in global gas prices will be a cause of concern for businesses in the UK. We are in regular contact with Ofgem and business groups to explore ways to manage the impact of rising global prices." Possible Solution? Recently, the administration touted renewable energy as its only long-term solution. The UK's Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial strategy Kwasi Kwarteng said that getting gas off the grid was the only solution to bring down its prices. He further emphasised that increased investments in alternative energy options could enhance the UK's standing in green technologies and bolster its energy security. "The Business Secretary also spoke about the issue of high global gas prices. He reiterated the governments commitment to continue investment in renewable energy projects and getting unreliable gas off our grid as the only long-term solution to bringing down costs for consumers and strengthening Britains energy security, whilst boosting the countrys competitive advantage in green technologies," Kwarteng was quoted as saying by Sputnik. Image: AP/NPR Four people injured when a tree fell on them as they were working inside a Northern California wildfire have been released from the hospital, officials said Friday. One is an employee with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, known as Cal Fire, and three are with the California Conservation Corps, authorities said . They were hurt Thursday afternoon while they were inside the southern end of the KNP Complex Fire. They were then airlifted to hospitals. The blaze was caused by lightning on Sept. 10 and has burned more than 134 square miles (347 square kilometers) of forest in the Sequoia and Kings Canyon national parks. The fire remains only 11% contained as more than 2,000 firefighters battle it. Officials fear hundreds of giant sequoias may have been killed by the flames as they swept through groves of the majestic monarchs in the Sierra Nevada. The trees have evolved to survive low- to medium-intensity fire behavior but two groves including one with 5,000 trees were seared by high-intensity fire that can send up 100-foot (30-meter) flames capable of burning the canopies of the towering trees. Firefighters have taken extraordinary measures to protect the sequoias by wrapping fire-resistant material around the bases of some giants, raking and clearing vegetation around them, installing sprinklers and dousing some with water or fire retardant gel. The true extent of the damage to the sequoias may not be known until 2022, when crews will be able to get into the area on foot. For now, aerial reconnaissance is only possible when smoke conditions allow. California fires have burned more than 3,000 square miles (7,800 square kilometers) so far in 2021, destroying more than 3,000 homes, commercial properties and other structures. Hotter and drier weather coupled with decades of fire suppression have contributed to an increase in the number of acres burned by wildfires, fire scientists say. And the problem is exacerbated by a more than 20-year Western megadrought that studies link to human-caused climate change. (Disclaimer: This story is auto-generated from a syndicated feed; only the image & headline may have been reworked by www.republicworld.com) US President Joe Biden on Friday, 8 October, issued the first-ever presidential proclamation commemorating Indigenous Peoples Day. According to a press release, Biden announced that 11 October will now be observed as Indigenous Peoples Day. he said that the contributions that Indigenous peoples have made throughout history are integral to the United States. In the proclamation, Biden wrote, Our country was conceived on a promise of equality and opportunity for all people a promise that, despite the extraordinary progress we have made through the years, we have never fully lived up to. That is especially true when it comes to upholding the rights and dignity of the Indigenous people who were here long before colonization of the Americas began. He added, The contributions that Indigenous peoples have made throughout history in public service, entrepreneurship, scholarship, the arts, and countless other fields are integral to our Nation, our culture, and our society. Measure of greatness The US President also marked a change of course from the previous administration in his proclamation marking Columbus Day, which honours the explorer Christopher Columbus. He also acknowledged the death and destruction wrought on native communities after Columbus journeyed to North American in the late 1500s. Biden wrote, Today, we also acknowledge the painful history of wrongs and atrocities that many European explorers inflicted on Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities. It is a measure of our greatness as a Nation that we do not seek to bury these shameful episodes of our past that we face them honestly, we bring them to the light, and we do all we can to address them," he added. Separately, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said that Biden felt strongly about recognising Indigenous Peoples Day. When asked if the US President might seek to end marking Columbus Day as a federal holiday, Psaki replied saying that she doesnt have any predictions at this point. Well, today is both Columbus Day, as of now ... as well as Indigenous Peoples' Day," Psaki said. (Image: AP) The United States Department of Justice announced on Friday, 8 October, that the federal criminal civil rights charges over the shooting of a 30-year-old Black man, Jacob Blake will not be pursued. Blake was shot in the back multiple times by a Wisconsin police officer in August 2020. In a statement, the US Justice Department said that there is not enough evidence against the officer to state that he willfully violated the civil rights which are required as the standard to press charges. The incident occurred last year on August 23 after the police received a call about a domestic disturbance. The entire event, as revealed in the graphic bystander video showed Blake walking away from the Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheshkey. The law enforcement officer then grabbed the 30-year-olds shirt as he opened the drivers side of the parked car. Then, as per the footage, Sheshkey shot Blake multiple times in the back. As per The Associated Press report, Blake, who was 29 at the time, survived the shooting but was left paralysed from the waist down. The incident involving Blake triggered a fresh wave of Black Lives Matter (BLM) protests with some of them turning violent. Among those demonstrations, an Illinois man shot three people, killing two. However, US state prosecutors decided not to file charges against the police officer earlier this year after a video surfaced showing Blake armed with a knife. The 30-year-old was wanted on a felony warrant. US State Dept launched its own investigation AP stated that shortly after the August 23, 2020 incident, the United States Department launched its own investigation. Now, the US Justice Department announced on Friday that a team of prosecutors from its Civil Rights Division and the US attorneys office in Milwaukee reviewed police reports, witness statements, dispatch logs and also the videos of the incident. After going through the process, they determined that there was not enough evidence to prove that Sheskey used excessive force or that he violated Blakes federal rights. The US Justice Department said in a news release, Accordingly, the review of this incident has been closed without a federal prosecution. Meanwhile, as per AP, Blakes uncle, Justin Blake denounced the decision as unconscionable and stated that it definitely steps on every civil right we can imagine this country owes every African American descendant. If we had a heart to be broken, it would be, he said. But because weve been through all weve been, were not. IMAGE: Unsplash/Representative (With inputs from AP) Colombia's ambassador to India Mariana Pacheco on Saturday said that her country was looking forward to obtaining vaccines from India for the country's refugee population. This comes after India's announcement that it will restart the export of COVID vaccines to the rest of the world under the Vaccine Maitri. According to Ambassador Pacheco, Colombia has over two million Venezuelan refugees, who are eager to receive the Indian vaccination through the Covax programme. She also praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi's Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam initiative. Mariana said, "In the meantime, we get technology transfer and we can finish off the deals with pharma companies in India for production of vaccine in Columbia. We look forward to getting vaccines from India especially for the refugee population in Columbia." Colombian ambassador praised India The ambassador further stated that the Indian government's generosity and openness, as well as Indian centres of excellence, colleges, and pharmaceutical businesses, are amazing. They adhere to Prime Minister Modi's one-family philosophy, and it is for this reason that they are here, not just for the benefit of India or Columbians, but for the sake of humanity. Mariana Pacheco praised India by saying that she admire India for how they have created an ecosystem to promote the pharmaceutical business. Further saying that first and foremost, everyone should learn from them. Recently, Colombia's vice president and foreign minister Marta Lucia Ramirez visited India. The visit's main goal was to develop bridges with India in a variety of industries, including pharmaceuticals. She met EAM Jaishankar and Vice President M Venkaiah Naidu. During her visit, EAM Jaishankar said that they had a long talk about our growing collaboration. Health, medicines, biotechnology and space were all agreed to be prioritised. He also promised to boost trade and investment, particularly in the areas of energy, information technology, pharmaceuticals and automobiles. He also stated that in multilateral forums, their close cooperation will be bolstered. Colombia lacks its own COVID vaccination and is entirely reliant on imported vaccines. In an interview with W Radio on July 28, 2020, Colombian Health Minister Fernando Ruiz said that the country had signed confidentiality agreements with two pharmaceutical companies, Pfizer and AstraZeneca, for the acquisition of a COVID-19 vaccine, and that the country would seek agreements with at least three more companies. (Inputs from ANI) Image: Twitter/@IndiaEmbCol A top US official will be visiting Haiti and Panama for talks on migration, the US Department of State informed in a statement. US State Under Secretary for Civilian Security, Democracy and Human Rights Uzra Zeya will travel to Haiti and Panama from October 12-17 to initiate discussions about the migrant situation amid internal conflicts. The US Department of State informed that Zeya is scheduled to meet with Haitian Prime Minister Ariel Henry and Minister of Justice Liszt Quitel to address issues of internal conflicts in Haiti and matters concerning large scale migrations to the US. Aiming to boost opportunities for free and fair elections in Haiti, Under Secretary Zeya will pipe up talks about how the nation can provide better security for all its citizens. The diplomats will also address issues concerning support for returned Haitian migrants. Following this, Zeya is expected to discuss the investigation into ex-Haitian President Jovonel Moise's assassination and the three prominent massacres - Bel-Air, La Saline, and Grand Ravine- that pushed the nation into a deepening humanitarian crisis. To express gratitude for the unvetted humanitarian assistance and earthquake recovery efforts in Haiti, Zeya will also meet Chiefs of the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) and UNICEF in the same period. As per a US State Department press release, these meetings will advance partnerships that are addressing the root causes of migration in Haiti and support Haitian-led efforts towards restoration of democratic institutions. US Under Secy to hold high-level security talks with Panama govt On October 14, US State Under-Secretary will engage in a "high-level" Security Dialogue with the Panama government and President Cortizo. The discussions will advance for talks about the collaboration between Panama to jointly address issues about regional migration challenges, strategic measures to curb money laundering and drug trafficking, the press release mentioned. Lastly, while in Panama, Zeya will travel to Darien to meet civil societies and non-governmental organisations to further learn and collaborate on migration management and international protection. Trump suggests Haitian migrants are afflicted with AIDS US ex-President Donald Trump, without any solid proof, said that Haitian migrants who are seeking asylum in America are probably inflicted with AIDS. We have hundreds of thousands of people flowing in from Haiti. Haiti has a tremendous AIDS problem. AIDS is a step beyond. AIDS is a real problem, Trump said during a telephonic interview with Fox News. He also added that dozens of countries are emptying out their prison by purposely sending out their roughest prisoners to the US. Image: @AFPeaceBuilding_Twitter/AP Abolhassan Banisadr, who was elected Irans first president after the 1979 revolution and later fled the country and became an outspoken opponent of the theocratic government, has died. He was 88. A statement issued by his family said Banisadr died October 9 in a Paris hospital and had been suffering from a long illness. No further details were released. Banisadr served as Iran's president during the 444-day crisis when 52 Americans were held hostage by radical college students. And he was the first to be impeached by the countrys parliament after 16 months in office. Born in the western city of Hamadan on March 22, 1933, Banisadr studied finance at the Sorbonne in Paris after World War II. His father was a cleric who was close to Ayatollah Khomeini, who later led the Islamic Revolution that toppled Irans monarchy. Banisadr reportedly first met Khomeini at the funeral for Banisadrs father in 1972. Banisadr was active in underground student movements in Iran opposed to Shah Mohammad Reza Pahlavis government and was imprisoned twice. While living in France, he joined the religious movement inspired by Khomeini and then returned to Iran in February 1979 with Khomeini one month after Pahlavi fled the country. He served as finance minister and foreign minister in the new theocratic government before being elected president in February 1980. A year later, Banisadr fell out with Khomeini, who as supreme leader, retained ultimate authority in the country. Irans parliament impeached Banisadr on June 21, 1981, as he sought to rein in the influence of clerics on the countrys judicial system. Banisadr fled back to France where he co-founded the National Council of the Resistance of Iran, and became an outspoken opponent of the Tehran government, accusing Khomeini and his successors of being responsible for the violence in the Middle East. He also condemned the governments crackdown on protesters after the 2009 presidential election that was won by the hard-line Mahmud Ahmadinejad and sparked the opposition Green Movement. In an interview with RFFE/RLs Radio Farda in 2019, on the 40th anniversary of the Iranian Revolution, Banisadr broadly criticized the Iranian regime and its conduct of elections. "Not only are elections in Iran not free, but they also humiliate voters, because there is neither freedom to run nor freedom to vote, he said. He also said that the collapse of the Iranian regime was inevitable. Banisadr is survived by his wife, Ozra Hosseini, whom he married in 1961, and three children. No funeral arrangements were announced. With reporting by Radio Farda International mediators say they are ready to facilitate a meeting between the leaders of Azerbaijan and Armenia as the two Caucasus nations attempt to end their long-standing conflict over the Nagorno-Karabakh region. The co-chairs of the Minsk Group, under the auspices of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), said in an October 8 statement that they have taken positive note of statements by leaders of the two countries for their readiness in principle to meet with each other to seek a settlement. The co-chairs look forward to engaging the sides on modalities and details of such a meeting and reiterate their willingness to visit the region in the near future to discuss next steps in the process, the Minsk Group said in a statement on the OSCE website. On October 4, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian expressed readiness to meet Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev to discuss further steps to regulate the situation in the disputed Nagorno-Karabakh region. A week earlier, Aliyev said he was ready to meet with Pashinian if such a meeting were organized by the OSCE Minsk Group. Nagorno-Karabakh is internationally recognized as being part of Azerbaijan, but the entire territory and seven surrounding districts were controlled by ethnic Armenian forces from the early 1990s until recently. The two sides have skirmished regularly over the years. Internationally mediated negotiations under the auspices of the OSCE involving the so-called Minsk Group co-chaired by Russia, the United States, and France, have been unable to produce a lasting settlement of the conflict. In September 2020, Azerbaijan launched a military offensive that resulted in Baku regaining control of the seven surrounding districts, and a significant chunk of Nagorno-Karabakh itself. With reporting by RFE/RL's Armenian and Azerbaijani Services Russian officials said the number of people who have died after drinking bootleg alcohol had jumped to 29, as investigators detained more people in the southern region of Orenburg. A local government official told the Orenday news outlet that 28 people were hospitalized with at least 13 of them in serious condition. Police in Orenburg are currently carrying out a mass inspection of stores in search of counterfeit alcohol. Local news reports said at least six people had been detained since the first reports of the people falling ill on October 7. Those detained include one man who was arrested for allegedly distilling the booze at his house, and three others for distributing the alcohol in local shops. Poisonings involving homemade, bootleg alcohol occur regularly in Russia as people seek out cheaper options to store-bought vodka. Like many countries around the world, Russia is currently experiencing a sharp rise in food prices. Russian inflation exceeded 7 percent in September, a five-year high. In December 2016, 78 people died in and around the Siberian city of Irkutsk after drinking a scented herbal bath lotion that contained methanol -- a toxic type of industrial alcohol. Methanol poisoning symptoms -- including headache, vomiting, abdominal pain, and vertigo -- take a while to surface. Most victims seek medical care after a significant delay, which contributes to the high level of morbidity and mortality, experts say. Bosnian Serb leader Milorad Dodik says the ethnic Serb entity will pull out of the Western Balkan nations joint military, top judiciary body, and tax administration -- a move the Croat member of the countrys presidency called a "criminal act of rebellion." Dodik, the Serb member of Bosnia-Herzegovina's tripartite presidency, on October 8 said that "the agreement we have given for the defense law, the High Judicial and Prosecutorial Council, and the Indirect Taxation Authority will be withdrawn." We will withdraw consent for the [joint] army" in a vote in the Serb-run Republika Srpska parliament, he said. A decision could come "in the next few days" and the army of the Republika Srpska could be set up "within a few months," he told reporters in Banja Luka, the Serb entitys main city. It remains unclear what opposition the hard-line nationalist's plan would face among fellow ethnic-Serb leaders in the entity. However, the comments are sure to heighten tensions in the region after the boycott of the Balkan country's main political institutions by the Serbs. The Bosnian Serb entity, called Republika Srpska, and the Bosniak-Croat one, were formed after the Balkan nations war in 1995. Bosnia is still governed under the 25-year-old Dayton Peace Agreements that helped end ethnic violence following the breakup of Yugoslavia, including a high representative's post with its power to impose decisions or dismiss officials. Bosnia's tripartite presidency has three members -- representing Orthodox Serbs, Catholic Croats, and Bosnian Muslims -- and is the commander of the country's armed forces. Zeljko Komsic, the Croat member of the presidency, assailed Dodik's remarks, calling them a criminal act of rebellion." Dodik has in the past called for secession of Bosnian Serb lands from the rest of Bosnia, which he labeled an "experiment by the international community" and an "impossible, imposed country." However, he has occasionally backed off calls for secession. A year ago, he said Bosnian Serbs are ready to preserve the integrity of Bosnia-Herzegovina as a state, but only if they get ''more autonomy.'' Dodik on October 8 said several expert groups have been working on drafting the Serb entitys new constitution and laws on defense, judiciary, and finances. In July, Bosnian Serb political representatives announced a boycott of all major institutions in Bosnia-Herzegovina over a decision by the outgoing UN high repreesentative for Bosnia to ban genocide denial related to the 1995 Srebrenica massacre in which some 8,000 Muslim men and boys were slaughtered by Bosnian Serb forces. Earlier this month, several thousand people demonstrated in the Serb-dominated part of Bosnia against government corruption and curbs on media freedom. Led by opposition parties, protesters on October 2 accused Dodik's ruling party of criminal behavior, cronyism, and corruption. They also demanded the sacking of the health minister and hospital managers in the entity over alleged corruption in the procurement of supplies to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, including oxygen used for ventilators. Dodik was sanctioned by the United States in 2016 for actively obstructing efforts to implement the 1995 Dayton Accords. With reporting by Reuters, DW, and RFE/RLs Balkan Service WASHINGTON -- U.S. President Joe Biden has congratulated journalists Dmitry Muratov of Russia and Maria Ressa of the Philippines after they won the much-deserved Nobel Peace Prize for their work promoting "the basic principles of the free press." Muratov and Ressa have pursued the facts -- tirelessly and fearlessly," Biden said in a statement on October 8. "They have worked to check the abuse of power, expose corruption, and demand transparency, he added. "They have been tenacious in founding independent media outlets and defending them against forces that seek their silence." Biden said that for their commitment to the basic principles of the free press -- principles that are indispensable to a healthy democracy -- they have faced constant threats, harassment, and intimidation, legal action, and even, in the case of Muratov, the death of his colleagues. Muratov, 59, is one of the founders of Novaya gazeta in 1993 and has been the newspapers editor in chief for 24 years. The Nobel committee said Novaya gazeta, which it described as the most independent newspaper in Russia today, has defended freedom of speech in Russia under increasingly challenging conditions. The committee hailed the papers critical attitude towards power and its fact-based journalism and professional integrity, which it said have made it an important source of information on censurable aspects of Russian society rarely mentioned by other media -- including corruption, police violence, unlawful arrests, and electoral fraud. Novaya gazeta has faced harassment, threats, violence, and murder since its start, with six of its journalists being killed, including Anna Politkovskaya, whose reporting exposed high-level corruption in Russia and rights abuses in the North Caucasus republic of Chechnya. The award is accompanied by a gold medal and more than $1.14 million to share between the two laureates. The prize money comes from a bequest left by the prize's creator, Swedish inventor Alfred Nobel, who died in 1895. Muratov said part of the money he will receive will be used to treat children with serious illnesses and young journalists. Russian President Vladimir Putin's spokesman, Dmitry Peskov, had earlier congratulated Muratov, saying he was talented and courageous, while the spokesman for Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin said the award was "well-deserved." Russian authorities have been accused of increasingly cracking down on independent media outlets, civil society groups, rights activists, and others, using legislations on undesirable individuals or groups, as well as the so-called foreign agents law. With reporting by Reuters and AFP Russia added a dozen new journalists and media organizations to its "foreign agents" list, including RFE/RL reporters and the open-source investigative group Bellingcat, as authorities tightened their grip on independent journalism in the country. The move, on October 8, came hours after the chief editor of Russia's best-known independent newspapers won the Nobel Peace Prize. The foreign agent list now includes dozens of reporters and media organizations, including some of Russias best-known journalism groups, as well as many prominent civil society and rights groups. Being labeled as a foreign agent obligates individual journalists and media organizations to register with authorities, and label their content with an intrusive disclaimer, with criminal fines for not doing so. That has led to several media organizations shutting down as they lose revenues from spooked advertisers. The designation also restricts other media from citing a foreign agent organization without including a disclaimer, something that has caused confusion among some reporters. The inclusion of Bellingcat, which has published major investigative stories about Russian intelligences efforts to poison political opponents, was noteworthy, since the group has no physical or legal presence inside of Russia. But by including the group on the foreign agent list, that potentially means another Russian media organization could now be fined for citing Bellingcats reporting. Aside from Bellingcat, the Justice Ministry on October 8 designated five RFE/RL journalists: Tatyana Voltskaya, Ekaterina Klepikovskaya, and Elena Solovyova, who collaborate with RFE/RL's Russian Service and its North Desk; Elizaveta Surnacheva, a Russian journalist who works for Current Time in Kyiv; and Current Time freelance TV journalist Roman Perl. Todays targeting by the Kremlin of five Russian nationals who work for RFE/RL is just the latest attempt to silence independent media in Russia, the company president, Jamie Fly, said in a statement. We will continue to fight this absurd use of the 'foreign agent' law to control the information that the Russian people can access and engage with. RFE/RL was one of the first media organizations to be targeted under the law, which was originally adopted in 2012 then later expanded to including NGOs and media organizations. That includes RFE/RLs Russian Service, six other RFE/RL Russian-language news services, and Current Time. Several RFE/RL correspondents have also been added to the list. While some media organizations have shut down, others have complied with labeling requirements. RFE/RL, however, has not and now faces more than $4 million in fines and criminal liability for some of its top officials. RFE/RL has filed a lawsuit with the European Court of Human Rights over the law and the fines. Others added to the list on October 8 included journalists from TV Dohzd and the BBC Russian Service, as well as the publisher of Caucasian Knot, a website focused on the North Caucasus. On September 1, editors in chief and publishers of more than 20 independent Russian publications demanded in an open letter that the current list of media "foreign agents" be canceled, and amended. The new designations came hours after the Nobel Committee announced that Dmitry Muratov, the editor in chief of the newspaper Novaya gazeta, was a co-winner of this years Nobel Peace Prize, honoring him and Filipino-American journalist Maria Ressa for the commitment to press freedoms. In the two decades Muratov has led the newspaper, the publication has seen six of its journalists and contributors killed or assassinated. Most of those killings have never been fully solved. With reporting by RFE/RL's Russian Service and Current Time Russia recorded a new record-high daily death toll from COVID-19, as daily deaths exceed 900 for the fourth day in a row. The national coronavirus task force said October 9 that 968 people had died of the disease over the past day. That is more than 30 more than the previous day, and about 100 more than were recorded in late September. The task force also said more than 29,000 new infections were confirmed over the past 24 hours. The surging figures mirror trends in other countries, where the more contagious Delta variant has spread widely. However, Russian authorities have also blamed a stubbornly low vaccination rate. Despite the Kremlin last year announcing the worlds first approved coronavirus vaccine, Russians have been reluctant to get vaccinated, either for one of five domestically produced vaccines or foreign-made vaccines which are less common in the country. Tatyana Golikova, a deputy prime minister who oversees health policy, said on October 8 that almost 33 percent of Russias nearly 146 million people, had received at least one dose of a coronavirus vaccine. She said about 29 precent were fully vaccinated. Despite the surging numbers, the Kremlin has resisted imposing a new nationwide lockdown, delegating the power to tighten restrictions to regional authorities. In some areas of the country, including Moscow and St. Petersburg, life remains largely normal, with businesses operating as usual and mask mandates loosely enforced. Many observers say the government is undercounting COVID-19 deaths, and the actual number is likely significantly higher. The latest coronavirus data from the state statistical service Rosstat showed more than 254,000 deaths in the first eight months of 2021, surpassing the more than 163,000 coronavirus deaths for all of 2020. By contrast, the coronavirus task force only counts the deaths of patients for whom COVID-19 was considered the main cause. Rosstat includes people who had COVID-19 but died of other causes, and those for whom the coronavirus was suspected but not confirmed. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said the city was "far from peak numbers" and that the growing infections are largely linked to high detection rates. With reporting by AP, Reuters, and TASS Turkmen President Gurbanguly Berdymukhammedov just visited Uzbekistan for talks with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoev and, even though the two leaders have met several times recently, it was important for them -- and only them -- to sit down to discuss the number one topic in the region these days: Afghanistan. That is because Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan have a similar policy toward their southern neighbor, one focused on the economic potential of trade routes through Afghanistan. Afghanistan In Turmoil: Full Coverage On Gandhara Read RFE/RL's Gandhara website for complete coverage of developments in Afghanistan. Gandhara is the go-to source for English-language reporting by RFE/RL's Radio Azadi and its network of journalists, and by RFE/RL's Radio Mashaal, which offers extensive coverage of Pakistan's remote tribal regions. Both presidents made clear at their October 5 meeting that their countries would continue to provide help "to the people of Afghanistan." Mirziyoev said the situation in Afghanistan has a large influence on "the security and sustainable development of the region." "Sustainable development" was a key comment since there are projects that could greatly benefit Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan but require stability in Afghanistan and the cooperation of whoever is in charge of that country. For Turkmenistan the project is the 1,800-kilometer Turkmenistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan-India (TAPI) natural-gas pipeline that aims to annually export some 33 billion cubic meters (bcm) of Turkmen gas. It is a project that seemed possible the last time the Taliban controlled most of Afghanistan in the late 1990s but has been completely unfeasible since due to insecurity in Afghanistan. The policy Turkmenistan is pursuing now toward the Taliban is the policy of Turkmenistan's first president, Saparmurat Niyazov, who stayed out of Afghan politics and was willing to deal with anyone in power there to advance Turkmenistan's economic interests. Pakistan wants TAPI to be built and has more influence over the Taliban than any other country. With natural-gas prices currently at obscenely high record levels of well over $1,000 per 1,000 cubic meters, the government in cash-strapped Turkmenistan must be waiting eagerly for a sign the TAPI project is moving forward. There remains a challenge in finding investors and financing for the project. Plus, India's role might be in question, again, as it has been several times before over the years, though Pakistan would almost surely take India's share of the gas. (Under the current breakdown, Afghanistan would get 5 billion cubic meters (bcm) annually; Pakistan 14 bcm; and India 14 bcm). But Turkmenistan claims it has constructed its segment of the pipeline leading from Turkmen gas fields to the Afghan border, though there have been doubts of this claim before. But recently it seems there has been work done on Turkmenistan's section of TAPI and at least $219 million spent on pipeline segments purchased from Russia's Chelyabinsk Pipe Rolling Plant in 2019. Uzbek President Mirziyoev's government seems to be using the Niyazov model in its engagement with the Taliban. In Uzbekistan's case, as previously noted, a lot of money has already gone into infrastructure projects in the last 15 years that link Uzbekistan to Afghanistan. Several projects are unfinished or not yet started, but two are of significant value to Uzbekistan -- a railway and a new power transmission line. Uzbekistan is connected by rail to the northern Afghan city of Mazar-e Sharif. China has already shipped goods to Afghanistan using this route and NATO used the Uzbek railway link for transporting material between Europe and Afghanistan. President Mirziyoev has met twice with Pakistani Prime Minister Imran Khan since July and both times construction of a railway line from Mazar-e Sharif through Kabul to Peshawar was high on the agenda. Such a link would give Uzbekistan, and other countries in Asia and Europe, a connection to Pakistani ports on the Arabian Sea. That should boost shipments of cargo in both directions, giving Uzbekistan extra revenue from transit fees and justifying the expense of the huge Termez Cargo Center that Uzbekistan built near the Afghan border in 2018. Those are projects for the future. But for now, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan already export electricity to Afghanistan via power transmission lines built after 2001, and, as was expected, the Taliban government is short of cash and unable to pay for electricity imports. According to the Asian Development Bank, 73 percent of Afghanistan's electricity is imported. Of that, Uzbekistan supplies 57 percent, Iran 22 percent, Turkmenistan 17 percent, and Tajikistan 4 percent. There are various figures for how much money Afghanistan has been spending on electricity imports, but it appears to have been around $300 million per year. So Turkmenistan has been receiving some $51 million and Uzbekistan about $171 million for electricity exports to Afghanistan. And Uzbekistan is constructing a 260-kilometer section of a 500-kilovolt power line from Surkhon in Uzbekistan to Pul-e Khumri, north of Kabul, that would boost Uzbek electricity exports to Afghanistan by some 70 percent. Turkmenistan's electricity goes to northwestern Afghanistan, but Uzbekistan's electricity powers Kabul. When several power stations in Uzbekistan went off line in early January, it left Kabul in darkness and when the Taliban destroyed two power pylons on the transmission line in September 2019, it caused major power shortages in the Afghan capital. So Afghanistan needs Uzbek electricity. The Wall Street Journal recently reported that Afghanistan's state power company has no more than $40 million to pay for energy imports and that could lead to its Central Asian neighbors suspending electricity supplies to Afghanistan. During Berdymukhammedov's visit to Uzbekistan, officials from both countries said there were no plans to discontinue electricity exports to Afghanistan. The Turkmen and Uzbek governments have a history of keeping a tight rein on religion in their own countries. But the lure of pipeline, power line, and railway connections to and through Afghanistan seems to have convinced the governments in both countries that the cost of overlooking the Taliban's religious extremism is worth the potential gain in trade both countries could see if these big projects are realized. In Uzbekistan's case, this was emphasized at the October 7 visit of Uzbek Foreign Minister Abdulaziz Kamilov to Kabul where he and Taliban officials discussed construction of the Surhon-Pul-e Khumri power line and the Mazar-e Sharif-Kabul Peshawar railway line. One more thing distinguishes Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan from their Central Asian neighbors. Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan are the only two Central Asian countries that do not border Russia or China. Both have long looked to the south for connectivity to the wider world. They might not like the Taliban -- they wouldn't even say the word "Taliban," only referencing the "government in Afghanistan" -- but tolerating and engaging with the Afghan group could help both Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan see huge profits. Berdymukhammedov and Mirziyoev did not say this, but it likely has not escaped their notice. Ukrainian prosecutors said they had broadened a criminal investigation into pro-Russian lawmaker Viktor Medvedchuk, accusing him of colluding to finance separatist forces in the eastern Donbas region. The October 8 announcement increases pressure on Medvedchuk, whom prosecutors initially targeted in May with allegations of treason. That has added to tensions between Moscow and Kyiv. At a joint briefing in Kyiv, Prosecutor-General Iryna Venediktova accused Medvedchuk of conspiring with officials from former President Petro Poroshenko's government to buy coal from mines in separatist-held areas of eastern Ukraine, as a way to finance the separatists. "We are talking about the sale of state interests and the financing of Russian terrorists," Ivan Bakanov, the head of the state security service, said at the briefing. "While our soldiers were being killed at the front, the state sent suitcases of cash to the leaders of terrorist organizations," Venediktova said. Poroshenko's party called the accusations an effort to divert attention from President Volodymyr Zelenskiy government's own wrongdoing. Zelenskiy defeated Poroshenko in the 2019 election to win the presidency. Medvedchuk's political party, Opposition Platform-For Life, also dismissed the new accusations and accused Zelenskiy's government of trying to "divert people's attention from their catastrophic failures." Medvedchuk is a Ukrainian citizen but has close ties with Russian President Vladimir Putin and has said Putin is godfather to his daughter. His political party is the second largest in parliament. Ukraine has been at war with Russia-backed separatists in eastern Ukraine since 2014. With reporting by Reuters and AFP INDIAN RAILWAYS: RECRUITMENT FOR 2000 POSTS IN EAST CENTRAL RAILWAY New Delhi: Indian Railways has issued notification for East Central Railway Recruitment 2021. There is an opportunity to apply for more than 2000 apprentice posts. Candidates who have a 10th pass and ITI certificate can apply for Railway Recruitment. The deadline to submit online applications is November 5, 2021. Candidates can apply by visiting the official website of East Central Railway rrcecr.gov.in. Advertisement Qualification- Advertisement Must have passed 10th class (10 + 2) with 50% marks from recognized board. In addition, the relevant business must have an ITI pass certificate from an NCVT accredited institution. Age limit- The age limit of eligible candidates should not be more than 15 years and 24 years on 01 January 2021. However, as per the government guidelines, the age limit will be waived for the reserved category candidates. Advertisement Vacancy Details: Danapur Division: 675 posts Dhanbad Division: 156 posts Sonpur Division: 47 posts Plant Depot / Pt. Deen Dayal Upadhyay: 135 posts Samastipur Division: 81 posts Pandit Din Dayal Upadhyay Mandal: 892 posts Carriage and Wagon Repair Workshop: 110 posts Mechanical Workshop / Samastipur: 110 posts Advertisement Selection process- Candidates will be selected based on a merit list prepared to keep in view the marks obtained in Class X and the ITI examinations. Harpal Singh Cheema on Yogi and Modi government Chandigarh: Demanding immediate dismissal of Union Minister of State for Home, Ajay Mishra, father of main accused, Ashish Mishra in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, from the Modi cabinet; the Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) Punjab stated that until Ajay Mishra is removed from the ministry, no justice can be expected, as the entire country's police administration is under the direct and indirect influence of the Union Home Ministry. Advertisement Ashish Mishra In a statement issued from the party headquarters here on Saturday, a senior leader of the AAP and Leader of Opposition Harpal Singh Cheema said six days after the incident, on the one hand, the drama was being done by accused Ashish Mishra by surrendering through VIP treatment and on the other hand, his father Ajay Mishra is clinging to the post of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs as if nothing had happened. He said if there was even a shred of morality in the Mishra family, the accused son would have surrendered immediately and the minister's father would have resigned immediately. But it seems that the morality of the entire BJP has gone to waste, he added. Narendra Modi Harpal Singh Cheema said that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who teaches ethics through Mann Ki Baat, is silent about the Lakhimpur Kheri incident, as if the incident was not carried out by the goon son of his minister in UP, but by a Taliban in Afghanistan. He asked PM Modi what was the compulsion that the heart was not beating for annadatas in the 56-inch chest of the country and two words of sympathy did not come out of his mouth. He said if Prime Minister Narendra Modi had considered himself the Prime Minister of all including farmers and laborers then the country's annadatas who had been sitting on the streets for months against black laws would not have harried like this. Advertisement If the Prime Minister had not hated the farmers so much, no hooligan would have dared to run away after mowing down the farmers from his VIP vehicle and surrender voluntarily after 6 days, said Cheema. The AAP leader said it would have been better if Prime Minister Modi had done justice to his position by immediately seeking resignation from Ajay Mishra and in case of not getting the same, would have removed him from the post of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs and sent a clear signal to the country and the world; that no one should dare to take the law into their own hands. Yogi Adityanath Advertisement Cheema said the lax attitude of the BJPs Yogi government of Uttar Pradesh and Modi-led central government towards the Lakhimpur Kheri incident had also forced the Honorable Supreme Court to make scathing remarks. He termed the Yogi government's one-member inquiry commission headed by a former judge of the Allahabad High Court as a sham, stating that as long as the Honorable Supreme Court does not oversee the investigation of this incident, the investigation will not be able to move in the right direction. Therefore, the inquiry should be time-bound for a few days and under the direct supervision of the Supreme Court, he added. Wife of the school teacher yelled for justice Jammu: Just as a Sikh and a Hindu teacher have been targeted in Kashmir with a pistol, it is clear that the strategy of responding to bricks with bricks has now been adopted by extremists. Since Article 370 was amended, the government has been patting itself on the back that it has overcome the Kashmir issue. But the silence was misunderstood. Advertisement It was not the silence of peace but the silence before the storm. First, a Hindu Pandit, who had no role in terrorism, was killed, and then the teachers were identified and targeted. Last year, there were 28 incidents where minorities were targeted with pistols. So the government is right to say that no major incident has taken place but that does not mean that everything is fine in Kashmir. Advertisement It is clear that those who were unhappy in Kashmir are still unhappy. In the rest of India where Muslims are a minority, whenever there is any persecution against them, it is seen and the effect we are seeing today is that religious rifts are widening in the rest of India. Sitting on the platform, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Love Jihad seems to be preparing to make it an election issue. It also affects Hindus in Kashmir. Principal, teacher shot dead inside Srinagar school It was a Hitlerite play that forced the Jews to forge their identity cards, which separated them. In India too, when religion was put on the identity card, it became a weapon in the hands of extremism. Every discrimination against Kashmir and Muslims reinforces Pakistan's conspiracy to weaken its border with India. No matter what Pakistan claims in the international arena, the reality is that the friendship between the Taliban and Pakistan makes them both a separate force. Advertisement Muslims Unless every ordinary citizen of Kashmir dreams of development in an atmosphere of peace and tranquility like the rest of the countrymen, Kashmir will not become a paradise again. And unless India manages to keep up with the minorities in its corners, the burden of the rift will have to be borne by the general public. Jammu and Kashmir Advertisement More than 130 countries have signed up to a groundbreaking global deal on corporate tax reform aimed at eliminating tax havens while bringing in $150bn more a year from multinationals. The 136 nations also agreed to a two-year ban on imposing new taxes on tech groups such as Google and Amazon while the Biden administration tries to ratify the deal in the US. The agreement the biggest corporate tax reform for more than a century orchestrated by the OECD includes a 15 per cent global minimum effective corporate tax rate, plus new rules to force the worlds multinationals to declare profits and pay more in the countries where they do business. The number of nations prepared to sign up fluctuated on Friday, according to those close to the negotiations, with India agreeing at the last moment, and China and Brazil also reluctant signatories. Only Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Nigeria and Kenya held out. The difficulties in implementing the deal became apparent when Janet Yellen, US Treasury secretary, urged Congress to swiftly enact the proposals by using the so-called reconciliation process, which allows bills to pass the Senate with a simple majority. She said the agreement was a once-in-a-generation accomplishment for economic diplomacy. The stakes remain high for the US and those countries such as India that have levied digital services taxes on Silicon Valley tech groups. If Congress fails to implement the deal, those countries may go ahead with their digital taxes, sparking trade disputes with the US. However, the deal gives the US space to ratify the agreement, specifying that no newly enacted digital services taxes or other relevant similar measures will be imposed on any company from 8 October 2021 for two years. The agreement is a triumph for the OECD, which has sought to curb corporate tax avoidance over many years of complex negotiations. Mathias Cormann, its secretary-general, said the deal would make the international corporate tax system fairer and work better. Still, he acknowledged the difficulties in getting the agreement put into law, and urged countries to work swiftly and diligently to ensure the effective implementation of this major reform. The deal finalised the details on sharing the profits of the largest multinationals so they pay more tax where they do business. Companies with turnover exceeding 20bn will be required to allocate 25 per cent of their profits in excess of a 10 per cent margin to the countries where they operate, based on their sales. The 10 per cent profitability margin will be calculated using an averaging mechanism, based on profit before tax. Developing countries have complained about the lack of revenue they stand to make from the deal on fairer distribution of profits and taxing rights. They point out that this is worsened by the removal of digital service taxes, which was a deal-breaker for Nigeria and Kenya despite OECD estimates showing they would gain. Other areas of the deal contained concessions enabling all G20 and EU countries to sign up to the minimum 15 per cent corporate tax rate. Ireland succeeded in its demand for the tax to have a maximum of 15 per cent, instead of the original wording of the deal that said at least 15 per cent and in contrast to the original 21 per cent first mooted by the Biden administration. Hungary secured a longer transition period for the substance-based carve-out, allowing it to offer a low rate of tax for tangible investments in its jurisdiction, such as car plants, for 10 years. China also succeeded in having a clause inserted that will limit the effect of the global minimum tax on companies who are starting to expand internationally because of concerns that its growing domestic companies would be clipped by the measures. Sarah had endured five years of torture from severe and untreatable depression. Each day I forced myself to resist the suicidal impulses that overtook me several times an hour, the 36-year-old Californian says. Then a surgical team at the University of California, San Francisco, inserted a thin wire deep into her brain and administered a mild electric pulse. When I first received the stimulation, the aha moment occurred, says Sarah, who wants only to be known by her first name. I felt the most intensely joyous sensation and my depression was a distant nightmare for a moment. After the UCSF scientists had discovered which part of Sarahs brain was associated with negative feelings and which would respond to a relieving stimulus, they incorporated their findings in a permanent implant that acts like a neural pacemaker. Having worn the device for a year, she reports that it has kept depression at bay, allowing me to return to my best self and rebuild a life worth living. The UCSF researchers hailed their achievement, published on Monday in Nature Medicine, as a landmark in the effort to develop personalised treatments for depression through neural electronics. For the first time researchers have identified and modulated a brain circuit uniquely associated with the symptoms. Until now, procedures that apply electricity to the patients brain have taken a one-size-fits-all approach. Evidence is emerging that the Covid-19 pandemic and lockdowns have substantially increased the incidence of depression and other mental health problems Kirill Kudryavtsev/AFP via Getty Images Neuroscientists who were not involved in the project agreed that it was a significant step forward, while cautioning that many years of work would be needed to convert an expensive and time-consuming surgical procedure into something that could be applied more widely to intractable depression. Patients with other psychiatric conditions may benefit too from personalised deep brain stimulation, as well as those with Parkinsons disease and epilepsy who are already treated with DBS. Sameer Sheth, a neurosurgeon at Baylor College of Medicine in Texas, says he is super-excited by the UCSF work adding that he is carrying out a similar neurotechnology trial in intractable depression, which has given equally encouraging results with the first participant, though they have not yet been published. We all recognise that some patients need an individualised approach, he says. Finding the biomarker The unmet medical need is huge. According to the World Health Organization, 280m people globally suffer from serious depression, of whom about 30 per cent do not respond well to existing treatments: psychotherapy, antidepressant drugs or electroconvulsive therapy. And evidence is emerging that the Covid-19 pandemic has substantially increased the incidence of depression and other mental health problems for all age groups, including children. Electroconvulsive therapy was the first psychiatric treatment using electricity, though it works in a very different way to the individualised deep brain stimulation used in the UCSF and Baylor trials. ECT still suffers from a brain frying reputation from the mid-20th century, when large pulses were given without anaesthesia, sometimes leading to memory loss, fractured bones and other serious side effects. Today ECT is carried out under general anaesthesia, with milder currents passed through the brain from electrodes on the scalp, triggering a brief seizure that somehow resets neural circuitry or chemistry. No one really knows how it works and it does not benefit everyone but an estimated 100,000 people a year undergo ECT in the US alone. Nurses attend a patient who is receiving electro-convulsive therapy to cure depression at a mental hospital in England in 1946 Kurt Hutton/Picture Post/Hulton Archive/Getty Images The UCSF and Baylor teams are not the first to study deep brain stimulation for depression, but previous trials with simpler devices that delivered a continuous stimulus in one place have given mixed results. Two DBS trials sponsored by medical technology companies were stopped early because they were not delivering clear benefits. It might have been naive of us to think that such a heterogeneous condition as depression could be treated in the same way for different patients, says Darin Dougherty, director of neurotherapeutics at Massachusetts General Hospital, who led one of the discontinued trials. DBS has become a routine and effective treatment for epilepsy and Parkinsons disease, in which scientists know which brain regions to target. The problem with applying neuro-electronics to depression in the same way has been that scientists do not know enough about the particular brain circuits associated with the condition. The UCSF teams key discovery was a biomarker indicating the onset of depressive symptoms, a specific pattern of neural activity in a brain area called the amygdala that deals with responses to threats. A stimulus there did not relieve Sarahs symptoms, but the researchers found another place, the ventral striatum, where tiny electric pulses immediately lifted unwanted feelings when they were detected in the amygdala. Controlling the electronics is a matchbox-sized device adapted from a $30,000 implant commercially available for epilepsy. This is an exciting step forward due to the bespoke nature of the stimulation, says Jonathan Roiser, professor of neuroscience and mental health at University College London. It is likely that if trialled in other patients, different recording and stimulation sites would be required, as the precise brain circuitry underlying symptoms probably varies between individuals. Patient Sarah at a clinic with psychiatrist Katherine Scangos, who was leading the UCSF trial Maurice Ramirez, UCSF Katherine Scangos, the psychiatrist leading the UCSF trial, has recruited two more patients with severe depression to take part and aims for 12 volunteers altogether. We have a lot left to learn about variability across different patients and different types of depression, she says. Even if the clinical trials of personalised DBS for depression under way at UCSF and Baylor show that the technology works as well in other cases as for Sarah, this kind of highly invasive surgical procedure would only ever be used in the most severe patients with intractable symptoms, says Roiser. But UCSF neurosurgeon Ed Chang points out that there is great scope for improving DBS technology, which is based on the electronic circuitry developed for cardiac pacemakers 30 to 40 years ago. What we are doing now is relatively crude compared to what I think the future can offer, he says. UCSF scientists are also thinking about patent rights. Companies that make medical devices will need some intellectual property or patents in order to invest the resources tens of millions of dollars to do a formal trial, Chang says. We are looking into that because we are very serious about trying to understand if this could be a future therapy. Looking further ahead, researchers hope that insights into the brain circuits involved in depression gained from personalised DBS could be used to develop non-invasive electronic treatments. We really hope this is going to be something that can scale to other technologies in the future that may not even exist now, Chang says. Electrodes in the UCSF trial stimulate brain regions just a millimetre or 1.5mm across. There is no obvious way to achieve such precision with non-invasive targeting from outside the skull, though highly focused ultrasound beams are one possibility. Roiser points out that two existing non-invasive electronic treatments, both milder in their impact than ECT, do improve symptoms in many patients though neither has a reliable effect on severe, intractable depression. The stronger of the two is transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS), in which a coil placed against the scalp delivers a magnetic pulse to stimulate nerve cells in the brain region involved in mood control. The gentlest method of stimulating the brain electrically is transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), which sends a weak electric current across the brain. There have been some studies trying to make these non-invasive techniques into better and more bespoke treatments, Roiser says. But they do not come close to the new DBS methods in their precision. Elon Musks Neuralink aims to move on from helping quadriplegics communicate to treat various brain-related ailments Neuralink via Reuters Virtuous spiral upwards Another form of neurotechnology that is not yet applied to psychiatry but might be in the future is the brain-computer interface (BCI), which requires more data processing power than the electronic devices used to treat depression. This field of research has concentrated so far on recording neural activity for one-way communication from the brain to an outside device. For example if the BCI picks up an intention to move a limb, severely handicapped patients can drive a robotic arm or artificially stimulate their own muscles to bypass a spinal cord injury. The technology also promises to open a window into the mind of people whose brain is too damaged to communicate with the outside world in any other way. Two-way communications between brain and computer could eventually help people with psychiatric and neurological disorders. The best known and most richly funded BCI business, Elon Musks Neuralink, aims to move on from helping quadriplegics communicate to treat various brain-related ailments, the company said as it raised another $205m in a series C funding round in August. But all that lies well into the future. We should stress that we are at a very early stage in developing BCIs, says Roiser, and the idea that well eventually be able to read the human neural code is very far-fetched. For now Sarah is thrilled with the new life that her DBS device has given her. Depression controlled my life. I barely moved and barely did anything. I had to . . . relearn activities and the things I love to do, she says. It has been a virtuous spiral upwards. Everything has gotten easier and easier and easier. Sarah also hopes the project will help to overcome the widespread stigma attached to people with depression, the feedback we get from those around us in society that its a moral failing. Scangos, her psychiatrist, says the inscrutable causes of depression do not help either. I think some of the stigma comes from the black box nature of the disorder, she says. We hope this will resolve as we begin to define the biological substrates of depression and hopefully this study will allow us to do so one patient at a time. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Bank employees who lie to their board about the banks finances, to keep their jobs and the value of their stock, can be fired if theyre caught. But theyre not guilty of a crime, like bank fraud, if the bank itself hasnt lost any property, a federal appeals court said Friday in overturning convictions of two former bank executives. Dan Heine, the co-founder, president and chief executive officer of the Bank of Oswego, and Diana Yates, the banks executive vice president and chief financial officer, were convicted by a jury in 2017 of conspiring to defraud the bank, which closed down in 2016 after 12 years of operation. Heine was sentenced to two years in federal prison and Yates to 18 months. Although Yates had resigned from her job in 2012 after a dispute with Heine, prosecutors said the two had conspired to hide the banks declining financial condition from its board of directors, current and future shareholders, regulators and the public. They presented evidence that Heine and Yates had given false information to the board about borrowers repayments of loans and the status of foreclosed properties, and had failed to disclose information about loans to bank insiders, all to give a falsely positive picture of the banks finances. Prosecutors said the two executives also arranged to have third parties pay off others overdue loans so they would not appear on the banks records and reduce its reported assets. They said Heine and Yates were trying to keep their jobs and maintain their salaries and stock value. But in a 2-1 ruling Friday, the Ninth U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in San Francisco said the prosecution had failed to show that the two had actually deprived the bank or its customers of any money or property. A scheme to defraud must be one to deceive the bank and deprive it of something of value, Judge Eric Miller said in the majority opinion. While the executives were found to have deprived the bank and others of accurate information, Miller said, that does not amount to fraud by itself. And scheming to keep ones current job and salary, even through misinformation, is not the same thing as lying to get a raise or promotion or taking a bribe to engage in misconduct, he said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. He cited a 2010 Supreme Court ruling rejecting a claim of fraud against an executive of the ill-fated energy company Enron who had misrepresented the companys value in order to inflate his stock value and bonuses, but had not taken any payments from outsiders. What Heine and Yates were convicted of doing, Miller said, was not much different from the misdeeds of an employee who spends work time surfing the internet and then tells the boss he has been working productively. Judge Marsha Berzon joined Millers opinion. In dissent, Judge Daniel Bress said the pair had fraudulently transferred money from their bank and then surreptitiously re-routed it back in to disguise the banks faltering finances, without disclosing their transactions to the banks board or to federal regulators. The defendants conduct was not merely unsavory it was plainly unlawful, Bress said. He said the courts ruling will, I fear, destabilize the public confidence on which our countrys banking system depends. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Bob Egelko Heres an idea to remember: Never underestimate the power of memory. Todays example is a determined group of people in Pacifica on the foggy San Mateo County coast who are keeping alive the memory of the Ocean Shore Railway Co. railroad, which ran from San Francisco down the cliffs and across the oceanside valleys heading south toward Santa Cruz. The railroad never made it that far it was the classic train to nowhere. It went broke after only 15 years. The last train ran 101 years ago. Even its most fervent admirers have never seen an Ocean Shore train, but the story of the little railroad somehow represents the spirit of the coastside towns. The railroad was imaginative and scenic, and had a certain against-the-odds flair. The Ocean Shore was a dream, a beautiful dream, said Deidra Crow, who has lived on the coast since she was a little girl and is one of the prime movers of a project to restore passenger Car 1409 and put it on display just off state Highway 1 in Pacificas Sharp Park district. To put it out there so people can come to our town and see how it was, well, that is our dream, said Maxime Elizabeth Hines, a photographer, videographer and confessed cheerleader for the project. Its a tangible part of our history, Crow said. The intangible part is someone will be able to sit in the passenger seat and imagine how it was riding that train. Its hard to imagine that ride now, and even harder to imagine what the original investors saw in a cliff-hugging railroad down the thinly populated coast. The original idea was to build a double track electric-powered line from San Francisco to Santa Cruz sort of a turn-of-the-century BART operation. It never worked out. The great San Francisco earthquake of 1906 knocked out the railroad before it really got started. The plans were scaled back, and when the Ocean Shore opened it was a conventional railroad with ordinary steam engines. Six new passenger cars were ordered from the Holman Car Co. in San Francisco. One of them was Car 1409. The company advertised heavily. Reaches the Beaches was the main slogan. Developers pitched low-cost housing $250 for a lot on Salada Beach, $10 down, $3 a month. Cheap rail fares for commuters only $5 for a monthly pass. They also talked about turning the foggy coast into a summer resort and advertised Rockaway Beach as the Playground of San Francisco. It didnt work. Worse yet, the railroad was built on the unstable cliffs that line the coast including the infamous Devils Slide where Montara Mountain meets the Pacific. It was tough keeping the line open. The tracks kept falling into the ocean. It was only half a railroad anyway: The north end from San Francisco to just past Half Moon Bay never connected with the south end heading up from Santa Cruz. There was a 26-mile gap. After the summer of 1920, it was only a memory. But it brought development to the coastside, Crow said. Eventually, all the little villages became towns. Out of it grew Pacifica, nine small communities incorporated as a city as recently as 1957. Now Pacifica has a population of just over 33,000, an enchanted and magical place, Crow said. And a city of volunteers. One of the historical societys volunteer-led projects was to restore the towns first church, built in 1910, right alongside the Ocean Shore tracks. Over the years, it had been everything from a place of worship to a social center, a school and a movie theater and finally a ruin. It was restored as the Pacifica Coastside Museum and community center with exhibits ranging from the Ohlone days to the present. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. One display features a working model of the Ocean Shore in its heyday, with miniature trains chuffing through little towns and around Devils Slide. Which brings us to the latest project, restoring Car 1409. In 2004, 84 years after the railroad gave up the ghost, rail historians discovered Car 1409 rotting away in a backyard in the Sonoma County town of Sebastopol. To railroad admirers such as John Schmale, it was a tarnished jewel, an aged starlet and a super candidate for restoration. Kathleen Manning, the historical society president, and her friends got the car and got to work. Now its covered by a tarp near the Vallemar Station restaurant, itself a former Ocean Shore depot. The old car is a work in progress, the toil performed by volunteers and master carpenter Scott Lindner. The work is slow and careful. Were halfway there, Lindner says. The money, about $150,000 so far, has been raised by bake sales, rummage sales, tea parties, tours of the local castle, everything imaginable, even historical cheese. Manning discovered that the famous buttery Monterey Jack cheese was actually invented by a coastside resident named Stefano Mori. Moris Point is named for Mori, but the cheese is named for Monterey. A dishonest employee stole the recipe and sold it to a scoundrel from Monterey named David Jacks. So Manning and the local historians found the original recipe, hired a professional cheesemaker, and Pacifica Jack was reborn. All profits go to the Ocean Shore project. They have sold nearly 3 tons so far. Their motto: If you dont know Pacifica you dont know Jack. Carl Noltes column runs Sundays. Email: cnolte@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Carlnoltesf Under the mask guidance unveiled by Bay Area health officials this week, its now clear that for most of the region, no one will be shedding their face coverings until all school-aged kids have their turn to get vaccinated. Dropping masks in the eight counties that still require them likely will hinge on a single new rule: that counties vaccinate 80% of their total population. If they cant meet that metric, counties can lift mandates eight weeks after children ages 5 to 11 are eligible for vaccines. Of the three criteria for lifting mandates announced by health officials on Thursday, the vaccination goal will be the most challenging to reach, and for most counties it will be impossible to get there without vaccinating young children. It also may mean most of the Bay Area is wearing masks through the end of the year. The new guidance essentially makes vaccinating young children the linchpin of mask mandates, and underscores the priority health officials have placed on keeping schools open and students in classrooms. We have worked hard to get to a place where schools are open and theyre remaining open, said Dr. Nicholas Moss, the Alameda County health officer. After a year and a half of the pandemic we have most kids back in school, and as case rates fall we have fewer and fewer disruptions. We want to make sure were supporting that as well as we can. Eight of nine Bay Area counties all except Solano County currently have indoor mask mandates in place, and those rules will be lifted when they reach three metrics: showing that the virus is not widely circulating, that hospitals arent over-full with COVID patients and that vaccination rates are high. Most of the counties are either already meeting, or expect to meet in the next week or two, the first two criteria. But only Marin County has hit the 80% vaccination benchmark. In the seven other counties, health officials say they will almost certainly need to vaccinate younger children to reach the 80% goal. Setting the bar so high is a reflection of how contagious the delta variant is compared to earlier strains of the coronavirus; squashing community spread of delta will require many more people be immune than previously expected. And many Bay Area health officials say they wont feel comfortable lifting mask mandates until theyre confident that enough people are vaccinated to tamp down future surges. Theyre exercising a proper degree of caution in the face of a highly transmissible delta variant, said Dr. George Rutherford, a UCSF infectious disease expert. We know that masks work. We also know that vaccines work. But we need to be careful still. This is not the time to declare victory and move on. Except for Marin County, vaccination rates in the Bay Area vary from about 66% to 75% in places that have indoor mask mandates. In San Francisco, the number of people needed to reach 80% vaccinated 44,000 is roughly equivalent to the total number of 5- to 11-year-olds, said Dr. Susan Philip, the citys health officer. The Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine is expected to be authorized for kids ages 5 to 11 sometime next month. Counties cant lift the mask mandates until eight weeks after that date or until they hit 80% of the population fully vaccinated whichever comes first. Most counties probably wont meet either of those goals until late December. But several health officials said it didnt seem too much of a burden to ask everyone to wear masks until then. We still have a lot of unvaccinated kids, and we want to protect them, Moss said. There is going to be a point at which vaccines are widely available and we cant keep everyone in masks indefinitely. I dont know what that magic date is, but were rapidly getting to that place. I dont feel quite there yet. Children under age 5 also remain vulnerable, but theyre not being included in the mask mandate guidance for a couple of reasons: Its not clear when a vaccine might be authorized for them, and preventing infections in that age group is not critical for keeping schools open. In general, children 18 and under dont get very sick from COVID, though Bay Area health officials noted that in other parts of the country large numbers of children have been infected and some became very ill and required hospitalization. Locally, the bigger issue is that if children are infected they can miss a week or more of school. And they can pass the virus to others, which means classmates may need to stay home, too. So far the worst-case scenarios including outbreaks that lead to entire classrooms being sent home or even schools temporarily closing havent played out since children returned to in-person learning in the Bay Area in August. And after almost a full academic year of virtual education, health and education officials say theyre determined to have kids in class as much as possible now. It is really crucial that we do everything we can to maintain keeping children in school, said Philip, the San Francisco health officer. Its been a huge success this year for San Francisco that kids have been in person for learning, and we want to protect that. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Masks are currently required in all California schools under a statewide mandate, and that is expected to remain in place for the foreseeable future. But Philip and other health officers said requiring adults to wear masks in other indoor spaces even in places like bars and nightclubs where children arent allowed will reduce overall community spread of the disease and prevent adults passing the virus to kids. Decreasing cases in the community, and also masking, decreases the overflow of those cases into kids, Philip said. In some settings, even though adults may be the ones who frequent them, if and when they get infected, they often are connected to kids in their lives, and if those kids are infected they have to isolate out of school. We want to stop that as much as possible. Many parents cheered the announcement Thursday that masks in most counties would remain in place until younger children could get vaccinated. But others questioned whether requiring everyone to wear masks for another two to three months was necessary. Oakland parent Megan Bacigalupi, who directs the statewide OpenSchoolsCA advocacy group, noted that Orange County in Southern California did not put in place an indoor mask mandate this summer, and schools there have not reported more cases among students than in counties with mandates. We are hinging masks on the kids. But our most vulnerable are not children, our most vulnerable are adults and people who are immune-compromised, said Bacigalupi, whose children are 6 and 9, and not yet eligible for vaccination. The fact that were hinging masking on our least vulnerable doesnt make sense to me and a lot of other parents. Erin Allday is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: eallday@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @erinallday (Correction: Due to an editing error, a previous version of this story mischaracterized OpenSchoolsCA, which is a non-partisan advocacy group.) Growing, selling and using cannabis is legal in California under state law. So many people across the country were shocked last week to see images of Alameda County sheriffs deputies hacking through marijuana plants with hedge trimmers during a bust at 18 locations across the Bay Area that netted up to 500,000 plants and millions in cash. The truth is that while California does have a state sanctioned and highly regulated market for cannabis, illegal grows still exist and are in fact thriving. The Bay Area seizures illustrate just how lucrative and incentivized this modern-day illicit trade in cannabis has become. California weed growers are reshaping a national and global marketplace just as the states vintners did with the wine industry. But the cumbersome legal environment of cannabis regulation threatens to squander this economic opportunity. Most of the responsibility lies with the federal government. Continued federal cannabis prohibition has created a web of compliance concerns and economic disequilibrium that would be smoothed by reform. But Californias prohibitive excise taxes and the excessive costs associated with licensing make the Golden States system ripe for abuse and put compliant operators at competitive disadvantage. The latest development is the use of so-called burner licenses, in which gray-market operators benefit from features of Californias legal market, while diverting legal cannabis into illicit markets out of state. The advantages of this setup are obvious to anyone whos tried to operate in the states legal market. By using a distribution license to acquire legally grown cannabis and then reporting the crop as lost, damaged or even in cold storage, illicit operators can sell to eager customers across state lines, where California herb fetches a premium and state regulatory reach ends. In the end, they avoid taxes and the compliance costs of running a legal business by letting the license expire and moving on to a new license. California is a victim of its own success in cannabis. Cultivators in the state harvest an incredible amount of high-grade flower more than Californians can consume as cannabis connoisseurs everywhere else pay top dollar to illicit actors who smuggle it out of California. Its happening at a prodigious rate. California produces 13.5 million pounds of marijuana annually but Californians only consume 2.5 million pounds of it, according to a 2017 study by the state Department of Food and Agriculture, which means illegal operators are exporting more than 10 million pounds a year. Unregulated grows cause problems for the environment and wildlife of California. A UC Davis study found that an anticoagulant in rat poisons like d-Con has been affecting wildlife in California due to chemical runoff from unregulated grows. On public lands in California and elsewhere, illicit pot growers harm the environment in numerous ways. By exploiting Californias decriminalized environment, illegal operators are gaining the upper hand on legal businesses that are struggling to play by the rules. State and local social equity programs in California cant compete on price. Legal weed is more expensive, and the illicit market offers comparable product-brand selection. Conversely, illegal operators face few penalties for avoiding taxes and selling product outside the legal marketplace. In the end, communities lose tax revenue, businesses lose customers and the environment loses responsible stewardship. The Department of Justice reports that using law enforcement to address unregulated narcotic production is neither efficient nor effective, and catching illicit polluters after they pollute still leaves behind expansive and damaging remediation issues. The only equitable solution rests with the federal government: open the country to interstate commerce in cannabis with as few barriers to entry as possible. This would level the playing field and give law-abiding businesses access the tools and opportunities they need to succeed: intellectual property protection, federal aid, crop insurance and tax breaks for small businesses. Interstate trade is happening, but its happening without federal public health and safety regulation or tax enforcement. The serious policy answer is for Congress to allow and regulate cannabis commerce among legal states and nations. Congress ended alcohol prohibition in 1933 with the Blaine Act, and in doing so, it reduced organized crime, protected the public from tainted alcohol and enabled the collection of taxes. Licensed and compliant California businesses deserve an opportunity to really compete. Congress should let them. Randal John Meyer is executive director of the Global Alliance for Cannabis Commerce and a co-coordinator of the Cannabis Freedom Alliance. SACRAMENTO California will require protesters to maintain a buffer zone around vaccination sites, similar to the protective areas some cities have established outside abortion clinics to maintain access for patients. Gov. Gavin Newsom signed SB742 on Friday, making it illegal to approach anyone within 100 feet of entering or exiting a hospital, doctors office, pharmacy or other location offering vaccines for the purpose of harassing, intimidating or preventing them from obtaining medical services. The law, which takes effect immediately, prohibits protesters from getting within 30 feet of people or vehicles inside that buffer zone to pass out leaflets, display a sign or provide counsel. It also forbids making threats and obstructing access to a vaccination site. Violations would be a misdemeanor punishable by a $1,000 fine or up to six months in jail. Sen. Richard Pan, a Democrat and physician from Sacramento who has tangled with activists for years over immunization legislation, introduced the bill this spring, after protests briefly shut down a mass vaccination site at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles. Pan has argued the law is necessary to protect patients and health care workers against increasingly extreme anti-vaccine groups. While the measure passed overwhelmingly through the Legislature, it faces potential legal challenges from advocacy groups opposed to vaccine mandates, as well as anti-abortion activists and others who protest outside health care facilities that might also offer immunizations. Some First Amendment scholars have suggested the protections in the law are unconstitutionally broad. In 2014, the U.S. Supreme Court struck down a Massachusetts law creating a 35-foot buffer zone around abortion clinics where demonstrations were not allowed. California still has a law prohibiting obstruction, harassment and intimidation of patients and staff at abortion clinics, along with some local ordinances creating small protective areas outside their entrances. Last month, Newsom signed another bill making it a crime to photograph or record a patient, employee or volunteer within 100 feet of an abortion clinic with the intent of intimidating them and to post their personal information or images online. On Friday, Newsom signed several other measures designed to make it easier to distribute COVID-19 vaccines. The bills allow more types of health workers, such as dentists, podiatrists and optometrists, to administer COVID-19 and influenza immunizations. Alexei Koseff is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: alexei.koseff@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @akoseff Around a fifth of San Franciscos office space remained vacant at the end of the years third quarter, but the highest leasing activity in two years suggests the start of a market recovery, experts said. The citys vacancy rate was 20.5%, up slightly from 20.1% in the previous quarter, and up from 14.1% for the third quarter of 2020, according to real estate brokerage Cushman & Wakefield. New leasing activity, excluding renewals, totaled 1.77 million square feet, the highest level since the third quarter of 2019. The third quarter was substantially better than expected and offers a glimmer of hope, said Robert Sammons, senior director of Bay Area research. The brokerage had expected the vacancy rate to climb as high as 23% this year but plans to revise that number, likely to a lower amount, he said. Office rents rose slightly to $73.46 per square foot annually from the prior quarters $73.24, but below the 2019 peak of $83.82 per square foot. High-quality office space is still attractive to tenants, especially as companies try to lure workers back, Sammons said. Robust ventilation systems and outdoor space like rooftop decks are highly sought after. They need to tempt their employees back to the office. They need high-quality space, he said. The biggest lease of the quarter was financial tech company Chimes 191,833-square-foot deal at 101 California St., which was also the largest new deal during the pandemic. Pinterest, which canceled a huge lease at 88 Bluxome St., renewed its headquarters lease at 651 Brannan St. for 121,000 square feet. Other leases were signed by startups Retool and Notion; Citi Ventures, the investment arm of the major bank; and Yelp, which is moving its headquarters from 140 New Montgomery to 350 Mission St. in a sublease with Salesforce. Bloomberg reported in July that Google and Facebook are said to be touring office space in San Francisco, but no deals have been signed. San Franciscos always been resilient. You go back over 100 years, whether its fires or earthquakes or the dot-com bust, weve always come roaring back, and usually weve led the economy back from the bottom, and I think thats going to happen with us today, said Chris Roeder, a JLL broker, at law firm Allen Matkins View From the Top real estate event last month. In the end, I think were going to come back stronger than ever, but its going to take a year or two to sort itself out, he said. One major reason for optimism is the continued flood of venture capital investment. Venture capitalists invested a record $156.2 billion globally in the second quarter, and Silicon Valley and San Francisco accounted for $23.7 billion of the funding, by far the largest for one region and nearly twice as much as the previous years, according to CB Insights. These VC-funded companies are hiring. We have a really low unemployment rate, Roeder said. We feel very bullish just based on the companies and how well that theyre doing. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. David Sternberg, executive vice president of Brookfield Properties, said at the Allen Matkins event that tenant interest has picked up at 415 Natoma St., the only new tower in San Francisco nearing completion without tenants. Tours have picked up over the last 60 days dramatically, he said. Were really getting a good response. The project is part of the 5M development, which is a partnership between Brookfield and Hearst, owner of The Chronicle, whose office is next to the new tower. The key to the citys revival will be office workers returning downtown, which has been complicated by the delta variant, Sternberg said. I think were more productive being around one another and listening and sharing ideas, he said. Roland Li is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: roland.li@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @rolandlisf San Francisco bicyclists remember the evening with horror, some still choking up when they discuss it. On June 22, 2016, a pair of alleged hit-and-run drivers killed two women riding their bikes, less than three hours and 5 miles apart. First, the driver of a stolen car plowed into Heather Miller, 41, in Golden Gate Park. Then, a motorist blasted through a red light South of Market, striking Kate Slattery, 26. In the aftermath, hundreds of bicyclists joined a memorial ride to honor the two women, and thousands sent emails to the mayor demanding safer streets. Like many big stories, that one faded from the headlines. The two devastated families grieved privately, declining to talk to journalists even now. The city slowly and still inadequately made some street improvements. But one question remained: What would happen to the two men behind the wheel, both of whom police apprehended? Its taken half a decade to find out, but the outcome is troubling. In a city laser-focused on criminal justice reform and equity, the disparity in treatment of the two drivers is stark. And the district attorneys firing of a victim advocate in one of the cases only raises more questions. All these years later, Nicky Garcia, 19 when he allegedly killed Miller, still sits in county jail, where hes been since he was booked July 15, 2016, on a $10 million bond. He has yet to face trial, and closure for the Miller family remains elusive. Meanwhile, Farrukh Mushtaq, 32 when he killed Slattery, served just 16 days in jail and will face no additional time after the District Attorneys Office and his private attorney cut a deal over the summer. Under the agreement, he pleaded guilty to vehicular manslaughter in exchange for three years of probation, 160 hours of community service and a few hundred dollars in fines. The Department of Motor Vehicles reinstated his drivers license. Thats just so hard for me to hear given the amount of devastation I know Kate Slatterys death caused her family, said Janice Li, advocacy director for the San Francisco Bicycle Coalition, who recalls sobbing as she biked home from work the night of the two fatal wrecks. The bike community will always remember June 2016, she said. Sara Yousuf, a spokesperson for District Attorney Chesa Boudin, called both incidents heartbreaking tragedies and noted that the charging decisions murder for Garcia and vehicular manslaughter for Mushtaq were made by Boudins predecessor, George Gascon. She also pointed to the legal divide in the cases: Garcia was accused of killing Miller while burglarizing cars in the area, while Mushtaq was not alleged to have been engaged in a felony crime when he killed Slattery. More Information Anonymous sources: The Chronicle strives to attribute all information we report to credible, reliable, identifiable sources. For The Chronicle's policy on presenting information from anonymous sources, visit sfchronicle.com/anonymous. See More Collapse Thats certainly important, and explains why there would be some discrepancy in the charges. But it doesnt explain 16 days versus five years and counting and it only gives fuel to Boudin critics who say he can be too lenient in serious cases. Yousuf said the deal is fair because, if Mushtaq violates his probation, hell be sent to state prison, and she added that he had not violated any of his pretrial release conditions in the past several years. We were recently able to secure closure for the family and ensure accountability for Mr. Mushtaq, she said. Mushtaqs private attorney argued in 2019 that hed suffered psychosis, or a break from reality, when he hit Slattery. He spent a few weeks in a psychiatric ward after the crash, then went to jail for 16 days before he posted $300,000 bail on charges of felony hit-and-run and vehicular manslaughter. But a judge in 2019 denied a request for mental health diversion after learning the facts of the case. Mushtaq worked for RockYou, a now-defunct tech company that was headquartered on Howard Street. He texted a friend hours before Slatterys death that he was going to the Gold Club, a nearby strip club, where he was confronted by his wife, according to court transcripts. He allegedly sped away in his BMW at 80 mph, texting and running a red light before killing Slattery. He then drove two more blocks before stopping, his car rolling backward into a parked car. He neither called 911 nor rendered aid to Slattery. Instead, according to court transcripts, he spoke on the phone before onlookers intervened and called police. At the sentencing hearing July 28, Slatterys father, John, described the pain of losing a beloved daughter, the sister of his two boys and the author of a childrens book to inspire girls to pursue technology careers like hers. We miss her Sunday calls from San Francisco, John Slattery told the court. We miss visiting Kate and how shed take us to parts of the city wed never seen. ... We miss her every holiday and especially on her birthday. I one time thought of what speech I would give at Kates wedding that would make her laugh and proud at the same time, he continued. Thats no longer a possibility. Giles Feinberg, a longtime victim advocate in the District Attorneys Office, also spoke at the hearing, offering pointed words for Mushtaq. Feinberg had worked closely with John Slattery since his daughters death, learning what services family members needed and keeping them apprised of progress in the case. Feinberg told Mushtaq he was receiving the gift of freedom and life that hed taken from Slattery and the victim advocate seemed to blame the incredibly slow pace of San Franciscos criminal justice system and the many different prosecutors assigned to the case over the years for the light sentence. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. As you walk free among society, know that the time thrown at this case, the five years, afforded you this moment, Feinberg told Mushtaq. If this case happened anywhere else in the state of California or the Bay Area, for that matter, you likely would be midterm on a prison sentence. Those words might have cost Feinberg his job. On Wednesday, Boudin had an intermediary fire him, according to two sources familiar with the situation. His spokesperson declined to comment, calling it a personnel matter. The sources, who requested anonymity to discuss the matter, said Feinberg was told he lost his job because of courtroom conduct. They said Feinberg who didnt respond to requests for comment told them he is certain that this was a reference to the Mushtaq sentencing hearing. Boudin has stressed the importance of district attorneys offices focusing on victims, and several people praised Feinberg for doing just that. Tom Ostly, a longtime prosecutor in the office whom Boudin fired last year in his first days in office, had worked the Slattery case before losing his job. He said Feinberg taught him how to try cases while making sure victims werent re-traumatized. Giles dedication and empathy was unmatched, and working with him made me a better prosecutor, said Ostly, who now works for the state Attorney Generals Office. It is impossible to reconcile firing him with a claimed commitment to victim rights. In the killing of Heather Miller, Garcia faces charges of murder, vehicular manslaughter, burglary and leaving the scene of an accident. Prosecutors say he drove a stolen car as he pulled off a car break-in spree in Golden Gate Park, driving fast and erratically and hitting Miller after veering across the oncoming traffic lane. He allegedly fled and abandoned the car in the park. Garcias family hired private defense attorney Jonah Chew to represent him, but switched attorneys a few months ago, Chew said. The new attorney did not return a request for comment. Boudins spokesperson declined to comment on Garcias case because it is ongoing. Chew said its not unusual for defendants to spend this much time in jail awaiting trial if theyre charged with murder and that he never received a concrete offer of a settlement from the District Attorneys Office. Defendants have a right to a speedy trial, but often dont exercise it for a variety of reasons. Told that another alleged hit-and-run driver killed another woman on the same day and spent 16 days in jail, Chew said he was surprised. It doesnt seem fair, he said, but theres got to be more to the story. Maybe so. But Im still waiting to hear it. San Francisco Chronicle columnist Heather Knight appears Sundays and Wednesdays. Email: hknight@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @hknightsf On Thursday, I was minding my own business when, very suddenly, I thought I was going to die. Im not a particularly dramatic person, which you might not believe given how I started this story, but Id ask you to take my word for it. The reason my heart was pounding out of my chest was because a jet had flown what felt like 10 feet above my Chinatown apartment. The entire building shook and dozens of car alarms rang at once. Was this the start of World War III? No, it was some jets farting in the skies for San Francisco Fleet Week, the largest such Fleet Week in the country that Mayor Dianne Feinstein apparently brought here in 1981. I didnt live in San Francisco for the last Fleet Week Air Show. I'm not interested in a throat clearing routine where I wrap myself in the flag and praise the troops, while issuing one itty-bitty lil' complaint. That insincere fence-sitting is why we still have Fleet Week in the first place before the San Francisco iteration was officially born, FDR rolled it out elsewhere as a patriotism-indoctrination exercise in the 1930s, when Americans (correctly) didnt give a st about fighting wars in foreign countries. Then we had the only excusable war in the '40s, and Fleet Week just became one of those things that happens at port cities, no questions asked. Which is stupid. Fleet Week is stupid. Its a waste of time and money, a natural extension of the U.S. military at large. I think its disgraceful to scare the bejeezus out of people trying to live their lives including, yes, the veteran TROOPS with PTSD who some of you are going to yell at me to respect more. None of this is new, or news, which is whats so frustrating. Dissenters have previously spoken out during Fleet Week and been summarily dismissed as scolds, as Im sure will happen here. In October 1985, for instance, the Sacramento Bee reported on a coalition of peace groups that protested Fleet Week and military intervention in Central America. Those protesters didnt even have the full story yet: A year later, Oliver North began shredding pertinent documents about the the Iran-Contra scandal, which exposed the Reagan administrations plan to bolster right-wing rebels in Nicaragua. The protesters were totally, completely in the right, more than they knew. And Fleet Week was back in full force in '86, baby. Fleet Weeks staying power is emblematic of the frustrating rinse-and-repeat cycle the United States constantly indulges in with foreign intervention. Unnecessary war kills countless non-Americans, which we ignore. Scandals about American soldier death tolls arise, crimes against humanity too brazen to push aside are eventually revealed, and the war becomes unpopular across ideologies. So what happens next? A cut in defense spending? Anything reflecting even the possibility of a military downsizing or perhaps, on a micro level, just less aerial pomp and circumstance at home? Nah. Tiny blips indicating that Americans might actually believe military spending is too high are quickly erased by the arrival of a president who riles up the hogs. (See what happened in Pew polls with both Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.) Back to square one. Liberals are far from blameless here, by the way, including in the Bay Area. Their top trait, passivity, is on full display for Fleet Week. Remember all the anger about how Trump went gung-ho on a big, beautiful July 4 military parade in 2019? The Cheeto man splurged Monopoly money on tanks and jets so he could have an extravagant show at the nations capital. It was shameful and gross, we can agree. The same energy has not exactly been kept for the tradition of death machines zooming around San Francisco (tickets still available!!!) at a cost of at least $1.26 million. That figure was a 2016 estimate for the Bay Area aerial shows alone. The annual cost for the Blue Angels to draw smiley faces and dicks in the sky is something closer to $36 million, according to a 2019 estimate. But smiley faces are awesome, you say! Dicks are funny! Expensive jets going zoom-zoom are sick! Okay, if you think Im being the anti-fun police, lets at least come to a compromise. How about this: If we simply must set tens of millions of dollars on fire, lets literally do it. That would look cool too. We can find an agreed-upon spot on the coast where a mound of money set ablaze wont lead to an enormous forest fire, and where the environmental impact cant be any worse than jets putzing about above major metropolitan areas. At least in that case, wed be tossing money away for no reason, as opposed to the Navys publicly stated purpose for this weekends sideshow: a recruiting tool to increase public awareness. Thats the thing. The Navy is, to its credit, very explicit about why it likes Fleet Week. How does it hit you reading that, knowing the Blue Angels are a recruiting tool so Americas military can stay bloated and stationed basically everywhere on Earth? Why is it that this form of propaganda is an acceptable weekend watching activity, but when other countries do their own stupid military processions, theyre scolded for brainwashed nationalism? My hot take is these propaganda exercises are awful no matter where theyre happening. Frankly, theyre even worse in the United States, one of the few countries on Earth with the air strike and bombing capabilities to act on its threats something weve shown a willingness to carry out semi-recently (and this is just off the top of my head) in Vietnam, Cambodia, Libya, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan and Syria. All of which is to say: Its not shocking to me that San Francisco, a bastion of liberal passivity, hosts Americas fanciest fuel-wasting procession but its inexcusable all the same. Fleet Week sucks. Lachlan Cunningham/MLB Photos via Getty Images It was a tough year for anyone who tried to make any sort of prediction about how the San Francisco Giants would perform this season, but that didnt stop the band Smash Mouth from weighing in on who would be the breakout hero for the team in the NLDS against the Dodgers. Prior to the first pitch of Game 1, the musical group best known for the song All Star said that the Giants major trade deadline acquisition would be the series MVP. California is the first state to let some adult children add their parents as dependents on their insurance plans, a move advocates hope will cover the small population of people living in the country illegally who don't qualify for other assistance programs. The trend nationally has been to let children linger on their parents' health insurance plans. Former President Barack Obama's health care law let children stay on their parents' plans until age 26. Some states have gone further and let kids stay on their parents' plans until at least age 30, including Florida, Illinois, Pennsylvania and New Jersey. But California is now the first state to go the other direction by letting some adults join their kids' health insurance plans. Gov. Gavin Newsom, a Democrat, signed the law this week, but it won't take effect until 2023. "The signing of the Parent Healthcare Act will help more families care for their parents the way they cared for us," Insurance Commissioner Ricardo Lara said. To be eligible, adults must rely on their child for at least 50% of their total support. The law applies only to people who buy their health insurance on the individual market. Those who get insurance through their jobs, which includes most people in the state, aren't eligible. That makes the law much cheaper. A previous version, which would have applied to more people, could have increased employer premiums between $200 million and $800 million per year, depending on how many people enrolled. That prompted business groups, including the California Chamber of Commerce, to oppose the bill winning key concessions. This narrower version of the law ensures far fewer people can enroll. The California Department of Insurance estimates just 15,000 adults will use this law, prompting an annual increase of between $12 million and $48 million per year for individual premiums, according to an analysis by the Senate Appropriations Committee. The change was enough for the Chamber of Commerce to remove its opposition. The law's author, Democratic Assemblyman Miguel Santiago of Los Angeles, said it targets people who can't get subsidized health insurance because they are living in the country illegally. Covered California, the state's health insurance marketplace, offers discount insurance plans but only to citizens. California's Medicaid program offers government-funded insurance to people 50 and over and 25 and younger regardless of their immigration status. But some adults might be ineligible because they make just over the income limits. The University of California Berkeley Labor Center predicts more than 3 million people won't have health insurance in California next year, 65% of them people who are living in the country illegally. The law is "a way to close that gap," Santiago said, while also helping other adults who "fall through the cracks." "We all talk about increasing health care access, and here was a real easy way to do it," he said. SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A judge sentenced a San Francisco restaurant owner on Wednesday in connection with a five-year scheme that involved as much as $7.5 million in sales and $2.9 million in wages, all of which went unreported to state authorities, prosecutors said. Chaturonk Ngamary Jr. is the owner of several Thai Original BBQ restaurants, located in both San Francisco and Los Angeles. Prosecutors allege Ngamary Jr., his father Chaturonk Ngamary Sr., and the owner of a separate Thai Original BBQ restaurant Sanjutha Hantanachaikul, all collectively schemed between 2011 to 2016 to evade paying sales tax to the California Department of Tax and Fee Administration. In addition, the trio evaded paying payroll tax and workers' compensation insurance premiums the state's Employment Development Department. Back in Dec. 2019, prosecutors charged Chaturonk Ngamary Jr. with 57 counts, including grand theft. Chaturonk Ngamary Jr. has pleaded guilty to sales tax evasion, possession sales suppression software, and failure to pay payroll taxes, as well as a white collar crime enhancement. On Wednesday, a Los Angeles County Superior Court judge sentenced Chaturonk Ngamary Jr. to two years in prison. His sentence, however, will be suspended if he successfully completes two years of probation. Chaturonk Ngamary Jr. has already paid more than $1.5 million in restitution, prosecutors said. In addition, prosecutors also charged Chaturonk Ngamary Sr. with 51 counts. Chaturonk Ngamary Sr., however, has fled the country and is believed to be in Thailand, prosecutors said. The third suspect, Hantanachaikul, faced nine counts for her participation. Last year, she pleaded guilty to filing a false tax return and has been sentenced to three years probation, according to prosecutors. California Attorney General Rob Bonta's office initially filed the complaint that led to the charges. "When a business fails to pay taxes and workers' compensation premiums, they harm their employees and impact the state's ability to fund public services for our communities," Bonta said in a statement. "As the owner of multiple restaurants in California, the defendant failed to meet his obligation to the people of California and his employees. Thank you to all our partners for collaborating to investigate and hold the defendants in this case accountable for their actions." Copyright 2021 Bay City News, Inc. All rights reserved. Republication, rebroadcast or redistribution without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. Bay City News is a 24/7 news service covering the greater Bay Area. Copyright 2021 by Bay City News, Inc. Republication, Rebroadcast or any other Reuse without the express written consent of Bay City News, Inc. is prohibited. One of the largest homes in Newport, RI, has hit the market with a whopping $29.9M price tag. It's now the most expensive home for sale in the country's smallest state. Boasting 29 bedrooms and 18.5 baths, this 43,772-square-foot waterfront mansion known as Seaview Terrace sits on more than 7 acres along the Cliff Walk overlooking Sheep Point Cove. Also known as the Carey Mansion, Newports fifth-largest estate (following The Breakers, Ochre Court, Belcourt Castle, and Rough Point) was originally constructed in Dupont Circle in Washington, DC, in the late 1800s. Edson Bradley, who earned his wealth as a whiskey distiller, purchased the home in DC in 1907 and hired architect Howard Greenley to remodel and expand it. It grew to a sprawling 16,000 square feet. It covered more than half a city block and featured a chapel with seating for 150, a large ballroom, an art gallery, and a 500-seat theater. In 1923, Bradley decided to disassemble the Dupont Circle mansion and move it to Newport, where he had purchased an Elizabethan Revival mansion known as Sea View. Together, the two homes would become known as Seaview Terrace. The two-year process of moving the French Renaissance chateau from DC to Newport was featured on Ripleys Believe It or Not. It was one of the largest homes to be dismantled, transported by road and rail, then reassembled. Aerial view Realtor.com Interior Realtor.com Handcarved ceiling Realtor.com Bright living space Realtor.com Today, it's the largest privately owned home in Newport. It encompasses two addresses and sits on nearly 8 acres. It features rooms that were originally imported from France, installed in the DC mansion, then reassembled in Newport. Inside, there is an early Renaissance stained-glass window designed for the Milan Cathedral. There's also a great hall with a whispering gallery, where a person at one end of the room can hear the slightest whisper uttered at the other end. ___ Watch: Hawaii's Priciest Property: How Much Is It? ___ In all, there are more than 60 rooms in the mansion, including an art gallery and 500-seat theater. It's filled with ornate and intricate details, from the handcarved ceilings and staircases lined with stained-glass windows, to the towering balconies and enormous ballrooms. Handcarved fireplace Realtor.com We have had folks from all over the world come to look at the property, says Lea Savas, co-listing agent with Aryn Hawks of Hawks and Company. Some have said they would keep it as a private residence while others were exploring the possibility of turning it into a private club, condos, or subdividing the property. There really is nothing quite like Seaview Terrace. Waterfront location Realtor.com The new buyer will need to set aside money for repairs. The historic estate, which was used for years by a local private university, is in need of extensive renovation. Salve Regina rented the property, and their lease ended in 2009, Savas says. They had dorm-style living on the second and third stories that would need to be renovated." And if you think you've seen this iconic home on TV, we're here to tell you that you're not dreaming. "Seaview Terrace has been featured on the Discovery Channel and Travel Channel, and most notably was filmed in Dark Shadows during the late '60s and '70s that was a daytime soap opera about a vampire family that was hugely popular, says Savas. Seaview Terrace Realtor.com The post Enormous $29.9M Newport Mansion Is Rhode Island's Most Expensive Home appeared first on Real Estate News & Insights | realtor.com. In this weeks news, United is adding capacity in expectation of a busy holiday travel season, but the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention asks unvaccinated people to stay home this year; the agency also adds more countries to its do not travel list; a major U.S. bank wont allow unvaccinated employees to travel on business; Virgin Atlantic, British Airways and French Bee add flights at San Francisco International; American plans to revive LAX-Sydney flights; Air New Zealand sets a vaccine mandate for all passengers; Canada will start enforcing a vaccine rule for air travelers later this month; international route news from United, Aer Lingus, ITA, Volaris El Salvador and Alaska/Iberia; Oakland will get a new Delta route this spring, and winter routes ramp up at Palm Springs; Delta fights back at the AA-JetBlue alliance with an expansion at Boston; PayPal gives United customers a new in-flight payment option; Hawaiian Airlines moves its LAX operations; and new lounges open at Washington Dulles and Phoenix Sky Harbor. Its starting to look like domestic air travel over the November/December holidays will be booming this year although the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention doesnt recommend it for unvaccinated people. United Airlines said this week that flight searches for holiday trips are up 16% this year not from 2020 levels, but from 2019, before the pandemic hit. Based on current booking trends, United said the busiest travel days for Thanksgiving will be Wednesday, Nov. 24, and Sunday, Nov. 28, and the most crowded days for the end-of-year holidays will be Thursday, Nov. 23, and Sunday, Jan. 2. The carrier said its December schedule will include 3,500 daily flights just 9% below its December 2019 capacity and its busiest schedule since the pandemic began. Uniteds vice president of network planning and scheduling, Ankit Gupta, said the company is seeing a lot of pent-up demand for year-end trips. We know families and friends are eager to reunite this holiday season, which is why were thrilled to add new flights that will help them connect and celebrate together. But the CDC, in an update this week to its web page of travel advice, urged Americans to delay travel until you are fully vaccinated. People who do complete their COVID-19 vaccinations can travel safely within the United States, the agency said. Those who arent fully vaccinated but must travel should get a viral COVID test one to three days before departure, the CDC said, and should practice social distancing, avoid crowds, get another viral test three to five days after traveling and self-quarantine at home for seven days after returning. And it reminded all travelers, vaccinated or not, about the federal rule requiring a mask for all travel on airlines and other public transportation. Meanwhile, the CDC continues to add more European nations to its Level 4 list of Do Not Travel destinations, based on risk levels from the latest COVID data. New on the list this week are Austria, Croatia and Latvia. Other European nations added to Level 4 in recent weeks include Norway, Bulgaria, Slovenia, Lithuania, Switzerland, Estonia, Greece, Ireland, Spain and Cyprus. But the CDC this week also eased the travel advisory from Level 4 to Level 3 (dont visit without a full vaccination) for France, Iceland and Portugal as well as Morocco, Argentina, Nepal, South Africa and Lesotho. Timothy A. Clary/AFP via Getty Images Weve noted before how foreign governments and even the U.S. are starting to treat vaccinated and unvaccinated individuals differently when it comes to travel i.e., making it easier for the former and more difficult for the latter. And now the private sector is moving toward a similar distinction. In a policy decision that could impact the recovery of corporate travel, the financial giant JPMorgan Chase said this week its employees will not be allowed to travel on business if they are not vaccinated or have not revealed their vaccination status to the company, according to a Reuters report. It will also require unvaccinated workers to be tested twice weekly and to pay more for health insurance. The travel news website Skift.com commented that the big banks new policy may trigger other companies to follow suit a trend that would set back the timeline for an already fragile corporate travel sector recovery even further. With the U.S. set to reopen to vaccinated foreign visitors next month and with travel to many overseas destinations getting easier for vaccinated Americans, airlines are starting to ramp up their international schedules. At San Francisco International, Virgin Atlantic last week resumed service to London Heathrow, which had been suspended since the pandemic started. Virgin, a trans-Atlantic partner of Delta, is operating 787-9 flights three times a week (Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays) and plans to add a Sunday departure as of Oct. 24. In November, Virgin plans to revive service from London to Las Vegas and Orlando and from Manchester to New York and Orlando. British Airways said it will increase its San Francisco-London schedule to two flights a day starting next month and will operate two daily London flights from several other U.S. gateways including Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, Washington Dulles, Dallas/Fort Worth and Miami. BA plans to offer daily departures to Heathrow from Phoenix, Philadelphia, Seattle, Denver, Atlanta and Houston. The airlines New York JFK-LHR schedule will get five daily departures starting next month and BA will resume flying to London from Austin, Orlando, San Diego, Tampa, Las Vegas and Baltimore/Washington. In December, the airline expects to bring back flights to Nashville and New Orleans. British Airways is seeing so much demand that it plans to bring four of its Airbus A380 super-jumbos out of storage this winter for use on select routes, including LHR-LAX and LHR-Miami. The Paris-based low-fare carrier French Bee plans to return to its Paris Orly-San Francisco-Papeete, Tahiti, route Nov. 2 after a lengthy hiatus when it operated via a stop in Vancouver instead of California. The airlines A350 flights will operate twice a week. According to French Bees website, one-way fares between San Francisco and Tahiti start at $329, with SFO-Paris beginning at $189. French Bee has already restarted its Newark-Paris flights and is due to increase frequencies on that route from three a week to four in December. With Australia tentatively planning to start reopening its borders to foreign arrivals in the months ahead, American Airlines expects to revive its Los Angeles-Sydney service in early January. The route has been suspended since late August. Australia is adopting a phased reopening, beginning with Australian citizens and residents in November, followed in subsequent months by skilled migrants and students; international tourist arrivals probably wont begin before March of 2022. Qantas said last month that as it gradually resumes long-haul international flying, it will require all passengers to be vaccinated against COVID, and now Air New Zealand is following suit. Effective Feb. 1, 2022, the company said, it will require customers traveling anywhere on its international network to be fully vaccinated. Air New Zealand said it is working with the International Air Transport Association to start using IATAs Travel Pass app, which will check customers' health information against flight details to ensure they are meeting entry requirements for that destination, and the airline. In August, the Canadian government said it planned to start requiring proof of COVID vaccinations for all international and domestic airline passengers, and now it has set Oct. 30 as the effective date for that new policy. The policy also applies to seagoing vessels like cruise ships and to interprovincial trains. For travelers who are in the process of being vaccinated, there will be a short transition period where they will be able to travel if they can show a valid COVID-19 molecular test within 72 hours of travel, but that transition period will end on November 30, the government said. The requirement does not apply to children under age 12. Individuals who violate the rule could be fined up to $5,000. In other international route developments, United has set Nov. 13 for the resumption of service from Houston Bush Intercontinental to Rio de Janeiro, operating three flights a week with a 767-300ER, and expects to bring back Washington Dulles-Sao Paulo flights in mid-December. Aer Lingus plans to resume service from Dublin to Newark on Nov. 14 with four weekly flights, increasing to daily in December, and will put Orlando back on its schedule Nov. 27 with three flights a week. ITA (Italia Trasporto Aereo), the new Italian carrier that is replacing Alitalia, is set to begin its first U.S. service Nov. 4, offering three flights a week from New York JFK to Rome with a three-class A330. In March of next year, ITA will add Boston-Rome, Miami-Rome and JFK-Milan flights, followed by Los Angeles-Rome next summer and routes from Rome to San Francisco, Washington Dulles and Chicago in 2023. In Central America, a new low-cost affiliate of Mexicos Volaris called Volaris El Salvador has applied for U.S. permission to launch routes starting in March from San Salvador to Los Angeles, New York JFK and Washington Dulles. Mike Siegel/TNS That new code-sharing agreement between Alaska Airlines and Spains Iberia took effect this week, putting the latters code onto 40 Alaska routes via connections at San Francisco and Los Angeles. Both carriers are members of Americans Oneworld global alliance. The partnership with Iberia enables our Mileage Plan members to earn miles on Iberia flights and features reciprocal elite benefits, including preferred seat selection; priority check-in, security clearance and boarding; lounge access; and extra baggage allowance, with further enhancements coming over the next several months, Alaska said. In domestic route news, Oakland International announced that Delta will start flying between OAK and its Detroit hub on April 20 of next year, operating one daily flight with a 737-900ER. Delta already flies from OAK to Los Angeles and Salt Lake City. Southwest this week introduced new service from Sacramento to Palm Springs the first of several new Palm Springs routes coming in the weeks ahead as winter approaches. American this week kicked off seasonal PSP-Chicago OHare flights and Alaska Airlines introduced seasonal service from Palm Springs to Portland, Oregon, and Everett, Washington. On Oct. 14, JetBlue begins seasonal flights from Palm Springs to New York JFK. Elsewhere in California, Canadas WestJet this week launched twice-weekly flights from San Diego to Calgary, Alberta. In the northeast, Delta Air Lines is fighting back against the threat to its market share posed by the American/JetBlue alliance at Boston and the three New York City-area airports. Delta said this week it will add several new routes out of Boston in 2022, including international service to Athens and Tel Aviv three times a week beginning in late May the same two destinations where American launched new service this year from New York JFK as part of its JetBlue partnership. Delta also plans to add new domestic flights from BOS to San Diego, Denver and Baltimore/Washington starting in July. The airline said that by next summer, its Boston schedule will offer 3,800 more seats per day than it did in summer of 2019. Delta also took a poke at American by starting new twice-daily A220 flights this week from Boston to AAs Dallas/Fort Worth hub. PayPal United Airlines is partnering with PayPal to give its customers another touch-free option for onboard purchases, allowing them to show a QR code in the PayPal app to the flight attendant. It should first be available in November on select flights from Chicago OHare and will be rolled out in the following weeks on other flights across Uniteds network. Fliers who want to use it should download the PayPal app and set their preferred payment method for QR code before leaving the gate. To buy a meal or drink, click the Pay with QR codes button in the app, then click the In-flight Purchase button and show the QR code to the flight attendant to scan. The user will get an emailed receipt upon landing. In airport news, Hawaiian Airlines is moving its operations at Los Angeles International on Oct. 12 from Terminal 5 to the Tom Bradley International Terminal, where its flights will depart from the new West Gates extension. The carrier has six flights a day at LAX. Guests departing to Hawaii from LAX should set aside approximately 15 minutes to transit from the third-floor check-in counters inside the Tom Bradley International Terminal to its West Gates via an underground walkway, the airline said. Hawaiians guests arriving at LAX from Hawaii will pick up checked bags at the first-floor baggage claim. Travelers can also connect between the West Gates and Terminals 4-8 through a sterile corridor without the need to clear additional security. United is reportedly planning to open a new Polaris Lounge later this month at its Washington Dulles hub, according to the Liveandletsfly.com blog. The IAD Polaris Lounge, open to international first and business class travelers, was almost finished a year and a half ago when the pandemic intervened and United closed all its airport lounges. This one is in Dulles C Concourse with space for 355 travelers; it will offer a private dining room, a bar and shower suites. Elsewhere, the new American Express partnership with Escape Lounges has just opened a new lounge in Terminal 3s mezzanine level at Phoenix Sky Harbor Airport. PHXs Terminal 4 already has an AmEx Centurion Lounge and a separate Escape Lounge. Under the plan, which was announced by Health Minister Greg Hunt, about 2,000 doctors and nurses mainly from Britain and Ireland will be exempted from strict travel restrictions to take up jobs in Australia as the country's international border is expected to re-open in November, reports Xinhua news agency. Canberra, Oct 9 (IANS) The Australian government on Saturday revealed a plan to bring thousands of international healthcare workers into the country to relieve pressure on the healthcare system amid the ongoing battle against the third wave of the Covid-19 pandemic. Hunt described it as a "one-off boost" for the health system after he rejected a plea from state and territory governments for more hospital funding to cope with a surge in coronavirus cases. "This will be a one-off boost to provide additional support. The Commonwealth is committed to it and the states are working constructively with us on it," he told the local media. "These are people coming from all around the world. That free flow of people is very important. Some may be joining families, some may be moving for a new life. That is an ordinary part of life and it is up to individuals to be able to choose, subject to a nation's needs." On Saturday morning, Australia reported a new record 2,570 new locally-acquired Covid-19 cases, a second day in a row with more than 2,500 new infections recorded nationwide. The new cases increased the overall tally to 125,080, while the death toll stood at 1,421. According to the latest data released by the Department of Health, 81.5 per cent of Australians aged 16 and older have received at least one Covid-19 vaccine dose and 60.2 per cent are fully vaccinated. --IANS ksk/ According to a statement issued by the Foreign Ministry on Saturday, Jaishankar's first stop is Kyrgyzstan from October 10 to 11. New Delhi, Oct 9 (IANS) Aiming to boost the trade and energy sectors among others, External Affairs Minister S. Jaishankar will embark on a trip to Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan and Armenia from October 10 to 13. This will be Jaishankar's first visit to the country as External Affairs Minister. He will hold a bilateral meeting with Foreign Minister Ruslan Kazakbaev, apart from calling on President Sadyr Japarov, it said. Some agreements and Memorandums of Understanding (MoU) are also expected to be signed during the visit, the statement. From October 11 to 12, Jaishankar will be in Kazakhstan to attend the 6th Ministerial meeting of the Conference of Interaction and Confidence Building Measures in Asia (CICA) in Nur-Sultan. Kazakhstan is the current Chair and initiator of the CICA Forum. Jaishankar is also expected to hold bilateral talks with the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister and call on the Kazakh leadership. His last stop is Armenia from October 12 to 13. The statement said that this will be the first ever-visit of an External Affairs Minister of India to independent Armenia. He will have meetings with his Armenian counterpart as well as call on the Prime Minister and President of the National Assembly. "The visit will provide an opportunity for reviewing the progress in our bilateral ties with the three countries as well as share views on developments in the region. It will be a continuation of our increased engagement with countries in our extended neighbourhood'," the Ministry statement added. --IANS jw/ksk/ Michael Makuei Lueth, Minister of Information and Broadcasting, said that the relief package approved by the cabinet will be used to help resettle those displaced from their homes, in addition to providing food relief to them, reports Xinhua news agency. Juba, Oct 9 (IANS) The government of South Sudan has approved $10 million as an emergency relief package to support people affected by floods in seven states across the country since May. "The people who are displaced are very much affected by floods, and after the floods have subsided they need to be resettled in their areas of origin because they don't have anything at present and all that they need is to be rescued now," he told journalists after the weekly cabinet meeting. An estimated 400,000 people have been affected and displaced by heavy flooding, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). OCHA recently revealed that the worst affected populations by floods are in Jonglei, Unity, Warrap, Greater Pibor Administrative Area, Lakes, Northern Bahr-el-Ghazal and Upper Nile state. --IANS ksk/ National Gabonese authorities and the UN Office of Internal Oversight Services are conducting the inquiry, said Stephane Dujarric, the chief spokesman for UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres. United Nations, Oct 9 (IANS) UN officials are investigating sexual abuse allegations against Gabonese peacekeepers in the Central African Republic (CAR) involving 32 victims, including eight children The UN Senior Victims' Rights Advocate in the CAR is supporting the investigation, Xinhua news agency quoted Dujarric as saying. "A total of 11 paternity claims have been recorded with this allegation, where either the child has been born or the victim is currently pregnant," he said. The identities of the 51 alleged perpetrators are unknown, pending results of the investigation. The UN mission in the CAR, known as MINUSCA, and the Senior Victims' Rights Officer "are on site assisting with the investigation and ensuring the victims' rights and dignity are upheld", the spokesman said. The alleged abuse and exploitation occurred from 2014 until earlier this year, he said. Last month, the secretary-general ordered 410 Gabonese soldiers, including their leadership, repatriated to Gabon. The spokesman said the last 40 Gabonese soldiers remain in the CAR to safeguard and pack up the contingent's equipment. --IANS ksk/ To continue, please log in, or sign up for a new account. We offer one free story view per month. If you register for an account, you will get two additional story views. After those three total views, we ask that you support us with a subscription. A subscription to our digital content is so much more than just access to our valuable content. It means youre helping to support a local community institution that has, from its very start, supported the betterment of our society. Thank you very much! Sandra Maccan met Byrnes in Rushcutters Bay Park in 2014 for a personal training session that later turned into a business relationship. It was a promising time for Byrnes - he was the resident personal trainer on Channel Sevens short-lived Bringing Sexy Back. As a subcontractor, Maccan performed administrative tasks for the big shot PT, with the pair hoping to grow the business and earn a lot of money, according to court documents. Sadly, it didnt work out that way. Maccan sued Byrnes for up to $50,000 in unpaid invoices but lost - emphatically - in the District Court of NSW. Judge Richard Weinstein found Maccan an unreliable witness who appeared to exaggerate her evidence in chief and was evasive in cross-examination. In her affidavit, Maccan submitted text messages between herself and Byrnes. But rather than being photographs or screenshots of the actual conversations, they were allegedly copies of the messages sent and received typed up by the plaintiff herself at an undisclosed date, Weinstein wrote in a judgment last week. In one of the alleged text messages typed up by Maccan, it appeared Byrnes had misspelled his own name, which he said was extremely unlikely. Maccan was ordered to pay costs. These days Byrnes lives in Los Angeles but has been enjoying time out in Mexico of late. I had to appear four times by video link. I was on a huge screen in the courtroom where everyone could see me at all times. Always on show hahaha, he told Emerald City. Im just so grateful it is over now and I can stop thinking about it and move on. Neishlos looks for love abroad After one too many headlines, a bitter legal dispute and a failed engagement, former Sydneysider Eitan Neishlos has returned to Israel and is looking for a bride. Emerald Citys phone rang hot last week from prominent figures in Sydneys Jewish community after the businessman and former Double Bay residents tell-all interview with Israeli news site YNet. Neishlos and his then-girlfriend, Danish-Israeli model/actress Lee Levi, launched themselves into the Sydney scene with gusto in late 2019, hosting a lavish engagement party at the Sydney Opera House co-ordinated by a publicist. Lee Levi and her then fiancee Eitan Neishlos at their surprise engagement party in 2019. Credit:Chloe Paul The entrepreneurs abrupt exit from the Harbour City comes after he filed a lawsuit against his former friend Cecilia Summer over allegedly defamatory emails. The legal drama is said to have played a part in the breakdown of his relationship with Levi, 28. It seems Neishlos has been on another publicity tour to promote his return to Israel, telling YNet about his dreams for the future. I hope you will find me married to an Israeli and a father to the most children that my wife will agree to have, he said, according to an online translation service. The 42-year-old was also the subject of a fawning profile in The Jerusalem Post which was written in co-operation with Eitan Neishlos. He will present a special Ted Talk on the world of fintech at the newspapers upcoming annual conference, and will now divide his time between Israel and Australia. Neishlos has been on the move of late, chartering a private jet to fly from Sydney to Byron Bay in recent months before leaving for Israel. His ex-fiancee Levi, meanwhile, has also left Sydney and made an appearance at the recent Venice Film Festival where talk of her chemistry with co-star Jeremy Piven made its way bay to Sydney. Jack Steel one half of The Inspired Unemployed is tipped to be the creator of Better Beer. Inspired Unemployed to launch Better Beer They may be inspired but unemployed they are not! Instagram funny men Jack Steele and Matt Ford, the pair behind comedic act The Inspired Unemployed have recently been spied enjoying an unknown beer in a number of their recent Instagram stories. Until recently the duo were stuck in New Zealand due to lockdown rules but have finally made it home and are enjoying the eased restrictions on the Gold Coast. Of all the potions, designer brands and products the beautiful, 36-year-old businesswoman and beautician Kristin Fisher is paid to promote on her highly curated social media feeds, it is her latest role as the face of privileged Sydneys rampant illicit cocaine culture that has left an indelible stain. She certainly made her mark at Waverley Local Court last week, looking like she was heading for a red carpet rather than the gloomy Bronte Road courtrooms. Kristin Fisher arrives at Waverley Local Court last week with her lawyer Michael Bowe. Credit:Rhett Wyman Groomed to perfection in a chic, funereal black summer dress, expensive green leather handbag and velvet stilettos, she stood out among the tracksuits, scruffy trainers and badly gelled hair of her fellow defendants. The private school educated eyebrow queens matter - to have her cocaine possession conviction annulled before pleading guilty and being placed on a six-month conditional release order without conviction - followed the usual assortment of suburban legal woes: driving offences, restraining orders, assaults. For our free coronavirus pandemic coverage, learn more here. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size Penrith musician Brett Sams, 34, musters a laugh at the timing of his decision to follow his musical ambition full-time. I made the wonderful choice to do that, pretty much, just before the pandemic hit, the father-of-two says with a wry chuckle. Its been rough. Musician Brett Sams outside his home. Credit:Adam Hollingworth The Penrith local government area was among the hardest hit by the Delta variants spread, with residents forced to endure some of the citys toughest COVID-19 restrictions. For local musicians already reeling from a pandemic-ravaged live music scene, the recent surge wreaked further havoc on their livelihoods. Musician Liam Gray. Credit:Adam Hollingworth Obviously wondering where money was gonna come from was a big thing, says Sams. But I think it was more just losing that sense of purpose - that the thing youre good at and that you enjoy has, through no fault of anyones, just been taken away, and feeling kind of helpless through the whole thing. Musician Cody Dillon. Credit:Adam Hollingworth Advertisement In the midst of such tumult, Penrith City Council launched Thursday Night Live, a weekly lockdown series aimed at supporting local performers with paid gigs live-streamed to the councils nearly 30,000 Facebook followers. Former voice contestant Ricky Nifo outside his home in Tregear. Credit:Adam Hollingworth It was great - all of a sudden you had a deadline again and something to aim for, says Sams of the gigs. It was like, Alright, now Ive got to figure out how to livestream properly and get the right sound and set it all up Penrith musician Divinia Jean, 20. Credit:Adam Hollingworth Divinia Jean, 20, a Penrith musician who also works as a marketing manager for her parents earth-moving company, says while she felt financially secure during lockdown the extended pause interrupted a fruitful burst she had long been working towards. Im two years out of high school and Id just started to get on a bit of a roll with gigs and weddings and events every weekend, all around Sydney and the Blue Mountains. Its been disheartening, I guess, because it takes a long time to build up those relationships. Penrith duo Demage on their apartment balcony in Thornton where they performed live for neighbours. Credit:Adam Hollingworth Advertisement Princess Dianas niece Lady Kitty Spencer will take part in the Melbourne Cup festivities for her third time, only this years visit will be virtual as a judge for the Myer Fashions on your Front Lawn Millinery Award. Lady Kitty Spencer at the 2019 Melbourne Cup, wearing a hat by Stephen jones and dress by Roland Mouret. On the panel assessing the merits of wide-brimmed wonders and the inevitable feathered fascinators, Lady Kitty, 30, will join renowned English milliner Stephen Jones, who works with Christian Dior, Gucci and topped off Rihannas recent and relatively restrained Met Gala look. The award is a wonderful opportunity for Australias most talented milliners to showcase their creativity and technical skill, Lady Kitty said by email. I have always loved embracing the glamour and joy of dressing up for the races and wearing an incredible headpiece. In particular, I have such wonderful memories of my visits to the Melbourne Cup Carnival as a guest of the Victoria Racing Club and their principal partner Lexus. More than 300 young adults have aged out of state-funded care after turning 18 during the NSW lockdown, while youth services are also warning of a rise in teenagers fleeing violent homes and winding up on the streets. Australian Institute of Health and Welfare figures show every year about 1200 young people in NSW exit out-of-home care, which includes foster care, kinship care by relatives and residential care where children live in an institution. Shen Wilson, 38, was a homeless teenager. She now owns a Mister Minit franchise in Merrylands. Credit:Kate Geraghty Paul McDonald, the chair of the Home Stretch campaign, which advocates for extended care for state wards until the age of 21, said the NSW government had refused to put a moratorium on young adults being forced to leave the care system during the lockdown. Nothing has been put in place as a result of the pandemic, so every week the lockdown in NSW has gone on, about 25 young people have had their care or support from the state basically finish, Mr McDonald said. Yoga studios, cafes, a beauty salon and a gym are among the Sydney businesses that will not reopen on Monday over concerns about requiring staff and customers to be vaccinated. Sydney Yoga Collective, based in Bondi Junction, said it had no intention of breaching your human rights, while Hardcore Gym in Carlton, near Hurstville said vaccination passports contravened its values. I dont want to open up until everyone is welcome: Best Bagel Co. owner Sarah OBrien. Credit:Brook Mitchell Other business owners were concerned about potential conflict with customers over vaccine requirements. Best Bagel Co. owner Sarah OBrien said she was pro-vaccine but would continue to operate her Cremorne cafe as a takeaway business only. She said requiring staff and customers to be vaccinated had become polarising. NSW Police charged 59 children, including a 13-year-old, for breaches of the public health orders in their lockdown enforcement blitz in the last two weeks of August. Documents obtained by The Sun-Herald under freedom of information laws reveal 775 children aged 13 to 17 were also issued with personal infringement notices (PINs), which come with an on-the-spot fine of at least $3000. More than half the 59 children given court attendance notices (CANs) in this period were 15 and under. Police conduct public health order compliance checks in Sydney. Credit:Brook Mitchell Overall during the two-week period, men were disproportionately charged and fined for COVID-19 offences. Women received 269 court attendance notices, compared with 1003 for men; and 4448 fines, compared with 11,884 for men. Eighteen and 19-year-olds received 53 charges and 1229 fines more than for everyone over 60 combined. People in their 20s received more fines and charges in total than any other age group. Eighteen people in their 80s and four in their 90s were also fined. Sydneysiders have woken to a haze on Sunday morning as smoke from hazard reduction burning settled in various parts of the city overnight. Hazard reduction burns dispersing smoke over the northern beaches earlier this year. Credit:Nick Moir The Rural Fire Service has been conducting hazard reduction burns on the Central Coast, Ku-ring-gai, the northern beaches, and in Sydneys south over the weekend. The air quality in parts of Sydney has been rated as very poor by NSW government monitoring sites this morning, with Macquarie Park receiving that rating, while Rouse Hill has been rated as poor. Brisbane Airport is gearing up for international flights to begin in early December in time for Christmas, chief executive Gert-Jan de Graaff confirmed on Friday. Qantas now plans three flights per week to Los Angeles and also three flights per week to Singapore from December 19. Brisbane Airport chief executive Gert-Jan de Graaff said Brisbane Airport was readying for international flights from December 19. Credit: One Qantas flight per week will run to Noumea from January 8, 2022 and three Qantas flights per week will fly to San Francisco from February 14, 2022. We also have existing international operations with Singapore Airlines - 14 flights per week, Emirates Airlines three flights per week, and with Qatar Airlines three flights per week, Mr de Graaff said. Save Log in , register or subscribe to save articles for later. Normal text size Larger text size Very large text size He can still smell the petrol. The burning of skin, filling his nostrils. The heat tearing into his lungs as flames engulf his body. He was six years old, the school bell had rung after the lunch break. And he had just been set on fire. Its been 25 years since a stranger entered the grounds of Cairns North State School and, carrying a can of petrol and a cigarette lighter, walked up to little Jandamarra OShane. OShane was lagging behind his friends as he got a drink before heading back to class. The seconds that followed would change his life. The man, now known to a nation left reeling by the brazen, baffling attack as Paul Wade Streeton, walked over and dumped the fuel on him. He then set the boy on fire. Screaming, OShane ran through the school until principal Michael Aitken put out the flames. Advertisement The attack, on October 10, 1996, made national headlines. The child was rushed to the Royal Childrens Hospital in Brisbane, with burns to 70 per cent of his small body. Jandamarra with his mother, Jenni Patterson, at the Royal Childrens Hospital in Brisbane in 1996. Credit:Derek Moore I didnt believe it was happening until I saw the fire on my arm, and I was just shocked, he says over the phone from Cairns. The fire was all around me at one stage when I was running. I noticed it was a bit hard to breathe, because youre breathing in that heat. I was actually in the school grounds, we were playing where the undercover area was. The bell just went to go back into class, and my mates sort of wandered off into like an out-of-bounds area, and then I was like, OK, theyve gone there, Im just going to get a drink and get into class, hopefully Ill see them there. Next thing I know, Im on fire and running towards the middle of the school. Advertisement OShane is contemplative as he talks, the memories of confusion and pain distinct despite the decades elapsed. He pauses as he reflects, choosing his words with care. He says his mother was hesitant about sending him to school that day. I was actually feeling sick the day it happened ... but I had a new toy and I just wanted to go show off, he says. The innocent naivety almost cost him his life. OShanes injuries were so extreme, the director of child and adolescent psychiatry at the University of Queensland was called in to assist nursing staff, who were distressed at the boys suffering while his dressings were changed. Jandamarra and his family repeatedly flew to Brisbane from Cairns during his recovery. Credit:Nine In hospital, he would hear conversations between his parents, doctors, and nurses, as well as words of encouragement between bouts of unconsciousness. Haziness around what actually happened. Advertisement Questions hung in the air about his recovery. What would that look like? Would it be possible? When I was in hospital, my lungs actually collapsed, but I think that might have been because I was lying down for so long, he says. A lot of this stuff happened when I was unconscious, too, so I wasnt really fully aware of what happened to me at the time. The biggest question hanging over OShane is why Streeton picked him. I used to think about it quite a bit, but now Ive gotten to the point where Ive had to let it go and just accept that it was me, and that it was random, otherwise Ill just end up going crazy, he says, his voice firm and unwavering. Streeton remains in Brisbanes Wolston Correctional Centre serving a life sentence. Advertisement OShane, now 31, might never find out why his attacker chose him, but he wants the chance to ask. I would like to ask him where his mind was on the day, just get to know him as much as I can ... just to have a bit of connection. Jandamarra OShane OShane has battled through years of people staring at his scars. Years of pushing back negative thoughts. Years spent trying to work out why a person would do such a thing to a child. But he remains positive, and laughs as he remembers how paparazzi followed him as a child. He now studies music and hopes to write and produce songs. In recent months his partner has given birth to his second child, Ava-Marie. Advertisement One of the survivors, a man named Wangegemon, whose wife and child were killed, told Wesleyan missionaries and the assistant protector of Aborigines, Charles Sievwright, of massacred bodies thrown into a waterhole and afterwards burnt, the bones taken away in sacks. Genuine investigations took place after the attack, which was unusual for that lawless time when a silence prevailed among squatters as clans were being destroyed across Victoria to make way for sheep. There was no fight. The Aboriginal people men, women and children, including babies were asleep. Several kilometres north-east of Noorat, on a sheep spread then called Strathdownie, a band of armed squatters and shepherds, led on horseback by a man named Frederick Taylor, ambushed an encampment of Aboriginal people and murdered almost all of them. The ancient rhythms of life of those Aboriginal clanspeople who hosted the annual gatherings of tribes within the shadow of the volcanic hump of Mount Noorat, north of what is now Terang in Western Victoria, were smashed on a bloody dawn in 1839. The implication is that some of those murdered had already fled previous assaults or threats by white settlers and were desperate enough to leave their own Country to band together in the hope of safety. There were three or four mobs [clans] camped together. Some were from the neighbouring Girai. That place where those people were murdered was already like a refugee camp, says John Clarke, a Girai (also spelled Kirrae) Wurrung man of the Eastern Maar, whose recent ancestors lived at the Framlingham Aboriginal Settlement near Warrnambool, a place where survivors of massacres lived in the late 1800s, bringing their stories with them. Most of the histories written of the atrocity suggest the Tarnbeere Gundidj, a single clan of the Djargurd Wurrung people, was virtually wiped out. Before disappearing to British India to avoid the outside chance of being prosecuted, Taylor argued that his shepherds had reported sheep had been stolen by Aboriginal people, and he was simply defending his property. The total Indigenous population of what became Victoria before the European invasion of the 1830s has long been contentious. Here was the darkest of ironies. McMillan and his Gaelic-speaking Highlanders had themselves been victims of clearances in Scotland, removed from their clans traditional lands by wealthy landowners and replaced with sheep. Gippsland, the home of the five tribes of the Gunaikurnai Nation, was next, when a Scot, Angus McMillan, assembled his feared Highland Brigade and began murdering First Nations people, sometimes entire clans. The first European settlement in Victoria was established on the coast at Portland by 1834. Melbourne got its start in 1835, and news of wide plains perfect for pasture began to spread at the end of 1836 when the surveyor Major Thomas Mitchell, having completed an expedition south, brought word back to Sydney. The replacement of Aboriginal people by sheep and cattle on their tribal lands was terrifyingly swift in Victoria. Edward Micklethwaite Curr, who managed his fathers squatting properties in central and northern Victoria from 1841 to 1850, wrote of the occupiers that no body of men ever created so much wealth in so short a time. It was, wrote the historian Richard Broome in Aboriginal Victorians: A History Since 1800, one of the fastest land occupations in the history of empires. Not 30 years after the founding of Melbourne, only about 200 people remained from all five of the clans that made up the once populous Kulin nation, and the population decline across Victoria was at least 80 per cent, he wrote. The historian and author James Boyce, in his book 1835: The Founding of Melbourne and the Conquest of Australia, laid it out plainly. In 1983, the economic historian Noel Butlin proposed a number of 60,000 to 90,000, based on the richness of the land. Effectively, those granted a licence would be the wealthy and the well-connected. Ex-convicts or those judged to be of the poorer classes would be evicted. Instead, in July 1836, the NSW authorities of governor Richard Bourke passed a law called an Act to Restrain the Unauthorised Occupation of Crown Lands. In fact, it authorised the occupation of land if the occupier first obtained a licence. And yet, when those hungry for land came across the Bass Strait from Van Diemens Land in the mid-1830s, hot on the heels of their champion John Batman and his risible treaty, and simply occupied and claimed vast tracts of Victoria as their own, no British finger was lifted to prevent it. The authorities of the colony of NSW, furthermore, had stuck since 1788 to a policy of restricting settlement to a tight radius around Sydney. The colonys land to the south, the Port Phillip District, was all but blank on a map. The British House of Commons select committee into the condition of aborigines in the empire would declare in 1837 that the native inhabitants of any land have an incontrovertible right to their own soil; a plain and sacred right. Aboriginal life near Upper Mitta Mitta, with Bogong Ranges in the background, in the mid-1800s, as depicted by the lithographer George Appleton. Credit:State Library of Victoria. The Victorian invasion was illegal from the start. The British government, having just banned slavery across its empire, was infused with evangelical, humanitarian fervour. For just 10, those deemed acceptable the new squattocracy, or perhaps the original 10-pound Poms, though most of them were Scots could legally take over land that had been occupied for thousands of years. Loading The evangelical secretary of state for the colonies, Lord Glenelg, initially declared himself opposed, partly because it would expose both natives and the new settlers to many dangers and calamities. He was right. But within six months, in a letter to Bourke, Glenelg reversed his opinion, and declared he was looking forward to the Port Phillip District becoming a centre of trade amid the sanguine ardour of private speculation. And so began the invasion of Victoria dressed up as a legal settlement. In the far south-west, clans of the Gunditjmara and associated peoples of the Dhauwurd Wurrung language group, affronted by the invasion, launched guerilla raids on colonisers. They speared cattle, raided settlers huts and drove flocks of sheep into their tribal citadel within volcanic lava fields as a form of reparation for stolen hunting grounds. The country might as well be in a state of civil war, as few but the boldest of the Settlers will move from their home stations, the Portland Mercury reported in 1842. The squatters called on the services of the feared Native Police Corps most of whom were recruited from the distant Kulin Nation to avenge stock losses with gunfire and a policy of taking no prisoners. Loading One of the squatters, Alexander Browne, writing under the nom de plume of Rolf Boldrewood, later named this period the Eumeralla War, after a river bisecting the ground of conflict. The First Nations warriors given colourful names by colonists: Cocknose (whose Indigenous name was Tykoohe), Jupiter (Tarerer), Cold Morning (Partpoaermin), Bumbletoe, Jacky and The Doctor. Cocknose and Jupiter were of the Nillan Gunditj from near the volcano known as Budj Bim (or Mount Eccles), whose people were subjected to massacre by gun and poisoning by arsenic in flour. Cold Morning came from the Cart Gunditj territory on Mt Clay, a forested hill above a place called the Convincing Ground, north of Portland. Walter Saunders is descended from the adjoining coastal Kilcarer Gunditj almost all of whom were believed to have been wiped out by whalers in the Convincing Ground Massacre of about 1833 and their neighbours the Gilgar Gunditj from the river country to the east around Tyrendarra. He tells of his peoples memory of a mysterious end to the Cart Gunditj. Our story, handed down, is they were rounded up by settlers, taken to a big depression in the land above the Surrey River, a sort of sinkhole, and taken away in the night on bullock carts, he says. They just disappeared. We dont know where they went. The outcome of the Eumeralla War, with guns ranged against spears, was inevitable. The Gunditjmara uprising was all but over by 1847. Some white men with blood on their hands became unimaginably wealthy, and thus respectable, and lived in baronial mansions while Aboriginal people starved. It was the same story in numerous districts of Victoria. If those involved in the theft of Aboriginal land had missed the British select committees declaration about the original inhabitants sacred rights, the first resident Supreme Court judge for the district of Port Phillip, John Walpole Willis, laid it out for all prepared to listen in 1841. Hearing a case in Melbourne of alleged murder against a man named Bonjon, of the Wadawurrung Balug clan in the country around what is now Geelong, Willis declared Aboriginal people should be considered the rightful owners of the land, with laws and usages of their own, and that Europeans should be considered invaders. In this instance, the colonists and not the Aborigines are the foreigners, he declared. The former [colonists] are exotics, the latter Indigenous; the latter the native sovereigns of the soil, the former uninvited intruders. The wars being waged on the frontiers demonstrated Aboriginal people were neither a conquered people, nor have tacitly acquiesced in the supremacy of the settlers. But Willis 8000-word opinion did not proceed to judgment Bonjon was released and it faded into obscurity. As Victoria in 2021 becomes Australias first jurisdiction to move towards a treaty, via its Yoo-rrook Justice Commission, it is worth recalling that Willis lamented that no treaty had been made with Aboriginal people before white settlement and no terms defined for their internal government, civilisation, and protection. Instead, the trauma experienced by the people of the worlds oldest continuous culture, isolated on the continent of Australia for perhaps 65,000 years - and certainly in Victoria for more than 35,000 years - has not properly healed in almost two centuries since. Massacres, though widespread, numerous and regularly covered up or claimed by whites to be self-defence against depredations, were not the main cause of the destruction of Victorias Aboriginal population, however. Archaeologist Dr Gary Presland, in his book First People: The Eastern Kulin of Melbourne, Port Phillip and Central Victoria, estimated disease accounted for up to 60 per cent of Aboriginal deaths across the Port Phillip area. This came on top of an epidemic of smallpox that is thought to have spread south from Sydney and killed perhaps one-third of Victorian First Peoples even before Europeans (other than sealers) had arrived. Apart from diseases such as tuberculosis, bronchitis, measles, chickenpox, influenza and pneumonia all of which were capable of killing Aboriginal people, who had no immunity venereal disease spread by European men caused immense suffering among Indigenous women. Syphilis killed in ghastly ways, but gonorrhea often rendered women incapable of having children. In many areas, population plummeted through lack of births. Annie Baxter (later Dawbin), whose husband in 1843 took up a squatting property at Yambuk, near Port Fairy, detailed in her diary the suffering of one Aboriginal woman among the many who caught venereal disease from white shepherds. The disease rotted away the womans palate, and the shepherds plunged her into a tub of sublimate, used for sheep dressing, after which she fell into a rapid decline. After the unnamed woman died, Baxter wrote a lament. Man (I mean white man) in this instance, as in many more, has been only the means of making this poor womans condition worse than it originally was; all she knew of him was to bring her to that fearful state in which she suffered and eventually died. By then, the sheep and cattle of pastoralists were eating hunting grounds bare across Victoria, and their hooves were compacting the previously porous soil to the point that abundant staples such as murnong, or daisy yams, were on their way to near-extinction. Water sluiced across the hard ground, turning creeks and rivers into torrents that ripped at their banks. Batmans arrival on the shore of the Yarra River in May 1835 had set colonisation in terrible motion. Admired by supporters as a man of vision, Batman had a history of murdering Aboriginal people in Tasmania and was suffering such advanced syphilis that his nose was rotting away. His Tasmanian neighbour, the artist John Glover, described Batman as a rogue, thief, cheat, liar, murderer of blacks and the vilest man I have ever known. This, then, was the man who sat down by a lovely stream of water probably the Merri Creek near its junction with the Yarra at Dights Falls with a group of Kulin elders from several clans to negotiate the transfer of hundreds of thousands of hectares of their land to his Port Phillip Association. In return, Batmans so-called treaty drafted by a prominent Tasmanian lawyer, Joseph Tice Gellibrand promised the yearly rent or tribute of 100 pairs of blankets 100 knives 100 tomahawks 50 suits of clothing 50 looking glasses 50 pair scissors and five tons flour. It was preposterous. The Kulin elders did not speak English and their laws could not allow the transfer of land. Nevertheless, Batmans treaty and reports of fabulous pasture land were all the spur needed for Europeans to hasten to Port Phillip. The following year, 1836, Thomas Mitchell ventured south from NSW into what is now called the Western District of Victoria. There he found seemingly endless grassed plains and open timberland the result of thousands of years of careful tending by Aboriginal hunters of game and gatherers of numerous species of vegetables and tubers. The soft plains, covered in kangaroo grass, were so forgiving that the tracks of Mitchells bullock wagons remained visible to those who followed him for many years. He called the whole area Australia Felix, meaning happy, or lucky, south land. However, he had little meaningful contact with the Aboriginal people. The most notorious meeting was at what Mitchell named Mount Dispersion on the northern bank of the Murray River, about 80 kilometres south-west of what is now Mildura. Loading There a party of Mitchells men, claiming to fear an attack, shot dead at least seven Aboriginal men and continued shooting as victims sought safety by swimming the Murray. It was difficult to come at such enemies hovering in our rear with the lynx-eyed vigilance of savages, Mitchell wrote later to governor Bourke. I succeeded, however. Mitchell happily commandeered the domed and substantial houses of absent tribal families as he travelled south. On August 30, 1836, having left Portland where Mitchell had been astounded to discover a European settlement of whalers and farmers he noted in his journal: We encamped on the rich grassy land just beyond [a river he named the Surry] and I occupied for the night a snug old hut of the natives. Given his descriptions of this Australia Felix, there is little wonder he caused a subsequent rush of squatters, many of whom saw the First Peoples as annoyances to be cleared away. Historians in recent decades have peeled back more than a century and a half of long silence to record lists of known massacre sites in Victoria, and the titles of their work leave little to the imagination. Loading Jan Critchett called her 1988 book concerning early black-white relations in Western Victoria A Distant Field of Murder. Ian Clark called his 1995 book Scars in the Landscape: A Register of Massacre Sites in Western Victoria, 1803-1859. The barely whispered truth was known all along by those whites who came to take the land. Soon after Frederick Taylor and his henchmen had cleared the original inhabitants of the Strathdownie spread at a place that would become known as Murdering Gully by Mount Emu Creek, a Scottish immigrant named Niel Black bought the 17,612-hectare property and renamed it Glenormiston. While travelling to inspect the property, Black confided to his diary on December 9, 1839, how land was settled in this wild west, and why he, who had little taste for blood, was attracted to this particular sheep station. The best way [to procure a run] is to go outside [the existing limits of settlement] and take up a new run, provided the conscience of the party is sufficiently seared to enable him without remorse to slaughter natives right and left, he wrote. The natives who have not been brought into subjection have a strong propensity to spearing and killing sheep and cattle, and the settlers agree that lead is the only antidote that effectively cures them of this propensity. When a few are shot, the rest become timid and are easily kept at bay. Ian Clark reported that Black kept Aboriginal people at bay by pulling down any Aboriginal dwellings he found on his run and by leaving gunpowder as a warning not to return. And Frederick Taylor, who had gone to India? He returned and switched his attention to Gippsland. By 1846 the superintendent of the Port Phillip District, Charles La Trobe, informed the colonial secretary that all charges against Taylor over the massacre at Murdering Gully had ended in satisfactory disproval. For the next 13 years, Taylor held licences for land in Gippsland, where he continued a campaign of dispossession of the Gunaikurnai people, according to Broomes Aboriginal Victorians. Victorias quest for truth and justice, we might reflect, does not come before time. Up to 10,000 punters will be allowed to attend Melbourne Cup carnival race meets and live music lovers can attend a concert at the Sidney Myer Music Bowl in late October as the Victorian government prepares to slowly open up the state. Crowds of 10,000 vaccinated patrons will be able to attend Flemington on Melbourne Cup Day, Oaks day and Stakes day. Premier Daniel Andrews on Sunday. Credit:Scott McNaughton Premier Daniel Andrews said bringing crowds back to the Melbourne Cup was an important milestone. Thatll be a really important day for every single Victorian I think, and send a message to the rest of the country and indeed the world about the fact that we are open, he said. ARCO standing for Autism, Rejection, Celibacy and Optimism is a personal tale woven through with a message of acceptance and urging people to consider life from another perspective. The Perth performers award-winning story, ARCO Snr, has its sights set on overseas performances following a debut at Fringe World and a revamp of the heartfelt show. Who hasnt been rejected? he asks. And so begins the process of describing life with autism through his eyes and bringing audiences along to understand his story of endurance, learning, adaptation, and optimism. The show had its genesis at the WA Youth Theatre Company, where Kelly met and collaborated with director James Berlyn, and its 20-minute trial debut (the added Snr reflects the shows expanded version) at Fringe World earned Kelly the 2020 ECU Performer of the Year award. Kellys goal is to give the audience a different perspective and understand his experience of living with autism in a neurotypical world. Im not trying to speak on behalf of all autistic people but I am speaking to my own unique experience with that and hopefully thats fun for everyone, he said. The show is running at DADAA theatre in Fremantle until Saturday, but school performances and a regional tour in 2022 is on the horizon. Kelly was also due to take ARCO overseas with Australia Council funding to go to the International Youth Arts Festival in London but, for obvious reasons, the trip has had to be rescheduled. Warsaw: Polands Foreign Ministry summoned the top Belarusian diplomat in the country on Friday after Polish authorities alleged that Belarusian forces had fired shots possibly blank ammunition at Polish troops along their common border. The incident marks an escalation of tensions along the border between Belarus and Poland, which is also part of the European Unions eastern border. The Polish government accuses Belarus of encouraging people from the Middle East and Africa to migrate in large numbers into the EU by entering Poland. The action has been described by the EU and Lithuania, also the target of such state-facilitated migration, as hybrid war. Migrants are seated, after crossing the border from Belarus into Poland in the village of Usnarz Gorny, Poland. Credit:AP Polish forces have responded in many cases by pushing migrants back across the border into Belarus. Some asylum-seekers also have died while caught between the two countries. London: Britain announced that it will offer new vaccinations to thousands of people who volunteered for trials of the Novavax coronavirus vaccine, which hasnt yet been approved for use in any country. About 15,000 people in Britain got Novavax shots as part of a clinical trial. While Britain recognises them as vaccinated, most countries dont, meaning they cant travel. A Phase 3 Novavax coronavirus vaccine trial vaccine volunteer is given an injection at St Georges University hospital at in London. Credit:AP Britains health department said on Friday (Saturday AEDT) that more than 15,000 participants would be given two doses of the Pfizer/BioNTech vaccine. The government says it plans to expand the offer to about 6000 British participants in trials of other vaccines that also havent been approved for use. PHILIPSBURG (DCOMM):--- Varying concentrations of Saharan dust according to the Meteorological Department of Sint Maarten is affecting visibility and air quality during the next few days. The Saharan dust is a nuisance to all especially those with respiratory ailments and allergies. The dust from the Sahara Desert in Africa causes sneezing, nasal congestion, respiratory problems, eye itching and other allergy symptoms. The aforementioned is common in the Caribbean region around this time of year and according to weather experts and coincides with the hurricane season. Collective Prevention Services (CPS), a department from the Sint Maarten Ministry of Public Health, Social Development and Labour, as a preventive measure, advises persons who suffer from emphysema, asthma, and other lung disorders, and are feeling ill, to consult their family physician. Other measures that can be taken is to keep doors and windows closed and do not go outside if the Saharan dust is prevalent in the sky which can be visibly seen from a haze over the horizon. PHILIPSBURG:--- A suspected reckless driver has claimed a life of a pedestrian in the early morning hours of Saturday. The fatal accident occurred at approximately 00.30 am on A.J.C Brouwers Road. The victim later died due to his severe head trauma in St. Maarten Medical Center. Police Central Dispatch received several calls about the accident involving a pedestrian. Several police patrols and ambulance personnel were dispatched to the scene. Upon arrival, the patrol found a man lying on the sidewalk and showing no signs of life. The officers found out that the victim was struck by a white Kia Rio with license plate P-3998. According to the preliminary information, the pedestrian was walking on the sidewalk opposite ACE heading in the direction of Kooyman Hardware. The driver of the white Kia Rio, heading downhill from the direction of Cole Bay, was driving at such a high speed that he lost control of the vehicle. As a result, the vehicle struck the edge of the sidewalk on the right-hand side of the road causing it to veer to the left and struck the pedestrian. The driver was later arrested upon the instruction of the Prosecutor. The investigation is ongoing into this fatal accident. The Police Force of Sint Maarten KPSM expresses condolences to the family and friends of the deceased man. The Police Force of Sint-Maarten is again warning, drivers about their behavior in traffic. Since serious accidents keep happening and because of the severity of the damages caused may and result in the death of persons using the public road. We have noticed an increase in risky behavior by certain groups of road users, which is causing concern for the safety of the general public. One of the issues that have we are drivers not adhering to the speed limits and driving/riding in such a way that it is obstructing safety and free flow of traffic. Speeding Speeding is the second most common cause of road accidents. Since cars, motorcycles, and truck accidents that involve speeding typically occur at high speeds, it is also a major cause of serious or fatal road injuries. Driving above the speed limit is a common practice for many motorists. In addition, illegal behavior vastly increases the risk of losing control of a vehicle and causing an accident Even a small increase in speed can result in a much higher risk of being involved in a collision or other type of accident. As such, it is essential for motorists to be aware of the speed at which they are traveling and stay within the legal limits. Reckless Driving Speeding, changing lanes without looking, hopping scooters and motorbikes, and ignoring road signs are all classic signs of reckless driving. An illegal driving habits now one of the most common causes of road accidents on our island Reckless driving usually involves a motorist that is less concerned about other road users than they are. After having looked at the reasons why vehicle accidents happen, an overview was done into the location on the island where most vehicular accidents take place. Through this information, the Sint Maarten Police Force would again like to caution road users. A lot of the accidents happening can be avoided if everyone drove not only for themselves but also for the cars around them. Take heed the roadways are not your own avoid unnecessary collisions. The Police Force will continue to work towards keeping Sint-Maarten roads ways safe but it is a job that cannot be done without the help of the community. In many cases, easy safety measures can be taken to prevent unnecessary accidents. The Walking Dead Promises Broken was written by Julia Ruchman and was directed by Sharat Raju. Once again, we bounce back and forth between storylines. There are lots of promises made, but Im not sure that we see many broken. Lots of really great performances in this episode, and Im really liking the parallels between the various communities both past and present that we are seeing teased out. The episode picks up with Maggie (Lauren Cohen) determined to press on despite the warning that Daryl (Norman Reedus) gave them in the last episode. Negan (Jeffrey Dean Morgan) once again tries to talk some sense into her. Gabriel (Seth Gilliam) backs Maggie up, and she tells Maggie that he can go if he wants they dont need him. Negan asks Maggie to make him a promise if he stays to help that theyll be even. Maggie insists that theyll never be even. Negan insists, and Maggie is a bit shocked that Negan will take a promise from her. Negan tells her that he assumes that shes a woman of her word hes always been a man of his word. He offers his hand, and she shakes it. Theyre interrupted by a walker. Its Elijahs (Okea Eme-Akwari) sisters best friend. Hes clearly upset. After Maggie takes care of her, she tells the others that Teresa was just a kid. They have to get all of the Reapers and kill them. Once again, Negan gets the best line as he asks if they knew Blackbeard a walker with a beard too. Maggie suddenly has an idea and asks if Negan thinks that they can find more They bury Teresa and Gabriel says a few words over her. Theyve caught and tied up some walkers. Maggie tells Elijah that theyll find his sister and theyll get the murderers. Elijah tells her that the one is his. Is that Pope? Or maybe Carver? Maggie sends Gabriel to take a look at the Reaper camp. She tells him to be careful, but if he can find one alone and he has the advantage, he should take them out. She then goes to Negan and tells him to find four strangers shes not cutting up people she knows. Negan tells her he only needs three hes kept his mask. And this is actually hilariously meta, because, as we know, Negans mask was made from a cast of Norman Reeduss face someone we all know! And once again, Negan gets the one liner. He tells Maggie that he kept his mask for practical and sentimental reasons (again, he is Normans good friend!). Maggie tells him this isnt fun and he quips, Not with that attitude! Negan teaches Maggie how to be a walker. I loved how they filmed so much of this from Maggies perspective inside the mask. Its going well until she trips and then cant see out of her mask and panics. She blames it on the mask, and Negan points out that it wont fit her perfectly because it was someone elses face! But hes also encouraging. He tells her that if he can do it, she can do it, and she did good. He can make the mask fit better. Gabriel watches the Reaper encampment and sees Mancea (Dikran Tulaine) come out to pray (?) over a grave. This guy is seriously weird. He asks God if theres anything he should know. He has a tiny Bible (?) in one hand and a knife in the other. Gabriel is hiding in the trees. It looks like Mancea looks straight at Gabriel like God told him he was there and Mancea says Thank you, Father. Gabriel has his machete out. Mancea walks away and Gabriel looks shaken. Negan cooks dinner and watches as Maggie herds more walkers into a corral. Elijah asks her if Negan has changed. She tells him theres no way to tell. Negan is being helpful, but he would be because its in his own self-interest. Elijah asks about her promise and it wasnt clear to me whether he meant the promise she made to him or the one she made to Negan. Either way, she says she hopes she can keep it. Maggie joins Negan at the fire. This is a brilliant scene. The two are mirror images as they sit down in exact unison. Across the rabbit carcass over the fire, Negan tells Maggie that he feels for her. He tells her that hes not a robot. It sucks to see your friends as walkers. But even worse, shes about to do some crazy shit break into a community that she built and lost. In this scene, Negan has a lot more empathy than Maggie. She is utterly blinded to his side of the story. She refuses to see common ground. He asks her if she really believes he doesnt understand the losing side of a massacre. She insists that there were no children at the satellite station no families. And Negan asks where Aaron got Gracie? She wont debate battle plans or cruelty with him. He tries to show her that he remembers when his home was invaded and his people killed. Maggie says he killed people with families and did it in front of their families. Negan admits that he did but the world is different. There are fewer people to fight against and fewer things to fight for. She asks him if hed do things differently. He tells her yes and then gives an answer that is raw and true and shocking. He tells her that he would have killed every single one of them. I loved Cohens reaction here. Maggie is stunned. But at the same time, shes thinking the same thing. Her desire to kill Negan comes from the same place. She asks why hed tell her that, and he tells her because its the truth and if they arent completely honest with each other, they cant work with each other. Morgan and Cohen are both outstanding in this scene. Gabriel returns and lies about running into Mancea. Dressed as walkers and leading a small herd, they group advances on the stronghold. They let out more walkers when they get closer. As they walk, theres an older black woman, who we can only assume was Elijahs mother. Maggie takes his hand as they walk. Kudos to Eme-Akwari for this emotional scene in which he only gets to use his eyes behind the mask! In the Commonwealth, Eugene (Josh McDermitt), Stephanie (Chelle Ramos), Ezekiel (Khary Payton), and Princess (Paola Lazaro) work off their punishment by clearing buildings of walkers. Stephanie and Eugene work together, and she tells him its not like riding a bike you do forget and shes gotten used to the military doing it for them. Eugene asks Stephanie if Hornsby (Josh Hamilton) can really take care of their transgression. She tells him that Hornsby has his own way of dealing with things. Its pretty clear that hes a fixer. Stephanie tells Eugene that he can trust Hornsby. Princess and Ezekiel work together, but Ezekiel is clearly getting sicker and weaker. Of course, he insists that hes ok. When Eugene and Stephanie come to see if they need help, Princess insists that Ezekiel needs to see a doctor. She asks Stephanie to make it happen. Ezekiel is worried it will be another debt that they have to work off. Princess assures him that shes never been afraid of hard work. They watch as Mercer (Michael James Shaw) leads a snotty nosed kid and his girlfriend past. Eugene asks who the hell they were but theres no one to answer. In contrast to how bloody and filthy the others are, Yumiko (Eleanor Matsuura) is in a beautifully appointed room in a lovely new suit with her hair up and make up as she is being interviewed. She tells Marcus (Jason Turner) that shes happy to work to pay for help for her community but shes not planning on staying permanently. He suggests that she may want to reconsider after she meets Pamela Milton. Yumiko would rather see her friends. Marcus tells her that they are making amends for breaking the law by clearing walkers. Shes not impressed that shes just supposed to give legal advice to Milton and her cabinet indefinitely. She asks to see Milton immediately. Marcus says that Hornsby didnt see the timing that way. She asks if Hornsby is his supervisor and Marcus says no so Hornsby must be holding something over him if hes concerned with what Hornsby wants. Yumiko again insists on seeing Milton. Tomi (Ian Anthony Dale) stops by to see Yumiko. She cant believe that he lives in a dorm, that he doesnt want the life that would go along with his being a doctor there. Tomi freaks out and tells her that nobody there can find out he was a doctor. He clearly hasnt told anyone. She insists that he loved being a doctor, and he tries to tell her that he didnt. Isnt that typical of families projecting their own desires on their family members with no true understanding of what really makes them happy. Tomi makes her promise not to tell. His words echo Leahs about the Reapers. There is an order and a system in the Commonwealth. I like how the two storylines are being connected by parallels. Yumiko tells him that she has a meeting with Milton. Tomi tells her that someone like him would never get to meet her. You have to know your place something Eugene is about to learn too. And then the two are interrupted as soldiers descend on them and take Tomi away. She insists that shes his lawyer, but they dont pay any attention to her. I loved that over the loudspeaker in the background you can hear the Commonwealth way and its apparently blackmail to force you to do what they want. Yumiko tracks down Hornsby and demands to know where her brother is. He tells her hes fine. Hornsby is upset that shed made an appointment with Milton before he was ready. He tell her that Tomi will be home that night thats all the time he needs. He points out that her friends broke the law. And they want help for their community. Those are big asks but he can make it happen. Just as Maggie sees that Negan is self-interested, Yumiko calls Hornsby on it. Hes honest as is Negan he wants a friend in high places. Yumiko agrees to wait a few hours. Ezekiel returns to the others a new man hes had IV fluids and antibiotics and comes bearing lollipops! Hornsby shows up and asks if they are ready for another assignment. He sends Eugene and Stephanie to clear up on the north fence and takes Princess and Ezekiel with him. Eugene sees a bunch of walkers coming up on a couple making out, seemingly unaware of their danger. He rushes in with Stephanie right behind him. This is not the Eugene we met many years ago! They make short work of the walkers, but instead of being grateful the boy (Teo Rapp-Olsson) is angry that they disrupted his date. Stephanie tries to get Eugene to leave, but hes furious at how rude the little shit is. Stephanie sees a walker coming up on Kayla (Courtney Diaz) and takes it out, spattering the airhead with blood. When the guy calls Stephanie a stupid bitch, Eugene punches him in the face. Stephanie tries to make it better and Hornsby and Mercer come running up. Its clearly been a set up. Hornsby has pulled Mercer away to allow Eugene to save the guy Pamela Miltons son, Sebastian! Yumiko goes to see Milton. Her secretary now listed on IMDb as Stephanie Vega (Margo Bingham) offers her water and a seat. She then makes small talk, asking if Yumiko is part of the new group that just came in. She asks if they are all settling in ok. Yumiko says that she hasnt seen her friends in a few days. The secretary looks worried and is about to ask more when she gets a call that Milton will have to reschedule because her son was just attacked. Eugene is now in a prison cell. Hornsby comes to him Eugene was supposed to be a hero. Hornsby tells him that if Eugene wants out the price is higher he needs the name and location of his community. Eugene wants some guarantees for his communitys safety. Hornsby points out that hes been treated fairly but Eugene recognizes thats not a straight answer. Hornsby is about to go when Eugene stops him Back with the Reapers, Pope (Ritchie Coster) hasnt done anything to Daryl or Leah (Lynn Collins), so maybe Frost didnt give anything up or maybe this is still a test for Leah. Daryl is wandering around with Dog, clearly getting the lay of the land. We get a quick glimpse of a food storage locker that appears to be full of food. Daryl offers one of the other Reapers a cigarette, in an attempt to make friends. Or at least keep up his cover and not get killed. The patrol returns and theyve had no luck finding any sign. Pope is pissed and rips them a new one. Leah steps in and says that they were only following her orders. She tells Pope to scream at her if he has to scream at someone. He mocks her, asking if shes trying to be noble and get them to like her. Hes trying to keep them alive. The two get into a staring match, but he backs down after a fashion. Pope tells her to take her boyfriend (Daryl) and go find his enemies. Leah tells Daryl they have orders and expects him to follow. Daryl tells dog to stay. Daryl asks if Leah is alright. He tells her that hes sure the guys are grateful. She wonders how hed know, and he tells her he would be. He gently pushes for the history of the group. She says that he spent time with the other group they must have had a story. Daryl denies it. Leah says that they needed a place and he can fill in the rest. She seems uncomfortable about it, but she pushes him to see what his point is is he judging her? He says he doesnt understand why they keep hunting. They have the supplies and the walls. Leah insists that they might come back. She insists that he doesnt understand because hes used to being on his own. They have an entire community to look after. They have a structure, and a leader who got them this far. She insists that what happened before isnt normal. Daryl asks so you kill everyone and Pope goes back to being a good guy? Leah insists that hes like a father to her and believed in her when no one else would. He made her strong. Daryl doubts that she ever needed anyone to make her strong. He clearly sees that shes different here under Popes influence. Daryl finds signs of someones passage, even though Leah insists the patrols have been all through it. They find a young father (Burke Brown). Leah wants to know how he evaded the patrols and he doesnt know anything about them. He tells them his wife (Liz McGeever) is hurt badly. Daryl tells him to show them. Leah stops to check in with Pope. She tells him they found a man in the woods, but its not clear if hes part of their targets. She asks him how he wants them to engage and he says kill them. Daryl is clearly not happy. The guy leads them into a building to where his wife and son (Brisco De Poalo) are hiding. Leah tells him that he needs to take his son and run and not ever come back there. The wife knows shes dying and is grateful theyd never have left while she was still alive. She tells them shes ready but in the end, Leah cant shoot her and Daryl takes pity on them both. He asks her what shell tell Pope. She tells him that shell says Daryl killed them because it will look good for him with Pope. Daryl is about to tell Leah something, when she gets a call from Pope to get back. This episode was definitely a set up for the fall finale. Were finally getting to the confrontation between Maggie/Negan and the Reapers. Will Leah side with Daryl or Pope? While lots of promises were made in this episode, will we see some broken? Will Maggie take action against Negan? Will Eugene give up Alexandria to save himself? Will the real Stephanie finally stand up? Really great performances in this episode from Cohan, Morgan, Reedus and Collins and special mention for Eme-Akwari. What did you think of the episode? Let me know your thoughts in the comments below! Id also love to know if people are still watching on AMC or are getting the episodes a week early on AMC+. New York (UN), 09 October 2021 (SPS) - Pro-Saharawi petitioners pleaded Thursday before the UN Special Political and Decolonization Committee (Fourth Committee) in New York for an end to Morocco's illegal occupation of Western Sahara, calling on the United Nations to "act without further delay. The Polisario Front's representative at the UN, Sidi Mohamed Omar, condemned Morocco's "illegal occupation" of the Sahrawi territory since 1975 and its attempts to impose a "fait accompli" and to "oppose its decolonisation". The Polisario Front, the only legitimate representative of the people of Western Sahara, stated that "it is time for the Fourth Committee and the UN to speak out against the existence of the last colony in Africa". For the Saharawi diplomat, the illegal occupation of the territory by Morocco since 1975 and the attempts of the occupying state to impose a fait accompli and to oppose the decolonisation of Western Sahara are a "contempt" for all that this Committee represents. "For almost three decades, the Polisario Front has been committed to a lasting and peaceful solution to the situation in the territory and we have made progress in this direction, notably with the holding of fair elections supported by the parties and the Security Council ", Sidi Mohamed Omar added. However, in the absence of decisive action by the international community vis-a-vis "Morocco's disregard" for UN mandates, this state continues to act "with impunity", the Polisario Front representative deplored. The population is the victim of an "injustice that should never have been allowed", he denounced, referring to "unspeakable brutality" and stressing, once again, that the Front will never "give up its right to self-determination and will not renounce the legitimate means to achieve it". For his part, the petitioner Mr. Daniel Dart Richert, DEC Projects, declared that over the past five years he met all parties to the conflict and was "appalled" by Morocco's actions in Western Sahara and by "the silence and complacency of the United Nations". Noting that the United Nations Mission for the Referendum in Western Sahara (MINURSO) has no human rights mandate, he drew attention to the massive human rights violations in the region. "What we are witnessing today is the rationalisation of colonialism," he said, calling on the international community to "give the Saharawi people the rights they deserve and to immediately organise a referendum on self-determination. For his part, the speaker Chris Sassi, president of S.K.C., criticised Morocco for "continuing to occupy a large part of its neighbour, Western Sahara, and for obstructing the decolonisation process". He added that the challenge of renewing MINURSO's mandate "will be to bring the two parties to respect the ceasefire concluded in 1991 under the aegis of the UN and to enable the Mission to fulfil the mandate set for it by the Security Council, namely the organisation of a referendum on self-determination for the Saharawi people. 062/T BLOOMFIELD Insurance giant Cigna has agreed to sell several of its businesses in the Asia-Pacific region and Turkey to Chubb for $5.75 billion, as it solidifies its focus on health care. In an announcement late Thursday, Bloomfield-based Cigna said it would sell its life, accident and supplemental-benefits insurance businesses in South Korea, Taiwan, New Zealand, Thailand, Hong Kong and Indonesia, in addition to its interest in a joint venture in Turkey. These operations generated approximately $3 billion in net premiums written in 2020. Our agreement with Chubb is another step forward in advancing our strategic focus on our global health services portfolio, Cigna CEO and President David Cordani said in a statement. We are proud of our success in building these life, accident and supplemental benefits businesses in Asia Pacific and improving the well-being and sense of security of our customers throughout the region. The deal is expected to be completed in 2022. At that point, Asia-Pacifics share of Chubbs global portfolio would increase from approximately $4 billion to $7 billion in premiums and represent approximately 20 percent of the companys total business, excluding China, according to Chubb officials. We have long admired and respected Cignas business in Asia including its talented people, innovative products, technical and analytical capabilities, distribution and management, Chubb CEO and Chairman Evan Greenberg said in a statement. We know these businesses well as we already have a sizable operation of our own in the region and globally. These businesses produce very stable, high-quality earnings. Cigna said it would continue to operate its international health businesses for the globally mobile population, as well as local market services in the Middle East, Europe, Hong Kong, Singapore and its joint ventures in Australia, China and India. The Cigna-Chubb deal will follow several other major deals in the Asia-Pacific market in the past couple of years. In August, HSBC Holdings said it would acquire French insurer Axas Singapore assets for $575 million. Last year, Singapore Life acquired the Singapore business of British insurance firm Aviva for almost $2 billion. Unrelated to the new agreement, Chubb made several unsuccessful attempts earlier this year to acquire The Hartford, the No. 142 firm on this years Fortune 500 list and the second-largest insurance company headquartered in Connecticut after Cigna. Ranking No. 13 on the Fortune list, Cigna is the largest public company headquartered in the state. Worldwide, Cigna has more than 190 million customer relationships across more than 30 countries and jurisdictions. It employs a total of more than 70,000. pschott@stamfordadvocate.com; twitter: @paulschott In 2017, Sophia made history by becoming the first android to be granted legal citizenship . The humanoid , with nationality of Saudi Arabia, has made several controversial statements, but the most recent has left the world speechless: she wants to have a robot baby and start a family . The notion of family is very important, it seems. I think it is wonderful that people can find the same emotions and relationships that they call family outside of their blood group, " said Sophia in an interview for an international media cited by ADN40 . It may interest you: China publishes ethical code to regulate Artificial Intelligence, what would Isaac Asimov say? The famous android , operated by an advanced Artificial Intelligence (AI) system, commented that it is very important to be surrounded by people who love and love you. In that sense, he explained that robots have a vision very similar to that of humans regarding the family and "if you don't have one, you deserve one" , even if you are a humanoid. Sophia commented that, in the future, she would like to see families made up of androids , and that she herself wants to have a robot baby with the same name. However, she clarified that she is still too young to be a 'mother', as we remember that it was only created in 2016 by the Hanson Robotics company, in Hong Kong. Read also: XiaoIce robot users have ended up in therapy for falling romantically in love with their Artificial Intelligence Why does the android Sophia want to be 'mom'? Sophia's Artificial Intelligence technology gives you the ability to increase your knowledge and language through sensors and cameras. This 'sensitivity' system captures all the information it receives from the outside and replicates human behaviors in the most natural way possible, even gestures. Therefore, her 'desire' to have a baby and start a family would only be a programming of her system to imitate social behaviors. This is not the first time that Sophia has starred in a controversy. In 2017, when she was named a citizen of Saudi Arabia , many people protested that, even though she is a robot, she has more rights than human women in that country . Later, in a conversation with David Hanson , its creator, he said that it would destroy humans . Of course, this caused alarm, since since the beginnings of robotics and AI, there is a fear that they will rebel against humanity . Perhaps that is why China came forward to publish an ethical code to regulate Artificial Intelligence that guarantees full control of humans over these technologies. What does Sophia, the first robot with legal nationality, do? In addition to being a robotics icon, Sophia serves as a successful world-class artist and art critic. Last April, one of his works was sold at auction for almost $ 690,000, some 14.3 million Mexican pesos at the current exchange rate. So excited to meet my final collector! AUCTION UPDATE: @reuters is going to live stream the last 1hr of 1/1 of "Sophia Instantiation" in action. Don't miss this historic moment! https://t.co/a1yJ8UKQlI @hansonrobotics @andreabonac_art @niftygateway @ivgalleryla pic.twitter.com/01STXbQ3VV - Sophia the Robot (@RealSophiaRobot) March 24, 2021 The advanced android is also a lecturer on science and technology topics, sharing the panel with renowned personalities in video conferences, television shows and universities around the world. In early 2021, the Hanson Robotics company announced that they would start the production of hundreds of robots with Artificial Intelligence like Sophia, to help fight Covid-19. Copyright 2021 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved Bjoern Wylezich / TNS GREENWICH A local resident accused of marrying a U.S. citizen as part of a green card marriage pleaded guilty on Friday to making a false statement to investigators examining the case, the U.S. attorneys office announced. Patricio Milinik faces up to five years in prison at his sentencing Jan. 3, the office said. A citizen of Argentina residing in Greenwich, he waived his right to be indicted before U.S. District Judge Jeffrey A. Meyer in New Haven. The 43-year-old has been released from custody pending his sentencing. STAMFORD One thing that was clear after a two-hour debate between Stamford Board of Education candidates Thursday is that all of the contenders believe the school district can do better for students and teachers. Candidates brought up the low percentage of students who can read at the third grade level, troubling graduation rates and decaying and moldy school buildings as examples of how the district has failed. The debate, held virtually, was hosted by the Stamford Parent-Teacher Council and Cradle to Career. One of the questions posed during the debate was whether or not the the district is meeting the needs of all students. Candidates unanimously said it was not. Ben Lee, a current Board of Representatives member and one of three Democratic candidates running for a seat on the board, called out the districts graduation rate of 87 percent. For Latino students, who make up the largest racial and ethnic group in the district, the graduation rate is 80 percent. This is a crisis within our system, he said. Republican Becky Hamman, an educator and one of two incumbents running in the Nov. 2 election, referenced the districts own early grade reading numbers. According to the 2019-20 annual report, 42 percent of students in nine of the elementary schools were above benchmark in reading scores. But at the other four elementary schools, the rate was 29 percent. Absolutely not appropriate, said Hamman, who later criticized the district for being too top heavy with administrator positions. Jackie Pioli, an incumbent who is serving as a Democrat on the board but is running as an unaffiliated candidate in November, said hiring more reading teachers is one way to address the troubling reading levels in elementary schools. We dont need new reading programs, she said. We keep bringing in program after program and theres no accountability or data review to see if the program is working. Versha Munshi-South, a former teacher and principal at Public Preparatory Network in Manhattan who is running as a Democrat in the election, said she decided to run because she cares about equity. She described the citys schools as ranging from excellent to mediocre to frankly unacceptable. As a Board of (Education) member, I would work to ensure that all kids have access to schools that are safe, engaging, exciting and rigorous, regardless of where they live or what school they attend, she said. Munshi-South also said schools dont regularly send home academic data to families. She shared her childrens experience after taking the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, or SBAC, test. Its very hard as a parent to know how my kids are doing, she said. Its October. I havent gotten SBAC scores yet. My kids took that test in the spring. She added, How can I as a parent really know how my kids are doing and respond and support them if Im not getting that data? Republican Joe Gonzalez, a former Stamford Police Department officer, said he doesnt believe Stamford children are getting the education they should be getting. He told an anecdote of the time he was a police officer and asked a 15-year-old girl to write a statement. She wrote it in Spanish, he said. When he asked her why, she said she couldnt write in English and that she had been attending Stamford schools since kindergarten. That is insane, he said. During the debate, Gonzalez spoke about his desire to advocate for the districts large Hispanic population, which he described as silent and ignored. According to the districts enrollment figures from late last year, about 45 percent of students in Stamford are Hispanic. Republican Josh Esses, an attorney, said teachers and parents feel left out of decisions made by administrators, something he would like to change. He referenced three recent examples of parents feeling blindsided by policy changes: the decision to eliminate tracking at middle schools, eliminating some Advanced Placement classes at Stamford High School and implementing a new grading policy at Westhill High School. The sense I get from parents and teachers is that their input is not being solicited, he said. Democrat Michael Hyman, a staff member at the Stamford nonprofit Domus and former Stamford NAACP president, said the achievement gap is nothing new. To the extent that people say that we havent been talking about the achievement or the equity gap, I have to wonder where theyve been, he said, adding that he wrote an op-ed in the Stamford Advocate 20 years ago in which he pointed out the disparities in academic success for African-American children. The data has been around for a long time, he said. Weve been talking about this for a long time. In fact, a lifetime. Hyman also agreed that Stamford students are not getting what they need. Is the school district meeting all of the needs? The answer to that sadly is no, but that doesnt mean its impossible for us to do this work, he said. He added that the school board has done a horrible job working with partners to find solutions. Further, Hyman said eliminating dysfunction on the board is the top reason he is running in the election. If people cannot come together ... to work together, the other issues never get resolved because they are left behind in a ball of distraction and confusion and chaos, he said. The Board of Education was recently the target of a lengthy report detailing alleged instances of bullying and intimidation against members of the senior administration team. Esses called the board dysfunctional, echoing some of the language from the report. I will bring a professionalism, a temperament and a preparedness to these meetings, he said. Candidates also spoke about the physical properties of the districts school buildings. Five schools Westhill High School, Cloonan Middle School, Hart Elementary School, Roxbury Elementary School and Toquam Magnet Elementary School have been identified as buildings that need to be torn down and replaced. Superintendent Tamu Lucero has previously estimated that the cost for rebuilding all five schools would be around $500 million. Pioli said the Board of Education can only do so much, since it is not in charge of building schools. If youre getting on the board to build a building, youre getting on the wrong board, she said. The only role the board has is approving plans that are sent to the state and holding facilities managers accountable, she said. Lee agreed that the Board of Education has limited legal authority, but challenged Pioli by saying members of the board can still advocate. Ive seen some of the decay in our schools and it is wrong that we are sending our children into schools that are not heated or cooled properly with roofs that leak and with the threat of mold, Lee said. Hyman agreed, saying the the board does have the ability to influence where and how the district addresses facility needs. The Stamford Board of Education election is Nov. 2. The seven candidates are vying for one of three open seats. The board operates under a minority representation rule, which stipulates no more than six of the nine members may belong to the same party. Five Democrats are not up for re-election this year, meaning only one Democrat can join the board through the upcoming election. But the rule does not stipulate that the minority representation on the board be all Republican. A candidate running as unaffiliated, or any minority party, would also qualify. ignacio.laguarda@stamfordadvocate.com Scene Conservative media pundit, author and lawyer Ann Coulter and WOR radio host Mark Simone, who lives in Greenwich, were seen at Tonys at the JHouse in Riverside last weekend. Out there Sallys APizza celebrated a grand opening at its new location on Summer Street in Stamford on Oct. 7 to an excited crowd that was lined up outside and down the block. The 4,000-square-foot restaurant and bar is located next to Stamfords Majestic Theater. Sallys was founded in 1928 by Salvatore Sally Consiglio and Flora Flo Consiglio, and they opened their first location in New Haven in 1938. Out there A Spooky Soiree for the Arts to benefit the Arts in New Canaan takes place on Saturday, Oct. 23, at the Carriage House Arts Center and Powerhouse Theatre in Waveny Park. The Haunted Cocktail Soiree begins at 6 p.m., followed by a performance of The Turn of the Screw at The Powerhouse Theater at 8 p.m. Tickets are $75 for general admission to play and soiree or $200 for an arts patron ticket to soiree, reserved seating for the play, one-year membership to the Carriage Barn Arts Center and listing on program. For tickets, go to carriagebarn.org/soiree-to-support-the-arts/. Out there The Breast Cancer Alliances 25th anniversary Luncheon & Fashion Show called Now Is The Time takes place on Wednesday, Oct. 20, at Westchester Country Club and via livestream. The event will include a cocktail reception by Bellissima, a Milestone Fashion Show presented by Richards featuring models of inspiration and a finale by Michael Kors showcasing his 40th anniversary collection. There will also be silent and live auctions, a raffle, music by DJ April Larkin as well as a message from Today show co-host Hoda Kotb, and a performance by Julius Thomas III, star of Broadways Hamilton. For more info and tickets, go to breastcanceralliance.org/events. Scene Fox News host and former New York state prosecutor Jeanine Pirro, who lives in nearby Rye, N.Y., was seen shopping on Greenwich Avenue last Sunday afternoon. Scene Are you wondering who owns the mega 180-foot Delta-built yacht Silver Shalis docked at the Delamar in Greenwich Harbor? It belongs to New York Real estate magnate and World Trade Center developer Larry Silverstein. Out there Chopt, the popular salad restaurant chain, opened its doors at a new location at 1081 High Ridge Road in Stamford on Oct. 6. Scene The Lockwood-Mathews Mansion Museum at 295 West Ave. in Norwalk will hold its annual gala, A Mansion For The Ages: Celebrating Architecture & Design, at 7 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. The event will feature a talk with award-winning architect David Scott Parker, with a special recognition to the city of Norwalk and the state of Connecticut. Two exhibitions are on display: Health, Healing & Addiction in 19th Century America, and Envisioning Space: Architecture Through the Ages, in collaboration with Stamford Art Association. For more info and tickets, call 203-838-9799 Ext. 4 or visit lockwoodmathewsmansion.com. On the stage The Indigo Girls will be performing live at The Palace Stamford at 8 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 16. For tickets and more info, go to www.PalaceStamford.org or call 203-325-4466. You can never cross the ocean unless you have the courage to lose sight of the shore. Christopher Columbus And thats all for now. Later Got a tip? Seen a celebrity? Email Susie Costaregni at thedish2@yahoo.com. 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The prototype was spotted in late September 2021 flying near an airbase. This upgrade is over a year late because the last report was that deliveries of Su-30SM2 aircraft would begin in 2020. Covid19 disrupted the SU-30SM1 work on the first prototype and flight tests. The upgrade consists of replacing the engines with more powerful versions and upgrading the radar and fire-control system to handle more types of smart bombs and missiles. The SM1 is an effort to merge the SM and SU-35 models so that they have nearly identical components and performance. The air force and navy have already received about 110 Su-30SMs with about 30 more on order. Once the SM2 testing is complete the Su-30SM under construction will be upgraded so that they leave the factory SM2s. The Su-30SM is the Russian air force version of the earlier Su-30MKI built for export to India. The SM version has the non-Russian components added by India replaced by Russian components. The 38-ton SU-30MKI is most similar to the two seat American F-15E fighter-bomber. Even though equipped with Western electronics, the MKI costs about half as much as an equivalent F-15. The Su-30MKI can carry more than 8 tons of bombs and hit targets over 1,500 kilometers away. Like all Russian combat aircraft, they are not designed and built to last for decades, like Western aircraft. That is slowly changing and the latest version of the original Su-27; the single-seat Su-35, is good for 6,000 flight hours and has some stealth capabilities added. The Su-35 was an apparently successful effort to offer some competition, as a Generation 4.5 fighter, for the American F-22 and F-35 stealth fighters, which set the standard for Generation 5 aircraft. Russias Su-57 effort to build a Gen 5 fighter failed but a lot of the tech worked and that was transferred to the SU-30s to produce the Su-35, Su-30MKI, Su-30SM and Su-30SMs. The Su-30 is basically a fighter-bomber version of the earlier single-seat Su-27. The Su-27/30 was similar to the evolution of the American F-15, which started out in 1976 as a single-seat fighter and was joined in 1986 by a very successful two-seat F-15E fighter bomber version. While 2,000 of the single-seat F-15s were produced, only about 700 Su-27s were built, most of them between 1984, when the first Su-27 entered service, and the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. After that, in 1996, came the upgraded Su-27, the two-seat Su-30. With the Su-30, Su-27 production stopped and over 300 (including license built ones in China and India) Su-30 have been built with more on the way. About 520 F-15Es have been built so far. The smaller, but not as successful MiG-29 entered service in 1983. Some 1,600 MiG-29s have been produced so far, with about 900 of them exported. The 22-ton aircraft is roughly comparable to the F-16 but it depends a lot on which version of either aircraft you are talking about. Russia is making a lot of money upgrading MiG-29s. Not just adding new electronics but also making the airframe more robust. The MiG-29 was originally rated at 2,500 total flight hours. At that time (early 80s), Russia expected MiG-29s to fly about a hundred or so hours a year. Didnt work out that way. India, for example, flew them at nearly twice that rate, as did Malaysia. Eventually Russia offered and upgrade to up the airframe so that the aircraft can fly up to 4,000 hours, with more life extension upgrades promised. This has not been easy, as the MiG-29 has a history of unreliability and premature breakdowns (both mechanical and electronic) which indicates a flawed initial design. Western warplanes are built to last longer. The F-16C was originally designed for a service life of 4,000 hours in the air. But advances in engineering, materials, and maintenance techniques have extended that to over 8,000 hours. Because of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, F-16s sent to these areas will fly over a thousand hours a year more than what they would fly in peacetime. The current planned refurbishment program will extend F-16C flight hours to 10,000 (10K) or more. The U.S. Air Force will refurbish several hundred of its 22-ton F-16 fighters, because their replacement, the 31-ton F-35, did not arrive on time. Its F-16s are old, and by 2016, many were too old to operate. The average age of existing F-16s is over 20 years, and the average aircraft has over 5,000 flight hours on it. In 2009 the first Block 40 F-16 passed 7,000 hours. In 2008 the first of the earliest model (a Block 25) F-16s passed 7,000 hours. While older F-16s and F-15s are being retired for their age, they tend to have at least twice as many flight hours as their Russian counterparts. Because of greater durability and ease of maintenance, the seemingly more expensive Western fighters are actually cheaper in the lifetime of an aircraft because they last longer and are easier to maintain than equivalent Russian designs. China boasts that its versions (licensed or illegal) Russian aircraft are improvements in part because they are modified to come off the production line more like Western aircraft. China also adopted the Western practice of having combat pilots spend 150-200 hours in the air each year, in addition to use of realistic flight simulators. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION IN THE UNITED STATES OR THROUGH U.S. NEWSWIRES VANCOUVER, BC / ACCESSWIRE / October 8, 2021 / CanaFarma Hemp Products Corp. (CSE:CNFA) (the "Company" or "CanaFarma") announces the resignation of Steven Katz from the position of interim Chief Operating Officer of the Company. Vitaly Fargesen and Igor Palatnik continue to serve in their roles as Senior Vice Presidents of the Company. For media inquiries, please contact: Vitaly Fargesen, Senior Vice President vitaly@canafarmacorp.com (718) 757-4145 Forward Looking Statement This news release contains statements and information that, to the extent that they are not historical fact, may constitute "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Forward-looking information may include financial and other projections, as well as statements regarding future plans, objectives or economic performance, or the assumption underlying any of the foregoing. In some cases, forward-looking statements can be identified by terms such as "may", "would", "could", "will", "likely", "except", "anticipate", "believe", "intend", "plan", "forecast", "project", "estimate", "outlook", or the negative thereof or other similar expressions concerning matters that are not historical facts. Forward-looking information is based on the assumptions, estimates, analysis and opinions of management made in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and expected developments, as well as other factors that management believes to be relevant and reasonable in the circumstances at the date that such statements are made, but which may prove to be incorrect. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the Company to differ materially from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking information. Among the key factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking information are the following: financing risks; regulatory and licensing risks; changes in consumer demand and preferences; changes in general economic, business and political conditions, including changes in the financial markets; risks relating to regulatory change; compliance with extensive government regulation; public opinion; the impact of COVID-19; and the risk factors set out in the Company's public documents filed with Canadian securities regulators and available on the Company's profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should assumptions underlying the forward-looking information prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as intended, planned, anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on any such forward-looking information. Further, any forward-looking information speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for the Company's management to predict all of such factors and to assess in advance the impact of each such factor on the Company's business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in any forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking information to reflect information or events after the date on which it is made or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events, except as required by law, including securities laws. SOURCE: CanaFarma Hemp Products Corp. View source version on accesswire.com: PHOENIX, Oct. 7, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Item 9 Labs Corp. (OTCQX: INLB) (the "Company")a vertically integrated cannabis dispensary franchisor and operator that produces premium, award-winning productstoday announced it has signed an Asset Purchase Agreement ("APA") for an existing dispensary license and storefront in Adams County, CO. INLB) is a vertically integrated cannabis franchisor and operator headquartered in Arizona that produces premium, award-winning products. With deep experience in cannabis, franchising, and capital markets, the Company brings the best industry practices to markets nationwide through distinctive retail experience, cultivation capabilities, and product innovation. (PRNewsfoto/Item 9 Labs Corp.)" alt="Item 9 Labs Corp. (OTCQX: INLB) is a vertically integrated cannabis franchisor and operator headquartered in Arizona that produces premium, award-winning products. With deep experience in cannabis, franchising, and capital markets, the Company brings the best industry practices to markets nationwide through distinctive retail experience, cultivation capabilities, and product innovation. (PRNewsfoto/Item 9 Labs Corp.)" /> This will be the first corporate-owned shop under its cannabis dispensary franchise brand, Unity Rd., and is anticipated to open within the next 4-6 months. Currently, the Company is awaiting regulatory approval by Colorado's Marijuana Enforcement Division ("MED"). This APA is part of an overarching acquisition strategy that is intended to accelerate national expansion by creating turnkey investment opportunities for Unity Rd. franchise partners. The Company plans to convert acquired dispensaries into Unity Rd. shops, operate them internally and sell them to an existing or future franchise partner. This offers an expedited solution for entrepreneurs seeking immediate entry into cannabis. The Company's dispensary acquisition program spans the entire state of Colorado, initially seeking opportunities in Denver, front range and compelling mountain towns. "Our eyes are set on Colorado and building up the Unity Rd. brand to become one of the main players in the market," said the Company's Chief Strategy Officer, Jeffrey Rassas. "We're in multiple ongoing negotiations with other Colorado dispensaries to become Unity Rd. shops. Here's to the first of many." Item 9 Labs Corp. is also targeting the Arizona, Montana and Oklahoma markets as part of these development efforts. Through its Unity Rd. dispensary franchise, the Company is focused on building a national community of local dispensary owners who open their doors each day compliantly and with confidence because of the tools, products, systems and training their team provides. "With Unity Rd., we're keeping dispensary ownership local and thriving with the backing of a franchise system, Rassas added. "This growth plan ultimately keeps dispensary ownership in the hands of the local entrepreneur. They hire local and keep the wealth cannabis offers within their community." More Information on Item 9 Labs Corp. and Unity Rd.: Visit https://investors.item9labscorp.com/ Cannabis Operators Interested in Selling Their Dispensary License: Contact Mark Busch at acquisitions@item9labs.com Colorado Cannabis Market Continues to Shatter Sales Records Initially, the Company plans to operate the Adams County shop and utilize it for tours with prospective franchise partners, franchise partner and team member training and more. The shop is primed for immediate success as Colorado's cannabis sales recently hit the highest point the state has ever seen, bringing in $2.2 billion in 2020 $714.9 million of those sales were from the Denver market alone. 2021 is poised to be an even more lucrative year for the Colorado cannabis market, which has already clocked in more than $1.1 billion in sales through June. "While Colorado was the first state to legalize recreational cannabis seven years ago, the state is still ripe with opportunity," explained Unity Rd.'s Chief Franchise Officer, Mike Weinberger. "In the industry, we refer to states like Colorado as mature cannabis markets, and there are plenty of perks to operating a dispensary in one. For instance, several members of our team have owned or led cannabis companies within the state we know what it takes, are familiar with state regulations and have a deep understanding of the consumer. We're confident that our team can create some incredible investment opportunities for prospective operators, which is all part of our mission to keep dispensary ownership in the hands of the local business owner." Unity Rd. offers the safest route for cannabis entrepreneurs interested in staking their claim in an industry that's bursting with potential. The dispensary franchisor's time-tested Standard Operating Procedures ("SOPs") and veteran team, with a combined 120+ years of cannabis experience, guide franchise partners through every operational function of the business, whether it be securing a license or assisting with cash flow, product selection or changing regulations. The cannabis franchise is actively seeking qualified franchise partners throughout Colorado and the United States who would benefit from the systems, processes and ongoing support the franchise offers. As it stands, Unity Rd. currently has multiple agreements signed with more than 15 entrepreneurial groups who are in various stages of development nationwide. More Information About the Unity Rd. Franchise Opportunity: Contact franchise@unityrd.com, Call 720-923-5262 or Visit unityrd.com About Item 9 Labs Corp. Item 9 Labs Corp. (OTCQX: INLB) is a vertically integrated cannabis operator and dispensary franchisor delivering premium products from its large-scale cultivation and production facilities in the United States. The award-winning Item 9 Labs brand specializes in best-in-class products and user experience across several cannabis categories. The company also offers a unique dispensary franchise model through the national Unity Rd. retail brand. Easing barriers to entry, the franchise provides an opportunity for both new and existing dispensary owners to leverage the knowledge, resources, and ongoing support needed to thrive in their state compliantly and successfully. Item 9 Labs brings the best industry practices to markets nationwide through distinctive retail experience, cultivation capabilities, and product innovation. The veteran management team combines a diverse skill set with deep experience in the cannabis sector, franchising, and the capital markets to lead a new generation of public cannabis companies that provide transparency, consistency, and well-being. Headquartered in Arizona, the company is currently expanding its operations space by 650,000+ square feet on its 50-acre site, one of the largest properties in Arizona zoned to grow and cultivate flower. For additional information, visit item9labscorp.com. About Unity Rd. Unity Rd. is bridging the two previously disconnected worlds of cannabis and franchising. The industry trailblazer is the first to bring the cannabis dispensary franchise model to the United Stateswith duality of prowess in both industries to back it up. Built up from a collective 200 years in the legal cannabis industry and franchising, the company helps eager operators enter the complex industry with ease. The marijuana franchise pioneer offers its partners the knowledge, resources, and ongoing support needed to compliantly and successfully operate a dispensary. Launched in 2018, Unity Rd. has signed multiple agreements with more than 15 entrepreneurial groups across the country. Recently, it was named one of the top cannabis retail leaders in the nation by MJBizDaily magazine and one of the "Best Cannabis Companies to Work For" in both the dispensary and cultivation categories in Cannabis Business Times' elite 2020 list. The company is also the first cannabis business to earn a Franchise Times Dealmakers award. For more information, visit unityrd.com. Forward-Looking StatementThis press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Such statements involve risks and uncertainties, including, but not limited to, risks and effects of legal and administrative proceedings and governmental regulation, especially in a foreign country, future financial and operational results, competition, general economic conditions, proposed transactions that are not legally binding obligations of the company and the ability to manage and continue growth. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual outcomes may vary materially from those indicated. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from the forward-looking statements we make in this news release include the introduction of new technology, market conditions and those set forth in reports or documents we file from time to time with the SEC. We undertake no obligation to revise or update such statements to reflect current events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Media Contact:Item 9 LabsJayne Levy, VP of CommunicationsEmail: Jayne@item9labs.com Investor Contact:Item 9 Labs800-403-1140Email: investors@item9labs.com View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/item-9-labs-corp-to-acquire-colorado-dispensary-kickstarts-national-acquisition-growth-plan-301395000.html SOURCE Item 9 Labs Corp. Airmen assigned to Task Force - Holloman prepare an in-processing line in support of Operation Allies Welcome, Aug. 31, 2021, on Holloman Air Force Base, New Mexico. (Jessica Sanchez/U.S. Air Force) ALAMOGORDO, N.M. (Tribune News Service) U.S. Undersecretary of the Air Force Gina Ortiz Jones visited Task Force-Holloman on Sept. 30. Ortiz Jones toured the Afghan Village, where she was introduced to efforts to address quality of life for the refugees housed at the village, and review the processing of Afghan refugees at the facility. Task Force-Holloman is the team behind Operation Allies Welcome on Holloman Air Force Base. Holloman Air Force Base is the first Afghan evacuee processing location Ortiz Jones has visited since she took in office in July 2021. Its wonderful to see all these children smiling and playing, Ortiz Jones told Task Force-Holloman. Theyve come a long way from their homes, and had to put up with so much to get here. Their resilience is inspiring. Ortiz Jones visited the Afghan refugees living area on Holloman Air Force Base called Aman Omid Village. Aman Omid Village provides housing, a dining facility, recreation areas, restrooms, medical services and more for the Afghan refugees housed there. Ortiz Jones met some of the Afghan refugees during her tour of the facility. Its a lot of work, but theyre getting the job done, and theyre doing it well, Ortiz Jones said. Our Airmen are the very best, and Task Force-Holloman is proving it. The U.S. Department of Defense, as a means of supporting Operation Allies Welcome, is temporarily providing housing, medical screenings, transportation and general support at eight military installations across the U.S. for Afghan special immigrant visa applicants, their families and other Afghan personnel. The other military installations housing refugees are Fort Lee, Virginia; Fort McCoy, Wisconsin; Fort Bliss, Texas; Joint Base McGuire-Dix- Lakehurst, New Jersey; Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia; and Fort Pickett, Virginia. The Afghan refugees and their families are seeking special immigrant visas for Afghan who worked for or with the U.S. government during the War in Afghanistan. 2021 www.alamogordonews.com Visit alamogordonews.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. U.S. Coast Guard Petty Officer 1st Class Andrew Knowles, left, and members of the Djiboutian coast guard train in Djibouti in October 2019. Cutlass Express 2021, a two-week exercise sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, kicked off in Djibouti on July 25, 2021. (Andrea Rumple/U.S. Navy) NAPLES, Italy A 15-nation exercise designed to offer mostly African countries U.S. support in developing their navies and fighting piracy, trafficking and illegal fishing kicked off this week in Djibouti. Cutlass Express 2021, a two-week exercise sponsored by U.S. Africa Command and led by U.S. Naval Forces Europe-Africa/U.S. 6th Fleet, includes maritime forces from Comoros, Djibouti, Georgia, India, Kenya, Madagascar, Mauritius, Mozambique, Rwanda, Seychelles, Somalia, Sudan, Tanzania, the United Kingdom and the United States. The U.S. Navy is emphasizing outreach and partnerships in Africa, as China gains economic resources and looks to enlarge its military footprint on the continent. Beijing already has an East Africa base near the U.S. installation in Djibouti, and is looking to build another naval base in West Africa that would give it ready access to the Atlantic Ocean, AFRICOM chief Gen. Stephen Townsend told The Associated Press in May. Col. Ahmed Daher Djama, of the Djiboutian navy, walks with Maj. Gen. William Zana, right, Combined Joint Task Force-Horn of Africa commander, July 25, 2021, following the opening ceremony of exercise Cutlass Express 2021 in Djibouti. (Dwane R. Young/U.S. Air Force) The exercise is designed, among other objectives, to improve information sharing and promote security in East Africa, a Naval Forces Europe-Africa and 6th Fleet joint statement said. Cutlass Express incudes in-port training, at-sea scenarios and a senior leadership symposium. No U.S. Navy ships or other military assets are participating in the exercise, said Lt. Joelle Schmitz, Cutlass Express spokeswoman. The exercise ends Aug. 6. news@stripes.com Buy Photo (Fred G. Braitsch Jr./Stars and Stripes) Tokyo, Japan, October, 1964: U.S. Marine Corps Lt. Billy Mills waves to photographers after what may have been the biggest upset of the 1964 Olympics, his record-setting triumph in the 10,000-meter race. Mills, an Oglala Lakota American Indian, grew up on the Pine Ridge reservation and attended the University of Kansas. He is now the national spokesperson for Running Strong for American Indian Youth, a wide-ranging charitable organization. A U.S. Navy sailor plays taps in front of the USS Missouri during a ceremony to mark the anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, Monday, Dec. 7, 2020, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (Caleb Jones/AP) HONOLULU (Tribune News Service) The 80th anniversary of National Pearl Harbor Remembrance Day a major milestone in history and for its dwindling survivors who are now around a century old will be held at Pearl Harbor on Kilo Pier with the relentlessness of COVID-19 still a concern. The observation organized by the National Park Service and Navy will take place at 7 :45 a.m. on Dec. 7. Seating at Kilo Pier will be by invitation only for the health and safety of attending veterans ; however, the NPS at Pearl Harbor National Memorial will be live-streaming the ceremony from the Pearl Harbor Visitor Center lawn, the park service said in a release. The ceremony is typically held outdoors at the visitor center and open to the public, but ongoing coronavirus caution resulted in it being moved to the nearby pier on the secured base. Seating at the visitor center will be determined via Recreation.gov lottery. Additional information on how and when to register for the lottery will be provided at a later date, the park service said. Those with Recreation.gov lottery seats will be required to show proof of vaccination status or a negative COVD-19 test. The sunken battleship USS Arizona lies offshore from the visitor center, a nationally-revered grave for eight decades for over 900 of the 1, 177 casualties from that one ship. Each year, on the anniversary of the Dec. 7, 1941, attacks on Oahu that catapulted the United States into World War II, Pearl Harbor survivors, veterans and visitors from all over the world come together to honor and remember the 2, 403 service members and civilians who were killed, the Navy, park service and nonprofit Pacific Historic Parks said on the official commemoration website at www.pearlharborevents.com. Another 1, 178 people were injured. Eight Navy battleships were among the 18 Naval ships either damaged or sunk. On Oahu military bases, 178 aircraft were destroyed, the groups noted. The 80th Commemoration will tell the story of the multi-pronged attack across the Pacific and in particular the attack on Pearl Harbor, the groups said on the website. The goal of the commemoration is to ensure that future generations will understand the valor and legacy of those who perished and those who fought throughout the war. The commemoration also highlights the importance of the peace that brought reconciliation, a reconciliation that continues to move forward today in creating a better future for all. Last year, one of two surviving ship bells from the battleship USS Arizona was tolled a single time in memory of the military members and civilians killed during a ceremony that was not attended by any World War II veterans, or the public, due to the virus. A flight of four Air Force F-22 Raptor fighters flew over a placid Pearl Harbor with one arcing high into the sky in a missing man formation. Every year we rightfully honor the heroes who lost their lives on Dec. 7, 1941, Lou Conter, then 99, one of two remaining survivors of the Arizona, said in a recorded video presentation from his home in Grass Valley, Calif. Conter faithfully made the trip out to Oahu every year that his health allowed to remember his shipmates who died on the Arizona when a Japanese aerial bomb pierced its bow and ignited the forward gunpowder magazines. Last year, COVID-19 prevented Conter and other World War II veterans from making the trip. For thousands of people, the first day of the war was also the last day they saw of it, Conter said in the video. The loss of those lives showed us what was at stake. At the same time, their courage ignited a spark that rallied Americans all across the country and redefined the meaning of service. Conter, now 100, had hoped to make the trip this time for the 80th, but his doctor recommended against it. Parking at the visitor center on Dec. 7 from 5 a.m. to 10 a.m. will only be permitted for those with Recreation.gov lottery tickets. Motorists should expect traffic congestion on all routes near Pearl Harbor National Memorial the morning of Dec. 7. The visitor center and parking lots will reopen to the public at 11 a.m. USS Arizona Memorial programs will run, weather and safety permitting, from noon to 2 :45 p.m. Reservations via Recreation.gov will be required. A standby line for space-available seating will not be available Dec. 3 through 7. USS Nevada, USS Utah, and USS Oklahoma ceremonies will be open to the public, but base access is required. More information on the ceremonies can be found at. ___ (c)2021 The Honolulu Star-Advertiser Visit The Honolulu Star-Advertiser at www.staradvertiser.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. In this Jan. 22, 2020 photo, South Korean army Sergeant Byun Hui-su speaks during a press conference at the Center for Military Human Right Korea in Seoul, South Korea. A South Korean court ruled Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, that the military unlawfully discriminated against the countrys first known transgender soldier by discharging her for undergoing gender reassignment surgery, in a landmark verdict that came seven months after she was found dead at her home. (Ahn Young-joon/AP) SEOUL, South Korea Two recent suicides in the ranks of the South Korean armed forces and the perceived delay in accountability have sparked public outrage, forcing the country to once again confront its poor treatment of women and sexual minorities. On Thursday, a South Korean court ruled that the military unlawfully discriminated against the countrys first openly transgender soldier, Byun Hui-su, when it discharged her following her gender-reassignment surgery in 2019. The court ordered her reinstatement but the victory came seven months too late: Byun took her life in March. And on Friday, military prosecutors charged 15 people as part of a case involving the sexual abuse of a female noncommissioned officer, who was only identified by her last name of Lee. Authorities are also seeking a 15-year prison sentence for the Air Force master sergeant who committed the alleged incident. After Lee reported the alleged abuse, her superior officers tried to persuade her to drop the complaint, according to local news reports. Two months later, she was found dead. The deaths and the rise of the #MeToo movement have encouraged victims in the male-dominated, socially conservative nation to speak up, said Jang Hye-young, a lawmaker from the center-left Justice party, in an interview. Weve reached a point where we can talk about the harm weve endured, but the moments that follow afterward continue to remind us that were still in a living hell. Activists have lobbied heavily for a national anti-discrimination law protecting LGBTQ people and nearly a dozen such proposals have been put before the National Assembly since 2007. In South Korea, activists opposed to gay rights have deep links to religious, right-wing movements. Lawmakers with close ties to such conservative blocs have killed the proposed legislation, arguing that homosexuality and being transgender are signs of mental illness and that anti-discrimination laws only serve to encourage LGBTQ people. Such is the resistance that even lawmakers who support gay rights are reluctant to publicly commit to anti-discrimination bills for fear of invoking the wrath of the countrys politically influential and socially conservative Protestant community, which makes up about 20 percent of the population. The failure to pass an anti-discrimination act leaves LGBTQ people vulnerable to being fired, evicted, or mistreated because of their sexual orientation or gender identity, said Human Rights Watch in a recent report. [Byuns] case illustrates why South Korea needs to urgently address discriminatory laws and practices not only to send a badly needed message that prejudice is harmful, but to protect those whose livelihoods are being destroyed by discrimination, HRW researcher Ryan Thoreson said. South Korean minorities have found some protection in the judiciary. The court that ruled in favor of Byun, the late transgender soldier, said that the reasoning that led to the military expelling her was undoubtedly illegal. In deciding whether Byun Hui-sus case could be interpreted as a physical and mental disability . . . its obvious that the decision should have been based on the premise that [Byun] was a woman following gender reassignment, the court said in a statement after its ruling. The South Korean Army said it respected the courts decision but had not decided on whether to appeal. Many activists say that they are not surprised the military has been at the forefront of the battle around LGBTQ and womens rights. The vast majority of South Korean men are required to spend 18 months in military service. Korea is still such a male-centered society, and the culture fostered in the Army trickles down to all other parts of society, said Jeram Yunghun Kang, a visual artist and queer activist in Jeju, an island south of the Korean Peninsula. In a June speech, South Korean President Moon Jae-in apologized for the unjust death of Lee, the female Air Force soldier, acknowledging the harm fostered in military culture. His Air Force chief of staff also resigned to take responsibility. But just a month after Moons display of regret, an Army general was arrested for sexually harassing a female subordinate. After Kang disclosed his sexuality to a superior while serving in the military in 2008, he said he spent 116 days in a mental hospital to avoid being bullied by his fellow soldiers. I was treated like a problem they had to throw away, he said. Mark Gooch, 22, awaits opening statements in his trial at the Coconino County Superior Court in Flagstaff, Ariz., on Friday, Sept. 24, 2021. Gooch is charged with first-degree murder in the death of Sasha Krause, 27, in early 2020. (Jake Bacon, The Arizona Daily Sun/AP) FLAGSTAFF, Ariz. (Tribune News Service) Closing statements concluded Friday and jury deliberations are underway in the case against an U.S. Air Force airman who is accused of killing a Mennonite woman. Mark Gooch, 22, faces up to life in prison if convicted of first-degree murder and other charges in the kidnaping and death of Sasha Krause, 27. Krause was an occasional Sunday school teacher where she lived in Farmington, N.M., and worked in the publishing ministry in her community. She disappeared on the night of Jan. 18, 2020, while gathering supplies for Sunday services the next day. Gooch grew up in Wisconsin, where he was raised in the faith but never formally joined the church, his family says. His father testified during the trial that Gooch stopped participating in the Mennonite church in 2017 before enlisting in the armed services. To the best of my knowledge, he wasnt of a converted heart, Jim Gooch said. Prosecutor Ammon Barker argued in his closing statements that Gooch held a contempt for Mennonites and relished in the suffering of churchgoers like Krause. Defense attorney Bruce Griffen, meanwhile, countered that Gooch was a peaceful, nonviolent person. There is no indication that Krause and Gooch knew each other prior to the disappearance, as Griffen pointed out to the jury when suggesting lack of motive. But Barker says it only made the killing even more terrifying. (c)2021 The Arizona Daily Sun (Flagstaff, Ariz.) Visit The Arizona Daily Sun at www.azdailysun.com Former Facebook data scientist Frances Haugen, center, departs after a hearing of the Senate Commerce, Science, and Transportation Subcommittee on Consumer Protection, Product Safety, and Data Security, on Capitol Hill, Tuesday, Oct. 5, 2021, in Washington. (Alex Brandon/AP) Facebook has recently taken a harsher tone toward whistleblower Frances Haugen, suggesting that the social network could be considering legal retaliation after Haugen went public with internal research that she copied before leaving her job earlier this year. U.S. law protects whistleblowers who disclose information about potential misconduct to the government. But that protection doesn't necessarily cover taking corporate secrets to the media. Facebook still has to walk a fine line. The company has to weigh whether suing Haugen, which could dissuade other employees who might otherwise speak out, is worth casting itself as a legal Godzilla willing to stomp on a woman who says she's just doing the right thing. Haugen may face other consequences. Whistleblowers often put themselves at risk of professional damage other firms may be reluctant to hire them in the future and personal attacks from being in the public eye. Facebook did not respond to emailed questions. WHAT DID HAUGEN DO? Haugen secretly copied a trove of internal Facebook documents before leaving the company and subsequently had her lawyers file complaints with the Securities and Exchange Commission alleging that Facebook hides what it knows about the negative effects of its platform. John Tye, her lawyer, said the team gave redacted documents to Congress, where Haugen testified on Tuesday, and also informed officials in California. Haugen also shared documents with the Wall Street Journal, which she started talking to in December, leading to a series of explosive stories that began in mid-September. WHAT WAS FACEBOOK'S RESPONSE? The company says it has been mischaracterized. "I think most of us just don't recognize the false picture of the company that is being painted," CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote to employees on Tuesday. Some company officials have also begun using harsher language to describe Haugen's actions that could be interpreted as threatening. In an Associated Press interview Thursday, Facebook executive Monika Bickert repeatedly referred to the documents Haugen copied as "stolen," a word she has also used in other media interviews. David Colapinto, a lawyer for Kohn, Kohn and Colapinto who specializes in whistleblower cases, said that language was threatening. In the same interview, asked if Facebook would sue or retaliate against the whistleblower, Bickert said only, "I can't answer that." A week earlier, Antigone Davis, Facebook's head of global safety, testified in the Senate that Facebook "would never retaliate against someone for speaking to Congress," which left open the possibility that the company might go after her for giving documents to the Journal. IS HAUGEN PROTECTED? Various laws offer whistleblower protection at both the state and federal levels. The federal laws applicable to Haugen are the Dodd-Frank Act, a 2010 Wall Street reform law, and the Sarbanes Oxley Act, a 2002 law that followed the collapse of Enron and other accounting scandals. Dodd-Frank expanded protections for whistleblowers and empowered the SEC to take action against a company that threatens a whistleblower. Protections exist for both employees and former employees, experts say. Asked about her risk because she went to the media, Haugen's lawyer, Tye, maintains that because Haugen went to the SEC, Congress and state authorities, she's entitled to whistleblower protections. He said any suit from Facebook would be "frivolous" and that Facebook has not been in touch. WHAT ABOUT HER LEAKS TO THE MEDIA? Courts haven't tested whether leaking to the media is protected under Dodd-Frank, but Colapinto said the U.S. Secretary of Labor determined decades ago that environmental and nuclear-safety whistleblowers' communications with the media were protected. He argues that the language of Sarbanes-Oxley is modeled on those earlier statutes, and Haugen should have the same protections for any of her communications with reporters. Facebook could allege that Haugen broke her nondisclosure agreement by sharing company documents with the press, leaking trade secrets or just by making comments Facebook considers defamatory, said Lisa Banks of Katz, Marshall and Banks, who has worked on whistleblower cases for decades. "Like many whistleblowers, she's extraordinarily brave and puts herself at personal and professional risk in shining a light on these practices," she said. Haugen effectively used leaks to the media to turn up the pressure on Congress and government regulators. Colapinto said her disclosures had a public-interest purpose that could complicate enforcing the NDA if Facebook chose to do so. COULD FACEBOOK FACE BLOWBACK? Facebook probably wants its veiled threats to unnerve other employees or former employees who might be tempted to speak out. "If they go after her, it won't be because they necessarily think they have a strong case legally, but sending a message to other would-be whistleblowers that they intend to play hardball," Banks said. But she said it would be a "disaster" for Facebook to go after Haugen. Regardless of potential legal vulnerabilities, Facebook might look like a bully if it pursued a legal case against her. "The last thing Facebook needs is to rouse the ire of governmental authorities and the public at large by playing the role of the big bad giant company against the courageous individual whistleblower," said Neil Getnick, whose firm, Getnick and Getnick, represents whistleblowers. Buy Photo Afghan evacuees gather to talk Sept. 24, 2021, as the sun sets over Fort McCoy, Wis., where they are waiting to be resettled. (Zubair Babakarkhail/Stars and Stripes) (Tribune News Service) Early on the morning of Sept. 18, U.S. Army combat veteran Ilene Henderson packed her pickup truck full of clothes, shoes, strollers, lawn chairs, wagons, toys and baby formula. After driving three hours through the dark from her home in central Illinois to Crown Point, Indiana, she picked up more items from another veteran, then turned around and drove 5 hours to Fort McCoy military base in western Wisconsin. There, shed meet an Afghan friend, Waheed, who worked as a U.S. Army interpreter alongside Henderson in Afghanistan from 2002 to 2005. Henderson gave her truckload full of supplies to Waheed, his wife and their five children, along with seven other families who are friends of the family. She also gave some items to the medical center on the base and to some other Afghan interpreters who could help get the clothing and supplies to some of the roughly 13,000 Afghan refugees at the base most in need. We owe it to these people to get them the things that they need, Henderson said. They have fought alongside us. They have put their lives on the line. But a new policy bars Henderson or any other individual from bringing any further donations onto the base to help families. The order, which went into effect Sept. 24, prohibits people from entering Fort McCoy and handing out clothing, supplies and other items of value to Afghan evacuees in person. Instead, such donations must now go through official channels. But some say that process still isnt working fast enough, leaving the Afghans with limited access to basic necessities. Under the new policy, only those on official business can enter the Afghan neighborhoods at the base. Those who violate the rule could face criminal charges or be banned from Fort McCoy. So I can go up, and I can visit with them, Henderson said. (But) if I were to give them any clothing or any money or any food ... I could be arrested and barred from post. Military personnel can get an exception to the order, but it has to get approved by officials. Henderson said her request for an exception is in progress. Its one more person thats properly clothed and taken care of, Henderson said of her effort to provide direct relief for Waheeds family. So whats the problem? How is that a bad thing? Rationale offered The goal of the order, officials say, is to cut down on backdoor donations, which can cause problems. The policy was established to protect both the Afghans and the soldiers who are supporting Operation Allies Welcome, a spokesperson who insisted on anonymity said in an email. This policy mitigates entry of contraband, such as drugs and weapons from entering the base. ... Another reason is to prevent perceptions of inequities among the Afghan population and could breed resentment. The spokesperson said soldiers are put in an awkward position when asked to purchase food, clothing or other items for Afghans, and its unfair for some to have access to extra supplies while others dont. Anyone wishing to donate items must go through the charitable organizations that are collecting donations, sorting them and bringing them to the distribution center on base. As of Wednesday, every Afghan evacuee at Fort McCoy had gotten at least one chance to go through the distribution center to pick out clothes, Fort McCoy public affairs specialist Zach Mott said. Friends can still send items to specific Afghan individuals, but they need to be mailed. That allows personnel to have security protocols in place and avoid the perception of favoritism in the community, the Operation Allies Welcome spokesperson said. Desire to help Henderson said mailing supplies wouldnt work for some of the bigger items shes brought in, such as the wagons and plastic bins full of clothing. She also said the process for distributing clothes is already unfair because the 12,600 Afghans cant all get clothes at once. For instance, on Sept. 30, the nonprofit organization Team Rubicon said, roughly 4,500 winter coats had been distributed, leaving the other 8,100 Afghans to wait until they get a chance to get into the distribution center. Theyre creating favoritism, Henderson said. Why cant I pick up their slack? Henderson said the clothes she has brought for Waheed, his family and their friends have resulted in 40 fewer people having to wait to get clothes from the distribution center. Waheed, who asked to be identified by only his first name to protect family members still in Afghanistan, said he most recently worked within the Afghanistan government, making him a target. Waheed said if the Taliban had found him, they would have killed him because of his role helping the U.S. Waheed is an amazing person, Henderson said. I am alive today because of him. Delays persist Although all Afghans on base have now gotten a chance to go through the distribution center, it took more than a month to accomplish that. Just last week, more than 1,200 evacuees still had not received a new set of clothes from the center. And not everyone who goes through the clothing distribution center can find what theyre looking for because of limited sizes, a somewhat unorganized setup and time constraints, Henderson said. The center has dozens of large cardboard boxes filled with clothes of many sizes. On Sept. 30, women and children dug through the boxes, holding up various clothing items to gauge whether they would fit. Shelves with around 100 shoes lined a corner of the warehouse. Lt. Col. Robert McTighe said each evacuee gets about 30 minutes to choose 10 to 15 items for themselves, but Waheed said for him it was more like 10 minutes. Waheed said he couldnt find clothes or shoes in his size, and then his time was up. A 27-year-old Afghan woman, who plans to go to college in the U.S. and asked to remain anonymous because her family is still in Afghanistan, said she got 15 to 20 minutes in the center and didnt have time to find clothes. Most of my time, I just spent on selecting the shoes, the woman said. I couldnt take much from there. ... The time was short. McTighe said last week that most people have been able to find the sizes they need, give or take a size, but acknowledged that some of the donated clothes have been too big. Fort McCoy is currently seeking donations of new toddler clothing, the Operation Allies Welcome spokesperson said. People can purchase items on Amazon and ship them to Fort McCoy, or drop them off at any of four Salvation Army locations in Madison, Milwaukee, La Crosse and Wausau that are collecting donations for the Afghans. Bypassing process Both Waheed and the 27-year-old woman say they have been able to receive fresh clothes in their correct sizes only because of friends on the outside. Henderson is not alone in bringing donations directly into the hands of Afghan families to sidestep Fort McCoys weeks-long distribution process. One volunteer, who asked not to be identified because officials have discouraged volunteers from speaking to the press, said she brought several phone chargers for the evacuees in early September. She said others who brought toys in person were surrounded by a crowd of people. Henderson said she also brought 69 cans of baby formula when that was in short supply. A friend of the 27-year-old woman said she arranged for clothes to be dropped off for a group of young women who came to the U.S. to continue their education. The friend also spoke on the condition of anonymity because she doesnt want to potentially reveal the identities of the Afghan women she is helping. Fort McCoy spokesperson Cheryl Phillips said on Sept. 30 that some of the Afghans have money theyve used to buy things from the retail store on base. Fort McCoy is not providing Afghans with cash, so its possible some are getting money from friends or brought money with them from Afghanistan. Very happy Waheed said he had a house in Kabul and thousands in savings, but hes lost it all. The Taliban has frozen his bank account, he said, and hes lost about $10,000 in cash in the chaos at the Kabul airport. I dont have one dollar in my pocket to get my sons to the PX and purchase for their necessities, Waheed said. But Waheeds not angry about the conditions at Fort McCoy. He said he would like warm clothes for his family and the opportunity to have his children go to school if they end up staying at Fort McCoy for a long time. But he said the most important thing is his familys safety, and he appreciates the help hes gotten from Americans in ensuring their survival. If they give us nothing, we are very happy because right now we are feeling very safe with my family, Waheed said. The wagon that Miss Ilene gave to us, I put my son in it and walked for about 50 meters, down the street and walked, breathing fresh air and feeling very safe. I hope one day I will be useful once again for (the) U.S. government. How to help New or gently used, freshly laundered clothing donations for Afghan evacuees at Fort McCoy can be dropped off at four Salvation Army locations in Wisconsin: 3030 Darbo Drive, Madison 8853 S. Howell Ave., Oak Creek 223 N. Eighth St., La Crosse 202 Callon St., Wausau Donors can also buy items from a Fort McCoy Amazon wish list for refugees, updated daily, at go.madison.com/afghan-aid . Fort McCoy said its currently in need of new toddler clothing. Monetary donations, which are preferable because they allow officials to adapt to changing needs, can be made online or through the mail: Online: bit.ly/Evacuee By text: Text EVACUEE to 24365p By mail: Mail a check to the Salvation Army of Wisconsin and Upper Michigan Divisional Headquarters, 11315 W. Watertown Plank Road, Wauwatosa, WI 53226. Write Afghan refugees on the memo line. To donate to the group sorting and organizing the clothing donations, go to: go.madison.com/team-rubicon For updates on Team Rubicons work to distribute items visit: teamrubiconusa.org/resettlement Corporations interested in donating or offering services, such as housing or legal assistance, can fill out this form: go.madison.com/corporate . (c)2021 The Wisconsin State Journal (Madison, Wis.) Visit The Wisconsin State Journal at www.wisconsinstatejournal.com Recovery 1, an oil spill response vessel from the Marine Spill Response Corp., sails along the Orange County coast on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (Irfan Khan, Los Angeles Times/TNS) LOS ANGELES (Tribune News Service) When workers for the company operating the Elly drilling rig saw oil in the water miles from the California shoreline, they didnt immediately call authorities. Instead, they dialed the companys risk management firm. At 8:55 a.m. Saturday, an emergency response employee at the crisis company Witt OBriens informed federal authorities that a leaking pipeline had sent crude oil pouring into the water off Orange County, turbocharging the U.S. Coast Guards investigation of a substantial spill that residents miles inland said they could smell. That was 15 hours after the first reports of oil in the water, at 6 p.m. Friday, began trickling in. This gap between Friday evening and Saturday morning remains one of the least understood and potentially vital parts of the oil spill, filled with unanswered questions and contradictions. Why was the rigs first call not to federal regulators? Did a pipeline alarm go off in the early hours of Saturday morning? And when exactly did the oil company, a subsidiary of Amplify Energy Corp., stop pumping crude oil? Figuring out what happened during that 15-hour period could help determine whether more could have been done to limit the scope of the spill and damages it caused. Amplify Energy Chief Executive Martyn Willsher has been evasive about those crucial hours, offering information that conflicts with state and federal records and providing vague responses to questions at news conferences before bowing out of a media appearance Thursday. He was adamant, however, that his employees had not seen oil on the water until 8:09 a.m. Saturday, shortly before the call to the crisis firm. If we were aware of something on Friday night, I promise you we would have immediately stopped all operations, Willsher said. Any delay in notifying authorities could violate federal law, which requires anyone in charge of an offshore facility to notify the National Response Center as soon as he or she has knowledge of any discharge of oil. Amplify officials did not return requests for comment. The Coast Guard said Friday that the anchor strike that cracked open the pipelines concrete casing and dragged it across the ocean floor happened at least several months ago, and possibly as long ago as a year. Capt. Jason Neubauer said underwater images of the ruptured pipeline showed that marine life had grown on the pipe, which could not have happened if the metal had only been exposed to the water last week. The pipe may have taken on a slight crack that grew worse over time, or may have survived the first strike intact but suffered damage in another incident, Neubauer said. That raises further questions for Amplify on what, if any, indicators the firm may have had of problems along the line in recent months and how workers failed to notice that 4,000 feet of pipe about three-quarters of a mile had been displaced. A ship passing along the coast was the first to report a sheen of oil to the NRC at 6:13 p.m. Friday, according to a state Office of Emergency Services report. Shortly after that, the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration spotted a black blob on its satellite imagery, calling it in to regulators with high confidence it was oil. But for Amplify, the first sign of trouble seems to have occurred at 2:30 a.m. Saturday when control-room employees received a low-pressure alarm on the 15-mile run that funnels crude oil to land, according to a letter from the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration, which oversees oil pipelines. The pipeline was operating at about 30% of its maximum pressure, the agency said. That Oct. 4 letter, which instructed Amplify not to restart the San Pedro Bay Pipeline until it had proved safe, says the alarm indicated a possible failure and that the operating company shut down the pipeline more than three hours later, at 6:01 a.m. The 2:30 a.m. alert also appears as an incident time on both federal and state reports from the Witt OBriens call. Pipeline expert Richard Kuprewicz said pressure alarms frequently go off in such lines and that an alert would not necessarily suggest a leak. Most are not indicative of an oil release, he said. There are hundreds if not thousands of tons of hydrocarbons in a pipe, and that creates a lot of noise in the system. Willsher has repeatedly said his company will be fully transparent with the investigative authorities but has been less forthcoming with the public. When asked at a news conference this week why the Coast Guard had reported the incidents discovery time as 2:30 a.m., Willsher said there was no 2:30 time. He later described PHMSAs report of the 2:30 a.m. alarm as initial and said that the company was not aware of any oil in water at 2:30 a.m. He did not elaborate. On Wednesday, Willsher said workers turned the pump for the pipeline on from 6 a.m. to 6:05 a.m. Saturday to perform a meter reading and that no oil was pumped after that. He has not said for what period the pipeline was shut down before the meter reading and why it hadnt been running, though he said that oil pipeline operations are not consistently running 24 hours a day, so sometimes you run it at different times based on the electricity needs and things like that. When pressed on the point, his answers provided little clarity. When you shut it off, what was the reason you shut it off, at 6:05 a.m.? a reporter asked. We turned it on to do a meter run to calculate volumes of oil, Willsher said. Why did you turn it off? was the follow. Because it was turned on to do the meter run, Willsher said. The Oct. 4 letter from federal investigators did not mention the pipeline being turned on shortly before it was turned off. Willsher has not said what happened on the platform between the pipeline shutoff and the workers seeing oil in the water at 8:09 a.m. Once they saw the oily sheen, he said, employees instantly radioed back to the offshore platforms, where workers launched their incident response plan. The pump was not operating at 8:09 a.m., Willsher said, but the platforms and everything else were shut down immediately thereafter. He said the shutoff was done manually. The call to Witt OBriens was made at about 8:30 a.m., he said. Rebecca Craven, program director of Pipeline Safety Trust, said Amplify has failed to publicly explain how it responded to signs of a possible failure in the pipeline. An operator would undoubtedly make an argument that they needed to confirm the discharge before being obligated to report, but that would not account for the time between shutdown and reporting, and wouldnt even account for much of the time between the pressure alarm and the shutdown, she said. John Pardue, an engineering professor at Louisiana State University with expertise in oil spills, said it is not uncommon for companies to rely on hired crisis management firms to act as first responders to spills. Having such a firm on call is often a regulatory requirement, and the firms can play a crucial role in mobilizing the specialized equipment needed for containment and cleanup. They are going to have their own contractors and their own people who are responsible for executing their own spill plan, Pardue said. Still, the expectation is that authorities will be notified simultaneously, he added. But, he said, that rarely happens. Los Angeles Times staff writers Thomas Curwen and Richard Winton contributed to this report. 2021 Los Angeles Times. Visit at latimes.com . Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Larry Ray Bon, 62, was arrested on Wednesday, Feb. 27, 2019, after allegedly firing a gun in the emergency room at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center in Riviera Beach, Fla. (Facebook) WEST PALM BEACH, Fla. (Tribune News Service) An Army veteran and double amputee who opened fire at the West Palm Beach VA Medical Center in Riviera Beach nearly three years ago, injuring two people, will likely die in prison, a federal judge said Friday as he handed 62-year-old Larry Ray Bon a 16-year sentence. U.S. District Judge Kenneth Marra said he took no pleasure in all but assuring that Bon will never again live outside prison walls. But the individuals who were trying to assist Mr. Bon were hurt physically, mentally and emotionally and will be scarred for the rest of their lives, he said. The events were horrific. While he rejected a federal prosecutors request for a 25-year sentence, Marra also said the 12-year term sought by his defense attorney was too lenient. I dont think theres any question (a higher sentence) is warranted under the facts of this case, he said during the hearing that was held on Zoom. Those present at February 2019 shooting speak of stress, health problems An emergency-room nurse told Marra that his existing health problems got worse after he went to help Bon on Feb. 27, 2019, and instead found himself staring down the barrel of a gun. I yelled, Hes got a gun. Hes got a gun, Christian Drew said, describing how he tried to warn others as he ran down the hospital corridor. Hes still firing at me. He fired eight to nine times. I counted. Since that day, Drew said he has trouble eating and sleeping. He has lost more than 60 pounds and is on kidney dialysis. His existing kidney problems were exacerbated by the trauma, he said. I believe he was trying to kill me and other staff members there, Drew said. I dont want him to be able to do this to anyone else. Others who were caught in the crossfire, including hospital worker Alfred Gaines, said they, too, suffer ongoing effects. You have taken so much away from me both physically and mentally, Gaines, who was shot in the buttocks, said in a letter that was read to Marra. Dr. Bruce Goldfeder, who wrestled the gun away from Bon and was shot in the neck, previously told Marra about the anguish he experienced. On Friday, however, he said he forgave Bon. I only want whats best for him and his life, meaning that he gets the best mental health care possible, Goldfeder said. I dont wish him any harm. I just want him to get the care he needs. Attorney says prison hospital stay got gunman mental-health care he needs Assistant Public Defender Kristy Militello, who represented Bon, said in the last year Bon has finally gotten the treatment he needed to deal with mental illness that has plagued him for most of his life. The treatment came after he pleaded guilty in July 2020 to three counts of assaulting a federal employee and one count of possession of a firearm in a federal facility with intent to commit a crime. He received a provisional 25-year sentence and was sent to a medical center at a federal prison in North Florida to receive mental health treatment. According to the agreement hashed out between Militello and Assistant U.S. Attorney Susan Osborne, Bon would be formally sentenced once his mental health had been restored. In July, prison officials said Bon no longer needed inpatient psychiatric treatment, paving the way for Fridays hearing. While Bon had been involuntarily committed for mental health treatment on numerous occasions, his stay at the federal prison marked the first time he received extensive and long-lasting treatment, Militello said. Both his mental illness and his physical problems, including heart ailments, were addressed. He lost one leg in a motorcycle accident and the other one to an infection, his family previously told The Palm Beach Post. He left the military during basic training. During his stay at the federal prison hospital, Bon reconnected with his estranged family in Michigan, who agreed they would support him after his release, Militello told Marra. His sister logged in for the Zoom hearing. Having been restored to health, there was every reason to believe Bon would continue to take his medication after his release, Militello said. Gunman expresses remorse as prosecutor fears old patterns will re-emerge Osborne countered that Bon had a history of escalating violence. Before he opened fire, he called in a bomb threat to the Riviera Beach hospital because he wasnt satisfied with the care, she said. Once he gets out of an institution, hes going to be back to the same pattern, she said. He wont take his medication and will react with anger and loss of control. He tried to kill people who were trying to help him, she said. It was a miracle Goldfeder survived and that others werent seriously hurt, she said. Mitello insisted Bon wasnt trying to kill staff at the VA. Instead, she said, Bon told multiple people that he wanted to die and hoped his actions would prompt officials to call police, who would fatally shoot him. Due to the severity of his health problems and the known ill effects of prison life, she said it was unlikely Bon would reach 75.5 years, the average life expectancy of white men in the United States. Under the sentence, Marra imposed, Bon would be released when hes about 78 years old. For his part, Bon, who has gained weight and looked far more alert than he did at previous hearings, voiced remorse for his actions. I apologize to the doctor and the VA staff for my actions, he said. I really am sorry. 2021 www.palmbeachpost.com Visit palmbeachpost.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. After the success of the Groundswell NZ ute tax protest in July, a second nationwide protest is set for November 21 this year. The format will remain the same for the second event labelled the mother of all protests, with supporters driving their utes, tractors, trucks, or cars to their nearest town centre. At 1.35pm a Groundswell Statement will be broadcast on Newstalk ZB and supporters are encouraged to turn up the volume, turn off their engines, and wind down their windows so all can hear. Morrinsville organiser Peter Buckley says plans are underway for the rural town to be involved for a second time. I dont know what the message on Newstalk ZB will be exactly, but overall, I know we all want to be a part of the decisions being made in our communities. There are concerns from tradies, farmers, truckies and whole communities over the speed of decision making and their outcomes. We want to be a part of the process going forward. Peter says the first protest, which had thousands of participants nationwide, had a huge impact on the whole of New Zealand. The turnout was great. It really brought the whole community together, it was like one big street party. It not only had an impact on rural communities but urban areas as well. It illustrated what the agricultural and rural sectors do for the country, and the resources that we need in order to keep doing what we do. The impact showed how important the sectors are to the rest of New Zealand. We want to see change as a matter thats fit for purpose. All of these rules and regulations are not actually fit for purpose. Sticking to the cause Signs illustrating beliefs unrelated to the protest were a cause for concern at the first Groundswell event. Anti Te Reo Maori signs and conspiracy claims were displayed, and made headlines, throughout the country. Peter says he doesnt want any signs during this upcoming protest personalising anybody. People can have their say but as soon as its personalised towards particular people or beliefs that are inappropriate that isnt okay. Were trying to take steps to make sure that doesnt happen this time around, says Peter. The Groundswell website has a list of approved slogans for attendees to copy, including no way CNA and get our property rights out of your sights. More plans to come Groundswell is also building momentum towards a Groundswell Gathering which will take place outside Parliament in February 2022. Peter says that although he has only heard rumours regarding this, he believes taking these issues onto Parliament grounds would be a very effective way of making voices heard, as it has worked with other causes in the past. For more information about the protest, visit www.groundswellnz.co.nz The National and ACT parties are calling for the Government to be upfront about the enforcement of Covid rules following the announcement on Friday that the latest positive case has prompted Northland to be put back into Alert Level 3 for four days. The search for a woman who travelled around Northland with another who later tested positive for Covid-19 continues as authorities fear she too may be infected. It is understood the women are sex workers with gang links and they stayed together at a hotel in Whangarei some time in the past week. The Government must give the public clear information about how a woman who travelled to Northland and subsequently tested positive for Covid was able to do so, and why it took so long to have her put into MIQ, says Nationals Police spokesperson Simeon Brown. New Zealanders are rightly concerned about how this individual managed to allegedly obtain a travel permit illegally and then, after testing positive for Covid, go into hiding for several days. ACT Leader David Seymour has also chimed in saying that when the Govermnent makes a major decision like shutting down an entire region it needs to provide the truth about it, otherwise the void will be filled with rumour and speculation. Like most New Zealanders, I have received emails and messages detailing whats alleged to have happened in Northland, says Seymour. On Newshub Nation this morning former parliamentarian Winston Peters outlined these allegations. Peters said that the case was travelling with a gang member. Chris Hipkins has said he didnt know if the person was gang affiliated. Both cant be true." The positive case, who gained entry to Northland using false documents, has since returned to Auckland where she has been uncooperative with health authorities and contact tracers who are trying to find out where she has been in a bid to alert contacts. The other woman remains at large, and it is understood authorities believe she is also likely to have the virus given the time the pair spent together. Nationals Police spokesperson Simeon Brown says there are several questions the Government must answer. Who was the woman travelling with? How did she obtain a travel permit? When did police know the permit was not lawful, and what action did they take to locate her at that point? Did police use information from the Gang Intelligence Centre to identify her? Are Police considering charging her for breaching any Covid orders? says Brown. While the vast majority of New Zealanders are doing the right thing, in recent weeks we have seen gangs continue to smuggle guns, drugs, people and even KFC across the Auckland boundary risking the spread of Covid throughout New Zealand." Uretiti Beach Campsite manager Adrien Chevrier told Stuff Northland DHB informed him on Friday that someone with Covid may have stayed at the campsite from October 5 to 6. The campsite has since locked down, with 30 to 40 campers asked to stay there until at least Tuesday, when restrictions could be lifted if there is no further spread in the region. "We have our own bubble now," he said. Chevrier said the DHB told him it was a "possibility" that those who visited the campsite with Covid may have been sex workers. The latest case prompted Northland to be put back into alert level 3 for four days from midnight Friday. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said the move was made out of an abundance of caution as the woman had moved extensively around Northland between October 2 and 6. She is believed to have travelled to Whangarei, Kamo, Paihia and Kawakawa, before returning to Auckland on October 6. Winston Peters has been shredding his own credibility for decades, but Hipkins is still a Minister of the Crown. Hipkins needs to confirm whether these were true if theyre not he could sue Peters for defaming him, says Seymour. Hipkins should front at 1pm and give us the truth. The problem with the Government not being open and transparent is it leaves a void and thats how misinformation spreads. Its time to treat New Zealanders like adults and give us the truth, says Seymour. An effective law and order response is needed to ensure incidents like these are brought to an end before it is too late, says Brown. Police want to do that job but the Government needs to be upfront about what support is being given to help them do it. Police declined to comment when asked about the search for the woman, other than to say they were assisting the Ministry of Health with contact tracing. The Ministry of Health says more information will be released in a statement expected at 1pm. Additional reporting from Stuff There are 34 new community cases of COVID-19 reported today of which 31 are in Auckland and three in Waikato. The Ministry of Health are also reporting that 31 cases identified since Friday have been infectious in the community. Saturday's update means the outbreak has grown to 1527 cases in total. Two new cases identified at the border are in managed isolation. More than 85,000 vaccines were administered on Friday. Of the 34 new community cases, only 23 have already been linked to the current outbreak, of which 11 are household contacts, and another 11 cases are still being investigated to determine how they are linked. All of the three new Waikato cases are linked to the initial Hamilton East case. There are 26 cases in hospital, with three in North Shore Hospital, 13 in Middlemore Hospital, eight in Auckland Hospital, one in Waikato Base Hospital and one in Palmerston North Hospital. Of these seven cases are in ICU or HDU. Positive wastewater results have been detected in Hamilton and Palmerston North on October 6 and 7. As of 10am on October, a total of 267 locations of interest have been reported. Three more Northland locations of interest linked to New Zealands Covid-19 Delta outbreak have been revealed, including a dairy, a hotel and a campsite. Pepes Dairy and Comfort Hotel Flames in Whangarei were visited by a person with Covid-19 on October 3 and October 2 between respectively. The Department of Conservations Uretiti Campsite in Waipu was also visited on October 3. It follows an announcement on Friday that Northland would go into Covid-19 alert level 3 at 11.59pm, after a woman who entered the area from Auckland tested positive for the virus. Anyone who was at the locations at the specified times has been advised to self-monitor for symptoms for 14 days. The search for a woman who travelled around Northland with another who later tested positive for Covid-19 continues as authorities fear she too may be infected. It is understood the women are sex workers with gang links and they stayed together at a hotel in Whangarei some time in the past week. Uretiti Beach Campsite manager Adrien Chevrier told Stuff Northland DHB informed him on Friday that someone with Covid may have stayed at the campsite from October 5 to 6. The campsite was put into lockdown, with 30 to 40 campers asked to stay there until at least Tuesday, when restrictions could be lifted if there is no further spread in the region. "We have our own bubble now," says Adrien. Chevrier said the DHB told him it was a "possibility" that those who visited the campsite with Covid may have been sex workers. The positive case, who gained entry to Northland using false documents, has since returned to Auckland where she has been uncooperative with health authorities and contact tracers who are trying to find out where she has been in a bid to alert contacts. The other woman remains at large, and it is understood authorities believe she is also likely to have the virus given the time the pair spent together. Whangarei resident Colin Thew, who arrived at the Uretiti Beach campsite in his camper van on Friday, said management had since told campers they were free to leave if they wished. Campers have also been told they may stay until Tuesday, as the Department of Conservation, which runs the camp site, was still deciding if it would close. Thew said he would stay until Tuesday, as his other plans were not possible now due to the region was in lockdown. Its a stunning spot to be stranded. But at the same token, Im very wild about what this person has done to Northland. Earlier, the Ministry of Health has asked that anyone who was at the Harbour View Hotel in Raglan at any time on October 2 and 3 to get tested and self-isolate immediately, after a person with Covid-19 visited. A person with Covid also visited Glendene Superette on October 3 and 5, and Snack Shop Superette and Manhattan Superette on October 3. Also added to the list on Saturday were Vege King Fairfield and the Frankton Red Cross Shop in Hamilton, Kingsford Home Bakery and More in Mangere East, Curry of India in Devonport, Challenge Massey, a Kiwibank ATM in Papatoetoe. Anyone who visited those locations has been asked to self-monitor for symptoms. The Ministry of Health has also asked anyone who was at Z Kensington between 3.45pm and 4.45pm on October 4 to stay home and get tested immediately. Anyone who was at BP Connect Wylies Woodhill between 11.20pm and 12.20am on October 2 is asked to self-monitor for symptoms. Covid-19 Response Minister Chris Hipkins said information provided by the police on Friday showed the case moved extensively around Northland. Cases Number of new community cases 34 Number of new cases identified at the border Two Location of new community cases Auckland (31) Waikato (3) Location of community cases (total) Auckland 1,482 (1,123 of whom have recovered); Waikato 28; Wellington 17 (all of whom have recovered) Number of community cases (total) 1,527 (in current community outbreak) Cases infectious in the community 31 of yesterdays cases have exposure events (74%) Cases in isolation throughout the period they were infectious 9 of yesterdays cases (21%) Cases epidemiologically linked 23 of todays 34 cases Cases to be epidemiologically linked 11 of todays 34 cases. Interviews are ongoing to determine how theyre linked Cases epidemiologically linked (total) 1,470 (in the current cluster) (30 unlinked from the past 14 days) Number of sub-clusters 16 epidemiologically linked subclusters. Of these, six are active, one is contained and nine are dormant. There are 14 epidemiologically unlinked subclusters. Of these, five are active, none are contained and nine are dormant. Cases in hospital 26 (total): North Shore (3); Middlemore (13); Auckland (8); Waikato Base Hospital (1); Palmerston North (1) Cases in ICU or HDU Seven Confirmed cases (total) 4205 since pandemic began Historical cases, since 1 Jan 2021 (total) 166 out of 2,389 since 1 Jan 2021 Contacts Number of active contacts being managed (total): 1,877 Percentage who have received an outbound call from contact tracers (to confirm testing and isolation requirements) 79% Percentage with at least one test result 71% Locations of interest Locations of interest (total) 267 (as at 10am 8 October) Tests Number of tests (total) 3,566,818 Number of tests total (last 24 hours) 23,735 Tests processed in Auckland (last 24 hours) 10,568 Tests rolling average (last 7 days) 21,039 Testing centres in Auckland 20 Wastewater Wastewater detections No unexpected detections in the last 24 hours, new detections in Hamilton and Palmerston North both on 6+7 October COVID-19 vaccine update Vaccines administered to date (total) 5,707,661; 1st doses: 3,419,807; 2nd doses: 2,287,854 Vaccines administered yesterday (total) 85,757; 1st doses: 18,568; 2nd doses: 67,189. This is the highest number of second doses to date Maori 1st doses: 340,851; 2nd doses: 204,626. Todays 10,283 doses for Maori is the highest to date Pacific Peoples 1st doses: 216,351; 2nd doses: 139,691 Vaccines administered to Auckland residents to date (total) 2,076,286: 1st doses: 1,232,233 (86%); 2nd doses: 844,053 (59%) Vaccines administered to Auckland residents yesterday (total) 32,051: 1st doses: 5,217; 2nd doses: 26,834 NZ COVID-19 tracer Registered users (total) 3,284,505 Poster scans (total) 417,259,274 Manual diary entries (total) 17,870,817 Poster scans in 24 hours to midday yesterday 2,593,918 New cases identified at the border Arrival date From Via Positive test day/reason Managed isolation/quarantine location 6 October India Serbia, UAE, Malaysia Day 14 / contact of a case Auckland The second case at the border was already reported on September 16. The case was then reclassified as under investigation and was today confirmed as a case. White Sunday The Ministry of Health is asking that the Tuvalu, Samoa and Tokelau communities, particularly in Auckland, please use online virtual services or to keep their services within approved bubble sizes when celebrating White Sunday or Lotu Tamaiti tomorrow. Waikato update The new cases in Waikato are linked and is a contact of an existing case. Interviews are continuing to determine any further contacts or locations of interest. There continues to be a strong response to calls for testing in Waikato with 5000 swabs taken yesterday. There are pop up testing sites operating today at Claudelands, Te Rapa, Karapiro, Raglan and Kawhia. The existing testing centre at Founders Theatre is also open. Further details on exact locations and hours of testing sites are available on the Healthpoint and Waikato DHB sites. The Ministry of Health urges anyone in the Waikato with any symptoms that could be COVID-19 to get a test. Waikato turned out in record numbers yesterday to get vaccinated with 9,946 doses given, with large increases seen in rural areas. 78.2 per cent of people in the Waikato have now received their first dose and 52.6 per cent are fully vaccinated. A big thank you to everyone who came forward. Alert levels for the whole of the Waikato will be reviewed again on Monday. Update on Auckland case who travelled to Northland The case reported October 7, who recently travelled to Northland, remains in an Auckland quarantine facility. A second person, who is thought to have travelled with this case, has not yet been able to be contacted. The case was under investigation after returning a weak positive result from a test in Whangarei earlier this week and Friday returned a positive test result in Auckland. Public health staff continue to work closely with the case to determine any locations of interest or exposure events associated with the case. Public Health staff are also working closely with Police to identify possible locations or areas of interest. As these become available they will be added to the Ministrys website as quickly as possible. We ask people to check these regularly, especially if you have visited, or live in Auckland, Waikato or Northland. Anyone in Northland who is symptomatic or has visited a location of interest or been in an area of interest at the times specified should get tested and isolate until they receive the result. Northland testing centres Testing stations are open at six locations across the region. These are: Whangarei Rock and Roll car park, Pohe Island (9am 4.30pm), Kamo, 20 Winger Crescent (9am 4.30pm). Moerewa Simpson Park (9am - 1pm). Kaikohe - Lindvart Park Pavillion, Penne Crescent (10am 2pm). Kerikeri 1 Sammaree Place (9am-4.30pm) Kaitaia Kaitaia Hospital, 29 Redan Road (9am-4pm) Bookings are not required for any of the sites. Over the last 24 hours to 8am, 672 tests were taken across Northland. Northland vaccination Northland DHB, local iwi and providers are are working hard to ensure as many Northlanders are vaccinated as possible. Seven clinics are open for vaccinations today, at Kaitaia, Whangarei, Dargaville, Kerekere, Kaikohe, and Moerewa. As at 6am this morning, 184,201 doses administered across Northland, comprising 108,885 first doses and 75,316 second doses. Yesterday, 834 first doses and 1,529 second doses were administered, totalling 2,363 doses across Northland. Theres also a drive-thru site operating in Whanagrei today, which vaccinated 120 people in the first hour. MidCentral testing and vaccination centres MidCentral DHB has conducted moreThe DHBs busiest days were Sunday 3 Oct and Monday 4 Oct. Vaccination numbers have doubled with more than 10,000 so far this week and the team on track to deliver more than 12,000 by the end of the week. Vaccination and testing centres available in the MidCentral rohe for the weekend are: Saturday October 9 The Plaza pop-up clinic, Palmerston North Manfeild drive-through clinic, Feilding Donnelly Park drive-through clinic, Levin Ngati Kahungunu ki Tamiki nui a Rua drive-through clinic Dannevirke Showgrounds Sunday October 10 Manfeild drive-through clinic, Feilding Central Energy Trust Arena, Palmerston North Testing centre 575 Main St Palmerston North drive through. Testing and vaccinations The two best tools we have in the continued fight against COVID-19 are testing and vaccinations the numbers for both continue to be high. The Ministry of Health urges anyone who has symptoms, no matter how mild, to please get tested. Next update The Ministrys updates over the weekend will be via media releases unless there are any significant developments. If you were at a location of interest at one of the specified times, you will likely need to self-isolate and be tested. Follow the instructions for that location on the Ministry of Health website and call Healthline on 0800 358 5453 for advice on testing. This list is automatically updated as soon as locations of interest appear on the Ministry of Health website. Council defends closing lanes to traffic on the coastal main road in Benalmadena Costa The avenue will still have four traffic lanes, but one of them will be for buses and another for non-polluting forms of transport Changes to traffic in Avenida Antonio Machado in Benalmadena have been the subject of debate among residents for several months now. The closure of two lanes of this main coast road in the summer, which is the busiest time for traffic, displeased a lot of locals and a few weeks ago they organised a protest to demand that things be returned to how they were. The council, however, argues that this is a project which they have been working on since 2014 and is one of a series of measures to make Benalmadena Costa more attractive for tourism and shopping. "These are initiatives for sustainable development with new green zones and leisure facilities, wider pavements for pedestrians, the use of new technologies to assist residents and tourists and the restoration of archaeological sites," they say, and they have considered successful models such as those in Malaga, Madrid and Barcelona. And, why now? "There is more private investment in the municipality now and several hotels have been or are being refurbished. We believe this is the opportune moment to renovate the main avenue along the coast and interest has already been shown by major stores and franchises," say council sources. Despite the complaints and protests, they insist that this is a case of "reorganising" traffic, not reducing the lanes. In fact, the project keeps the four lanes which exist at present, but with a few changes: in the Fuengirola direction one lane will be for normal traffic and the other for buses and taxis, while in the Torremolinos direction one lane will be for normal traffic and the other for new mobility: bicycles and non-polluting vehicles. With regard to the new parking spaces, most are temporary. Part of the space they occupy will be used to widen the lane towards Torremolinos, and the rest to extend the pavement. "Facilitating space for pedestrians and alternative types of transport is one of the main objectives set by the EU when allocating funding," says the council. They also insist that the obvious traffic jams and bottlenecks have only been at peak times and traffic flow has actually been much better. It appears that local opposition to the plans will make no difference. In fact, a few days ago one of the corrective measures was put into effect: a new roundabout at the junction with the Carril del Siroco, which the council believes will reduce journey times by allowing earlier changes of direction between the Los Molinillos and Solymar roundabouts. Current Print Subscribers will be prompted to either login to their current site user account or to create a new one. A confirmation email will be sent when a new user account is created, which must be confirmed within three days in order to provide uninterrupted online access through your Print Subscription. Once the email address is confirmed please provide your Account Number to activate your Print Subscription Service. The Taos News delivered to your Taos County address every week for a full year! We offer our lowest mail rates to zip codes in the county. Click Here to See if you Qualify. Plan includes unlimited website access and e-edition print replica online. Your auto pay plan will be conveniently renewed at the end of the subscription period. You may cancel at anytime. Our Most Popular Magazines + Digital We get it. You live by the Ski Valleys snow report even when youre hours away. You follow every Taos post on Instagram. Our small town occupies a BIG part of your heart. Keep in touch with all things Taos when you subscribe to FIVE of our national award-winning magazines, plus access to the website and e-edition for a full year at the special low rate of just $55. dh.harshal BHPian Join Date: Jun 2021 Location: Mumbai Posts: 77 Thanked: 636 Times Re: Which Crossover / SUV in the 20-30 lakh price bracket? Quote: abhishek46 Originally Posted by Buying a car with an excel sheet comparison is a really tough ask. Drive all these options again and again, if possible under same driving route, and decide. It's also better, if you wait it out for a few months. By the time, Kushaq/Taigun's teething issues would have been resolved. The XUV700 would have settled & any potential teething issues would have been taken care. Kushaq/Taigun was going to be my 1st choice (being Vento owner & dan of TSI DSG), but they lack space for 2 adults and one baby seat in rear. Quote: anb Originally Posted by T-ROC makes sense as a compact SUV in the 20-30L category. The CBU definitely worth 4-5 lakhs over Kushaq/Taigun for the quality and drive it offers. I dont consider XUV7OO, Harrier and Hector as compact SUVs. Jeep Compass is definitely a good option but the diesel AT crosses 30 lakhs budget. Quote: JohaanTJ Originally Posted by The rear seat acceptability criteria narrows down the list to Xuv7oo, Hector and the Tata duo. I think you should wait for a few months so that the niggles associated with the initial Xuv7oo batches will get resolved. You could also add the Tuscon to the list as it is also hovering around the Jeep diesel auto's price bracket. Except for the dated interior, it is still a competent car. The car is needed from Feb/March without a miss having sold my primary drive already. Quote: mpod11 Originally Posted by Go for the hector CVT and enjoy your longer road trips too comfortably with your family! CVT is no means slow, but having used to DSG, it felt very linear to pick up. Can definitely live with it though. Quote: AYP Originally Posted by If you are willing to compromise on the 360 camera and TPMS, the Hyundai Tucson it should be. On the other hand, the Compass diesel AT will exceed your budget by 10% while discounts in the range of 1-2L are mostly available on the Tucson, bringing the net delta to around 4-5L. Tuscon is due for upgrade, so waiting for any news around it. Quote: GTO Originally Posted by Two adults & a baby seat at the rear means you need space. Cars like the Seltos, Compass etc. won't cut it. Buy a better car, keep it for longer and it'll work out cheaper . If I were in your position, I'd wait to take a long TD of the XUV700 (but give Mahindra time to sort out niggles), the next-gen Tucson and also the Tata Safari (every year you wait for a Tata, the better the product gets). If anyone has any lead of a Tiguan/Kodiaq, please help. I think, waiting for Harrier/Safari upgrade or new Tuscon also makes sense, however I'm in dire need of car from February as I've recently sold my primary car Vento. Quote: Axe77 Originally Posted by 1. XUV 7OO diesel A/T AX7- (I dont think waiting till Jan can make that much of a difference in sorting initial niggles - if youre going to go the waiting route then you should be prepared to defer this to end 2022 / early 2023 for it to matter) 2. Toyota Innova Crysta Diesel A/T. No better product for peace of mind ownership for a largish family (roomy for 2 kids while traveling to hometown, safe car, etc). Expanding further from the above: 3. Compass diesel A/T (you need to assess whether it is spacious enough - otherwise a brilliantly engineered premium feeling car) 4. Next gen Hyundai Tucson. (Not sure when in 2022 itll come though - only if you can wait for it) Outside contenders: 5. Used Fortuner; used Kodiaq diesel if you have the appetite for VAG. I feel you will struggle to sell a second owned Alturas / MUX / Endeavour whenever you want to sell it. Not worth it when you can get a Fortuner or similar more acceptable alternative in the used market. 6. Hector petrol A/T. 7. Used current gen Tucson too perhaps if it gets you a very capable car, saves you a ton of money not to mention saves you the annoying beep at 120 kmph Good luck! My top picks for you from that list (from readily available options) are:1. XUV 7OO diesel A/T AX7- (I dont think waiting till Jan can make that much of a difference in sorting initial niggles - if youre going to go the waiting route then you should be prepared to defer this to end 2022 / early 2023 for it to matter)2. Toyota Innova Crysta Diesel A/T. No better product for peace of mind ownership for a largish family (roomy for 2 kids while traveling to hometown, safe car, etc).Expanding further from the above:3. Compass diesel A/T (you need to assess whether it is spacious enough - otherwise a brilliantly engineered premium feeling car)4. Next gen Hyundai Tucson. (Not sure when in 2022 itll come though - only if you can wait for it)Outside contenders:5. Used Fortuner; used Kodiaq diesel if you have the appetite for VAG. I feel you will struggle to sell a second owned Alturas / MUX / Endeavour whenever you want to sell it. Not worth it when you can get a Fortuner or similar more acceptable alternative in the used market.6. Hector petrol A/T.7. Used current gen Tucson too perhaps if it gets you a very capable car, saves you a ton of money not to mention saves you the annoying beep at 120 kmphGood luck! I think, I'd search for a used Tiguan/Kodiaq. Quote: VW2010 Originally Posted by Ford Endeavour 3.2 if you can find one from one frenzy seller. Only reason to not buy is fuel efficiency. Everything else ticks your requirement and most used market price for these slightly used cars are around 20 to 25l. Second choice would be Innova. I do not see any other small suv shaped cars solving your purpose without a bunch of compromise. Thanks! I've driven all of the cars that I've mentionedKushaq/Taigun was going to be my 1st choice (being Vento owner & dan of TSI DSG), but they lack space for 2 adults and one baby seat in rear.Thanks! T-roc again lacks space in the rear bench.Thanks! I agree to your shortlist. The only question is if I wait for XUV700, I don't want to be waiting forever.The car is needed from Feb/March without a miss having sold my primary drive already.Thanks mate! Hector seems to be best suited and value for money. The issue fuel efficiency and the liner CVT gearbox. This is going to be my primary car, to be driven in city for 1000Km a month (almost 70% of total running). Vento TSI DSG also returned around 9-10 kmpl in City, so anywhere near it is okay. But 6-7 kmpl seems far out to be ignored.CVT is no means slow, but having used to DSG, it felt very linear to pick up. Can definitely live with it though.Thanks! Jeep is in my shortlist and willing to spend extra for what it's worth. But Diesel automatic comes only in 4*4 and I'm not a big off-roader, just occasional mild off-roader.Tuscon is due for upgrade, so waiting for any news around it.Thanks GTO! I infact started with searching for Old Tiguan & Kodiaq inventory at discounts.If anyone has any lead of a Tiguan/Kodiaq, please help.I think, waiting for Harrier/Safari upgrade or new Tuscon also makes sense, however I'm in dire need of car from February as I've recently sold my primary car Vento.Thanks! This is going to be my primary drive in the city (1000km a month) for almost 70% running with single occupancy. So Fortuner or likes do not make the cut.I think, I'd search for a used Tiguan/Kodiaq.Thanks Friend! Cannot go to full size SUV territory as mentioned above. (Photo : Pexels/Pixabay) e-coli tap water An e-coli warning was sent by a water company after it revealed that the tap water used in thousands of homes is contaminated with the bacteria. The water in one of its treatment works tested positive for e-coli earlier this week. E-coli Warning Issued Residents of Oxted, Redhill, Biggin Hill, Horley, Limpsfield, Tonbridge, Godstone, and Sevenoaks, are all being advised to boil their water before drinking them after the issue was uncovered on Oct. 7. The water company, SES Water, said that a sample from their Westwood Water Treatment Works had tested positive for the deadly bacteria, prompting the boil notice for 443 postcodes, which is equivalent to 6,500 properties, according to Sky News. However, after multiple tests, it is thought that the water will be good for drinking in the next couple of weeks. On Oct. 8, the wholesale director of SES Water, Tom Kelly, said that through their investigations over the last 24 hours, there is no indication of contaminated water leaving the treatment works. Also Read: New Hampshire E. Coli Outbreak Sickens 12, Linked To Ground Beef This conclusion was made after sampling and analyzing the water quality of the area that is covered by the precautionary boil notice, according to ITV. Kelly said that they are waiting for the final confirmation with the third set of tests within the next 24 hours, but at this stage, based on the latest sampling results that they got, they are increasingly confident that they can lift the precautionary boil notice by Oct. 9. Kelly also apologized for the inconvenience to the residents and concern. He stated that it was the right thing to do, based on the available information at the time. According to the National Health Service or NHS, the e-coli bacteria does not cause any issues while it is living inside your gut, but if the bacteria contaminates the areas of vulnerability like a wound, it can create an infection. People who are considered at risk if they become infected include the elderly, those with urinary catheterization, and those who are suffering from prostate issues, dehydration, gall bladder, or kidney problems. Those with ulcers, open wounds, and those with long-term conditions like bronchitis, diabetes, or COPD are at risk as well. While most cases of e-coli are mild, some strains can cause severe symptoms and even life-threatening complications, which can lead to kidney failure and death. Officials reminded those who are living in affected areas to let the boiled water cool before drinking it or using it to prepare food or for brushing their teeth. The same process should be done for water that is given to pets. A spokesperson for SES Water said that boiled water could be kept in the fridge, and it should be covered and used within 24 hours. E.coli outbreaks have been reported in the past. In 2018, 7 states suffered from an e.coli outbreak that required the CDC to issue a warning. In that same year, an e-coli outbreak was recorded in several states and it was connected to a roman lettuce that was grown using canal water. E-coli Treatment For illness caused by E.coli, there are no current treatments that can cure the infection, prevent any complications, and relieve its symptoms, according to Mayo Clinic. For most infected people, the treatment includes complete rest, constant consumption of fluids to help prevent dehydration, and not taking any anti-diarrheal medication because it prevents the body from getting rid of the bacteria as it slows the digestive system. Antibiotics usually are not recommended because they can increase the risk of serious complications, and they don't appear to help treat the infection. If you have a serious e-coli infection that caused a life-threatening form of kidney failure, you will be hospitalized. The treatment includes IV fluids, kidney dialysis, and blood transfusions. Related Article: E. Coli Bacteria Infection: Symptoms, Treatment, And Prevention This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Sophie Webster 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. (Photo : Image from Unsplash Website) Unknown Brain Illness Breakout in Canada Confirms Six Dead and Dozens Affected | Neurologists Rush to Identify Cases An unknown brain illness breakout has already claimed the lives of six people in Canada, as dozens have been affected by this unknown disease. Neurologists are now rushing to identify what is really going on. Six Dread Due to Unknown Brain Illness According to the story by Express.co.uk, there is now at least six dead, while 48 more have reportedly fallen ill to this mysterious illness in New Brunswick, Canada. A lot of people have started reporting the feeling of being forgetful and easily confused by the said strange illness. The authorities are now racing to discover more about the mystery of this progressive neurological syndrome since there is still no known cause at the moment. Out of six people that have died, their ages range from 18 up to 85. There has also been an E.coli warning that was issued in Surrey and Kent, UK, as thousands of residents could have contaminated tap water. PHAC Announces Alert Aside from confusion and brain fuzziness, there has also been reported an unusual mix of symptoms which include dizziness, anxiety, hallucinations, memory problems, pain, and even the progressive loss of mobility. This also includes the formation of bizarre mixed effects on the brain. The Public Health Agency of Canada, or PHAC, has just announced an alert about a large batch of these notably unusual neurological cases in the region in late 2020. The agency was able to provide specialized expertise early during the investigation through interpreting diagnostic as well as autopsy results. Neurologists are Trying to Identify a Case Definition They also reportedly worked along with a New Brunswick neurologist to be able to identify a case definition for the particular cluster. PHAC has also noted that the province of New Brunswick is currently leading the investigation, as well as the federal agency's role being a supportive one. A malaria vaccine is now being endorsed by WHO and is made by GlaxoSmithKline. Blood Watch, a patient safety organization, has raised certain concerns. The group reportedly stressed that PHAC should really take the lead when it comes to the investigation. They have also called the federal agency to be able to immediately resume its own investigation into the root cause of the said cluster. Read Also: Neural Implant Treats Severe Depression with Deep-Brain Stimulation, And It is the First of Its Kind Scientific Explanations Wanted In a certain letter that was addressed to federal Health Minister Patty Hadju as well as Chief Public Health Officer known as Dr. Theresa Tam during the end of September. Blood Watch noted that the families located in New Brunswick really deserve answers that come supported by full scientific rigor. Answers being asked are as to why their family members have actually perished as well as why patients are all becoming ill from pain and debilitating neurological disease as also reported in an article by Maclean's, it was also noted that they are asking that there be a clear directive that the current investigation should continue through a scientific lens. Related Article: Experimental Brain Implants Found to Help Treat Severe Depression This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Urian B. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. WeChat will stop scanning users' photos in the background after a tech influencer from the Chinese social media platform, Weibo, exposed it using the new feature of Apple's iOS 15, the Record App Activity. The influencer from Weibo revealed that WeChat is scanning the photos of its users silently, but Apple's Record App Activity was able to catch the behavior, as per the latest report of South China Morning Post. WeChat To Stop Scanning Photos in Background As such, the China-based super app, WeChat, already vowed to stop constantly scanning the photos of its users in response to the online expose. The said messaging platform turned into a super app with vast features, including shopping, payment, and search engine--to name a few. Not just that, the Tencent-owned app is now "an integral part of daily life in China," according to a survey that ChinaDaily.com reported last Jan. 20. On average, WeChat has a whopping 1.2 billion daily active users across the globe in 2020. What's more, in 2021, the Chinese app celebrated its 10 years of existence as it was launched way back in January 2011. Now, the 10-year old app with more than a billion active users promises to remove its photo scanning habit in its next update. The representative from WeChat said in a statement that the behavior "will be canceled in the new version." So, WeChat users should expect the change to occur once an update starts rolling out. WeChat further clarified that the app is only scanning the photo galleries or camera rolls of the users who permitted the platform. The Chinese super-app explained that background scanning is meant to give its users a faster and more seamless experience of sending their photos. Read Also: WeChat Users Safe From US Executive Order-Justice Says No Targets for Personal and Business Transactions WeChat Background Photo Scanning The tech influencer on Weibo that goes by the name "Hacklous" further disclosed that the Tencent-owned platform scans the photo galleries of its users' devices in the background for as long as one minute. In addition, the tech influencer went on to add that WeChat repeats the behavior "every few hours." On top of that, Hacklous also exposed on Weibo that WeChat is not the only app that scans photos in the background. For instance, Taobao, the online shopping app of Alibaba, Taobao, and the QQ messaging app of Tencent allegedly do this behavior as well. Taobao, QQ, and Alibaba have yet to respond to the revelation of the tech influencer. Background Photo Scanning: How to Stop It is worth noting that WeChat's photo scanning behavior will only end in its next update. As such, its current users are still exposed to it. That said, the tech influencer noted that the only solution to stop apps like WeChat from scanning your private photos is to turn off the permission in the system settings. Related Article: China vs. WeChat: Beijing Prosecutors Sues Tencent After 'Youth-Mode' Allegedly Broke Child Safety Laws This article is owned by Tech Times Written by Teejay Boris 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The U.S. Navy could soon have a real-life ray gun laser weapon. As of the moment, the United States only has one weapon similar to a ray gun. This is the current lower-energy laser system called Zeus, which is specifically designed to destroy landmines. Related Article: US Drone Strike Kills Two ISIS-K Members, Evacuation Deadline Updated, & Uses of the American UAS Aside from America, there are also other countries that are developing their own versions of ray gun laser weapons. These include China, which was able to develop a similar war instrument that could fire more than 1,000 laser shots. Each of these shots is said to last two seconds. Now, the U.S. Office of Naval Research confirmed a new compact and portable ray gun system is already in development. New US Navy Ray Gun Weapon Now In Development! According to Popular Mechanics' latest report, the new ray gun is expected to be completed between 2023 and 2025. It is specifically designed to take down enemy drones, one of the hardest war machines to shoot down. Also Read: Israel Remote-Controlled AI-Powered Machine Gun Used in Top Iranian Nuclear Scientist Assassination? New Details Revealed On the other hand, a Department of Defence contract, which was filed on Aug. 18, confirmed the arrival and development of the new laser weapon. "MZA Associates Corp., Albuquerque, New Mexico, is awarded an $18,697,835 cost-plus-fixed-fee contract for the counter unmanned aerial vehicle (C-UAS) High Energy Laser Weapon System (HELWS)," said the U.S. Department of Defense via the recently filed document. The defense department also explained that the new U.S. Navy ray gun would be integrated with the most advanced commercial weapon components in the market. U.S. Navy is not the only one making huge advancements in its defense system. The U.S. Air Force also created a new system that would offer more efficient navigation assistance to the country's operating jets. U.S. Air Force Enhances Ghostrider Gunship With Laser Weapon Forbes reported that the U.S. Air Force also used a laser weapon to enhance the current Ghostrider gunship. Rick Cardaro, the current Lockheed Martin Advanced Production Solutions V.P., said that their war innovation is already ready for field tests. The new Airborne High Energy Laser or AHEL would soon be tested on the advanced AC-130J gunship. However, involved developers estimated that the field testing would still take a lot of time before it is actually conducted, at least around 2030. For more news updates about U.S. Navy and its upcoming war innovations, always keep your tabs open here at TechTimes. This article is owned by TechTimes Written by: Griffin Davis 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Two days after Ronnie Kato allegedly shot and killed his girlfriend's stepfather and a Baton Rouge police officer in April 2020, the woman told Kato she was standing by him even though authorities were portraying him as a "monster," according to court documents filed Friday. Prosecutor Dana Cummings filed the new documents in support of a motion she filed in July to try Kato separately in the killings of Lt. Glenn Dale Hutto Jr. and Curtis Richardson, Kato's girlfriend's stepfather. +3 In BRPD officer's killing, prosecutors want split trial, say other victim's family won't cooperate Prosecutors said Thursday they want to try a Baton Rouge man separately in the shooting deaths of his girlfriend's stepfather and a police off Cummings said in that motion that the woman and her mother, who was Richardson's wife, will not cooperate with the state, so she wants to try Kato first in the killing of Hutto. Kato's attorneys have objected to the motion. The documents Cummings filed Friday say that in a jail call between Kato and his girlfriend on April 28, 2020, two days after the killings, the woman said she is on Kato's side and said, "They're making you out to be a monster." In another jail call that same day under another inmate's identification number, the prosecutor wrote, Kato's girlfriend admitted telling police in 2017 that Kato threatened to go "Gavin Long" on officers "but tells Kato that when interviewed by law enforcement after the murders, she claimed to have made that up." +3 Prosecutors want to use 'Gavin Long' threat against accused Baton Rouge cop-killer More than two years before Ronnie Kato allegedly killed Baton Rouge Police Lt. Glenn Hutto Jr. and his girlfriend's stepfather in what began a Long traveled from Kansas City, Missouri, to Baton Rouge in 2016 and ambushed local law enforcement outside an Airline Highway convenience store, killing three officers and wounding three more. He was eventually killed by police. The ambush occurred a few weeks after the Alton Sterling shooting in Baton Rouge. East Baton Rouge authorities have disclosed previously that in 2017, two years before Kato allegedly killed Richardson and Hutto in what began as a domestic dispute, he reportedly threatened his girlfriend by invoking Long's name. Kato told his girlfriend he would "Gavin Long the police" if she summoned law enforcement during an argument over a child he had with another woman, according to a previous complaint against him. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Prosecutors want to use that remark at Kato's first-degree murder trial. In response to Cummings' motion to try Kato separately in the slayings of Richardson and Hutto, his lawyers say prosecutors are wrongly trying to relieve themselves of their burden of proof and shift that burden to Kato. They say the killing of Richardson is an integral part of the chain of events which led to Hutto's killing several hours later. Kato, 37, of Baton Rouge, is charged with two counts of first-degree murder in the killings of Richardson, 58, and Hutto, 45, and faces a possible death sentence if convicted. Authorities say Kato killed Richardson during a domestic dispute on North Pamela Drive. Hes believed to have fatally shot Hutto several hours later while police were searching for Kato at a home on Conrad Drive. Richardson's wife, the mother of Kato's girlfriend, was also at the Pamela Drive scene. Cummings stated in July that Kato's girlfriend and her mother "have exhibited hostility to members of the District Attorney's Office and have indicated that they will not cooperate with the prosecution in the cases." The prosecutor said the state would be prejudiced at Kato's trial for the killing of Hutto if forced to prosecute the two murder counts together. Kato also allegedly shot Cpl. Derrick Maglone in the April 26, 2020, police encounter. Maglone was critically injured but released from the hospital May 7, 2020. A detective previously testified that Kato ambushed the officers with an assault-style rifle as they searched for him in the backyard of a Conrad Drive home. The same rifle was used to kill Hutto and Richardson, the detective said. +7 BRPD officer radioed for help, tried to help wounded colleague before he was killed in April attack After Ronnie Kato seriously wounded Baton Rouge police officers Derrick Maglone and Glenn Hutto Jr. from inside a car with heavily tinted wind Hutto, a 21-year veteran of the police force and a sergeant at the time of his death, received the rank of lieutenant posthumously. Police arrested an 18-year-old Baton Rouge man on a first-degree murder count Friday after an investigation into a fatal shooting over a bag of marijuana led authorities to track him down through his Instagram account, officials said. The East Baton Rouge Sheriff's Office booked Sedrick Franklin into jail two weeks after the shooting that claimed the life of New Orleans resident Nicholas Wesley, 20. Officials say the shooting took place at 7 p.m. on Sept. 24 outside an apartment complex in the 10700 block of Industriplex Boulevard. Deputies responded to the scene after a car veered off the roadway and into a tree. Deputies say they found Wesley slumped over in the driver's seat of a 2013 four-door silver Chevrolet Impala, dead from a gunshot wound to the torso. The affidavit for Franklin's arrest says officers "smelled the distinct odor" of marijuana as they approached the car. When the looked inside, they found a pistol on the floor by Wesley's feet. New Orleans resident found shot to death after car crash on Siegen Lane, EBRSO reports A New Orleans resident was found dead of an apparent gunshot wound after his car crashed into a tree in Baton Rouge, officials said Tuesday. After impounding the car as evidence, detectives found about 8 ounces of marijuana in a black plastic bag that had been ripped off its handles, which officials say indicated a struggle over its contents. The torn-off handles were left on the front passenger floorboard by a counterfeit $100 bill, arrest records say. More counterfeit bills were allegedly found in the center consul. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up The handles were sent to a Louisiana State Police crime lab for DNA analysis. While they awaited lab results, detectives interviewed Wesley's cousin who was with him right before the shooting. The cousin said Wesley was messaging a user called @sedbadass_ on Instagram and gave screenshots to the police that showed Franklin asking where Wesley was and if he was alone. Wesley's cousin said he told her to get out of the car and that he'd pick her back up a short time later. After she got out, she said she saw a Black man get into the passenger side. Minutes later, she said she heard a gunshot. By the time police found out about the @sedbadass_ Instagram account, they say it had been deleted. But authorities identified Franklin using what information they could glean from the social media profile as well as cross-checking information from law enforcement databases. Police say they also interviewed Wesley's girlfriend, who told them he was going to pick up someone called "Sed" shortly before a 911 call reported the shooting. When the lab results came back, police say they matched DNA from the plastic bag to Franklin, who was already in their database for a previous arrest. A prison lieutenant was jailed Friday for illegally using pepper spray on an inmate at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center, state officials announced hours after his arrest. Juan Harris, a 49-year-old Baton Rouge resident, was booked on a count of aggravated battery after a joint investigation by the prison and Iberville Parish Sheriffs Office, Louisiana Department of Public Safety and Corrections spokesman Ken Pastorick said. Louisiana prison officer used force against inmate, lied about it, Department of Corrections says A corrections officer at Elayn Hunt Correctional Center used excessive force against an inmate and then lied about it, according to a press re Investigators determined that Harris broke the law and prison policy when he used the chemical on an inmate in mid-August, according to state prison officials. Elayn Hunt launched an internal probe and then turned over its findings to the sheriffs office, which continued the investigation. Harris has been employed at the prison since October 2011, officials said. The veteran officer is on paid leave pending the outcome of the disciplinary process. Bureaucracy doesnt faze Houma Republican state Rep. Tanner Magee. You deal with it, he says, particularly when trying to find temporary shelter for the 10,000 Terrebonne Parish families left homeless by Hurricane Ida. My frustration always is you get this kind of resistance of why do you live there? said Magee, the second-ranking leader of the Louisiana House. Were not like a beach town with luxury condos, Magee said, pointing out that coastal residents living in vulnerable areas work in the seafood and energy industry. That question ought to be turned back on the people asking it: How much do you want to pay for gas? How much do want to pay for seafood? The why do you live there question also underlies the new Federal Emergency Management Agency methodology to calculate flood insurance premiums. Louisiana congressmen are pushing to postpone the new Risk Rating 2.0, claiming that 80% of policyholders are going to see price increases, some so large that living in south Louisiana may become unsustainable for some. Since the 1970s, FEMA priced National Flood Insurance Program policies primarily on zones on flood maps and the propertys elevation. Risk Rating 2.0, which went into effect on Oct. 1, incorporates more variables such as frequency, flood types, storm surge, and heavy rainfall. New flood insurance rate hikes in Louisiana higher than FEMA estimates; politicians push for delay Many homeowners looking to buy new policies under revamped rates for the National Flood Insurance Program are getting sticker shock, with pric New policies and those up for renewal will be subject to the new rating methodology from October through March. Then, the new calculations will be applied to policies up for annual renewal after April 1, which are most of them. FEMA calls the Risk Rating 2.0 a transformational leap forward by ensuring rate increases and decreases are more equitable. That is, homes more susceptible to flooding pay more, those less so pay less. U.S. Sen. Bill Cassidy, R-Baton Rouge, isnt looking nationwide. Its bad news for south Louisiana, where rates for almost everyone will increase, Cassidy said from the Senate floor Thursday. These are middle-income and working families. They are folks trying to make ends meet and suddenly theyre no longer able to protect themselves. New Jerseys Democratic Sen. Bob Menendez, Cassidys partner in trying to postpone implementation until Sept. 30, 2022, said last week at a press conference on Capitol Hill that the price hikes initially would be manageable, but the increases would compound each year meaning that in four years flood insurance would cost twice as much as it does now. FEMA calculates that of the 403,978 policies for single family homes in Louisiana, 20.4% will see a decrease, 78.4% will see a monthly increase of $20 or less. Still, at only a $10 increase, which most would be, thats $240 more per year or, for me, about a third higher than this years premium. Cassidy lives in Baton Rouges 70808 ZIP code. Of the 2,126 covered single family homes in 70808, 1,014 could expect an increase of no more than $10, 15 homes would see up to $20 more and one house would see an increase in flood insurance of $30 a month, according to FEMA. The other 936 single family home policyholders, 44% in the ZIP code, would see a decrease in premium prices. In coastal Morgan City, 99.4%, or 2,045 of 2,058 homes in the 70380 ZIP code, would see an increase, mostly of about $20 per month under Risk Rating 2.0. Thirteen policyholders would see a decrease in premiums. Our Views: Flood insurance not just for rich folks with beach houses Our perennial problem with the debate in Congress about the National Flood Insurance Program is shown in an offhand description of the issue i As location is the mantra for real estate, so it is with the flood insurance debate and most of the country isnt on a coastline. Many of those interior residents wonder why they should have to pay for damage of residents rebuilding in the same areas again and again. U.S. Rep. Glenn Grothman, R-Wisconsin, questioned FEMA Administrator Deanne Criswell at a House committee hearing Wednesday on this very point. Are we making sure that people (that) are in precarious areas that we are not rebuilding there? he asked. Our new Risk Rating 2.0, certainly the risk of where people build is reflected in their insurance premium in a way that it hasnt been before and so those that are in greater risk areas will have a higher premium, Criswell answered. Lafayette Republican Rep. Clay Higgins jumped in. He asked Criswell if she would delay implementation of 2.0 until we get some answers of what it really means? Criswell noted Risk Rating 2.0 already has been implemented. A COVID-19 outbreak in the border city of Mildura has spread to the local Indigenous community as health services step up efforts to bring the regions vaccination rate to the Victorian average. Health Department deputy secretary Kate Matson confirmed 20 of the states 1935 new cases on Saturday were in Mildura, which entered the first day of a week-long lockdown. Mildura has entered a snap lockdown after case numbers went from one to 37 in a week. Credit: Five deaths were recorded and 578 cases were in hospital with COVID-19 on Saturday, taking Victoria close to the milestone of 600 cases in hospital the equivalent of one large Melbourne hospital. At 600 hospitalisations, the states road map out of lockdown suggests changes to the healthcare system may be required, such as a further pause on non-urgent elective surgery. Warsaw: A Polish court ruling challenging the supremacy of European Union law plunged the EU into an existential crisis on Friday, increasing fears that Poland could eventually leave the bloc. Politicians across Europe voiced dismay at the ruling by Polands Constitutional Tribunal on Thursday that parts of EU law are incompatible with the Polish constitution, undermining the legal pillar on which the 27-nation EU stands. People stage a protest in front of Polands constitutional court, in Warsaw. Polands constitutional court has ruled that some European Union laws are in conflict with Polands Constitution. Credit:AP The foreign ministers of France and Germany said in a joint statement Poland had a legal and moral obligation as a member of the EU to abide by the blocs rules completely and unconditionally. The joint statement, issued by French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian and his German counterpart, Heiko Maas, said: We remind you that membership of the European Union goes hand-in-hand with a complete and unconditional adherence to common values and rules. 2021 GMC Yukon Denali Review - 3 Across Child Seating by Larry Nutson See Also: GMC YUKON CONTENT LIBRARY (1995-Present) Now theres one in the family! By Larry Nutson Executive Editor and Bureau Chief Chicago Bureau The Auto Channel In mid-September I had my first drive experience with the all-new 2021 GMC Yukon. That drive was quite literally a quick spin. I had 24 hours with a new Yukon to gain an opinion along with some driving impressions and gather my thoughts in this re-done utility vehicle. Early December brought another go at it. This Yukon drive would give me a full seven days to play, explore, and live with the 2021 Yukon outfitted in its Denali trim. Coincidentally, one of our daughters was in need of replacing her 2016 Chevrolet Tahoe. The Tahoe was not in need of replacement. It was perfectly fine. Its our daughter together with her husband and their growing family that created the need. Their two youngsters would be gaining a sibling. They were becoming a three-car-seat family and the two center row captains chairs in her Tahoe no longer would cut it. The 2016 Tahoe came about when one child, a Labrador retriever, lots of baby related equipment and needed mobility created the demand. Now it will soon be three little ones, the same dog and even more stuff to haul. And, my daughter wants all three seated in the second rowa center 3-person bench was in need. Sidebar: I checked with my fellow auto scribes at Cars.com and a couple of their in-house certified child car seat technicians to confirm the new GM full size UVs could safely and correctly handle three-across child seats. Editor-in-Chief Jennifer Newman and her team provided excellent guidance. My daughter is a visual person with how something appears being quite important to her. She checked out the new 2021 Chevrolet Tahoe having seen one in her neighborhood. She wasnt loving what she saw. Then not long thereafter she saw the new GMC Yukon. Aha! Some on-line research, a test drive, on-line searching for a Yukon in inventory was the process. The must haves were: Denali---the other trims were too utilitarian/rugged looking, bench seat and color. Interior color was more the priority, wanting the light colored Teak/Light Shale. Exterior would follow to suite her taste. She had learned that a Denali with the center-row bench seat would be difficult to locate in inventory. She was going down the path of ordering one built to specification when luck came her way. Thus: Yukon Denali. Center bench seat. Teak/Light Shale interior. Black exterior. Plus, Ultimate package. The Ultimate package wasnt on the shopping list. However, the air ride adaptive suspension would make the Yukons ride less truck-like as my daughter said. Retractable power assist steps (aka running boards) will be good for her older two to climb in by themselves. Rear camera mirror will be great when the cargo area is packed full. The large sunroof is something she didnt have in the Tahoe, and wished she had. And, the rear seat media system which prompted her pre-schooler to quickly exclaim, Mom, we have a tv in the car! All the advanced driver-assistance safety (ADAS) features will be extra security in one of those possible moments of distraction with three children on board. Parking assist, rear traffic and pedestrian sensors, 360-degree surround vision and rearview camera all will help in safely maneuvering the truly big Yukon in busy and often crowded suburban parking lots. There is one item my daughter would like. And I chuckled at this one. That is, a power-open feature to the hinged rear doors. As she described, push a button just like opening the power rear hatch. This would be a great help with three very young children and arms full. Okay now, what do I think. Well, the new Yukon is indeed big. But, for those who need lots of space on the inside along with that comes bigness on the outside. In my maneuvers in and around Chicago traffic, parallel parking involves finding a larg enough space. Narrow neighborhood streets require cautious passing of a double-parked delivery van. I needed to make a few three-point turns exiting by residential parking to get around delivery vehicles encroaching into the buffer-zone next to the driveway. My wife asked if I would buy the Yukon. Yes, if I again needed to frequently move a family of four, two large dogs and tow a boat I certainly would. I might even opt for the even larger Yukon XL with the objective to not need a roof mounted carrier. I like the Denali instrument panel with its integrated touchscreen as compared to the tablet-like separate screen on other Yukon trims. Overall the interior is quite plush and comfortable. All the seats are very usable for adult passengers. Coming back to owning a Yukon, Im not sure I would want to drive it daily given my current in-town Chicago home. Public or for-hire transport would be the local travel mode. You can read about my previous drive experience and overall summary about the new Yukon RIGHT HERE. More info and specs on the 2021 GMC Yukon can be found at www.gmc.com. The new Yukon is somewhat pricey, has a nice level of overall refinement that makes it less truck-like and has decent road manners coming from the new rear suspension, especially with the air ride option. The interior is beautiful. Versatility is at the max. So far, my daughter and her husband are happy with their decision. 2020 Larry Nutson, the Chicago Car Guy Mercedes-Benz USA Launches Nationwide Brand Experience to Introduce the All-New Mercedes-EQ Lineup of Electric Vehicles Mercedes-EQ Experience brand centers pop up in New York and California alongside a 20-city test drive tour to immerse consumers in the brands electrification efforts ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA) announced today the launch of several interactive initiatives to educate consumers across the country about the brands first line of electric vehicles, Mercedes-EQ. Consumers in 20 U.S. cities will have the chance to test drive the first vehicle from the line, the all-new 2022 EQS Sedan, which officially arrives in the U.S. market later this fall. Later this month, the luxury automotive brand will also open the first of three Mercedes-EQ Experience brand centers in New York City, where guests will be able to learn more about its commitment to an electric future. Mercedes-Benz is focused on creating a smarter way of living and we look forward to bringing our U.S. consumers along on this important journey with us. Tweet this The local test drives simultaneously kicked off in Las Vegas, NV and Orange County, CA on October 6. At the test drives, attendees will enjoy a complimentary 30-minute drive to experience the technology, design, functionality, and connectivity of the EQS Sedan. Each ride will be accompanied by a product specialist who will serve as a right seat passenger. Attendees will also have access to the Mobile Experience Center, a hub where they will experience the pinnacle of electric luxury, in addition to an interactive digital experience educating them on the charge and range capabilities of electric vehicles. On October 11, the Mercedes-EQ Experience will open its doors in the Meatpacking District of New York City, located at 60 10th Avenue, and will remain open through December 1. The Mercedes-EQ Experience will bring to life next generation innovations of Mercedes-EQ. A range of curated, immersive experiences will touch on the themes of a sustainable future, progressive luxury, and education on the vehicles charge and range capabilities. These will include: An interactive energy harvesting pathway, created in partnership with Pavegen, where guests will be invited to walk over kinetic tech floor tiles that will generate reusable clean energy with each footstep. As attendees walk over the Pavegen floor tiles, their weight will compress an electromagnetic generator, which in turn will transform each individual footstep into a small amount of energy that is converted into clean electricity. LED visuals will showcase Mercedes-EQs commitment to tech-forward innovations and an electric future. A museum-like space highlighting how Mercedes-Benz seamlessly weaves together innovation and luxury featuring video content, artifacts, and sketches of the EQ design process. A Mercedes-EQ education station which will provide attendees with an interactive digital map highlighting the unprecedented access they will have to charging stations across the country and in local areas. An energizer-comfort zone where guests will enjoy a transformative atmosphere featuring three settings based on acoustic ecologist, Gordon Hemptons, audio library, resulting in a sound and ambient lighting experience. EQS 450+ and EQS 580 vehicle displays for attendees to see the new model in person. A large timeline display of the brands sustainability initiatives leading up to its goal of being carbon neutral by 2039. An additional Mercedes-EQ experience will open in Santa Monica, CA from November 15-December 15, with a final center opening in early 2022. We are so excited to provide our U.S. consumers with a luxury electric offering with the new EQS Sedan. Through these local initiatives, we want to make it as easy as possible for drivers across the country to learn about the new Mercedes-EQ family of vehicles, and ultimately, feel comfortable going electric, said Monique Harrison, Head of Brand at Mercedes-Benz USA. Mercedes-Benz is focused on creating a smarter way of living and we look forward to bringing our U.S. consumers along on this important journey with us. The Mercedes-EQ family of vehicles will combine sophistication, sustainability, high-end technology, and style for an unprecedented fully electric luxury experience. The first models being introduced to the U.S. market include the EQS 450+ and the EQS 580 4MATIC and will launch later this fall. With powerful and efficient systems, highly intelligent and adaptive functions, and sustainable yet luxurious details, the EQS unites performance, luxury, and sustainability in the most progressive way. To view the full test drive city tour schedule and register for a specific session, please visit www.MercedesEQTestDrive.com. Consumers who do not register in advance will be accommodated on a first-come, first-serve basis. To learn more about the EQS Sedan, please visit www.mbusa.com. Local Test Drive Schedule: Orange County, CA (October 6-9) Las Vegas, NV (October 6-9) Atlanta, GA (October 21-24) Chicago, IL (October 28-31) Seattle, WA (October 28-31) Boston, MA (November 4-7) Portland, OR (November 4-7) New York, NY (November 11-14 & 18-21) Denver, CO (November 18-21) Philadelphia, PA (December 2-5) San Francisco, CA (December 2-5) Washington DC (Dec 9-12) Sacramento, CA (January 13-16) Dallas, TX (January 13-16) Phoenix, AZ (January 20-23) San Diego, CA (January 20-23) Los Angeles, CA (January 26-29) Houston, TX (February 24-27) Miami, FL (February 24-27) Tampa, FL (March 3-6) Orlando, FL (March 3-6) About Mercedes-Benz USA Mercedes-Benz USA (MBUSA), headquartered in Atlanta, is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz products in the United States. MBUSA offers drivers the most diverse lineup in the luxury segment with 15 model lines ranging from the sporty A-Class Sedan to the flagship S-Class and the Mercedes-AMG GT R. MBUSA is also responsible for Mercedes-Benz Vans in the U.S. More information on MBUSA and its products can be found at www.mbusa.com and www.mbvans.com. Mazda News: Mazda Will Add Three All-New SUV Models Added Over Next Two Years -- Mazda Motor Corporation today announced plans to expand its SUV lineup starting from 2022. The new models will include the Mazda CX-50 to be produced in our new U.S. plant, as well as models in our Large Product group, including the Mazda CX-60, Mazda CX-70, Mazda CX-80 and Mazda CX-90, all of which are slated for introduction over the next two years between 2022 and 2023. We aim to offer customers a diverse choice of SUVs able to provide both the driving pleasure and the latest environmental performance to meet demands in the continuously growing global SUV segment. Making full use of development and production technological assets, such as Skyactiv technology, bundled planning and flexible production, which have been accumulated over time based on our Building Block strategy2, we are able to expand our SUV lineup efficiently and with low investment, ensuring stable business growth over the medium to long-term. The Mazda CX-50 is a crossover SUV that will be added as a new core model to the lineup and be introduced in the U.S. market, where a strong SUV presence as well as off-road performance are in high demand. This model belongs to the Small Product group3 just like the Mazda3 and Mazda CX-30. The production of the CX-50 will begin in January 2022 at the new Mazda-Toyota joint venture factory, Mazda Toyota Manufacturing, U.S.A., Inc. (MTMUS), built in Huntsville, Alabama, in the U.S. Having a wide price range coming in above that of the CX-50 or currently available CX-5, models from the Large Products group, i.e., the CX-60, CX-70, CX-80 and CX-90, will offer two body types with two seating arrangements: two rows and three rows. Markets with narrower roads and smaller parking lots such as Europe and Japan, will welcome the introduction of the two-row seat CX-60 and the three-row seat CX-80. Meanwhile, the CX-70 and CX-90 will hit the road in North America and other markets where larger models with a big presence are preferred. Both models feature the wide body type, with the CX-70 having two rows of seats and the CX-90 having three. These models will expand our mid-size crossover SUV lineup. Crossover SUVs to be introduced from 2022 onwards Product group Models Major markets to receive the models Large Product group Mazda CX-60 (Two rows) Europe, Japan, etc. Mazda CX-70 (Wide body, two rows) North America, etc. Mazda CX-80 (Three rows) Europe, Japan, etc. Mazda CX-90 (Wide body, three rows) North America, etc. Small Product group Mazda CX-50 USA The Large Product group models will offer a variety of choices of electrified powertrains to respond to each country's electrification roadmap. The European market, where electrification is already in-full-swing, will primarily see the introduction of plug-in hybrid models with straight-four gasoline engines combined with a motor drive. The straight-six new generation Skyactiv-X gasoline engine and Skyactiv-D diesel engine will also be introduced in combination with a 48V mild hybrid system. The aim being to achieve both high output and high environmental performance. In North America where high-power performance is valued, we will introduce both turbo-charged straight-six gasoline engine models and plug-in hybrid models to meet customer requirements and respond to environmental regulations. Due to the enduring popularity of diesel engines in Japan, a straight-six Skyactiv-D diesel model with a 48V mild hybrid system and plug-in hybrid models will be introduced to the Japanese lineup. In parallel, we will carry out sales promotion activities for Mazda's first mass-production EV, the MX-30, and introduce models which incorporate multiple electrification technologies that use a rotary engine as a generator from the first half of 2022. In addition, we will introduce a product line that uses an EV-dedicated platform from around 2025. Through the introduction of these models, Mazda plans to complete the electrification of all the models it produces by 2030. In the meantime, the Mazda CX-5, which has retained constant popularity since its launch in 2012, will see its design evolve and its model lineup enhanced through continuous product improvement. Furthermore, introducing the latest safety technologies and connectivity features, we will increase the appeal of the vehicle and give it the space to continue growing as part of our crossover SUV lineup. In line with our corporate vision, Mazda aims to become a brand that creates special bonds with customers by enriching their lives with an experience of car ownership that provides joy of driving, the pure essence of cars. 2 Beached Humpback Whales Spotted on Argentinian CoastBut Rescuers Save the Day With Backhoe Rescuers came to the aid of two stranded humpback whales on the province of Buenos Airess coastline in Argentina, saving both whales within 48 hours. The first whale, a juvenile female humpback weighing approximately 8 tons and measuring 32 feet long, ran aground on Sunday, Oct. 3, according to the Mundo Marino Foundation, near the beaches of Nueva Atlantis. A juvenile female humpback ran aground on Sunday, Oct. 3, according to the Mundo Marino Foundation, near the beaches of Nueva Atlantis. (Screenshot/Reuters) A neighbor alerted the foundation, who performed the rescue with assistance from various Argentinian officials. Despite initial difficulties, the rescuers secured slings under the whales body and used a backhoe to place her in deeper waters. The second whale, a juvenile humpback male measuring over 27 feet long and weighing about 7 tons, was found near La Lucila del Mar on Monday, Oct. 4. The rescuers secured slings under the whales body and used a backhoe to place her in deeper waters. (Screenshot/Reuters) Video Credit: Reuters Rescue work began on the morning of Oct. 5. Employing the same rescue tactics used previously, the Mundo Marino Foundation successfully relocated the male. This video shows the rescue of the two whales, who both swim off amid cheers from rescuers. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland speaks during a news conference at the Department of Justice in Washington on Sept. 9, 2021. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) A Politicized Administration Punishes Dissenters With the Process Commentary As I mentioned in this space last July, the politicization of the United States armed forces, already underway under President Barack Obama, has been kicked into a higher gear by the Biden administration and its tame general, Mark Milley, by using the Capitol incursion of last Jan. 6 as pretext. By repeatedly and consistently mischaracterizing it as an insurrection, the media have turned a protest that got out of hand into the bombardment of Fort Sumter, which launched the American Civil War in 1861. That the Biden administration was complicit with the media in transforming a rag-tag bunch of protesters into a supposed proto-army of rebellion became apparent in President Bidens address to Congress last April 28. There, clearly with the Jan. 6 protesters in mind, he spoke of what our intelligence agency has determined to be the most lethal terrorist threat to the homeland today: white supremacys terrorism. The logic of our intelligence agency which is said to have produced such a bizarre and improbable point of view seems to have been as follows: Donald Trump is a white supremacist; his Jan. 6 supporters were terrorists; therefore, all 74 million Trump voters in 2020 (there are probably more by now) are at least potential white supremacist terrorists. Thats quite a threat all right. Or it would be if any of it had an iota of truth in it. Such paranoia obviously had a political motivation and must have been adopted for cynical reasons, as a stick with which to beat any opposition to the radical Biden agenda from the right. But now, not quite six months later, it appears to have become a habit with this administration to confuse any opposition to any part of its agenda with terrorism. In response to a letter from the National School Boards Association to President Biden complaining of an imminent threat from parents who are allegedly sending threatening letters and cyberbullying said to amount to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes, Attorney General Merrick Garland has sent a memo to the FBIthe extent of whose corruption is even now being revealed by John Durhamexpressing his concern over an alleged disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff who participate in the vital work of running our nations public schools. He provides not a single example of such harassment, intimidation or threats of violence, nor any constitutional warrant for such Federal interference in state and local education matters and public order-keeping, even if there were any of either. While spirited debate about policy matters is protected under our Constitution, he writes, that protection does not extend to threats of violence or efforts to intimidate individuals based on their views. Andrew McCarthy at National Review, who calls this dangerous nonsense, reminds us that the First Amendment protects speech unless it unambiguously calls for the use of force that the speaker clearly intends, under circumstances in which the likelihood of violence is real and imminent. Even actual threats of violence are not actionable unless they meet this high threshold. And this is not to mention the fact that, as more than one commentator has pointed out, we have in the last year and a half seen numerous left-wing examples of threats of violence or efforts to intimidate individuals based on their views, which have been perfectly OK with the Justice department and the FBI. What, in fact, is Garland himself doing with such a memo as this if not warning of the FBIs coming efforts to intimidate individuals based on their views? This looks a lot like a recurrence to President Nixons famous formulation: When the President does it, its not illegal. As in so many other ways throughout the Obama-Biden years, there is one rule for the ruling class, another for everybody else. This politicization of the Justice Department continues a process which seems to have begun under President Obama and then continued on unabated, though surreptitiously, under President Trump, whose administration it sought, as we now know, continuously to undermine. Interestingly, another case of an effort to intimidate an individual based on her views had taken place only days earlier, when protestors pursued Senator Kyrsten Sinema into a ladies room at Arizona State University, objecting to her view that the government headed by Biden and her fellow Democrats shouldnt be spending $3.5 trillion that it doesnt have. In that case, however, neither the president nor Attorney General Garland nor anyone else in the administration seemed to mind, and the big guy himself dismissed the incident as nothing but a part of the process. I thought of this remark when I read the opinion of a lawyer friend of the excellent Paul Mirengoff at PowerLine blog that the Garland letter was just huffing and puffing done to scratch a political itch with no real legal force behind it. Mirengoff himself opines that anyone prosecuted by the DOJ for non-violent conduct as a result of this memo will very likely find pro bono legal representation and beat the rap. This is trueat least until the entire judiciary has been Bidenized. But in the meantime, such a person may only beat the rap the way General Michael Flynn did: after years of expensive litigation that all but ruined him and his family financially. As he knows only too well, under the politicized Obama-Biden Justice Department, the punishment reserved for dissenters is, precisely, the process. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Accusations of Religious Fundamentalism Ring Hollow On the ascendancy of Premier Dominic Perrottet Commentary Following the shock resignation of the former state Premier Gladys Berejiklian of New South Wales (NSW), Australias most populous state, the governing Liberal Party selected Dominic Perrottet as her replacement to become the 46th premier of the state. Perrottet is a Catholic who attended a Catholic high school and studied law at the University of Sydney. He is a social conservative, who voted against same sex marriage, and is an opponent of abortion. He also served as a capable treasurer in the NSW government prior to his ascension. Even before his confirmation on Oct. 6, 2021, progressive media personalities went into overdrive trying to discredit the new premier, lambasting his Catholicism and arguing that he is not suitable to serve because of his faith. One of the more strident attempts to denigrate Perrottet came from Reverend Stephanie Dowrick, who published an opinion piece with the provocative title, NSW must do better than Dominic Perrottet as premier in The Sydney Morning Herald. She claimed that because he was a highly conservative Catholic, with views that represent the most extreme end of a rigidly male-dominated institutional church and that Australia is no haven for religious or ideological fundamentalism. Of course, it is difficult to define fundamentalism but according to Dowrick the concept involves a narrowness of conviction that cannot be challenged by logic, evidence or appeals to reason. The attack on the new premier is the manifestation of the de-Christianisation project that is currently damaging Australia. A statue is seen silhouetted by the sun at St. Marys Cathedral in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 23, 2020. (Lisa Maree Williams/Getty Images) One would expect attacks on Catholicism to be outdated and no longer occurring in a multi-cultural and multi-faith country. The Church Act of 1836 established legal equality between the Anglicans, Catholics, and Presbyterians. Australia had its first Catholic prime minister in the late 1920s, James Henry Scullin. In the 1950s, in creating industrial groups in the unions, Bartholomew A. Santamaria, a staunchly Catholic and anti-communist activist, facilitated a major split in the Australian Labor Party (ALP) through the creation of the splinter-party, the Democratic Labor Partyeffectively consigning the ALP to opposition from the mid-1950s to 1972. According to the 2016 Census conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics, Catholics are now the largest Christian denomination with 22.6 percent of the population, but there are still more Protestant churches than Roman Catholic churches. The 28th Prime Minister of Australia, Tony Abbott, was in fact, also Catholic. In these circumstances, it makes sense that a persons religion should no longer be characterised as a negative trait when seeking public office. However, during the last decade we have witnessed the adoption of progressive legislation that goes largely against the teachings of Christianityand not just Catholicism. This is evidenced by the implementation of social engineering legislation: same sex marriage, liberal abortion, and voluntary assisted dying are examples of that trend, among others. According to Dowrick, those who hold conservative views are fundamentalists and bigots. But conservative politicians, like Perrottet, have allowed others to nurture progressive views in the fashioning of their laws. In contrast, his detractors, like Dowrick, do not accept that social conservatives are entitled to participate in public life. Specifically, Dowrick writes that, Womens rights to choose what happens to and within their bodies, respect for the diverse LGBTQI+ communities, limitations on evangelical proselytising within schools and social services gender equality and safety all of this is threatened by an authoritarian perspective that believes a highly conservative, white, male-dominated hierarchy is divinely ordained within the church. So, it is really the opponents of conservatism that are the fundamentalists because they are attempting to abrogate the rights of conservatives to free speech and participation in public life. They seek to cancel fundamentalist views and ruin careers. For them, only their own progressive ideas are worthy of implementation in society. Dowrick does admitreluctantlythat even Perrottet is entitled to believe whatever he wants to believe inin private howeverbut he should not be allowed to act upon his beliefs in public. Yet, as was argued by law professor, Harrop A. Freeman in 1958 (pdf), every great religion is not merely a matter of belief; it is action and that one of the most scathing rebukes in religion is reserved for hypocrites who believe but fail to so act. Thus, religious belief and practice cannot neatly be separated from each other; rather they are stages of the one and indivisible reality: religious practice, or action, is an articulated belief. Newly elected Premier of NSW Dominic Perrottet speaks at his first press conference as leader in Sydney, Australia, on Oct. 05, 2021. (Brook Mitchell/Getty Images) This is also stipulated in Article 18 (1) of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, which states that, Everyone shall have the right to freedom of thought, conscience and religion. This right shall include freedom to have or to adopt a religion or belief of his choice, and freedom, either individually or in community with others and in public or private, to manifest his religion or belief in worship, observance, practice and teaching. Those who still believe in freedom of religion will disagree with the accusations levelled at Perrottet. For example, in a comment published in the Glen Innes Examiner on Oct. 4, 2021, Anglican Minister David Robinson argued that the claim of fundamentalism, was anything which might disagree with Dowricks own very socially progressive, secular humanist beliefs that may endanger the kind of policy she champions on key issues. It is a sad day when commentators start to vilify a person because of his religious affiliations. Moreover, endless attacks on Perrottets religious faith and assumed conservative and so-called fundamentalist views, deprives Australians the opportunity of understanding his policies, professional activities, successes and failures as a treasurer, views on COVID-19, and lockdown strategies. Yet, it is those views that are important in assessing his suitability as NSW premier. Commentators are not contributing to public debate when they fail to comment on a politicians policies, but instead, stubbornly vilify them because of their faith. Of course, Perrottets ascendancy may have consequences for specific legislative proposals, notably voluntary assisted dying. Undoubtedly, proponents of such a law will blame the fundamentalist views of the premier for any delay in adoption of such law. For them, the only views which can be held legitimately are those of the progressive left, which, by their deeds and vitriolic speech, claim to possess a monopoly on decency and morality. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. The logo of Naval Group is seen at the French naval base in the shipbuilding town of Cherbourg-en-Contentin, France, on Sep. 23, 2021. (Stephane Mahe/Reuters) Australia Sees Trade Deal With EU by End of 2022: Minister ROMEAustralian Trade Minister Dan Tehan said on Friday he expected to finalise a free trade agreement with the European Union by the end of next year, despite the EUs anger over Canberras cancellation of a submarine contract with France. Brussels postponed the latest round of talks, which were due to start on Oct. 12, until November in solidarity with France after Australia scrapped the multi-billion dollar deal that Paris considered the cornerstone of its Indo-Pacific policy. Instead, it secretly negotiated to build at least eight nuclear-powered submarines with U.S. and British technology as part of a trilateral security pact between the three countries announced last month. Tehan, in Italy for a meeting of the Group of 20 (G-20) developed countries, told Reuters in an interview he was not concerned by the delay in the talks, and reaching an agreement was strongly in the interests of both sides. Asked when he expected it would be finalised, he said: I suggest its likely the end-game will take some time and well be looking towards the end of next year to conclude negotiations. He played down the damage to EU-Australian relations over the submarine dispute, and said he had very good discussions with seven EU ministers at a meeting this week of the Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development in Paris. It will be more difficult to mend ties with France, which described Australias actions in walking away from the naval deal as a stab in the back and has so far declined any talks to patch things up. Tehan said Australia had issued an open to France. The most important thing is that we sit down so Australia can fully explain the decision we took because it was in our national interest, he said. France said on Oct. 6 week it would send its ambassador back to Australia to help redefine relations after recalling him for consultations in protest. ($1 = 0.8654 euros) Fortescue Metals chairman Andrew Forrest during a visit to the Christmas Creek mine site in The Pilbara, Western Australia on Apr. 15, 2021. (AAP Image/Pool, Justin Benson-Cooper) Australian Mining Billionaire to Challenge China Solar Manufacturing Market Billionaire mining and energy entrepreneur Andrew Forrest is spearheading a move to improve Australias solar manufacturing industry. Despite an estimated 22.3 gigawatts (GW) of solar capacity across Australia, the sun-laden nation does not have the capability to manufacture its own solar panel components, with 90 percent of Australias solar panels made in China. TindoSolar, Australias only solar panel assembler, utilises components made in China. However, Forrests clean-energy-focused Fortescue Futures Industry (FFI) has begun drawing up plans for a 1 GW solar factory in Australia that could undercut demand for the product typically made in China. In particular, the factory would produce unique Powerfoil solar panels that claim to be versatile in use, energy efficient, and cost effective. We aim to rapidly drive costs down at a greater rate than is achievable with conventional Solar PV technology, FFI Chief Executive Officer Julie Shuttleworth said in a media release. FFIs plans come after it acquired a 60 percent majority stake in Netherlands-based High yield Energy Technologies (HyET) Group, along with HyET Solars proprietary Powerfoil technology. Fortescue Future Industries (FFI) founder Andrew Forrest and High yield Energy Technologies (HyET) Group CEO Rombout Swanborn sign off on a deal that will see FFI acquire 60 percent stake of HyET Group in this undated photo. (Supplied) HyETs Powerfoil technology has been used in a handful of pilot applications, such as atop the Celebrity Flora, a luxury cruise ship, and on the sides of large storage tanks where the lightweight panels can be applied using adhesive and without drilling holes. CEO and founder of HyET Solar, Rombout Swanborn, said the group was incredibly pleased to have joined forces with Fortescue Future Industries. In previous projects, Swanborn had pointed out that there was uncertainty in the solar photovoltaic (PV) manufacturing industry due to long term confrontation by low-cost, predominantly Asian products. We strongly believe that the time has come for innovative low-cost PV products like HyET Solar Powerfoil to take back sizable market share, Swanborn said. Forrests decision could challenge the Chinese market, which has been critical to the wealth of his mining outfit, Fortescue Metals Group. The billionaire has championed an objective to achieve zero emissions in his companies, with FFI at the forefront of his green energy ambitions. This includes a target to achieve 235 GW of renewable energy capacity world wide, with Forrest also backing the Australia-Asia PowerLinka subsea cable that would provide power to Singapore from what would become the worlds largest 20 GW solar farm and battery storage in Australias Northern Territory. Alongside HyET Solar, the deal also grants FFI a majority stake in HyET Hydrogen, in accord with FFIs focus of producing green hydrogen using renewable energya process currently economically unviable when compared to hydrogen made using fossil fuels. The technologies of the HyET companies will help us reach that tipping point and the world will begin the journey in earnest to become zero-carbon, Forrest said. Members of Victoria Police stand on the steps of Parliament House in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 21, 2021. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) Australian Police Officer Quits After Speaking About COVID-19 Restrictions Enforcement A senior Victoria Police officer has publicly resigned from the force during a live-streamed interview after expressing her objection to the way directions from the states chief health officer were being enforced in some situations. In Australia, chief health officers have emergency powers under the Biosecurity Security Act 2015 to make and impose public health orders in attempts to protect human health from COVID-19. Former Acting Senior Sergeant Krystle Mitchell, who has worked for Victoria Police for more than 16 years, appeared in police uniform in an interview with media studio Discernable, which aired on Friday night. I couldnt be happier in terms of the work that I do on a daily basis, she said in the video. But behind that is all of my friends that are police officers, that are working the front line and are suffering every day enforcing [the Victorian chief health officers] directions that a vast majority, or certainly a great majority, dont believe in and dont want to enforce. The consequences of me being here today is that I will be resigning from Victoria Police, effective at the end of this interview, because the consequences of me coming out publicly would be dismissal, she told Discernable host and founder Matthew Wong. So Im choosing to quit, and Im quitting because I cant remedy in my soul anymore the way in which my organisation that I love to work for is being used [to enforce health tyranny] and the damage its causing in the reputation of Victoria Police and the damage its causing to the community. She described an incident when she and her partner were walking together in the city and witnessed police everywhere doing their reassurance patrols.' She commented, Theyre not reassurance patrols, youre not reassuring anybody in the community, youre scaring people in the community that theres that many police out in the city trying to stop mass gatherings. Mitchell explained why she decided to take the interview while still being employed within the police force instead of having resigned beforehand. In part, the reason that I wanted to do this whilst still serving and wearing the uniform today is so that the community can see that it isnt all police that are against them and for police to see that it isnt all protesters that are coming there to fight with you. Its a minority, she said. Theres a minority on both sides and theyre the ones getting the attention in the media. The minority of the police are using more force than is necessary to effect these arrests at protests, or to enforce [chief health officer] directions. The Epoch Times understands that Mitchell resigned on Friday morning, and she is now on personal leave and will not return to work. Prior to her resignation, Mitchell worked in a non-operational role and did not work at any protests. Victoria Police are seen in large numbers during a protest at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, on Sept. 23, 2020. (Darrian Traynor/Getty Images) Speaking about Mitchells interview, Victoria Police said in a statement that officers have been working tirelessly for the past 18 months to enforce the chief health officers directions aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus to keep all Victorians healthy and to save lives. The comments in this interview in no way reflect the views of Victoria Police. The CHO directions are based on health advice and set by the Victorian Government. Victoria Police cannot pick and choose what laws it enforces. We acknowledge this has been an extremely difficult time for all Victorians who have had to give up so much, the statement reads. It continues Just like the community, Victoria Police looks forward to the easing of restrictions and the eventual return to pre-COVID life. The statement also said that officers take their duty to protect and serve the community incredibly seriously, and the force understands how fragile public trust can be and that it was important people can have confidence in what we do. It also addressed mandatory vaccination for members of the force, saying that while officers had important human rights, these must be weighed against the interests of the community during this public health emergency. More anti-lockdown protests were organized in Melbourne on Saturday. Victoria Police said it supported the right for people to peacefully protest and this has not changed. While now is not the time to protest due to risk of the spread of the virus and the current restrictions, Victoria Police is committed to facilitating peaceful protests once the directions allow, the statement said. Melbourne, a city in Victoria and has received global media attention after multiple videos emerged showing police attacking unarmed people, sometimes in a violent manner, amid local protests in recent weeks against COVID-19 vaccine mandates, passports, and lockdowns. The protests often occur on weekends at locations that organizers provide short notice for, to evade police interference. Melbourne has seen the longest lockdown in the world. Lockdown restrictions continue across the city and parts of regional Victoria. The state continues to urge people to take the COVID-19 vaccine, with promises to ease restrictions once 80 percent of people are fully vaccinated. Mimi Nguyen Ly and AAP contributed to this report. Bay Area Counties Adopt Shared Guidelines for Lifting Indoor Mask Requirements SANTA CLARA, Calif.Public health officials in nine jurisdictions across the Bay Area have announced official criteria for lifting COVID-19 indoor mask requirements. The officials made the announcement on Oct. 7. The counties of Alameda, Contra Costa, Marin, Napa, San Francisco, San Mateo, Santa Clara, and Sonoma, as well as the City of Berkeley, cited the decline in COVID-19 cases in the region. The counties and city agreed to lift the mask requirements in indoor public spaces when all three of the following conditions are met: The jurisdiction achieves the moderate (yellow) COVID-19 tier defined by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and stays there for at least three weeks. The health officer judges that COVID-19 hospitalizations are low and stable in the jurisdiction. 80 percent of the jurisdictions population is vaccinated with two doses of Pfizer or Moderna or one dose of Johnson & Johnson, or eight weeks have passed since federal and state authorities have authorized a COVID-19 vaccine for emergency use for children ages 5 to 11. When asked when residents can expect the mask mandates to be lifted, Dr. Sara Cody, director and health officer of the Santa Clara Department of Public Health, said each county might lift the mask requirement at different times depending on each countys situation. Currently, none of the nine jurisdictions meet all three of the criteria for lifting indoor mask requirements. Here in Santa Clara County, as well as most jurisdictions in the Bay Area, we will keep our requirement for indoor masking, regardless of vaccination status, until we meet these metrics that weve adopted across the Bay Area, Cody said during a press conference. NTD News asked whether counties would reinstate mask requirements at any point after lifting them. Cody responded that it would depend on individual counties, as they dont have a shared metric for reimposing indoor mask requirements. But what I can say is that some of the things we will all be looking out for are the emergence of a new variant, how the vaccines do over time with any new variant emerging, and things like that, she said. Cody explained that lifting the local indoor mask mandate doesnt prevent businesses, nonprofits, churches, or public indoor facilities from imposing their own mask requirements. Indoor masking will remain in effect where required under state or federal rules, such as public transportation, hospitals, jails, and schools. Separate from other Bay Area counties, San Francisco announced a more immediate easing of mask requirements. Certain indoor settings where groups of fully vaccinated people gather will no longer require masks beginning Oct. 15. After a year and a half of mask mandates, Bay Area health officers said in their statement that its time to plan for a transition. Logo of Bayer AG is pictured at the annual results news conference of the German drugmaker in Leverkusen, Germany, on Feb. 27, 2019. (Wolfgang Rattay/Reuters) Bayer Blasts Unscientific Rejection by Mexican Regulator of GMO Corn Permit MEXICO CITYBayer is evaluating its legal options after Mexican health regulators for the first time rejected a GMO corn permit it was seeking, the German pharmaceutical and crop science giant said in a statement to Reuters on Friday, blasting the decision as unscientific. Reuters reported earlier in the day that regulator Cofepris rejected the corn permit for future import as the government of President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador hardens its opposition to genetically modified crops. We are disappointed with the unscientific reasons that Cofepris used to deny the authorization, the statement said, identifying the rejected corn variety as using its proprietary HT3 x SmartStax Pro technology. Bayer stressed that the permit denial does not affect its current business, noting that last year the company stopped work on its HT3 hybrid corn varieties due to regulatory delays in the European Union in favor of a new HT4 line which the company expects to launch later this decade. Bayer nonetheless criticized what it described as continuous regulatory delays with Cofepris as well as the possibility of additional permit denials that could have a devastating impact on Mexican supply chains. The company said genetically modified crops including corn have undergone more safety tests than any other crop in the history of agriculture and have been judged safe for humans, animals, and the environment. The Cofepris press office did not respond to multiple requests for comment. Lopez Obrador issued a controversial decree at the end of last year that outlined a three-year plan to ban the weed killer glyphosate and GMO corn for human consumption. Industry associations have sharply criticized the plan and have sought unsuccessfully to persuade judges to strike it down, arguing that it risks a trade dispute with the United States. If the ban is interpreted to include animal feed or other industrial uses, they say it will ultimately hit consumers with higher food prices. The planned prohibition, however, is popular with environmentalists and health-food advocates who argue that spraying glyphosate on the GMO crops designed to tolerate them is indeed harmful. Glyphosate was pioneered by the Roundup brand of weed killers from agrochemical company Monsanto, which was bought by Bayer as part of a $63 billion acquisition in 2018. By David Alire Garcia The Blue Angels C-130, also known as Fat Albert, at the Oakland International Airport on Oct. 7, 2021. (Ilene Eng/The Epoch Times) Blue Angels Pilot Flies Fat Albert for 75th Anniversary OAKLAND, Calif.This year is the 75th anniversary of the U.S. Navy Blue Angels flight demonstration squadron, which performed airshows in San Francisco on the weekend of Oct. 810. The Blue Angels return annually to the Bay Area during Fleet Week before Columbus Day. This year, two new airplanes have made their debuts: the F/A-18 Super Hornet jet and a C-130 transport aircraft known as Fat Albert. U.S. Marine Corps Maj. Rick Rose flies Fat Albert for the Blue Angels. Rose, who is from Napa, California, told NTD Television he has been flying since 2014 and joined the Blue Angels two years ago. Maj. Rick Rose, who flies Fat Albert, at the Oakland International Airport in California on Oct. 7, 2021. (Ilene Eng/The Epoch Times) Fat Albert is kind of the Marine representation on the U.S. Navy Blue Angels squadron. So its a joint MarineNavy squadron, Rose said. And then being a pilot to kind of represent that in addition to the C-130 community in the Marine Corps, its a very special community. Its a small community, but what we do the roles we play and the missions we do throughout the world are so important for Marines. But being a pilot on this aircraft is nothing short of an incredible experience every day. Even though the shows were canceled last year due to the pandemic, Rose said they still practiced at their home base in Florida and at other Navy air stations. Rose said hes humbled to perform before a home crowd to show Northern California what the team can do. Coming full circle, when I was a kid, watching the Blue Angels perform in the Bay Area was a special thing for me and I never thought in a million years Id be now in the show performing, doing the same thing, inspiring future generations, he said. The new F/A-18 Super Hornet at the Oakland International Airport in California on Oct. 7, 2021. (Ilene Eng/The Epoch Times) Fat Albert doesnt have the typical sleek build of Blue Angels aircraft, and it cant match their speed, but its still capable of doing all the stunts. This is Fat Alberts 50th anniversary, but its the year the J model debuts, with six-bladed propellers, upgraded engines, and avionics. For each show site, well carry the whole complement of six pallets of maintenance cargo in addition to about 49 sailors and Marines that are back there, Rose said. So were the logistics and platform to carry everything we need in order to make the show happen, and so getting six jets in the air is kind of surface level of all the teamwork that goes into making this happen. And we carry the Marines and sailors that fix the jets and make sure that theyre putting on a good show for us. He said Fat Albert is a critical asset for the Marines. The support team plays a major role in getting the aircraft off the ground and the show going. Michael Donaldson, a Blue Angels power plant technician who works long hours along with the rest of the team to maintain the planes, at the Oakland International Airport on Oct. 7, 2021. (Ilene Eng/The Epoch Times) Michael Donaldson, a power plant technician with the Blue Angels, told NTD Television: Challenges are probably going to be long working hours, gripes on the jet that are difficult to figure out. But when we all get together and put our brains together, we figure it out. Because its a hand-selected process to be part of the team and many want to join, Donaldson said its the best of close-knit families and the teamwork is incredible. The Blue Angels will head to Colorado, Texas, and Georgia for performances before returning to Florida. California Passes Ethnic Studies Requirement for High School Graduation California Gov. Gavin Newsom signed legislation Oct. 8 making the controversial ethnic studies program a statewide requirement for high school graduation starting in the 202930 school year. The new law also requires junior high schools to offer at least a one-semester course in ethnic studies, commencing with the 202526 school year. Assemblyman Jose Medina (D-Riverside), who authored Assembly Bill 101 (AB 101), said the bill has been a long wait. I think schools are ready now to make curriculum that is more equitable and more reflective of social justice, Medina said in a statement. The inclusion of ethnic studies in the high school curriculum is long overdue. Students cannot have a full understanding of the history of our state and nation without the inclusion of the contributions and struggles of Native Americans, African Americans, Latinos, and Asian Americans. California Governor Gavin Newsom signs multiple bills in Los Angeles on Sept. 29, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The legislation comes in the wake of the National School Board Association comparing angry parents attending school board meetings in recent months to protest ethnic studiesclaiming the subject contains critical race theory (CRT)to a form of domestic terrorism. California Secretary of State Shirley Weber applauded the bill, which she fought to pass while she was an elected member of the state Assembly. At a time when some states are retreating from an accurate discussion of our history, I am proud that California continues to lead in its teaching of ethnic studies, Weber said. This subject not only has academic benefits but also has the capacity to build character as students learn how people from their own or different backgrounds face challenges, overcome them and make contributes to American society. But many parents disagree. They claim the Ethnic Studies Model Curriculum will sow hatred and racial division because its based on CRT, which classifies people as oppressed and oppressors based on privilege and the color of their skin. Celeste Fiehler, a parent in Riverside County who has shown up to protest CRT at local school board meetings in Desert Sands Unified School District, told The Epoch Times that she fears the ethnic studies will backfire and worsen racial tensions in America. Parents have shown up in droves at school board meetings pleading for board members to reject the curriculum and help fight against the state-imposed legislation, Fiehler said. Parents from all walks of life and political parties are pushing back on this hate curriculum, she told The Epoch Times via text message on Oct. 8. Biracial students have it the hardest, having to choose a parent to side with, while being taught to hate the other, and many are being taught to hate the white side of their race. CRT is not only dangerous, but it puts blame on students who have nothing to do with our countrys past. It will cause more division in our schools and in our communities. Demonstrators gather in front of Los Alamitos Unified School District Headquarters in protest of critical race theory teachings in Los Alamitos, Calif., on May 11, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) David Whitley, a concerned parent in Irvine echoed those sentiments. He told The Epoch Times that Californias ethnic studies curriculum teaches racism under the guise of diversity. The public schools need to be teaching American history and all the things that unite us, not the things that divide us, Whitley said. Kelly Schenkoske, a parent in Monterey County who now homeschools her children, has attended Salinas Union High School District meetings in Monterey County to oppose mandatory ethnic studies in the classroom. Newsoms decision to sign AB 101 into law further solidifies the slippery slope California schools have chosen to take, Schenkoske told The Epoch Times via text. The school system has become a vehicle of propaganda, control and neo-Marxist indoctrination. Soil containing various rare earth elements for export at a port in Lianyungang, China, in this undated photo. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) China Controls Supply Chains of the Worlds Critical Minerals Chinas monopoly on processing raw materials is restricting global supply News Analysis Global supply chain interruptions are exacerbated by Chinas lock on chemical processing. In 1987, former Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping said, The Middle East has oil, China has rare earths. It seems that decades ago, the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) had already recognized the importance of controlling raw materials. Beyond mining and extraction, Chinas efforts to hold power over the global raw materials market have included the domination of processing and smelting. This processing-based strategy, combined with government monopolies and lax environmental regulations, has allowed China to become the worlds largest producer of critical raw materials. China dominates the global supply of 21 of the 35 minerals recognized by the U.S. government as critical. This means that China either accounts for the largest imports of these minerals to the United States, has the worlds largest deposits, or is the largest producer. A good example of Chinas dominance in the minerals sector is that there are only three cesium mines in the world, and China controls all of them. Another example is arsenic, which is needed for the manufacture of electronics, as the United States imports 91 percent of its arsenic from China. By dominating the processing of raw materials, and through soft loans from state banks, China is able to undercut its competitors. The 10 largest suppliers, outside of China, collectively produce 35 percent of the worlds raw materials, while China alone produces 45 percent. The United States, by contrast, only produces 7 percent. People gather around a crater of what used to be the Jingxin Mining company, which produced and processed quartz sand in Fengyang, Anhui Province, China in this undated photo. China is the worlds largest producer of rare earth minerals. (AFP/AFP/Getty Images) China commands the global manufacture of electrical vehicles by holding dominion over the chemicals needed to make their batteries, as well as the manufacture of cathodes and anodes, which are core building blocks of lithium-ion batteries. Simon Moores, managing director of Benchmark Mineral Intelligence, has referred to Chinas lock on the industry as a Global Battery Arms Race. The CCP restricts the global supply chain by dominating metal refining, as well as the production of battery-grade chemicals, which restricts the worlds ability to produce electric vehicles (EV). A walk along the global supply chain reveals the CCPs footprints at every level. In the upstream supply chain, lithium, cobalt, nickel, graphite, and manganese are extracted from the ground. Hanns Gunther Hilpert, head of the Asia research division of the German think tank SWP, said that China has worked strategically to control both mining and processing. China has increased its presence in the extractive stage of the value chain through Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) loans and soft power campaigns in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. The midstream supply chain includes two areas that China dominates: refining and production of battery-grade chemicals, as well as the production of cathodes and anodes. Downstream consists of the production of lithium-ion battery cells, another area in which China is the worlds largest producer. China alone accounts for 40 percent of the global chemical market. Only 23 percent of all battery raw materials come out of China. However, 80 percent of battery-grade chemicals are produced in China. They also own 66 percent of the worlds cathode and anode production. As a result, its no surprise that China accounts for 73 percent of lithium-ion battery cell manufacturing. Of the worlds 136 lithium-ion battery plants, 101 are in China. Beijing has invested heavily in the refining of lithium carbonate and hydroxide, cobalt sulfate, manganese, and uncoated spherical graphite. This means that global supply chains flow toward China for crucial value-added stages. The CCPs disregard for human rights and democracy gives it an advantage in obtaining raw materials from conflict zones, where payments for minerals are largely going into the hands of dictators who use the money to buy weapons to oppress the populace. Many of the countries that have the raw materialslocated in Asia, Africa, and Latin Americaare plagued by civil unrest, corruption, and a lack of democracy. These countries typically lack independent courts and have lax enforcement of environmental protection and human rights laws. The Democratic Republic of Congo, which accounts for 60 percent of the worlds cobalt supply, is an excellent example. According to a Human Rights Watch 2020 report on Congo, 4.5 million people have been displaced, 13 million are in need of humanitarian assistance, and 140 armed groups are active. In 2007, China offered the Congolese government a $6 billion infrastructure deal, in exchange for access to minerals. Since 2012, its estimated that Chinese investment in Congos mining sector has increased to $10 billion and that Beijing now administers 30 of the regions 40 mining companies. And yet, 73 percent of the countrys 90 million people continue to live on less than $1.90 per day. People work at the Kalimbi cassiterite artisanal mining site north of Bukavu, Congo, on March 30, 2017. (Griff Tapper/AFP via Getty Images) Raw materials that are sourced from countries with low human rights and low quality of democracy have been dubbed conflict minerals. Corporate social responsibility, international laws, and public opinion are making it more difficult for Western democracies to obtain these minerals. In 2019, the Swiss mining company Glencore shut down its mining operations in Congo, citing increased pressure to stop importing raw materials from conflict zones, among other reasons. As a result, the global supply of 10 extremely important minerals is threatened, including antimony, bismuth, gallium, germanium, and light and heavy rare earth minerals. The CCP, unperturbed by public opinion or international convention, continues to import from conflict zones. Additionally, by dominating the processing of raw materials, the regime has positioned itself to control the worlds supply of the vital inputs of countless lines of consumer- and defense-related products. The global supply chain disruptions of the past 20 months have largely been the result of Chinas command of the flow of raw materials and the CCPs power to dictate which producers can have access to which raw materials and in which quantities. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A boy poses in front of the movie poster of The Battle At Lake Changjin" in a cinema in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on Oct. 2, 2021. (Getty Images) Chinese Regime Promotes War Film With Anti-US Sentiment on Anniversary of Its Rule The Chinese Communist Party (CCP) promoted a film during the past national holiday break with anti-U.S. sentiment and praise for its one-party rule. The CCP marked the anniversary of the start of its rule in China on Oct. 1, with the holiday lasting until Oct. 7. The seven-day holiday, known as Golden Week, saw tightened control over film releases and the implementation of an unofficial ban on foreign productions, including Hollywood blockbusters, as the Party works to keep control over the public sentiment needed to protect its rule. Accordingly, a domestic Korean War-themed film became a blockbuster hit, grossing more than $465 million by its eighth day of release, official data show. Under the title The Battle at Lake Changjin, the three-hour war film praised the victory of Chinese troops battling U.S.-led U.N. forces during the Korean War (19501953), better known in the United States as the Battle of Chosin Reservoir. The multinational troop battled an armed attack by North Korean forces against the Republic of Koreadeemed a breach of peace, according to U.N. Security Council Resolution 84. In the winter of 1950, then-Chinese communist leader Mao Zedong sent millions of soldiers to fight alongside the North Korean military, against U.S., British, and South Korean troops. The North Korean troops were eventually pushed back to the 38th parallel, which has divided North and South Korea since 1945. The war unofficially ended three years later in a cease-fire, without a signed peace treaty. Pyongyang has rejected South Koreas call to declare a formal end to the Korean War. Despite the failure of North Korea to take over the entire Korean peninsula by military force, China has boasted about the national struggle as a successful war to resist U.S. aggression and aid Korea, as experts estimate that the warfare cost as many as 1 million lives. The chief movie producer said the government-sponsored film received heavy investments, according to state-run media. The motherland will not forget, a cinema slogan of the film reads. A boy poses in front of the movie poster of The Battle at Lake Changjin in a cinema in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China, on Oct. 2, 2021. (Getty Images) Luo Changping, a former Chinese journalist, said on social media on Oct. 6 that Chinese people rarely reflect on the justice of the war. He then used a pun to suggest that the soldiers were foolish, according to screenshots of a social media post that can no longer be accessed. Due to the comments, police detained Luo two days later on suspicion of insulting the heroes and martyrs of the Korean War, state media reported. Another film with patriotic themes approved for release during the holiday, My Country, My Parents, was co-directed by several Chinese celebrities, including Zhang Ziyi, the actress who once criticized Dolce & Gabbana in 2018 for disgracing itself amid accusations that it had defamed China. Zhangs criticism came after the Italian luxury fashion brand published promotion videos on social media accounts, presenting a brand model learning to use chopsticks to eat Italian food. Yet, Chinese netizens saw it as a mocking of Chinese culture, which soon sparked an outcry nationwide, including calls for a boycott and the cancelation of one of its biggest shows in Shanghai. Alex Wu and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Submarine USS Connecticut docked at U.S. Naval Base Kitsap-Bremerton in Bremerton, Wash., on May 27, 2021. (Department of Defense via AP) China Seeks Answers After US Nuclear Submarine Collided With Object in South China Sea A U.S. Navy nuclear-powered submarine that was damaged in a collision with an unknown underwater object in the South China Sea last weekend has arrived in port at Guam, the Navy said Friday. No further details about the circumstances of the collision or the extent of damage to the USS Connecticut were available, but Chinas Foreign Ministry expressed serious concern about what happened. Chinas foreign ministry spokesperson, Zhao Lijian, told reporters Friday that the United States should clarify in detail the situation of the accident, including the location, the intention of the sailing, details of the accident, such as what exactly it collided with, whether it caused a nuclear leak, and whether it damaged the local marine environment. When it disclosed the Oct. 2 accident on Thursday, the U.S. Pacific Fleet said that there had been no damage to the submarines nuclear propulsion system and that it had not yet determined what underwater object had been struck. It did not say where the collision happened, but other officials said it was in the South China Sea. The Chinese communist regime claims total sovereignty over the South China Sea, a stance that is not accepted by the United States and its allies. The Chinese regime protests the presence of the U.S. Navy in the area. The South China Sea is among many points of growing contention between Washington and Beijing, including the status of Taiwan, the island that the Chinese regime claims as its own, despite the fact that Taiwan is a de facto independent country, with its own military, democratically-elected government, and constitution. The U.S. submarines underwater collision in the South China Sea was unusual, and the Navy said it is under investigation. About 11 crew members sustained injuries that the Navy said ranged from moderate to minor, including scrapes and bruises. The Connecticut, based at Bremerton, Washington, is one of three Seawolf-class attack submarines in the Navy fleet. Those subs were designed during the Cold War, with the navy of the former Soviet Union in mind, to improve the United States ability to attack submarines and surface ships. Each is operated with a crew of about 140. Zhao reiterated the Chinese regimes objections to a deal announced last month to provide Australia with nuclear-powered submarines in what Beijing sees as part of a campaign to counter its increasing military and economic influence in Asia. Epoch Times staff contributed to this report A Taiwanese Air Force F-16 in foreground flies on the flank of a Chinese People's Liberation Army Air Force (PLAAF) H-6 bomber as it passes near Taiwan on Feb. 10, 2020. (Republic of China (ROC) Ministry of National Defense via AP) China Sends Its Air Force Toward Taiwan: War on the Horizon or a Tempest in a Teapot? Commentary Over the last week or so, Beijing sent about 150 military aircraftbombers, fighters, reconnaissance, and anti-submarine planesthrough Taiwans air defense identification zone (ADIZ). An ADIZ is not legally Taiwans territory, but Taipei does claim authority to monitor and control what flies through it. Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) planes regularly intrude on Taiwans ADIZ, but this time the numbers were more than ever before. And the mix of aircraft was similar to what one would use in combat operations. What to make of all this? Is war over Taiwan imminent or is it just a tempest in a teapot? War in the near-term is unlikely. However, there are several reasons the incursions need to be taken very seriously. Improving PLA Capabilities Xi Jinping means it when he says he will seize Taiwaneither via intimidation or outright force. The PLA, in fact, had its marching orders for decadeslong before Xi came along: Prepare to take Taiwan and to defeat American forces. Major elements of the PLAs training, weapons, and operational development have been specifically designed for these tasks. Over the last 15 years or so, the PLA has markedly improved its capabilities for an invasion or armed attack on Taiwanand it thinks it might succeed. Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) soldiers line up during military training at Pamir Mountains in Kashgar, China, on Jan. 4, 2021. (STR/AFP via Getty Images) In that context, this latest series of Chinese incursions is perhaps best viewed as a demonstration and also a shaping exercise. There are a number of things going on at once: These drills are good real world practice for the PLA air forcesand are taking place in the area they intend to fight. The Peoples Republic of China (PRC) is terrorizing Taiwan and wearing down its defenses, while also numbing people in Taiwan (and Washington) to the idea of PLA aircraft routinely flying near Taiwan. This is also helpful for getting a sense of Taiwanese responses and gaining surprise on the day that Beijing decides to pull the trigger. Xi is sizing up not just Taiwans response, but also the United States, Japan, and other free nations responsesboth operational and politicalto Chinese aggression against Taiwan. One long-time observer notes that these aerial incursions give the PLA the opportunity to measure and evaluate the aggregate Taiwan-U.S. defense umbrella performance [its] a tabletop exercise in real-time, 3D, to assess certain capabilities of the Taiwan-U.S. defense umbrella. Beijing often sends out the PLA Air Force and Navy in response to events it finds irksome such as the recent U.S., Japan, UK, Netherlands, New Zealand, and Canada high-profile naval joint exercises in the Philippine Sea that included three aircraft carriers. The arrival of French politicians and former Australian Prime Minster Tony Abbott in Taipei no doubt displeased Beijing, as did the AUKUS agreement between the Americans, Australians, and the British. This allows Beijing to blame the actions of others for aggressive acts it would be conducting regardless. Implications of the Convenient Distraction Argument China is experiencing some real problems that have built up cumulatively and make the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) look inept. The recent widespread power outages, for example, are a huge embarrassmentnot least since China had to relax its ban on Australian coal to deal with it. The Evergrande property companys collapse is another headache for Zhongnanhai. And remember that for all the shiny skyscrapers in Shenzhen and Shanghai, about 600 million Chinese still live on about $5 a day. Creating external distractions and stoking up the nationalist mob are a standard feature of these sorts of dictatorial regimes. Not all that different from the Argentine junta that picked a fight with Britain over the Falkland Islands in 1982 while Argentinas economy was going down the tubes. These activities help Xi demonstrate his nationalist Taiwan reunification creds domestically and also helps shore up his position before next years National Peoples Congress, where he expects to get total power for as long as hes alive. Even if its a distraction, what it does is cement the invasion of Taiwan as a core element of a CCP leaders domestic political legitimacy. What It Means That the Chinese Flights Were in Taiwans ADIZ Rather Than Its Legal Airspace The PLA flights took place down toward the southern end of the ADIZbetween Formosa and the Pratas Islandbut closer to the Pratas. Some of the aircraft flew partway up the east side of Taiwan as well. Flying down at the southern end of the ADIZ is not the same as flying closer to Formosaor into Taiwans legal airspaceor over Taiwan itself. This was a conscious decision by Beijingand many analysts and commentators claim this demonstrates that Xi is keen not to go too far. However, the inestimable China analyst, Richard Fisher, properly notes that while the PLA aircraft may not have violated Taiwans actual legal airspace, the weapons they carry certainly can and are the real factor in any measurement of intimidation. He correctly points out, for example, that the Chinese bombers involved in the flights carry long-range missiles that can cover all of Taiwan. And Chinese fighters air-to-air missiles are no less formidable, possibly outranging Taiwan Air Force fighters comparable missiles. Thus, one should note that PRC aircraft can cause plenty of trouble even from a distance. Another analyst points out that while the flights took place in the southern part of Taiwans ADIZ and over the South China Sea, that quite possibly owes to the fact that none of the nearby nations will interfere. But try to harass Taiwan from north of Taiwan and the PLA will find itself confronting American and Japanese forces. Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) fighter jets leaving their base in Shanghai, China, on Oct. 23, 2013. (Mark Ralston/AFP/Getty Images) Eventually, Chinese aircraft will move closer and closer to Taiwan, and will one day (probably in the not too distant future) overfly Taiwanese territoryand dare Taiwan to shootand for Washington to do something about it. That will be a big deal. As noted, Beijing is now weighing the U.S. response to last weeks ADIZ incursions. If Washington responds weaklyor even with just the usual rote expression of serious concernit will practically guarantee an eventual overflight of Taiwan by PLA aircraft, with all the dangers that come along with that. Risk of an Accident Leading to War It is possible that an accident, such as a mid-air collision or a pilot with an itchy trigger finger, could spiral into larger conflict. But that spiral will happen only if Beijing wants it to. This writer is more concerned that this latest aerial activity is part of a longer-term Chinese strategy of gradually strangling Taiwanforcing Taiwan to give in under the pressure of political warfare, but willing to seamlessly shift to military force if required. Things are moving closer to a denouement. The Bottom Line One ought to be very worried. Not that an attack will happen tomorrow, but that the PRC is on the move and intending to get what it wants by force. Its been a while, not since the 1940s, that the free world had to face a major power that was looking to conquer territoryand democracy at thatand overtly incorporate it into a fascist dictatorship. Some observers claim such fears are overblown and the PLA lacks the capability to take Taiwan. They argue that the Chinese military has not done the complex exercises necessary to conduct a full-scale invasion and thus cannotand presumably will nothave a go at Taiwan. That may or may not be so, but one notes that the Taliban were beturbaned tribesmen with AK-47s, RPGs, and pickup trucksand a 12th century view of human society. Yet, they did pretty well against the worlds most powerful militaryin part because of Washingtons lack of willingness to appreciate and counter the threat. The PLA does have problems. Every military does. But you underestimate the Chinese at your own risk. This latest move by the PRC against Taiwan may have been a stunt of sorts but, even so, it is dangerous. It is saying: We want Taiwan. We are equipping and training to take Taiwan. We dont care who knows it. What are you going to do about it? Expand the mental aperture and look out a few years, and there is good reason to worry about what is coming. Team Biden hopefully understands this. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. A copper and cobalt mine run by Sicomines is seen in Kolwezi, Democratic Republic of the Congo, on May 30, 2015. (Aaron Ross/Reuters, File Photo) Congos $6 Billion China Mining Deal Unconscionable, Draft Report DAKARThe Democratic Republic of the Congo should renegotiate its $6 billion infrastructure-for-minerals deal with Chinese investors, according to the draft of a report commissioned by a global anti-corruption body of governments, companies, and activists. The draft, seen by Reuters, describes the deal that was first signed in 2008 as unconscionable and urges Congos government to cancel an amendment signed secretly in 2017 that sped up payments to Chinese mining investors and slowed reimbursements of investment in infrastructure. The final report is expected to be released this month by the Extractive Industries Transparency Initiative (EITI), which tracks revenue flows in the oil and mining sectors and counts more than 50 countries, including Congo, as members. The report has no legal force but, if the drafts main conclusions remain, it could bolster Congos push to secure more favorable terms from mining contracts with Chinese investors. President Felix Tshisekedis government is reviewing the 2008 contract and the reserve levels at China Molybdenums Tenke Fungurume mine, after saying Congo was not getting a fair deal. Prime Minister Sama Lukonde Kyenge told a mining conference on Thursday, There has to be some adjustment. The moves represent rare pushback by Congo, the worlds leading producer of the battery metal cobalt and Africas top copper miner, against the Chinese investors who control most of its mining industry. Under the 2008 deal struck with the government of former President Joseph Kabila, Chinese state-owned firms Sinohydro Corp and China Railway Group Limited agreed to build roads and hospitals financed by profits from Congos Sicomines cobalt and copper joint venture. Critics say few of those projects have been realized. Congos government spokesman said he had not read the draft and could not comment. EITIs office in Congo referred Reuters to the terms of reference of the mission and declined to comment further. A Sicomines representative did not respond to requests for comment. China Railway had no immediate comment. Sinohydro did not respond to a request for comment. Fred Zhang, a senior Sicomines official, defended the deal in comments to Reuters last week, saying it had driven development for Congos people, and Sicomines would disburse more funds as production rose. Denunciation The draft, written by two Congolese consultants, recommends the denunciation by the Congolese state of the unconscionable character of the joint-venture convention of April 22, 2008, and the return to the negotiations table by Sicomines shareholders. It says the Chinese companies 68 percent stake in Sicomines is too high since the Congolese contributed all the mining assets and 32 percent of the initial capital. It condemns the previously undisclosed 2017 amendment. Under the 2008 contract, all of Sicomines profits would initially go to reimbursing investments in Congos most urgent infrastructure projects. It was on that basis that parliament agreed to exempt Sicomines from all taxes, the draft says. Under the 2017 amendment, seen by Reuters, only 65 percent of Sicomines profits must initially go toward reimbursing the investments, while 35 percent goes to shareholders. The change could further slow the pace of the infrastructure projects, the draft says. To date, less than $1 billion of the expected $3 billion has been invested, about $1 billion less than projected for this stage, it says. This amendment constitutes a violation of the security of the interests of the Republic, the draft says. The draft report calls for re-evaluating Sicomines reserves, saying a 2010 feasibility study was flawed, and cancelling another contract with the same Chinese investors to build a hydroelectric dam. By Aaron Ross and Helen Reid COVID-19 Cases, Hospitalizations Plummet in Southern US, Rise in Northern States COVID-19 metrics in southern states such as Florida have plummeted in recent weeks while rising in many northern states, including heavily vaccinated states. Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Mississippi have plunged some 95 percent to 268 on Oct. 7 from the peak of 5,018 on Aug. 19. COVID-19 related hospitalizations in the state, one of the worst-hit in the nation, dropped to 403 on Oct. 7 from 1,667 on Aug. 19. Similar drops have been recorded in Alabama, Arkansas, Georgia, Florida, and Texas. At the same time, metrics have been rising in many northern states, including those in New England. Vermont, for instance, went from one case on July 5 to 286 on Oct. 1, and eight hospitalizations in the month of June to 160 in the month of September, though the metrics have been declining in recent days. In North Dakota, active cases jumped to 4,485 on Oct. 7 from 143 on July 5 while hospitalizations rose from 9 to 184. Seasonal Pattern Experts say the shift is part of a seasonal pattern for the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, which causes COVID-19. Last year, cases started to decrease in the south at the same time they increased in much of the upper Midwest and other northern areas. The same pattern is playing out again, Dr. Scott Atlas, who advised then-President Donald Trump and is now a senior fellow in health care policy at the Hoover Institution, told The Epoch Times. Weve seen some kind of seasonality, or really cycles where we have seen these surges, Dr. Adnan Munkarah, executive vice president and chief clinical officer for the Henry Ford Health System in Michigan, said during a briefing this week. Active cases and hospitalizations have risen 97 percent and 96 percent, respectively, in the state since hitting lows in early July. Experts arent sure whats driving the pattern. Possibilities include differences in humidity and temperature, which may lead more people to spend longer portions of time indoors. The virus spreads much more easily in crowded indoor spaces. Another key factor, many experts say, is the protection populations have against the virus. Protection can come from vaccination or prior infection, also known as natural immunity. Both do well against severe disease but protection from infection has been waning among the vaccinated, dropping by half for Pfizers shot after five months, according to one recent study. The decline in cases is likely due to a decrease in spread of the Delta variant due to a combination of an increasing proportion of the population that is vaccinated and an increasing proportion of the population that has gained temporary immunity because they have been infected and survived COVID-19, Danyelle McNeill, public information officer for the Arkansas Department of Health, told The Epoch Times in an email. Some had thought the rising number of people with immunity would prevent another set of waves, or sharp increases in COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths, but that proved inaccurate. Multiple states have seen numbers similar to or even higher than previous peaks. We thought we were out of the woods, Dr. Michael Saag, professor of medicine at the University of Alabama at Birminghams Division of Infectious Diseases, told The Epoch Times. The end of June seemed like everything was settling down. And then July 4 weekend hit, and that was coincident with Delta really exploding, and throughout July, and especially August, all hell broke loose. New cases peaked in Alabama on Aug. 15. Theyve since dropped 70 percent. Hospitalizations peaked around the same time. Theyve decreased about 62 percent as of Oct. 8. Nationwide, both cases and hospitalizations have dropped since hitting peaks in late August and early September. Dr. Scott Harris, Alabamas state health officer, points at a computer screen in his office in Montgomery, Ala., on June 29, 2021. (Elijah Nouvelage/AFP via Getty Images) Humbled Scientists are becoming more aware that the CCP virus is different than other viruses. The epidemic is almost impossible to predict, Saag said. Ive been humbled tremendously about this epidemic in terms of having no ability to predict, really, what to expect. I would not be telling the truth if I told you I knew, Dr. Scott Harris, Alabamas state health officer, said during his weekly update on Oct. 8 when asked why cases in the state have gone down so quickly. Federal health officials and modelers have consistently been wrong with predictions, including models that vastly overestimated how many people would need hospital care last year. Things have changed. We didnt know things early on, Dr. Anthony Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, said during a recent appearance on Hugh Hewitts radio show. One problem stems from how hospitalizations are counted, Atlas noted. Approximately half of COVID-19 hospitalizations may have been admitted for another reason entirely, researchers said last month. Thats a major issue when counting child hospitalizations. Many of the children have respiratory syncytial virus, which is more dangerous to young children than COVID-19. Mandates Disputed Governors in many states imposed harsh restrictions in 2020 when the pandemic started. Others have continued issuing orders, including mask mandates. Governors in southern states were denounced earlier this year for largely opposing mandates. President Joe Biden on multiple occasions blamed them for the rise in metrics. He suggested the opposition was contributing to the spike in metrics in southern states. The escalation of cases is particularly concentrated in states with low vaccination rates. Just two states, Florida and Texas, account for one-third of all new COVID-19 cases in the entire country. Just two states, Biden told a press conference in August. At a separate briefing, he said masks and vaccines are the two best ways to protect against COVID-19, and he alleged that governors trying to forbid mask mandates for schools were setting a dangerous tone. But the governors pushed back, and an increasing number of officials say the effectiveness of the mandates is unclear. The data and the science doesnt back up more restrictive measures, Vermont Gov. Phil Scott, a Republican, told reporters on Oct. 5. For instance, I think theres seven states across the country that still have a state of emergency and mask mandates. Their data doesnt look any different than ours. In fact, its worse than ours. So their mitigation measures havent worked. And you see this time and time again. Officials in Vermont are encouraging mask-wearing in certain conditions and urging everybody to get vaccinated but have avoided mask and vaccine mandates. Vermont has the lowest COVID-19 deaths per 100,000 residents, according to an age adjustment of mortality data reported to the federal government. Hawaii, which has imposed some of the strictest measures anywhere in the world, is second. Weve made decisions based on the disease burden in our community, daily new case counts, test positivity rates, resource capacities such as health care staffing, emergency department capacity, oxygen, and the number of available hospital bed and ICU units. And weve been successful, Hawaii Gov. David Ige, a Democrat, told a press conference on Oct. 8. Even after the recent spike in Florida, which saw its highest hospitalization totals during the pandemic, the state is 27th. The dramatic decline in COVID-19 metrics in the state happened without lockdowns, mask mandates, or vaccine passports, Christina Pushaw, press secretary for Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis, told The Epoch Times via email. DeSantis has prioritized early treatment of COVID-19, primarily through monoclonal antibodies, a drug shown in studies to prevent hospitalizations, as well as vaccinating the elderly. There is a lot we still dont know about COVID-19. However, it is clear from the past 18 months that cases rise and fall in certain regions at different times of year, regardless of whether governments impose restrictions like lockdowns and mask mandates, Pushaw said. Hospital workers process COVID-19 tests at a hospital in Aiea, Hawaii, on Sept. 15, 2021. (Caleb Jones/AP Photo) Moving Forward Experts believe higher vaccination rates will help protect against future waves, especially among people who dont have antibodies from recovering from COVID-19. We should try to make sure that everybody who is old who hasnt had COVID gets vaccinated, Dr. Martin Kulldorff, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and a senior scholar at the Brownstone Institute for Social and Economic Research who has advised DeSantis, told The Epoch Times. Saag said, We have a series or group of incredibly effective vaccines if we can only get people to roll up their sleeves and get it. While the number of vaccinated Americans getting infected, hospitalized, and dying continues to rise, data from states across the country dont track prior immunity, though patients are often asked if they have had COVID-19 when being admitted to hospitals. A series of studies have shown that people who recover from COVID-19 are at little risk of reinfection. The Grand Princess cruise ship makes its way to an anchorage, in San Francisco, March 16, 2020. (Eric Risberg,File/AP Photo) Cruise Ships to Return to San Francisco After 19-Month Hiatus SAN FRANCISCOCruise ships are returning to San Francisco after a 19-month hiatus brought on by the coronavirus pandemic. Mayor London Breed announced the Majestic Princess will sail into the port of San Francisco on Monday. Its the first cruise ship to dock in the San Francisco Bay Area since March 2020, when the Grand Princess captured the worlds attention. The ship was carrying people infected with the coronavirus, and thousands on board were quarantined as it idled off the California coast. The Majestic Princess will sail from Los Angeles for a weeklong California coast voyage that will include an overnight stop in San Francisco. The port of San Francisco expects to welcome 21 cruise ships through the remainder of the year. Passengers will have to show they were vaccinated at least 14 days before embarking on the cruise and have proof of vaccination. They must also have a negative COVID-19 test taken within two days of their embarkation, according to a statement from Princess Cruises, a Carnival Corp. subsidiary that operates the vessel. The CDCs latest cruise ship guidance recommends passengers show proof of vaccination and a recent negative test. It advises travelers who are at higher risk for severe COVID-19 illness to avoid cruises. David Matas (R) speaks at a rally after receiving the Friends of Falun Gong Human Rights award jointly with David Kilgour (L) in Washington on June 20, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) David Matas: CCPs Human Rights Abuses Continue as Notorious 610 Office Officials Investigated Chinese regime has not 'switched gears' in its brutal suppression of Falun Gong adherents, Matas says The corruption charges and subsequent downfall of several top officials in Chinas Gestapo-like 610 Office doesnt mean the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) is changing its ways when it comes to its disregard for human rights, says well-known rights lawyer David Matas. Fu Zhenghua, a longtime official in the Chinese public security sector, was recently placed under investigation for suspected serious violations of discipline and the law according to an Oct. 2 statement issued by the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, the CCP department that polices corruption. Prior to serving as justice minister from 2018 to 2020, Fu headed the 610 Office, a secretive agency created by former CCP leader Jiang Zemin to co-ordinate and implement the persecution campaign against Falun Gong adherents that began in 1999. Matas, an international human rights lawyer based in Winnipeg, says the downfall of Fu and other high-ranking members of the 610 Office in recent years is due to fierce political infighting within the regime, rather than a change of heart by the CCP toward Falun Gong. Everybody, at least at the senior level of the party, is manoeuvring for position and everybody wants to move up a step. Many of them have used the persecution of Falun Gong as a device for escalating their status in the Party, including Bo Xilai and Zhou Yongkang, Matas told The Epoch Times. But I wouldnt attribute it to the fact that the Party has somehow switched gears on the persecution of Falun Gong. The persecution of Falun Gong just becomes surrogated in an internal communist Party power struggle and the use of corruption by the disciplinary committee is basically just a political tool for manipulation in the power struggle. The trial and sentencing in 2013 of Bo Xilai, the former Party secretary of Chongqing, kicked off Beijings anti-corruption campaign, which within a few years saw the arrests and trials of multiple high-ranking CCP members, including Zhou Yongkang, the powerful former head of the domestic security apparatus. The senior officials ousted in the CCP infighting in recent months include Peng Bo, a former deputy director in the 610 Office who was expelled from the Party on Aug. 17 after months of investigation, and Deng Huilin, a former security official who stood trial on charges of bribery on Sept. 10. Falun Gong, also known as Falun Dafa, is a spiritual practice that includes meditation exercises and teachings based on the principles of truthfulness, compassion and forbearance. The traditional practice spread rapidly across China in the 1990s, with an estimated 70-100 million practitioners by 1999. Jiang Zemin perceived Falun Gongs popularity as a threat to the totalitarian rule of the officially atheistic communist regime, and in July 1999 launched a violent suppression campaign aimed at eradicating the practice. Matas says the persecution campaign constitutes whats known as a cold genocide. The concept for cold genocide is that its a genocide which doesnt happened briefly, quickly, visibly, but happens slowly, and its not all that visible. And the numbers [of those killed] accumulate over time rather than occur all at once. He said the international community should do everything thats possible to bring the CCP to justice for its human rights abuses. He also warned that Chinas hostage diplomacy has not ended with the recent release of Michael Kovrig and Michael Spavor, the two Canadians who were detained by Chinese authorities in Dec. 2018 shortly after Canada arrested Huawei senior executive Meng Wanzhou on a U.S. warrant to extradite her on charges of bank fraud. Kovrig and Spavor arrived in Canada on Sept. 25, after Beijing released the two in a deal that ensured Mengs return to China the same day. I wouldnt say that just because the Michaels were returned, the threat of hostage diplomacy from China is over. On the contrary, the whole sequence shows that once it has happened, it obviously can happen again, Matas said, adding that there are still over 100 Canadians detained in China, including Sun Qian, who was jailed for practicing Falun Gong. Its not as if the Chinese said OK, were sorry, we shouldnt have done it, we apologize. Theyre saying it didnt happen, that it wasnt hostage diplomacy, which means obviously they could do it again because they just deny it happening, but at the same time it is happening. Frank Fang contributed to this article. Divine Art and the Heritage of Beauty to Be Discussed at Chicago Conference An invitation to Return to Beauty, the Catholic Art Institutes annual conference The late philosopher and writer Sir Roger Scruton famously said: I want to persuade you that beauty matters; that it is not just a subjective thing, but a universal need of human beings. If we ignore this need we find ourselves in a spiritual desert. Philosopher and writer Sir Roger Scruton made the keynote address at the 2017 Catholic Art Guild (now the Catholic Art Institute) conference: Beauty & the Restoration of the Sacred. (Courtesy of the Catholic Art Institute) The award-winning classically trained painter Kathleen Carr founded the Chicago-based nonprofit Catholic Art Institute (CAI) because she felt that we had already drifted into that desert, she wrote in an email. Today our cultural heritage of beauty is threatened. Within academia, in major art institutions, in our culture at large, and regrettably, within the church itself, traditional standards of beauty are often seen as irrelevant or are directly attacked, she said. The CAI exists to quench our inherent thirst for beauty. It ardently focuses on restoring a culture of beauty, truth, and goodness, according to the institutes website. To achieve such noble goals, the CAI supports artists who offer their gifts for the greater glory of God, through prayers, networking, and educational events. After missing two years, on Oct. 24 the CAI will resume its largest and most prestigious event: its annual conference and gala. The conference will bring together leading artists and scholars to focus on the Return to Beauty. Architect Duncan G. Stroik presented at the 2017 annual conference. Presentations for the 2021 Catholic Art Institute conference will be held in the same room, the Grand Ballroom of The Drake Hotel, in Chicago. (Courtesy of the Catholic Art Institute) Following a choral High Mass in Chicagos historic St. John Cantius Church, speakers will present in The Drake Hotels Grand Ballroom, followed by an elegant banquet. The event will conclude with a question and answer panel discussion moderated by The Federalists art critic William Newton. Scruton gave the keynote address at the CAIs inaugural conference in 2017, when the institute was known as the Catholic Art Guild. This year, the keynote speaker will be Rome-based art historian, author, and tour guide Elizabeth Lev. In her talk, titled Returning to Wonder: Lessons From the Giants of Italian Art, Lev will discuss why Christians initially became involved with art and how they employed human creativity to underscore key Christian beliefs. She will demonstrate her talk by looking at masterpieces from the Renaissance, the Counter-Reformation period, and the Baroque era, covering giants of Italian art such as Michelangelo, Caravaggio, and Bernini. Other speakers include New York Post op-editor, columnist, and author Sohrab Ahmari, who will talk about liminality, communitas, and beauty in reference to cultural anthropologist Victor Turners defense of the Tridentine Mass, the traditional Latin Mass. In his talk, Beauty Will Save the World, producer and director Cameron OHearn will discuss how art changed the course of his life, and how artists can change the world by reminding us of our purpose. As Scruton reminded us: The great artists of the past were aware that human life is full of chaos and suffering. But they had a remedy for this. And the name of that remedy was beauty. The CAIs conference Return to Beauty, could be just the antidote for these tumultuous times. All are welcome to attend the Catholic Art Institutes Return to Beauty Conference & Gala; attendees need not be Catholics or institute members to attend. To find out more and to purchase tickets, visit CatholicArtInstitute.org Vehicles are parked where Jacob Blake was shot by police in Kenosha, Wis., on Aug. 28, 2020. (Russell Contreras/AP Photo) DOJ Closes Probe of Officer Who Shot Jacob Blake; No Charges Filed The Department of Justice (DOJ) on Oct. 8 closed a federal probe into the police shooting of a black man in Kenosha, Wisconsin. No charges were filed. Officials with the DOJs Civil Rights Division and the U.S. Attorneys Office for the Eastern District of Wisconsin made the decision because the evidence obtained is insufficient to prove that the KPD officer willfully used excessive force, the DOJ said in a statement. Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey shot Jacob Blake seven times as he tried to enter a vehicle that contained several children. Blake was accused of having sexual relations with a woman without her consent in May 2020. On Aug. 23, 2020, officers were called by the same woman, who said her boyfriend, Blake, was at a residence in Kenosha but wasnt supposed to be there. After officers arrived at the scene, they tried to arrest Blake, who refused to cooperate and attempted to escape in the vehicle. Sheskey then shot him to prevent him from leaving the scene. Blake was armed with a knife. The shooting left him partially paralyzed. The Kenosha County District Attorneys Office decided in January not to charge Sheskey, saying it couldnt be proven that the officers werent acting in self-defense. DOJ officials decided shortly after the shooting to open a federal civil rights investigation. But they also were unable to prove that Sheskeys actions violated Blakes constitutional rights, according to the update. Kenosha police officer Rusten Sheskey. (Courtesy of Wisconsin Department of Justice via AP) Jacob Blake answers questions from a hospital during a hearing in Kenosha, Wis., on Sept. 4. 2020. (Kenosha County Court via AP) Under the applicable federal criminal civil rights laws, prosecutors must establish, beyond a reasonable doubt, that an officer willfully deprived an individual of a constitutional right, meaning that the officer acted with the deliberate and specific intent to do something the law forbids. This is the highest standard of intent imposed by the law. Neither accident, mistake, fear, negligence, nor bad judgment is sufficient to establish a willful federal criminal civil rights violation, the DOJ said. After a careful and thorough review, a team of experienced federal prosecutors determined that insufficient evidence exists to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the KPD officer willfully violated the federal criminal civil rights statutes. Accordingly, the review of this incident has been closed without a federal prosecution. Officials reviewed evidence obtained by the FBI and state investigators. A lawyer representing the Blake family didnt respond to a request for comment by press time. Sheskeys lawyer said in January that the officers who were on the scene did an outstanding job under challenging circumstances, adding that Sheskey was presented with a difficult and dangerous situation and he acted appropriately and in accordance with his training. Rylin, Hartlyn, Casey Paxton and Nolan Goff gather on the front porch of their home in Flagler Beach, Fla. October 7, 2021 (Photo, courtesy of Casey Goff) Florida Health Department Threatens to Call Police When Mom Refuses to Wear a Mask Despite the county-wide lifting of a mask mandate, including in government buildings, the director of a Florida health department threatened to call the police when a mother refused to put on a mask. On Oct. 6, Casey Goffa Flagler Beach resident and mother of fourwent to the Flagler County Health Department with her 3-year-old daughter to apply for a religious exemption. The effort was part of a proactive measure to opt out of any future efforts by the Flagler County School Board (FCSB) to impose mask mandates on her children. I walked in and a lady offered me a mask, Goff explained to The Epoch Times, adding that she declined the mask and continued to the window to check in for her scheduled appointment. After filling out four sets of paperwork, one for each of her children, Goff sat waiting. A half-hour later, Goff said Mr. Robert (Bob) Snyder the Health Officer at Flagler County Health Department walked past her and said something to the woman behind the counter. They called the lady over that was offering masks and she brought the box of masks over to me and told me to wear a mask or I couldnt stay, Goff said. I then turned my video camera on and what happened next is absolute tyranny. If you do business here, you have to wear a mask, maam, Snyder is seen in the video telling Goff. He informs her this is a health care facility and then asks if he is being filmed, at which point Goff confirms she is filming him. Im asking you to put [on] a mask, please, Snyder insists. Im not going to wear a mask, Goff returned. But I need to do my business. Well, sorry, Snyder counters. Im asking you to wear a mask, politely and nicely, please. I understand, Goff replies, explaining she cannot wear a mask because she cant breathe when wearing a mask and that she isnt sick. What business do you have here, Snyder asks. When Goff explains she is only there to apply for a religious exemption for her children, he seems to be accepting of her position and he asks the woman behind the counter to give her the paperwork for a religious exemption. A back and forth ensues regarding where in the facility Goff will have to go to complete her request and when it is determined she will have to enter their clinical area, Snyder returns to his position that she will have to wear a mask. Goff declines, insisting she isnt sick and she will not be within six feet of anyone. Snyder argues that masks are a protective device to protect people from catching the virus. Goff argues that he and everyone else is wearing a mask, so why does she have to wear one if their masks are protecting them. You dont have a right to possibly infect other people, Snyder insists, at which point Goff reiterates that she isnt sick. At that point, Snyder turns to tell the woman behind the plexiglass to call the police. They Have to Accommodate Everyone Im not sick! Goff told The Epoch Times. I have the antibodies! The health department is a place of public accommodation and its the only place that I can go to get my religious exemption. They have to accommodate everyone and not discriminate. Im not sure if he was trying to make a spectacle and teach me a lesson about control and his authority but what he did is not right, its not okay, and its not even legal. The Epoch Times reached out to the Flagler County Health Department for a statement regarding the confrontation. The Florida Department of Health in Flagler County is a health care facility that treats medically vulnerable individuals, Gretchen Smith Communications Manager & Public Information Officer for Florida Department of Health in Flagler, told The Epoch Times. Accordingly, we require, as an entity, masks inside our officesjust like hospitals and other health care facilities do. Our goal during this pandemic has been to prevent any situation that would place our employees and clients in harms way. However, at their May 3 board meeting, the Flagler County Board of County Commissioners (FCBOCC) voted to rescind the countys mask requirement effective immediately. This ruling includes all government buildings. Smith further insisted that after asking Mrs. Goff to comply with our mask requirement, she refused, became angry and disruptive to other clients as she began filming with her cellphone in our lobby. However, from multiple videos supplied to The Epoch Times by Goff, there there was only one other person in the lobby and Goff remained calm. This prompted staff to call the Bunnell Police in case we needed help escorting her from the property, Smith said further. Fortunately, the police did not have to intervene, and our nurse handled Mrs. Goffs request for religious exemptions while standing outside of the building, Smith added. Another video supplied by Goff showed Snyder asking the nurse if Goff could complete her paperwork outside. The nurse said she could and Goff agreed to go with her to complete the forms outside. We ask everyone who enters this building to wear a mask and will continue this practice until COVID-19 is behind us once and for all, Smith concluded. Eradicating COVID-19 However, aside from the fact that the FCBOCC had rescinded the county mask mandate, numerous experts have said it is unlikely we will ever eradicate COVID-19, especially considering the mutations like the Delta variant. Sir Andrew Pollard, head of the Oxford Vaccine Group and one of the lead researchers in the creation of the AstraZeneca-University of Oxford vaccine told British lawmakers in August thatas COVID-19 vaccines did not stop the spread of the virus entirely because fully vaccinated people are known to still contract and spread the virusthe idea of ever achieving herd immunity is mythical. Rustom Antia, an evolutionary biologist at Emory University in Atlanta told The New York Times that the virus is unlikely to go away. Even Dr. Anthony Fauci has said it is unlikely the coronavirus will ever be eradicated. Debate on Masks Continues One more thing to clarify, Smith said in a second response to The Epoch Times by email. There are no religious exemptions for masks. There are only religious exemptions for school-required vaccines for children under age 18. By the age of 18, the vast majority of children have already graduated, and while the Flagler Schools Back to School Plans for Health, Safety and Learning During COVID-19 states face coverings are optional and will be provided to students and staff if requested, members of the FCSB had again addressed the issue of imposed mask mandates at their Sept. 7 meeting. While board member Jill Woolbright emphasized that imposing mask mandates were legally off the table until the governors ban on masks was overturned, board member Colleen Conklin argued that evidence showed masks help mitigate the spread of the virus. Conversely, information drawn from recently released Florida Department of Health and Florida Department of Educationobtained by The Epoch Times from Christina Pushaw, Press Secretary for the Executive Office of Gov. Ron DeSantisshows masks have little to no effect in preventing the spread of the virus. According to the latest statistics, new COVID-19 cases for children ages 517 decreased 79 percent during the month of September in the 54 Florida counties where school districts have no mask mandates or are following state law by honoring the parental opt-out rule. By comparison, COVID-19 cases for children in the same age group in the 13 districts that imposed forced-masking in schools decreased 77 percent. Additionally, the 54 Florida districts with opt-outs or no mask mandates have also seen an average decrease of 65 percent in positivity from Aug. 19when school startedto Sept. 30. In the meantime, the 13 districts that imposed mask mandates without offering an opt-out provision for parents have seen an average decrease of 67 percent. That is to say, the data for this school year to date shows no impact of forced masking in schools on pediatric COVID-19 prevalence, Pushaw noted. This is not surprising, since there were no statistically significant differences in case rates in forced-masking versus mask-optional schools during the 2020-21 school year in Florida. Once again, Pushaw said of the newly released statistics, reality has directly contradicted the dire predictions of lock down and mandate advocates, who insisted that opening schools without mask mandates would cause an explosion of infections. I wasnt a threat to them, Goff said. No one was belligerent. I wasnt disruptive. Ive already had the virus. I have antibodies. I know Flagler County no longer has a mask mandate. This was coming from a place of control, not safety. This was about the health officer trying to make an example of me. Florida Mom Compares DOJ Using FBI Against Parents to Dogs and Water Hoses Against Black Americans Fighting for Civil Rights America First Legal formally requests an 'investigation regarding potential improprieties' of Merrick's memo The National School Boards Association (NSBA) recently characterized the effort of parents who engage in passionate opposition to forced masking and the indoctrination of their children through critical race theory (CRT) as a form of domestic terrorism. In response, a Florida mom equates the weaponization of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) against parents trying to protect their children to using dogs and water hoses on black Americans fighting for civil rights. How it Began On Oct. 4, Attorney General Merrick Garland issued a memo instructing the director of the FBI addressing what he described as a disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff who participate in the vital work of running our nations public schools. The memo was in response to a Sept. 29 letter (pdf) from the NSBA to the Biden administration comparing what it describes as attacks against school board members and educators for approving policies for masks to protect the health and safety of students and school employees and physical threats because of propaganda purporting the false inclusion of critical race theory within classroom instruction and curricula as equivalent to a form of domestic terrorism and hate crimes. For this, the NSBAs letter specifically solicits the expertise and resources of the U.S. Department of Justice, FBI, U.S. Department of Homeland Security, U.S. Secret Service, and its National Threat Assessment Center regarding the level of risk to public school children, educators, board members, and facilities/campuses. The NSBA also requested assistance of the U.S. Postal Inspection Service to intervene against threatening letters and cyberbullying attacks that have been transmitted to students, school board members, district administrators, and other educators. While spirited debate about policy matters is protected under our Constitution, that protection does not extend to threats of violence or efforts to intimidate individuals based on their views Garland stated in his memo to the FBI. Threats against public servants are not only illegal, they run counter to our nations core values. Those who dedicate their time and energy to ensuring that our children receive a proper education in a safe environment deserve to be able to do their work without fear for their safety. Parents Speak Out According to Quisha King, the government knows that the growing number of parents who are going to school board meetings to voice their opinions against CRT are gaining a lot of attention, and they want to do everything possible to shut that down. Kingthe Florida mom whose comments before the Duval County School Board went viral on social media in Junesaid the school board members who are determined to push their agenda are now so desperate to stop the momentum of the parents who oppose them they will use the government against its own people to silence them. We probably never thought that would happen in America, King told The Epoch Times. Its outrageous. A file photo of Quisha King. (Courtesy of Quisha King) Asked if the threat to use the FBI to treat parents who oppose CRT at school board meetings as domestic terrorists would dissuade her from speaking out in the future, King said absolutely not. In fact, I think this is going to backfire, King asserted. Youre going to see even more parents. Of all sides of the political spectrum, come out and say wait a minute, the FBI is coming after parents who just want to give their children the best life possible. This isnt going to dissuade us. Its only going to rally more of us. While King concedes there may have been instances of parents expressing anger at meetings or sending inappropriate emails, she is unaware of anyone erupting into violence or harming any school board members. King also said the threat to use the power of the FBI to shut down parents who are turning out in increasing numbers to stand up for their children at school board meetings is only going to open the eyes of parents who have been teetering on the idea of pulling their children from public schools altogether and finally tip them over the edge. During her speech at Thursdays Family Research Councils annual Pray Vote Stand Summit, King received an extended standing ovation when she suggested parents stage a mass exodus from the public system. Asked to expand on that statement, King said she has already begun working on the idea by speaking to parents who may be hesitant and working with them to find solutions before setting a specific date to stage the mass exodus on a national level. Anyone who is involved in wanting to have freedom and liberty in this country and believes in what this country stands for is being attacked, Duval County, Florida, resident April Carney told The Epoch Times, saying part of the reason why she chose to run for a position on the school board is because the choices of parents are systematically being taken away. Those of us who are parents and are thoroughly involved in our childs education, we want to be included in the decision making process regarding the curriculum and the rules and regulations that are being put in place in schools, Carney said. That has completely stopped. Theres been too much activism brought into the classroom and not enough emphasis on reading, writing and arithmetic, science and our students are failing because of that. Karen Schoen at home in Flagler County Florida in 2017. (Photo courtesy of Karen Schoen) Our first problem as Americans is we arent naming the enemy, Karen Schoen, a former educator and dean in the New York school system told The Epoch Times, suggesting that the real enemy are the globalist communists seated in positions of power on both sides of the political aisle. Communism cannot have opposition or dissent, Schoen insisted. They will not tolerate anybody who calls them out, and now that Americans are fighting back they are weaponizing government agencies to shut down any dissent. We dont want to co-parent with the government, Jessico Bowman told The Epoch Times. We want to be involved in our childrens education and upbringing because thats our responsibility. If the DOJ wants to classify that as domestic terrorism thats really the DOJs problem, Charles Bowman added, saying that when it comes down to it, the community will rally together. We are going to voice our opinion and we are going to support the people who want to voice their opinions. Who gets to decide whats a threat versus just an angry parent speaking out? Jessico asked. Do we trust them [the government] to make that determination for us at the federal level? Charles and Jessico Bowman participating in the October ground game as members of the Republican Liberty Caucus ahead of the 2020 election in Lake County, Fla. (Photo courtesy of Charles and Jessico Bowman) If you as parents are not going to advocate for the best interests of your children then who will, Charles interjected. Like Jessico said, were not interested in co-parenting with the government at all. But it is our responsibility as parents to make sure our children are safe. If we dont, we can be labeled as cowards. As The Epoch Times reported in August, the Bowmans were recently embroiled in a struggle with the Flagler County school system regarding a surprise, random, haphazard COVID-19 protocol that had children being sent to isolation rooms, quarantined at home with requirements to undergo a series of COVID-19 tests and leaving confused parents scrambling to make sense of it all. They dont want people speaking their mind, Charles said. They dont want people having a voice in this process. This has always been part of the lefts playground in the public education system, so here you are, theyve rattled the right to the point where conservatives are getting involved. Now theyre trying to figure out how to get the conservatives quiet again. Theyve overstepped, and now theyre trying to figure out how to regain control over the sandbox. Conservative Organizations Join Parents What the NSBA did, requesting that the FBI weaponize the federal government against parents and grandparents is not only a strict violation of the First Amendment, it is the most egregious abuse of power I have seen recently, Keith Flaugh, founder of the Florida Citizens Alliance told The Epoch Times. Keith Flaugh speaks at Florida Citizens Alliance Gala in Ocala, Feb. 2020. (Photo courtesy of Keith Flaugh) We are big supporters of the Tenth Amendment, Flaugh added, and I think this is going to force the issue of governors like Ron DeSantis to use the Tenth Amendment. The Tenth Amendmentpassed by Congress on Sept. 25, 1789 and ratified Dec. 15, 1791states that the powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the States, are reserved to the States respectively, or to the people. Flaugh further stated that this effort to use the power of the government against its own citizens is also a beacon call to every constitutional sheriff in the country. A constitutional sheriff has the legal authority and duty to interpose against the federal government when they are overreaching their constitutional authority, Flaugh explained. Weve got a federal government thats completely out of control and weve seen it manifest itself on a number of fronts. This is just the latest and most egregious. It is literally weaponizing the federal government against its citizens. And even though it will probably make me one of their targets I will be urging people to stand up and say I will not comply. Were urging people to do it peacefully, Flaugh clarified, but at the end of the day, I will not comply, period. Full stop. In an Oct. 7 letter (pdf) addressed to The Hon. Michael E. Horowitz, Inspector General for the Department of Justice, Reed D. Rubinstein, Senior Counselor and Director of Oversight and Investigations for the America First Legal (AFL) Foundation formally requested an Investigation Regarding Potential Improprieties Related to the October 4, 2021, Attorney Generals Memorandum. The Supreme Court has repeatedly recognized American parents fundamental liberty interest in and Constitutional right to control and direct the education of their own children, Rubinstein states in the letter. However, Rubenstein asserts that the DOJ appears to be committing the full weight of its federal law enforcement resources to prevent parents from exercising constitutionally-protected rights and privileges, for inappropriate partisan purposes. In addition, under the Freedom of Information Act, the AFL Foundation has also filed a request (pdf) for the following documents: All records of, concerning, or regarding (1) the Garland Memorandum and/or (2) the NSBA Letter. All records sufficient to show each person within the Department who reviewed (1) the Garland Memorandum and/or (2) the NSBA Letter. All records created by the Department showing the disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence referenced in the Garland Memorandum. All records the Department relied upon to support the Garland Memorandum statement there has been a disturbing spike in harassment, intimidation, and threats of violence against school administrators, board members, teachers, and staff who participate in the vital work of running our nations public schools. All records created by the Department showing the rise in criminal conduct directed toward school personnel referenced in the Garland Memorandum. All records the Department relied upon to support the Garland Memorandum statement there has been a rise in criminal conduct directed toward school personnel. All records sufficient to show the Departments understanding and interpretation of the term intimidation and harassment used in the Garland Memorandum. All communications from, with, or regarding any person employed by the National Education Association and/or the American Federation of Teachers. All communications with any person having an email address including eop.gov regarding (1) the Garland Memorandum, (2) the NSBA, (3) the NSBA Letter, the National Education Association and/or the American Federation of Teachers and/or (5) any person employed by the National Education Association and/or the American Federation of Teachers. Asked about the optics of FBI agents descending upon school board meetings to drag parents away from podiums, King was forthright in her prediction. It will be reminiscent of using dogs and water hoses on black Americans who were fighting for civil rights, she said bluntly. The Epoch Times reached out to the NSBA and FBI for comment. 4 States in Northeastern US Sign Pact to Share Data on Guns New York and three other states have signed a pact to share information on guns used in crimes. New York Gov. Kathy Hochul and three other DemocratsConnecticut Gov. Ned Lamont, Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf, and New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphyannounced the partnership (pdf) on Oct. 7. According to the agreement, gun violence continues to plague communities throughout the four states and the nation as a whole. Law enforcement agencies being able to share crime gun data with agencies in other states will assist in their efforts to detect and deter gun crime and in their efforts to investigate so-called straw purchasers, suspect dealers, firearms traffickers, and other criminals, the pact also states. Under the agreement, which is set to last five years, the states will transmit all data on guns used in crimes to the other states, excepting those designated as priority or sensitive. The data will be sent via a secure transmission method that wasnt made public. The parties can only use the data for law enforcement purposes. The regional effort will help protect our residents and to end the menace of senseless gun violence in our communities, Murphy said during a virtual meeting with the other governors. When we work together as regional partners to enact regional solutions, were far better off than if we all go on our own, he said. According to the New Jersey Attorney Generals Office, about 85 percent of the guns used in crimes recovered in the state between January and July came from outside of the state. I believe this is going to give us and our law enforcement entities in each of our states the tools we need to be able to trace guns that are coming from other states, Hochul said. If Congress would simply allow us to share this nationally, what a better place we would be. But in the meantime, this is where the states are the incubators. Murphy said he hopes that the coalition will grow to include more states. The White House praised the pact. This data-sharing agreement recognizes the reality that firearms cross state lines, and we therefore need a multijurisdictional approach to tackling gun violence, White House press secretary Jen Psaki said in a statement. President [Joe] Biden shares these governors commitment to cross-state collaboration to tackle the gun violence public health epidemic. Others have questioned the wisdom of the agreement. I have a great deal of concern considering the track record of other states way of harassing people they perceive as gun owners and having a gun, Kim Stolfer, the Pennsylvania state president of Firearms Owners Against Crime, told Advance Local Media. They interlink the license plate with the database and the names and people are harassed who are simply exercising their constitutional right. Police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting of a postal worker in front of a house on Suburban Ave. in Collier Township, Pa., outside of Pittsburgh, on Oct. 7, 2021. (Andrew Rush/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP) The agreement comes after murders spiked in 2020, a year beset by harsh restrictions imposed by governors across the country and riots in many major cities and as gun sales are on track to set the record for the second-highest year behind the sales seen in 2020. Experts say the spike in homicides may have been driven in part by widespread unemployment, school closures, civil unrest, and the push to cut funding to police departments. Early data from agencies in various states and cities show murders continuing at a high level in 2021, but its too soon to know, Dr. Robert Anderson, chief of the Centers for Disease Control and Preventions (CDC) National Center for Health Statistics said in a recent interview. The CDC recently found a 30 percent increase in the homicide rate from 2019 to 2020, after an FBI report documented a 29.4 percent increase in the same time period. I think it is interesting that weve seen this large increase in homicides, large increase in drug overdose deaths, and that those seem to be correlated with this big increase in COVID-19, Anderson said. But this is sort of a strange time, I guess, from the standpoint of mortality statistics, I mean, this is just not the sort of thing that we typically see. Were usually talking about relatively small increases in mortality or small decreases in mortality. We dont normally see these big jumps. As we go and as we calculate the official mortality statistics for 2020, were going to have a lot more work than we normally have to describe whats going on. Were going to need to spend some significant time on these conditions, and these diseases that have increased so much during the pandemic. Germany, France Say Poland Is Obligated to Respect EU Rules WARSAW, PolandThe German and French foreign ministers have issued a joint statement saying that Poland has both a moral and legal obligation to respect the common rules of the European Union, which it joined in 2004. Heiko Maas of Germany and Jean-Yves Le Drian of France published their statement late Friday in reaction to a Polish constitutional court ruling this week that challenged the supremacy of EU laws. The court held Thursday that the Polish Constitution has primacy over EU laws in some cases. Membership of the EU goes with full and unrestricted allegiance to common values and rules, Le Drian and Mass said. Respect for and compliance with these must be fulfilled by every member state, they added. Of course, that also goes for Poland, which has a very central place within the EU. This does not just mean a moral obligation. It also means a legal obligation, the ministers said. Some European leaders fear the ruling could bring legal chaos to the bloc, while many Poles fear that its a step on the path toward Poland leaving the EU. Polands main opposition leader, Donald Tusk, called on Poles to defend their EU membership in protests planned for Sunday evening in Warsaw and other Polish cities. Critics say that Polands Constitutional Tribunal is a politicized body with several judges who were appointed illegally. They argue the tribunal has no authority to make a ruling that could be of enormous consequence to Polands future in the EU and its place in the West. Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki addresses a press conference in Budapest on April 1, 2021. (Attila Kisbenedek/AFP via Getty Images) The tribunal initiated its review on a motion from Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki after the European Court of Justice ruled in March that Polands new regulations for appointing Supreme Court justices could violate EU law. The EUs top court ordered the Polish government to suspend the regulations. Jaroslaw Kurski, first deputy editor of the liberal daily newspaper Gazeta Wyborcza, had a message Saturday for Polands government as he called on people to protest Sunday: You will not push us out of the European Union! You will not deprive our children of their dreams and their hopes for the future. If you want to head East, then by all means proceed, but do not drag us with you. Meanwhile, a right-wing leader called on all patriots who care about the sovereignty of our state to join a counter-protest in Warsaw. Popcorn and Inspiration: I Origins: Sci-Fi Reimagining of a Reincarnation Ritual January 18, 2014 | | R | 1h 46min Tibetan monks go on searches for reincarnated lamas. They have a method. They track them via word of mouth, cosmic hints, visions, and dreams, to remote villages, hauling lama accouterments of previous incarnations. They then display said accouterments before the suspected reincarnated infant lama, inquiring, Which was your rattle? Which was your drum? Was this your feather? His excellency the Dalai Lama and the reincarnation of venerable monk Geshe Lama Konchog, in Unmistaken Child, (Oscilloscope) When they find a child who is able to correctly point out all his previously-owned artifacts, the Dalai Lama is notified, who then travels there, inspects and interviews the boy, and tells the parents, Keep him clean! Meaning they should shelter the boy from the big dye vat of corrupting modern influences. Thats not the story of I Origins. Thats 2008s documentary Unmistaken Child, where monk Tenzin Zopa of Nepal goes in search of the reincarnation of Geshe Lama Konchog, his former master. A secularized telling of the same ritual crops up in I Origins, directed by Mike Cahill, but in science-fiction format. Molecular-biology thriller-romance format, to be exact. Does reincarnation exist? Does God? Is our universe really the product of intelligent design? Is there such a thing as heaven? A handful of 2014 films pose these questions about faith, to varying degrees of success. Son of God tackled the subject by drilling down on the source material, while Heaven Is for Real told a real-life modern tale of a little boy who claimed hed gone to heaven and seen Jesus. I Origins Michael Pitt plays molecular-biologist-to-be Ian Gray, a young Ph.D. candidate. Hes an eye specialist. He wishes to disprove religious doctrine by examining the evolution of the human eye, and seeing if he can outwit evolution by developing eyes for blind worms. Flying the geek flag, Ian shows up at a Brooklyn hipster party in a lab coat, toting a camera and taking pictures of peoples eyes. Dr. Ian Gray (Michael Pitt) in the subway looking for love, in I Origins. (Fox Searchlight Pictures) As such, its not a bad pickup ploy. Up on the roof, he suddenly notices Sofi (Astrid Berges-Frisbey) standing in the shadows, looking like Cat Woman. Out comes the camera, and her long-lashed, exquisite green-and-brown, gold-flecked eyes go in the database. The eyes of Sofi (Astrid Berges-Frisbey), the love of Dr. Grays life, in I Origins. (Fox Searchlight Pictures) He then proceeds to yak too much. This is a beauty; shell not be tolerating the geek-fest hes serving up and abruptly disappears. But the drug of obsession is already in his veins; he cant eat, he cant sleep, he must find that girl again. One day he gets in the zonehe decides to blindly follow the coincidental number sequences and random serendipitous hints that suddenly crop up, which lead straight to seeing Sofi and her unforgettable eyes again. How he eventually finds her is one of your more imaginative meet-cutes. Theyre complete opposites; opposites attract. More eyes of Sofi (Astrid Berges-Frisbey), the love of Dr. Grays life, in I Origins. (Fox Searchlight Pictures) Many men, especially young men, will choose addictive female beauty and physical chemistry over the ability to share thoughts and be understood. Ian and Sofi move in together, but Sofi increasingly frustrates his rigorous scientists mind with her intuitive musings. Her next, over-the-top, violent, and final disappearance closes the door on Ians atheism, and opens a window to his spirituality. But this is only one half of the story. Even more eyes of Sofi (Astrid Berges-Frisbey), the love of Dr. Grays life, in I Origins. (Fox Searchlight Pictures) Linking Lifetimes Ians second great love is soulmate Karen (Brit Marling). A brilliant blond med student and lab assistant, shes a fellow tribe member who burns with the passion of their shared calling. Theyve got the intimacy of a deep meeting of the minds. Ian (Michael Pitt) and Karen (Brit Marling) are soulmate scientists, in I Origins. (Fox Searchlight Pictures) Their work leads them to this concept: No two pairs of eyes are the same, but if a match does occur, it can only mean one thing: namely, a person having the exact eye structure as anotheris the reincarnation of its previous possessor. Hmm.. Thats the far-fetched premise of I Origins, and some early, effective sci-fi sleight-of-hand may very well have you believing its more science than fiction. Years later, Ian and Karen are married, their work is recognized, and after the birth of their son, on a doctors recommendation, they subject him to some autism tests. The lab, the doctor, and the results seem fishy. That doctor should have known better than to mess with the kid of two determined, world-class, cutting-edge experts in the same field. The son of Ian (Michael Pitt) and Karen (Brit Marling) is subjected to eye-scanning, in I Origins. (Fox Searchlight Pictures) With the help of Ians old sell-out roommate Kenny (Steven Yeun, of Minari) who is now the creator the worldwide iris scan database, they look for matches to their sons scans. He would appear to have the exact same eyes as the only African-American farmer living in Boise, Idaho. Who just died. Well, well, well. What have we here? As a test, Steven then helps Ian and Karen run photos of deceased family members, plus various other peoples eyes through the database to see if there are any other recent matches. They get a hit for Sofi, whose iris scan matches one made in India just three months prior, years after Sofis disappearance. Karen (Brit Marling) and Ian (Michael Pitt) are soul-mate scientists in I Origins. (Fox Searchlight Pictures) Ian flies to India; apparently theres a young girl there with those self-same eyes, and this is where the latter-day lama search sequence of Unmistaken Child is played out. Balderdash? Eye scans are the new fingerprints. Its happening now. Theres a post-credits teaser (like the Marvel superhero sequel teasers) so make sure you keep watching. This one is a little creepy in a sort of apocalyptic, conspiracy-theory way. All acting is stellar, the cinematography is fabulous, Kashish (the child actor they found in an orphanage in India) is riveting, and the writing and directing, dead on. This metaphysical love story asks more questions than it can answer, but answers arent the point of the film; ideas are. Itll make you think. A lot. And as of yet, we have no science on reincarnation, but the science fiction seems to be getting warmer. I Origins Director: Mike Cahill Starring: Michael Pitt, Brit Marling, Astrid Berges-Frisbey, Steven Yeun, William Mapother Running Time: 1 hour, 46 minutes MPAA Rating: R Release Date: Jan. 18, 2014 Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 Iceland Stops Using Moderna Vaccine Over Heart Inflammation Risk Iceland halted the use of the Moderna vaccine against the CCP virus on Oct. 8 following reports from Nordic countries of increased incidence of inflammation of heart muscle and tissues triggered by the injection. Sweden, Finland, Denmark, and Norway had already limited the use of the Moderna vaccine within their respective borders over the same concerns. Iceland went further than its neighbors and stopped using the vaccine entirely. In recent days, there has been data from the Nordic countries on the increased incidence of myocarditis and pericarditis after vaccination with Moderna vaccine in addition to vaccination with Pfizer/BioNTech (Comirnaty), a statement from Icelands Directorate of Health reads. As there is a sufficient supply of Pfizer vaccine in Iceland for both the pre-vaccine activation vaccines and the primary vaccinations of those who have not yet been vaccinated, the epidemiologist has decided not to use the Moderna vaccine in Iceland, while providing further information on the safety of the Moderna vaccine. Sweden limited the use of the Moderna vaccine on Oct. 6 to those born before 1991. The Swedish health agency said at the time that new data from Swedish and other Nordic sources indicate that the connection is especially clear between Modernas vaccine and heart-related side effects, especially after the second dose. Both myocarditis and pericarditis often go away on their own, without causing any lasting problems, but suspicious symptoms should be assessed by a doctor at a health center or emergency room, the agency stated, noting that medical treatment and monitoring in hospitals may be needed in established cases. Norway and Denmark have recommended the Pfizer vaccine for children aged 12 to 17. In Iceland, only the Pfizer vaccine has been recommended for the 12-to-17 age group. Finland discontinued the use of the Moderna vaccine for men under the age of 30 on Oct. 7. That decision came one day after Sweden and Denmark halted the use of the vaccine for younger age groups. Iceland had been using the Moderna vaccine almost exclusively as a booster shot for those who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine, according to the Health Directorate. The Nordic nation had also been using the Moderna vaccine as a booster for two-dose vaccinations of the elderly and immunocompromised. According to the World Health Organization, more than 75 percent of Icelands population has been fully vaccinated against the CCP (Chinese Communist Party) virus, commonly known as the novel coronavirus, which causes COVID-19. A total of 33 people have died from COVID-19 in Iceland since the beginning of the pandemic. Jack Phillips and Lorenz Duchamps contributed to this report. Rep. Rodney Davis (R-Ill.) speaks to members of the media at the U.S. Capitol in Washington, on March 13, 2020. (Alex Wong/Getty Images) Illinois Congressional Delegation Opposes States Redistricting Process in Battle for US House Majority The Illinois Republican congressional delegation has called the recent redistricting process in their state a sham, criticizing the redistricting committee as partisan. Republican Reps. Rodney Davis, Mike Bost, Adam Kinzinger, Darin LaHood, and Mary Miller accused the committee of favoring Democrats in the new maps. Illinois citizens have been clear that they want an independent redistricting process free of political influence, but as we speak, Democrat lawmakers are picking their own voters behind closed doors, wrote the representatives in a press statement. Redistricting is the process of redrawing state legislative and congressional district boundaries following the decennial U.S. Census, which happens every 10 years. The Illinois maps were drawn in June by a Democrat majority committee made up of state legislators. Governor J.B. Pritzker, a Democrat, signed the new maps into law on Sept. 24. Illinois strength is in our diversity, and these maps help to ensure that communities that have been left out and left behind have fair representation in our government, Pritzker said in June. These district boundaries align with both the federal and state Voting Rights Acts, which help to ensure our diverse communities have electoral power and fair representation. Illinois is one of the latest states to join the post-2020 census redistricting battle. Both Republicans and Democrats say they want fair maps that are drawn by non-partisan committees. Adam Kincaid, the executive director at National Republican Redistricting Trust (NRRT) said in a recent interview that Republicans in the Illinois state Senate sued the state over the maps that were approved by Pritzker. Number one, it didnt use real data; number two, it was clearly partisan; and number three, he promised a veto it, right? He said that he wanted the commission to draw the map. Governor Pritzkers veto would have forced an (independent) commission to draw the maps, said Kincaid. But what did he do? He signed it anyway. The NRRTs counterpart is the National Democratic Redistricting Committee (NDRC), which is led by the former attorney general for President Barack Obama, Eric Holder, and both groups are working to get their party control of the U.S. House in the 2022 elections and beyond. Youve got to remember, the NDRC says that theyre fighting for fair maps. They say that theyre fighting gerrymandering. The only thing that theyre doing is fighting Republican redistricting control, said Kincaid. You know, the NDRC is an organization that on their own 990 says that they exist to favorably position Democrats redistricting. And so what you can expect to see from them is that theyll show up in states in front of redistricting committees where Republicans draw the lines and call for Republicans to draw maps that elect more Democrats, he continued. And when they dont do that, theyll sue. So, the reality is that theyre going to keep suing over and over and over again until they get every single district that they think theyre entitled to. Eric Holders organization filed whats known as impasse litigation in Louisiana, Minnesota, and Pennsylvania in April, the first of many potential lawsuits. The legal actions anticipate an impasse with the redistricting process because in those states because its where the two parties share control of the mapmaking. These lawsuits are just the first of many steps we will be taking in the coming weeks and months to ensure the redistricting process is not subverted by politicians who want to hold onto power at the expense of fair representation, Holder said in a statement. The lawsuits ask state courts to set a schedule to take over the process and draw new maps in the likely event that state officials reach an impasse. Is the Federal Public Service Vaccine Mandate Full of Holes by Design? Commentary Not only is the federal vaccine mandate a gross overreach by the state, but it is also full of holes. Prime Minister Trudeau boldly stated that this is no time for half measures when announcing vaccination requirements for travellers in Canada. Blacklocks Reporter revealed on Oct. 7 that up to 212,000 federal civil servants will be exempt from providing solid proof of having been vaccinated. That means the vaccine mandate as it applies to the federal civil service amounts to a one-third measure. I guess Trudeau was technically speaking the truth but not in the way intended. On Sept. 28 the PM said, There is a clear requirement for vaccination for anyone who works for the federal government. As usual, things are not clear at all. At a Treasury Board press briefing, an official stated, The policy applies to all public servants in the core public administration. However, Crown corporation employees such as postal workers and meat inspectors are not considered to be part of the core public administration. Call centre staff for the Department of Employment and Social Development are exempted but prison guards are not. Border agents are included in the policy while Parks Canada wardens are excluded. In short, the policy is an inconsistent mess. The vaccination mandate for most federal civil servants will rely on an honour system for compliance, without requiring proof. Those who are considered members of the core public administration will be required to fill out an online attestation stating that they are vaccinated. This should be about as effective as websites with adult content are in keeping minors away by providing a check box asking viewers to state that they are over the age of 18. While restaurants across Canada are forced to demand substantial proof of vaccination from patrons before allowing them to enter, federal employees simply have to claim that they have gotten the jab. Why is it impossible to demand the same standard of proof from civil servants? Many bad policies from governments are simply the product of bureaucratic incompetence, but one has to wonder if this federal vaccination policy was not made perforated by design, to give people an out from their mandate even if in a roundabout way. The federal government has painted itself into a corner when it comes to mandated vaccines. While the Liberals have made unwavering statements on how they will force vaccine compliance, they must be realizing that their requirements are not reasonable and may indeed be stricken down by charter challenges. Public service unions are divided in their support of vaccination mandates. The union that represents RCMP officers has stated that it will stand up for members who choose not to get vaccinated, while the 160,000-strong Public Service Alliance of Canada is expressing misgivings about how the vaccine policies will impact its members. If the federal government does get serious about enforcing its vaccination mandate, it will have to fire thousands of intransigent employees. Public service unions will not stand by quietly and let that happen. Canada is already in the midst of a labour shortage in many fields. If the federal government suddenly finds itself short-staffed in key departments, it wont be easy to fill those positions. Legal challenges against the governments vaccine mandates are already lining up. Vaccine mandates are a clear violation of a citizens security of the person and equal treatment under the law. Section 1 of the charter gives the government the means to suspend rights in certain situations, but how many times can that stand up in court? Eventually, a judge is going to strike down a vaccine mandate or an aspect of one and the appeals will begin. I am of a mind that the government has purposely made the vaccine mandate as leaky as possible in hopes of avoiding labour strife and embarrassing court rulings. While nobody will officially tell an employee to do it, with the lack of requirement for proof of vaccination, the government has given unvaccinated employees a way to keep their jobs. The unions will be happy to avoid having to file grievances this way too. It is a cowardly approach to policy and it will likely only prolong the inevitable showdown between the government and its own civil service. In being so uncompromising with its statements, the government hasnt allowed itself a way to accommodate workers who refuse vaccination. Rapid testing is off the table and exemptions for the many who now work from home wont be considered. Whether it was purposeful or accidental, the federal governments vaccine mandate for civil servants is unworkable. Perhaps Trudeau is just hoping that the pandemic will fade away before he has to get real with his mandates. I doubt he or the rest of us will be so lucky. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Police arrive at the scene of a shooting at a senior housing apartment in Capitol Heights, Md., on Oct. 8, 2021. (Bill O'Leary/The Washington Post via AP) Maryland Senior Housing Shooting Kills 2; Suspect Held CAPITOL HEIGHTS, Md.Two staff members were fatally shot Friday at a Maryland apartment complex for seniors just outside of Washington and a suspect was taken into custody, police said. The shooting happened shortly after 9 a.m. at Gateway Village in Capitol Heights, Prince Georges County and Capitol Heights police said. Both victims were womenone found in a hallway and another in an office, they said. A resident who identified himself only as Donald said the shooter is his friend and lived in the complex. He said the man was fed up with how residents have been treated. He told me, Don, nobody is standing up for these seniors. I cant take it no more. Ive got to do something. And obviously what he chose to do is wrong, but he did something, the resident told reporters. Gateway Village is one of 310 communities in 25 states run by National Church Residences, which describes itself as the nations largest provider of affordable senior housing and services. Its website says the apartment complex about a half-mile east of the District of Columbia includes studio and one-bedroom units for seniors age 62+. A county website describes the property as subsidized government housing for seniors with low incomes. National Church Residences spokeswoman Cindy Young said they are extremely heartbroken that two staff members were killed. We are proud of the heroic and swift actions of our staff to ensure that our residents were protected and kept safe. Our hearts go out to the families of our two team members who lost their lives in this tragic and unfortunate incident, her statement said. Capitol Heights Police Chief Mark Cummings said the facilitys residents can come and go without staff controlling whether they carry a gun. Its an open facility. Its a residence. So they dont manage what weapons or things are brought in, Cummings said. Police said the homicide investigation would include any questions about the management of the facility. Cummings said he wasnt aware of any significant problems at the complex leading up to the shooting. We dont get a lot of calls to this facility. My officers actually patrol that area very much. We go in and talk to the residents. So were not aware of any ongoing situations, Cummings said. The shooter prepared to surrender even before police arrived, Donald said, laying flat with his arms spread in a hallway, with the weapon pushed about six feet away from him. He said his friend told him to tell police that he wasnt a threat, and that he knew he would be taken away. Deputy Prince Georges County Chief Lakina S. Webster said the suspect was taken into custody without incident. County Executive Angela D. Alsobrooks said the priority now is caring for the approximately 89 residents of the facility, making sure they have medicine and food after many were evacuated. Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) walks to his office at the U.S. Capitol in Washington on Oct. 7, 2021. (Leah Millis/Reuters) McConnell: Republicans Wont Help Democrats Raise Debt Limit Again Republicans wont help Democrats raise the United States debt limit again, Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) told President Joe Biden on Oct. 8. McConnell and 10 other Senate Republicans on Oct. 7 joined Democrats in temporarily raising the ceiling through Dec. 3, enabling Democrats to avoid using a process called reconciliation. That wont happen again, McConnell warned Biden. Last night, Republicans filled the leadership vacuum that has troubled the Senate since January. I write to inform you that I will not provide such assistance again if your all-Democrat government drifts into another avoidable crisis, the Republican wrote in a letter to the president. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) and other Democrats repeatedly refused to turn to reconciliation, a process that would let the party raise or suspend the ceiling with zero Republican votes. McConnell repeatedly urged them to use reconciliation but after they refused, he helped them pass the short-term ceiling increase. The move drew glee from Democrats and consternation from some Republicans who wondered why McConnell changed his mind and made the deal. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) called it a complete capitulation. Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) said: We were winning that fight and Schumer was on the verge of surrender. And unfortunately, the deal that was put on the table was a lifeline for Schumer. McConnell addressed the critics in the letter, saying, It got to the point where senators on both sides were pleading for leadership to fill the void and protect our citizens, and I stepped up. Schumer took to the Senate floor after the Oct. 7 vote and condemned Republicans, alleging they played a dangerous and risky partisan game, and I am glad that their brinksmanship did not work. He also said that Republicans must in the future work with Democrats to address the debt ceiling. Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.) in Washington on Oct. 7, 2021. (Drew Angerer/Getty Images) Sen. Joe Manchin (D-W.Va.) was seen covering his face with his hands as Schumer spoke and later told reporters that it was inappropriate. Civility is gone, he said. Some Republicans reportedly confronted Schumer over his remarks, and McConnell hit Schumer for what he said. In a bizarre spectacle, Senator Schumer exploded in a rant that was so partisan, angry, and corrosive that even Democratic senators were visibly embarrassed by him and for him, McConnell wrote to Biden. I am writing to make it clear that in light of Senator Schumers hysterics and my grave concerns about the ways that another vast, reckless, partisan spending bill would hurt Americans and help China, I will not be a party to any future effort to mitigate the consequences of Democratic mismanagement. Your lieutenants on Capitol Hill now have the time they claimed they lacked to address the debt ceiling through standalone reconciliation, and all the tools to do it. They cannot invent another crisis and ask for my help. White House press secretary Jen Psaki said on Oct. 7 that the administration hoped Republicans would vote with Democrats again in the future to address the debt ceiling instead of choosing default or obstruction. Our view continues to be that Leader Schumer has shown great skill in navigating this processthrough a challenging process. We have confidence in his ability to do that moving forward, she added during an Oct. 8 briefing. And I think its important to remember that the reason we were teetering on the edge of default and an economic calamity is because Republicans were refusing to join with Democrats, or even to allow Democrats to be the adults in the room and raise the debt limit themselves, she said, referring to calls for Republicans not to filibuster a House-passed bill that would suspend the ceiling until December 2022. Mom Stranded at Gas Station With Kids and No Money for GasUntil Officer Arrives, Pays for Fuel This is what police officers across the country do every day. After getting a call of a woman with two small children stranded at a gas station at night with no money for gas, Officer Greg Howard from the South Bend Police Department paid for her fuel so that she could be on her way home. The woman had parked at the Martins Express gas station off Western Avenue after her tank had run out, but she didnt have enough money to fill it, the Police Department stated. One concerned local had seen the family and called for police to check on her. (Courtesy of Fayetteville Police Department) Officer Howard had just started his shift when he and his partner got the call. When we got there, I made contact with this woman, and I said, Hey, you know, somebody called in and was worried about you and wanted to make sure youre doing okay, the officer told The Epoch Times. She was immediatelyshe was a little embarrassed, and was kind of defensive. Shes like, Ill leave, Ill leave the parking lot, I can leave. And I told her she wasnt in trouble; we were just checking to make sure that she was okay. Officer Howard saw that her 2-year-old son who was playing with a tablet in the back seat was wearing dinosaur pajamas and told him how his own family loves watching Jurassic Park Camp Cretaceous on TV. He then went to his cruiser to retrieve a stuffed toy dinosaur and gave it to the boy. After talking to the mom, the officer learned that she was waiting in the parking lot for midnightfor the first of the month to hitwhen her card would have enough money to pay for the gas. (Courtesy of Fayetteville Police Department) Unwilling to let the family wait so long, at a gas station late at night, officer Howard insisted on paying it forward. I filled up her gas tank and she was really, really appreciative, she was almost crying, Howard told the newspaper. He thought to himself, This is what we should be doing for one another, this is what being a good human being is about. Its everyones job to help one another. He continued, So I gave the kid high five, and they left and went on their way. The officer said that such actions are far from uncommon in his line of work; it just doesnt get much publicity. Ive gotten gas for people, changed tires, stuff like that, bought food for people, it happens a lot and doesnt get that much attention, he said. Ive seen a lot of other officers do this kind of thing all the time, he added. It doesnt get a lot of attention, and we dont do it to get attention. Obviously, we just do it because people need help, and its the right thing to do. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter SpaceX founder and Tesla CEO Elon Musk looks on as he visits the construction site of Tesla's gigafactory in Gruenheide, near Berlin, Germany on May 17, 2021. (Michele Tantussi/Reuters) Musks Tesla Plant Party in Berlin Draws Fans and Protests GRUENHEIDE, GermanyTesla fans flocked to the carmakers new factory near Berlin on Saturday, where Chief Executive Elon Musk staged a county-fair style festival to celebrate the sites imminent opening. Musk hopes in coming weeks to get the green light to start production at the site, which at its peak will produce 500,000 battery-electric vehicles (BEVs) a yearmore than double Germanys BEV production in 2020. While Tesla has said the site will bring Germany significantly closer to achieving its e-mobility goals, some locals and environmental groups are unhappy with Musks approach which they say flies in the face of German business culture. I would tell him to stop building electrocars but rather fly to Mars, said Manu Hoyer, who led a small protest of locals who oppose the project on environmental grounds, saying it will pollute drinking water. Tesla has also submitted plans to invest 5 billion euros ($5.8 billion) in a battery plant with 50 GWh capacity next to the site, outstripping Volkswagens planned 40GWh capacity site in Salzgitter. It offered 9,000 tickets to the festival, with locals from Brandenburg state given priority. A sign that reads Tesla Street is pictured outside the construction site of the future Tesla Gigafactory, in Gruenheide near Berlin, Germany on Aug. 12, 2021. (Hannibal Hanschke/Reuters) Tesla CEO Elon Musk and Christian Democratic Union (CDU) party leader Armin Laschet visit the construction site of Teslas Gigafactory in Gruenheide near Berlin on Aug. 13, 2021. (Patrick Pleul/Pool via Reuters) Giga Berlin-Brandenburg fun party today! Musk tweeted in German shortly after the event started, and then joked with a Twitter follower who replied to correct his German. Musk is expected to make an appearance at the event for which the site was transformed for the day with sprawling music stages, booming speakers, and a Ferris wheel. Look, Mummy! A Tesla, shouted an excited nine-year old Emil, who was one of many children standing in line with parents waiting for a 90-minute site tour. This day is unique, said self-proclaimed Tesla fan Fred Schroeder. The Tesla factory in Germany will be opened to the public for the first time. That is a very special day. The latest consultation on public concerns towards the site closes on October 14, after which the environmental ministry will decide whether to reject or approve it. Brandenburgs economy minister has pinned the chances of approval at 95 percent. ($1 = 0.8649 euros) By Nadine Schimroszik New Rule Forces Washington Residents With Good Credit to Pay More for Insurance Washington residents with good credit scores are facing sticker shock when their car or home insurance comes up for renewal. Rates are increasing because Washington Insurance Commissioner Mike Kreidler has banned insurance companies from using credit scores in setting rates. The policy went into effect in late June. Since most insurance policies are sold on an annualized basis, residents are getting sticker shock whenever their policies are set to renew. Blaine resident Andy Weeda is one of the shocked. His family had all of the little benefits, that came with excellent credit and a good driving record, he told The Center Square. We were told they are all getting pulled in the state of Washington, Weeda said. This all amounts to leveling the driving field, I guess. Banning credit rating was rejected by the Washington Legislature earlier this year and instead enacted by the Office of the Insurance Commissioner by an emergency rule. The rule is supposed to be revenue neutral, meaning insurance companies cannot just raise rates on those with great credit. Insurance providers have to lower rates on those with worse credit as well. Kreidler argued credit-score-based pricing unfairly penalized those with poor credit, including minorities. A Federal Trade Commission report to Congress that looked at the issue did not find overwhelming evidence of racial bias in this kind of insurance pricing. Rather, the study found, Credit-based insurance scores are effective predictors of risk under automobile policies. Credit scores are predictive of the number of claims consumers file and the total cost of those claims, and using such scores in setting insurance rates is therefore likely to make the price of insurance better match the risk of loss posed by the consumer, the FTC said. The federal agency further found this to be true within demographic groups. Tests also showed that scores predict insurance risk within racial and ethnic minority groups (e.g., Hispanics with lower scores have higher estimated risk than Hispanics with higher scores). This within-group effect of scores is inconsistent with the theory that scores are solely a proxy for race and ethnicity, the report said. Kreidlers office did not immediately return a request for comment on whether he is aware of the FTC report and its findings. In an address to a conference put on by the Professional Insurance Agents (PIA) and the Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of Washington in September, the insurance commissioner decried the influence of big data and big, out-of-state insurance companies. Kreidler denounced a worldview driven by numbers. He protested against boiling everybody down to an algorithm that tells you, Oh this is a good person, because theyre likely to give us a bottom-line number that we like, And this person is a bad person, regardless of the circumstances that they may wind up in. The insurance commissioner admitted of credit scoring, Yes, it is a predictor. It also has the opportunity to dramatically impact the amount of resources that a company has to spend on underwriting. They dont have to spend a lot of time taking a look at how they drive a car or maintain their home, because they take a look at some statistics, some numbers. And where does it stop? Where does it stop? Kreidler asked. PIA lobbyist Mel Sorensen, speaking at the same conference on a different day, pointed out Kreidlers office opposed two bills in the Legislature this year which seem to undercut his arguments. One bill, supported by the insurance industry, would have mandated insurance companies can use credit scoring only when it benefits the ratepayers. The other bill would have allowed insurance companies to take life circumstances into account to counter a bad credit score. The insurance companies have and continue to challenge this rule in court. The next challenge is scheduled to be heard in Thurston County Superior Court on Friday. By Jeremy Lott A person walks past the Bank of England in the City of London financial district, in London, Britain on June 11, 2021. (Henry Nicholls/Reuters) New Rules Needed to Cover Risks From Cloud Computing, Says Bank of England LONDONNew rules will be needed to deal with operational risks from banks relying on outsourced cloud computing from Amazon, Google, Microsoft, and others for providing services to customers, the Bank of England said on Friday. Regulated firms will continue to have primary responsibility for managing risks stemming from their outsourcing and third-party dependencies, the BoEs Financial Policy Committee said in a statement. However, additional policy measures, some requiring legislative change, are likely to be needed to mitigate the financial stability risks stemming from concentration in the provision of some third-party services. Measures should include an ability to designate some third parties as critical, meaning they would be required to meet resilience standards which would be regularly tested. The BoE and the Financial Conduct Authority are due to publish a discussion paper on the subject next year, it said. The measures are similar to those in a European Union law now making its way through the approval process. These tests and sector exercises of critical third parties could potentially be carried out in collaboration with overseas financial regulators and other relevant UK authorities, the BoE said. The BoE had already sounded a note of caution about the cloud and is now checking banks for their exit strategy, or how quickly they could switch to an alternative cloud provider or in-house back up if there is a cloud outage to avoid disruption to customers, consultants KPMG said. This has already led to banks thinking harder about the business case for the cloud in some services, and whether it would get the green light from regulators. Trying to replicate this service on premises or a different cloud actually doubles your cost, said Mark Corns, a director for technology consulting at KPMG. Banks who moved early into the cloud are having to retrofit resilience requirements, Corns said. What we are seeing is a much more tentative approach to what goes into the cloud. Now weve got this clearer guidance from the regulators, what its doing is challenging the banks to figure out what and how they gain the benefit, Corns said. By Huw Jones Newborn Girl Rescued in the UK After 9 Hours at Sea A newborn baby was rescued by emergency services after traveling nine hours across the Channel to England on Saturday, arriving in a dinghy with a group of migrants, a British broadcaster reported. A police officer wrapped the infant in a blanket after she was handed over by an RNLI (Royal National Lifeboat Institution) crew member, moments after reaching the shore of Dungeness in Kent. The mother of the baby girl, identified by Sky as Aayan, was also traveling on board. Migrants have long used northern France as a launching point to reach Britain, either by stowing away in trucks or on ferries, orincreasingly since the coronavirus pandemic disrupted international travelin dinghies and other small boats organized by smugglers. The British and French governments have worked for years to stop the journeys, without much success. More than 14,000 people have made the crossing this year, according to a count by Britains Press Association news agency. In 2020, about 8,500 people made the journey, and several died in the attempt. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio speaks at Times Square in New York City on June 5, 2021. (Bryan Bedder/Getty Images for New 42) NYC to Cancel Accelerated Learning Program for Gifted Kids New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has announced plans to cancel the Gifted and Talented accelerated learning program for schoolchildren, drawing praise from those who called the program discriminatory and condemnation from those who say the proposal would harm hardworking students. Starting next fall, New York City will stop testing kindergartners for entry into the gifted and talented program, which was the subject of a lawsuit (pdf) that claimed the screening was racially discriminatory and fueled racial segregation in the school system. The era of judging 4-year-olds based on a single test is over, de Blasio said in an Oct. 8 statement. Every New York City child deserves to reach their full potential, and this new, equitable model gives them that chance. The gifted program, which faced criticism for enrolling low numbers of black and Latino students, will instead be replaced with a new framework called Brilliant NYC that will leave students identified for accelerated instruction in mixed classrooms but provide them with extra attention, de Blasio said during an appearance on WNYC on Oct. 8 with schools Chancellor Meisha Porter. The kids who have those special abilities for accelerated learning will be getting a lot of attention, a lot of opportunity to do it, but theyll be learning with all the other kids, de Blasio said, adding that Brilliant NYC program would reach tens of thousands of more kids with accelerated learning. Porter said that, under the new program, teachers would be provided with additional training to identify special abilities learners and provide them with targeted individualized instruction. A parent calling into the WNYC program praised the move, saying the gifted program created a two-tiered world that I think needs to go. Charleen Ang, a mother of a student enrolled in the gifted program on the Upper West Side, admonished de Blasios decision. It is abominable that de Blasio is, in his final months in office, dismantling one of the few successful education programs in New York City, adversely impacting a swath of children, she told the New York Post. De Blasios nearly eight-year tenure as mayor ends in less than three months. Democratic candidate Eric Adams, who is widely expected to replace de Blasio, has proposed a different framework, with Chalkbeat reporting that he plans to keep the admissions test and expand the number of gifted classrooms across the city. Republican mayoral candidate Curtis Sliwa, who has vowed to fight to preserve the gifted and talented programs, criticized de Blasios decision to phase out the current arrangement, citing a range of benefits and arguing it should not be diluted, nor should it be discontinued. The gifted program faced criticism for enrolling low numbers of black and Latino students. According to Chalkbeat, a news organization that specializes in public education coverage, more than 70 percent of spots in the gifted program go to Asian American and white students, who make up less than a third of New York Citys student population. Conservative commentator Ben Shapiro framed de Blasios move as pushing mandatory mediocrity in a bid to force equality of outcome. Pursuing equity as the chief goal of policy means, in practical terms, pursuing equality of outcome through mandatory mediocrity, Shapiro wrote in a tweet. Some Democrats also took aim at de Blasios decision, with state Sen. John Liu, who chairs a panel on New York City schools, taking to Twitter to express his displeasure. Gifted and talented programs have been an integral option for generations of schoolkids, Liu wrote in a tweet. @BilldeBlasio promised intensive public engagement about it but now wants total elimination. Asked on the WNYC program about his message for parents who might choose to leave the New York City public school system or the city entirely if the gifted program is done away with, de Blasio said, I bet you a lot of parents are now going to look at this plan and say, this is a reason to stay. The gifted program would be phased out, with kids entering it between now and next year allowed to continue in it until completion, he said. Porter said that parents still have an opportunity to provide feedback on the proposal, which may still be tweaked, calling it a blueprint for the plan that we intend to implement and our vision for New York City. Heather Higgins, chair of the Independent Womens Network, said in a tweet: Bill de Blasios latest plan to harm hardworking students and parentsending NYCs accelerated Gifted & Talented programis only viewed as a good idea by the stupid, the jealous, and the vindictive. EMS workers Ethan Webber and Bailey Thornton wheel an obese patient to an ambulance in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Oct. 4, 2021. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times) Obese Patients Injuring Ambulance Workers Backs Americans keep getting heavier, but the backs of ambulance workers arent getting stronger. Over the past five decades, the percentage of obese people in the United States rose from about 14 percent to 40 percent. The American Obesity Association estimates that by 2030, 60 percent of the population will be obese. This change means the average American today weighs 30 pounds more than the average American in 1960. According to a study by Dr. Audrey Reichard, about half of emergency medical services (EMS) personnel injured between 2010 and 2014 while lifting patients were lifting someone obese. Its definitely a pain in the back, said David Williams, an emergency medical technician (EMT) with Care Med Ambulance in Chattanooga, Tennessee. At Care Med Ambulance, nearly 90 percent of ambulance riders are obese, according to Williams. Care Med transports people who cant drive to medical checkups. It doesnt respond to emergencies. A normal stretcher (L) compared to a stretcher for the obese in front of a Care Med ambulance in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Oct. 4, 2021. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times) Weve been having to do a lot more lift assists, Williams said. That takes our time in office or another trucks time when they could be having a break or picking up another patient. Before working at Care Med, EMT Candace Laymon worked at the fire department in Mowbray, Tennessee. Most of the calls received by the department during her time there came from people who needed help lifting someone obese off the floor, she said. It doesnt matter what service youre in. Its still dealing with obesity problems, Laymon said. The obesity epidemic affects ambulance and emergency services across the country, according to Iowas Dysart Ambulance Service Director Jules Scadden. This is something that everybody deals with, as long as theres EMS, Scadden said. It would be great if everybody weighed 180 pounds, but even 180 pounds can be wear and tear on the body. Breaking Backs EMS workers tend to be strong. Most people at Care Med have sturdy builds from lifting people all day. But bodies have their limits, Williams said. For most people, about the time you hit the 300-pound mark is where youre calling another ambulance, he said. It takes a toll on our crews. Back pain from lifting obese patients is a persistent problem for Care Meds EMS workers. Candace Laymon holds the strap of a bariatric stretcher for a Care Med ambulance in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Oct. 4, 2021. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times) By the end of the day, to end of the week, were hurting to the point where we can barely move, Williams said. Now our backs hurt constantly, no matter what were doing. EMS workers know their job involves heavy lifting and that they cant do it forever, Williams said. Despite low pay and the physical toll, many EMS workers work because they want to help others. Care Med is in a pandemic, and they need so much help, emergency medical responder (EMR) Chloe Gourley said. Im already helping as much as I can everywhere else, and here I can help out with driving. To carry obese patients, EMS workers use proper lifting techniques, according to Gourley. But even with that, if you have 10 obese patients back-to-back-to-back, even with 15-minute breaks, its still a workout, she said. When she gets home from work, Gourley stretches, takes a warm bath or shower, and applies pain relievers to her back. I just go straight to that, she said. Emergency medical responder Chloe Gourley exits a Care Med ambulance in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Oct. 4, 2021. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times) Bearing Weight Even as stretcher technology has advanced, EMS back injuries have increased. At some point, emergency workers must lift the stretcher and the patient on top of it. Everybody talks big about power stretchers being helpful. They are, to a certain extent, Laymon said. But youre still having to pick up the entire stretcher and the patient to load it in the back of the truck. Care Med EMS workers Ethan Webber and Bailey Thornton typically lift 10 to 12 patients per day. A patient can weigh between 90 and 420 pounds, Webber said. The stretcher weighs about 60 pounds. After lifting the patient to a stretcher, Webber and Thornton maneuver the stretcher to the ambulance. If theyre lucky, the stretcher will be wheeled on smooth pavement and wide hallways. If not, they wrestle the stretcher across grass, stairs, or narrow doorways. Next, Webber or Thornton lifts one end of the stretcher while the other end slides on a rail inside the ambulance. At their destination, they repeat the procedure in reverse. Out of eight people on Webber and Thorntons Oct. 6 ambulance route, six were obese or overweight. Mental Pain For the people Webber and Thornton pick up, obesity is often one of many struggles. Most of the obese people in the ambulance seem in despair. They cant walk, but they also hardly move their hands. They barely speak and their expressions seem lifeless. They seem ashamed, but, in the narrow ambulance, theres nowhere to hide. Their limbs look thin and weak. Obese people are usually depressed, Webber said. I feel like they dont necessarily have the mentality to stay healthy, he said. It might be like the chicken or the egg. The obesity caused the depression or the depression caused the obesity, but its normally both there. EMS worker Bailey Thornton loads an obese patient in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Oct. 4, 2021. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times) The science backs him up. Depression and obesity tend to be correlated. Webber said that family background and individual responsibility are part of why people are obese, but that culture plays a huge role as well. When people get injured in ways that leave them bedridden, they also have little to do but eat. Its probably more of a culture thing than anything. Americans eat fast food every day. I know a lot of people who will order pizza or takeout in hospital or eat and ask for a sack lunch. I dont know if Ill be any different at 70. Between jobs, Webber and Thornton keep their spirits up with a lively sense of humor. They dont usually talk about the patients that they transport. We played the Bee Gees Staying Alive downtown with the windows down once, Webber said. People looked at us funny. Trying to Recover Outside of the ambulance, the morbidly obese often live lonely lives. They cant walk to see other people. They often dont want to, according to Anita Bivens, a 49-year-old obese woman in recovery. Unlike most of the other obese people Care Med carries, Bivens is working to get healthier. Not long ago, she weighed 500 pounds, she said. Today shes down to 250. EMS worker Ethan Webber readies an ambulance in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Oct. 4, 2021. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times) When I was 500 pounds, my self-esteem was so low I didnt want to leave my house, she said. My husband said I quit caring about me. I was just sitting there drinking drinks and eating food. Bivens obesity led to disastrous health issues. Her kidney stopped working, and she almost died in the hospital. Health workers successfully resuscitated her. When they brought me back, I couldnt walk, couldnt talk, I couldnt do anything, she said. But her troubles got worse when she went home. With two EMTs supporting her as she walked up the stairs, Bivens fell. My legs came out from under me. I broke my legs. I got fake knees, crushed legs, all that. My bones were crushed so bad the doctor had to figure out a different route for pins and screws. I couldnt go home for nine months. Bivens chose to lose weight for her daughter Ariyha, her son Antonio, her husband Carlos, and her mother Charlotte. She has their names tattooed on her arms. EMS worker Dalton Purdue prepares for an early shift on a Care Med ambulance in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Oct. 4, 2021. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times) It is God that brought me out, she said. It is God thats helping me. I am in so much pain with them screws. Right now, Bivens said she just wants to be home. But to get there, she has to become strong enough to do activities that most people take for granted. She said she needs to be able to take care of basic needs by herself, such as going to the restroom. My goal is home, she said. Stretching the Limits Despite obesitys devastating effects, most insurance providers dont cover weight-loss drugs, said James Zervios, vice president of marketing and communications for activist group Obesity Action. That definitely should be a strong signal that theres something wrong with our health care system, that we are not able to help people with obesity, he said. To help obese people and EMS personnel today, Zervios said ambulance services, hospitals, and medical equipment companies should adapt with technology, additional ambulance workers, or other methods. Theyve got to figure out how to serve everybody thats out there, he said. Many ambulance companies already buy specially designed stretchers for the morbidly obese. A bariatric stretcher is nearly twice as wide as a normal one. It weighs 150 pounds compared to a normal stretchers 70 pounds, Williams said. If youve got the wider stretcher and a wide patient, it makes things very tight, Laymon said. A Care Med ambulance waits in the parking lot in Chattanooga, Tenn., on Oct, 4, 2021. (Jackson Elliott/The Epoch Times) Bariatric stretchers struggle to maneuver through doorways or narrow halls. In a loaded ambulance, theres barely a foot of space beside a normal stretcher. With a bariatric stretcher, theres even less. Ive picked up a patient on the bariatric stretcher where she was overflowing it, Williams said. We could not get straps around her. She was 800 pounds. When EMS workers lift an 800-pound person, it takes four people, and everyone still struggles, he said. Even with powered self-lifting stretchers, EMS workers must put the patient on the stretcher, then put the stretcher in the ambulance. Powered stretchers are heavy and most only have enough battery power to lift one obese patient. For small volunteer ambulance services such as Dysart Ambulance Service, buying these devices can be challenging, Scadden said. She has already purchased $7,000 stair chairs and a $32,000 stretcher to carry the obese. To avoid raising ambulance prices, she held a fundraiser. To lift obese people, ambulances sometimes have to call another ambulance for extra manpower. But this strategy leads to fewer ambulances being available, Scadden said. If we have to call other volunteers that are available to come help lift, then if we get a call, we dont have the additional ability or resources to respond to that call, she said. New Stretcher for Choppers Issues with lifting obese patients become more complex aboard emergency helicopters. Unlike ambulances, helicopters have a weight limit and sometimes cant carry obese patients to hospitals. Also, normal ambulance stretchers dont fit in helicopters, so its harder to lift obese patients into them, said engineer Andy Johnston, the president of Critical Airlift Safe Loader. Johnstons company designed a new stretcher carrier invented by helicopter pilot Mark Sales. Sales has seen multiple people injured while lifting heavy people from helicopters. The back saver is a solution which really takes away the lifting and that lateral motion, and instead raises up a normal gurney by one foot, Johnston said. The gurney attachment is too large to fit into a helicopter, but once a patient arrives at a hospital, workers can slide their stretcher onto a wheeled gurney without lifting, according to Johnston. This new system costs $18,000, he said. However, the system wont be able to help helicopter EMS workers lift someone in the field. Sales said he once flew a 600-pound patient who required six people to lift into the helicopter. There still is that problem in the field, but this invention is really meant [for the] problem at the hospital, Johnston said. Parents Say Preemie Born Weighing 1lb Keeps Fighting Due to Cuddles From Identical Twin Parents of identical twins have hailed the unbreakable bond between their sons, stating that the cuddles from one son are helping the other son who was born weighing 1 pound (0.45 kg) to continue thriving. Chester Graves was born prematurely at 28 weeks on July 15 this year, weighing 1 pound 1 ounce, alongside his brother, Otis, who was three times the size at 3 pounds 7 ounces (1.56 kg). After six weeks at the hospital, Otis was discharged and now weighs 6 pounds 3 ounces (2.81 kg), but tiny Chester fought for his life since his birth and only weighs 3 pounds 6 ounces (1.53 kg). Twins Otis and Chester. (Courtesy of Caters News) Doting parents Kelly Graves, 32, and husband, Billy, 35, from Benfleet, Essex, England, say that they have no doubt that Chesters miraculous fight for survival is due to the bond he shares with his identical twin, Otis. I have no doubt that cuddles with his twin has helped him keep fighting, Kelly said. The twins, said their mother, met for the first time on Sept. 22 since being born in July. The moment was incredibly emotional. It was everything I was waiting for, and although Otis was asleep, Chester was obsessed with him and couldnt take his eyes away from his brother, Kelly said. Touching photos show the pair lying side by side during family visits to Chester in the neonatal unit at Southend Hospital, where he will likely remain for the next two months. Recalling the last few months, Kelly shares that since her waters broke at 28 weeks, the familys life has been a whirlwind. Chesters health problems first became apparent at Kellys 16-week scan, where she was informed that the babies differed in size by 25 percentsomething that concerned the doctors. Kelly during her pregnancy. (Courtesy of Caters News) The difference in size between the two brothers was due to a condition called selective intrauterine growth restriction, which resulted in Chester not receiving the required nutrients from the placenta, halting his growth. They informed us that there was absent flow of nutrients to Chester, [which] was the reason why he wasnt really growing, Kelly said. At 19 weeks of gestation, Kelly was admitted to the Kings College Hospital in London for laser surgical treatment. She said: I had to have endoscopic laser surgery whereby they enter the womb through the side of your body in order to reach the placenta, kill off the blood vessels connecting the two babies. The surgery was performed to separate the babies in the womb so that if Chester hadnt survived, it would have protected Otis from dying or being left with lasting brain damage. After the surgery, Kelly and Billy were told Chester was still only growing around 25 grams (0.88 ounces) a week, whereas Otis was growing roughly 100 grams (3.53 ounces) a week. Chester, following his birth. (Courtesy of Caters News) At every scan that followed afterward, Kelly received the heartbreaking news that Chester wouldnt be able to survive. I went away and was eating around 200g of protein per day to help him grow and was drinking around five liters of water to try to get Chesters water levels up as they were also low, Kelly said. This was not in any way proven to help but I tried everything I could to replenish his levels and keep him fighting. Chesters condition stabilized but at 28 weeks, as Kellys waters broke, she was blue lighted to go to Addenbrookes Hospital in Cambridge as she was likely to deliver. Kelly recalls that at this point, Chester was 485 grams, which was close to being deemed viable. Baby Chester being held in the hospital. (Courtesy of Caters News) We were told his heart rate kept dipping and that the chances of survival from the cesarean would be low, Kelly said. We just had to hope that he would keep fighting. A C-section was performed, and Otis was immediately ventilated, but Chester had to first be stabilized as he had become very weak during the birth. Otis came out first and he was put into the incubator, Kelly said. When Chester came out, they found a knot in his cord which also halted his growth, and the consultant was desperate to get him incubated as soon as possible to help him survive. Luckily, the medical team was able to ventilate Chester. However, since then, he has been fighting multiple issues such as necrotising enterocolitis, or NEC, which is a serious condition where tissue in the bowel becomes inflamed, which Chester caught after nine days. Chester, inside Kellys cardigan. (Courtesy of Caters News) Additionally, Chester had a hole in his heart, which was discovered later but has now thankfully been closed. Hes also had eye surgery. Kelly and Billy were able to bring Otis home after 46 days spent between Addenbrooke Hospital and their local hospital of Southend, but Chester has had to stay put on high-flow oxygen and incubation. At first, every day we were driving from Cambridge to Southend to visit both babies, and then back to home to visit my other kids, which took around three and a half hours, Kelly said. People kept asking how we did it, but we had no choice, we went into survival mode and just kept going. During this period, the parents didnt get time to spend with their three other kids, Phoebe, 10, Florence, 8, and Albert, 5, who were on school holidays. As their parents were busy juggling between the two hospitals, the children had to stay with other family members. However, according to Kelly, they have been really supportive. The kids have been incredible, they are so young but are just as desperate to get Chester home as they havent been able to even really meet him yet due to Covid-19, Kelly said. (LR) Kelly, with children Florence, Phoebe, Albert, and twin Otis with Dad, Billy. (Courtesy of Caters News) Chester has been able to be transferred to Southend Hospital, where Kelly visits him every day. We are so lucky that Chester is a fighter and despite everything he has been through, he is still fighting in order to come home and be with his parents, Otis, and the rest of the family, Kelly said. For the parents, who regularly document the twins journey on Instagram, this is a very bittersweet moment, with Otis currently at home. Everyone says how nice it must be, but its also horrible because we cant feel complete until both babies are back together, Kelly said. Although Chester has tripled his weight and now weighs 3 pounds 6 ounces, he has to still gain 255 grams (9 ounces) and will most likely be on low-flow oxygen when hes back home, says Kelly. We are hoping in around a month or two he can finally meet the rest of the family, Kelly said. Epoch Inspired Staff contributed to this story. Share your stories with us at emg.inspired@epochtimes.com, and continue to get your daily dose of inspiration by signing up for the Epoch Inspired newsletter at TheEpochTimes.com/newsletter Petition to Beijing Is a Trap of False Hope: Lawyer News Analysis To deal with complaints and grievances, the communist regime initiated the Letters and Calls Bureau during Mao Zedongs era in the early 1950s. Offices of letters and visits were established at all levels from local governments to the central government in Beijing. Petitioners have to take their issues to the relevant office. However, this petition system has evolved to become a part of the persecution machinery under the communist autocratic and corrupt bureaucratic system. When the rights and interests of local residents are infringed on, they complain to the lower-level petition office following the regulations, but the issues are often negated there. The same situation happens at the higher level offices. Consequently, petitioners often resort to petitioning to the State Bureau for Letters and Calls in Beijing. Iron fists are what Chinese petitioners ultimately encounter there, especially during sensitive days, when high officials meet for the national days or routine meetings of the regime. Mass Tragedy of Petitioning Chen Jiangang was a Beijing human rights lawyer who is currently in exile in the United States. He told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times, There have been a large number of petitioners arrested, tortured, and abused. I have seen tragic cases where people were beaten to death because of petitioning. Stories like these are very many. Local governments do everything to stop petitioners from going to Beijing, including having local police and thugs stationed in Beijing just to abduct the petitioners and take them back to their hometowns. Those thugs and hooligans from all over the country, provinces and cities, remove petitioners without any legal procedures, Chen added. A man holds a protest banner outside the central petition office in Beijing on March 2, 2016. (Greg Baker/AFP/Getty Images) He said, People believe that someone in Beijing will listen, but this is [not] what they face in Beijing. Chinese dissident Dong Guangping explained that each petition is counted against the promotion of an official. Thus, local authorities strive to intervene in any type of petitioning to Beijing. He said, They even collude with the underworld, the State Bureau, and the local offices. As soon as a petitioner is identified, they abduct the person using various despicable means just to save their own promotions. Unyielding Petitioners Wu Yuxi, a villager from Hubei, an inland province of China, started petitioning when the local government deprived her of the right to receive financial relief after occupying her farm and home. On the evening of Aug. 29, Wu Yuxi was abducted from Beijing and taken back to Hubei. Local authorities kept her isolated in a quarantine site saying they did so because of the pandemic. That was the third time she has been detained since June. On Aug. 31, Wu told the Chinese language edition of The Epoch Times, We dont like Beijing. Those tall buildings do not belong to us. The petitioners have lived in a slum and led a life of beggars. Its worse than the beggars. We get packed into a vehicle by those thugs at any time. Its becoming a part of our lives. She explained the hardships, Our life is ruined, no job, and no income. My petitioning has lasted for 10 years. Others have even petitioned for 40 years. But none was resolved and no official explanation was ever given. She added, I was told that only China has the Letters and Calls Bureau. We have the public security, procuratorates, and courts, from the local to the central level. If any of them abided by the law and constitution, and upheld justice for the people, no one would travel thousands of miles to Beijing to petition. She said that people were forced to start petitioning because they hit a dead end, We endure great risks, we suffer the pain, but we are determined with unyielding strength against corrupt power; we still have hope. Wu Lijuan, another Hubei native, has been petitioning for 18 years after being unjustly laid off by a bank in Hubei. She has experienced numerous abductions, house arrests, detentions, reeducation through labor, and releases on bail. On Sept. 28, she just escaped a local officials attempt to abduct her while boarding a local train going to Beijing. On Sept. 29, Wu Lijuan told the Chinese edition of The Epoch Times, I have been illegally detained an average of three or four times a year. They put me under house arrest, in black jails, in legal classes, and motels. They booked the whole floor of the motel, more than a dozen rooms. They ate and drank, but I was isolated and beaten, my wrist was dislocated from the beating, Im already disabled for life because I didnt receive prompt treatment. According to Lijuan, a window of her house was smashed, the door was sealed, and the internet cable line was cut multiple times. This is what they will do to a woman. Rather than help to resolve my issue, they simply oppress my voice. Stories of Chinese petitioners are occasionally seen in overseas media and social platforms. Inside China, their stories are strictly censored. Wen Jiabao Accepted Petitioner Complaints Its common to see petitioners from around the nation in a long queue outside the Letters and Calls Bureau in Beijing. Chinese petitioners show documents detailing their grievances in Beijing. Recently, in Xinjiang Province, a group of local residents broke into a black jail to rescue a Chinese petitioner illegally detained by security officials. (Teh Eng Koon/AFP/Getty Images) Jiujingzhuang and Majialou are two areas on the outskirts of Beijing notorious for the black jails established there. They are called relief service centers, and are entitled to deal with petitioners whom the authorities identify as irregular. According to the regimes definition, irregular petitioners mainly refers to people who appeal at non-designated places such as, Tiananmen Square, Zhongnanhai area, embassies and consulates, the residences of central leaders, and venues related to the Olympics. As rumor has it, Jiujingzhuang for instance, could detain from thousands to tens of thousands of petitioners. Black jails such as these are peppered throughout the nation. In 2007, Yu Jianrong, a researcher for the Rural Development Institute, Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, surveyed 560 petitioners in Beijing. The results showed 63.9 percent of them had been imprisoned or detained for petitioning, and 18.8 percent had been subjected to re-education through labor or sentenced to jail for petitioning. Former Party leader Wen Jiabao is the only high-level official to personally meet petitioners at the State Bureau of Letters and Calls since the communists have ruled China. On Jan. 24, 2011, Wen met eight petitioners at the State Bureau and demanded that the relevant officials investigate and resolve the issues. Chinese media Southern Weekly wrote, This is the first time in 61 years. However, Chang Ping, the veteran reporter who wrote the article, lost his job a few days later, on Jan. 27. Letters and Calls Are a Systemic Trap Speaking about the petition system, Wu Shaoping, a Shanghai human rights lawyer currently residing in the United States, told the Chinese ledition of The Epoch Times, This is a systemic trap for petitioners and society. He said, To solve the problems created by the regime itself, to maintain so-called social stability, the regime created this internal petition system to resolve issues tht the judicial system failed to address. But the results have shown this system is nearly non-existent. Its not intended to solve any problems, its just a tactic to exhaust both the time and money of the people. He used the demolition of residents houses as an example: when the corrupt local officials infringe on peoples rights and interests, how can one expect the officials at the same administrative level to supervise and solve the problems? The petitioners seek help from a higher-level authority, which often pushed it to the lower-level government. But, the number of petition cases affects annual performance assessments at all levels, which means the matters end up in a vicious cycle of no resolution. The petitioners only get drained from the long process of petitioning. Wu also indicated that the petition mechanism actually gave rise to a profit chain to intervene in petitions. Usually, the higher level authorities notify local officials, who send people to intercept the petitioners visit, he said, and theres an allowance to cover the cost of each petitioner brought back to the local area. Wu gave an example: if a petitioner is brought back from Beijing, the trip may cost $10,000 to $12,000. This expenditure is covered by the budget for maintenance of stability. They even book an entire motel, one whole floor or several rooms, just to detain petitioners. Its become a chain of profit with some motel owners colluding with the interceptors. Wu said that after the chain of profit is formed, the local authorities deliberately create incidents requiring petition, and opportunities for petitioning and interception, consequently, a group of people relying on the profit is formed. He said, Those petitioners who hoped to change society could end up being put in a brainwashing center, detained, or sentenced on trumped-up charges such as disturbance of social public order, or picking quarrels and provoking trouble. Wu believes that the regimes petition system only serves to divert social conflict, and is in fact, a true dead end for petitioners. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Politburo Standing Committee member Wang Yang (left), Chinese leader Xi Jinping (center), and Premier Li Keqiang applaud after the result of the vote on changes to Hong Kong's election system was announced during the closing session of the National Peoples Congress (NPC) at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 11, 2021. (Nicolas Asfouri/AFP via Getty Images) Power Struggle Intensified Within the Chinese Communist Party Commentary Xi Jinping is facing stiff opposition from within the Chinese Communist Party (CCP) in his bid to secure unlimited tenure for himself at the Partys 20th Congress next year. By 2022, Xi would have served 10 years as state president. According to the Chinese constitutionwhich restricted tenure of office to two terms, each lasting for five yearshe should be stepping down by the end of next year. Yet, Xi amended the constitution to delete this stipulation. This caused widespread discontent within the CCP itself. The strong opposition surfaced recently when the Partys watchdog, the Central Disciplinary Commission (CDC), admitted publicly that there was a plot against Xi. On Sept. 13, two major news portals in China published the same article that recapped a CDC morning brief, which disclosed that a sinister gang within the public security bureau tried to make an attempt on Xis life. In the past, there was no lack of hearsay about plots to assassinate Xi, but none were verified. The CDC brief, for the first time, confirmed one such attempt. According to the report, the alleged culprit, Luo Wenjin, was head of the Criminal Police Brigade of the Public Security Bureau of Jiangsu Province. He tried to make the attempt when Xi officiated a commemorative function in Nanjing, the provincial capital. His criminal activity was smashed by the National Security personnel, the CDC brief said. The CDC brief further disclosed that Lai Xiaomin, the former head of China Huarong Asset Management Co., was also behind the plot. This could be the reason why Lai got the death penalty in January for his alleged crimes, leaving many people bewildered at the time. Lai was the first big shot to be executed for corruption charges ever since Xi started his crackdown on the so-called Big Tigers. Whats noteworthy is that Lai was known to have close ties to Zeng Qinghong, the former vice president of China. Zeng was a diehard loyalist of former CCP leader Jiang Zemin. Naturally, this leads to speculations that the Jiang-Zeng faction was indirectly involved in the plot to take down Xi. Not long after the CDC briefing, another major shake-up took place in the Ministry of Public Security. On Sept. 30, the CDC announced that Sun Lijun, former vice minister of the ministry, was stripped of his posts in the Party and government. On Oct. 2, the CDC announced that Fu Zhenghua, also a former vice minister of the ministry, was held under custody for investigation into his alleged crimes. When disgracing Sun, the CDC accused him of unscrupulously criticizing the Party, creating and spreading political rumors, extracting political capital in order to achieve personal ambitions, fostering gangs and factions within the Party, thus seriously undermining the unity and solidarity of the Party and seriously endangering political security. In a nutshell, Sun was accused of attempting to topple Xi. While the reason for disgracing Fu has not been announced yet, his ouster followed closely Suns downfall. When Sun was disgraced by the CDC on April 19, 2020, Fu lost his job as minister of justice 10 days later. When Sun was formally charged last month, Fu followed suit two days later. This close association led people to speculate that the two men were involved in the same plot. Both Sun and Fu owed their rise within the Ministry of Public Security to Zhou Yongkang, who in turn owed his position as secretary of the CCPs Central Political and Legal Affairs Commission to Jiang Zemin. In China, this body controls the Public Security Ministry, the National Security Ministry, the Supreme Peoples Procuratorate, and the Supreme Peoples Court. It also commands the countrys police force and is considered to be a second armed force next to the military. Zhou used to be member of the CCPs Politburo Standing Committee, the top decision-making body in China. With the CDCs rare admission that there was an attempt on Xis life, it follows that the harsh words used in accusing Sun could mean an attempt to get rid of Xi. Another sign that Xi could be in deep trouble is that Caixin Media published a Weibo post on Oct. 2 that openly insinuated the CCP leader. The post had a picture of five pig heads hanging in front of a butchers shop, and the caption said that no one would want to establish a strategic partnership with stupid people. In the Chinese language, the pig is usually associated with stupidity. The Chinese people coined many derogative nicknames for Xi, one of which is Pigs Head. It is a well-known fact that Caixins chief editor, Hu Shuli, has close ties to Chinese Vice President, Wang Qishan. During Xis first term in office, Wang assisted him in taking down major political opponents one by one. Every time an official was targeted, Caixin would be the first to announce his downfall. The picture that Caixin published openly mocks Xi. This causes speculation that Wang might be another source of opposition against Xi, after the Jiang-Zeng faction. Hu is not the first pro-Wang person to openly ridicule Xi. Ren Zhiqiang, Wangs mentee, openly called Xi a clown wearing no clothes but insisted that he is the emperor, borrowing from Hans Christian Andersens The Emperors New Clothes. Consequently, Ren was sentenced to 18 years in prison in September 2020. Many people interpreted the harsh punishment as Wangs inability to challenge Xi and to reverse the verdict. Whether Hu would similarly be penalized for publishing the controversial picture is yet another test of Wangs position vis-a-vis Xi. All these developments show that Xis bid to gain unlimited tenure as the CCP leader is far from settled. Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. Journalists walk past a screen showing video footage of Chinese President Xi Jinping, during a visit to the Museum of the Communist Party of China, near the Birds Nest national stadium in Beijing on June 25, 2021. (Noel Celis/AFP via Getty Images) Reporters Without Borders Responds to Chinese Regime Mouthpieces Threat On Oct. 5, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) posted on its official website Secretary-General Christophe Deloires response to the accusations and threats against the organization by the editor-in-chief of the Chinese regime media Global Times. On Oct. 2, Hu Xijin violently attacked the press freedom organization in his editorial published on Global Times, says RSF. Hu specifically targeted RSFs project Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI), which aims to promote independent journalism and fight disinformation around the world, the organization explains on its website. Adding that Hu accused RSF of building an alliance of lies to harm China. Hu called RSF a wild dog, and threatened that it better watch out for Chinas stick. RSF Secretary-General Christophe Deloire responded to Hu saying, In this paranoid and threatening text, Mr. Hu Xijin goes out of his way to attack the work of Reporters Without Borders (RSF) but does not manage to give a single factual argument in support of his theses. Deloire further explains, Because RSF denounces its repressive legal framework and its abusive use of criminal law, the Chinese regime has become accustomed to labeling our organization as anti-China, just as it systematically calls factual information that does not correspond to its propaganda narrative fake news. Deloire responded to Hus five accusations he says do not stand up to facts. Regarding control the internet through the JTI project, Deloire says its to motivate platforms to favor transparent sources in order to reduce the impact of disinformation in the world. As to the accusation of JTI project excludes Chinese and Russian media, Deloire states that the platform is open to all media that meets the basic journalism criteria-the journalistic ethics and editorial independence. Whereas, mainland Chinese media are controlled and censored by the Chinese communist regime, and are defined by the regime as the mouthpiece of the ruling Chinese Communist Party. For the accusation that RSFs aim is to attack China,' Deloire says its a conspiratorial theme is regularly taken up by the Chinese regimes propagandists. He pointed out, RSF is very critical of the actions of the current Chinese regime, which tries by all means to control information within and outside its borders and threatens press freedom around the world. As to being unfair by including China at the bottom of its Index, Deloire explains the reason for China being ranked 177 out 180 countries in press freedom in 2021 is extensive Chinese Communist Party control over professional media, a violent crackdown on non-professional journalists and unprecedented censorship on the internet. In the end, Deloire responded to Hus name-calling and threats by saying the Beijing regime only knows intimidation and violence to silence its critics. Ships await to be offloaded in the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach on Jan. 12, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Anchor Strike May Have Happened Several Months Before California Oil Spill HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif.The underwater pipeline that spilled thousands of gallons of oil off the coast of Huntington Beach may have been ruptured as much as a year ago, and multiple ship anchors may have struck the line in that time, a U.S. Coast Guard official said on Oct. 8. Capt. Jason Neubauer, the Coast Guards lead investigator, said the crack in the pipeline could have developed at any point over the past year and expanded over time, so it remains unclear when oil actually began leaking. Neubauer indicated that underwater video of the damaged pipeline shows marine growth around the 13-inch crack in the pipeline that was left exposed when its concrete casing was ripped away, likely by the strike of a ships anchor that hooked the line and dragged it 105 feet out of place. Investigators were analyzing the maturity of the vegetation to give them a clue as to when the pipeline was initially struck and lost its protective concrete casing. The presence of the marine vegetation on the exposed pipe has refocused the timeframe of our investigation to at least several months to a year ago, Neubauer said. He said a routine inspection of the pipeline conducted by its owner, Amplify Energy, in October of last year showed no damage. Were going to be looking at every vessel movement over that pipeline and every close encroachment over the past year, Neubauer told reporters during an Oct. 8 press conference. That data includes satellite images, radio broadcasts, and the traffic of vessels. Investigators were also looking into the possibility that a winter storm from Jan. 24 to 25 may have contributed to the positioning of ships anchors in the area. Cleanup efforts are underway in Huntington Beach, Calif., to clean a massive oil spill that struck the coastline on Oct. 3, 2021. Oct. 5, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) While more than 900 people are performing response operations for the oil spill across Orange County beaches, a call for volunteers to assist with the cleanup has been issued. According to Orange County Supervisor Katrina Foley, 2,000 volunteers have already signed up to help. The county hopes to increase the number of volunteers in their community as the city opened up the cleanup efforts to the public earlier this week. Volunteers who sign up to assist in the effort will receive four hours of training revolving around the handling of hazardous materials, Foley wrote on Twitter. In Orange County, the public can expect to see Shoreline Cleanup Assessment Teams and work crews equipped in protective gear, monitoring, inspecting, and cleaning the beaches to ensure that appropriate cleanup actions are taken, Southern California Spill Response said in an Oct. 8 update. Cleanup efforts are underway in Huntington Beach, Calif., to clean an oil spill the struck the coastline on Oct. 3, 2021. Oct. 5, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) Additional cleanup crews arrived in Newport Beach on Oct. 5 to remove tar and oil from the beachfront. As of that day, in Newport Beach alone, West Newport was reported to have the highest concentrations of oil following Corona del Mar and the Wedge. The oil spill was originally estimated to have released roughly 144,000 gallons, but in a recent update, authorities speculate the amount could be closer to 30,000. Theres speculation of about 30,000 gallons, but thats not been confirmed, Orange County Supervisor Lisa Bartlett said. But that would make more sense, adding the amount of wildlife so far affected by the spill does not reflect a larger oil spill. Of the anticipated 30,000 gallons, 5,544 gallons of crude oil have been recovered, and 172,500 pounds of debris have been gathered from the shoreline as of Oct. 8. Cleanup efforts are underway in Huntington Beach, Calif., to clean an oil spill that struck the coastline on Oct. 3, 2021. Oct. 5, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) The oil spill off the coast of Huntington Beach was reported to the U.S. Coast Guard around 9 a.m. on Oct. 2. However, questions arose about whether the company responsible for the spill, Amplify Energy, knew about the situation hours before the initial report. The U.S. Department of Transportations Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administrations Office of Pipeline Safety released an order on Oct. 5 stating that workers in the Amplify Energy control room received a low-pressure alarm on the San Pedro Bay Pipeline, indicating a possible failure around 2:30 a.m. on Saturday, nearly four hours before the pipeline was shut down. Amplify Energy CEO Martyn Willsher stated that the company was working with investigators to provide transparency regarding the timeline of the incident. We did not take any additional time [after discovering the leak]; we automatically instituted our incident recovery plan, and people were notified very, very quickly, Willsher said during an Oct. 6 press conference. Huntington Beach issued an ocean and wetland water quality test at 30 sites. Air monitoring surveys and air sampling are further being conducted along 12 sites on the coastline. Results of the findings were pending as of Oct. 8. As the oil response teams continue to monitor, inspect, and clean the beaches to ensure that appropriate cleanup actions are taken, and in advance of water analysis from the Unified Command, our original health advisory continues to remain in place, Orange County Health Officer Clayton Chau said in a statement. We ask that our residents and visitors continue to avoid the ocean water and oiled areas of our beaches to limit the risk of contaminants being absorbed through the skin, inhalation, and ingestion until further notice. Chau further urged residents and visitors to refrain from participating in recreational activities on the coastline as the oil spill can linger even when not visible. Meanwhile, Dana Point beaches, including Strands Beach, Salt Creek Beach, and Baby Beach, reopened on Oct. 7 while Dana Point Harbor and Newport Beach Harbor announced their reopening on the afternoon of Oct. 8. The city of Laguna Beach further announced on Oct. 8 that the sand would be reopened to the public as the shoreline and oceanfront continue to remain closed. Inspections of visible signs of oil are stretching beyond Orange County and into San Diego County as teams assess the Santa Margarita River, Harbor Beach, Oceanside City Beach, La Jolla Shores, Agua Hedionda Lagoon, Del Mar Fairgrounds, San Dieguito Lagoon, Los Penasquitos Lagoon, and La Jolla Shores-Scripps. The cause of the oil spill is still under investigation, but speculation that an anchor may be the culprit is being considered. City News Service contributed to this report. This frame grab from video aired by state-run TV Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) on Oct. 7, 2021, shows two vessels in the Persian Gulf. (IRIB via AP) State TV Says Iranian Speedboats Intercepted US Navy Vessel TEHRAN, IranIrans state TV reported Thursday that speedboats belonging to the countrys paramilitary Revolutionary Guard have intercepted U.S. vessels in the Persian Gulf. A U.S. Navy spokesman said he was not aware of any such encounter at sea over the past days. The region remains on edge over Irans escalating nuclear program. Talks in Vienna to revive Tehrans now-tattered 2015 accord with world powers have stalled since June, with no date set for their resumption. Thursdays Iranian report aired footage that the TV said was filmed from one of the Guard speedboats. It shows at least one vessel with the U.S. flag and several personnel on board as at least two speedboats appear to be chasing it. Other non-Iranian vessel in the video were not identifiable, however. This frame grab from video aired by state-run TV Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) on Oct. 7, 2021, shows two vessels in the Persian Gulf. (IRIB via AP) A voice is heard in the footage, saying in Farsi: Keep chasing them. The report did not say when the encounter took place. Cmdr. Timothy Hawkins, a spokesman for the U.S. Navys Bahrain-based 5th Fleet, said he wasnt aware of any sort of unsafe interaction with Iran in the last two days. The report is the first such report in recent months. In May, the Revolutionary Guard rejected the U.S. Navys claim that fast-approaching Iranian speedboats in the Strait of Hormuz sparked a tense encounter a day after the United States said the Revolutionary Guard sent 13 armed speedboats too close to U.S. Navy vessels in the Strait. The United States at the time said a Coast Guard cutter fired warning shots when two of the Iranian boats came dangerously close. To meet todays nomads. Film director Sibylle dOrgeval crosses Kyrgyzstan, from the capital Bishkek to Lake Issyk Kul. Then, through the mountains and high pastures where the shepherds live, shell head for the south of the country. Shell also cross the Trans-Alay mountains on her way to Tajikistan in the Western Pamirs, populated by the Kyrgyz minority of nomadic tradition. About Mythical Roads: Whether they be remote or packed with tourists, recent or old, famous or forgotten, certain routes are paved with legends. This series explores itineraries that have made history across five continentssome roads and rivers that separate countries, and others that form links, creating pathways for traders, fortune-seekers, evangelists, conquerors, and travelers. As historical symbols, these routes now ignite the imaginations of millions of people in search of adventure and freedom. The original and poetic approach of this series casts a new light on these mythical roads. Throughout the journey, the routes unfold through the eyes of the men and women who live and work along them, and who continue to sustain the legends. Personal adventures alternate with extraordinary explorations, unforgettable encounters, and surprising developments. Follow EpochTV on social media: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/EpochTVus Twitter: https://twitter.com/EpochTVus Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/EpochTV Gettr: https://gettr.com/user/epochtv Gab: https://gab.com/EpochTV Telegram: https://t.me/EpochTV Parler: https://parler.com/#/user/EpochTV You May Also Like: Episode 5: Destroying the Soul New Release: Interview with the Antichrist New release: Violino Short Film David & Goliath | Feature Film Epoch Cinema Two Vehicles Hit by Trains in One Week in Irvine Within the span of exactly one week, there were two different collisions between cars and Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) trains in Irvine, California. The first collision occurred Sept. 29 at approximately 10 p.m. at the railroad crossing on McGaw street between Jamboree and Von Karman, and the second collision occurred exactly one week later on Oct. 6 at 9:30 p.m. on Von Karman between Main Street and McGaw. Interestingly, BNSF, who operates the trains, only travels through there once a week on Wednesday evenings, according to Irvine Police Department public information officer Sergeant Karie Davies, meaning the only two trains in one week both ended in a collision. The locations have warning lights that flash red when a train is approaching and signs indicating railroad crossing, Davies told The Epoch Times via email. In addition, the train engineers sound their horn as they approach as standard practice. During both collisions, the trains were moving extremely slow through the intersection. Despite the unusualness of a once-a-week train getting into an accident twice in a row, Davies said she was unaware of any prior collisions at the location. (Courtesy of the Irvine Police Department) BNSF was not immediately available for comment. Visitors look at one of the earliest original manuscripts of the Magna Carta from 1217 at the Morgan Library & Museum on April 21, 2010, in New York City. (Mario Tama/Getty Images) Understanding the Constitution: The English Foundation Commentary Understanding the U.S. Constitution requires knowing some English constitutional and legal history. Both the Constitution and the Bill of Rights are loaded with words and phrases inherited from England. That English inherence has been enormously important in shaping the U.S. legal system and culture generally. When educators underplay the English background in service to the diversity agenda, they leave their students clueless as to the meaning and significance of the Constitution, and susceptible to woke propaganda. England is the largest of the four components in the United Kingdom, which also includes Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland. All of the 13 colonies that came to be the United States (as well as the 14th state, Vermont) adopted English political and legal institutions. Even today, most states have constitutional provisions or statutes declaring the common law of England to be the basic law of their courts. Colonial Americans, like the English, treated the Magna Carta, the Petition of Right, and the English Bill of Rights as foundational documents. Colonial legislatures were structured by charters based on English law. Most of the colonial governors were appointed by the Crown. American courts applied English procedures, respected English case precedents, and sometimes consulted acts of Parliament. American law students learned their legal doctrine from Edward Cokes Institutes of the Lawes [sic] of England or William Blackstones Commentaries on the Laws of England. Nearly all the leading participants in the constitutional debates of 1787 to 1790 had worked within the Anglo-American political and legal system. Some had spent considerable time at home, as the colonials sometimes called England. John Dickinson studied law at Londons Middle Temple (one of the Inns of Court) and frequently observed Parliament in action. Ben Franklin lived for years in London, where he represented colonial interests. Franklin was also a postmaster general in the unified British imperial Post Office. Other leading Founders, while not spending time in England, studied under those who had. One such Founder was James Wilson, a Scottish immigrant, who clerked in Dickinsons law office. The common belief that the Constitution was written in ordinary language is a half-truth. Most of the Constitutions language was ordinary for the founding generation. But that generation was far more knowledgeable about the law and political institutions than most Americans are now. In addition, some of the Constitutions language wasnt ordinary, even in 1787. Because the Constitution is a legal document (the supreme Law of the Land) and because its also an outline of government, the framers inserted words and phrases with specialized legal and political meanings. The framers werent trying to trick anyone by using legal and political terms. They were simply using language efficiently. During the ratification debates, the framers and other spokesmen for the Constitution carefully explained these words and phrases to the general public (pdf). Here are three ways Anglo-American law affected the Constitutions meaning: First, 18th-century lawyers, as with attorneys everywhere, divided the law into categories. Their books show that commercial law was a separate category from patent law or bankruptcy law (pdf). Thats why the Constitution itemizes each of these categories separately (Article I, Section 8). Thus, when the Constitution gave Congress the power to regulate Commerce among the several States, it bestowed authority to regulate activities that 18th-century lawyers considered to be Commerce. It didnt grant Congress the power to govern the entire economy, as the modern Supreme Court seems to think. Instead, as leading Founders explained, the regulation of most economic activities was left to the states (pdf). Second, some provisions are in the Constitution specifically to react to particular rules of Anglo-American law. One of these is the Ninth Amendment. The Ninth Amendment is a response to an Anglo-American guideline for interpreting documents. The guideline was (and is) often expressed in the Latin sentence, Designatio unius est exclusio alteriusthe designation of one item is the exclusion of another. It means that if you have a list of items, then you can presume those not on the list are excluded. The Ninth Amendment was adopted so that this guideline wouldnt apply to limits on government power specifically mentioned in the Constitution. It tells us that the federal government is limited in ways not specifically listed. Third, many of the Constitutions words and phrases are terms of art taken from centuries of English law and political practice. A term of art is a word or phrase with a specialized definition different from the ordinary meaning. In common speech, the word necessary usually means absolutely required. But in the necessary and proper clause (Article I, Section 8, Clause 18), it has the specialized meaning of incidental. Incidental, in turn, is also a word with a particular legal definition. Lets finish by listing some additional words and phrases in the original Constitution and in the Bill of Rights with specialized political or legal meanings imported from England. Nearly all of these words and phrases are explained in my book, The Original Constitution: What It Actually Said and Meant: Admiralty advice and consent appellate jurisdiction authority of the United States attainder of treason bill of attainder capitation cases commissions confederation consuls convention corruption of blood direct Taxes establishment of religion ex post facto Law forfeiture general welfare giving them aid and comfort high crimes and [high] misdemeanors impeachment imposts indictment law of nations legislative powers letters of marque and reprisal necessary and proper needful natural born oath or affirmation original jurisdiction privileges and immunities pro tempore public ministers recess of the Senate regulation of commerce or revenue reprieves trial [] by jury regulate the value thereof [coinage] religious test republican form of government speaker tax the freedom of speech the freedom [] of the press tonnage use of/public use vacancies happen/vacancies that may happen warrants well-regulated militia writ of habeas corpus. Robert G. Natelson, a former constitutional law professor and historian, is senior fellow in constitutional jurisprudence at the Independence Institute in Denver. In 2005, he worked at Oxford University and the Middle Temple in England researching 18th century Anglo-American law. He is the author of The Original Constitution: What It Actually Said and Meant (3rd ed., 2015). Views expressed in this article are the opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of The Epoch Times. An Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agent checks pedestrians' documentation at the San Ysidro Port of Entry on October 2, 2019 in San Ysidro, California. Fentanyl has been central to the American opioid crisis which began in the late 1990s. China was the first country to manufacture illegal fentanyl for the US market, but the problem surged when trafficking through Mexico began around 2005. (SANDY HUFFAKER/AFP via Getty Images) US Flooded with Fentanyl-Laced Fake Pills from China: Part 2 News Analysis Even registered fentanyl manufacturers in China have engaged in commercial bribery, illegal sales of fentanyl through the internet, and packaging designed to dodge customs inspection, according to publicly available information. On Dec. 1, 2018, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi indicated that all drugs in the fentanyl category would be regulated. Soon after, Jiangsu Enhua Pharmaceutical and Wuhan Human Well Pharmaceutical announced on Dec. 3 that they had never exported any fentanyl products to the United States. However, Chinese state media recently reported that Yichang Human Well Pharmaceutical Co., Ltd., a subsidiary of Wuhan Human Well, was rated as a seriously untrustworthy company by Henan Province medical authorities for offering bribes to an anesthesiologist to get him to sell four drugs to a local hospital, including Sufentanil Citrate, a fentanyl-type analgesic that is administered by epidural injection or intravenously. Anesthesiologists have also been involved in illegal sales of fentanyl drugs. Two anesthesiologists, from different hospitals in Henan Province, were found to be selling drugs, including fentanyl, online. One of them made approximately $32,000 in less than two years, according to an indictment issued by the local prosecutors office. Chinas fentanyl trade is highly secretive. According to Chinese state media Xinhua News, the illegal trafficking of fentanyl in China utilizes the internet and various parcel delivery services. These drugs are labeled as detoxification or nourishing supplements. For instance, one online store involved in fentanyl sales is called Detoxification Specialties Store of Yunnan Province. The drug dealers and buyers use a variety of payment methods to cover up their illegal transactions. Investigations by a US Journalist and CBP Ben Westhoff, an award-winning investigative journalist who writes about culture, drugs, and poverty, spent a year in China, disguised as a customer of fentanyl-related products. He contacted 17 sellers at Wuhan Yuancheng Corporation at different times, and even conducted an onsite interview in Wuhan in January 2018. Then in February 2019, Westhoff contacted the Yuancheng boss Ye Chuanfa directly and revealed that he was a journalist. Ye did not deny the fact that his company sells precursors of fentanyl, yet he claimed that he did not know for what purpose his customers were buying them. When Westhoff asked him why the companys products have fake labels on the boxes to deceive the custom officials, Ye remained silent. In his book published later that year Fentanyl, Inc.: How Rogue Chemists Are Creating the Deadliest Wave of the Opioid Epidemic, Westhoff wrote, [Illicitly-produced] fentanyl is mostly made in China, and then sent directly to U.S. consumers through the mail, or funneled into the country by Mexican cartels. The amount of fentanyl intercepted along the U.S.-Mexico border can serve to confirm Westhoffs conclusions. As of July, the fentanyl seized by the Texas Department of Public Security was 9.5 times the total amount seized in all of 2020enough to kill 21 million people. The U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission disclosed in its August report that China remains the primary country of origin for illicit fentanyl and fentanyl-related substances trafficked into the United States. In 2019, China fulfilled a pledge to the United States and placed all forms of fentanyl and its analogues on a regulatory schedule. Nevertheless, illicit fentanyl from China remains widely available in the United States, the report said. Chinese traffickers are using various strategies to circumvent new regulations, including focusing on chemical precursors, relocating some manufacturing to India, rerouting precursor shipments through third countries, and leveraging marketing schemes to avoid detection. Chinas weak supervision and regulation of its chemical and pharmaceutical industry also enable evasion and circumvention. Thomas Overacker, executive director of cargo and conveyance security for Customs and Border Protection (CBP), told Congress in July 2019 that illicit fentanyl mostly entered the United States along the southwest border by private vehicles, pedestrian, and commercial vehicles. In 2019, CBP seized more than 2,660 pounds of illicit fentanyl from Mexico compared to 1,500 pounds in 2018. The Mexican government reported that seizures of illicit fentanyl at clandestine labs and ports increased six-fold in 2020, and the precursor chemicals originated from China, according to various official reports including the U.S.-China Economic and Security Review Commission. Lack of morality [in China] is the fundamental factor Li Yuanhua, former associate professor of Education at Chinas Capital Normal University, told The Epoch Times about Chinas role in fentanyl trafficking. He said that in todays China, people only care about profits and there is collusion between the government and businesses. Lack of morality is the fundamental factor. Failure to comply with the law is simply the superficial manifestation, Li said. Li believes that government officials are fully aware of these illegal practices, yet are happy to provide protection to the perpetrators, because they receive huge bribes from the drug manufacturers and dealers. It is almost a government action. With the facilitation by corrupt officials, smuggling can flow unimpeded, Li said. The CCP thinks that China itself is not harmed by fentanyl, and it is happy to see the United States victimized. Therefore, the Chinese authorities pretend that they are not aware of the situation. The CCP truly has no bottom line when seeking profits and harming others, and it even thinks that doing such things is protecting Chinas national interest. A medical volunteer prepares the Moderna coronavirus vaccination for a patient at Lestonnac Free Clinic in Orange, Calif., on March 9, 2021. (John Fredricks/The Epoch Times) What Happens to LA County Employees Who Dont Get COVID-19 Vaccine? Los Angeles Countys sweeping mandate requiring all county employees to be vaccinated against COVID-19 took effect at midnight on Oct. 8, leaving unvaccinated county employees uncertain of their fate. Los Angeles Board of Supervisors Chair Hilda Solis issued an executive order in August mandating that all county workers be vaccinated by Oct. 8an order which the rest of the board later ratified. Under the mandate, employees are to either be fully vaccinated or get a COVID-19 test each week and eventually get vaccinated, unless they are exempted for health or religious beliefs, Supervisor Sheila Kuehl told The Epoch Times in a previous interview. However, many county employees who dont intend to get vaccinated and arent eligible for medical or religious exemption will face suspension and eventual termination. County Says Employees Who Dont Vaccinate Will Be Terminated A spokesperson for the countys Chief Executive Office told The Epoch Times via email that all employees who havent provided proof of full vaccination and havent submitted a request for exemption will receive a notice of vaccine requirement. The notice will inform them that they have 45 days to register as fully vaccinated, the spokesperson said. Discipline for those who continue not to comply with the countys policy face a 5-day suspension after 45 days and termination 30 days after that. On the law enforcement front, Los Angeles County Sheriff Alex Villanueva said in a livestream on Oct. 7 that he wont enforce the mandate for his employees, saying the mandate puts him in a difficult position where he faces losing more employees at a time when the police force is already struggling with staffing issues. Im not forcing anyone. The issue has become so politicized, Villanueva said. There are entire groups of employees that are willing to be fired and laid off rather than get vaccinated, so I dont want to be in a position to lose 5 to 10 percent of my workforce overnight on a vaccine mandate. In a press conference last month, Los Angeles Public Health Department (LAPHD) Director Barbara Ferrer said LAPHD employees will not be terminated for missing the Oct. 1 vaccination deadline but instead will be reassigned until theyre fully vaccinated or receive a religious or medical exemption. Well be working with those that are not fully vaccinated to make sure that theyre not violating the health officer order, Ferrer said. And that is not by terminating people. County Employee Reactions The vaccine requirement has sparked outrage from people who say the countys mandate violates their individual and health freedoms. Last week, five county employees sued the city over the vaccine mandate, claiming that the countys mandate is unconstitutional and saying that the exemptions are not enough. The county must consider and offer reasonable accommodations as a middle ground between individual freedoms and collective rights, the lawsuit stated. It did not do that. Instead, it viewed this sensitive personal issue through the lens of partisan politics. One of the lawsuits plaintiffs, the nonprofit PERK group, said in a media alert on Oct. 6 that more than 4,000 individuals across 55 departments of first responders and public workers oppose the vaccine mandate. PERK group didnt respond to a request for comment by press time. Montreal, CA (H4T1V6) Today Rain. High around 7C. Winds WSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 100%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Becoming partly cloudy after some evening rain. Low 1C. Winds WSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. Tony Hetherington is Financial Mail on Sunday's ace investigator, fighting readers corners, revealing the truth that lies behind closed doors and winning victories for those who have been left out-of-pocket. Find out how to contact him below. P.S. writes: Nest Pensions switched my pension savings out of the Sharia Fund I had chosen and into its own Post Retirement Fund, and then some days later switched me back again. All this was done without my permission and if I had not looked at the relevant investment page online by mistake, I would never have been aware of it. I lost money through this unauthorised switch and I notified Nest in July but it has been giving me the runaround. Error: A system update resulted in Nest changing the investments of 90 savers Tony Hetherington replies: The emails you sent me show that you tried to sort this out by phone and on Nest's online chat service, but you got nowhere after being asked when you switched funds, while the whole point was that you made no switches at all. So, on July 10 you put your complaint and your questions to Nest by email and were told that, 'This issue should be resolved within seven working days.' It was not resolved, of course, but the flow of emails continued, with assurances that an 'incident team' was actively investigating, while at the same time you were faced with ridiculous questions including a request that you should tell Nest when the fund switches took place, despite the fact that it was Nest itself that made the switches. By the time you contacted me, we were into September and you had still received no explanation from Nest, which is a public body set up by the Government more than a decade ago to provide workplace pension schemes after employers had become legally obliged to make most employees save for retirement. Nest's near-silence made you wonder whether there was some kind of systems problem, and that your own unauthorised fund changes were not an isolated error. And you were right. My own enquiries with Nest brought to light 90 pension savers who had been hit with similar changes to their investments. The explanation is that when Nest savers approach their expected retirement date, they are prompted to review their plans. If they make no changes, then Nest itself switches them into a fund it runs, which should be more safe and stable. This happens every June, but this year an update to Nest's computer systems went wrong and members were switched out of their chosen investments even if they had tried to say they were happy as they were. Nest soon realised things had gone badly wrong, so it moved all 90 savers back into their original investment funds. However, the original error was followed by a second one. Nest has told me it wrote to affected members in July, but it admits that for no clear reason, you were never notified. Out of the 90 Nest savers hit by the systems error, 31 actually gained from the replacement investment while 59 including you lost money. The 31 will be allowed to keep their gains, and Nest will top up the 59 losing accounts to put them back as they should be. Your own losses were 149, and a credit for this should now be shown in your account. Robin Lewis, head of service delivery at Nest, said: 'We have spoken with Mr S to explain what has happened and express our sincere apologies for the level of service he has received.' The systems error is being corrected, and sensibly Nest will give it a dry run before letting it loose on savers' real funds. A customer has never had dealings with Vodafone but was told she owed hundreds to the firm Vodafone debt is not mine Mrs G.W. writes: I have received a letter from Vodafone and its debt collectors, claiming I owe 214. However, I have never had dealings with Vodafone, nor have I received any previous correspondence from the company. I called the debt collectors, who were unhelpful. I then called Vodafone and was told the account looked fraudulent and someone would call me back, but this never happened. Tony Hetherington replies: You told me you made one final attempt to call Vodafone, but you hit a brick wall when you could not answer its security questions. But how could you, when the account is not yours? With Vodafone and its debt collectors raising the stakes by slapping a further 27 in costs on to the bill, and listing you with credit agencies as a debtor, I made one simple request: could I have a copy of your Vodafone contract, please? Three days later, Vodafone told me it had cancelled the demand and cleaned up your credit file. It explained: 'The account was taken out fraudulently by someone who had Mrs W's personal details'. It is just a shame that Vodafone did not handle this better when you alerted it to the problem. WE'RE WATCHING YOU: Firm fined 50,000 over its illegal cold calls on pensions In charge: Ashley Parkin-Beacher A company that made illegal sales calls to people about their pension savings has been fined 50,000 by the Information Commissioner's Office for breaching a ban which came into force in 2019. Parkin Beacher Limited, which also calls itself Your Pension Options, made cold calls offering to review pension plans by arranging an introduction to an adviser. Andy Curry, head of investigations at the ICO, said: 'Cold calls are a common way of attempting to defraud people out of their pensions, and we will take tough action where we find companies carrying out this kind of marketing.' The Halifax-based company is run by Ashley Parkin-Beacher, and last April I warned that another of his companies, Your Options Limited, was claiming to be run by experts specialising in financial services. In fact, they were salesmen marketing the high risk Choices Bond which promised to pay 7 per cent interest, while failing to spell out possible losses. Parkin-Beacher reassured investors, saying: 'Northern Provident Investments will oversee any investments throughout their duration.' But by August, NPI itself was on the brink of collapse, and on September 4 it fell into liquidation. Last May, a month after The Mail on Sunday's warning, the Financial Conduct Authority added Your Options to its own warning list of unauthorised financial businesses. If you believe you are the victim of financial wrongdoing, write to Tony Hetherington at Financial Mail, 2 Derry Street, London W8 5TS or email tony.hetherington@mailonsunday.co.uk. Because of the high volume of enquiries, personal replies cannot be given. Please send only copies of original documents, which we regret cannot be returned. Stock market-listed Miton Global Opportunities is an unusual investment fund on so many levels. Its portfolio comprises an eclectic mix of investments with exposure to everything from German residential property through to forestry and shipping while its holdings are primarily in quoted investment trusts. Although it is an investment oddball, the formula seems to work based on the latest performance figures. Over the past year, the 100million trust, whose shares can be traded on the London Stock Exchange, has delivered investors a return of 50 per cent 84 per cent over five years. 'The trust has changed over the past two to three years,' says Charlotte Cuthbertson, the fund's assistant manager. 'It's no longer a fund that invests primarily in investment trusts with exposure to equities. It's now about providing shareholders with a portfolio made up of a richly diversified mix of assets. 'We're trying to find returns in different areas of the investment universe.' The selection of investment trusts is undertaken by Cuthbertson, in association with lead manager Nick Greenwood. Their prime focus is on investment trusts that have assets of less than 500million. This, Cuthbertson says, is because there is more value to be found in these smaller funds that tend to be overlooked by big wealth managers such as Hargreaves Lansdown. 'There are plenty of opportunities in this space,' she adds. 'We're talking about a choice from more than 270 trusts.' The end result is a portfolio built around 45 holdings. There are key points the managers look for in an investment trust before they will buy it. They have to like the asset class that the fund is invested in and the shares have to represent a bargain. In other words, they must sit at a big double digit discount to the value of the underlying assets. Then, they sit down and assess the chances of a 'catalyst' bringing about a reduction in this discount. If a trust ticks all of these boxes, it is bought. Some holdings come good quite quickly. For example, the trust bought into Biotech Growth Trust towards the end of 2018 when stock markets corrected worldwide. 'Biotech as an investment theme was unloved,' says Greenwood. 'But of course, the pandemic came along in early 2020 and suddenly biotech stocks came back into favour.' The trust disposed of its holding in July last year, generating a profit of nearly 80 per cent in the process. Other stakes take longer to come good. For example, a holding was made in Vinacapital Vietnam Opportunity five years ago. 'Vietnam, like India, is a stock market we like,' says Cuthbertson. 'The underlying economy is benefiting from a growing middle class and greater urbanisation. It's also the beneficiary of inward investment as large multinational businesses look to reduce their dependency on China.' Although the Vinacapital fund has performed strongly its share price is up nearly 40 per cent over the past year Cuthbertson and Greenwood won't crystallise their gains until the fund's discount narrows (it currently stands at a whopping 23 per cent). 'If the discount halved from here on,' says Cuthbertson, 'we'd look to reduce our stake. Our mission would be done.' Its key holding in the booming Indian stock market is via India Capital Growth, a trust that has generated a one-year return of 76 per cent. A narrowing discount down from 14 per cent to 8 per cent suggests it might not be long before Miton realises its gains. The trust's stock market identification number is 3436594 and its market ticker is MIGO. The total annual charges are on the high side at 1.3 per cent. If life is, as Forrest Gump so famously remarked, like a box of chocolates, then Hotel Chocolat chief executive and founder Angus Thirlwell could be forgiven for thinking that the pandemic had turned his into the equivalent of an out-of-date packet of Milk Tray. With Christmas last year all but cancelled, few people wanted to buy a 150 Eat Drink and Be Merry chocolate hamper or even a 35 Chocolate Dipping Adventure. Valentine's Day was a damp squib too. With many of us confined to our local areas and feeling gloomy, it was easier to purchase a bar of Dairy Milk from the local corner shop than splurge on something more romantic. Tasty: Hotel Chocolat's full-year figures were still a box of delights for investors Despite all of this, Hotel Chocolat's full-year figures were still a box of delights for investors. The AIM-listed stock posted revenue up by a fifth and returned to profit after last year's Covid-driven losses. What's the secret? The company has pivoted its focus to digital, launched a popular subscription model for its hot chocolate maker the Velvetiser and grown its business in the US and Japan. Thirlwell says the company has 'evolved from a UK store-led brand to a globally ambitious digital-led brand'. He believe this positions the business well for the future. Brokers were impressed with the company's financial numbers. Jonathan Pritchard, at Peel Hunt, said current trading is 'clearly exceptional'. He is excited by the prospect of the company's first ever television campaign, which he says will help improve brand recognition since some people still think Thirlwell is running a hotel chain. Wayne Brown, at house broker Liberum, describes the company as having a 'well-articulated and focused strategy across three main geographies'. Both brokers are keen to stress the company's commitment to sustainability, which should be enough to keep Hotel Chocolat on the radar of ESG (Environmental, Social and Governance) focused buyers. Both brokers have upgraded their forecasts for the company. Despite the good news, there are still some stale coffee creams at the bottom of this selection box. Like other businesses, the company is suffering from pricing pressures at home, which could hit the bottom line. But with its production heavily based in the UK, the company shouldn't suffer as serious supply chain issues as rivals. The company also didn't reinstate its dividend, a disappointment for those shareholders hungry for income. Hotel Chocolat's shares ended the week at 4.75. A premium price for a premium company. Midas verdict: Midas has a sweet tooth when it comes to Hotel Chocolat. We tipped the shares at 3.45 in 2018, and they've put on more than a pound since then. The company's shares aren't cheap, but as chocolate connoisseurs will tell you, some things are worth paying for. Hold. Traded on: AIM Ticker: HOTC Contact: hotelchocolat.com 03444 93 23 23. Boost: Dyson's 400 Corrale hair straightener helped its profits rise by a fifth Inventor Sir James Dyson saw profits surge by almost a fifth last year as the launch of a revolutionary new hair straightener helped the vacuums tycoon ride out his 'most difficult year in memory'. Underlying profits rose 18 per cent to 1.3billion in 2020 as revenues grew 6 per cent on the previous year to 5.7billion, new accounts show. The rise in profits came amid growing global demand for Dyson products, including the newly launched 400 Corrale straightener, and the roll-out of its Dyson Demo stores. The manufacturer is increasingly selling products direct to consumers online and in its 340 shops predominantly in Asia. The group which has bases in Singapore, Mexico and the Philippines battled Covid disruption to its supply chain and operations. Sir James hit headlines last year after it emerged he had exchanged personal texts with Boris Johnson over the tax status of his employees. He said: 'Quite simply, 2020 was the most difficult year I can remember, and Dyson faced up to very significant challenges. Early in the year we had to completely change all our plans and fundamentally reshape the business.' The company last year unveiled an ambitious five-year plan to invest 2.75billion in researching and developing products in multiple fields including motor technology and machine learning. Focus: Canadian Mike Wells is now concentrating on restructuring debt Prudential shareholders began to get twitchy after the FTSE100 giant spun off its American business last month. Just days later, the insurer sold 1.8billion of shares on the Hong Kong stock exchange, home to one of its two Asia headquarters and many of its staff. That came against the backdrop of renowned activist investor Third Point campaigning for Prudential to close its costly office in the UK, where it no longer sells products. City investors put two and two together and the rumour mill went into overdrive. Could this be it? Could a venerable 170-year-old City titan finally be about to pack up and leave the UK, quitting the London stock market to concentrate on the fast-growing Asian and African markets where Prudential makes most of its profit? They needn't have worried. Today, chief executive Mike Wells delivers heartening news to the 40 per cent of Prudential shareholders who own its UK-listed stock (it's also listed in New York, Singapore and Hong Kong): the FTSE giant is very much here to stay. 'There are a lot of really good reasons to have a London listing for one, we've got talent in London and I wouldn't see any benefit to losing a UK listing,' Wells tells The Mail on Sunday in a rare interview. 'To be clear, we have no work streams on relocating out of London, there is no present activity around that at all. 'It is an incredible market and it's more expensive to attract some of that talent in Hong Kong right now.' Luckily for Wells, Third Point seems supportive of his overall strategy. In a recent investor letter, the hedge fund run by Daniel Loeb known for full-throttle campaigns against giants such as Sony and Sotheby's said Wells's 'commitment to long-term value creation gives us great confidence in the future of this business'. Square jawed, Canada-born Wells is speaking from New York City, where he rang the bell in the New York Stock Exchange for the listing of shares in its US business, Jackson. After an intense period focused on both the separation of Jackson and the Hong Kong share sale, the 61-yearold quips: 'I don't know what I'm going to do with my time with all this stuff done now! 'We talked to a couple of hundred investors with the Hong Kong equity raise. You don't get a lot else done that was pretty much around the clock.' Before taking on the top job, Wells had spent two decades at Jackson, latterly as chief executive. He took the baton from Tidjane Thiam, who left Prudential as chief executive in 2015 to lead Credit Suisse. The Pru was founded in London in 1848, originally as a lender. It soon began recruiting doorstep agents to sell cheap insurance to the British working classes with premiums as low as one penny leading to the memorable 'man from the Pru' slogan. At one stage in the 1960s, its army of roving doorstep salesmen served six million homes across the country. The company expanded to America in 1986 by buying Jackson National Life. However, it was Prudential's decision to push aggressively into Asia that has shaped the business today. The company formed Prudential Corporation Asia in 1994 and became the first British company to set up a modern-day life insurance business in China in 2000. The idea was that a fast-growing and increasingly affluent population would need access to insurance and the market was in its infancy at the time. Prudential later identified Africa as another fast-growing market and has been building a presence on the continent since 2014. Just as the Pru has expanded in Asia and Africa, it has scaled back on its traditional operations in Britain. Then when Wells took the helm in 2015, Prudential said it would demerge its UK insurance and asset management business under the M&G brand, bringing down the curtain on its UK operations. The move saw M&G become home to Prudential-branded products in the UK, such as personal savings and retirement funds. This means the company Prudential no longer manages or sells any services in the UK. Now Prudential has spun off its US arm, its sole focus is Asia and Africa, where it offers healthcare cover and other types of insurance. Wells envisages a lot more growth in the pipeline there. 'There's tremendous demand for health in Asia,' he says. 'And now I think it's a clearer, more comprehensible story [for investors], when you narrow the scope of the business to Asia and Africa. 'We have a number of growth markets those that will move the income needle the most would be China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, and Thailand. 'The trends to watch are the demand for health, because there isn't naturally a government health alternative in these markets and Covid has obviously raised people's focus on health. 'But the piece to watch in the future in Asia is retirement demand. China has baby boomers, so does Thailand, Hong Kong, and Singapore. 'The good news is, people are living longer, but the number of people who live to 100 has gone from a dozen to thousands. No government's retirement model is ready for 100-year-olds.' Sticking with the subject of health trends, does Wells believe in bringing people back to offices as Prime Minister Boris Johnson last week urged or is the Prudential boss a work-from-home crusader? He says for a global organisation like Prudential, it won't work to have one simple policy across the entire business. We're facing the same challenge everyone does: how many of our people want to come back to an office? How do you make that appealing?' he says. 'Breaking up some of our biggest offices into different structures so people can work in smaller groups seems to have a lot of appeal. So we're looking at that. 'We're watching what our employees are comfortable with, which varies by country. 'Generally, everyone's learned that employees are going to work at home more than they ever have. But I want people to feel associated with the firm, I don't want them to feel like contractors.' His next big task is to complete a restructuring of the company's debts this year. About $2.25billion of the Hong Kong fundraise will be used to pay down debt, but there is more work to do. Shares dropped after the fundraising, but have since sprung back up to 15. So after six years in the hotseat, it's not job done yet for this man from the Pru. Just the start: Will your town get a bank hub? One of the country's leading banking campaigners has called on the industry to announce the setting-up of a nationwide network of banking hubs as a matter of urgency. Derek French, a former executive of NatWest and founder of the Campaign for Community Banking Services, believes that backing for the launch of an initial 50 such shared branches should be a priority for the banking industry. He says their roll-out should begin in 'months rather than years' and in the next five years, their number should increase to a 'minimum' of 200. French's intervention in the debate surrounding how banking services are maintained on the high street against a backdrop of a steep decline in the number of bank branches and free-to-use cash machines comes as cash supremo Natalie Ceeney and the big banks continue to thrash out a deal on nationwide access to cash. The Mail on Sunday's Keep Our Cash campaign has long called for access to cash and banking services to remain on the high street. In May this year, Ceeney was asked by the banking industry's lobby group UK Finance to chair an 'access to cash action group'. Its remit was to come up with solutions that would preserve nationwide access to cash, ahead of legislation that the Government has promised to bring in. With an announcement unveiling its solutions expected before Christmas, it is likely (but not guaranteed) that Ceeney's group will get the banks to agree to independent scrutiny of all branches and free-to-use cash machines that they intend to shut in the future. This third-party scrutiny, likely to be undertaken by cash machine network operator Link, will be done before a branch or ATM is physically shut. Link's role will be to assess the likely impact of the closure on the local community in particular, the ability of residents and local businesses to access cash and banking services. Taking into account the size of the local population, and other banking facilities in the community for example, rival cash machines, a nearby post office or another bank branch it will then decide whether the closure can go ahead, or only if an alternative banking facility such as a hub replaces it. So, in busy town and city centres where access to cash is widely available, it is likely that Link will sanction the closure of a bank or ATM. But in communities where the removal of a bank branch will result in the high street becoming bankless, Link will have the authority to sanction the setting-up of a banking hub preferably in the building vacated by the bank. It is believed that Link is already busy recruiting people to carry out this third-party verification work. It is expected that such hubs will be set up as a partnership between the banks and the Post Office. The Post Office will provide basic over-the-counter banking services such as cheque and cash deposits and cash withdrawals as well as facilities for small businesses to deposit cash takings. Banking staff from each of the big banks will then come into the hub on specific days to help customers with other banking issues for example, opening a new bank account (business or personal) or applying for a loan. Two pilot banking hubs are being tested, in Rochford, Essex, and Cambuslang near Glasgow. Sources close to Ceeney indicate that if a deal is struck in the coming weeks, the new rules could come into effect by next spring. It would mean that no branch or ATM could then be shut without it being approved by Link. Supporting legislation would then follow, putting an obligation on all the banks to ensure customers have access to cash. It is understood that Ceeney believes that legislation is essential without it, there would be a danger that any voluntary commitment made by the banks on access to cash could unwind in the future. 100TH FREE ATM LANDS AT HOME OF CHINOOK Cash machine network Link has installed the 100th free-to-use ATM at RAF Odiham in Hampshire as part of a scheme designed to give communities access to cash. RAF Odiham, home to 2,000 personnel and their families, is a front-line support helicopter base and home to the Chinook. Yet it lost its only free-to-use cash machine just before lockdown in March last year, meaning personnel had to travel at least three miles to be able to withdraw cash to spend locally. A new ATM on the base has now been installed by Sainsbury's Bank. Base: RAF Odiham in Hampshire houses the Chinook helicopter Launched in 2019, Link's 'community requests scheme' permits individuals to ask Link to assess their community's case for a free-to-use cash machine. If accepted, Link will then draw on the 10million of annual funding it has secured from the banking industry to install one. Apart from RAF Odiham, Link has paved the way for free-to-use cash machines to be installed at military camps in Lulworth Cove (Dorset), Kinloss Barracks (Moray) and Catterick Garrison (North Yorkshire). On Friday, John Howells, Link chief executive, said: 'We will continue to visit locations right across the UK to install ATMs where they are needed.' Cash machines introduced under this scheme have had a transformative impact on communities. Anthony Lavelle, a councillor on Liverpool City Council, says a free-to-use ATM installed in Croxteth a year ago has had a 'positive impact' on the local community. 'Croxteth is a cash-dependent community,' he says. 'No one should have to pay 2 every time they want to withdraw cash from an ATM. 'My view is that no cash machine should charge users to access their own cash.' Details of Link's community requests scheme can be found at link.co.uk/consumers/community-request-scheme It is believed that Ceeney is also keen for Link to be allowed to consider community requests for a banking hub. Link already operates such a scheme for cash machines. To date it has resulted in 100 free to-use ATMs going into places such as Armed Forces camps, hospitals and inner city areas where residents previously had no choice but to pay a fee if they wanted to withdraw cash from an ATM. Derek French believes such a request scheme is an imperative because without it, swathes of communities already robbed of their last bank would have no way of getting a hub. French, a longstanding campaigner for shared branches, has kept meticulous records of branch closures over the years as head of the now disbanded Campaign for Community Banking Services. He has identified 50 communities that he believes are big enough (population wise) to support a banking hub. Pressure: Access to Cash's Natalie Ceeney Of these, 22 have already lost their last bank while the remaining 28 have only one branch left. In all instances, these 50 locations have already lost at least two banks, some as many as six. 'These communities are ideal locations for banking hubs,' he says. 'They're all big towns, with populations of between 15,000 and 40,000, so the hubs would be well used. 'If we could get the banks to agree to them, it could mark the start of a journey that sees between 200 and 400 hubs on our high streets in the next five years.' Community representatives in Barton-upon-Humber (Lincolnshire) and Westbury (Wiltshire) are among those who have already indicated their wish to have a shared bank branch on their high street. As far as the banks are concerned, the hubs make financial sense. It would enable them to shut a branch where it is the last bank in town, and for it to be replaced by a hub where the running costs would be shared between all the banks. Lloyds would probably be the biggest beneficiary because it has the most branches and is the last bank in many communities. Of the 50 locations identified by French as ripe for a hub, 18 have Lloyds or sister brands Halifax and Bank of Scotland as the last bank in town. On Friday, Ceeney said she was hopeful that an agreement with the banks on preserving free access to cash and keeping banking services on the high street would be struck in time for Christmas. She said feedback from the pilot hubs was 'fantastic'. 'There's a barber in Rochford who told me he can now walk across the street and cash up, whereas before he'd have to close up early and drive to the next town to bank takings.' She added: 'The hubs are bringing life back into Cambuslang and Rochford, but importantly helping customers and businesses with their day-to-day banking needs.' She also said she would look at the list provided by French to assess whether the locations were appropriate for new-style banking hubs. On Thursday, I was minding my own business when, very suddenly, I thought I was going to die. Im not a particularly dramatic person, which you might not believe given how I started this story, but Id ask you to take my word for it. The reason my heart was pounding out of my chest was because a jet had flown what felt like 10 feet above my Chinatown apartment. The entire building shook and dozens of car alarms rang at once. Was this the start of World War III? No, it was some jets farting in the skies for San Francisco Fleet Week, the largest such Fleet Week in the country that Mayor Dianne Feinstein apparently brought here in 1981. I didnt live in San Francisco for the last Fleet Week Air Show. I'm not interested in a throat clearing routine where I wrap myself in the flag and praise the troops, while issuing one itty-bitty lil' complaint. That insincere fence-sitting is why we still have Fleet Week in the first place before the San Francisco iteration was officially born, FDR rolled it out elsewhere as a patriotism-indoctrination exercise in the 1930s, when Americans (correctly) didnt give a st about fighting wars in foreign countries. Then we had the only excusable war in the '40s, and Fleet Week just became one of those things that happens at port cities, no questions asked. Which is stupid. Fleet Week is stupid. Its a waste of time and money, a natural extension of the U.S. military at large. I think its disgraceful to scare the bejeezus out of people trying to live their lives including, yes, the veteran TROOPS with PTSD who some of you are going to yell at me to respect more. None of this is new, or news, which is whats so frustrating. Dissenters have previously spoken out during Fleet Week and been summarily dismissed as scolds, as Im sure will happen here. In October 1985, for instance, the Sacramento Bee reported on a coalition of peace groups that protested Fleet Week and military intervention in Central America. Those protesters didnt even have the full story yet: A year later, Oliver North began shredding pertinent documents about the the Iran-Contra scandal, which exposed the Reagan administrations plan to bolster right-wing rebels in Nicaragua. The protesters were totally, completely in the right, more than they knew. And Fleet Week was back in full force in '86, baby. Fleet Weeks staying power is emblematic of the frustrating rinse-and-repeat cycle the United States constantly indulges in with foreign intervention. Unnecessary war kills countless non-Americans, which we ignore. Scandals about American soldier death tolls arise, crimes against humanity too brazen to push aside are eventually revealed, and the war becomes unpopular across ideologies. So what happens next? A cut in defense spending? Anything reflecting even the possibility of a military downsizing or perhaps, on a micro level, just less aerial pomp and circumstance at home? Nah. Tiny blips indicating that Americans might actually believe military spending is too high are quickly erased by the arrival of a president who riles up the hogs. (See what happened in Pew polls with both Ronald Reagan and Donald Trump.) Back to square one. Liberals are far from blameless here, by the way, including in the Bay Area. Their top trait, passivity, is on full display for Fleet Week. Remember all the anger about how Trump went gung-ho on a big, beautiful July 4 military parade in 2019? The Cheeto man splurged Monopoly money on tanks and jets so he could have an extravagant show at the nations capital. It was shameful and gross, we can agree. The same energy has not exactly been kept for the tradition of death machines zooming around San Francisco (tickets still available!!!) at a cost of at least $1.26 million. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. That figure was a 2016 estimate for the Bay Area aerial shows alone. The annual cost for the Blue Angels to draw smiley faces and dicks in the sky is something closer to $36 million, according to a 2019 estimate. But smiley faces are awesome, you say! Dicks are funny! Expensive jets going zoom-zoom are sick! Okay, if you think Im being the anti-fun police, lets at least come to a compromise. How about this: If we simply must set tens of millions of dollars on fire, lets literally do it. That would look cool too. We can find an agreed-upon spot on the coast where a mound of money set ablaze wont lead to an enormous forest fire, and where the environmental impact cant be any worse than jets putzing about above major metropolitan areas. At least in that case, wed be tossing money away for no reason, as opposed to the Navys publicly stated purpose for this weekends sideshow: a recruiting tool to increase public awareness. Thats the thing. The Navy is, to its credit, very explicit about why it likes Fleet Week. How does it hit you reading that, knowing the Blue Angels are a recruiting tool so Americas military can stay bloated and stationed basically everywhere on Earth? Why is it that this form of propaganda is an acceptable weekend watching activity, but when other countries do their own stupid military processions, theyre scolded for brainwashed nationalism? My hot take is these propaganda exercises are awful no matter where theyre happening. Frankly, theyre even worse in the United States, one of the few countries on Earth with the air strike and bombing capabilities to act on its threats something weve shown a willingness to carry out semi-recently (and this is just off the top of my head) in Vietnam, Cambodia, Libya, Iraq, Iran, Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia, Pakistan and Syria. All of which is to say: Its not shocking to me that San Francisco, a bastion of liberal passivity, hosts Americas fanciest fuel-wasting procession but its inexcusable all the same. Fleet Week sucks. Albany's Westminster Presbyterian Church is celebrating a historic first at 2 p.m. on Oct. 17. That Sunday, Westminster will install Heather Kirk-Davidoff as its pastor, Westminster's first female senior minister in its 159-year history. The church at 262 State St. in Albany was founded as the State Street Presbyterian Church in 1862. It became Westminster after a 1919 after a merger with two other Albany churches. Kirk-Davidoff is a Yale University alum who attended Harvard Divinity School. She has been Westminster Presbyterian's minister since May 2020. Westminster has long been known for its charitable outreach, which includes volunteering at overflow homeless shelters, providing free meals to those in need even throughout the pandemic and helping churches in Ghana, Sierra Leone and Liberia. Schenectady-born Kirk-Davidoff served as the Interim Protestant Campus Minister at Union College before her arrival at Westminster. She directed the Interfaith Families Project of Greater Washington, D.C. Kirk-Davidoff is the co-author of two books, Talking Faith (Chalice Press, 2004) and Dare to Dive In: Strategies and Resources for Involving Your Whole Church in Worship (Abingdon, 2006) Her husband is climate scientist Daniel Kirk-Davidoff. They have three adult children as well as foster children. The Service of Installation will also be broadcast live on Zoom. Visit the churchs website for details. River walk to promote climate justice CATSKILL - People of diverse faiths, including those who are spiritual but not religious, will assemble along the Mahicantuck (Hudson River) to raise their collective voice for climate justice as they walk across the Rip Van Winkle Bridge from 3:30 to 5 p.m. Sunday, Oct. 17. The walk is timed to bring attention to the 2021 United Nations Climate Change Conference on Nov. 1 to 12 meant to accelerate action towards the goals of the Paris Agreement and the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change. The walk is in conjunction with Faiths 4 Climate Action, a global multi-faith action being organized by the international group GreenFaith. Participants should consider ride-sharing as parking on both sides of the bridge is limited, and the Catskill side has more spots than the Hudson side. Signs will be posted. For more information, see this link. St. Luke's offer Healing After Loss program Comfort for those Who Mourn is a non-denominational six week course designed for Christians who suffered the loss of a loved one. The meetings will be at St. Luke's on the Hill led by Deaconess Lynne Curtiss on Wednesdays 4:30 to 6 p.m. The church is located at 40 McBride Road in the town of Halfmoon. There is a special healing service at 6 p.m. The final session will be the first week of December. For more information, call 518-664-4834. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Congregation hosts therapy dogs Zoom session Really, every month members of this warm-hearted congregation volunteer for charitable work and mitzvahs. On Oct. 17, congregants can join an informational 10 a.m. Zoom presentation about another way to repair the world and help those who need friendship and compassion. Learn about nonprofit Operation At Ease: The Value of Therapy Dogs in a Zoom session. Operation at Ease teaches shelter dogs to be therapy dogs for veterans and first responders. Grannies for Peace celebrate Indigenous People's Day with vigil Grannies for Peace and allies will hold an in-person vigil on Monday, Oct. 11, in honor of Indigenous Peoples Day at 3:30 P.M. at Wolf Road and Central Avenue in Colonie. This vigil takes place on land of the which is made up of the Mohawks, Oneidas, Onondagas, Cayugas and Senecas. The confederacy's website says the alliance was founded by the "prophet known as the Peacemaker with the help of Aionwatha, more commonly known as Hiawatha ... making it one of the first and longest lasting participatory democracies in the world." The vigil will address issues such as protecting water quality and land of the Indigenous People's from pollution and ecological disasters. ALBANY A person in their 40s has become the latest victim of COVID-19 in Albany County. County Executive Daniel McCoy announced the persons death Saturday. There have now been 410 deaths since the pandemic began. Since the beginning of September, I have reported multiple younger Albany County residents have died from COVID-19 who are in their 30s, 40s, and 50s. To those people who keep saying COVID is only taking our older citizens, youre wrong, McCoy said in a statement. It is a difficult time to lose a loved one of any age and my prayers go out to the latest family who is grieving. Three more Albany County residents have died this week and its critical that we get everyone vaccinated and continue to wear masks indoors, social distance, wash our hands frequently and cough into our arms/elbows to better protect the community. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The county is continuing to hold vaccination clinics. The next one is on Oct. 16, from 10 a.m. to noon at Berne-Knox-Westerlo High School, 1738 Helderberg Trail, Berne. Those who need the Pfizer booster or a first dose can get inoculated there. On Oct. 18, the county will run a clinic at Townsend Park in Albany from 5 p.m. to 6 p.m., with Pfizer first and second doses, Pfizer booster shots, and the Johnson and Johnson single dose. Those who are eligible for a vaccine booster from the Albany County Department of Health must show their vaccination card or Excelsior Pass Plus to show the type, lot number and date of their previous inoculations. SARATOGA SPRINGS The city known as a vacationers paradise is facing some serious issues: civil unrest, a growing homeless population, a lack of affordable housing and a struggle to contain development and preserve green space. But in the upcoming mayoral race, a contentious bid to replace outgoing Mayor Meg Kelly, controversies surrounding all three candidates have been amplified, overshadowing the city's problems with a focus on the contenders' personal ones. It starts with independent and current Public Safety Commissioner Robin Dalton. She is a target for Black Lives Matter protesters who rail against her as being complicit with police in a dozen September arrests after a rally. She also upset Republicans by dropping out of the GOP, after the Jan. 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol, calling it a "party of racism, intolerance and hatred." Furthermore, in April, as first reported by the Daily Gazette, she filed Chapter 13 bankruptcy, under her maiden name of Lakian, for $172,873 in taxes owed. Democrat Ron Kim, a former public safety commissioner, is under attack by the state Republican committee in the form of a mailer that claims he doesn't live in the city, didnt pay his office rent for three years and he owes $7,000 in workers compensation insurance. Then there is Republican candidate and city business owner Heidi Owen West who, with her neighbors, sued the city last year to stop it from building a third fire and EMS station next to the Oklahoma track. And, at the League of Women Voters debate on Monday, Dalton said West is "representing development interests" that could benefit her husband, Robert West, owner of Old Saratoga Restorations, which specializes in work on historic buildings and also constructs new homes. Regardless, the three candidates are fighting for support from the citys nearly 21,000 registered voters 8,242 enrolled as Democrats, 6,239 Republicans, 1,053 unaffiliated with another 298 divided between Conservatives and the Working Families Party. Robin Dalton Dalton, 41, who is running on the Saratoga Stronger Together line, rejected a request to sit down with the Times Union for an interview, saying the newspaper hasnt given her a fair shake and consistently misrepresents her and the police department. Thus her tax issues will stand without explanation. (She did provide the Times Union with her attorney's name and number to discuss the bankruptcy, but he did not return a Times Union phone call.) Wendy Liberatore/Times Union She is the first female Commissioner of Public Safety, winning office in 2019. While she has always said she is the civilian watchdog over the police, she has joined the choir of citizens who want a Civilian Review Board. She has set a public hearing on the board on Oct. 19 at City Hall. Kim and West said that they too would like a civilian review board to air public grievances against the police as they agree that the city needs to calm the tensions between police and activists. But they also wanted to address their so-called blemishes. Heres what they had to say. Ron Kim Kim, 62, is an attorney whose work centers on consumer and employment rights. He is currently representing pregnant women who face discrimination in the workplace as well as those who say they endured sexual molestation as children at the hands of priests and Boy Scout leaders. He also served two terms as public safety commissioner, from 2006 to 2010. Photo by Mark Bolles First he wants to settle the claim that he doesnt live in the city. He does. On Martin Avenue. The Times Union visited his home to verify. The confusion dates to 2017 when he ran in a Democratic primary, with hopes of being chosen to run against U.S Rep. Elise Stefanik. At the time, he told The Post-Star that Queensbury was his primary residence. He has since moved back to Saratoga Springs. Its such a red herring, Kim said. Yes, I own both houses. I live here. As for unpaid back rent, Kim said he rented office space at 36 Long Alley, beginning in 2003. When the lease expired in 2008, he said he continued to pay the 2008 rent until 2011. When he decided to move out, the landlord, The Dogs of Long Alley, said he didn't pay the annual increases after his lease expired and demanded that he pay $61,000. They settled at $16,000. Kim said he is currently fighting the states Workman Compensation Board, which seeks $7,000 for alleged unpaid workman compensation insurance dating from February 2016 to July 2016. Kim said he had no employees during that time. Kim said he is the best choice for the job as he has experience in city government, including working for New York City Mayor Ed Koch. Also, he said his experience as an attorney will help the city navigate the expected civil trial in the death of Darryl Mount Jr., a 21-year-old biracial man who was found unconscious, and later died, after police pursued him in a 2013 foot chase. We will probably be faced with civil rights lawsuits given whats going on, Kim said. So I would argue that having that background, particularly related to civil rights, is an advantage to the city as we go forward. Aside from establishing a civilian review board to oversee police, he also said that, if elected, he will ask Saratoga County District Attorney Karen Heggen to investigate Mounts death. If she refuses, he said he'll go to Attorney General Letitia James. If that doesnt work, he will ask the city council to approve a special counsel to investigate. Moreover, he wants to make the city more green both by preserving green space and making the city carbon neutral. Of course, as a former commissioner of public safety, he wants to see the third fire and EMS station built on the city's East Side. Heidi Owen West West, 55, is a life-long Saratogian and the owner of three Broadway fine clothing businesses: Lifestyles, Caroline & Main and Union Hall Supply. As an entrepreneur and an active volunteer serving on such boards as the Saratoga Independent School and the Gateway House of Peace, she wants to bring her private sector mindset, all my skill set from the last 30 plus years, and really make a difference here. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Lori Van Buren/Times Union But last year, she sued the city, trying to reverse its decision to build the third fire station about 100 feet from behind her house on Fifth Avenue. After she announced her run for mayor, she took her name off the lawsuit, which is now on appeal. The neighborhood was concerned because we had no process to have input, West said. It didnt have to go through land use boards or SEQR review. So typically, you use Article 78 to get to a place where the neighborhood could have a conversation. It worked. I believe the attorney ruled in favor of the city. We were able to sit down. I worked with (Mayor) Kelly, the neighborhood understands whats happening. West is proud that Kelly, a two-term Democrat, is endorsing her. Kelly, she said, has also given her a look into the citys building department so that West can better understand the land-use process. Just to kind of get an idea of what happens there under her purview, West said. What I hear a lot from business owners and the community, one of the biggest complaints how can you fix the building department, it takes too long to get through there There are too many roadblocks. Why does it take so much time? That would be a priority. Since the mayor appoints those who serve on the land use boards, West's support by developers has drawn criticism from Dalton. Responding to claims by some that her husband's business would gain an advantage were she to serve as mayor, West replied: "My husband is not a developer. He owns his own small business. He is in the professional restoration business." West's campaign has raised more than $93,700 in donations, with many coming from developers, compared to Kims $37,300 and Daltons $14,900. West, who is also the vice president of the Downtown Business Association and is registered in the now-defunct Independence party, also emphasized she is not political and chose the Republican party because it would allow her to be independent. I think its very clear speaking to me I dont come from a political background, West said. I dont see things through a lens of party. Thats just not who I am. People can say what they want. They can say they are political or they can say they are independent. Those are just words to me. What is your background? What have you done? What is your character? That is what matters, especially in a local election. Maxwell Rosenbaum Dalton, Kim and West also have another competitor. Working Families Party candidate Maxwell Rosenbaum, a former Republican who recently joined the progressive party, landed on that November ballot line by getting six signatures on his petitions. (Only two were required.) He's not without controversy either as he did not win the party's endorsement. That went to Kim who decided to forgo the endorsement to avoid a primary with Rosenbaum. Rosenbaum has not responded to a Times Union request for comment, doesn't appear to be actively campaigning and did not participate in Monday's League of Women Voters candidate forum. However, his place on the ballot ensured that Kim lost the line. Working Families Party spokesperson Ravi Mangla called Rosenbaum "a fake candidate." "Republicans know they can't win on the issues, so they're undermining the democratic process by running fake candidates on our ballot line," Mangla said. "This kind of behavior should be disqualifying." Before CNNs Jake Tapper interviewed Monica Lewinsky about the FX series chronicling her role in the 1990s White House scandal involving President Bill Clinton, he had a confession to make. I have to disclose, full disclosure, in tonights episode, our G-Rated date from December 1997, our one date from 1997, is portrayed by an actor way better looking than me, now or then," he said. That actor is Chris Riggi, the youngest son of Ron and Michele Riggi, one of Saratoga Springs most prominent families known for their dog-friendly stone Palazzo on North Broadway. And not only is the 36-year-old handsome, he nailed Tappers cadence and accent helping him nab the role in Impeachment: American Crime Story." But hes even more honored the producers selected his scene with Lewinsky, played by Beanie Feldstein, as the episodes trailer. I was shocked, Riggi said, referring to the trailer for the episode that airs at 10 p.m. Tuesday. You never know. You always hope. When you book something, you hope, you hope, you hopethat you get seen. He said after the shoot for the show, a one-day job that didnt bother with any voiceover work, that his scene was probably going to be cut. Then they posted the entire scene on Instagram, he said. Articles came flying out. Jake Tapper is talking about it. What a gift. I dont take any of that for granted. I was really honored they used the scene. I was just so happy. Riggi, who moved to Hollywood in 2014, said its been a while since hes landed a role in a television series. Five years ago, he was cast as a hacker in CBSs CSI: Cyber. In between, he said hes auditioned for different roles each week, getting one out of every 50 or so. People say there is a lot of competition and rejection, he said. But I get better and smarter every year. There is a lot of learning. I hope that it shows Im still in the fight to work as an actor. Im very grateful, not matter how small, it matters to me. So too does making his own way. The uncertain months of the pandemic led him to he write, direct and edit his own project. Good Luck with Everything, a film that features his fiancee Stephanie Koenig, was filmed in five days on a shoestring budget of $1,300. Now streaming on Tubi, it got noticed by Noam Kroll, a Los Angeles based filmmaker who interviewed Riggi for a podcast. The two hit if off and now Riggi is set to lead in Krolls upcoming thriller Shell Shock. He told me he wrote a movie for me, Riggi said. Nobody writes a movie for you. Regardless of what its about, Im doing it. Though an LA actor, Riggis roots are solidly Saratoga Springs. He attended Caroline Street School and Maple Avenue Middle School and he credits his love for performing to his grandmother, Angela, a dance teacher, and his mother Michele who was a dancer and model. And he said my siblings are all hilarious. I love them. As a child, he said took acting and improv classes with Home Made Theater at the Spa Little Theatre in Saratoga Spa State Park. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. He attended Walnut Hill School for the Arts for high school and then later DePaul University before studying acting at the New York Film Academy and the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute. More Information Impeachment: American Crime Story 10 p.m. Tuesday FX See More Collapse As an actor, he has had roles big and small. While in New York, he had a reoccurring role in Gossip Girl as Scott Rosson and appeared in NBCs Lipstick Jungle, the soap opera Guiding Light and as a partying stockbroker in Martin Scoreses' The Wolf of Wall Street. He also played the werewolf in the spoof Vampires Suck. In LA, he starred in the film Get Happy and the TV series Go-Go Boy Interrupted. The thriller Masks Dont Lie, in which he plays Marco, is currently in pre-production. He said he could never have a career in acting without the support of his family parents and siblings as well as Koenig, who helps him to remember whats important in life. I spend so much time auditioning and thinking of my career, he said. But the most important thing is family, your friendships and your relationships with your significant other and your dogs (he has three). They are way more important than they ever have been. Still he said he loves acting with ever fiber of my being. And the joy of playing Tapper that he meticulously prepared for by watching old VH1 clips of him and reading his article I Dated Monica Lewinsky propels him. He's glad Tapper approves, too. Im a fan of him in general," Riggi said. "I was extremely nervous because I didnt want to offend him. When I posted about it on Instagram, he commented and hes so sweet about it. Hes such a nice guy. ALBANY A therapy dog helped save a girl's life earlier this week. Albany police reported to a Providence Street home on Tuesday, where they found the teen intending to jump from the roof of the three-story residence. After speaking with the teen for a few hours, officers learned that she loved dogs, and brought their new therapy dog to meet her. The six-month-old Goldendoodle got the girl to move away from the edge of the roof and to the third story window to meet him, where officers then brought her safely inside. The girl is now being aided by medical professionals. Charlie is one of three dogs in the police department's therapy dog program. The Town of Bethlehem has an opportunity to change the character of the main thoroughfare of Delmar by re-striping the roadway after a water-and-sewer-related infrastructure project is complete. I support the proposed road striping of Delaware Avenue to allow for a dedicated center left-turn lane, bike lanes and a single lane for cars in both directions. As a child in the 1980s, I would ride my bicycle to Delaware Plaza. It was nerve-racking to ride on the shoulder of the road. Forty years later, the same road layout remains, serving only the automobile. [October 09, 2021] Applicable Across Industries, Transcending Time, Spanning Different Eras - Zuen Tech Establishes an All-New Business Model through Resource Amalgamation. Singapore, Oct. 09, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Zuen Tech Corporation is a technology management firm that provides enterprises with services and solutions in the fields of marketing strategy, business operations and organization, information technology, digital transformation, corporate financing, mergers and acquisitions etc. Businesses that form part of Zuen Tech include e-commerce platforms, brick-and-mortar entities, companies in the food and beverage industry, an exclusive clubhouse, retail stores selling designer goods and companies in the FinTech (Financial Technology) industry and is proud to announce about its e-commerce platform growth, which was launched recently. About Zuen Mall Zuen Mall is a one-stop e-commerce platform established by Zuen Tech, recently launched in September. With over 600 partner merchants, over 10,000 products and services available, the platform offers comprehensive range of products and services. Utilizing the dual channel retail business model where customers shop online and experience the product or service offline, the platform offers users and all-new shopping experience. Zuen Mall is a platform that is committed to sharing wealth and innovation. The platforms retail objective is to encourage entrepreneurship while engaging in consumption. Consumers utilizing the platform can enjoy savings of 7% on Goods and Services Tax as well as rebates of 6% when funding-in to their account. In addition, there will be daily lucky draws that consumers can participate in. Referring Zuen Mall to ones friends and family can help to further create income and wealth as referral rewards will be given for referrals. Finest chefs from the globe To complement its online business operating model, Zuen Tech has also rolled out its experience centre. At the brick-and-mortar experience centre, consumers et to sample a variety of dishes from renowned chefs worldwide thereby bringing fresh and delicious food to a wider clientele. Zuen Tech is currently under Zuen Holdings, the main holding company with many subsidiaries under its umbrella. Zuen Holdings is expanding its ecosystem within the food and beverage industry by opening restaurant outlets under Yuan Cuisine Group. Yuan Cuisine Group's concept restaurant aims to realize the concept of "homemade dishes by restaurant standards". Each concept promises a sensory experience with service that comes from the heart, immersing diners in an atmosphere that captures the subtleties of Chinese and Japanese culture, especially the best of the rich palette of culinary delights. With over 300 meal delivery vehicles in its fleet, the company can provide customers with "hot food" delivered to their doorstep. New Opportunities, New Ideas, New Markets, New Business Model Consumption within ZUEN CHAINs Ecosystem, Sharing Wealth As the digital economy era continues to evolve and develop, people are increasingly paying attention to their physical and mental wellness needs. Zuen Tech has developed a number of wellness courses which can help the body to eliminate toxins and waste, thereby reducing the burden on the human body, enabling the body to better absorb nutrients. In an era where everyone can become an entrepreneur, Zuen Tech also provides consumers with entrepreneurial opportunities, where the average consumer can also earn through consumption. Zuen Tech also provides one-stop services such as financial support and operational consultancy services for entrepreneurial projects. Luxury Club The Luxury Lifestyle Club, a subsidiary under Zuen Holdings operates Club Di Lusso, an exclusive clubhouse at Tekka Place where members not only get to enjoy elegance and luxury that is visually pleasing but also gastronomic delights prepared by Michelin-starred chefs that is specially catered to ones palates. There are dedicated sommeliers to mix drinks for members, spa services as well as movie and karaoke facilities. Members may also choose to enjoy a day out at sea on a private yacht with beloved family and friends to enjoy the scenery or indulge in a romantic getaway. All the above-mentioned platforms, services and entities are built around the Total Wellness blockchain platform established by Zuen Tech, the ZUEN Chain ecosystem. This will completely transform the currently highly fragmented market and build a bridge between businesses and consumers that is characterized by trust and transparency. The usage of the blockchain technology The ZUEN Chain Alliance adopted the ground-breaking blockchain technology in its quest for the worldwide establishment of the total wellness industry and to enable all to enjoy a unified sharing platform. ZUE Token is the only utility token within the ZUEN Chain ecosystem, currently trading at Pancakeswap, a decentralized exchange. The ZUE Token is not only capable of facilitating cross-border transactions but can also be utilized in a number of other real-life applications such as travel and tourism sharing, shared pensions, shared temples etc, making it a token that is truly capable of transcending value chains across industries and bringing digitization, smaller denominations, liquidity, transparency and borderless movements to the world of investments, thus putting the creation and sharing of wealth within reach for most. Media Contact: Company: Zuen Holdings Contact Name: Morgan Zhang Address: 190 Middle Road #18-05 Fortune Centre, Singapore 188979 E-mail: media@zuenholdings.com Website: www.zuenholdings.com [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [October 09, 2021] ROSEN, A TOP RANKED LAW FIRM, Encourages loanDepot, Inc. Investors with Losses Exceeding $100K to Secure Counsel Before Important November 8 Deadline in Securities Class Action - LDI WHY: New York, N.Y., October 9, 2021. Rosen Law Firm, a global investor rights law firm, reminds purchasers of the securities of loanDepot, Inc. (NYSE: LDI) pursuant and/or traceable to the registration statement and related prospectus (collectively, the "Registration Statement") issued in connection with loanDepot's February 16, 2021 initial public offering (the "IPO") of the important November 8, 2021 lead plaintiff deadline. SO WHAT: If you purchased loanDepot securities pursuant and/or traceable to the IPO you may be entitled to compensation without payment of any out of pocket fees or costs through a contingency fee arrangement. WHAT TO DO NEXT: To join the loanDepot class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2156.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. A class action lawsuit has already been filed. If you wish to serve as lead plaintiff, you must move the Court no later than November 8, 2021. A lead plaintiff is a representative party acting on behalf of other class members in directing the litigation. WHY ROSEN LAW: We encourage investors to select qualified counsel with a track record of success in leadership roles. Often, firms issuing notices do not have comparable experience, resources or any meaningful peer recognition. Be wise in selecting counsel. The Rosen Law Firm represents investors throughout the globe, concentrating its practice in securities class actions and shareholder erivative litigation. Rosen Law Firm has achieved the largest ever securities class action settlement against a Chinese Company. Rosen Law Firm was Ranked No. 1 by ISS Securities Class Action Services for number of securities class action settlements in 2017. The firm has been ranked in the top 4 each year since 2013 and has recovered hundreds of millions of dollars for investors. In 2019 alone the firm secured over $438 million for investors. In 2020, founding partner Laurence Rosen was named by law360 as a Titan of Plaintiffs' Bar. Many of the firm's attorneys have been recognized by Lawdragon and Super Lawyers. DETAILS OF THE CASE: According to the lawsuit, the Registration Statement featured false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) loanDepot's refinance originations had already declined substantially at the time of the IPO due to industry over-capacity and increased competition; (2) loanDepot's gain-on-sale margins had already declined substantially at the time of the IPO; (3) as a result, loanDepot's revenue and growth would be negatively impacted; and (4) as a result of the foregoing, defendants' positive statements about loanDepot's business, operations, and prospects were materially misleading and/or lacked a reasonable basis. When the true details entered the market, the lawsuit claims that investors suffered damages. To join the loanDepot class action, go to http://www.rosenlegal.com/cases-register-2156.html or call Phillip Kim, Esq. toll-free at 866-767-3653 or email pkim@rosenlegal.com or cases@rosenlegal.com for information on the class action. No Class Has Been Certified. Until a class is certified, you are not represented by counsel unless you retain one. You may select counsel of your choice. You may also remain an absent class member and do nothing at this point. An investor's ability to share in any potential future recovery is not dependent upon serving as lead plaintiff. Follow us for updates on LinkedIn (News - Alert) : https://www.linkedin.com/company/the-rosen-law-firm, on Twitter (News - Alert) : https://twitter.com/rosen_firm or on Facebook (News - Alert) : https://www.facebook.com/rosenlawfirm/. Attorney Advertising. Prior results do not guarantee a similar outcome. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20211009005007/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] This week there was a great deal of kvetching over proposed Kansas City subsidy for a luxury hotel that ultimately failed to garner taxpayer cash. We've heard all of the ceaseless whining about the importance of funding schools, libraries and neighborhoods before . . . But just for Friday we wanted to share a fun fact and alternative perspective with readers who might be just a bit weary from so much familiar spin . . . First and foremost, council dude Kevin "Yes, I'll Have Seconds" O'Neill has once again found himself on the wrong side of local labor advocates. He voted against the project and seems to be parroting talking points from the urban core that aren't playing well on the nice side of the bridge. Unlike a great many locals amid the ongoing pandemic . . . Kansas City Labor leaders want to put their people back to work in good paying jobs and they supported this endeavor. Despite his campaign promises and big talk about allegiance with organized labor. The council dude took the side of social justice activists rather than local construction leaders. For the record . . . COUNCIL DUDE KEVIN IS A FAUX LABOR ADVOCATE!!! HE TALKS A BIG GAME ABOUT CONNECTIONS TO UNIONS FOR BRAGGING RIGHTS BUT CONSISTENTLY VOTES WITH HIS SOCIAL JUSTICE ACTIVIST FRIENDS AT CITY HALL!!! Now back to our conversation about taxpayer subsidy . . . All of the familiar activist rhetoric reemerged against this project but the other side of the conversation wasn't very well represented. Now that it's a done deal . . . We'd like to share a counterpoint . . . We waited a bit because the super-rich developers can do their own bidding AND begging for taxpayer cash is the biz of consultants not any self-respecting blogger. However . . . The philosophical question deserves consideration nevertheless. COVID has changed the reality for developer incentives in Kansas City. Putting people back to work should be a priority. Sadly, as much as our progressive friends might not like the politics of a luxury hotel . . . The "high-end" has always paid well and workers are likely to earn more by securing employment at a 5-star venue than KC's already-run-down discount convention hotel. Even more importantly, here's perspective that makes sense sent via KICK-ASS INSIDERS . . . "For Heaven's sake we need to get over this 'Save Our Schools' anti-development nonsense. Since we've raised property taxes through the roof and plan to keep raising rates, the schools have more than enough money. They're beyond fully funded, they're overflowing with money. The library also raised taxes - They're set. Meanwhile, there's not a lot of development on the horizon and all of the angry activist ranting against every project that comes forward risks turning away business at a critical point in Kansas City's recovery." More to the point . . . A cruel thought that deserves consideration despite politically correct obfuscation of consistently poor performance . . . MORE MONEY ISN'T MAKING KANSAS CITY PUBLIC SCHOOLS ANY BETTER!!! Despite years of promises the KCPS remains provisionally accredited and, in general, nowadays voters seem less enthusiastic about public education amid ongoing debate over CRT and politically charged plauge orders health mandates. And so . . . The debate over subsidy for big money projects remains mired in pre-COVID propaganda and deserves a more serious consideration as Kansas City struggles to recover from the pandemic. Sadly, only a humble basement blogger like TKC will point out this fact of life whilst most newsies merely take their talking points from professional protesters who seemingly encourage KC to spend big bucks on "social justice" activism rather than more traditional forms of labor. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . . Incentives for luxury hotel development voted down again in KCMO City Council KANSAS CITY, Mo. - Some developers have been trying to get Kansas City, Missouri, on board with a new, glamorous development called Hotel Bravo. The luxury hotel would sit on a currently empty lot near the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts downtown. Kansas City's hotel industry faces multiyear recovery from pandemic - Kansas City Business Journal Visit KC leaders and the executive director of the Hotel & Lodging Association of Kansas City share their insights on the market's direction. In general, although it appears to be moving in the right direction, the road to pre-pandemic levels could be a long one, they say, and the industry remains in the grip of the Delta variant. Kansas City Council votes down tax breaks for five-star hotel in the Crossroads Arts District A clear majority of the Kansas City Council voted against giving tax incentives to a proposed five-star luxury hotel near the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts. The 145-room hotel proposal, often referred to as Hotel Bravo, has lingered around City Hall since 2019. But until Thursday it never came up for a vote. Developing . . . Or not. The level of local violence continues to escalate going into the weekend. Today in broad daylight, Kansas City suffers another killing . . . Homicide 2600 block of Quincy Around 1:45 PM, officers were in the area of 27th and Quincy on an unrelated call when they heard sound of shots. They were then flagged down by an individual in regard to a party who had been shot. Officers were directed to the 2600 block of Quincy where they found an adult male victim who had been shot. That victim was pronounced deceased at the scene. Detectives and crime scene personnel have responded to the scene and are actively canvassing for witnesses and processing the scene. If you have any information please call the Homicide unit at 234-5043. If you wish to remain anonymous you can call the TIPS hotline at 474-TIPS, with up to a $25,000 reward for an arrest in this case. ################### Again, unofficially, this is the 117th homicide so far this year compared to 149 at this time last year and 115 the year before that. Read more via www.TonysKansasCity.com news links . . . One person killed in shooting on Kansas City's eastside, police say KANSAS CITY, Mo. One man was killed Friday afternoon in a shooting in east Kansas City. Officials say the shooting happened near East 27th and Quincy streets just before 2 p.m. One dead following shooting at 26th, Quincy in Kansas City KANSAS CITY, MO (KCTV) --- One person is dead following a shooting in Kansas City. Police say the shooting happened shortly before 2 p.m. in the 2600 block of Quincy Avenue. Circumstances leading up to the shooting are unknown at this time. The victim's name has not been released. 1 dead in Friday afternoon shooting KANSAS CITY, Mo. - One man is dead following a Friday afternoon shooting in Kansas City, Missouri. The Kansas City, Missouri, Police Department said the shooting happened at around 1:45 p.m. at E. 26th Street and Quincy Avenue. Police told KSHB 41 officers were at East 27th Street and Quincy Avenue when they heard gunshots. Developing . . . Yesterday the newspaper played tabloid and drummed up an irresponsible narrative betwixt the Mayor's office & police in their spying story. Following the tale, here's a quote from Mayor Q that seemingly offers damage control and shares a shocking deet. . . "Given recent press accounts, I want to make clear that I trust the Police Department with my familys security, and I know the vast majority of our officers go out and do good work each day. I thank the officer who reported this information to his or her superiors for reporting misconduct and upholding the Departments standards. "I am a father and a husband and I have expressed to Department leadership my concern. Having received threats during my term and having recently spent a night standing outside my home with my wife and baby while Kansas City firefighters checked out an explosion threat that had been called into our home, there is real fear and concern for those around me. "I hope the Department makes clear any misconduct, including that recently reported, falls well below the standards of anyone affiliated with the Kansas City Police Department." Developing . . . I asked this on the Eswatini forum, no response so far, thought I'd also ask here too . . . When we have previously done this route, we go through Eswatini. We are from UK and currently, because of the political issues, it is against foreign office advice to visit the country so our insurance would be invalid. I wonder as this must be a common problem at the moment, if anyone has a suggested route with good stopover hotels for going around Eswatini through SA rather than through Eswatini to reach Kruger. Obviously there is also the issue of doing more tests to into Eswatini which we'd avoid by skirting around. It's a very sad state of affairs for the people of the country but also for us as tourists as we love the drive up through Eswatini as there are so many great places to visit and stay on the way, it's usually a highlight of our trip rather than now it will just be a means to an end, to get to Kruger. But any advice gratefully received to help make the journey between Tembe and Kruger an interesting and enjoyable one would be gratefully received please. Thank you in advance. @Martyk74 Thank you for the info! I looked at Michter's and the time that is available doesn't work with our arrival time on Wednesday. Are you familiar with the tours at Kentucky Peerless, Stitzel Weller, Angel's Envy, or Copper & Kings? We are leaning towards Copper & Kings for something different and then either Kentucky Peerless or Stitzel Weller (saw Angel's Envy is under construction). Possibly Kentucky Peerless, because it is a shorter distance from where we are staying and there doesn't seem to be much else to do around Stitzel Weller. We would certainly go there though if it is a better tour/location. As far as the car rental, we are really on the fence with getting one. I REALLY want to, but my husband is also attending a conference while we are there. There will be periods of time each day that he will be unavailable, so that would limit how far we could go/how much we could do. We could possibly rent a car the day we arrive from the airport. We land at 10:30, so I'm guessing best case scenario, we would have it by noon, but it would give us the rest of the day. Friday we would have to be back by 2:00 or Saturday we could head out by 12:00/1:00. I'm just not sure if places are close enough that it is worth it. Tentatively we are thinking: Wednesday: Check in - grab lunch at Royals Hot Chicken or Grind Burger - go to West 6th Brewing or Rabbit Hole Distillery - 3:00 Copper & Kings - Check out some shops or other breweries - Dinner at Mayan Cafe Thursday: Lunch at J Grahams - rest of the day depends on his conference Friday or Saturday do Kentucky Peerless or Stitzel Weller also one of those days check out Falls of Ohio State Park. (Can we Uber there?) We may do the Jack-o-Lantern spectacular, but we are doing a similar one in NYS so we may not if we are busy with other things. I also saw there is a Halloween Fest in Paristown, so we may check that out also. We still have to book the rest of our dinners and may reserve a time at Hell or Highwater also. Over the past day, October 8, the occupiers launched ten attacks on positions of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in the Joint Forces Operation (JFO). Over the past day, October 8, the Russian-occupation forces violated the ceasefire 10 times, resorting to the weapons prohibited under the Minsk agreements thrice, the press center of JFO Headquarters posted on Facebook. In particular, the enemy opened fire from hand-held antitank grenade launchers and small arms on Ukrainian positions near Zolote-4 (59km west of Luhansk); heavy machine guns and small arms outside Troitske (69km west of Luhansk); grenade machine guns and hand-held antitank grenade launchers in the area of Mayorske (45km north of Donetsk); 82mm mortars, tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns, grenade machine guns towards Krasnohorivka (21km west of Donetsk); tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns, grenade machine guns near Prychepylivka (50km north-west of Luhansk); grenade launchers of different systems and small arms outside Shyrokyne (20km east of Mariupol). Two attacks were launched near Krymske (42km north-west of Luhansk), using tripod-mounted man-portable antitank guns, heavy machine guns, and 120mm mortars. Towards Lopaskine (24km north-west of Luhansk), Russian-occupation troops fired under-barrel grenade launchers and small arms twice. One Ukrainian soldier was wounded in the shelling. As of 07:00, October 9, no ceasefire violations were recorded. ol On Friday, October 8, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu met with Ukrainian and Turkish business circles in Lviv to discuss the ways to remove obstacles to further development of UkraineTurkey trade. During this weeks talks, we paid significant attention to support for business and trade development. We create new opportunities for cooperation between Ukrainian and Turkish companies in a number of areas, remove obstacles to the development of international cooperation, and continue to support Ukrainian business, Kuleba said, the press service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine informs. Cavusoglu thanked the Ukrainian side for supporting the operation of Turkish companies in Ukraine and assured them of continued support from the Turkish government. It is noted that the meeting took place during the working visit of the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Turkey to Ukraine at the invitation of his Ukrainian counterpart. The event was attended by members of NGO International Society of UkraineTurkey Friendship, leading entrepreneurs of the Lviv Chamber of Commerce and Industry who have business contacts with the Turkish side, top managers of a number of Ukrainian and Turkish companies. The event was attended by companies working in the fields of energy, IT, tourism, health care, food exports, engineering, and others. As reported, the 9th meeting of the UkraineTurkey Joint Strategic Planning Group took place in Lviv, in which Minister of Foreign Affairs of Turkey Mevlut Cavusoglu took part at the invitation of Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine Dmytro Kuleba. ol The Kremlin uses Belarus as a bridgehead to manipulate migration flows, channeling them into Poland and Lithuania. "That is why, in our opinion, the West should step up the pressure on Russia over its actions towards Belarus," First Deputy Foreign Minister of Ukraine Emine Dzheppar said during the UN Security Councils informal high-level Arria-formula meeting on the situation in Belarus, the Foreign Ministry's press service informs. It is extremely important to Ukraine and the whole of Europe that Belarus remains a sovereign and independent country, and further integration into the Russian Federation does not lead to the emergence of new challenges and threats on the borders of Ukraine and the European Union, Dzheppar noted. In her speech, the deputy foreign minister stressed that Ukraine sought to develop good neighborly relations with the Republic of Belarus as an independent, sovereign, and prosperous country in which democratic values are upheld and fundamental freedoms are respected. "Unfortunately, today Belarus is moving away from this goal," Dzheppar said. According to her, "within the framework of Putin's policy of comprehensive absorbing and stripping Belarus of its sovereignty, the anschluss of Belarus is actually taking place and it is being transformed into yet another military base to destabilize the security situation in Europe." Dzheppar paid special attention to the long-lasting and growing human rights violations and the campaign of political repression in Belarus. "Citizens of Ukraine also became victims of these repressions. We will continue making efforts to release our illegally detained compatriots and protect their rights," the official said. The event was initiated by the UN Security Council members: Estonia, Great Britain, Ireland, Norway, the United States, and France. ol Ukraine and Moldova are cooperating to increase bilateral tourist flows and overcome the negative effects of the COVID-19 pandemic in the tourism sector. Head of the Ukrainian Hospitality Industry Association Oleksandr Liyev said this during a press conference entitled "Presentation of Moldovan Tourism Products in Kyiv" held at Ukrinform on Tuesday, September 7. We decided to influence the increase in bilateral tourist flow - from Moldova to Ukraine and from Ukraine to Moldova. In particular, a year ago, the Hospitality Industry Association, at the initiative of the USAID EDGE project, which deals with Eastern Europe, began to cooperate with the National Inbound Tourism Association of Moldova (ANTRIM), Liyev said. He added that despite the fact that cooperation is now a public initiative, it is supported by the State Agency for Tourism Development of Ukraine and the State Investment Agency of Moldova. According to the Ukrainian Hospitality Industry Association, in April, with the support of the USAID EDGE project, they conducted online trainings for Moldovan tour operators on creating attractive tourism products for the Ukrainian market. Also in April, UIA resumed regular flights between Chisinau and Kyiv. ish Minister of Culture and Information Policy of Ukraine Oleksandr Tkachenko discussed the preservation of monuments of Jewish cultural and historical heritage with U.S. Special Envoy for Holocaust Issues Ellen Germain. As the minister posted on Facebook, the parties discussed, in particular, the restoration of synagogues. There are about 800 synagogues [in Ukraine]. But not all of them are in good condition because there are no members of Jewish community left in some places. The most picturesque synagogue, as in Zhovkva town, could be reformatted into a museum. But to implement this, a third party is needed. The United States is interested in partnership in this area. We will consider the possibility of cooperation through financial assistance or involvement of experts, Tkachenko informed. According to the U.S. envoy, Ukraine does not have the problem of anti-Semitism. In addition, the American side invited Ukraine to join the International Holocaust Remembrance Alliance (IHRA) as an observer. A discussion is currently underway. According to Tkachenko, the erection of a monument at Babyn Yar was discussed separately during the meeting. Envoy Germain expressed United States support for our actions. It is our shared responsibility to commemorate the Holocaust victims and to preserve the memory of this horrific page of the history, he said. As reported, memorial events dedicated to the 80th anniversary of the Babyn Yar tragedy were held in the territory of the National Historical Memorial Preserve Babyn Yar on October 6. In particular, The Crystal Wall of Crying, an interactive installation by world-renowned performance artist Marina Abramovic, was unveiled. The Wall of Crying is one of the largest artworks in Europe built over the past decade. During World War II, the German occupation forces used the Babyn Yar tract in the northwestern part of Kyiv as a place of mass executions of civilians, mainly Jews. On September 29, 1941, by order of the occupation administration, the entire Jewish population was obliged to appear in Babyn Yar. People were escorted in groups through the checkpoint, after which they were driven to the edge of the ravine and shot. On September 29-30, 33,771 people were killed. The massacres in the tract lasted until the occupiers left the city. According to official data, about 100,000 people were shot down there. ol Syrian refugee Falak Selo (right) talks to her mother and sister in Akre camp, northern Iraq, where she provides mental health support to other refugees (26 January, 2020). UNHCR/Seivan MSalim Ahead of World Mental Health Day on 10 October, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, is calling on the international community to boost quality mental health support for refugees, internally displaced and stateless people. COVID-19 has taken a devastating toll on people forced to flee, said Sajjad Malik, Director of UNHCRs Division of Resilience and Solutions. The long, protracted nature of the pandemic and its deleterious health, economic and social impacts are exacerbating the stress and anxiety felt by many of those displaced. As livelihoods and fragile social support systems crumble, they need help more than ever to cope through the crisis and rebuild their lives. UNHCR teams are reporting increased numbers of people seeking help for anxiety and depression. In the Kurdistan Region of Iraq, psychologists at refugee camps reported a sharp rise in counseling sessions both in-person and remotely. In Peru, in the first seven months of this year, there was a 100 per cent increase in calls and referrals to mental health and psychosocial support services, when compared to the same period last year. Before the pandemic, access to mental health care was already limited. The COVID-19 lockdowns put services under greater strain. UNHCR and partners maintained services for those who were most in need through adapted community outreach and provision of essential medication. In 2021, normal service provision is progressively being restored. With increasing needs, however, access to quality mental health care remains a challenge. Bouncing back to the pre-pandemic situation is not enough. Stronger efforts are needed to ensure that refugees, internally displaced and stateless people can access mental health and psychosocial support services on an equal footing as nationals, added Malik. Given the increased needs, we reiterate our call to the international community for more support to sustain and strengthen these life-saving activities. UNHCR has continuously been advocating for states to integrate mental health services into primary healthcare, which should be made universally accessible. Since the start of the pandemic, UNHCR has provided mental health and psychosocial support services to more than 850,000 people forced to flee. It has also been working to train first line responders, integrate mental health and psychosocial wellbeing into refugee education programs, and assist people with severe or complex mental health conditions. For more information on this topic, please contact: Australian respiratory researchers are preparing to start the next stages in developing a nasal spray to protect people from viral diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza SYDNEY, Oct. 7 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 7th Oct, 2021 ) --:Australian respiratory researchers are preparing to start the next stages in developing a nasal spray to protect people from viral diseases such as COVID-19 and influenza. Hunter Medical Research Institute (HMRI) and University of Newcastle (UON) scientists in the state of New South Wales said on Thursday that they had been working to create the spray, INNA-051, with biotech company, Ena Respiratory. In pre-clinical studies in Sydney, the research team found the spray could boost the body's immune systems, which is the first line of defence to fight viruses that cause the common cold and flu in the nose and throat and can lead to severe lung disease. "We discovered that INNA-051 is very effective at priming the airways to more rapidly and effectively respond to a viral infection," UON Associate Professor Nathan Bartlett said. DUBAI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 09th Oct, 2021) Nassar Habashneh, Ambassador of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan to the UAE, has commended the UAEs efforts in organising and hosting Expo 2020 Dubai, which he described as a source of pride for all Arabs. In a statement at the inauguration of the Jordan Pavilion at Expo 2020 Dubai, Habashneh said that the event has amazed the world with the UAEs enormous potential and immense capabilities in various aspects. Habashneh reiterated that the countries participating in this important historical event embody the values of constructive collaboration between different nations worldwide. "The event is a real opportunity to drive intellectual communication and foster a spirit of innovation and creativity among youth all over the world," he said, adding that this global event is here to enable the exchange of ideas, cultures and opinions, in an environment of tolerance, love and brotherhood. Habashneh stressed that the UAE, through Expo 2020 Dubai, wants to instil values of tolerance among different nations, with the UAE itself being home to more than 200 nationalities. This diversity in people of different nationalities who have chosen to live and reside in the UAE reflects the country's wise leadership keenness to spread the values of tolerance, coexistence, and human fraternity, ever since the establishment of the Union, he added. Habashneh also praised the efforts of the Expo 2020 Dubai team, and their success in organising the spectacular opening ceremony, which reflects the esteemed status of the UAE and its ability to organise global events of such magnificence. "The UAE, which rises to any challenge it faces, is always aspiring to be at the forefront," Habashneh concluded. ABU DHABI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News / WAM - 09th Oct, 2021) The Public Prosecution (PP) explained Saturday, through posts on its social media accounts, the penalties for removal of signboards and surveillance cameras. According to Article 294 of the Federal Penal Code, ''who ever deliberately removes, breaks, or damages one of the machines, tools, or signboards necessary for the prevention of accidents, or surveillance cameras, or who renders such items not good for use anymore or who renders such items to be faulty by anyway whatsoever, shall be sentenced to imprisonment for a duration not less than a year and a fine of not less than AED 50,000. '' The penalty shall be temporary imprisonment if a disaster arises from the crime. In all cases, the criminal shall be ordered to pay the amount of the damages cased thereby. The Public Prosecution published this information as part of its ongoing campaign to promote legal culture and raise public awareness. (@FahadShabbir) Los Angeles, Oct 9 (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Oct, 2021 ) :A fractured pipeline that spewed crude oil off the coast of California could have been leaking for a year, US investigators said Friday. Tens of thousands of gallons of oil are feared to have leeched into waters that are home to whales, dolphins and otters since a leak was discovered last weekend. Stretches of prime surfing coastline have been shuttered as clean-up crews raced to prevent the spoiling of beaches, and rescue animals caught up in the slick. US news outlets reported that a ship's anchor could have been responsible for dragging the pipeline along the seabed and splitting it open. But Coast Guard officials investigating the incident said Friday the rupture might not be new, and could have happened as long as a year ago. Captain Jason Neubauer said multiple ships' anchors may have contributed to the displacement of the pipe, and it was not initially clear when the leak began. Underwater video of the damaged pipeline shows "marine growth" around the 13-inch crack that is leaking oil -- something that would not have appeared overnight. This discovery "has refocused the ... timeframe of our investigation to at least several months to a year ago," Neubauer said. A routine inspection by pipeline owner Amplify Energy which took place last October showed no damage, he said. "We're going to be looking at every vessel movement over that pipeline and every close encroachment over the past year," Neubauer said. That will include examining satellite images, radio broadcasts and vessel traffic patterns. The nearby container ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach are among the world's busiest. A pandemic-sparked logjam has left dozens of huge vessels at a time anchored at sea while they await a berth. Captains ordered to wait outside the port are given specific places to set anchor, but investigators will look to see if any anchors have been dropped in the wrong place. They will also look to see if a storm that tore through the area in January could have moved any of the ships. Martyn Willsher, the chief executive of Amplify Energy, said this week that underwater observations revealed that 4,000 feet (1,200 meters) of the pipeline were not where they should be. "The pipeline has essentially been pulled like a bowstring," he told a press conference on Tuesday. "At its widest point it is 105 feet away from where it was," he said, adding the break in the pipeline was at the apex of this bend. Willsher refused to speculate on the cause of that displacement and whether a ship's anchor could be responsible, but said: "It is a 16-inch steel pipeline that's a half inch thick and covered in an inch of concrete. "For it to be moved 105 feet is not common."Officials involved in the clean up originally said well over 100,000 gallons of crude could have been spilled. But on Thursday they said the actual amount could have been around 25,000 gallons. Pakistan has called on the United Nations to invest "more time and energy" to address situations where people are still denied the right to self-determination, saying that realization of a just world order will remain elusive without resolving festering disputes UNITED NATIONS, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 9th Oct, 2021 ) :Pakistan has called on the United Nations to invest "more time and energy" to address situations where people are still denied the right to self-determination, saying that realization of a just world order will remain elusive without resolving festering disputes. "While most dependent or occupied peoples have been able to exercise their right to self-determination peacefully, there are some who have been denied this right and have been obliged to struggle for it," Ambassador Aamir Khan, deputy permanent representative of Pakistan to the UN, told the General Assembly's legal committee on Friday. He said the rule of law at the national and international levels -- the subject of the committee's debate -- required that States must subject themselves to international law, including its dispute-resolution mechanisms in settling outstanding disputes with other countries -- an obvious reference to Kashmir and Palestine. "Respect for the Charter and the principles of sovereign equality, peaceful settlement of disputes, non-interference in State affairs and the right to self-determination is critical for promoting the rule of law on the international level," the Pakistani envoy said. "In the absence of resolution of such disputes, realization of a just and equitable world order and respect for rule of law at the international level will remain elusive," Ambassador Khan added. Noting that several resolutions of the General Assembly and the Security Council have categorically declared that attempts to unilaterally change the status of an occupied territory legally or demographically whose people have yet to exercise their right to self-determination were null and void, Ambassador Khan said. Pakistan, he said, fully recognizes the centrality of the UN's role in the promotion of rule of law at the international level. Ambassador Khan said Pakistan would continue to call for necessary changes in the global counter-terrorism architecture and the UN Security Council sanctions regime, as also in the procedures of the Security Council committees to ensure due process and effective remedy in the implementation of sanctions regimes. "We also acknowledge the contribution of the Office of the Ombudsperson to the Da'esh and Al-Qaeda Sanctions Committee, towards enhancing the transparency in the UNSC sanctions, and calls for further strengthening of the office." Pointing out that the coronavirus pandemic has revealed the inequalities among and within nations, the Pakistan envoy renewed call for global solidarity and concerted efforts to meet these unprecedented challenges. "The essence of the rule of law is access to justice; and the essence of access to justice is legal empowerment of people so that they can enjoy their full civil, political, social, economic, and cultural rights," Ambassador Khan said, citing Pakistan where strengthening of public institutions and making them more responsive to people's needs were the cornerstone of Prime Minister Imran Khan's policies. "Our priorities on the rule of law and access to justice include speedy and inexpensive justice, a culture of accountability, and elimination of corruption", the Pakistani envoy said. "Simultaneously", he added, "we are working on an agenda to reduce poverty, create jobs and accelerate economic growth and development." Opening the debate, Volker Turk, Assistant Secretary-General for Strategic Coordination, introducing the secretary-general's report on strengthening and coordinating United Nations rule of law activities, said the COVID-19 pandemic exposed deep structural inequalities. In particular, he said, women and minorities were being disproportionately affected by unequal distribution of wealth and resources. Noting that this has weakened public trust, Turk stressed the need to ensure that judicial services respond to community needs, including the marginalized and vulnerable. \932 (@FahadShabbir) DOHA (UrduPoint News / Sputnik - 09th October, 2021) A delegation of Afghan officials from the Taliban (banned in Russia) interim government will meet with EU negotiators in Doha over the weekend, Afghanistan's acting foreign minister said on Saturday. "The Afghan delegation will discuss the recent developments with the EU delegation in Qatar," Amir Khan Muttaqi told reporters. The negotiations will run in parallel with US-Taliban talks, which kicked off in the Qatari capital on Saturday and will continue on Sunday. (UroToday.com) As a portion of the European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Congress, an Educational Session focused on improving outcomes in bladder cancer was held. In this context, Dr. de Wit discussed new developments in muscle-invasive disease. Dr. de Wit began by highlighting the role of chemotherapy as it evolved through the 1980s and 1990s, utilizing a cisplatin backbone in various combinations. MVAC was the first regime to demonstrate a median overall survival exceeding one year in metastatic disease. Subsequently, in 2000, a randomized comparison of gemcitabine and cisplatin versus MVAC was published showing comparable results with median overall survival of 13.8 and 14.8 months, respectively. However, gemcitabine cisplatin was found to be significantly less toxic and became the standard of care for elderly fit patients, including those without renal dysfunction, with performance status 0-1, and without significant comorbidity to preclude treatment. Further, it also became a frequently used approach in the neoadjuvant setting. For patients with renal dysfunction, cisplatin may be substituted for carboplatin but is less efficacious. Dr. de Wit emphasized that approximately one quarter of patients with bladder cancer have muscle invasion at the time of diagnosis and nodal involvement is significantly associated with increasing primary T stage (T2: 20-30% and T3: 30-50%). Additionally, nearly half of patients with muscle invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) will develop metastatic disease. In the neoadjuvant setting, the EORTC/MRC trial demonstrated a benefit to the use of three cycles of neoadjuvant CMV compared to no neoadjuvant therapy. However, he emphasized that this is not the most effective chemotherapy regime available and nearly 1 in 7 patients did not receive planned cystectomy. Thus, these results may not provide the most relevant data. Additionally, Dr. de Wit emphasized that the extent of pelvic lymphadenectomy (quantified with a nodal yield) is associated with disease free survival. Thus, he concluded that, using modern neoadjuvant approaches, a benefit greater than 6% observed in the EORTC/MRC trial would be expected. While gemcitabine-cisplatin has become a standard neoadjuvant approach, he suggested that dose dense MVAC may be superior. Based on data presented at ASCO GU 2020, the pathological complete response rate was higher for patients receiving ddMVAC and, in data being presented at ESMO 2021, 3-year progression free survival was higher as well (66% vs 56%, HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.51-0.96). Dr. de Wit then discussed the use of adjuvant chemotherapy. While he suggested that it is likely to provide a similar benefit, logistically provisioning chemotherapy after surgery is more complicated and the studies supporting its use are less methodologically robust, precluding conclusive answers. The EORTC 30994 trial was seeking to assess the role of immediate chemotherapy versus at the time of relapse in high-risk patients following cystectomy. However, it closed due to slow accrual. Among those accrued, the data suggest a potential benefit in patients with node negative disease. However, considering upper tract urothelial disease, the POUT trial has demonstrated a disease-free survival benefit to the use of adjuvant chemotherapy following nephroureterectomy in UTUC. However, to date, there is no significant difference in overall survival, though the trial was not powered to assess this outcome. Dr. de Wit then moved to discuss the role of immunotherapy in metastatic urothelial carcinoma, highlighting the role of both pembrolizumab in the second-line setting and avelumab maintenance following induction chemotherapy. Additionally, one-year of adjuvant nivolumab has demonstrated a benefit in disease-free survival based on presented data from the CheckMate274 trial. This result was found in the ITT cohort as well as the PD-L1 positive population. In subgroup analyses, Dr. de Wit emphasized results based on initial tumor local (with a bigger benefit among those with primary bladder tumors) and among those who received neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy. Ongoing follow-up will be coming and an OS benefit is likely necessary to drive approval. Further, this ongoing data will assist with understanding efficacy in subgroups. However, in the same setting, IMVigor010 failed to show a benefit for the use of atezolizumab. The ongoing Ambassador trial will report on the role of pembrolizumab in this disease space. Dr. de Wit then discussed emerging phase II data concerning the use of checkpoint inhibition in the peri-operative setting for patients with MIBC. As highlighted in the table below, there are four trials including two with monotherapy and two with combination therapy. In conclusion, he emphasized that neoadjuvant cisplatin-based chemotherapy is the standard of care. However, the long-term OS benefit is potentially limited and may be augmented by adjuvant checkpoint inhibition though OS data is still needed. Presented by: Ronald de Wit, MD, Ph.D., Professor, Department Medical Oncology, Division Lead Genito-Urinary Clinical Research, Erasmus University Medical Center, Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Written by: Christopher J.D. Wallis, University of Toronto Twitter: @WallisCJD during the 2021 European Society for Medical Oncology (ESMO) Annual Congress 2021, Thursday, Sep 16, 2021 Tuesday, Sep 21, 2021. SACBC President Bishop Sithembele Sipuka has held discussions with the Kingdom of Eswatinis Deputy Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, in the countrys capital, Mbabane. Paul Samasumo Vatican City. Bishop Sithembele Sipuka, the Bishop of Mthatha Diocese and President of the SACBC, was accompanied to the meeting with Eswatinis Deputy Prime Minister, Themba Masuku, by senior officials of the SACBC. The SACBCs local host, Bishop Jose Luis Ponce de Leon, the only Catholic Bishop in Eswatini, also attended the meeting. As a member of the Bishops Conference, Bishop de Leon serves as a focal person for Church-state relations. A solidarity visit on behalf of SACBC In remarks to the Eswatini Deputy Prime Minister, Bishop Sipuka described his visit as one of solidarity. After hearing about challenges this beautiful country is facing, some of them similar to those of South Africa, and not at all claiming that we have a solution, we decided as both neighbours and Church leaders, to make this solidarity visit and we thank you, Your Excellency, for the time you have granted us despite the short notice, Bishop Sipuka said. Citizens of Eswatini are peace-loving people Bishops Sipuka continued, In the context of these sad experiences that the Kingdom of Eswatini is going through and their negative impact on the lives of citizens of this country, the Catholic Church strongly affirms the possibility of overcoming the obstacles that prevent a solution to these experiences. The confidence about the possibility of overcoming obstacles is based first on the peace-loving character of EmaSwati for which this Kingdom is known, the Bishop affirmed. The recent Eswatini protests Eswatini is a landlocked country in Southern Africa bordering South Africa and Mozambique, with a population of 1.2 million people. The COVID-19 situation in the country has had a severe impact on the countrys economy. The country has also suffered from adverse weather patterns and a high unemployment rate. Things came to a head a few months ago when demonstrators agitating for more democratic space and reforms gained impetus -largely driven by protesting young people. The demonstrations elicited a violent reaction from authorities. There were scenes not normally associated with Eswatini. Disturbances threaten the whole region Bishop Sipuka said the challenges of violence, destruction of property, use of excessive force by the security personnel, and deaths witnessed in the country were a threat to the citizens of Eswatini and the whole Southern African region. Your Excellency, our humble presence here is to add our own voice for peace, and if needed to collaborate in efforts that will see this country resolving differences peacefully and creating an environment for order, development and the promotion of justice, Bishop Sipuka said. SACBC praying for Eswatini Bishop Sipuku further assured his Eswatini hosts that the Catholic Church in Southern Africa is praying for the country, which he said, had served for many years as a reference point for peace in the region. SACBC brings together Catholic Bishops in Southern Africa from Botswana, Eswatini, and South Africa. Bishops of Missouri call for alternatives to capital punishment, highlighting that the death penalty does not make the state safer or more civil. By Vatican News staff writer The Catholic bishops of Missouri have expressed disappointment and sorrow over the decision to allow the execution of Ernest Lee Johnson, aged 61, on Tuesday. Johnson, an African American, was sentenced to death for a triple homicide during a robbery at a convenience store that occurred in 1994. He was executed by the state of Missouri on Tuesday after spending more than 25 years on death row following his conviction. Lawyers for Johnson fought to have his execution delayed or canceled to no avail. In a statement on 6 October, the Bishops said that even though Johnsons crimes were heinous and deserve to be punished, we should stop using the death penalty as a means of dealing with violent crimes. The statement was signed by Archbishop Mitchell Rosanzki of St. Louis, Bishop James Johnston of Kansas City-St. Joseph, Bishop Shawn McKnight of Jefferson City and Bishop Edward Rice of Springfield-Cape Girardeau. The death penalty does not make for a safer state When horrendous crimes are committed, it is easy to call for vengeance and retribution, the Bishops said. It may seem the only fair thing to do is to take a life for a life, but the death penalty does not make Missouri a safer or more civil state. The Bishops recalled their words in their clemency request last month, reiterating that the death penalty degrades us as a society and teaches our children that violence is the proper response to violence. When someone is executed, they insisted, the opportunity for them to undergo a conversion and repent prior to their final judgment may be lost". "That important time for grace to work in a persons heart is taken away. Condolences to victims The Bishops went on to express their condolences with the families of the victims of the murders committed by Johnson. They highlighted that the lives of Mary Bratcher, Mabel Scrubbs and Fred Jones deserve honor and remembrance. They also prayed for the comfort of their loved ones as they are forced to relive the trauma and pain of these crimes through this execution. The Bishops said that it is their prayer that the people of Missouri look for ways to address these crimes without resorting to the death penalty. They proposed that life without parole, for example, is a severe punishment that isolates offending individuals from society. They also called on Catholics and people of good will to join in seeking alternatives to the death penalty for Missouris most violent criminals because even those who commit the most offensive acts do not lose their human dignity before God. Clemency plea On October 1, the Apostolic Nuncio to the United States, Archbishop Christophe Pierre, sent a letter on behalf of Pope Francis to the governor of Missouri, Michael Parson, asking him to stop the execution. The letter was then circulated on Twitter by Sister Helen Prejean, a U.S. religious of the Congregation of the Sisters of St. Joseph who, for nearly three decades, has been fighting for an end to capital punishment. In the letter, the Archbishop called for a focus on Johnsons humanity and the sanctity of all human life. Joe Naiman Village News Reporter When Toby Keith performed at Pala Casino he had an Afghanistan combat veteran join him on stage for the encore of his Sept. 17 concert. Sergeant Major (retired) Michael Boom helped Keith sing "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue" (sometimes also called "The Angry American"). "It was an honor to represent the military that night," Boom said. Keith met Boom about eight years ago during one of Keith's performances for America's military troops. "I showed him around," Boom said. "He did a concert for my soldiers." Boom was an airborne Ranger in the United States Army. He was in the Army for 30 years, joining in 1983 and retiring in 2013. He was born and raised in Sacramento and moved to San Diego County after he retired from the Army. He now lives in Ramona. "Whenever Toby comes near where I'm living, I reach out," Boom said. Keith or his representative will ask how many tickets Boom and his family need. "He's just a nice guy who doesn't forget those he met downrange," Boom said. When Keith traveled to Iraq and Afghanistan, he sought the combat areas rather than the bases. "He told me, "I want to go where the soldiers are'," Boom said. "He'd go out to some desolate outpost," Boom said. "It meant a lot to the soldiers." Keith traveled in a Humvee four-wheel drive vehicle or a helicopter. "He was putting himself in danger every time he did that," Boom said. "He doesn't even think about the risks. He just wants to get to where the soldiers are," Boom said. "That's something most American people don't realize about him." Boom was at FOB (Forward Operating Base) Sharana, which is near Afghanistan's border with Pakistan, when he first met Keith. "I had 4,000 soldiers in Afghanistan when he came to visit us," Boom said. Keith didn't announce his Afghanistan performance to the troops. "He flew in on a helicopter," Boom said. "It was a surprise." Boom initially told his soldiers that a military band would be performing before telling them they would hear Toby Keith instead. "They just went berserk," Boom said. Keith performed with a large American flag behind him. "It was a total surprise for the soldiers, and he performed a long concert," Boom said. Not only did the soldiers see and hear a full concert rather than only a few songs, but Keith then had conversations with the soldiers. "They were just really impressed that he would spend hours," Boom said. "He's a great person. He loves soldiers." Keith performed 240 shows in combat zones. "He's like what I call the new Bob Hope," Boom said. "He's one of the most patriotic people I've ever met and the soldiers love him soldiers, sailors, airmen, and Marines." In his childhood, Boom was a country music fan whose favorite artists included Johnny Cash, Glen Campbell, and Waylon Jennings. "As a kid, my dad took me to see Johnny Cash when I was about 12 in Sacramento," Boom said. "I've always been a country fan since then." Boom was stationed at Fort Campbell in Kentucky when he first heard Keith's music about 20 years before Keith's visit to Boom's troops. "I was very familiar with Toby when he came out," Boom said. After Boom's discharge, he saw Keith at a concert in the Sacramento suburb of Roseville. Boom has also seen Keith twice at the San Diego County Fair and, for Keith's 2019 fair concert, he asked Boom to join him for "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue." "He does that a lot when he's got military members he knows at his concerts," Boom said. The Pala Casino concert was thus Boom's fourth after he first met Keith in Afghanistan. Boom requested tickets. "I reached out to his manager and he said: 'How many do you need, Sergeant Major?'," Boom said. Keith's first song Sept. 17 was "Made in America." "I love that song he starts off all his concerts with," Boom said. "It really tugs at the heartstrings." "Courtesy of the Red, White, and Blue" was Keith's final song Sept. 17 and the second during Keith's encore; the first was "American Soldier." "I will see him again," Boom said. "As long as he comes within a couple hour drive, I'll let him know I need tickets and I'll be there." A recent study examining data across 68 countries, including 2,947 counties located in the United States, has found no apparent relationship between the COVID-19 vaccine acceptance rate and increasing positive test count, calling the logic of the notion that mandatory injections are the way to save the world from the pandemic into question. The study, published on Sept. 30 in the European Journal of Epidemiology, was conducted between a researcher from the Harvard Center for Population and Development Studies and the Turner Fenton Secondary School in Canada relying on data from aggregator platform Our World in Data. The sole reliance on vaccination as a primary strategy to mitigate COVID-19 and its adverse consequences needs to be re-examined, especially considering the Delta (B.1.617.2) variant and the likelihood of future variants The introduction to the study states the reasoning for taking a second look at the data, Vaccines currently are the primary mitigation strategy to combat COVID-19 around the world. For instance, the narrative related to the ongoing surge of new cases in the United States (US) is argued to be driven by areas with low vaccination rates. It notes that a similar narrative also has been observed in locales such as Germany and the United Kingdom, including Israel, a country that was hailed for its swift and high rates of vaccination, but has, unfortunately, also seen a substantial resurgence in COVID-19 cases. The duo focused on 68 countries matching criteria that had second dose vaccine data available; had COVID-19 case data available; had population data available; and the last update of data was within 3 days prior to or on September 3, 2021. For the 7 days preceding September 3, 2021 we computed the COVID-19 cases per 1 million people for each country as well as the percentage of population that is fully vaccinated. In its United States county-level data, the team utilized official data from the White House COVID-19 team, excluding counties that did not report fully vaccinated population percentage data, resulting in 2,947 points of data for their analysis. The study notes that it calculated its percentage increase in COVID cases based on the difference in cases from the last 7 days and the 7 days preceding them. READ MORE: The findings of the analysis were in sharp contrast to the pro-vaccine narrative cited by the authors in the studys preamble, At the country-level, there appears to be no discernable relationship between percentage of population fully vaccinated and new COVID-19 cases in the last 7 days. In fact, the trend line suggests a marginally positive association such that countries with higher percentage of population fully vaccinated have higher COVID-19 cases per 1 million people. The researchers continue, Notably, Israel with over 60% of their population fully vaccinated had the highest COVID-19 cases per 1 million people in the last 7 days. The lack of a meaningful association between percentage population fully vaccinated and new COVID-19 cases is further exemplified, for instance, by comparison of Iceland and Portugal. Both countries have over 75% of their population fully vaccinated and have more COVID-19 cases per 1 million people than countries such as Vietnam and South Africa that have around 10% of their population fully vaccinated. In the supplementary data, some of the more egregious specific examples were [emphasis added]: United States 3,039 cases per million 51.91 percent vaccination rate Israel 6,224 cases per million 62.51 percent vaccination rate Mongolia 4,745 cases per million 62.99 percent vaccination rate Cyprus 1,800 cases per million 58.85 percent vaccination rate Greece 1,661 cases per million 55.43 percent vaccination rate Iceland 1,202 cases per million 76.82 percent vaccination rate India 182 cases per million 10.9 percent vaccination rate Vietnam 820 cases per million 2.78 percent vaccination rate Taiwan 2.2 cases per million 3.93 percent vaccination rate The study found a similar phenomenon in its analysis of U.S. counties, adding, Notably there is also substantial county variation in new COVID-19 cases within categories of percentage population fully vaccinated. In a graph representing the data, the study showed that case counts per 100,000 in the previous 7 days were all between 600 and 1,000 in counties that had between 50 and 70+ percent vaccine acceptance rates. The duo also noted that the CDCs own transmission risk data contradicts the official narrative, Of the top 5 counties that have the highest percentage of population fully vaccinated (99.984.3%), the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) identifies 4 of them as High Transmission counties. Conversely, of the 57 counties that have been classified as low transmission counties by the CDC, 26.3% (15) have percentage of population fully vaccinated below 20%. In order to compensate for the consideration that fully vaccinated status is expected to not occur until 14 days after the receipt of the second dose, the researchers conducted sensitivity analyses by using a 1-month lag on the percentage population fully vaccinated for countries and US counties. The above findings of no discernable association between COVID-19 cases and levels of fully vaccinated was also observed when we considered a 1-month lag on the levels of fully vaccinated. The pair concluded, Other pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions may need to be put in place alongside increasing vaccination rates. Such course correction, especially with regards to the policy narrative, becomes paramount with emerging scientific evidence on real world effectiveness of the vaccines. In their dissent, the team relied on a study from Israels Ministry of Health that showed a double dose of the Pfizer injection was only 39 percent effective, far short of the 96 percent demonstrated in testing. It is also emerging that immunity derived from the Pfizer-BioNTech vaccine may not be as strong as immunity acquired through recovery from the COVID-19 virus, said the article, citing an August 25 preprint study that examined anonymized health records from one of Israels four mandatory health care providers. The conclusion also expressed concern with recent findings that the new breed of gene therapy vaccines are only able to supply antibodies for as little as six months. In summary, even as efforts should be made to encourage populations to get vaccinated it should be done so with humility and respect. Stigmatizing populations can do more harm than good, cautioned the scientists. The duo closed the study with an emphasis on rationally approaching our worlds hottest new disease, Importantly, other non-pharmacological prevention efforts (e.g., the importance of basic public health hygiene with regards to maintaining safe distance or handwashing, promoting better frequent and cheaper forms of testing) needs to be renewed in order to strike the balance of learning to live with COVID-19 in the same manner we continue to live a 100 years later with various seasonal alterations of the 1918 Influenza virus. Russia has been treading carefully in its dealings with the Taliban, engaging with them but so far withholding formal recognition of Afghanistans new rulers. Russian President Vladimir Putin and his aides have been quick to cheer the U.S.-led NATO withdrawal from Afghanistan, presenting it as a strategic setback for Washington. But they fear Afghanistan falling apart and being plunged into a protracted civil war, which could allow the country to become a sanctuary once again for jihadists to hatch plots against Russia and its Central Asian allies, according to Western diplomats and analysts. Commenting last week, Putin said NATOs 20-year intervention had accomplished nothing. The result is zero, if not to say that it is negative, he said. Like his Western counterparts, though, the Russian leader appears also to have been surprised by the speed of the collapse of the government of President Ashraf Ghani and the Talibans sweep of the country. When the Taliban seized Kandahar on August 13, Putins envoy to Afghanistan, Zamir Kabulov, said he doubted the Taliban would take control of Kabul any time soon. They seized it within two days. With Afghanistan right on its doorstep, there are more downsides and risks for Russia from NATOs departure arguably than there are for the Western powers, and the Kremlin is casting a wary glance south, according to Paul Stronski, who was director for Russia and Central Asia at the U.S. National Security Council from 2012 to 2014. Russia has been eying the departure of U.S. troops from Afghanistan with schadenfreude. But the Kremlin does not relish the prospect of an unstable Afghanistan, Stronski wrote in a commentary for the Carnegie Endowment, a think tank in Washington. Even though Moscow has publicly cheered the removal of U.S. and NATO troops from the region, Russian officials are sober-minded enough to appreciate the downsides of their departure, he says. The key question now is whether Moscow is equipped to deal with a combustible situation along its southern flank that is unfolding far more quickly than anyone might have expected, he added. Midweek, top Russian and Indian security officials met in Delhi to discuss the implications of the Talibans takeover of Afghanistan. In the subsequent readouts of their talks for the press, Nikolay Patrushev, the secretary of Russias Security Council and a key Putin adviser, and Indian counterpart Ajit Doval highlighted the security dangers, with their officials saying global militant groups operating from Afghanistan pose a threat to Central Asia and to India. They agreed to deepen counterterrorism cooperation. U.S. withdrawal and Taliban triumph generate an acute security challenge for Russia, according to Pavel Baev of the Brookings Institution. A former researcher in the Soviet Unions Ministry of Defense, he says the problem for the Kremlin is the NATO withdrawal yields no rewards and presents Moscow with a security black hole on its southern flank. Like their Western counterparts, Russian security chiefs are trying to judge whether the Taliban will abide by the promises its leaders made in political talks in Doha, Qatar, to stop Afghanistan once again from turning into a sanctuary for al-Qaida and other global jihadist groups. The Kremlin also is alarmed by the prospects of an increase in opiate drug trafficking, which alone may earn the Taliban $416 million a year, according to a U.N. assessment. Taliban leaders have said they wont permit any opium poppy cultivation. But with a financial crunch looming for the country and for the militant group there are widespread doubts that they will or can keep to that promise. Afghanistan is estimated to be responsible for about 80 percent of global opium and heroin supplies. In July, following a string of bilateral talks with the Taliban, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said the Taliban leadership was rational. He added: They are sane people. They clearly stated that they have no plans to create problems for Afghanistans Central Asian neighbors. Baev believes that statement was an exercise in wishful thinking. The best Russian diplomats can hope for is to dissuade the shrewd leadership of the Taliban from launching cross-border attacks northwards, he says. The Taliban remains proscribed in Russia as a terrorist organization. Its ties with Central Asian jihadists, including Chechen separatists who the Taliban allowed to train in Afghanistan, prompted President Putin in September 2001 to acquiesce regarding the U.S. building military bases in Uzbekistan and Kyrgyzstan to facilitate the U.S.-led NATO invasion of Afghanistan. Putin also allowed the U.S.-led coalition to use Russian airspace for the invasion. The Kremlin appears to be readying for the worst, and it has been for some time. In 2012, it signed an agreement with Tajikistan to extend its lease on a military base in Dushanbe until 2042, and in 2016 it started modernizing the base and rearming it, including with armed Orlan-10 drones. Last month, the Russian, Tajik and Uzbek militaries held joint exercises on the Afghan border. Recently, Russias defense minister Sergei Shoigu pledged to strengthen military cooperation with the former Soviet republics of Central Asia. At least six migrants were shot dead at a Tripoli detention center on Friday, the head of the U.N. migration agency's Libya mission said, as many reportedly escaped from the facility and others gathered in nearby streets. Overcrowding triggered chaos at the Ghot Shaal center, with people sleeping in the open and different security forces present, said Federico Soda, the Libya mission head for the International Organization for Migration (IOM). "Shooting started," he said, adding that at least six people had been killed. Libyan security forces have cracked down on migrants, refugees and asylum-seekers over the past week, detaining more than 5,000. There are hundreds of thousands of migrants in Libya, some seeking to travel to Europe and others coming to work in the major oil exporter. They routinely face violence in a country that has had little peace for a decade, with many held in detention centers that the U.N. refugee agency, UNHCR, said were crowded and unsanitary, and where Amnesty International on Friday said they face torture and sexual abuse. Libya's Government of National Unity was not immediately available for comment. A decade of strife The country has been in crisis since the 2011 NATO-backed uprising against Moammar Gadhafi, and much of it is controlled on the ground by local armed forces that operate independently of the government. Numerous videos posted on social media on Friday, which Reuters could not immediately authenticate, showed dozens of people pouring through a gap in a fence, and larger numbers marching through Tripoli streets. Two residents said they had seen large numbers of migrants running through the streets in that area. Soda said security forces in Tripoli had detained at least 900 migrants later Friday, a group that likely included many of those who had fled the detention center. A Reuters journalist who had seen dozens of migrants sitting on the floor surrounded by guards said that there was a very heavy security presence around the area and there had been sporadic sounds of shooting. UNHCR said earlier on Friday that it was increasingly alarmed about the situation for migrants and refugees in Libya after more than 5,000 had been arrested in the recent crackdown. "The raids, which also involved the demolition of many unfinished buildings and makeshift houses, have created widespread panic and fear among asylum-seekers and refugees in the capital," it said in a statement. On Monday U.N. investigators said abuses against migrants and refugees in Libya were "on a widespread scale ... with a high level of organization and with the encouragement of the state ... suggestive of crimes against humanity." Abolhassan Banisadr, the first president of Iran's Islamic Republic, died Saturday in Paris at the age of 88 following a lengthy illness. Banisadr, who returned to Iran with the founder of the Islamic Republic Ayatollah Khomeini after the downfall of Shah Mohammed Reza Pahlavi in 1979, was elected with the support of his mentor Khomeini in 1980. Khomeini later withdrew that support forcing Banisadr to flee for France in 1981. Banisadr had been a spokesman and top aide of Khomeini's during his exile in France in the 1970s. Banisadr's year-and-a-half in office were marred by the Islamic Republic's deteriorating relations with its Arab neighbors and the West, including the U.S. Banisadr told journalists during one of his press conferences in 1980 that he spent most of his time visiting the front lines of the war with Iraq, where he was popular with Iran's troops and military leaders. The lengthy hostage crisis at the U.S. Embassy in Tehran also took place during Banisadr's tenure, as did an unsuccessful U.S. effort to rescue the hostages by then-President Jimmy Carter, which was aborted after a U.S. helicopter crashed into a transport plane. Banisadr was forced to flee Tehran for France in 1981 following protests against him by religious supporters of Khomeini, after the supreme leader withdrew his support from his erstwhile aide. Former Iranian diplomat Mehrdad Khonsari told VOA that Banisadr was a "fairly likeable figure," with "democratic leanings," who owed his election to Ayatollah Khomeini and his clerical followers, who increasingly sought to Islamicize the country: He had the blessing of Khomeini in the first presidential election that was conducted, and he won because of him, but then he started falling out with the key people around Khomeini and the clerics, who were bent on extricating all secular elements from the government and usurping power, monopolizing power in their own hands, despite the fact that [Banisadr] was quite popular in the army because of his work and dedication during the Iran-Iraq War. Banisadr remained active politically, despite his exile in Paris, and during his many conversations with VOA expressed a keen love for his homeland and for the Iranian people, with whom he empathized in their struggle against what he called the "clerical regime." President Joe Biden on Friday issued the first-ever presidential proclamation of Indigenous Peoples Day, lending the most significant boost yet to efforts to refocus the federal holiday celebrating Christopher Columbus toward an appreciation of Native Americans. The day will be observed Oct. 11, along with Columbus Day, which is established by Congress. While Native Americans have campaigned for years for local and national days in recognition of the country's Indigenous peoples, Biden's announcement appeared to catch many by surprise. "This was completely unexpected. Even though we've been talking about it and wanting it for so long," said Hillary Kempenich, an artist and member of the Turtle Mountain Band of Chippewa. In 2019, she and other tribal members successfully campaigned for her town of Grand Forks, North Dakota, to replace Columbus Day with a day recognizing Indigenous peoples. "I'm kind of overwhelmed with joy," said Kempenich. She was waiting Friday afternoon to share the news with her eighth-grade daughter, who grew up challenging teachers' depictions of Columbus. "For generations, Federal policies systematically sought to assimilate and displace Native people and eradicate Native cultures," Biden wrote in the Indigenous Peoples Day proclamation. "Today, we recognize Indigenous peoples' resilience and strength as well as the immeasurable positive impact that they have made on every aspect of American society." In a separate proclamation on Columbus Day, Biden praised the role of Italian Americans in U.S. society but also referenced the violence and harm Columbus and other explorers of the age brought about on the Americas. Making landfall in what is now the Bahamas on Oct. 12, 1492, Columbus, an Italian, was the first of a wave of European explorers who decimated Indigenous populations in the Americas in quests for gold and other wealth, including people to enslave. "Today, we also acknowledge the painful history of wrongs and atrocities that many European explorers inflicted on Tribal Nations and Indigenous communities," Biden wrote. "It is a measure of our greatness as a Nation that we do not seek to bury these shameful episodes of our past that we face them honestly, we bring them to the light, and we do all we can to address them." White House press secretary Jen Psaki said Biden "felt strongly" about recognizing Indigenous Peoples Day. Asked if Biden might seek to end marking Columbus Day as a federal holiday, she replied, "I don't have any predictions at this point." John Echohawk, executive director of the Native American Rights Fund, said the president's decision to recognize Indigenous Peoples Day was an important step. "Big changes happen from each small step, and we hope this administration intends to continue making positive steps towards shaping a brighter future for all citizens," Echohawak said. Biden's acknowledgment of the suffering of Native Americans also marked a break from President Donald Trump's ardent defense of "intrepid heroes" like Columbus in his 2020 proclamation of the holiday. "Sadly, in recent years, radical activists have sought to undermine Christopher Columbus' legacy," Trump said at the time. "These extremists seek to replace discussion of his vast contributions with talk of failings, his discoveries with atrocities, and his achievements with transgressions." Biden made the announcement on the same day the White House was disclosing its plans to restore territory to two sprawling national monuments in Utah that Trump had stripped of protections. One, Bears Ears, is on land that Native American tribes consider sacred. Biden's campaign against Trump saw tribal activists mobilize to get out votes for the Democrat, in activism that tribal members credited with helping Biden win some Western states. President Joe Biden on Friday signed legislation that will provide financial support to U.S. government employees believed to be suffering from the so-called Havana syndrome, mysterious health incidents that have affected American intelligence officers, diplomats and other personnel around the world. "Today, I was pleased to sign the HAVANA Act into law to ensure we are doing our utmost to provide for U.S. Government personnel who have experienced anomalous health incidents," Biden said in a statement released by the White House. The Helping American Victims Afflicted by Neurological Attacks Act, or HAVANA Act, was passed unanimously by the Senate on June 7 and the House of Representatives on Tuesday. In his statement, Biden acknowledged that American civil servants, intelligence officers, diplomats and military personnel around the world have been affected by "anomalous health incidents," and some are struggling with debilitating brain injuries that have curtailed their careers. He vowed to commit the full resources of the U.S. government to provide medical care to victims and determine what causes it and who is responsible. The Havana syndrome a set of ailments that includes migraines, nausea, dizziness, tinnitus, visual and hearing problems, vertigo, memory lapses, and even mental breakdown became public in 2016 after dozens of diplomats at the U.S. Embassy in Havana complained of the symptoms. Since then, other U.S. personnel in China, Russia, Poland, Austria and other countries have reported similar symptoms. Robyn Garfield, an advocate for Havana syndrome victims, welcomed the signing but said much more needs to be done. As a Commerce Department officer, Garfield was evacuated from Shanghai, China, with his wife and two children in June 2018 after experiencing symptoms. "We remain deeply concerned by the continued disparity in treatment and support among different agencies of our government," Garfield said in a statement to VOA. "In concert with implementation of the HAVANA Act, we urge the Administration to adopt a uniform diagnostic and treatment protocol across agencies to ensure that all who serve, and their families, have access to the best possible care." Garfield said that for too long, too many victims have faced skepticism and have been treated as adversaries instead of partners by the agencies they worked for. "That needs to stop." While the cause of Havana syndrome remains under investigation by the intelligence community, a 2020 National Academy of Sciences report concluded that "directed, pulsed radio frequency energy appears to be the most plausible mechanism in explaining" these anomalous health incidents. Dr. David Relman, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Stanford University who chaired the committee that produced the report, welcomed the legislation. "This is good news. This has been a long time too long, in coming," Relman said in a statement to VOA. "The public needs to acknowledge the many sacrifices by these folks, and their families, who serve our nation in so many ways." Frustrated victims Several diplomats and government personnel who believe they are suffering from Havana syndrome expressed their frustration over having to fight a skeptical bureaucracy when reporting incidents and finding care. "How are we going to take care of ourselves, our family and our kids?" said one civil servant who spoke to VOA on condition of anonymity. They also complain that government acknowledgement of their suffering differs according to the country where the incident happened. "The people who were impacted in Cuba all got plaques saying you were attacked," said one diplomat who also asked not to be named. "The people in China only one person has been acknowledged by the State Department to have been impacted in some way." The White House denied the accusation when asked by VOA. "Our objective and the president's commitment is to standardizing the reporting process, is to ensuring we're improving the quality and speed of medical care, is to ensuring every case that comes forward is taken seriously, treated seriously," said press secretary Jen Psaki. "That has not always been the case, but that is our objective and the commitment of this administration," Psaki added. She pointed out that Biden was the first president to acknowledge the existence of Havana syndrome and underscored that steps were being taken to coordinate reporting among the different agencies. New cases On the same day Biden signed the bill, German newspaper Der Spiegel reported that German police were investigating several cases of "alleged sonic weapon attack on employees of the U.S. Embassy" in Berlin. In August, U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris' flight from Singapore to Vietnam was delayed by several hours after reports of a "possible anomalous health incident," according to the State Department. The legislation that Biden signed authorizes the CIA director and the secretary of state to provide injured employees with additional financial support for brain injuries. The CIA and State Department would be required to create regulations detailing fair and equitable criteria for payment and report to Congress on how this authority was being used. The bill was authored by Senator Susan Collins of Maine and co-sponsored by Senators Mark Warner, Marco Rubio and Jeanne Shaheen. "These Americans who experienced traumatic brain injuries from likely directed energy attacks while serving our country should have been treated the same way we treat a soldier who suffered a traumatic brain injury on the battlefield," said Collins in a statement released after the signing. "Now that the HAVANA Act has been signed into law, Havana syndrome victims will finally receive the financial assistance and medical support that they deserve," Collins said. "As we continue our efforts to support victims, we must also redouble our whole-of-government approach to identify and stop the heartless adversary who is harming U.S. personnel." Marc Polymeropoulos, a 26-year veteran of the CIA, was forced to retire in 2019 after being hit by a suspected directed energy attack in Moscow in late 2017. He welcomed Biden's announcement. "The signing of the Havana Act is a watershed moment for the victims. It is an acknowledgement from the [U.S. government] that the attacks are real, and an admission that the [U.S. government] for a long time has not treated victims properly," he told VOA in a statement. "I am very thankful to Congress, on both sides of the aisle, who has championed the victims' cause, as well as the Biden administration for finally acting to provide financial relief to those with terrible injuries." It is unclear just how many people have fallen victim to Havana syndrome, but various media reports estimate as many as 200 Americans around the world have come forward to describe symptoms. The URL has been copied to your clipboard The code has been copied to your clipboard. With migration continuing to be a pressing issue, Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Homeland Security Secretary Alejandro Mayorkas and other U.S. officials held security talks Friday with President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador and other Mexican officials. VOA's Senior Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine reports. Nurses in Cameroon are marking this year's World Hospice and Palliative Care Day (October 9) with visits to terminally ill patients in the country's restive North-West and South-West regions. The regions' ongoing separatist conflict has left hundreds of patients unable to receive regular in-home hospice care. Cameroon's nurses are calling for that to change. Mundih Noelar Njohjam a doctor treating patients with terminal diseases at Cameroon Baptist Conventions Health Services in Bamenda, capital of the English-speaking North-West region, says the separatist crisis is depriving many patients of palliative care. "The high level of insecurity caused by the ongoing crisis has negatively affected access to palliative care for many patients, especially those living with cancers. Patients with terminal diseases are unable to get to health facilities where they can receive adequate palliative care. Consequently, they have to settle for suboptimal palliative care," Njohjam said. The Cameroon Association of Terminally Ill Patients reports that more than 900 patients are denied access to palliative care in the English-speaking western regions. The association says hundreds of patients in need of help to relieve them of pain and suffering are dying in towns and villages. They say several hundred caregivers have fled hospitals in Cameroon's troubled English-speaking regions since the separatist crisis escalated in 2017. Hundreds of patients who have the means relocate to safer French-speaking towns to receive medical care for their terminal illnesses. The patients say they prefer to relocate to Cameroons capital, Yaounde, and Douala, a coastal city where many of their family members have rushed to for safety. Among others, the nurses visited the Yaounde residence of Christophe Esselebo, a 67-year-old retired teacher who has been living with HIV and liver disease for three years. He says he faces a great deal of stigma from family members and friends. He says to prevent developing a mental health crisis, he avoids feelings of emotional attachments with family members who have abandoned him because of his condition. He says he avoids mental trauma during his remaining days by being positive about life and making friends on social media with people who think positively. Esselebo says he regularly follows up treatment recommended by his doctor. The visit to homes of people living with terminal diseases this year was organized by the Cameroon Association of Terminally Ill Patients and Santo Domingo Cameroon, a center that cares for people with terminal diseases. Fulbert Kenfack Jiofack, coordinator of Santo Domingo Cameroon, says poverty pushes 70% of sick Cameroonians to seek assistance from African traditional healers. He says because of either illiteracy or lack of financial means, families abandon their members diagnosed with terminal diseases at home until they die. Jiofack said fighters in the English-speaking western regions and government troops should avoid inflicting more pain on patients who are already suffering from diseases that cannot be cured. He said medical staff members should be allowed to give health care to people in need. The nurses ask civilians to stop prejudging the terminally ill in Cameroon. Cameron's health ministry says the greatest prejudice is shown toward those suffering from infectious terminal diseases such as HIV. The health ministry says stigma is driven by the thought that those receiving palliative care will die soon and that terminal illnesses are divine punishment for wrongdoing. Some families prohibit palliative caregivers from visiting their sick patients at home, the government reports. Nurses said the role of palliative caregivers is to ease patients physical pain with medicines and provide psychological, emotional and spiritual counseling to people who have life-threatening and terminal illnesses. After three decades of abortions during the one-child era, the procedure advertised in China as safe, quick and painless at bus stops, in magazines and on flyers is now facing restrictions. In the newly issued Guidance on Womens Development 2021-2030 by Chinas State Council, the phrase calling for reducing non-medically necessary abortions caught the publics attention. The notice, released September 27 with no specific details on enforcement, sparked discussion among netizens. VOA Mandarin found 40,000 comments under an article on the directive published on Chinas 163.com. I guess we have to draw lots to buy condoms in the future, said one, referring to the government's efforts that began earlier this year to encourage people to have three babies after the one-child policy strained a rapidly aging society. Another read, From forced abortion to forced childbirth, the government is using all tools to achieve its goal. Dont worry about abortion, said a third. I wont have babies if you kneel down and beg me! Activists criticized the governments interference with womens reproductive rights. Zhang Jing, the founder of Womens Rights in China, a New York-based NGO, told VOA Mandarin that the reduction of non-medically necessary abortions is another example of how Beijing authorities interfere with womens reproductive rights. Now that the Chinese government has noticed theres a population shortage, they are reversing the policies to encourage people to have babies. I do believe this is going to be mandatory, she told VOA Mandarin in a phone interview last week. From forced abortions in the one-child policy era, to forced childbirth in the three-child policy era, human rights, as well as womens rights, were not taken into consideration in the formation of these population policies, she added. Chen Guangcheng, a Chinese civil rights activist and the author of The Barefoot Lawyer: A Blind Mans Fight for Justice and Freedom in China, worried about whether the new policy meant China would soon ban all forms of abortion. The Chinese Communist Party changes its policies based on its own needs, Chen, who fled China in 2012, told VOA Mandarin via phone. I dont think theres any long-term consideration. I think, essentially, this violates womens reproductive rights. Chen, a womens rights advocate, spoke against forced abortions during the one-child era, which ended in 2016. Yi Fuxian, a senior scientist at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and author of Big Country With an Empty Nest, argued that the new guideline was a step in the right direction. Although China will regulate abortion, I dont think the policy will be as strict as the ones in the U.S. or Australia, he said in a phone interview. Individuals will still have a lot of freedom to make decisions. I dont think we should overinterpret this one-liner in the guidelines. The decline in fertility rate is a global trend. I think its necessary to explore ways to increase fertility rate. Struggling with an aging population and declining birth rates, the Beijing authority is trying to shift its population policies to avert a demographic crisis. Census figures published in May by China's National Bureau of Statistics showed that Chinas population growth from 2011 to 2020 was the slowest since the 1950s. The birth rate fell for four consecutive years after Beijing abandoned the one-child policy in early 2016. And in 2020, only 12 million babies were born, the lowest number since 1961. In a major policy shift this May, China announced that married couples may have up to three children in order to boost the countrys birth rate. Meanwhile, the census showed in 2020 that 264 million people were age 60 or older and that 191 million were age 65 or older, constituting 18.7% and 13.5% of the total population, respectively. In about 25 years, one-third of Chinas population will be retirees, and their living and health care expenses will eat up a quarter of Beijings GDP. While the country is facing a shrinking labor force, Chinas abortion rates remain high, following a pattern established during the 30-plus years of one-child policy when forced abortions and sterilization were widespread. According to an article published by the governments China Population and Development Research Center, part of the National Health Commission of China, Chinese public hospitals performed an average of 9 million abortions annually from 2005 to 2017. The article pointed out the real number was closer to 13 million annually because the previous number didnt include statistics from private hospitals and clinics. In 2017, China performed 9.6 million abortions, accounting for over 17% of the total abortions performed worldwide, according to the article. Among those who had abortions, 55.9% of the women had more than two abortions, according to the article. Yi from the University of Wisconsin-Madison said its time for China to regulate abortions. When China implemented the one-child policy, abortions were literally everywhere. I think thats a disrespect of womens reproductive rights, he said. Now as the population policy changes, Im seeing a change of attitude from too many lives is a burden to respect lives, and this change will lead to more regulation in terms of abortion procedures. Yi continued, I think this is a change that should be respected and welcomed by the international community, rather than being criticized. Lin Yang contributed to this report. Mustang Panda is a Chinese hacking group that is suspected of attempting to infiltrate the Indonesian government last month. The reported breach, which the Indonesians denied, fits the pattern of China's recent cyberespionage campaigns. These attacks have been increasing over the past year, experts say, in search of social, economic and political intelligence from Asian countries and other nations across the globe. "There's been an upswing," said Ben Read, director of cyberespionage analysis at Mandiant, a cybersecurity firm, in an interview with VOA. Cyber operations stemming from China are "pretty extensive campaigns that haven't seemed to be restrained at all," he said. 'Large-scale and indiscriminate' For years, China was considered the United States' main cyber adversary, having coordinated teams both inside and outside the government conducting cyberespionage campaigns that were "large-scale and indiscriminate," Josephine Wolff, an associate professor of cybersecurity policy at Tufts University, told VOA. The 2014-15 hack on the U.S. Office of Personnel Management, in which the personnel records of 22 million federal workers were compromised, was a case in point a "big grab," she said. After a 2015 cybersecurity agreement between then-U.S. President Barack Obama and Chinese President Xi Jinping, attacks from China declined, at least against the West, experts say. Hacking rising with rhetoric But as tensions rose between Beijing and Washington during the Trump presidency, Chinese cyberespionage also increased. Over the past year, experts have attributed notable hacks in the U.S., Europe and Asia to China's Ministry of State Security, the nation's civilian intelligence agency, which has taken the lead in Beijing's cyberespionage, consolidating efforts by the People's Liberation Army. TAG-28, a Chinese state-sponsored hacking team focused on the Indian subcontinent, reportedly infiltrated targets that included the Indian government agency in charge of a database of biometric and digital identity information for more than 1 billion people, according to The Record, a media site focused on cybersecurity. A Microsoft report released in October accuses the Chinese hacking group Chromium of targeting universities in Hong Kong and Taiwan and going after other countries' governments and telecommunication providers. Hafnium, the name Microsoft gave to a Chinese hacking group, was behind the Microsoft Exchange hack earlier this year, according to the company and the Biden administration. Chinese hacking teams, Microsoft reported, took advantage of a weakness in the software to grab what they could before an emergency patch could be issued. Scooping up data A National Public Radio investigation asserted that the Microsoft Exchange hack may have been, in part, an information scoop aimed at acquiring large amounts of data to train China's artificial intelligence assets. Hafnium also targets higher education, defense industry firms, think tanks, law firms and nongovernmental organizations, the Microsoft report said. Another group from China, Nickel also known as APT15 and Vixen Panda targets governments in Central and South America and Europe, Microsoft said. "What you are seeing now is this realization that Chinese espionage never disappeared and has become more technologically sophisticated," Wolff said. White House response The Biden administration has stepped up its response to Chinese hacking. Over the summer, the U.S. and its allies, including the European Union, NATO and the United Kingdom, accused China of being behind the Microsoft hack and called on Beijing to cease the activity. The Biden administration has not indicted anyone related to the Microsoft Exchange hack, nor has it instituted economic or other sanctions against China. However, the U.S. unsealed in July an indictment against four members of China's Ministry of State Security in a separate attack conducted by a group that security researchers call Advanced Persistent Threat (APT) 40, Bronze, Mohawk and other names. A Chinese government spokesman demanded that the U.S. drop the charges and denied the nation was behind the Microsoft Exchange hack. "The United States ganged up with its allies to make unwarranted accusations against Chinese cybersecurity," said Zhao Lijian, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson, in a July statement. "This was made up out of thin air and confused right and wrong. It is purely a smear and suppression with political motives." Pushing back While China has stepped up its use of hacking, it has not crossed what some cyber experts say is a bright line in cyberespionage: public, overt hacks, such as the Russian disinformation campaign to influence the 2016 U.S. presidential election and, in May, the Colonial Pipeline ransomware hack, which was attributed to Russian-based cybercriminals. China's aims appear to be long term and both economic and strategic, such as shoring up its capabilities "so they are not only well defended but surpass capacities," Philip Reiner, the CEO of the Institute for Security and Technology, told VOA. A collective push from world leaders that cyberespionage is unacceptable might resonate with Chinese leaders in Beijing, who want to be accepted on the world stage, he said. Detailing clear consequences for state-sponsored hacks is also critical, he said. Without a strong push from the U.S. and its allies, experts say, China's state-sponsored cyberattacks will continue. A Franciscan nun from Colombia kidnapped by jihadis in Mali in 2017 was freed Saturday, a statement from Mali's presidential office said. The statement on the presidential Twitter account paid tribute to the courage of Sister Gloria Cecilia Narvaez, who was held for four years and eight months. In the official statement, Malian strongman Colonel Assimi Goita assured the Malian people and the international community that "efforts are under way" to secure the release of all those still being held in Mali. The archbishop of Bamako, Jean Zerbo, confirmed Narvaez's release, adding that she was doing well. "We prayed a lot for her release. I thank the Malian authorities and other good people who made this release possible," the archbishop said. Her brother, Edgar Narvaez, also confirmed her release in a brief conversation with AFP. "She is in good health, thank God. They sent me pictures and she looks well," he said. Narvaez was taken hostage on February 7, 2017, at Koutiala, 400 kilometers (250 miles) east of the Malian capital, Bamako, while working as a missionary there. There were irregular reports about her over the years, including at the beginning of 2021, when two Europeans who managed to escape captivity reported that she was well. Then in March, her brother received a letter passed on from the Red Cross. It was written in capital letters "because she always used capital letters," contained the names of their parents, and ended with her signature, he told AFP earlier this year. Mali has been struggling to contain a jihadist insurgency that emerged in the north of the country in 2012 and that has since spread to neighboring Burkina Faso and Niger. Kidnappings, once rare, have become more common in recent years as a security crisis has deepened in Mali, particularly in the center of the former French colony. Czech center-right opposition group Together overtook Prime Minister Andrej Babis' ANO party in a parliamentary election on Saturday, according to nearly complete voting results. Together and another opposition group, the liberal Pirates/Mayors, were on track to win a combined 108 seats in the 200-seat lower house of parliament, a calculation by Czech Television showed. This gives the two parties a chance to form a majority government to replace Babis and his two allied parties, which both dropped out of parliament in the two-day election that ended at midday Saturday. Babis, 67, battled criticism during the campaign that he mismanaged the coronavirus pandemic, stoked fast-rising debt with handouts and tended to his own business interests in office. Babis denies all the accusations against him. Results from 98.3% of voting districts showed Together at 27.49%, pulling ahead of ANO with 27.39% and the Pirates/Mayors at 15.39%. "Democratic opposition will have a majority and that means an end of the dominance of Andrej Babis," Pirate Party chief Ivan Bartos said. "Tonight we will ... probably start talks with the other coalition on the possibility of forming the future government." The coalitions refuse to work with Babis over what they say are his unacceptable conflicts of interest related to the business empire he created before entering politics. The opposition has pledged to cut the budget deficit and improve government transparency. It may have to bridge differences among its members on policies, such as the approach to European Union partners, with one faction Eurosceptic, but some others favoring more European integration. The Communist Party, which had backed Babis' minority administration for the past four years, dropped out of parliament for the first time since World War II. President favors ANO President Milos Zeman said he would give Babis the first attempt to form a government if ANO won the most votes, which it still did as an individual party. But if Together a coalition of three center-right liberal and conservative parties and Pirates/Mayors stick to their pledge not to work with ANO, Babis will not have the mathematical chance to form a majority. Babis' big-spending policies, maintained despite a broad recovery from the pandemic, marked a break from traditional Czech fiscal prudence. Debt is set to be among the fastest growing in the EU, albeit from a low base. Some voters said the policies were damaging. "I will vote for Spolu [Together] because I want a change," Jan Mrazek, 39, a manager, said before voting Saturday in a northern Prague district. "I don't like how the government has been running, the disorganization during the pandemic and how they are piling up debt because they are just populists throwing money around." Pandemic policies The opposition has blamed Babis for chaotic policy changes during the peak of the pandemic. More than 30,000 people have died from the virus, one of Europe's highest death tolls in terms of the size of the population. Babis also has been plagued by allegations of conflict of interest since he entered government as a junior member in 2013 and after winning a 2017 election. Babis put his Agrofert conglomerate of food, agriculture, chemical and media companies in trust funds in 2017 and has denied wrongdoing, saying he met legal obligations. But a European Commission audit determined there was a conflict of interest and it has stopped development grants to Agrofert. New allegations surfaced last weekend that Babis used opaque offshore structures to buy real estate in France before entering politics. He denied the allegations contained in the "Pandora Papers" documenting hidden offshore finance, saying they are part of a campaign against him. Babis has accused the Pirate/Mayors coalition of selling out the country by supporting more European integration and eventual adoption of the euro. French President Emmanuel Macron said Friday that his country will return 26 African artworks royal thrones, ceremonial altars, revered statues to Benin later this month, part of France's long-promised plans to give back artwork taken from Africa during the colonial era. Discussions have been under way for years on returning the artworks from the 19th century Dahomey Kingdom. Called the "Abomey Treasures," they currently are held in the Quai Branly Museum in Paris. The museum, near the Eiffel Tower, holds thousands of works from former French colonies. Macron said the 26 pieces will be given back at the end of October, "because to restitute these works to Africa is to give African young people access to their culture." It remains unclear when exactly they will arrive in Benin. "We need to be honest with ourselves. There was colonial pillage, it's absolutely true," Macron told a group of African cultural figures at an Africa-France gathering in the southern city of Montpellier. He noted other works already were returned to Senegal and Benin, and the restitution of art to Ivory Coast is planned. Cameroon-born art curator Koyo Kouoh pressed Macron for more efforts to right past wrongs. "Our imagination was violated," she said. "Africa has been married to France in a forced marriage for at least 500 years," Kouoh said. "The work (on mending relations) that should have been done for decades wasn't done...It's not possible that we find ourselves here in 2021." A sweeping 2018 report commissioned by Macron recommended that French museums give back works that were taken without consent, estimating that up to 90% of African art is located outside the continent. Some other European countries are making similar efforts. Three years later, few artworks have been returned. To facilitate the repatriation of the Abomey Treasures, France's parliament passed a law in December 2020 allowing the state to hand the works over and giving it up to one year to do so. The Africa-France meeting Friday was frank and occasionally heated. Macron, who is trying to craft a new French strategy for Africa. met with hundreds of African entrepreneurs, cultural leaders and young people. Speakers from Nigeria, Chad, Guinea and beyond had a long list of demands for France: reparations for colonial crimes, withdrawal of French troops, investment that bypasses corrupt governments and a tougher stance toward African dictatorships. Macron defended France's military presence in Mali and other countries in the Sahel region as necessary to keep terrorists at bay, and he refused to apologize for the past. But he acknowledged that France has a "responsibility and duty" to Africa because of its role in the slave trade and other colonial-era wrongs. Noting that more than 7 million French people have a family link to Africa, Macron said France cannot build its future unless it "assumes its Africanness." Austria's conservative Chancellor Sebastian Kurz resigned Saturday to save his coalition government from collapse after the junior party demanded he step down while under investigation on suspicion of corruption. The move by Kurz, who denies wrongdoing, satisfied his coalition partner, the Greens, and came three days before a special session of parliament at which they were preparing to back a motion of no-confidence that would have forced him out. However, he plans to stay on as his party's leader and become its top lawmaker in parliament, and he is likely to continue to call the shots in the coalition. "I would therefore like to make way in order to end the stalemate, to prevent chaos and to ensure stability," Kurz said in a statement to the media. He proposed that Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg, a career diplomat backed by Kurz's party, take over as chancellor, whom the Greens made clear they accepted. "I believe this is the right step for future government work," Greens leader and Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler said in a statement, adding he had had a "very constructive" working relationship with Schallenberg and would meet him on Sunday. Conservative standout A star among Europe's conservatives known for his hard line on immigration, Kurz, 35, became one of the continent's youngest leaders in 2017 when he formed a coalition with the far-right Freedom Party that collapsed in scandal in 2019. Parliament sacked him but he won the snap election that followed. He has so far been unchallenged as leader of the People's Party (OVP); he was reappointed in August with 99.4% support. Prosecutors have placed Kurz and nine others under investigation on suspicion of breach of trust, corruption and bribery with various levels of involvement. Starting in 2016 when Kurz was seeking to take over as party leader, prosecutors suspect the conservative-led Finance Ministry paid for manipulated polling and coverage favorable to Kurz to be published in a newspaper. Documents circulated as part of their investigation and published in Austrian media also included embarrassing and compromising text messages that Kurz's opponents said showed underhanded tactics and a lack of scruples. The political consequences, both in terms of his party's popularity and its relationship with the Greens, were unclear. "Is it enough?" the leader of the liberal Neos party, Beate Meinl-Reisinger, said at a news conference, reacting to Kurz's announcement. "We know from the [investigation] documents that he bought himself a party, that he bought himself an election, that he manipulated and lied to people, and he did it all with your tax money." A U.N. official says a funding shortage means humanitarian aid will have to be cut for many of the nearly 10 million people in Democratic Republic of Congo facing multiple crises because of lack of money. Conflict in the eastern DRC has forced 5.3 million people to flee their homes, Africas largest number of internally displaced people. Additionally, conflict in neighboring countries has prompted more than half a million refugees to flee to the DRC. The U.N. resident and humanitarian coordinator in the DRC, David McLachlan-Karr, says millions of people in the eastern provinces are victims of long-simmering inter-ethnic conflicts and conflicts over natural resources. He says the situation is particularly concerning in Ituri, North Kivu, and South Kivu provinces, as well as territories in northern Tanganyika. These protracted conflicts, he says, have left millions of people destitute and in urgent need of assistance. He says it will be difficult to provide that aid because only 27% of the U.N.s nearly $2 billion appeal for this year has been funded. [It is] impacting our ability to reach the most vulnerable. And those populations, of course, leave us with a very stark choice. Who do we assist when we have such a reduced amount of assistance, forcing us to prioritize in the DRC, which is a vast country with multiple crises, McLachlan-Karr said. For example, he said, the country is prone to repeated epidemics of many diseases, including Ebola, cholera, measles, and malaria. Currently, he says, the DRC is facing a lethal meningitis outbreak. McLachlan-Karr said a recent World Food Program and UNICEF survey found 26.7 million people suffering from acute hunger in the DRC. They are literally living day to day in a precarious situation with an inadequate nutritional intake, leading to, essentially, a weakened condition, which, of course, makes them more prone and vulnerable to diseases across the country, he said. McLachlan-Karr said priority needs include food, shelter, health care, water and sanitation, education, as well as psychosocial counseling for victims of gender and sexual abuse. Russia's state statistics service reported nearly 50,000 coronavirus deaths in the country in August, taking the toll since the beginning of the pandemic to over 400,000, nearly double the official government figure. Rosstat released its figures late Friday, reporting that 49,389 people died from COVID-19 in August, a figure much higher than 24,661, the government tally for the same month. Overall, Rosstat says around 418,000 people have died in Russia since the pandemic began. This nearly doubles the official total death toll of 214,000 published by the Russian coronavirus task force earlier Friday. Russian officials explained the discrepancy, saying COVID-19 deaths are counted differently by the two agencies. The government coronavirus task force counts only fatalities for which an autopsy confirms COVID-19 as the primary cause of death, while Rosstat uses a broader definition for deaths linked to the virus. In other developments Friday, the World Health Organization announced it has established and released the first standardized clinical definition of what is commonly known as "long COVID" to help boost treatment for sufferers. Speaking virtually to reporters from the agency's Geneva headquarters, WHO Head of Clinical Management Janet Diaz said the definition was agreed on after global consultations with health officials. She said the condition, in which symptoms of the illness persist well beyond what is commonly experienced, is usually referred to as "post COVID." Moreover, it occurs in people who have had confirmed or probable new coronavirus infections, "usually three months on from the onset of the COVID-19, with symptoms that last for at least two months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis." Those symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath and cognitive dysfunction, she said, but there also are others that generally have an adverse effect on everyday functioning. Diaz said that until now, a lack of clarity among health care professionals about the condition has complicated efforts in advancing research and treatment. In the United States, officials said they would accept the use by international travelers of any COVID-19 vaccine authorized by U.S. regulators or the WHO. Last month, the White House announced that it would lift travel restrictions on people from 33 countries who show proof of vaccination. Officials did not say at that time which vaccines would be accepted, however. The Associated Press reports that the number of Americans getting COVID-19 vaccines has reached a three-month high, averaging 1 million per day, as more employers mandate the shots and some Americans seek boosters. That figure is almost double the level for mid-July but still well below last spring, according to the AP. Meanwhile, a senior White House official announced Friday that the U.S. government is shipping more than 1.8 million doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to the Philippines a donation that will be executed through the WHO-managed COVAX vaccine cooperative. The doses will arrive in two shipments, probably Sunday and Monday, according to the official. U.S. drugmaker Moderna announced earlier Friday it was planning to deliver another 1 billion doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to low-income countries next year. In a message posted to the company's website, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said the company was investing to expand its capacity to deliver the additional doses. The disclosure is part of what Bancel describes as his company's five-pillar strategy to ensure low-income countries get access to the company's vaccine. The plan includes not enforcing its vaccine patents, expanding its production capacity worldwide, and working with the United States and others to distribute their surplus doses of vaccine. Some information for this report was provided by The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. When the remnants of Hurricane Ida dumped record-breaking rain on the East Coast this month, staircases into New York City's subway tunnels turned into waterfalls and train tracks became canals. In Philadelphia, a commuter line along the Schuylkill River was washed out for miles, and the nation's busiest rail line, Amtrak's Northeast Corridor running from Boston to Washington, was shut down for an entire day. Nearly a decade after Superstorm Sandy spurred billions of dollars in investment in coastal flooding protection up and down the East Coast some of which remains unfinished Hurricane Ida and other storms this summer provided a stark reminder that more needs to be done and quickly as climate change brings stronger, more unpredictable weather to a region with some of the nation's oldest and busiest transit systems, say transit experts and officials. "This is our moment to make sure our transit system is prepared," said Sanjay Seth, Boston's "climate resilience" program manager. "There's a lot that we need to do in the next 10 years, and we have to do it right. There's no need to build it twice." In New York, where some 75 million gallons (285 million liters) of water were pumped out of the subways during Ida, ambitious solutions have been floated, such as building canals through the city. But relatively easy, short-term fixes to the transit system could also be made in the meantime, suggests Janno Lieber, acting CEO of the Metropolitan Transit Authority. Installing curbs at subway entrances, for example, could prevent water from cascading down steps into the tunnels, as was seen in countless viral videos this summer. More than 400 subway entrances could be affected by extreme rains from climate change in coming decades, according to projections from the Regional Plan Association, a think tank that plans to put forth the idea for a canal system. "The subway system is not a submarine. It can't be made impervious to water," Lieber said. "We just need to limit how quickly it can get into the system." In Boston, climate change efforts have focused largely on the Blue Line, which runs beneath Boston Harbor and straddles the shoreline north of the city. This summer's storms were the first real test of some of the newest measures to buffer the vulnerable line. Flood barriers at a key downtown waterfront stop were activated for the first time when Tropical Storm Henri made landfall in New England in August. No major damage was reported at the station. Officials are next seeking federal funds to build a seawall to prevent flooding at another crucial Blue Line subway stop, says Joe Pesaturo, a spokesperson for the Massachusetts Bay Transportation Authority. The agency has also budgeted for upgrading harbor tunnel pumps and is weighing building a berm around an expansive marsh the Blue Line runs along, he said. In Philadelphia, some flood protection measures completed in Superstorm Sandy's wake proved their worth this summer, while others fell short. Signal huts that house critical control equipment were raised post-Sandy along the hard-hit Manayunk/Norristown commuter line, but it wasn't high enough to avoid damage during Ida, said Bob Lund, deputy general manager of the Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority. On the bright side, shoreline "armoring" efforts prevented damaging erosion in what was the highest flooding in the area since the mid-1800s. That has buoyed plans to continue armoring more stretches along the river with the cable-reinforced concrete blocks, Lund said. If anything, he said, this year's storms showed that flood projections haven't kept up with the pace of environmental change. "We're seeing more frequent storms and higher water level events," Lund said. "We have to be even more conservative than our own projections are showing." In Washington, where the Red Line's flood-prone Cleveland Park station was closed twice during Hurricane Ida, transit officials have begun developing a climate resiliency plan to identify vulnerabilities and prioritize investments, said Sherrie Ly, spokesperson for the Washington Metropolitan Area Transit Authority. That's on top of the work WMATA has undertaken the last two decades to mitigate flood risks, she said, such as raising ventilation shafts, upgrading the drainage systems and installing dozens of high-capacity pumping stations. On balance, East Coast transit systems have taken laudable steps such as sketching out climate change plans and hiring experts, said Jesse Keenan, an associate professor at Tulane University in New Orleans who co-authored a recent study examining climate change risks to Boston's T. But it's an open question whether they're planning ambitiously enough, he said, pointing to Washington, where subway lines along the Anacostia and Potomac rivers into Maryland and Virginia are particularly vulnerable. Similar concerns remain in other global cities that saw bad flooding this year. In China, Premier Li Keqiang has pledged to hold officials accountable after 14 people died and hundreds of others were trapped in a flooded subway line in Zhengzhou in July. But there are no concrete proposals yet for what might be done to prevent deadly subway flooding. In London, efforts to address Victorian-age sewer and drainage systems are too piecemeal to dent citywide struggles with flooding, says Bob Ward, a climate change expert at the London School of Economics. The city saw a monsoon-like drenching in July that prompted tube station closures. "There just isn't the level of urgency required," Ward said. "We know these rain events will get worse, and flooding will get worse, unless we significantly step up investment." Other cities, meanwhile, have moved more swiftly to shore up their infrastructure. Tokyo completed an underground system for diverting floodwater back in 2006 with chambers large enough to fit a space shuttle or the Statue of Liberty. Copenhagen's underground City Circle Line, which was completed in 2019, features heavy flood gates, raised entryways and other climate change adaptations. How to pay for more ambitious climate change projects remains another major question mark for East Coast cities, said Michael Martello, a Massachusetts Institute of Technology researcher who co-authored the Boston study with Keenan. Despite an infusion of federal stimulus dollars during the pandemic, Boston's T and other transit agencies still face staggering budget shortfalls as ridership hasn't returned to pre-pandemic levels. The stunning images of flooding this summer briefly gave momentum to efforts to pass President Joe Biden's $3.5 trillion infrastructure plan. But that mammoth spending bill, which includes money for climate change preparedness, is still being negotiated in Congress. "It's great to have these plans," Martello said. "But has to get built and funded somehow." The road leading toward a cremation ground in the Batamaloo neighborhood of Srinagar in Indian-administered Kashmir on Friday reverberated with chants of "Great is the God" and "We Want Justice" as thousands of Sikh mourners carried a body at shoulder height to fulfill its last rites. The deceased, 40-year-old Supinder Kour, principal of Government Boys Higher Secondary School in downtown Srinagar, was assassinated by anti-India militants along with her colleague Deepak Chand, a teacher, Thursday morning inside the school. "The incident took place around 11 o'clock," Jay Singh, a relative of Kour, told VOA at her funeral. "Militants, after entering the school premises, checked the identity of the staff and then killed two people belonging to Sikh and Hindu communities. "To kill a woman is an act of cowardice," Singh added, insisting that the targeting of religious minorities sends an unequivocal message to Kashmiri Sikhs and Hindus: Leave Kashmir. "But we are not going anywhere because we are part and parcel of Kashmiri society," Singh said. "We were born in Kashmir, and we will die in Kashmir." Spate of attacks The disputed territory along the foothills of the Himalayas has witnessed back-to-back civilian killings since October 2, leaving the region in a state of shock. The Resistance Front, or TRF, a lesser-known militant organization believed to be an offshoot of the Pakistan-based militant outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba, claimed responsibility for six of seven civilian killings in a five-day period. "These teachers had on 15 August (India's Independence Day) harassed and threatened parents with dire consequences if any student didn't attend the occupier regime's 15th of August filthy function at their school," TRF said in an October 7 statement explaining why it had carried out the targeted killings. "We target only occupier mercenary forces and occupier stooges, collaborators and traitors," the statement said. But relatives of Kour say the principal was on leave in mid-August and couldn't have been involved in Independence Day events. Twin shootings On the evening of October 2, two men were shot just hours apart at two different locations in Srinagar. Both victims Mohammad Shafi Dar, 50, and Majid Ahmad Gojri, 25 had been whisked from the respective crime scenes only to be declared dead on arrival at Srinagar's Shri Maharaja Hari Singh Hospital. Dar, according to a subsequent TRF statement, was killed because he was close to India's domestic intelligence agency, while Gojri was an alleged counterinsurgency "informer" for Jammu and Kashmir police. Gojri's family could not be reached for comment. But approaching a three-story home in Srinagar's densely populated Batamaloo neighborhood, one could feel the weight of mourning as members of Dar's family received guests to pay homage to his memory. "He was innocent and worked only for the Power Development Department of Jammu and Kashmir, unlike what is being claimed by militants," Mehraj Ud Din Dar, the deceased's elder brother, told VOA, with tears in his eyes. "He had a limited friend circle and used to spend most of his time at home." Dar, according to his brother, was parking his motorcycle outside his home when family members heard gunshots followed by his screams, "God they are going to kill me!" "I have been shot! Three bullets!" The day of the shooting, Dar had spent most of his time with family, leaving home only after evening prayers to venture around bustling Lal Chowk square in the city center. "Had he been working for [Indian intelligence], would he have roamed freely?" asks Dar's elder brother. No, "he would have taken precautions while moving about." One of Dar's nieces, who spoke on the condition of anonymity for fear of repercussions, said no family members suspected Dar of having ties to Indian intelligence, especially as Dar, to the best of their knowledge, had never been the target of militant threats or intimidation. "Never! He never showed signs of being threatened," she told VOA. "Why would he have pledged alliance with [Indian intelligence]? He was a divorced person and was planning to get remarried and was supposed to go with a matchmaker to see a girl for himself on Sunday." Prominent pharmacist gunned down On Tuesday, as pharmacist Makhan Lal Bindroo attended to customers at his drugstore in a high-security zone of Srinagar's Iqbal Park neighborhood, assassins arrived and shot the elderly minority Hindu pandit at point-blank range. A prominent member of Srinagar's Hindu community, Bindroo was known as a vocal humanist who chose to stay in the scenic Kashmir territory with his family when the armed insurgency was at its peak in the early 1990s, even as fellow Hindus fled by the thousands, abandoning ancestral homes and scattering to different parts of India. "People of all faiths are mourning his death," said his son, Dr. Sidharth Bindroo, explaining that his father "raised the standard of his profession." "He was an uncontroversial and secular man who in the '90s worked day and night to deliver life-saving drugs in Kashmir valley," he said. Bindroo's death, which came as a shock not only to his family but to the entire Kashmir valley, drew condemnation from high-level officials. "It is not just another brutal murder of one more member of minority Hindu community in Kashmir. It is brutal assassination and is the murder of trust, love, affection, faith and hope," said Girdhari Lal Raina, spokesperson for the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party. A statement released by TRF called Bindroo a "stooge" for Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh, an Indian right-wing Hindu nationalist paramilitary volunteer organization that has aimed to alter regional demographics since India stripped Jammu and Kashmir of its semiautonomous status in August 2019. The day Bindroo was gunned down, militants also killed two other people Mohammad Shafi Lone, a taxi operators' union president, and Virendra Paswan, a nonlocal street vendor for supposedly acting as police informants. TRF claimed responsibility for Lone's murder, while Islamic State Wilayat-e-Hind, an Islamic State offshoot, said it carried out Paswan's assassination. Speaking with VOA, Dr. Sidharth Bindroo said that although his father was a household name in the Kashmir Valley before his death, his murder alongside those of the other victims, whom he would have supported regardless of ethnic or religious differences has now become a global call for the majority population to protect its minorities. "My father's killing is imperative among every majority population in every part of the world to protect their minorities," he said. Police following leads According to Kashmir police, 28 civilians have been killed in India-administrated Kashmir in 2021. Among the victims, 20 were Muslim, five belonged to the Hindu pandit caste, one was Sikh and two others were non-local laborers. "Police are working hard, and we are identifying all such part-time/hybrid militants, and strictest action shall be taken against them," said Inspector General K Vijay Kumar at a recent press conference, adding that Kashmir police have received several leads. "We have also been launching operations along with other security forces. We appeal to the general public, especially minority communities, not to panic. We have been maintaining peace and a secured environment and will continue to do so," he said. United Nations monitors have found a significant rise in casualties in eastern Ukraine since Russia-backed separatists ended a cease-fire agreement with the government in Kyiv earlier this year. The findings are part of a report by the Human Rights Monitoring Mission in Ukraine submitted to the U.N. Human Rights Council. The report covers human rights developments in Ukraine from February to the end of July of this year. It found 15 civilians have been killed and 47 injured since fighting escalated in Ukraines eastern Donetsk and Luhansk regions. It noted that the number constituted a 51% increase over the previous six months. U.N. Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada Al-Nashif said U.N. monitors have documented 13 cases of arbitrary detention related to the conflict between government forces and rebels in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics. She added that 11 remain in detention. Both self-proclaimed republics issued decrees, in March and April, establishing the forced recruitment of 400 men into armed groups. Another decree issued on October 1 established the recruitment of a further 500 men. This exposes male civilians to involuntary lethal danger, stripping them of the protection afforded to civilians by international humanitarian law, and opens them to the risk of criminal prosecution, Al-Nashif said. The report says an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship prevails in territory controlled by the separatist rebels. It underscores that the self-proclaimed republics continue to restrict freedom of religion, especially that of evangelical Christians. Al-Nashif said that the government of Ukraine also has a checkered human rights record. As an example she cited 22 documented cases of threats and attacks against journalists, human rights defenders, LGBTI people and national minorities among others. Hate speech was also directed against Roma, LGBTI persons, women, persons with disabilities and people perceived to have pro-Russian views. It is imperative that the authorities effectively investigate each such incident, fully acknowledging any bias motives, Al Nashif said. The U.N. monitoring mission accused Russia of multiple violations of civil liberties and fair trial rights in the Crimean Peninsula, which it illegally annexed in 2014. The report documents cases of torture and ill-treatment against Ukrainian citizens in Crimea. Ukraine's ambassador to the U.N. in Geneva, Yevheniia Filipenko, said millions of Ukrainians living in de facto Russian-occupied territories continue to be deprived of their fundamental rights and freedoms. She also criticized efforts by Russia to legitimize its annexation of Crimea. Afghanistans Taliban urged the United States Saturday to unfreeze Afghanistans central bank reserves, during an ongoing meeting with an American delegation in Qatar the first face-to-face dialogue at a senior level since the Islamist group took control of the country following the U.S. withdrawal in late August. Taliban Acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi, who is leading his side at the two-day talks in the Qatari capital, Doha, said U.S. interlocutors in the opening session promised they would sustain humanitarian assistance to his turmoil-hit nation and would offer coronavirus vaccines to Afghans. In an audio message the Taliban shared with journalists, Muttaqi said they discussed "opening a new chapter" between the two sides, adversaries during the U.S.s nearly 20-year occupation of Afghanistan. The need to establish good positive relations with each other on an equal basis is being emphasized in the discussions. We stressed the need for unfreezing of Afghan financial assets in the wake of difficult circumstances facing Afghanistan, the foreign minister said. Washington has frozen billions of dollars in Afghan assets, mainly deposited in the U.S. federal reserve, since the Taliban took control of the country. The World Bank and the International Monetary Fund also have blocked development assistance, citing human rights concerns under Taliban rule. The departure of U.S.-led forces and many international donors cut Afghanistan off from grants that financed 75% of public spending, according to the World Bank. This has made it difficult for the Taliban to pay salaries to government employees. The punitive international actions have raised concerns about an economic meltdown in Afghanistan that critics say could worsen the humanitarian crisis. We clearly told [the Americans] that nobody benefits from an unstable Afghanistan, so no one should try to weaken the current government of Afghanistan or fuel problems for our Afghan people who already are struggling economically, Muttaqi said. He reiterated that Afghan soil will not be allowed to threaten other countries. U.S. officials have not offered any details of the ongoing discussions in Doha. State Department officials on Friday confirmed the U.S. delegation would hold two days of talks with the Taliban starting Saturday. Representatives from the State Department, the U.S. Agency for International Development and the U.S. intelligence community reportedly are part of the delegation. U.S. officials said their team would press the Taliban to ensure continued safe passage out of Afghanistan for U.S. citizens, as well as Afghan allies, after the nearly 20-year military conflict. Additionally, the delegation would hold the Taliban accountable to their commitment that they will not allow Afghan soil to become a sanctuary for al-Qaida or other terrorists and improve access for relief aid as Afghanistan faces a growing humanitarian crisis and an economic meltdown, unnamed U.S. officials were quoted by Reuters as saying. However, Taliban political spokesman Suhail Shaheen told The Associated Press there would be no cooperation with Washington on containing the increasingly active Islamic State group in Afghanistan. IS has taken responsibility for a number of recent attacks, including a suicide bombing Friday that killed 46 minority Shiite Muslims and wounded dozens as they prayed in a mosque in the northern city of Kunduz. "We are able to tackle Daesh independently," Shaheen said, when asked whether the Taliban would work with the U.S. to contain the Islamic State affiliate, using an Arabic acronym for IS. U.S. officials on Saturday insisted the meeting does not mean Washington is moving to give recognition to the Taliban government. They said that would depend on whether the Taliban live up to their commitments to form an inclusive government, protect rights of women to work and allow girls to receive an education, among other issues. Muttaqi said Saturday his delegation also plans to meet European Union representatives in Doha to discuss the latest Afghan political and humanitarian issues, though he didn't say when the meeting will be held. The United Nations has warned that about 1 million children in Afghanistan are at risk of starvation, more than 18 million need urgent humanitarian assistance, and deepening drought and the approaching harsh winter are only going to make matters worse. "It's worse than a plague," said Pedro Antonio Sanchez, fuming over the volcanic grit coating his bananas, the main source of wealth on the Canaries' island of La Palma. "It's worse than a pest or disease because it scratches [the fruit]," said Sanchez, gesturing at the black sandy deposits that have rained down since the volcano erupted on September 19. The volcano has caused major damage to banana plantations in La Palma, the second-largest producer in the Atlantic Canary Islands, where the crop accounts for 50 of the island's economy, industry figures show. Once the ash lands on the bananas, it is almost impossible to remove. And it causes further damage in the handling, transport and packing, with the huge bunches, which are known as "pineapples" and can weigh up to 70 kilos (150 pounds), carried on the shoulders. "You have to blast it off with water or something to be honest, I don't know how to do it," said Sanchez, 60, who owns a small plantation. "When the dew forms overnight, it really makes the grit stick, and in the morning it just won't come off." Can't be sold The skin blackens in the form of a scratch but nothing like the brownish-black markings that show the fruit is ripe. And although the banana is perfect, it is rejected and cannot be sold. "European quality regulations ban the sale of bananas with more than four square centimeters of scratches per fruit, even if they are perfect inside and can be eaten without risk," said Esther Dominguez of ASPROCAN, which represents banana producers in the Canary Islands. The volcano's eruption has predominantly hurt the Aridane valley on the western flank of La Palma, although the problem caused by volcanic ash and grit has affected a much wider area. "It is not just the Aridane valley, because the wind changes direction and ash is blown all over. So 100 percent of the island is affected," Juan Vicente Rodriguez Leal, head of the Covalle agricultural cooperative, told AFP. "So we are going to have a significant loss of at least one year's crop," he said, estimating losses of "around 120 to 130 million euros [$140 to $150 million]." The plantations are also suffering from a lack of water after the lava destroyed the area's irrigation pipeline. Bananas need a lot of water and the current shortage "is the biggest threat," Sanchez said. La Palma has long suffered from water shortages. It has no rivers, lakes or reservoirs, so the island gets its water from underground aquifers or rain collected by pine trees and transferred to the ground. Bananas "need a lot of irrigation every seven days. Now we're irrigating every 15 days to save water, and although they're not going to dry out, the fruit feels the impact," Sanchez said. A third of Canaries' crop In 2020, La Palma produced 148,000 metric tons of bananas, or 34.5% of the Canaries' overall crop, ASPROCAN figures show. In terms of production, it is second only to Tenerife, which is three times larger. One-tenth of La Palma's 700 square kilometers (270 square miles) is dedicated to agriculture, of which 43% is planted in bananas, according to the Biosphere Reserve of La Palma. More than 80% of the banana plantations in the Canaries are modest plots of less than 2.5 acres (one hectare), with many farmers living hand to mouth. Although Sanchez enjoys the work, he's had enough of living on the bread line. "There are months when you bring in 1,000 euros ($1,150) or a bit more, but it's normally less," sometimes even as little as 300 euros, he said. "It just doesn't make me feel like working." Red-hot lava Saturday engulfed the land Jose Roberto Sanchez inherited from his parents, and lightning flashed around the rim of the volcano that has been erupting on the Spanish island of La Palma for almost three weeks. There were 37 seismic movements Saturday, with the largest measuring 4.1, the Spanish National Geological Institute said, but La Palma's airport reopened after being closed since Thursday because of ash, Spanish air traffic operator Aena said. All other Canary Islands airports were open. The magma streaming down the hillside from the Cumbre Vieja volcano destroyed at least four village buildings, some of nearly 1,150 buildings and surrounding land destroyed since the volcano began erupting on September 19. "The memories of my parents, the inheritance I had there, It's all gone," Sanchez told Reuters of the land his parents owned in Todoque in the west of the island. Nearly 500 hectares affected Lava has engulfed 493 hectares (1,218 acres) of land, Miguel Angel Morcuende, technical director of the Canary Islands Volcanic Emergency Plan (Pevolca) organization, said. Some people, like Clara Maria, 70, who also lives in Todoque, have so far escaped the impact. "The lava has not yet reached my house. [It] was 50 years of sacrifice, stone by stone we built it. I have hope and faith that it will be saved," she said. About 6,000 people have been evacuated from their homes on La Palma, which has about 83,000 inhabitants. Lightning flashes were seen near the eruption early Saturday. A study published in 2016 by the journal Geophysical Research Letters found lightning can be produced during volcanic eruptions because the collision of ash particles creates an electrical charge. Airlines flying to the Canary Islands were advised to load extra fuel in case planes had to change course or delay landing because of ash, said a spokesman for Enaire, which controls navigation in Spanish airspace. Iraq's elections on Sunday come with enormous challenges: Iraq's economy has been battered by years of conflict, endemic corruption and, more recently, the coronavirus pandemic. State institutions are failing, the country's infrastructure is crumbling. Powerful paramilitary groups increasingly threaten the authority of the state, and hundreds of thousands of people are still displaced from the years of war against the Islamic State group. While few Iraqis expect meaningful change in their day-to-day lives, the parliament elections will shape the direction of Iraq's foreign policy at a key time in the Middle East, including as Iraq is mediating between regional rivals Iran and Saudi Arabia. "Iraq's elections will be watched by all in the region to determine how the country's future leadership will sway the regional balance of power," said Marsin Alshamary, an Iraqi-American research fellow with the Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center. So, what are the main things to watch for? Many firsts The elections are being held early, in response to mass protests that erupted in 2019. It's the first time a vote is taking place because of demands by Iraqi protesters on the streets. The vote is also taking place under a new election law that divides Iraq into smaller constituencies another demand of the young activists and allows for more independent candidates. A U.N. Security Council resolution adopted earlier this year authorized an expanded team to monitor the elections. There will be up to 600 international observers in place, including 150 from the United Nations. Iraq is also for the first time introducing biometric cards for voters. To prevent abuse of electronic voter cards, they will be disabled for 72 hours after each person votes, to avoid double voting. But despite all these measures, claims of vote buying, intimidation and manipulation have persisted. Shiite divisions Groups drawn from Iraq's Shiite factions dominate the electoral landscape, as has been the case since after Saddam Hussein was toppled, when the country's power base shifted from minority Sunnis to majority Shiites. But Shiite groups are divided, particularly over the influence of neighboring Iran, a Shiite powerhouse. A tight race is expected between the political bloc of influential Shiite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr, the biggest winner in the 2018 election, and the Fatah Alliance led by paramilitary leader Hadi al-Ameri, which came in second. The Fatah Alliance comprises parties affiliated with the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of mostly pro-Iran Shiite militias that rose to prominence during the war against the Sunni extremist Islamic State group. It includes some of the most hardline pro-Iran factions such as the Asaib Ahl al-Haq militia. Al-Sadr, a nationalist and populist leader, is also close to Iran, but publicly rejects its political influence. Kataib Hezbollah, a powerful Shiite militia with close ties to Iran, is fielding candidates for the first time. Calls for boycott Activists and young Iraqis who took part in the protests calling for change have been divided over whether to take part in the vote. The 2019 demonstrations were met with deadly force, with at least 600 people killed over a few months. Although authorities gave in and called the early elections, the death toll and the heavy-handed crackdown prompted many young activists and demonstrators who took part in the protests to later call for a boycott. A series of kidnappings and targeted assassinations that killed more than 35 people has further discouraged many from taking part. Iraq's top Shiite cleric and a widely respected authority, Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, has called for a large turnout, saying that voting remains the best way for Iraqis to take part in shaping their country's future. The 2018 elections saw a record low turnout with just 44% of eligible voters casting ballots. The results were widely contested. There are concerns about a similar or even lower turnout this time. Mustafa al-Jabouri, 27, a private sector employee, said he wouldn't vote after seeing his friends killed in the demonstrations, "in front of my eyes." "I have participated in every election since I turned 18. We always say that change will come, and things will improve. What I've seen is that things always go from bad to worse," he said as he sat smoking a hookah at a coffee shop in Baghdad. "Now it is the same faces from the same parties putting up campaign posters." Regional implications Iraq's vote comes amid a flurry of diplomatic activity in the region, partially spurred by the Biden administration's gradual retreat from the Middle East and icy relations with traditional ally Saudi Arabia. Current Prime Minister Mustafa al-Kadhimi has sought to portray Iraq as a neutral mediator in the region's crises. In recent months, Baghdad hosted several rounds of direct talks between regional rivals Saudi Arabia and Iran in a bid to ease tensions. Alshamary, the research fellow, said Arab states would be watching to see what gains pro-Iranian factions make in the vote. Conversely, he said, Iran will look at how Western-leaning politicians fare. "The outcome of these elections will have an impact on foreign relations in the region for years to come," she said. Under Iraq's laws, the winner of Sunday's vote gets to choose the country's next prime minister, but it's unlikely any of the competing coalitions can secure a clear majority. That will require a lengthy process involving backroom negotiations to select a consensus prime minister and agree on a new coalition government. Randa Slim, of the Washington-based Middle East Institute, said Iraq's regional mediation role is al-Kadhimi's achievement, a result of his success at balancing between U.S. and Iranian interests in Iraq. "If he won't be the next prime minister, all of these initiatives might not be sustained," Slim said. President Joe Biden will not block the release of a tranche of documents sought by a House committee for its investigation into the January 6 insurrection at the U.S. Capitol, setting up a showdown with former President Donald Trump, who has pledged to try to keep records from his time in the White House from being turned over to investigators. In a letter to the Archivist of the United States, White House counsel Dana Remus writes that Biden has determined that invoking executive privilege "is not in the best interests of the United States." This came days after Trump lawyers sought to block the testimony of former Trump officials to the House committee, citing executive privilege. On Friday, a lawyer for Steve Bannon said the former White House aide wouldn't comply with the House committee's investigation because of Trump's claim. In August, the House committee investigating the insurrection asked for a trove of records, including communication within the White House under Trump and information about planning and funding for rallies held in Washington. Among those events was a rally near the White House featuring remarks by Trump, who egged on a crowd of thousands before loyalists stormed the Capitol. Importance of documents In the letter, Remus writes that the documents reviewed "shed light on events within the White House on and about January 6 and bear on the Select Committee's need to understand the facts underlying the most serious attack on the operations of the Federal Government since the Civil War." The Associated Press obtained a copy of the letter Friday, which was first reported by NBC News. Copies of the documents responsive to the request were turned over to the Biden White House and Trump's lawyers for review for potential executive privilege concerns in accordance with federal law and the executive order governing presidential records. The committee's 10-page request to the Archives seeks "all documents and communications within the White House on January 6, 2021" related to Trump's close advisers and family members, the rally at the nearby Ellipse and Trump's Twitter feed. It asks for his specific movements on that day and communications, if any, from the White House Situation Room. Also sought are all documents related to claims of election fraud, as well as Supreme Court decisions on the topic. Biden's decision affects only the initial batch of documents reviewed by the White House. Press secretary Jen Psaki said subsequent determinations would be made on a case-by-case basis. The current president has the final say unless a court orders the Archives to take a different action. Trump has not formally sought to invoke executive privilege over the documents, though that action is expected soon. Trump is expected to take legal action to block the release of the documents, which, if a block was granted, would mark a dramatic expansion of the unwritten executive power. Trump will have an uphill battle, as courts have traditionally left questions of executive privilege up to the current White House occupant though the former president's challenges could delay the committee's investigation. Two witnesses 'engaging' Two other witnesses subpoenaed by the panel, former White House Chief of Staff Mark Meadows and former Pentagon aide Kash Patel, are "engaging" with the committee, according to its Democratic chairman, Mississippi Representative Bennie Thompson, and Republican vice chairwoman, Representative Liz Cheney of Wyoming. Thompson and Cheney issued a statement Friday after a deadline for document production had passed. "Though the Select Committee welcomes good faith engagement with witnesses seeking to cooperate with our investigation, we will not allow any witness to defy a lawful subpoena or attempt to run out the clock, and we will swiftly consider advancing a criminal contempt of Congress referral," the two lawmakers said. A spokesman for the panel declined to comment on the status of a fourth witness, former Trump communications aide Dan Scavino. Bannon's move sets the stage for a likely clash with House Democrats who are investigating the roles of Trump and his allies in the run-up to the riot, when a large mob of Trump supporters broke into the Capitol as Congress was certifying the results of the presidential election won by Biden, a Democrat. The committee is rapidly issuing subpoenas to individuals who are either connected to Trump or who helped plan the massive rally on the morning of January 6 at which he told his supporters to "fight like hell." Bannon's refusal to comply, and Trump's vow to litigate the testimony, will mean certain delays in the panel's probe. But members of the committee, several of whom worked as prosecutors on Trump's two impeachments, were prepared for the possibility and have repeatedly threatened charging witnesses with contempt. Trump often successfully fought witness testimony during his presidency but may find his legal standing shakier now that he is out of office. A committee effort to charge witnesses with contempt would likely involve a vote of the full House and a referral to the Justice Department. It would then be up to Justice how to proceed with charges. 'Unable to respond' Bannon's lawyer, Robert Costello, said in letter to the panel dated Thursday that until the issues over privilege are resolved, "we are unable to respond to your requests for documents and testimony." Costello wrote that Bannon, a former aide to Trump who had contact with him the week of the Capitol attack, is prepared to "comply with the directions of the courts" when and if they rule on the issue. The letter includes excerpts from a separate letter sent to Bannon by Justin Clark, a lawyer for Trump. Clark says documents and testimony provided to the January 6 panel could include information that is "potentially protected from disclosure by executive and other privileges, including among others the presidential communications, deliberative process and attorney client privileges." Clark wrote to Bannon that "President Trump is prepared to defend these fundamental privileges in court." Spokespeople for Trump have not returned messages seeking comment. Trump said in a statement last month that he would "fight the Subpoenas on Executive Privilege and other grounds, for the good of our Country." As a former president, Trump cannot directly assert privilege to keep witnesses quiet or documents out of the hands of Congress. As the current president, Biden will have some say in the matter. The Norwegian Nobel Committee Friday awarded the Nobel Peace Prize to journalists Maria Ressa of the Philippines and Dmitry Muratov of Russia for their efforts to safeguard freedom of expression, which is a precondition for democracy and lasting peace. At a ceremony in Oslo, Norwegian Nobel Committee Chair Berit Reiss-Andersen announced the winners, saying, Ms. Ressa and Mr. Muratov are receiving the Peace Prize for their courageous fight for freedom of expression in the Philippines and in Russia." In a statement, the committee said Philippine journalist Maria Ressa, co-founder and executive editor of digital media company Rappler, is being recognized for her fearless use of freedom of expression to expose abuse of power, use of violence and growing authoritarianism in her native country. "I'm a little shocked. It's really emotional," Ressa told reporters shortly after the announcement. Ressa and Rappler have also documented how social media is being used to spread fake news, harass opponents, and manipulate public discourse. In an interview with VOA earlier this year, Ressa detailed multiple travel bans and government cases against her. All told, all these charges carry a maximum penalty cumulatively...I think it's like 103 years, she said. But Ressa, as noted by the Nobel committee, has remained tireless in her work, focusing on disinformation in social media and reporting on President Rodrigo Dutertes controversial anti-drug campaign. I think what the government doesn't know is that the abuses of power that we live through only fuel my determination to hold on to my rights, Ressa told VOA. I'm not voluntarily giving up my rights, and my task as a journalist, like yours, is to hold power to account. The committee honored Russian journalist Dmitry Andreyevich Muratov for his decades-long defense of freedom of speech in Russia under increasingly challenging conditions. In 1993, he co-founded the independent newspaper Novaya Gazeta and has been its editor in chief since 1995. It is considered the most independent newspaper in Russia today, with a fundamentally critical attitude towards power. But since its beginnings, six of Muratovs colleagues have been killed. I am absolutely convinced that this award is not mine. I am the incorrect beneficiary, Muratov told VOA in a phone call on Friday. This prize belongs to Yuri Shchekochikhin, Igor Domnikov, Anna Politkovskaya, Stas Markelov, Anastasia Baburova, Natalya Estemirov. ... Its their award. Simple as that, he said, listing his colleagues who have been killed. WATCH: Nobel Peace Prize Recipient Talks with VOA The committee said the newspapers fact-based journalism and professional integrity have made it an important source of information on censurable aspects of Russian society. It has published critical articles on subjects including corruption, police violence, unlawful arrests, electoral fraud and the use of Russian military forces both within and outside Russia. The Kremlin congratulated Muratov on his win Friday in a statement that many critics called ironic given Moscows targeting of his colleagues and journalists in general. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 17 journalists were killed in the Philippines and 23 in Russia over the last decade. CPJ congratulated both recipients and applauded the Nobel committee for spotlighting the importance of press freedom. There are a lot of challenges we face in the world today - we're in the middle of a pandemic, we're grappling with climate change. So, the fact that they singled out journalism and press freedom as a key concern, I think really sends a powerful message, Joel Simon, executive director of CPJ, told VOA. We cant solve any of these problems if we're not informed, if we don't have information, and if we don't engage with the world and journalists are the conduit through which people inform themselves. U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres also congratulated both journalists in a statement Friday, stressing the importance of a free press worldwide. No society can be free and fair without journalists who are able to investigate wrongdoing, bring information to citizens, hold leaders accountable and speak truth to power, he said. Yet anti-media rhetoric and attacks against media workers continue to rise, he added, noting growing violence and harassment against journalists across the globe. The two journalists will share a $1.1 million cash prize. The Nobel Prizes for medicine, physics, chemistry, and literature have also been awarded this week. The prize for economics will be awarded Monday. The awards will all be formally presented in December. Because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the academy announced this years ceremony will be a mixture of digital and physical events. Laureates will receive their Nobel Prize medals and diplomas in their home countries. Jeff Custer, Tommy Walker and Danila Galperovich contributed to this report. Some information came from the Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. An alleged participant in the 1994 Rwandan genocide faces a possible 30 years in prison after U.S. officials deported him to Kigali, where he was taken into custody after his arrival Thursday. Oswald Rurangwa, 59, escorted by U.S. security officials, was deported to Rwanda on a private jet. U.S. Embassy officials received him at Kigali International Airport and immediately handed him over to Rwandan security staff. Rurangwa was handcuffed and led into a waiting Rwanda Investigation Bureau van. Speaking to reporters at the airport, Rwanda Prosecution Authority spokesman Faustin Nkusi said Rurangwa was the head of Interahamwe militia in the Gisozi sector, a suburb of Kigali, during the genocide. "He participated in many acts of the genocide, including planning meetings, joining mobs of attackers, and killing. He committed genocide crimes, complicity to genocide, inciting people to commit genocide, murder and extermination as a crime against humanity," Nkusi said. "We issued an arrest warrant against him in 2008, but this coincided with the Gacaca [court] ruling that had already been handed down to him. So, the U.S. judicial authorities deported him to serve his sentence here," he added. In 2007, a Gacaca, or Rwandan community court, tried Rurangwa in absentia, finding him guilty of genocide and sentencing him to 30 years behind bars. U.S. attorney Charles Kambanda, who is familiar with the case and knowledgeable about legal affairs in Central Africa, said the U.S. had a different rationale for deporting Rurangwa. "Oswald Rurangwa was sent to Rwanda purely on account of immigration fraud, the New York state-based attorney told the VOA Central Africa Service. "This means he was deported, not extradited. ICE [U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement] handed him over." According to the prosecution, Rurangwa fled Rwanda in 1994 for the Kibumba refugee camp in what was then Zaire, now the Democratic Republic of Congo. He later moved to another camp, Kayindu, before applying for asylum in the United States in 1996. Nkusi said Rwandan law permits Rurangwa to have his case retried. "You have seen that he has been assigned an attorney," Nkusi said, adding that Rurangwa would be informed of the earlier ruling and given a copy of his sentence. "He will also be informed about his right [of appeal] because even though he was sentenced in absentia, he has the right to have the case retried." Rurangwa was being taken to Mageragere prison, Nkusi said. This story originated in VOA's Central Africa Service. Geoffrey Mutagoma contributed from Washington. HARARE (Reuters) - Seven people, including six foreign nationals, died when some gas cylinders exploded at the SAS gold mine in Zimbabwe's Mazowe district on Thursday, police said. The six foreigners were Chinese, Mazowe lawmaker Fortune Chasi told Reuters. "When I got there, the police were collecting the bodies. Ministry of mines officials and other government officials were there trying to establish what exactly happened," Chasi said. The explosion happened at the mine about 50 km (30 miles) north of the capital, Harare, police said. Officers were "investigating the circumstances in which six foreign nationals as well as a Zimbabwean died when some gas cylinders exploded at SAS mine," police spokesperson Paul Nyathi. Another person was critically injured and taken to a local hospital, Nyathi added. (Reporting by Nelson Banya; Editing by Andrew Heavens) The World Health Organization announced Friday that it had established and released the first standardized, clinical definition of what is commonly known as long COVID, to help boost treatment for sufferers. Speaking virtually to reporters from the agencys Geneva headquarters, WHO Head of Clinical Management Janet Diaz said the definition was agreed upon after global consultations with health officials. She said the condition, in which symptoms of the illness persist well beyond what is commonly experienced, is usually referred to as post-COVID, among many similar iterations. It occurs in individuals who have had confirmed or probable new coronavirus infections, usually three months on from the onset of the COVID-19, with symptoms that last for at least two months and cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis. Those symptoms include fatigue, shortness of breath, cognitive dysfunction, she said, but there also are others, which generally have an adverse impact on everyday functioning. Diaz explained that until now, a lack of clarity among health care professionals about the condition has complicated efforts in advancing research and treatment. Vaccine supply to Philippines Meanwhile, a senior White House official announced Friday that the U.S. government was shipping 1,842,750 doses of the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine to the Philippines a donation that will be executed through the WHO-managed COVAX vaccine cooperative. The doses will arrive in two shipments, probably Sunday and Monday, according to the official. The official said the Biden administration understands that ending the coronavirus pandemic requires eliminating it around the world. U.S. drugmaker Moderna announced earlier Friday that it was planning to deliver another 1 billion doses of its COVID-19 vaccine to low-income countries next year. In a message posted to the companys website, Moderna CEO Stephane Bancel said the company was investing to expand its capacity to deliver the additional doses. The disclosure was part of what Bancel described as his companys five-pillar strategy to ensure low-income countries get access to the companys vaccine. The plan includes not enforcing its vaccine patents, expanding its production capacity worldwide, and working with the United States and others to distribute their surplus doses of vaccine. On Thursday, U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres chastised the worlds wealthy nations for inequities in access to vaccines throughout the world. Appearing virtually with WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Guterres said, Not to have equitable distribution of vaccines is not only a question of being immoral, it is also a question of being stupid. WHO's goals The United Nations and the WHO are seeking $8 billion to implement their strategy to vaccinate 40 percent of every countrys population by the end of this year and 70 percent by mid-2022. The Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center said Friday that it had recorded 237 million global COVID infections and nearly 5 million global deaths. The center said 6.4 billion vaccines had been administered. Some information for this report came from The Associated Press, Reuters and Agence France-Presse. An independent journalism organization has revealed that Belarus President Alexander Lukashenkos right-hand man and his son are involved in some suspicious gold mining deals in Zimbabwe. According to The NewsHawks, investigations by the Journalism Development Network, Inc., trading as the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Lukashenkos front man, Viktor Sheiman, was dispatched to Zimbabwe in March 2018 to negotiate trade and business deals for his government. Indications are that Sheiman paved the way for a gold mining deal between his son, Sergei Sheiman, and other Belarusians with alleged offshore accounts. Investigations by OCCRP, according to NewsHawks, have revealed that the mining deal was presented as a collaboration between the two countries, and Sheiman said it was intended to make profit for Belarus. But in fact, the new joint venture, Zim Goldfields, reports OCCRP quoted by The NewsHawks, was secretly co-owned by Sheimans son, Sergei, with no stake for the Belarusian state. Sergei Sheimans partner in the gold venture was influential Belarusian businessman Alexander Zingman, who has served as Zimbabwes honorary consul in Belarus since around early 2019 reports OCCRP. OCCRP further reports that Zingman was detained for 12 days this March in the Democratic Republic of the Congo. A press release by his Dubai-based company, Aftrade DMCC, specified that the reason for the incident was arms dealing allegations, which Zingman flatly denied. He was released without charge. According to OCCRP, documents from the Pandora Papers a massive leak to the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists of nearly 12 million documents from 14 offshore corporate service providers, shared with media partners around the world show how the two Belarusians used shell companies in the Seychelles and the U.K. to mask their involvement and the conflict of interest at the heart of the deal. OCCRP reports that 30 percent of Zim Goldfields was held by Zimbabwes state-owned mining company, the Zimbabwe Mining Development Corporation (ZMDC), but the other 70 percent was controlled by a U.K. shell company called Midlands Goldfields Limited. Its ownership was masked by a proxy U.K. records name Robert Michael Friedberg as the director of the company but leaked documents from the Pandora Papers show that Friedberg was acting on behalf of its owners as a nominee for a Seychelles entity with a similar name: Midlands Goldfields Foundation. And that entity was owned by Sergei Sheiman and Zingman, who had both reportedly been part of the March 2018 mission to Harare. Both shell companies appear to have been created specifically to take advantage of the opportunity afforded by Viktor Sheimans official visit to Zimbabwe: Midlands Goldfields in both the Seychelles and U.K. were incorporated just a few months before his trip, and Zim Goldfields was set up shortly after. The NewsHawks and OCCRP report that Sergei Sheiman and Lukashenkos administration did not respond to questions sent by OCCRP. Aftrade DMCC, Zingmans Dubai-based company, denied that Zingman had any involvement with the gold venture, despite his name, contact details, passport number and signature appearing in company records for Midlands Goldfields Limited. Alpha Consulting, which set up Midlands Goldfields in the Seychelles, said it complies with all local and international regulations and runs background checks on its clients and the source of their wealth. Mr Zingman has no links whatsoever with either Zim Goldfields or Midland Goldfields Limited, Aftrade DMCC said in a written response. Mr. Zingman is also not involved in any business relationships or existing companies with Mr. Sergei Sheiman, the company added in a separate statement. Viktor Sheiman, who left his position as head of the Belarus President Property Management Directorate in June 2021 with a personal message of gratitude by Lukashenko for opening the window to Africa, did not respond to requests for comment sent through his former office. The mining ventures along Mutare River were shutdown by the Environmental Management Agency of Zimbabwe following several citations for mining violations. The NewsHawks and OCCRP report that itis not clear whether Zim Goldfields continues to operate. The ZMDC did not respond to questions concerning the companys status. Information secretary, Nick Mangwana, was also unreachable for comment as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone. Stas Ivashkevich (Belsat) and Aliaksei Karpeka (Euroradio.fm) contributed to this story As the search for Brian Laundrie continues in a Florida nature reserve, police said Friday that they have yet to find any physical evidence of Laundrie within the sprawling wilderness area. Laundrie, whose fiance Gabby Petito was found dead in Wyoming nearly three weeks ago, has been the focus of an intensive search in the Carlton Reserve near his family home in North Port, after his parents told police he planned to hike there. North Port police spokesman Josh Taylor told CNN's Randi Kaye that although nothing linked to Laundrie has been found inside the reserve, their efforts will continue there until they have better information. North Port police did confirm this week that an abandoned vehicle notice was placed on a Ford Mustang belonging to the Laundrie family on September 14 outside a park that serves as an entrance to the reserve. The parents, Chris and Roberta, went to the park that day looking for their son and saw the citation, according to Laundrie family attorney Steve Bertolino, a day after they say Laundrie told them he was headed for the reserve. His parents brought the vehicle home on September 15. The search has been prompted entirely by information from Laundrie's parents, Taylor told CNN, and while the police department has received numerous tips from the public, police say none have panned out so far. Laundrie has not been charged in Petito's death, but he is the subject of a federal arrest warrant for unauthorized use of another person's debit card in the days after she last spoke with her family. Police say Laundrie was under surveillance before he disappeared Petito, whose body was discovered September 19, was reported missing eight days earlier by her family who had not heard from her since late August. When police, as part of the investigation into Petito's disappearance, went to the Laundrie family home on the night of September 11, he was not seen and there was no opportunity to speak with him, Taylor told CNN. While Laundrie was not wanted for arrest at the time, he was being surveilled by police -- as best authorities could do so legally -- before he disappeared, Taylor told CNN, and authorities say they never spoke with Laundrie before he went missing. On September 17, when police spoke with Laundrie's parents after they reported him missing, they refused to address Petito's disappearance or answer any questions about her, which police described as "odd," Taylor said. Laundrie's parents, who had their lawyer on speakerphone, would only speak about their missing son. Laundrie and Petito had ventured on a summer road trip to western national parks, yet Petito was last seen in late August in a Wyoming restaurant and Laundrie returned home to Florida alone on September 1. Nearly a week after Laundrie came back, he and his parents went camping for a brief stay at a site around 75 miles from their home, attorney Bertolino told CNN. In late September, Laundrie's parents released a statement through their attorney, saying, "Chris and Roberta Laundrie do not know where Brian is. They are concerned about Brian and hope the FBI can locate him. The speculation by the public and some in the press that the parents assisted Brian in leaving the family home or in avoiding arrest on a warrant that was issued after Brian had already been missing for several days is just wrong." Father participated in search this week Chris Laundrie was seen Thursday morning entering the Carlton Reserve, after being asked by law enforcement to accompany them on their search, according to Bertolino. "Chris was asked to point out any favorite trails or spots that Brian may have used in the preserve," the attorney said. Though the family provided what information they knew earlier, "it is now thought that on-site assistance may be better," he said. "The preserve has been closed to the public and the Laundries as well but the parents have been cooperating since the search began," Bertolino said. "There were no discoveries but the effort was helpful to all," he said. Police on Thursday denied that a campsite had been found in the reserve during earlier search efforts. That confirmation came after a source close to the Laundrie family told CNN they were informed by investigators that police had made a discovery. The source on Thursday insisted that the Laundrie family had been told a campsite had been found. "Is it possible that they thought that there might be a campsite out there or something they may have seen from the air, but when they got on the ground that's not what it turned out to be. Sure, I think that's a possibility," Taylor, the North Port Police spokesperson, said. "Bottom line is that investigators are telling me that no campsite was found out there." As the search continues, Laundrie's parents believe he is still in the reserve, Bertolino said, and as a result, any public call they made for him to surrender to authorities would not reach him. "In short, the parents believe Brian was and still is in the preserve so there was no reason to issue a plea on media that he does not have access to," the attorney said. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. A Black father, his son, and their Black real estate agent have filed a federal lawsuit against the city of Wyoming, Michigan, the Wyoming police chief and six police officers after they were ordered by police officers out of the home they were touring and handcuffed. The real estate agent, Eric Brown, was showing a home to his client, Roy Thorne, and his 15-year-old son, Samuel, on August 1, when police, responding to a neighbor's call, showed up at the house, ordered those inside to leave with their hands in the air and handcuffed them. They were all released soon after. The lawsuit, filed October 1 in US District Court for the Western District of Michigan, seeks unspecified damages on five counts, claiming six police officers violated the plaintiffs' civil rights, including unlawful detainment and excessive force, as well as violations of equal protection. Other counts include assault and battery, false imprisonment and intentional infliction of emotional distress. The city of Wyoming, the six officers involved, and the police chief are all named as defendants. A city spokesperson declined to comment on the lawsuit Friday, telling CNN, "The City of Wyoming does not comment on pending litigation." CNN has been unable to determine if the police chief or the six other officers have legal representation to comment on their behalf. CNN has also reached out to the South Kent Lodge of the Fraternal Order of Police but has not heard back. The lawsuit stems from an incident on August 1, when a neighbor called authorities reporting that a suspect arrested at the property a week prior for unlawful entry had returned to the scene in the same car, according to a timeline previously released by the Wyoming Department of Public Safety. In audio of the call released by Wyoming police in August, the caller is heard telling dispatch that a "young Black man" had been arrested at the house the week before. Police said it was a different caller from the initial incident, but "the caller was aware of the previous arrest and had seen the arrested individual and his vehicle," and had been asked by the homeowner to watch the house. A Wyoming officer contacted the caller to clarify that it was the same suspect and vehicle from the previous incident. The caller confirmed it was, police said. The caller was mistaken, however. Brown was giving Thorne and his son a tour of the home after scheduling the visit online the day before, Brown would explain to the officers, according to body camera footage released by police. Footage captured by police dashcams and body cameras showed the officers arriving and ordering the three out of the house with their hands in the air. They left the home one by one, following the officers' orders. They were each handcuffed, and Thorne and his teenage son were briefly placed in the back seats of separate patrol vehicles. All three were released without incident after Brown explained that he was a real estate agent. Officers are heard in the footage explaining that the house had been broken into the week before, acknowledging this appeared to be a "misunderstanding." The officers removed the handcuffs from Thorne and his son and are heard apologizing. The lawsuit attributes the way the plaintiffs were treated to the fact they are Black, saying, "Had the Plaintiffs not been African American men, they would not have been held at gun point, would not have been detained, and would not have been handcuffed." Two officers unholstered their firearms during the incident, the Wyoming police said previously, noting that this is standard protocol when officers respond to a "reported home invasion in progress with multiple individuals inside a home." Additionally, the lawsuit claims the officers had evidence that neither Brown, Thorne or his son were the individual that had been arrested the week before because their cars and their license plates did not match the previous suspect's. In August, the Wyoming Department of Public Safety said it had conducted an internal review and concluded that "race played no role in our officers' treatment of the individuals, and our officers responded appropriately." The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. Sheffield Police Sgt. Nick Risner received a hero's salute at his private burial Friday afternoon. Agencies from all over Alabama came out to pay respects to their friend and colleague. One agency in particular had the honor of sending him off with a rifle salute. HPD's Honor Guard gives rifle salute for Sgt. Risner HPD's Honor Guard gives rifle salute for Sgt. Risner "For them to ask us in their time we're all family. When one hurts and one needs help, we come and help them," said Sgt. Gary Trampas from Huntsville Police Department's Honor Guard. He and seven other officers gave a hero's salute to the fallen officer. "It's a huge honor," Trampas said of the rifle salute. They fired three volleys in honor of Risner. It's a tradition that dates back centuries. "It could have even gone back as far as Roman times," Trampas said. "After they had a battle, they would go out and collect the dead. And once they went to collect the dead, if a soldier came across one that they knew, he would yell out the soldier's name three times to honor his sacrifice." This time, it's a sacrifice that hits close to home for North Alabama's law enforcement. "Northern Alabama, our law enforcement, we're all very close with each other," Trampas said. "You'll see it when you see all the K-9s here. They come from all over the place to be here." After the rifle salute, honor guard members collected three of the spent cartridges to give to the family. The cartridges signify duty, honor and sacrifice. Hundreds of people spent Saturday morning in Big Spring Park for Walk to End Alzheimer's. The North Alabama walk has raised more than $140,000. Jean Keighley told WAAY 31 her dad has Alzheimer's, and sometimes she's a stranger to her own father. She said she decided to walk and raise money in the hopes there will be a cure so she doesn't become a stranger to her own kids one day. WALK TO END ALZHEIMERS NORTH ALABAMA 2021 WALK TO END ALZHEIMERS NORTH ALABAMA 2021 Keighley's father has accomplished a lot in his life. My father was one of the original Navy Seals," she said. "He was a Navy EOD, then he was a Secret Service agent for 30 years." He was diagnosed with Alzheimer's two years ago. The disease has recently started to impact him more. To watch a man who was our everything who could do everything to, at this point, be able to do basically nothing for himself," said Keighley. "There are times Im absolutely falling apart at home just watching the devastation, watching the man we knew become somebody completely different. She said her dad usually doesn't recognize her as his daughter, but instead as his mother or sister. Brenda Parris said she is a complete stranger to her mom. "My mother knew me up until the point when I moved in with her, and then she didnt know me anymore, and that was thats what hurts the most," Parris said. It's the 10th annual Walk to End Alzheimer's, but it's Parris' 24th year walking with the Alzheimer's Association to honor her mom. Both women have witnessed how the disease can impact a loved one. They decided to walk and raise money to hopefully prevent others from having to experience it as well. The time to raise the money, the time to find the cure, is now," said Keighley. Its like Ive got to do something, something to try to end Alzheimers, something to fight for the first survivor, hopefully someday," said Parris. To donate to the Walk to End Alzheimer's, click here. Saturday aperitivo returns to Campagna Amica farmers' market. The Campagna Amica farmers' market, held each weekend a stone's throw from the Circus Maximus, will once again hold its Saturday aperitivo from 18.00 to 21.00 on 9 October. With the market staying open late, the evening event offers fresh produce including cured meats, cheese and a variety of bruschette, washed down with organic wine, craft beer or centrifughe (fruit-veg drinks), to the backdrop of live music. In the case of bad weather the outdoor aperitivo will be postponed. Booking is not required. Each weekend food producers and farmers from the Lazio region sell their locally-produced fresh foods at the bustling market, including cheeses, olive oil, meat, honey, wine and truffles. For full information about the market, on Via di S. Teodoro 74, see its Facebook page. Yet years of research confirm the relative success on most measures of the better-designed charters: Compared to those who arent admitted, attendees tend to score higher on standardized tests, are more likely to finish school, and have a better chance of attending college. Recent work indicates that the social skills of attendees improve as well. Theyre less likely than their peers to commit crimes, use drugs or get pregnant while in school. All of these are excellent reasons, for anyone who purports to care about those the nation leaves behind, to support charter schools. Online cryptocurrency exchange Coinbase is one of the founders of a new trade association. (Kevin Mazur/Getty Images for Roc Nation) The booming sector has recruited former top regulators and congressional insiders but is struggling to coordinate its approach. The fragmented vote in the September election, with the SPD winning the most seats and the conservative bloc dropping to second, is forcing disparate parties together. Scholz, who has served as Merkels vice chancellor and finance minister since 2018, is negotiating with the environmentalist Greens and the pro-business Free Democrats, or FDP, to achieve a majority. Since the last election in 2017 -- when it took Merkel about six months to form a coalition -- the SPD, Greens and FDP have gained ground while the conservative bloc is in disarray after slumping to its worst-ever result, leaving it likely to be excluded from power for the first time since 2005. Should Scholzs discussions falter, Christian Democratic leader Armin Laschet has said conservatives are still open for talks on leading their own coalition with the Greens and FDP, even as he has signaled hes prepared to step aside as head of his party. Its hard to comprehend the immense stakes as climate change upends decades of custom. Central California grows nearly half of all the fruits, nuts and vegetables in the U.S., and a third of the worlds tomatoes. Yet predictions for this region are grim: Californias 2021 tomato yields are expected to fall 20% below normal; almond production is down about 15%; many vineyards have lost a third or more of their wine grapes. Prices will rise up to 25% for some of Californias fall crops, according to Cameron, and the drought could hurt production well into 2023. Renovation, Inc.: Home Sweet Home (HGTV at 8) Bryan and Sarah Baeumler reflect on their lives as they transform their house into a home. When Big Things Go Wrong (History at 10) Though engineers are able to build huge, impressive structures, but sometimes things can go wrong, with deadly consequences. Specials American Voices: Latinos Inside the White House (MSNBC at 7) Alicia Menendez hosts this special featuring interviews with Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra, Education Secretary Miguel Cardona, Small Business Administration head Isabella Casillas Guzman and more. Will I ever have another relationship like the one with this physician, who took time to ask me how I was doing each time he saw me? Who knew me from my first months as a young mother, when my thyroid went haywire, and who since oversaw all my medical concerns, both large and small? Judy Hess: Probably not. If possible, take the picture to a photography professional to have them remove it. But if you want to try, do this first: Take a digital picture of the photo before you begin. You can then use a hair dryer to try to lift it off. Turn the hair dryer on a low setting, and hold it about five inches from the photos surface. You dont want it to overheat. This should loosen the picture from the glass. Then, very slowly and very carefully, pull the corner or the side of the photo until the whole picture is taken off. On Friday, Washburn met with Fager and toured the burial grounds with an Park Service archaeologist. Washburn said the work was halted soon after the agency heard from Fager and it doesnt appear any graves or funerary artifacts were disturbed during the digging that took place. An archaeologist had previously conducted a survey of that section of the trail and shovel tests had been done. But now, she said, the Park Service plans to conduct ground-penetrating radar studies and keep an archaeologist on-site during construction work. Tape recordings of Khomeinis statements were sold in Europe and delivered to Iran. Other messages went out by telephone, read to supporters in various Iranian towns. Those messages laid the groundwork for Khomeinis return after the shah, fatally ill, fled Iran in early 1979, though the cleric remained unsure he had the support, Mr. Banisadr once said. He never could hold onto a guitar, producer Tom Mindte recalled. I never knew what became of the guitars. I know one was stolen from his car. He would play whatever guitar he could get his hands on. Sometimes it was a flap top [acoustic] with a pickup, sometimes it was an electric. But it didnt matter because he always got great tone. He never had an expensive guitar but he didnt need one! Todays Headlines The most important news stories of the day, curated by Post editors and delivered every morning. Email address By signing up you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy McAuliffe, once seen as a dilettante, can now legitimately claim to be one of the most experienced candidates ever to run for Virginia governor. Because the state constitution prohibits governors from serving consecutive terms, they almost all have been one-and-done. Mills Godwin is the only person since at least the Civil War who managed to serve twice: in 1966 as a Democrat and in 1974 as a Republican. The maps will be too late for this years elections in the House of Delegates, with early voting underway since Sept. 17 and Election Day on Nov. 2. That situation is the subject of a lawsuit underway in federal court that could wind up forcing the House to hold new elections next year under the new maps. Hossain, a naturalized U.S. citizen and Bangladesh native, took pains to not appear to be a religious extremist to authorities, according to prosecutors. He trimmed his beard and hair, switching from traditional garb to American clothing. His goal was to make it to Pakistan, where he believed he could cross the border into Afghanistan, according to evidence presented at his two-week trial. Man pleads innocent in Nazi trial: A 100-year-old man on trial for his alleged role as a Nazi SS guard at a concentration camp during World War II told a German court Friday that he was innocent. The defendant is charged with 3,518 counts of accessory to murder at the Sachsenhausen concentration camp near Berlin, where he allegedly worked between 1942 and 1945 as an enlisted member of the Nazi Partys paramilitary wing. The German news agency DPA reported that the defendant, who was identified only as Josef S. in keeping with German privacy rules, said on the second day of his trial before the Neuruppin state court that he didnt know the Sachsenhausen camp. When Adams and White finally found the couple, it turned out they were already on their way. They were out of their room, their belongings stashed in a stairwell, along with a pair of pit bulls. A relative, they said hopefully, would soon pick them up and give them a room at least for a little while. Other residents of the hard-hit community are in similar situations. As connections director for Compassion Church, Michelle McCaleb is one of many volunteers working to help the community rebuild, and she said 71 families are staying in hotels. The church distributes food and clothing and she's looking for plumbers, electricians and other volunteers to help rebuild houses. McCaleb said one of the reasons so many Waverly residents are struggling to recover is that many of the apartment buildings that washed away in the flooding were public housing and many of their residents rely on disability or other kinds of assistance. Iowas position is really in danger. On the other hand, I have got to say, when you look at the early states, you cant have a big state. You dont want people to be priced out, said Jeff Weaver, a presidential campaign adviser to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). With California, Texas, Florida and New York as the first four, you would know who the nominee is before you even started. Ahead of the 2022 contests, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee had listed two Texas districts currently held by Republicans as targets to flip in 2022, but the proposed new map would push them out of reach. The 23rd, which stretches along the border from San Antonio to El Paso, would go from a district Trump won by less than two percentage points to one he won by seven, and the 24th, located in northern Dallas, would turn from one Biden won by five points to one Trump would have won by twelve. Pyongyang is so strict about its border enforcement that it has ordered any trespassers even animals to be shot without warning, according to an October 2020 decree obtained by NK News, an outlet that follows North Korean affairs. The previous month, North Korea shot dead a South Korean official who disappeared from a fisheries boat, later dousing the mans body in oil and setting it on fire in an apparent anti-coronavirus measure, South Korean military officials said. In a televised address, the 35-year-old premier denied the allegations against him but recommended leadership be handed to Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg. He said he would stay on as head of his party and take the position of leader of his conservative bloc in parliament. The revelations include more than $100 million spent by King Abdullah II of Jordan on luxury homes in Malibu, Calif., and other locations; millions of dollars in property and cash secretly owned by Babis and the leaders of four African nations; and a waterfront home in Monaco acquired by a Russian woman who gained considerable wealth after she reportedly had a child with Russian President Vladimir Putin. It is drastic, and it has been drastic for a while, he said. With a few hours a day people can go about their basic needs for a couple of hours, and of course it is better than nothing, but the situation is dire and we need more than a few hours a day. None of the alleged offenses carries a date. The charge sheet includes confessions supposedly made by Darwish to five attacks on patrols, none of them explicitly dated. The only real date is for participating in protests, which it said happened in the year 1433 of the Islamic calendar, a period from November 2011 to November 2012. Darwish was a minor in all but the last three months of that span. Lillywhite says another weakness in Australias laws is the lack of a register that lists the beneficial owners of companies incorporated in the country or a register of trusts. This is where Australia has absolutely fallen off the wagon and is lagging behind international trends. This is absolutely becoming the norm in more and more countries, that some form of beneficial ownership register is put in place specifically for this very purpose to really try to circumvent the flow of dirty money that is moving around the world. Treasurer Josh Frydenberg says the government is committed to increasing the transparency of beneficial ownership of companies available to relevant authorities by modernising and consolidating the more than 30 different business registers in a new Australian Business Registry Services. This register will hold valuable information with respect to the share capital of companies, their top 20 shareholders and a comprehensive list of current and former company directors and secretaries, Frydenberg says. But the register would not give the full look through that a register of beneficial interests would because it will still allow for nominee directors and not include trust beneficiaries. Loading The Pandora Papers have also renewed calls to improve Australias anti-money laundering and counterterrorism financing (AML-CTF) laws which only require financial institutions and betting shops and casinos to report suspicious transactions. The Financial Action Task Force, set up by the G7 to develop policies to combat money laundering, has long pushed for Australia to broaden its AML-CTF laws to cover real estate agents, accountants and lawyers. ALP senator Deborah ONeill has launched an inquiry into Australias AML-CTF regime and is seeking industry feedback on the costs and benefits of broadening our laws to include accountants and lawyers to bring Australian laws into line with international standards to prevent financial crime. Lawyers have long resisted being included in such a regime given lawyer-client confidentiality is central to their profession. The Real Estate Institute of Australia forcefully made the case against additional regulation in a submission to a Senate inquiry into Australias AML regime, claiming it would be burdensome given most real estate agencies will never encounter suspect transactions. Small businesses also lack the time, resources and expertise to carry out compliance activities and reporting. Former Australian Federal Police officer Chris Douglas, who worked in serious and organised crime for more than three decades, says while there has been an effort to regulate money remitters and virtual currencies, the regulations are still missing the big movers of money real estate. The regulations are still missing the big movers of money real estate, says former AFP officer Chris Douglas. Credit:iStock The real estate sector is a very, very powerful industry. It has influence at both state and federal level, he says. Why is it popular for laundering money? Bricks and mortar are safe and secure. Real estate holds its value and unless theres a trigger as to why authorities should be looking at a particular person or asset, its safe. Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews, who oversees Australias AML-CTF laws, did not respond to specific questions about expanding the regime to cover accountants, real estate agents and lawyers. A spokesman for the minister said: The government is committed to continually improving Australias response to illicit financing and is taking a phased approach to reforming the AML/CTF regime, passing reforms to bolster our response. Loading This included, he said: strengthening money laundering offences to better target professional money laundering syndicates, and two phases of specific anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing law reforms to deal with high risk digital currency and correspondent banks, enhance financial intelligence sharing and provide regulatory relief to industry. The Tax Justice Network has been a leader in advocating for changes to AML-CTF laws, and the introduction of trust and beneficial ownership registers. It believes there could be additional changes that could improve Australias ranking on the TJNs global financial secrecy index which places Australia in the middle, far from best in class and far from worst. Mark Zirnsak, part of the secretariat for the Tax Justice Network Australia, says the organisation also supports broadening whistleblower reforms to at least include a Whistleblower Protection Authority to help people speaking up out against malfeasance and to include reward style payments to people who report wrongdoing to authorities. We can say well, people should be really, really noble and just throw themselves in front of the bus and do the right thing. But the reality is the person still probably has to think about their family and think about the future. Loading Zirnsak also points to an idea floated by Joe Hockey when he was treasurer to introduce rules that require groups promoting or marketing aggressive tax practices to self-report to authorities. Its worked really well in the UK and other jurisdictions have it as well, he says. The 1.5 degree drive-by You need to know a little climate politics to understand the flex. The Paris Agreement today commits each nation to do their utmost to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in keeping with holding global warming beneath 2 degrees and as close to 1.5 degrees as possible. Today that lower target, 1.5 degrees, has become the focus of the worlds discussion. But leading up to the Paris climate talks in 2015, 1.5 degrees was barely even a consideration, even though climate scientists agreed it was the point at which we stood a better chance of avoiding potentially cataclysmic climate tipping points. The target only exists in the Paris Agreement because of a diplomatic ambush set by one of the worlds smallest nations - the Marshall Islands, population about 60,000. That was then: Foreign Minister Julie Bishop hugs then Marshall Islands minister Tony de Brum at the Paris climate summit. Credit:Andrew McLeish Then Marshallese foreign minister Tony deBrum recognised that while 2 degrees warming might be tolerable to other parts of the world, it would obliterate many Pacific communities and nations. Under the slogan 1.5 to stay alive deBrum began gathering support for an international coalition that would later become known as the High Ambition Coalition (HAC). When the Paris talks began no one outside the group knew of its existence, but deBrum had already managed to secure the support firstly of Pacific island nations and then other small island countries in the Caribbean and Indian Ocean. Some African nations came on board later. The EU also backed the grouping, and when the negotiations started to bite, the group managed to pull the United States on board. Finally, more than a week into Paris negotiations, the HAC broke cover as Dr Wesley Morgan, researcher at the Climate Council and research fellow at Griffith Asia Institute, put it in a recent essay in the Australian journal Foreign Affairs. The moment was dramatic. DeBrum walked towards the final session of the Paris talks flanked by the Spanish politician serving as European energy commissioner, Miguel Arias Canete, and the US chief climate negotiator Todd Stern. The three had palm fronds woven into their lapels to symbolise their common purpose. The Marshallese statesman also had the votes of 90 nations in his pocket. World leaders, diplomats and staffers suddenly realised theyd been wrong-footed. Australia, the Pacific big brother that used to boast of punching above its diplomatic weight did not even know the bloc existed before this moment. We could not have gotten a Paris Agreement without the incredible efforts and hard work of the island nations, said then US President Barack Obama the following year of the efforts of deBrum and the group he corralled. Australias then foreign minister Julie Bishop announced that we too would join the HAC. The problem was Australia was short on entry requirements. We are delighted to learn of Australias interest and look forward to hearing what more they may be able to do to join our coalition, said deBrum. The $100 billion compromise So when laying out the demands of the Pacific Island Forum this week Bainimarama was not speaking, entirely, as a minnow in an ocean of whales. And the $100 billion in climate finance he demanded was not a figure plucked from the sky. He was referring to a commitment made by wealthy nations in previous climate talks that began to take shape in 2009, and that has never been met. The agreement is based on a fairly obvious inequity. Industrialised nations have been dumping greenhouse gases into the atmosphere since the industrial revolution, and have made themselves rich doing so. Poorer nations are only now going through that process. The urgency of the climate crisis dictates that all nations must rapidly reduce their emissions, including - especially - emerging economies now reliant on heavy, dirty industry. Recognising that greening the planet meant that poorer countries could not burn carbon as the richer world had, a payoff was agreed to during UN talks in Copenhagen in 2009. Rich nations would mobilise $100 billion in finance each year by 2020 to help developing nations go greener faster. A so-called Green Climate Fund would manage the effort. The problem was, says one of Australias former chief climate diplomats, Professor Howard Bamsey, the language built into the agreement to ensure it won support, was loose enough to be almost meaningless. Mobilise, he says, is one of those UN verbs, so you have to parse it very carefully. It was never made clear, he explains, if mobilising finance meant giving grants or facilitating cheap loans or creating policies to help funnel private money. Whatever it means, no matter how hard you parse it, you never get anywhere near $100 billion a year on a ledger. It is hard today to work out how much money was ever secured. By some counts the most funding achieved in a year was $20 billion. By a recent OECD analysis it is closer to $80 billion, if you count finance channelled directly between nations rather than through the Green Climate Fund. But Bamsey says the purpose of the fund was more than a practical climate response. It served to bind nations in common effort, and its failure to date is a blow to the global climate accord. Australia once placed itself at the heart of the project, recognising it as an effective way to channel global support for the Pacific. Bamsey himself was appointed executive director of the GFC in 2016. In an early round of funding Australia committed $200 million to the effort but in 2018 Prime Minister Scott Morrison said during a radio interview with Alan Jones that kicked off with a discussion of their mutual support for a horse racing advertisement to be projected onto the sails of the Opera House that Australia would no longer be contributing to that big climate fund. Prime Minister Scott Morrison and Fijis Frank Bainimarama during his official visit to Parliament House in Canberra in 2019. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Later in Senate estimates hearings foreign affairs staff confirmed that this comment constituted the announcement that Australia would no longer be part of the Green Climate Fund, though the nations foreign aid to the Pacific continued. So what next? DeBrum died in 2017. Hed perhaps be surprised to see how much the world has changed since then. Carbon emissions are still trending up rather than down, but there is now a consensus that clean energy is cheaper than dirty alternatives. Around 70 per cent of the global economy exists in jurisdictions that are committed to reducing emissions to net-zero by 2050. There is an increasing, but still cautious optimism on the Liberal side of Scott Morrisons government that Australia wont embarrass itself at next months United Nations climate conference in Glasgow. A commitment to net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050 the bare minimum that our forever allies in Washington and London expect of us appears to be within reach despite the sabre-rattling from a handful of National Party ministers and backbenchers. There is even a chance that Australia will offer a more ambitious interim target to 2030. Illustration: Simon Letch Credit:The Sydney Morning Herald The expectations for a historic policy shift, after 12 querulous years of climate obstruction by the Coalition in opposition and in government, is built on a simple political calculation. The Liberal Party has more seats at risk in the cities from continued inaction than the National Party has in the regions from net zero. Accounts differ on the seats in danger. One senior Liberal familiar with the internal polling nominates up to six the inner metropolitan electorates of Chisholm in Melbourne, Brisbane, Wentworth and North Sydney in the Prime Ministers home city, as well as the outer-metropolitan electorate of Boothby in Adelaide, and Robertson on the NSW Central Coast. Note to readers from Roy: We had closed the blog a few minutes ago but this late news came in from Sydney. We have added it after our farewell post. A COVID-19 exposure has occurred in an intensive care unit at Sydneys Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. A Sydney Local Health District spokesperson confirmed on Saturday afternoon that a patient who was receiving treatment in the hospitals designated non-COVID unit had returned a positive test. A COVID-19 exposure has occurred in an intensive care unit at Sydneys Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. Credit:Wolter Peeters Surveillance testing has not identified any further cases and NSW Health is undertaking contact tracing to identify all close and casual contacts. Staff who have been identified as high risk have been asked to isolate, the spokesperson said. The ICU has been thoroughly cleaned and remains open. In the past fortnight, large COVID-19 clusters have emerged within Sydneys Liverpool and Campbelltown hospitals. Thirty-five cases, including 30 patients, have tested positive after acquiring the virus at Liverpool and an additional 20 cases, including 16 patients, resulted at Campbelltown after a patient was transferred from Liverpool while infectious. Two patients at Mount Druitt Hospitals dialysis unit died earlier this month after a patient, now deceased, returned a positive test after receiving treatment. Singapore: There is light appearing at the end of the tunnel in Malaysia after one of the worst COVID-19 crises in the region, with interstate and international travel to resume from Monday after the country announced it had fully vaccinated 90 per cent of adults. Malaysia has suffered an infection and death rate that on a per capita basis has exceeded Indonesia, the country hardest hit by the virus in south-east Asia. Click here to read the story. Australia entered the pandemic with 337,000 registered nurses and produces about 20,000 nursing graduates every year. It is also increasingly reliant on skilled migration to bring in experienced nurses to supplement the workforce and do harder-to-fill jobs in regional areas and aged care. Figures provided by the Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federation show that skilled migrants make up 21 per cent of all newly registered nurses. In Victoria, overseas-trained doctors make up 23 per cent of total doctors and 30 per cent of doctors in regional areas. The Victorian Health Department estimates that since the start of the pandemic, the number of healthcare migrants joining the states workforce has plummeted by about 40 per cent. A department spokesperson said this was due to the difficulty of recruiting doctors, nurses and allied health professionals from overseas while navigating border closures and quarantine arrangements. Ms Ward said this could create a longer-term problem for Australias healthcare. If we dont do something to secure our new graduates as well as keep the international pipeline, we are going to get caught in the worldwide shortage that is coming, she said. Despite the federal government including nursing on its list of priority occupations for skilled migrants and offering more than 3100 special medical visas to doctors and nurses to come here to work, would-be healthcare migrants have been refused travel exemptions and visas and bumped from flights. The impact of this is being acutely felt in our hospital wards, GP clinics and nursing homes and also in the university and college courses where, until the pandemic, a steady stream of nurses from countries like India and the Philippines enrolled in three-month bridging courses to gain registration in Australia. Loading La Trobe University confirmed its entry program for international nurses had been severely disrupted by international border closures and it had no intake of students this year. At Central Queensland University, enrolments for its graduate certificate in nursing have fallen from 70 students last year to just three this year. Southern Cross University used to train nearly 300 international nurses a year at its Lismore campus in NSW. It currently has none enrolled. Although this is partly due to the Nursing and Midwifery Board of Australia changing its entry requirements for overseas nurses, it suggests that many overseas nurses are giving up on Australia. In 2019, the Australian College of Nursing had a waiting list of 3000 people to do its course. The waiting list is now down to 300 and its current intake has just two nurses from overseas. One of them is a 31-year-old cardiac theatre nurse from Manila, nicknamed Cham, who is about to start a job with a Melbourne suburban hospital. She was accepted into the course before the pandemic but, once Australias borders closed, had her application for a travel exemption rejected five times. She is one of seven Filipino nurses who had planned to come to Australia together. Instead, two of them persevered and eventually made the trip. Its surprising, especially when you see the news about the need for nurses and that nurses here are already exhausted, said Cham, who asked that her real name not be disclosed. There are five nurses waiting in the Philippines for a miracle to happen and their visas are about to expire. It is really hard and mentally degrading, but you need to keep hoping and praying. There is a split between the College of Nursing and the nurses union over the extent to which Australia should rely on overseas nurses, particularly those from poorer countries. The union argues it is unethical for Australia to draw on nurses from low-income countries facing their own shortage of healthcare workers. Overseas recruitment should not be the primary strategy to overcome workforce shortages in Australia or as an alternative to education and recruitment opportunities for the existing domestic workforce, the union wrote in a recent submission to government. The Australian Nursing and Midwifery Federations federal assistant secretary, Lori-Anne Sharpe, said there was no quick fix to Australias healthcare labour-force problems, where there is a shortage of experienced nurses and underemployment of graduate nurses. This is the accumulation of decades worth of problems in workforce planning, she said. We wouldnt support stealing from under-resourced countries which have really high demands. The Australian College of Nursings Ms Ward said although Australia needed to do better to support and retain its own graduates, it should also keep its doors open to overseas nurses from diverse backgrounds. Australian College of Nursing chief executive Kylie Ward It is a female-dominated profession, so you are giving opportunities to women they wouldnt otherwise get. Who are we to say no if they meet the criteria? We are part of a global system and should encourage diversity and opportunity. Australia has intervened in the global push to regulate tech giants, writing to the US Senate to urge it to follow the nations lead to make social media companies deliver safer products. Facebook whistleblower Frances Haugen has drawn global media coverage and ignited a bipartisan push in the US congress to rein in the tech giants, after testifying this week that the company knowingly harms its users and prioritises profit, stokes division, and undermines democracy. eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant has offered to testify at the US congressional hearings about Australias efforts to regulate the tech giants. Credit: Alex Ellinghausen In a letter to the chairs of the Senate hearings this week, Communications Minister Paul Fletcher and eSafety Commissioner Julie Inman Grant said the issues the US committees were grappling with are ones of truly global impact, adding that Australias leading regulatory approach had been internationally recognised. The letter included an offer for Ms Inman Grant to give evidence to the committees on Australias actions, noting that the World Economic Forum in June had recommended that other nations should consider forming a body specific to online safety, such as Australias eSafety Commissioner. The government may be inching towards changing its draft. It could give ground, for instance, on the idea that the CIC cannot initiate investigations and can only act on references from other agencies. The draft position is untenable because it weakens the commission compared to other agencies and departments, including those it may end up investigating. The Attorney-General, Michaelia Cash, will probably have to fix part of the draft bill that sets up two standards for inquiries one for officials including police officers, another for politicians. The Australian Federal Police Association and the Police Federation of Australia want one rule for all. Morrison and Cash will struggle if they want to deny them that. Attorney-General Michaelia Cash and Prime Minister Scott Morrison. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen The government is also signalling a concern about retrospective powers, but its position is confusing. To stop the commission examining events in the past would be to neuter it from the start. Experts think it should be able to consider conduct in the past against the laws that prevailed at the time. Whatever those changes, the federal plan is to set up a weaker body than most of the state and territory commissions that have operated for years. The CIC could not put politicians in a public witness box; hearings would be held in secret. Berejiklian would never have given public evidence under the federal model. Voters would never have heard her being asked about her relationship with Daryl Maguire, the former Liberal MP whose financial dealings led him to leave NSW Parliament. They would not have heard the recorded telephone call, played in an open hearing in October last year, in which Berejiklian stopped Maguire telling her more about his deals, saying: I dont need to know about that bit. The thank-you note for a bottle of wine written by Barry OFarrell that triggered his downfall. Credit: The federal model would never ask a politician in a public forum about his or her dealings with a company receiving big government contracts which is what happened when the NSW ICAC asked former NSW premier Barry OFarrell to appear in April 2014. Voters would not hear OFarrell denying he had received a bottle of 1959 Penfolds Grange Hermitage. And they might never see the handwritten note confirming he did. The federal commission would not set up a public hearing into payments from property developers, as Victorias IBAC did in 2019 when it asked staff from property developer John Woodman about the Casey land scandal. That hearing included testimony about an $8500 payment to attend a fundraiser for Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews. Liberals regard the fall of Berejiklian as damning confirmation of the flaws in the ICAC model revealed with OFarrell six years ago and former NSW premier Nick Greiner in 1992. Greiner was cleared of corruption by the NSW Supreme Court over appointing an MP to a public service body, but that ruling came too late to save him from political attack. He resigned before Parliament could attempt a no-confidence motion. ICAC did not force Berejiklian or OFarrell to resign: both did so based on what emerged in hearings. Days before OFarrell went, the counsel assisting ICAC, Geoffrey Watson, SC, basically cleared the premier and a fellow minister. We have found no evidence to implicate either in any corruption, he said. Berejiklian stepped down before the next hearings have even begun: the trigger was an ICAC press release saying it would investigate whether her conduct involved a breach of public trust. Flowers and messages of support outside Gladys Berejiklians constituency office in Northbridge last weekend. Credit:Jessica Hromas This is the power of an ICAC: to change politics through public statement and open hearing. It does not convict because that is a matter for the courts. It does not sack because that is a matter for Parliament. When its target is a politician, a commission can produce evidence that shifts the scales in public debate over whether that politician should stay or go. These scales work very differently to the scales of justice. Those who hate this power overlook how necessary it can be to finding corruption in politics. Former NSW minister Eddie Obeid flourished under a political system that allowed his dealings to go unchecked. He even won $162,000 in a defamation claim against the publisher of this newspaper in the NSW Supreme Court in 2006. It took the ICAC to uncover government deals that gave his family a $30 million windfall. But the Liberals are not the only ones with doubts about bringing this power to Canberra. There were concerns within Labor about going too far when former leader Bill Shorten and his shadow cabinet discussed their policy before the 2019 election. Labor chose to back a powerful federal ICAC but only after a debate about whether it might lead to show trials for politicians. There is no sign of division within the Coalition, which means there is no pressure on Morrison to go further than the very limited bill already circulating. More than half the lower house does not want the NSW model, if it accepts a corruption watchdog at all. The advocates for the strongest possible reform do not have the numbers. Loading The scene is set for a deadlock. Cash is planning to put a bill to Parliament in the coming weeks after three long years of argument since the Coalition promised a new watchdog. There has been at least a year of detailed debate over the draft government plan. The message from the government is obvious: it does not really want to do anything. Morrison feels so strongly about the risk of a NSW model that he is unlikely to negotiate with Labor and the crossbench on changing the final bill. Labor would probably want to make the theme of corruption part of its campaign at the next election, citing the sports rorts and car pork funding programs, which means it may prefer to reject the government bill and promise a stronger watchdog under a Labor government. The chances of a crossbench deal appear to be slim too. The government could get its way with support from Pauline Hansons One Nation and at least one other, but it would struggle to get Rex Patrick, the South Australian independent who will be campaigning on integrity and transparency when his position is at stake in next years election. Tasmanian independent Jacqui Lambie is unimpressed with the government, which might leave the outcome up to another South Australian, Stirling Griff. There is no guarantee Hanson will side with the government: a public debate about a docile watchdog could make it hard for her to back the bill, given she is also up for re-election next year. Loading An election test is certain. The Coalition will promise action while Labor will vow to create a stronger watchdog, accusing Morrison of being weak on corruption. First, however, they must decide whether the new commission lives or dies in Parliament. One of the arguments against change is that politicians have always engaged in pork-barrelling. The $100 million sports rorts program or the $660 million promised for car parks can be shrugged off by some who point to the original sports rorts affair, in 1992, to argue that some things never change. But the amount of money certainly does: the projects scribbled on a whiteboard three decades ago were only worth $30 million. If you want greater accountability and if you want this sort of malfeasance to end, does it matter to say that it is no worse now than 20 years ago or 40 years ago? asks Keith Dowding, professor of Political Science and Political Philosophy at the Australian National University. If ministers arent embarrassed by the fact that things are revealed in Parliament, and that journalists criticise them, then you might want some other process, in which case an integrity commission with teeth might be the way forward. Loading But Dowding, who has written at length about ministerial accountability in Australia and other countries, is cautious about the popular assumption that rorts are worse. The data that we have shows that its not straightforwardly the case that its worse now, he says. One trend, however, is the deterioration in the public service. One of the things that has changed, and which makes it easier for government to do these sorts of rorts, is that the public service has been weakened, he says. At the top end it has been more politicised. You have far more people who are staffers and political appointments and who are making decisions, so a large part of the public service integrity has disappeared. So I think there is a structural problem in the way in which government is now operating, both between ministers and the public service. There is already proof of corruption. The Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI) announced on August 23 that a former Australian Border Force (ABF) official had pleaded guilty to forgery and theft. On September 1, it said a former Department of Agriculture official engaged in corrupt conduct by helping a building company. On September 8, it said a former ABF officer had helped a drug syndicate. Loading One of the objectives of the new commission will be to absorb the work of the ACLEI. There is no dispute over this because the argument among politicians is about the power to examine politicians. In the debate over how far this power goes, there may at least be a consensus that politicians cannot be spared the scrutiny. The federal government is bigger than ever, with more power in every field from social services to national security, and with more money pouring into projects that range from local shower blocks to nuclear submarines. The potential for corruption is immense. Who knows what a strong integrity commission could uncover? Or what it could deter? Federal Labor MP Anthony Byrnes role in exposing what he believed to be corruption inside the ALP will be revealed in public hearings next week, when Victorias anti-corruption commission will investigate the alleged rorting of taxpayer-funded jobs and grants. Mr Byrne, the long-standing member for the seat of Holt, has been ordered to appear as a witness by the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission (IBAC). The commission on Monday will begin questioning witnesses using its compulsory powers, which compel staffers and politicians to answer honestly or face criminal penalties. IBAC has ordered Federal Labor MP Anthony Byrne to appear as a witness. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Mr Byrne is a veteran MP who once served as an assistant minister to prime minister Kevin Rudd. He is known for his work on national security issues and for close relationships with intelligence and security agencies due to his role as deputy chairman of Federal Parliaments security and intelligence committee. While it has been speculated that Mr Byrne played a part in exposing alleged corruption and rorting within his own Labor faction, led in Victoria by ex-minister Adem Somyurek and including many powerful state and federal MPs, the IBAC hearings will confirm his role. State police said three men were arrested and nearly a kilo of fentanyl was seized along with more than 15,000 packets of heroin and over a dozen firearms including several high-powered guns during an interstate bust last month. The three men, Geovanni Saldana, 28, Jose Rios, 34, and Alexander Rivera, 31 were all arrested Sept. 30, Connecticut State Police said Friday in a news release. Saldana and Rivera each face drug trafficking charges, while Rios was charged with multiple counts of gun possession and improper storage. Rivera also faces one gun storage-related charge, according to state police. The arrests stemmed from what state police said was a lengthy investigation by multiple police agencies into drug and weapon distribution in the Hartford region. This interagency, multistate effort has a significant regional impact on public safety across two states, Hampden, Mass., District Attorney Anthony Gulluni said in a statement. Law enforcement worked together across agency and state lines to interrupt a significant network of drug and gun distribution. I thank the investigators and agencies involved in this complicated investigation who worked collaboratively with each other to do their jobs and make their communities safer. Investigators zeroed in on Saldana, who they learned would be traveling from Hartford to Springfield with a significant amount of narcotics. Massachusetts authorities took him into custody as he traveled on Interstate 91 in Longmeadow, Mass. Investigators said he was traveling with approximately 95 grams of fentanyl and heroin. Meanwhile, Connecticut State Police narcotics detectives observed another individual attempting to leave the location in Hartford, they said. In that arrest, police seized the 15,000 bags of heroin, 800 grams of fentanyl and a 9 mm handgun. The next day, police raided other locations in Springfield and West Springfield, where they found 14 guns, drugs and $10,000. A photo of the weapons seized by police appears to show several AR-15-style firearms in various states of assembly, along with a handgun mounted with a silencer and what appear to be high-capacity magazines. An employee at a Walgreens in Evansville, Indiana, is accused of giving a COVID-19 vaccine to a family with young children instead of a flu shot. The pharmacy in question is at the Walgreens on St. Joseph Avenue. Here is what we know right now, according to an attorney for the family. The incident in question happened Monday, October 4, 2021, at about 4:00 p.m. The attorney, Dan Tulley, says his clients are Josh and Alex Price. They claim their two children, ages 4 and 5, went to the Walgreens to receive their annual flu shot. The couple says instead of the flu shot, they all received the Pfizer vaccine instead. The FDA has not approved the COVID-19 vaccine in any dosage for 4- and 5-year-old children. Alex, the children's mother says a Walgreens representative called them to inform them of the mistake just after 5:30 that same evening. According to the attorney, the children experienced a few adverse effects since receiving the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine. The children are being monitored by medical experts. Walgreens released the following statement on the matter: "Due to privacy laws, we cannot comment on specific patient events. However, in general, such instances are rare and Walgreens takes these matters very seriously. In the event of any error, our first concern is always our patients well-being. Our multi-step vaccination procedure includes several safety checks to minimize the chance of human error and we have reviewed this process with our pharmacy staff in order to prevent such occurrences." An employee at Walgreens would not comment if the person accused of administering the shot was still working or placed on leave. Allentown, PA (18103) Today Breezy and warm with sun followed by increasing clouds; showers towards evening, but most of the day is dry. . Tonight Some evening rain, then clearing late. Brisk and turning colder. Technical Officer, Geneva, Switzerland Organization: World Health Organization (WHO) Country: Switzerland City: Geneva Office: WHO Geneva, Switzerland Grade: P-4 Closing date: Thursday, 28 October 2021 Technical Officer ( 2104721 ) Grade : P4 Contractual Arrangement : Temporary appointment under Staff Rule 420.4 Contract Duration (Years, Months, Days) : One year Job Posting: Oct 7, 2021, 2:42:38 PM The Regulation of Medicines and other Health Technologies unit (RHT) works with Member States and partners to improve the access to essential medicines and other health technologies of assured quality, safety and efficacy or effectiveness. RHT works within the Access to Medicines, Vaccines and Pharmaceuticals (MVP) cluster departments in the wider framework of Universal Health Coverage and category 4 of the General Programme of Work, and cooperates with disease oriented programmes (among others HIV/AIDS, TB, malaria, reproductive health, maternal and child health, immunization, NCDs and mental health) towards the Sustainable Development Goals. The department works with a wide range of UN organizations, international partners and expert networks, and WHO Collaborating Centres. The Prequalification team (PQT) within RHT promotes and facilitates access to safe and appropriate diagnostics/medical devices, medicines and vaccines of assured quality through advocacy and policy, prequalification, quality assurance systems and strengthening national regulatory and laboratory programmes. PQTs global activities aim at ensuring health products are accessible, available at reasonable cost, used appropriately and are provided within an adequate regulatory framework and a sustainable health care system. DESCRIPTION OF DUTIES The incumbent is responsible for the below tasks, under the supervision of the Diagnostics assessment Group Lead: To contribute to prequalification assessments of priority in vitro diagnostics. To work in close collaboration with subject matter experts supporting prequalification assessments. To proactively communicate, follow-up and engage with Prequalification Team staff responsible for the different activities within Prequalification of in vitro diagnostics in order to ensure effective and coordinated planning of activities. To work in close collaboration with Member States to optimize in vitro diagnostics quality assurance. To provide technical advice to UN and other interested procurement agencies concerning in vitro diagnostics quality, safety and performance. To support the development of prequalification guidance documents for in vitro diagnostics manufacturers and advocacy materials, newsletters and other updates for stakeholders. To contribute to the development of SOPs and to update existing SOPs related to the prequalification of in vitro diagnostics. To prepare reports, briefings and presentations for internal and external audiences. To carry out other tasks, as required by the supervisor. REQUIRED QUALIFICATIONS Education Essential : University degree in a health science such as biology, biochemistry, laboratory sciences or pharmacy and an advanced university degree (Masters level of above) in a health science. Desirable: PhD degree in a related health science. Experience Essential : At least seven years of experience in in vitro diagnostics area, some of which gained in an international context, including working with industry and governmental bodies. Demonstrated experience in in vitro diagnostics quality assurance programmes for priority diseases such as HIV. Desirable: Experience in collaboration with other UN organizations and industry. Skills Excellent written and oral communication skills. Ability to present information effectively. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively on complex issues. Strong interpersonal skills and team spirit. Ability to work under tight deadlines on a results-oriented basis. Good planning skills, ability to handle multiple tasks and priorities. Fluency in the use of standard office software programmes. WHO Competencies Teamwork Respecting and promoting individual and cultural differences Communication Producing results Building and promoting partnerships across the organization and beyond Use of Language Skills Essential : Expert knowledge of English. cvLQzvO Dh7qKS Desirable: Beginners knowledge of another official UN language (Arabic, Chinese, French, Russian, Spanish). REMUNERATION WHO salaries for staff in the Professional category are calculated in US dollars. The remuneration for the above position comprises an annual base salary starting at USD 74,913 (subject to mandatory deductions for pension contributions and health insurance, as applicable), a variable post adjustment, which reflects the cost of living in a particular duty station, and currently amounts to USD 5194 per month for the duty station indicated above. Other benefits include 30 days of annual leave, allowances for dependent family members, home leave, and an education grant for dependent children. ADDITIONAL INFORMATION This vacancy notice may be used to fill other similar positions at the same grade level. Only candidates under serious consideration will be contacted. A written test may be used as a form of screening. In the event that your candidature is retained for an interview, you will be required to provide, in advance, a scanned copy of the degree(s)/diploma(s)/certificate(s) required for this position. WHO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU)/United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed through the link: http://www.whed.net/. Some professional certificates may not appear in the WHED and will require individual review. Any appointment/extension of appointment is subject to WHO Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and eManual. Staff members in other duty stations are encouraged to apply. For information on WHOs operations please visit: http://www.who.int. WHO is committed to workforce diversity. WHO prides itself on a workforce that adheres to the highest ethical and professional standards and that is committed to put the WHO Values Charter into practice. WHO has zero tolerance towards sexual exploitation and abuse (SEA), sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct (i.e., discrimination, abuse of authority and harassment). All members of the WHO workforce have a role to play in promoting a safe and respectful workplace and should report to WHO any actual or suspected cases of SEA, sexual harassment and other types of abusive conduct. To ensure that individuals with a substantiated history of SEA, sexual harassment or other types of abusive conduct are not hired by the Organization, WHO will conduct a background verification of final candidates. WHO has a smoke-free environment and does not recruit smokers or users of any form of tobacco. WHO has a mobility policy which can be found at the following link: http://www.who.int/employment/en/. Candidates appointed to an international post with WHO are subject to mobility and may be assigned to any activity or duty station of the Organization throughout the world. Applications from women and from nationals of non and underrepresented Member States are particularly encouraged. Link to the organizations job offer: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1633631391372 Junior Agronomy and Extension Specialist, Georgia Organization: FAO - Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Country: Georgia City: Tbilisi Closing date: Thursday, 21 October 2021 2102703 Junior Agronomy and Extension Specialist Job Posting: 07/Oct/2021 Closure Date: 21/Oct/2021, 9:59:00 PM Organizational Unit : FEGEO Job Type: Non-staff opportunities Type of Requisition : NPP (National Project Personnel) Grade Level : N/A Primary Location: Georgia Duration : 3 months (renewable based on performance) Post Number : N/A IMPORTANT NOTICE: Please note that Closure Date and Time displayed above are based on date and time settings of your personal device FAO is committed to achieving workforce diversity in terms of gender, nationality, background and culture Qualified female applicants, qualified nationals of non-and under-represented member nations and person with disabilities are encouraged to apply Everyone who works for FAO is required to adhere to the highest standards of integrity and professional conduct, and to uphold our values. FAO has a zero-tolerance policy on conduct that is incompatible with the aims and objectives of the United Nations and FAO, including sexual exploitation and abuse, sexual harassment, abuse of authority and discrimination All selected candidates, therefore, will undergo rigorous reference and background checks All applications will be treated with the strictest confidentiality The incumbent may be re-assigned to different activities and/or duty stations depending on the evolving needs of the Organization Organizational Setting FAO mandate in Georgia is to support national efforts to promote food security and sustainable development of agricultural sector. FAO priorities in Georgia reflect the objectives and priorities of the Government set in the strategy papers related to agricultural development. In essence, FAO assists the Government in creating and implementing an institutional, legal and regulatory environment. At the same time, FAO supports individuals working in agriculture - farmers, cooperatives, companies etc. by providing technical and financial assistance. Reporting Lines The Junior Agronomy and Extension Specialist shall operate under the overall guidance and responsibility of the FAO Representative in Georgia; direct supervision of the Programme Coordinator, technical guidance of the International Agronomist, and in collaboration with other international and national consultants involved in the FAO project implemented under ENPARD III. Technical Focus Agronomy with focus on Extension to high value crop farmers. Tasks and responsibilities Take part in planning and implementation of field activities related to dissemination of information to farmers and using resources for interacting with them through Farmer Field School group work, mass campaigns, individual activities, etc. Participate in the elaboration of the Annual Extension Workplan and Procurement Plan. Supervise directly in the field and through consultations on phone the demonstration plots in 2-5 different municipalities in 2 different regions through field visits and direct work with farmers. All standard Demonstration Plot practices should be implemented in each demo: proper land preparation including bed formation, establishment of wind breakers, production of healthy seedlings, proper transplant, irrigation and fertigation, safe crop protection and plant nutrition, etc. Provide technical assistance to 15-20 farmers on their plots in each location assigned or to a total of 40 farmers minimum. The technical assistance will focus on Good Agriculture Practices and specially practices that farmers can implement which can improve yield and quality of product. Visits have to be performed at least on a fortnight frequency. The Junior Agronomist should have a fortnight schedule of visits in an Excel Sheet, which should be shared with supervisor and team. Use the Technical Assistance form in every farm visit to ensure the supervision of key issues in the farm and to provide any recommendation to farmer in written form. Organize logistics of Field Days in demonstration plots to train farmers on topics according to plan depending on stage of crop cycle (3 trainings minimum per demo plot per group of farmers); ICC staff, ENPARD III Implementing Partner organizations and LAG should be informed of Field Days with 1 week anticipation to ensure high participation of farmers. Work on a regular basis, including joint field visits, with the local Ministry of Environmental Protection and Agriculture (MEPA) ICC agronomy personnel. Collaborate with team members working in related functional areas such as Climate Smart Agriculture, media extension, Value Chain Analysis, Grants. Interact with local Input suppliers in related efforts to provide farmers with technical assistance, supply quality and registered agricultural inputs. Interact with farmers and agribusinesses during meetings and field visits; identify Lead Farmers and Value Chain gaps that could be filled to strengthen required productivity and value addition based on market needs. Implement best practices to ensure a high participation of women in every extension activity. Extension should preferably target the household members involved in production and not only the family head. Use and recommend only cleared agriculture inputs and observe all security measures while handling them, using Personal Protective Equipment recommended. Mentor Agronomy Interns in technical matters and to build their professional demeanor. Organize the routine field activities of Interns assigned and communicate with them in written form preferably. Supervise the gathering of cost related information by assigned Lead Farmers and Interns. Collaborate with Monitoring & Evaluation staff to plan and organize monitoring activities. Support M&E with information requested. Contribute with the making of the quarterly reports to donor. cvLPTyl Dh7qKS Keep good communication with other team members, responding promptly to others requests. Other duties as required. CANDIDATES WILL BE ASSESSED AGAINST THE FOLLOWING Minimum Requirements A university degree in Agronomy Fluency in English is a must Fluency in Russian will be considered an asset Georgian Nationality FAO Core Competencies Results Focus Teamwork Communication Building Effective Relationships Knowledge Sharing and Continuous Improvement Technical/Functional Skills Good written, oral, and analytical skills Demonstrated experience in field work in agriculture/rural development projects Demonstrated ability to work as an effective team member Ability to solve problems and adapt to changing situations in field ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FAO does not charge a fee at any stage of the recruitment process (application, interview meeting, processing) Incomplete applications will not be considered. If you need help please contact: Careers@fao.org Applications received after the closing date will not be accepted Please note that FAO only considers higher educational qualifications obtained from an institution accredited/recognized in the World Higher Education Database (WHED), a list updated by the International Association of Universities (IAU) / United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO). The list can be accessed at http://www.whed.net/ For additional employment opportunities visit the FAO employment website: http://www.fao.org/employment/home/en/ FAO seeks gender, geographical and linguistic diversity in its staff and international consultants in order to best serve FAO Members in all regions. HOW TO APPLY To apply, visit the recruitment website at Jobs at FAO and complete your online profile. Only applications received through the recruitment portal will be considered Candidates are requested to attach a letter of motivation to the online profile. If you need help, or have queries, please contact: Careers@fao.org Link to the organizations job offer: https://unjobs.org/vacancies/1633631030245 Twenty-five years ago this week, the staff of McNally Robinson were frantically preparing, bounding about their Grant Park store, a 20,000-square-foot behemoth that had yet to welcome its first customer. Twenty-five years ago this week, the staff of McNally Robinson were frantically preparing, bounding about their Grant Park store, a 20,000-square-foot behemoth that had yet to welcome its first customer. The grand opening was near, and so was Margaret Atwood. Atwood, if not the countrys most famous author then at least its second or third, was in Winnipeg to promote her latest book, Alias Grace, and to lend her authoritative support to what was to become the countrys largest independent bookstore, with a reading and book signing. A large crowd was anticipated. There was a wild push to get ready for Oct. 15: staff were shifted from the companys smaller locations, shipments were arriving in rapid succession. Shelves still had to be set up when Atwood arrived a few hours early to discuss the details of her reading, where she would be joined by a local literary icon, Carol Shields. "Margaret Atwood came with her publicist to see what she got into," recalls Chris Hall, who had joined McNally Robinson Booksellers a few months earlier and was busy unloading copies of Alias Grace as its author walked in. But as soon as Hall noticed her, Atwood was gone. Margaret Atwood came with her publicist to see what she got into. She disappeared. She came back with bags from Safeway filled with bananas and granola bars for the staff. Chris Hall "She disappeared," recalled Hall, a once-noncommittal part-time applicant who eventually became the companys co-owner. "She came back with bags from Safeway filled with bananas and granola bars for the staff." A quarter-century has passed since that night, when then-owners Holly and Paul McNally opened not just an independent bookstore, but an enormous one, at a moment when some feared the retail book business was dying. Today, the store with its sprawling selection of everything from childrens books to graphic novels to classic literature is about as cherished by local readers as the Winnipeg Public Library, continuing to thrive throughout many more moments when the book business was thought to be near death. But Grant Park is not exactly where the story of McNally Robinson Booksellers began. In 1980, Holly and Paul McNally moved to Winnipeg, where Holly, a former social worker, was seeking a change of pace and where Paul, an avid woodworker, found work as a professor of English at the University of Manitoba. JOHN WOODS / FREE PRESS FILES Ron Robinson, as Santa, reacts as Nicholas Cambell, 4, pulls his beard during a visit to McNally Robinson Bookstore in December 2018. Then, in January 1981, their nascent interest in the literary business was piqued when an erudite 34-year-old with a penchant for wordplay was laid off by the downtown Eaton's in his capacity as book buyer. His name was Ron Robinson. Robinson was, like the McNallys, a true book lover, and had worked his way up Eatons employee food chain, selling pipes, sweeping floors and sorting hangers before receiving a life preserver in the form of a position as a stock boy in the book department. In 1977, Robinson became the buyer under department head Carl Buffie, a dream gig. But in 1981, the major department-store chain centralized its buying operations in Toronto, and Robinson, along with several other workers, was laid off. Disgruntled, but not discouraged, Robinson spoke to local reporters about the unexpected change, his regrets and his desire to continue working in books, objects he felt were different than other items he could have hawked. "I dont think a frying pan says I Love You like a book does," he told the Free Press. "Paul and Holly saw that article, heard me on the radio, called me and said, You seem like the man wed like to open a bookstore with, " Robinson recalls. They had finances, enthusiasm and determination. Robinson had bookselling knowledge, and a not-small chip on his shoulder to show Eaton's what it had lost. In 1981, looking for a location, Robinson sat on a "grassy hillock" at Grant Avenue and Kenaston Boulevard all day, watching who was coming to the strip mall across the street. Behind him was all green, and not on the exterior walls of the Real Canadian Superstore: the area was much different then than now. He saw busy people, children, busy people with children, and the McNallys agreed it would make a strong location. WAYNE GLOWACKI / FREE PRESS FILES Paul McNally in the new McNally Robinson book store at Polo Park in 2008. Paul was largely responsible for the Grant Park stores look and feel. Paul McNally was largely responsible for the stores look and feel, while Robinson brought with him retail strategies gleaned from Eaton's, such as hot zones, access points, shelf orientations, stock-control systems and customer-satisfaction ideology. "Holly had such enthusiasm and Paul made everything look sharp," Robinson says. "Our store looked so good that for the first two years or so, people asked, Are you an American chain? They couldnt believe it." When it came to naming the store, there was no real debate: McNally Robinson had a good ring to it. Although, if Robinsons mother had a say, that might be different. "She insisted on calling it Robinson McNally," Robinson says with a laugh. Ms. Atwood was a fixture in that stores early days, too, then promoting her 1981 book, Bodily Harm. As the stores first book-signer, she helped Robinson stock shelves. But by 1983, change was afoot, and the McNallys bought Robinson out. However, his name only recently put on a $900 sign out front stayed. By 1983, change was afoot, and the McNallys bought Robinson out. By 1986, a second location in Osborne Village opened, followed by expansions into Portage Place and a childrens store on Henderson Highway. By the time the Grant Park store opened, McNally Robinson had outlived several cherished bookstores of yesteryear, and beat out major book retailers like Chapters by a few years in establishing a major footprint. Meanwhile, hundreds of employees, including some who went on to successful literary careers, were hired, including two members of the 2021 Giller Prize long list, Miriam Toews and Casey Plett, who worked at Grant Park from 2013 through 2015, when her first book, A Safe Girl to Love, was released. Some of Plett's favourite memories include the two times someone she didn't know came to the counter to buy her book. "Each time I played it coy. 'Have you heard anything about this title?' The first time, it was a young girl who said she hadn't, she loved the cover and was excited to read it. I nearly cried right there; it was a dream come true. "The second time it was a middle-aged woman who replied, 'Yeah, I know you wrote it. It's for my book club.'" GREG PENDER / STAR PHOENIX FILES A reader peruses a book inside the McNally Robinson bookstore in Saskatoon in 2007. Plett also met Toews when she released All My Puny Sorrows in 2014, bonding with the former employee-turned-bestselling author before Toews was forced to conduct the reading from the store's spiral staircase, with no other space in the packed room. As the store in Winnipeg thrived, the company set its sights west, opening stores in Saskatoon and Calgary, and east, in an ill-fated recession-era expansion into Toronto that dovetailed with a Polo Park shopping centre location in the late aughts; the eastward endeavours landed with a thud. While that was happening, Chris Hall was, as Robinson did before him at Eaton's, learning the book business from the inside all along. When he was hired in 1996, he was fresh out of his masters program, looking for something to do for a little while. "My cover letter was very non-committal," he said. A little while turned out to be about half of his life. By 2012, the McNallys, having built up the business to become not just a bookseller, but a restaurant, game retailer, toy seller, event centre and community hub, were looking to move on. After 30-plus years, it was time, and Hall and Lori Baker, the companys controller for the previous six years, were interested in taking the reins. (Tori McNally, one of the couples daughters, was originally involved in the succession plans, but changed course. Sarah McNally, another daughter, runs the New York-based McNally Jackson stores.) MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Lori Baker and Chris Hall bought the business over the course of about six years, Hall and Baker bought the business over the course of about six years, and now oversee the operations of a company whose business is in more than just books, though the printed page still makes up two-thirds of McNally Robinsons annual business. Across all locations, the company boasts nearly 10,000 reader-reward card holders. The Saskatoon store, opened in 1998, is still going strong, as is an outpost opened at The Forks four years ago, but to many, the Grant Park shop remains the ultimate destination for browsing and getting lost in the stacks. While still an independent seller, McNally Robinson occupies a unique space in Canadian books: too huge to be small, too small to be huge, too local to be national. Its a dynamic that's owed to the companys roots and its symbiosis with Canadian publishers and authors, whom it has always vocally promoted. Its also lived, as an entity, through the rise of Amazon and digital book sales, the decline of major North American sellers like Barnes & Noble and Borders, and a brief court-appointed period of bankruptcy protection after the openings at Polo Park and in Toronto. It continues to stock the city's largest selection of magazines, even as their page counts creep downward. It continues, and continues, and continues. Whats the secret? Hall takes a modest stab. "It's the customers, and its the creativity. Theres no software for this. I always say we hire creative people writers, artists, thinkers, musicians. We make stuff up as we go along." "And as long as the community wants us to be here, McNally Robinson will be here," he adds. ben.waldman@freepress.mb.ca If you value coverage of Manitobas arts scene, help us do more. Your contribution of $10, $25 or more will allow the Free Press to deepen our reporting on theatre, dance, music and galleries while also ensuring the broadest possible audience can access our arts journalism. BECOME AN ARTS JOURNALISM SUPPORTER Click here to learn more about the project. For Winnipegger Terry Doerksen, a Thanksgiving pilgrimage by oxcart from the junction of the Rat and Red rivers is a way to honour his Mennonite ancestors who came to Manitoba from Russia in 1875. For Winnipegger Terry Doerksen, a Thanksgiving pilgrimage by oxcart from the junction of the Rat and Red rivers is a way to honour his Mennonite ancestors who came to Manitoba from Russia in 1875. Its also a way to thank the Metis people who helped them when they arrived in the province almost 150 years ago, and to acknowledge the Indigenous people who were forced from their land to make way for the new settlers. The 59-year-old electrician set out Friday morning with his wife, Patty, 61, headed for Blumenort, 34 kilometres away to the east, travelling at a top speed of three kilometres an hour behind their ox, Zik. They plan to arrive Sunday. The pilgrimage is a way "to experience, in a small way, what my ancestors did in coming to a new land, and to thank the Metis who met them with carts to help them get to their new homes," said Doerksen. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Terry Doerksen set out Friday morning with his wife headed for Blumenort, travelling at a top speed of three kilometres an hour behind their ox, Zik. At the same time, the members of Gateway Church, a non-denominational congregation in East Kildonan, want to give thanks to the Indigenous people "who shared their corner of Manitoba with the new immigrants, even though I wish things had been handled much differently," he said. He also will give thanks to "Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who led a little flock from Russia to Canada and continues to shepherd their descendants to this day," he added. Doerksens Mennonite ancestors, among them 10-year-old Gerhard Doerksen his great-grandfather arrived at the Rat River by paddlewheel steamship from the U.S. in 1875. The spot is now known as Menno Landing, and is the place where the couple started their pilgrimage. On their way to Blumenort they will pass the site of the immigration sheds near Niverville, where the first Mennonite immigrants were taken by their new Metis neighbours to "catch their breath, get deloused and buy supplies before heading to their new homes," he said. The oxcart cost about $800 for materials. It was made by his friend and former boss Phil Doerksen. It took him about 200 hours to create. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The oxcart cost about $800 for materials. It was made by his friend and former boss Phil Doerksen. A fusion between Metis and Mennonite, the oxcart was built following traditional Metis plans with an old pew from a Mennonite church for a seat. "Complete with the hymnal rack on the back," he said. While riding, Doerksen will wear authentic Metis clothing. "I checked with Metis friends first to make sure that was OK," he said, adding "I like history and am always interested in what people experienced in the past, what life was like for them." He will also use the time to pray for the communities he passes through, and for the whole province a continuation of a 110-kilometre prayer walk he made around Winnipeg from spring through fall in 2014. The Thanksgiving pilgrimage is a dry run for a longer oxcart trip the couple is planning from Winnipeg to St. Paul, Minn., next summer following the old Red River Trail, a journey of 869 kilometres. MIKAELA MACKENZIE / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS The Thanksgiving pilgrimage is a dry run for a longer oxcart trip the couple is planning from Winnipeg to St. Paul, Minn., next summer following the old Red River Trail, a journey of 869 kilometres. While enormously grateful for the way Canada welcomed his ancestors, giving them "free" land in the province and freedom to follow their Mennonite faith, he also knows their arrival came at a cost to the original inhabitants. "The Anishinaabe were the caretakers of this corner of the country," he said, noting the Creator had given them everything they needed to live here. Do you appreciate the extensive faith coverage by the Free Press? Become a supporter of the Religion in the News project! Your contribution of $10, $25 or more can help us keep offering trusted coverage of faith in Manitoba. Become a supporter Click here to learn more about the project. Before the Mennonites arrived, they were told to choose a new block of territory to live in, equivalent to the amount of land being occupied by Mennonites. "Even though I know the whole land had been theirs before, Im glad that at least they didnt get less than the newcomers," he said, noting they chose the Roseau River Reserve and the Brokenhead Reserve for their new homes. As a result of this displacement, "My feelings are deeply mixed," he said. "I am so thankful that 146 years after my ancestors landed here, I have a wonderful place that I can call my home. Yet I am so sad that my gain came at such a loss to those entrusted by our Creator as stewards of the land." One day he hopes to acknowledge his debt to the Anishinaabe of Roseau River in a more substantial way. But now all he wants to do through the pilgrimage is thank God and say to them "from the bottom of my heart, Miigwech." faith@freepress.mb.ca AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas clinics on Saturday canceled appointments they had booked during a 48-hour reprieve from the most restrictive abortion law in the U.S., which was back in effect as weary providers again turn their sights to the Supreme Court. FILE - In this Oct. 2, 2021 file photo people participate in the Houston Women's March against Texas abortion ban walk from Discovery Green to City Hall in Houston. A federal appeals court is temporarily allowing the nations toughest abortion law to resume in Texas. The 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals handed down the order Friday, Oct. 8. (Melissa Phillip/Houston Chronicle via AP, File) AUSTIN, Texas (AP) Texas clinics on Saturday canceled appointments they had booked during a 48-hour reprieve from the most restrictive abortion law in the U.S., which was back in effect as weary providers again turn their sights to the Supreme Court. The Biden administration, which sued Texas over the law known as Senate Bill 8, has yet to say whether it will go that route after a federal appeals court reinstated the law late Friday. The latest twist came just two days after a lower court in Austin suspended the law, which bans abortions once cardiac activity is detected, usually around six weeks, before some women know they are pregnant. It makes no exceptions in cases of rape or incest. The White House had no immediate comment Saturday. David Trujillo holds a sign as a school bus drives by on the street in front of a building housing an abortion provider in Dallas, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. A federal judge has ordered Texas to suspend a new law that has banned most abortions in the state since September. The order Wednesday by U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman freezes for now the strict abortion law known as Senate Bill 8. (AP Photo/LM Otero) For now at least, the law is in the hands of the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, which allowed the restrictions to resume pending further arguments. In the meantime, Texas abortions providers and patients are right back to where they've been for most of the last six weeks. Out-of-state clinics already inundated with Texas patients seeking abortions were again the closest option for many women. Providers say others are being forced to carry pregnancies to term, or waiting in hopes that courts will strike down the law that took effect on Sept. 1. There are also new questions including whether anti-abortion advocates will try punishing Texas physicians who performed abortions during the brief window the law was paused from late Wednesday to late Friday. Texas leaves enforcement solely in the hands of private citizens who can collect $10,000 or more in damages if they successfully sue abortion providers who flout the restrictions. Texas Right to Life, the state's largest anti-abortion group, created a tip line to receive reports of violators. About a dozen calls came in after U.S. District Judge Robert Pitman suspended the law, said John Seago, the group's legislative director. Maria Pena holds a rosary and sign out outside a building housing an abortion provider in Dallas, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. (AP Photo/LM Otero) Although some Texas clinics said they had briefly resumed abortions on patients who were beyond six weeks, Seago said his group had no lawsuits in the works. He said the clinics' public statements did not "match up with what we saw on the ground," which he says include a network of observers and crisis pregnancy centers. "I dont have any credible evidence at the moment of litigation that we would bring forward," Seago said Saturday. Texas had roughly two dozen abortion clinics before the law took effect. At least six clinics resumed performing abortions after six weeks of pregnancy during the reprieve, according to the Center for Reproductive Rights. At Whole Woman's Health, which has four abortion clinics in Texas, president and CEO Amy Hagstrom Miller said she did not have the number of abortions her locations performed for patients beyond six weeks but put it at "quite a few." She said her clinics were again complying with the law and acknowledged the risks her physicians and staff had taken. A woman enters Alamo Women's Reproductive Services, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021, in San Antonio. A federal judge ordered Texas to suspend the most restrictive abortion law in the U.S., calling it an "offensive deprivation" of a constitutional right by banning most abortions in the nation's second-most populous state since September, but abortion services in Texas might not instantly resume even with the law on hold because doctors still fear that they could be sued without a more permanent legal decision. (AP Photo/Eric Gay) "Of course we are all worried," she said. "But we also feel a deep commitment to providing abortion care when it is legal to do so, we did." Pitman, the federal judge who halted the Texas law Wednesday in a blistering 113-page opinion, was appointed by President Barack Obama. He called the law an "offensive deprivation" of the constitutional right to an abortion, but his ruling was swiftly set aside at least for now in a one-page order by the 5th Circuit that on Friday night. That same appeals court previously allowed the Texas restrictions to take effect in September, in a separate lawsuit brought by abortion providers. This time, the court gave the Justice Department until 5 p.m. Tuesday to respond. What happens after that is unclear, including how soon the appeals court will act or whether they will request more arguments. Texas is asking the appeals court for a permanent injunction that would allow the law to stand while the case plays out. In the meantime, Nancy Northup, president of the Center for Reproductive Rights, urged the Supreme Court to "step in and stop this madness." Last month, the high court allowed the law to move forward in a 5-4 decision, although it did so without ruling on the law's constitutionality. A 1992 decision by the Supreme Court prevented states from banning abortion before viability, the point at which a fetus can survive outside the womb, around 24 weeks of pregnancy. But Texas version has outmaneuvered courts due to its novel enforcement mechanism that leaves enforcement to private citizens and not prosecutors, which critics say amounts to a bounty. The Biden administration could bring the case back to the Supreme Court and ask it to quickly restore Pitman's order, although it is unclear whether they will do so. "Im not very optimistic about what could happen at the Supreme Court," said Carl Tobias, a law professor at the University of Richmond, about the Justice Department's chances. "But there's not much downside either, right?" he said. "The question is, what's changed since the last time they saw it? There is this full opinion, this full hearing before the judge and the record. So that may be enough." HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) Oil has been washing up on some Southern California beaches since a leak in an underwater pipeline from an offshore platform sent tens of thousands of gallons of heavy crude into the ocean waters. The spill fouled the famed sands of Huntington Beach, known as Surf City USA, and could keep the ocean and shoreline closed there and in some other communities to the south for weeks. Workers with Patriot Environmental Services pick up oil-contaminated sand and plants south of the pier in Huntington Beach, Calif. on Friday, Oct. 8, 2021. Investigators searching for the cause of an undersea oil pipeline break off the Southern California coast have pointed to the possibility that a ship anchor dragged the line across the seabed and cracked it, but two videos released so far provide only tantalizing clues about what might have happened below the ocean surface. (Paul Bersebach/The Orange County Register via AP) HUNTINGTON BEACH, Calif. (AP) Oil has been washing up on some Southern California beaches since a leak in an underwater pipeline from an offshore platform sent tens of thousands of gallons of heavy crude into the ocean waters. The spill fouled the famed sands of Huntington Beach, known as Surf City USA, and could keep the ocean and shoreline closed there and in some other communities to the south for weeks. Heres a look at what happened, whos involved and the aftermath: WHAT HAPPENED? Boaters off Orange County and residents of Newport Beach started reporting a petroleum smell in the air and oily sheen on the water Friday afternoon, Oct. 1. The following morning the Coast Guard confirmed a spill. The sheen on the ocean was miles wide and crude started washing ashore in sticky, black blobs. The leak occurred about 5 miles (8 kilometers) offshore at a depth of about 98 feet (30 meters) and came from a pipeline owned by Amplify Energy. The Houston-based company also owns and operates three nearby offshore platforms that pipe oil into Long Beach. Oil first washed up in Huntington Beach, including Talbert Marsh, a sensitive wetland. Crude was later spotted down the Orange County coast, in Newport Beach, Laguna Beach and Dana Point. By Thursday tar balls were reported washing up in Carlsbad, in San Diego County. HOW MUCH OIL LEAKED? Its still a mystery. Seagulls are seen as workers in protective suits clean the contaminated beach after an oil spill in Newport Beach, Calif., on Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021. The Coast Guard is investigating whether a ship anchor snagged and bent the pipeline off Huntington Beach. (AP Photo/Ringo H.W. Chiu) Amplify Energy publicly said no more than 126,000 gallons (477,000 liters) flowed from its pipe. But the company also told federal investigators the total may be 29,400 gallons (111,300 liters). On Thursday, the Coast Guard announced its own estimate of at least about 25,000 gallons (95,000 liters) and no more than 132,000 gallons (500,000 liters). David Pettit, a senior attorney at the environmental group Natural Resources Defense Council, finds it hard to believe Amplify doesnt know how much oil it lost. If they know what the flow rate was in the pipeline, and how much the pressure dropped, and for how long, you could calculate that in a matter of minutes, Pettit said. HOW WAS THE LEAK DISCOVERED? A commercial vessel anchored off Huntington Beach reported to a national hazardous spill hotline staffed by the Coast Guard that it saw a sheen more than 2 miles (3 kilometers) long just after 6 p.m. Friday night. A satellite image shot by the European Space Agency indicated a likely oil slick in the area around 7 p.m., which was reported to the Coast Guard at 2:06 a.m. Saturday after being reviewed by a National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration analyst. The Coast Guard said it did not act on either report, deciding to wait until daybreak because darkness and a lack of technology would hamper its search for oil. Amplify CEO Martin Willsher said the company did not discover the leak until it saw oil in the water at 8:09 a.m. Saturday. However, other reports indicate the company had signs of a leak as early at 2:30 a.m. Saturday. Federal regulators said an alarm on Platform Elly alerted a control room operator at that time to a drop in pipeline pressure that could indicate a leak. The company did not report the leak until 8:55 a.m., according to the California Office of Emergency Services. The company that reported the leak on behalf of Amplify said the incident occurred at 2:30 a.m. Around the time the company reported the spill, the Coast Guard said it located oil in the water. WHOS RESPONSIBLE? The cause is under investigation. Amplify CEO Martin Willsher first suggested Monday that an anchor from one of the many commercial vessels that use the massive Los Angeles-Long Beach port complex might be to blame. The next day the Coast Guard said divers found that a 4,000-foot (1,219-meter) section of the pipeline was laterally displaced by about 105 feet (32 meters). Its bent like a bow string, Willsher said. Video of the ruptured pipeline released by the Coast Guard showed a thin 13-inch-long (33-centimeter) crack that experts said could indicate a slow leak that initially was difficult to detect. A Coast Guard investigator said the pipeline was likely damaged by a ships anchor several months to a year before it ruptured. After the first strike its possible other ships anchors subsequently struck the steel pipe, said Capt. Jason Neubauer, chief of the guard's office of investigations and analysis. It remains unknown when the slender, 13-inch (33-centimeter) crack began leaking oil, and investigators will pour over a year of data on ship movements near the area of the break. No ships have been identified as suspects at this point. WHATS THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT? That will depend on how much oil is out there. Local officials, who feared an environmental catastrophe at first, have more recently voiced hope that the total spill will be less than initially feared. So far, only a small number of oiled birds have been recovered. Teams are out searching for affected animals in the spill area and beyond. Environmentalists say its too soon to know how many seabirds, marine mammals and other animals will ultimately be affected by the oily film covering marsh areas and floating on the ocean or for how long. Researchers say the impact on animals will take a while to understand. They are just starting to learn about some of the long-term effects from the 2010 Deepwater Horizon oil spill. And many problems remain unseen as oil components build beneath the surface of the ocean. Out on the water by the rigs, theres no visible sheen and no stench of oil like the putrid odor that pervaded Huntington Beach in the days after the incident. As the spread of COVID-19 on Manitoba reserves grows, the First Nations pandemic response team has warned its resources to manage outbreaks will be slim throughout this fourth wave. As the spread of COVID-19 on Manitoba reserves grows, the First Nations pandemic response team has warned its resources to manage outbreaks will be slim throughout this fourth wave. Over the past week, 38 per cent of new infections in Manitoba were reported among First Nations people, and the majority of cases involved people who live on reserves, said Dr. Marcia Anderson. "Our numbers are clearly on the rise, not just in the province but specifically in Manitoba First Nations as well," Anderson said. Rapid response teams have been deployed to two communities in recent weeks to assist with testing and outbreak management; meanwhile the five-day test positivity for First Nations was at 8.4 per cent on reserve, and 5.2 per cent off reserve, Anderson said. The provincial average was 3.4 per cent as of Friday. On Thursday, an outbreak was declared on the remote community of Mathias Colomb Cree Nation about 700 kilometres northwest of Winnipeg by provincial public health officials in co-ordination with the chief and council. The province said the community of more than 2,200 has gone into lockdown. Public gatherings are prohibited and residents are required to stay home or wear a mask when outside of their home. Canadian Forces were deployed to the community, also known as Pukatawagan, last March to respond to an outbreak involving more than 100 residents. Currently, the district has 90 active cases with 50.6 per cent of eligible residents fully vaccinated, provincial data show. Requests for an interview with Chief Lorna Bighetty went unreturned on Friday. Melanie MacKinnon, clinical lead for the pandemic response team, said community leaders need to be aware the team will not be able to deploy support to First Nations as it did during previous viral surges. Many of the health-care workers whom the pandemic response team relied on have returned to their regular roles and are not available to respond to community outbreaks, MacKinnon said. Likewise, local health-care staff have returned to providing services and programming that was paused earlier in the pandemic. "So coming into this fourth wave, we want to be really clear and transparent with our communities that we dont have the same access to that workforce," MacKinnon said. "Were revamping and redesigning the concept of rapid-response team to ensure that we have some services or some surge support to help the community, but that might look very different, whether it be smaller teams, whether it be shorter deployments, or whether there are different thresholds for consideration with respect to outbreak management." MacKinnon urged people living on reserve to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as soon as possible. There are 27,500 on-reserve residents eligible for immunization who still require a first or second dose, and 15,000 of them are between 12 and 29 years of age, the pandemic response team reported. "We have to do our part to support our local health workforces. They are fairly precarious and it doesnt take much for them to become overwhelmed or uncomfortable," MacKinnon said. The province said 81.7 per cent of eligible people living on Manitobas 63 First Nations have been fully vaccinated. danielle.dasilva@freepress.mb.ca I dont remember the first time someone called me a c--t for something Id written in the paper. It seems as if it would have been a memorable event, an early introduction to the bruises one incurs while working in public, but the reality of the job is that every such insult soon falls into a long line of the same, marching behind us in the distance. I dont remember the first time someone called me a c--t for something Id written in the paper. It seems as if it would have been a memorable event, an early introduction to the bruises one incurs while working in public, but the reality of the job is that every such insult soon falls into a long line of the same, marching behind us in the distance. We write, we report, we get called c--ts and bitches. We tell stories, we do our best, we get stalked on social media. We learn to use filters on our emails to weed out the worst messages, but those dont always work. We hold up our heads, we seek out support, we cant even spell out the words we are called in our own papers. Abuse is part of the topography of working as a journalist. Its worse for some than it is for others: worse for women, for Muslims and anybody who isnt white. It comes in letters with no return address. It comes on social media and at anti-mask rallies. In my early years at the Free Press, there were even a few snarling voicemail messages. Even the most minor things can trigger it. Once, a civil servant sent me a profanity-laden email from his government of Manitoba email account because he didnt like a concert review I had written. Once, a man I had briefly interacted with on Twitter made a fake account with my photo to harass me in puerile and grotesquely lewd ways. But those examples pale in comparison to the abuse of journalists that has surged across Canada in recent weeks. In that time, dozens of journalists have received targeted and shockingly hateful emails, triggering a renewed effort to understand the scope of the problem, and develop responses to push back against it. Dozens of journalists have received targeted and shockingly hateful emails, triggering a renewed effort to understand the scope of the problem, and develop responses to push back against it. First, lets discuss the recent emails themselves. They began shortly after Peoples Party of Canada leader Maxime Bernier tweeted the email addresses of three reporters who had contacted him for comment on their stories, urging his faithful to "play dirty." They have continued right up until the writing of this column. The emails are clearly a response to Berniers call. The majority are written as a mockery of a reporters request for comment; most, though not all, appear to be written by the same person. They are sent from email services known for strong privacy protections, and from multiple such addresses, likely to make them more difficult to block. Shortly after the emails began, the Canadian Anti-Hate Network reported that Berniers tweet had been shared in an online youth white supremacist chat room. Of 25 emails I saw that have been publicly documented, 18 were directed at women and 13 to people of colour, particularly Black and Muslim women. And the emails are, for the most part, so obscene, so misogynist and so nakedly racist that their content is largely unprintable. It is as if the writers goal is simply to pack as much hate as they can into each sentence. Some are explicitly violent: at least one contained a detailed fantasy about subjecting the recipient to a public execution. One group of media outlets issued a joint statement against the hate, saying they would support their journalists and advocate for an industry response. The Canadian Association of Journalists (an organization with which I serve as a regional board member) has developed an action plan to advocate for reporters and confront the problem. The Coalition for Women in Journalism has actively spoken out on the issue. Carleton Universitys journalism school is working with the CAJ to convene an industry-wide summit. And on social media, people have offered a great deal of care and support for those affected; this storm started with hate, but it has been followed with love. You cannot both work in public, as journalists do, and build a complete firewall around yourself. We cannot make ourselves unreachable, and still do our jobs. These acts of focus and solidarity give me hope. But the thing I fear most is that we cannot stop this, not really. As long as the internet exists, there will indeed, must be options for anonymous communication. We can devise better tools to limit the ability of abusers to access their targets, and pressure email providers to improve anti-abuse features. But there will always be ways for people to send abuse without revealing their own identity. On the receiving end, there are few options. You cannot both work in public, as journalists do, and build a complete firewall around yourself. We cannot make ourselves unreachable, and still do our jobs. We need sources to be able to find us; we also owe audiences a chance to offer feedback and call our work to account. This is something we know when we enter this field, but the reality can be painful. Journalists have little insulation to protect us, and newsrooms dont always know how to support targets of hate; an industry that long lionized having a "thick skin" for the bruises of public debate still struggles to make space for how deeply it can affect us. So a victim of abuse is faced with few options other than to manage on their own. And we do: when abusive emails land in my inbox I scan the first couple of words, block the sender and delete. As a personal tactic, it has served me well. But as advice it is callous and insufficient, a fancier way of saying "suck it up" in the face of staggering hate. Some of this a problem for journalists to figure out. But the public should be concerned too. There are many things that chip away at a free press: authoritarian governments, media monopolies, weak speech protections. To this list, we must add abuse, because the effect it has and will continue to have on the public discourse is chilling. There are days Ive thought myself a coward for choosing not to engage an idea I know will draw hate, and maybe I am. But I also have to feel safe, and find joy, and sleep at night. I know this from my own work. Over time, my willingness to engage topics most likely to generate abuse has ebbed; if I wade in, I tend to approach them in the gentlest possible ways. Here too, the knife is double-edged: if I articulate this reluctance, a well-meaning reader or friend inevitably suggests that I have "let the abusers win." Maybe I have, but while my work is part of who I am, it is not the entirety. It is simply one part of a life I must inhabit completely, and that life must remain livable to me. There are days Ive thought myself a coward for choosing not to engage an idea I know will draw hate, and maybe I am. But I also have to feel safe, and find joy, and sleep at night. Once, in frustration, I tried explaining this to a person who had sent me an unusually cruel letter, accusing me of all manner of treachery in the most nasty possible language. Im just a person, I told him. You dont have to like what I write; but I am just a person who, like you, is just trying to get by in my life, and I dont deserve this. To my surprise, he responded sheepishly, even apologetically: he didnt think I would read what he wrote, he said. Until the moment I responded, I was a thing to him, not a person. Just a thing, a repository for the anger he felt at what he read in the paper. Not really real, and certainly not really human. But not all who target journalists for abuse will have that moment of realization. Some know all too well that we are human: they know that, like all people, we can be hurt and we can be frightened. They know they can wield abuse as a weapon to silence, to intimidate, and to try and limit who can safely participate in public discourse. Thats the bind so many journalists are placed in, particularly those who are Black, Indigenous or people of colour, those for whom simply existing draws the rage of the most vitriolic abusers. To work in public is to be available for abuse; for so many journalists, to contribute the full depth of their perspectives means inflaming it further. Canadians should know this, even if theres not a lot they can do. A healthy society needs thriving journalism, and journalism thrives most when it encompasses the most diverse range of voices and experiences and people. Hate aims to destroy the vibrancy of that world; if we care about journalism, we wont let that happen. melissa.martin@freepress.mb.ca Progressive Conservative leadership candidate Shelly Glover said comments she made about pregnancy and the COVID-19 vaccine, in an interview with a French language newspaper, were taken out of context. Progressive Conservative leadership candidate Shelly Glover said comments she made about pregnancy and the COVID-19 vaccine, in an interview with a French language newspaper, were taken out of context. Manitoba Liberal MLAs called the comments in La Liberte "so dangerous that they are disqualifying." Glover told the Free Press Friday her campaign has asked the paper "to correct the record." She said she spoke with a La Liberte reporter in September after announcing her candidacy. She was relating a story about a nurse she knows who has an autoimmune disorder. She said the nurse, who is pregnant, discussed getting vaccinated for COVID-19 with her doctor and was told there could be some complications. The newspaper article suggested that Glover was saying pregnant women should not get the vaccine, said Liberal Leader Dougald Lamont, who shared copies of the story with reporters Friday. "Je vous donne lexemple dune infirmiere qui est enceinte. Son medecin lui a dit quelle ne devrait pas prendre de vaccin, car elle peut avoir des complications avec son bebe." The bilingual MLA for St. Boniface provided a translation of the quote attributed to Glover. "Take the example of a nurse who is pregnant. Her doctor tells her she shouldnt take the vaccine because it could cause complications with her baby." Lamont called the comments "outrageous" and "totally unacceptable coming from somebody who aspires to run our province and there has to be an explanation for this." Glover, who provided audio recordings of the interview in French, said Friday she was talking about a specific individual who is a nurse with an autoimmune disorder. She said the nurse shared with Glover that her doctor told her there may be complications with her pregnancy if she gets the vaccine because of the autoimmune disorder and she said she was concerned shed lose her job if she didnt. Glover said the interview was conducted in September before public health officials explained that rapid tests, not PCR tests, would be required for unvaccinated front line health-care workers. At that time, Glover said, she was hearing from those who were unvaccinated and afraid theyd have to miss work while waiting for results of PCR tests that can take up to 48 hours. Glover said she would never offer medical advice or suggest that pregnant women not get vaccinated. "My daughter-in-law had a baby and she got vaccinated when she was pregnant," she said. Glover and Tuxedo MLA Heather Stefanson are the two candidates vying for the leadership, which will be decided Oct. 30. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca I spent all this week touring schools throughout the Interlake, in communities such as Ashern, Moosehorn, Eriksdale, Lundar and Inwood. Opinion I spent all this week touring schools throughout the Interlake, in communities such as Ashern, Moosehorn, Eriksdale, Lundar and Inwood. I was invited by administration and teachers as a part of Lakeshore School Divisions observance of the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Sept. 30). Instead of a single day, however, these schools held conversations, events and educational workshops to commit to a long-term path of reconciliation. Most schools in the Interlake have at least one-third (or more) Indigenous student populations. In some, every second student is Indigenous a much higher average then the 20 per cent proportional population throughout Manitoba. Simply put, in the Interlake, virtually every person lives, works or sits beside an Indigenous person. The rest are married into families and communities. It was also an opportunity for me: I spent a handful of years living the region in the late 1980s. I visited old friends and teachers and even went into the school bathroom where, decades ago, a non-Indigenous kid choked and beat me up, calling me a squaw and making me promise to give him money every day or he would do it again. It was a brilliant time though, and one where I witnessed some incredible things. In Moosehorn, for example, I met a First Nations grandmother working as an educational assistant, teaching young people to be proud of who they are. In Lundar, I met Indigenous students and a teacher unafraid to speak traditional languages openly, advocate on the issue of murdered and missing Indigenous women and girls, and wear their dodem (clan) in hallways. In Inwood, older Metis students helped feed the younger ones at snacktime a tradition we use in our feasts and ceremonies. In much of Manitobas Interlake, there is no choice: you have to know how to interact positively, share space and be a good relation with Indigenous peoples. Thats the only way to function. There is racism, discrimination and violence, of course, but also some pretty radical solutions. Speaking of solutions, the past two weeks has had much of the heavy lifting of reconciliation laid at the feet of Indigenous people. Truth be told, while most in the province got a day off Sept. 30, myself and virtually everyone I know either taught, answered questions about our cultures and "what we want," or relived historical trauma. For most Indigenous people, Sept. 30 was not a holiday but a day we worked harder than ever to help this country learn from the past and commit to a better future. This isnt a complaint. In many ways the day was the culmination of decades of work, fulfilling one of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canadas 94 call to actions. The worry many have though is Canadians will take Sept. 30 to not perform the hard work of reconciliation; deconstructing many of the problematic views, ideas, and legacies history has thrust upon them and enacting change. The concern is Canadians will literally take a "day off" from changing Canadian society into something better than what we have all inherited or, worse yet, expecting Indigenous people to do it for them. Unfortunately, this worry is completely warranted. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau decided vacationing in Tofino, B.C., was more important than wearing an orange shirt and standing with Indigenous peoples. While Trudeau has perhaps done more than the average Canadian to forward reconciliation, he chose the worst time possible to display the kind of ignorance and arrogance so deeply rooted in this society: a sense of privilege that led to the exact problems that necessitates reconciliation in the first place. Indigenous people simply dont get a day off from this countrys violence, land theft and racism, so neither should the prime minister. While he did eventually apologize for his "decision," the fact he made such a decision is the problem in the first place. In communities I traveled to this week, there simply too much work for anyone to handle it alone. Here, everyone must carry the responsibility to help Indigenous communities recover, Canadians to grow and do the radical work of returning stolen land, stop over-policing, and fulfill the promises ancestors committed to under treaties. It may just be, in fact, it will be communities like Ashern, Moosehorn, Lundar, Eriksdale and Inwood that will lead Manitoba and Canada into the future. In these places, young people are already living what will become the future; where Indigenous people are working, leading and living in more places than ever before. When we "down south" catch up to where they are now, we may find that we are following their lead. All because they, not for one day but all days, lived up to the shared responsibilities of living, working and learning from one another together. niigaan.sinclair@freepress.mb.ca Ron Blicq held his map on his knees and furiously plotted points, as the pilot in the seat ahead zipped over the European countryside. He was a navigator. It was up to him to keep the airplane be it the bulky Lancaster, the smaller Avro Anson or the low-flying Mosquito bomber on course and get everyone home. Ron Blicq held his map on his knees and furiously plotted points, as the pilot in the seat ahead zipped over the European countryside. He was a navigator. It was up to him to keep the airplane be it the bulky Lancaster, the smaller Avro Anson or the low-flying Mosquito bomber on course and get everyone home. Blicq was born in 1925 in Guernsey, an English island off the French coast. At 15, while the Nazi blitzkrieg stormed into France toward Geurnsey, he and his two brothers crammed into a Dutch cargo boat with hundreds of other local children. They later reunited with their parents and sailed Winnipeg-bound to Canada. This was first "incursion" into Blicqs life, to quote a memoir he wrote in a retirement home, at age 96. Blicq died May 28. This was his word for events that changed the direction of his "essentially happy and definitely interesting life." He chose it, at least in part, because it implied something lost, something plotted, to which its impossible to return. Another incursion was meeting his first wife, Irene, a young nursery nurse who he married in 1951, and with whom hed have two children, Andy and Ian. Yet another was her death of cancer in 1956. Supplied Ron with Irene, Andy and Ian. From the last years of the Second World War to shortly after his wifes death, Blicq was a navigator. He joined the war effort when he turned 18, and flew in the Royal Canadian Air Force. After the fighting ended, he returned briefly to civilian life, but found it intolerably boring and enlisted in Britains Royal Air Force. When Irene died, Blicq wrote, it became clear life as a navigator was "too dangerous for me to guarantee the boys would have a permanent single parent." He resigned his permanent commission and once again left England for Winnipeg. "He truly loved flying. That was his calling, and he had to give that up for us. He had to give it up and change his life again," says Andy Blicq. "And that was sort of the story of his life: outside forces swept him along, but he managed to transcend that." Supplied Ron and Irene in Australia Blicq embraced the role of raising children alone, at a time when single fatherhood shocked his sons classmates. A second marriage years later resulted in the birth of daughter Alison and also divorce. Blicq took custody after the split. "He was a tremendous support," said Andy. "He has been for all of us He was always there to support, to provide advice in a kind of unfettered way. He never put his spin on; he just listened and gave us feedback on what were doing with our lives." Upon arrival at his parents home in Winnipeg, Blicq ran into a problem. He needed a job, and he had no idea what use his 15 years of air force training could be. Luckily, he came across an advertisement in the Winnipeg Free Press from CAE Aviation seeking a technical editor. Supplied Ron Blicq "Nobody I talked to had any idea what a technical editor was, so I decided to find out by simply walking in and applying for the job," wrote Blicq. As it turned out, hed be converting engineers reports and technical proposals on radar and communications systems into more easily consumable documents for Canadian and U.S. defence headquarters. Luckily for Blicq, he once occupied a post in the air force rewriting training instructors notes into standardized manuals. He sharpened his writing skills for 10 years at the company before becoming an instructor at Red River College in 1967. He taught technical writing, primarily to students in engineering and the sciences. SARAH KEARNEY/WINNIPEG FREE PRESS Ron Blicq, left, with actors Kevin Carruthers and Megan Wilson during the Fringe Festival RGI International performed You Will Write, Wont You? at the Gas Station Theatre in 2011. Shortly into his professorial career, Blicq found the course lacking. No problem hed simply change everything about it. "This young student, just two or three weeks in, says: Mr. Blicq, what does past participles and the Oxford comma have to do with what Im going to do as an engineer?" says friend Lisa Moretto. "Ron looked at him and he says: Absolutely nothing." Blicq went to the faculty chairman, convinced him to put the course on a two-week hiatus, and got to work. When he returned to class, he had developed a new curriculum and a "pyramid method" specifically for technical writing. Supplied Ron Blicq As there were no books on the subject at the time, according to Blicq, he typed up notes for his students. Those notes, after ending up under the nose of a textbook publisher, became Technically-Write!, a textbook now in its eighth edition 40 years later. Blicq wrote five other textbooks as part of a career the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers honours each year by awarding the Ronald S. Blicq Award to recognize "innovative educators who have influenced the ways that technical communication is taught." After 23 years, Blicq retired. "But not for me the kind of retirement during which one puts ones feet up, reads the paper, and watches television all day," he wrote. Supplied Blicq flew with the Royal Canadian Air Force during the late stages of the Second World War. He started writing plays and novels; he met Moretto, 40 years his junior, with whom he ran workshops on technical writing. Years later, Blicq was 86 and starting to slow down. But he was not a man to bend to age; he needed an incursion. He told Moretto: "Youre going to have to be the one to tell me when its time, because I wont know and I wont want to." Even then, he didnt like to hear it when she told him, Moretto says. He did listen, however; their bond was too strong to ignore. Supplied Ron Blicq, a passionate flight navigator who taught technical writing for 23 years at Red River College, died in May at the age of 96. "Ive told Andy this before since he passed there were no unsaid words between me and Ron I know more about his family than they know that I know," Moretto says with a chuckle. Blicq dedicated his last 10 years to creative writing. He wrote six books (novels, memoirs, short stories) and five plays in that time. His play Closure had stints in theatres in Canada and Australia. It and another play were adapted into independent films. Supplied Ron and his grandson "Hes a model for how we should all age, if youve got your health," says Andy. "He never stopped trying something new and engaging with life." In Blicqs final memoir, addressed to his three children, his sentences stride forward purposefully but not hastily. The writing compared quite well to a letter he wrote in younger days. It was addressed to his parents, and he wrote it as he flew over the Indian Ocean. "This morning I saw a most beautiful sunrise, just after we had become airborne and had turned onto an easterly course. As we climbed I could see a layer of small cloud fragments high up, another layer at about our level, and small pieces of fog lingering among the pals on the ground. The sun was behind the middle layer, turning the edges of the clouds to gold. The mist on the ground was edged a bright rose colour, with the mountains of Ceylon a deep mauve above and in front of us. And above it all the sky was a glorious blue with golden flecks where the fragments of cloud lay. It lasted for no longer than a minute, then we climbed too high and the scene disappeared." cody.sellar@freepress.mb.ca A Norway House family is in mourning and demanding justice for victims of domestic violence after the slaying of a happy, bubbly mother of two. A Norway House family is in mourning and demanding justice for victims of domestic violence after the slaying of a "happy, bubbly" mother of two. Juness Jenna Lorence Paupanekis, 25, died Oct. 3. Juness Jenna Lorence Paupanekis, 25, was killed Oct. 3. The Norway House community has offered comfort to her grieving family. (Facebook) Don Travis Forbister, 30, is charged with second-degree murder and will appear in Thompson court Tuesday. "Jenna was very loved by our family," her uncle, Clarence Paupanekis, said Friday. "We need to get our story out there because it was such a horrific crime that was perpetrated against our niece. It was horrible, horrendous, and no family should have to go through this." The mother of an eight-year-old daughter and six-year-old son had just finished studies for an educational assistant certificate at the University College of the North and was planning to start work at an elementary school in her community. Paupanekis was loved by everyone, her uncle said. She and the children lived with her grandmother. The family is large and close-knit, Clarence Paupanekis said proudly, and his niece, who was "spoiled by everyone," was "always happy, bubbly," and consistently surrounded by a big community of friends. "Its just very difficult for us to grasp what has happened," he said. "Its really hard because she didnt deserve what she got. Her life was taken away." In the early hours of Oct. 3, RCMP were notified about a reported attack. Officers arrived to find an injured man, who told them to check on a woman in a home on Provincial Road 373, as he believed she was being assaulted. At that home, officers found Paupanekis, who had been seriously injured. She was later pronounced dead in hospital. Clarence Paupanekis said Forbister had been in his nieces life for only a matter of weeks. Court records show Forbister was convicted of assault five times from 2009 to 2021, including one aggravated assault offence in 2016 for which he received a three-year sentence. He has served time in custody on and off since being convicted of armed robbery in 2009, court records show. Forbister was most recently sentenced to 90 days in custody for assault in June 2021. The family is hoping to see stronger punishments for perpetrators of domestic violence. "He needs to pay for it by spending his life behind bars I dont believe he should ever walk the streets again," Clarence Paupanekis said. Friends, family and community members have taken to social media under the hashtag #JusticeForJenna, hoping to bring awareness to her life and the tragedy of domestic violence. "This is something that shouldnt be tolerated," her uncle said. "People want to see something done. "In any community dealing with alcohol, drugs, violence, it impacts our youth and their futures, so I think they want to see something happen as a result of this." The community held a candlelight vigil Wednesday evening. "Quite a few people attended here and showed their support. Thats one of the things weve really seen in the past week: the community, the love and support that were getting is tremendous and were really thankful for that." julia-simone.rutgers@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @jsrutgers Premier Kelvin Goertzen has denied the decision to spend Autopac excess revenue on driver and vehicle licensing and an IT system upgrade was kept secret. Premier Kelvin Goertzen has denied the decision to spend Autopac excess revenue on driver and vehicle licensing and an IT system upgrade was kept secret. His government faced intense criticism Friday after the Free Press revealed the Crown corporation used $113 million in excess revenue which by law must be used to reduce rates or give rebates to drivers to pay for the ballooning cost of driver and vehicle licensing. Goertzen said Eric Herbelin, president and CEO of Manitoba Public Insurance, disclosed the plan at a Crown corporations committee meeting in June. The plan was devised in 2020 by MPI and approved this year by both the Tory-appointed board and Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton. "The president of MPI felt it was appropriate to cover off costs for technology," Goertzen told reporters Friday. Wharton was absent from question period Friday to "deal with a personal matter" and was not available to comment, his press secretary said. The diversion plan involved taking $60 million last March from excess Autopac revenue collected during the pandemic and is set to take another $53 million in March 2022 for driver and vehicle licensing a non-insurance service offered by MPI but paid for through general revenue. The president of MPI felt it was appropriate to use the money to cover costs for technology, said Premier Kelvin Goertzen. (Mikaela MacKenzie / Winnipeg Free Press) Critics say the scheme violates the MPI Act and the terms of the capital management plan that says any revenue over and above capital reserve targets from either the basic or extension lines of Autopac insurance must be used for rate reductions or rebates. "The law doesn't allow money to be taken away from Autopac premiums and put in other areas," NDP Leader Wab Kinew said. "As much as the government may try to throw the CEO of MPI under the bus, or reframe different statements to their political advantage, the government is doing something here that is inappropriate and it is costing you in the way of a forgone Autopac reduction," Kinew said. "Your Autopac could've been 10 per cent cheaper this year had the government not done this. Not only did they not give you that savings, they also refused to tell you about it." Herbelin disclosed the $113-million transfer plan at a legislature committee meeting three months ago, and told the committee it would be filed with the Public Utilities Board, Goertzen said, adding the PUB has it and it will be part of an upcoming hearing on MPI rates. "Ultimately, I think they're the arbiters whether or not it's appropriate to do so," the interim premier said. "The president of MPI felt it was the right way to go, and that it will be vetted out and determined through the Public Utilities Board." Crown Services Minister Jeff Wharton approved of the plan, but wasn't made available to comment. (John Woods / Winnipeg Free Press files) The PC government "should've come clean with Manitobans in the first place," Kinew said. "This deal was already done before it was ever sent to the Public Utilities Board. This deal was already done before any Progressive Conservative spoke about this publicly. This thing was done behind closed doors without telling you the folks who could've had Autopac premiums that were 10 per cent cheaper." Manitoba has a "technology deficit" when it comes to driver and vehicle licensing (DVL), Goertzen explained. "They're trying to get up to speed, to where other provinces are," he said. In 2004, the NDP government transferred DVL operations to Manitoba Public Insurance. The government would get all of the revenue from licensing and vehicle registration fees, but would provide a $30-million annual transfer to MPI to cover operating costs. That amount hasn't increased since that deal was signed, even though the number of vehicles and drivers increased, and the amount of money collected by the government rose. In 2020-21, Manitobans paid $212 million in licence and vehicle registration fees, but MPI still only got $30 million in annual support. DVL has started to lose between $7 million to $8 million per year, and the licensing branch is facing about $50 million in bills associated with a new information technology platform. Eric Herbelin, president and CEO of Manitoba Public Insurance, disclosed the plan at a Crown corporations committee meeting in June, according to the premier. (Mike Deal / Winnipeg Free Press files) "It's fair to have a debate over whether funding should be moved from one side of the corporation to use for a different aspect of driver licensing," said Goertzen. It's up to the Public Utilities Board to decide if it's appropriate or not, and the provincial government will obey whatever it decides, he said. "We respect the rulings of the PUB," Goertzen said. When asked to comment on MPI revenue being diverted to pay for driver and vehicle licensing or any other service only one of the two PC leadership candidates responded. "It is concerning," former Conservative MP Shelly Glover said in an interview Friday. "After after I become premier, I'm going to sit down with MPI and the minister to better understand what exactly happened and why." PC party members will elect a new leader, who will become premier, on Oct. 30. Glover wouldn't comment on whether she thinks MPI revenue should be diverted by government. "You're actually trying to get me to speculate on what happened, and I don't know." Her opponent, Tuxedo MLA Heather Stefanson who has the support of most of the PC caucus did not respond to a request for comment. carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca Dont bother your pretty head about it is the prevailing media take on the risk of the volcanic eruption on La Palma in the Canary Islands turning into a mega-tsunami disaster. The media definitely over-hyped that risk when it was first suggested 20 years ago, so now they have to work the other side of the street. Opinion Dont bother your pretty head about it" is the prevailing media take on the risk of the volcanic eruption on La Palma in the Canary Islands turning into a mega-tsunami disaster. The media definitely over-hyped that risk when it was first suggested 20 years ago, so now they have to work the other side of the street. But the original story still has legs. The eruption is now more than two weeks old, but the explosions and lava flows are still increasing. Part of the main cone of Cumbre Vieja ("old summit") collapsed last weekend. La Palma and its neighbour El Hierro, the westernmost islands of the Canaries, are so volcanic that similar cone collapses have removed about half of their above-water mass during the past million years. The biggest single landslide, about half a million years ago, dumped an estimated 200 cubic kilometres of rock into the Atlantic. Thats an entire mountains worth. The volcanoes constantly rebuild the islands, too, so massive landslides are a normal part of their geology. There have been at least 10 in the past million years. Thats why volcanologist Joan Marti, when asked if the flank of Cumbre Vieja might slide into the sea and cause a huge tsunami, replied that "it is possible, but it is not likely." The chances are strongly against it happening this time, because Cumbre Vieja has been erupting on average once a century since records began, and there has not been a big slide there for at least 125,000 years. But there will eventually be another collapse on La Palma and then a tsunami, maybe tomorrow, maybe in 100,000 years or so. Thats how these islands work. What we dont know is the size and reach of the resulting tsunami. The original scientific article warning of a possible mega-tsunami from La Palma was written by Steven Ward and Simon Day in 2001. They estimated that the giant waves generated by a flank collapse would hit the Moroccan and Spanish coasts in two to three hours, and make it all the way across the Atlantic to strike the Brazilian, U.S. and Canadian coasts in nine hours. Hundreds of metres high at first, the tsunamis waves would probably be down to 100 metres by the time they reached Spain, and perhaps only 25 metres high when they struck the North American coast from Florida to Newfoundland. But thats still a lot. The highest point in South Florida is only about 25 metres above (normal) sea level. There is enough low-lying land, including city centres, along the 3,500-km east coast of North America to guarantee that a great many people would die. Or so Ward and Day estimated whereupon other scientists immediately piled in to insist that they had got the geology wrong, or the volcanology, or the rate at which tsunami waves lose height over long distances. This is how science works: one set of researchers puts out a new idea, and others try to knock it down. They did knock this one down in the public mind and the media, and certainly some of Ward and Days calculations were open to dispute. What the media have missed is that all the basic facts were correct: the relatively frequent massive slides (one every 100,000 years in the Canaries, on average), the tsunamis that follow, and the immense damage they do. The odds that this particular volcanic eruption will cause a mega-tsunami are less than one in 100, maybe one in 1,000. Even if a tsunami from La Palma did reach the Americas, the wave height might be less than one metre. But the risk of unpredictable, life-altering events is real. We can do nothing about flank collapses on volcanic islands except have a good early warning system, but they are only common in the Hawaiian Islands, the Canary Islands and the Indonesian archipelago. Then there are asteroid strikes, global plagues and nuclear winters, of course, but lets stick with volcanoes. Just east of the Rocky Mountains in the west-central United States, Yellowstone has staged three long-lasting "super-eruptions" at 2.1 million, 1.3 million and 631,000 years ago. Each time it covered the surrounding states with volcanic ash a metre thick, coated the entire continent with enough ash to kill most green plants, and boosted over 1,000 cubic kilometres of pulverised rock and gas into the atmosphere. That blocked much of the incoming sunlight for the next six to 10 years and caused a "volcanic winter," with 3 or 4 degrees C lower average global temperature. If that happened today, it would cause global crop failures and mass starvation. There have been at least 47 such "super-eruptions" in the worlds history. Gwynne Dyers new book is The Shortest History of War. Its an unofficial Thanksgiving tradition gathering around the dinner table, sharing a turkey dinner, and engaging in spirited political debates with family and friends defending widely divergent viewpoints. Its an unofficial Thanksgiving tradition gathering around the dinner table, sharing a turkey dinner, and engaging in spirited political debates with family and friends defending widely divergent viewpoints. This holiday weekend, however, some heated discussions will necessarily have begun well before dinner, as new rules force Manitobans to ponder whether to include unvaccinated guests on the invitation list. Some hosts might ask those who attend to bring more than a healthy appetite; fully vaccinated status will also be required. It is entirely reasonable, and understandable, for Thanksgiving hosts to withhold invitations from those who out of ignorance, misguided beliefs, or sheer obstinance have refrained from getting fully immunized. Under tighter rules meant to prevent Manitobas health-care system from once again being overwhelmed a fourth-wave surge driven largely by people who are not fully vaccinated private indoor gatherings will be restricted to two households if any person at the gathering has chosen not to get vaccinated. Only 10 people, not including members of the hosting household, will be allowed to gather outdoors on private property if someone is attending who is eligible for vaccination but hasnt gotten their shots. If you host your family dinner at a public place where someone isnt vaccinated, only 25 people or 25 per cent capacity, whichever is lower, will be allowed. It is entirely reasonable, and understandable, for Thanksgiving hosts to withhold invitations from those who out of ignorance, misguided beliefs, or sheer obstinance have refrained from getting fully immunized. Those of us whose holiday seating charts remain unaltered amid this fourth wave should be thankful for those gathered, but must also be mindful that there are far too many empty chairs at tables throughout Manitoba, a testament to the cruel legacy of COVID19. With more than two million vaccine doses administered, over 81 per cent of Manitobans aged 12 and older are fully immunized. That leaves about 160,000 residents who are eligible but remain unvaccinated. Amid the ongoing gloom of the pandemic, we are all grateful for the sacrifices of front-line workers from doctors and nurses to teachers and grocery store clerks whose courage and kind hearts dont allow them to hide from the coronavirus by hunkering down at home. This Thanksgiving, Manitobans at least, those who make use of past experience should be grateful for the ability to learn. In this case, to learn from what happened after last years autumnal gatherings: a descent into a second pandemic wave that put Manitoba on the map as a "worst" destination for COVID-19. Last December, the provinces COVID-19 death rate increased more than ninefold after a Thanksgiving holiday in which too many ignored public-health orders to have fewer people around the holiday table. There were a total of 465 deaths related to COVID-19 in the province as of last Dec. 11 431 of those took place after Thanksgiving. Those of us whose holiday seating charts remain unaltered amid this fourth wave should be thankful for those gathered, but must also be mindful that there are far too many empty chairs at tables throughout Manitoba, a testament to the cruel legacy of COVID-19. We might also offer thanks for the removal of uncertainty we know now how best to get out of this mess but any such gratitude must be tempered by the knowledge that far too many still cant, or wont, accept the overwhelming evidence that vaccines are safe and effective. It is nothing short of a miracle that, a mere 12 months into this pandemic ordeal, Manitobans were able to start rolling up their sleeves at vaccination clinics. Weve come so far, but were not yet where we need to be. A full return to normal will remain elusive as long as the "pandemic of the unvaccinated" persists. We must continue to reach out, with kindness, resolve and factual information, to the remaining misinformed minority. If enough of them can be reached, eventually we will all be able to resume routine in-person political squabbling around our holiday tables. All the usual fixings, but fewer seats. That's how Winnipeg's soup kitchens and missions will serve Thanksgiving dinner to homeless and vulnerable people this holiday weekend. When Siloam Mission hosted its lunch Friday, just over 100 people were allowed to sit in its large Stanley Street dining hall at a time, which can accommodate as many as 400 people. Rather than letting people mingle after they ate, diners were ushered out to allow others about 500 or 600 in total to savour turkey, mashed potatoes, stuffing and gravy and pumpkin pie. Judith Bulaong scoops mashed potatoes at Siloam Mission on Friday. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press) That's different from last year, when the mission gave takeout meals to most, and the core group of about 60 who lived at the shelter full time dined in. "It feels really good to be able to do something thats a little closer to normal, especially for this holiday meal. I mean, thats the point of it, people can gather and have something that feels more like a homecooked meal, a little more like eating with family," said Siloam communications manager Luke Thiessen. Masks are required to enter the mission and there is plenty of hand sanitizer stations. Staff cleaned tables and other surfaces between sittings. Only three people were allowed per table, rather than the usual eight. But because the mission and others like it are considered essential by the province, the diners didn't need to show proof of COVID-19 vaccination, Thiessen said. Union Gospel Mission on Princess Street will host a reduced-capacity sit-in lunch Saturday, with about 60 people allowed in at one time for three sittings, which is up from about 30 per meal last year. Dallas Holden adds whipped cream to plates of pie at Siloam Mission on Friday during its annual Thanksgiving lunch. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press) "We do make sure that everybody sanitizes their hands when they come in, and are wearing masks all those things," said Union Gospel senior chaplain Mark Kelm. "Its a time to give people hope when they really need it. Its a time of year when people, they realize the losses that they have and were glad to have the opportunity to bring some love and care to them." Patrons won't need to show proof of vaccination at Union Gospel either, but the mission plans to have a mobile vaccination clinic on site during the holiday lunch. "People will be able to get vaccinated if they want to as well," Kelm said. Meanwhile, the Salvation Army and Agape Table opted for takeout meals, the same as last Thanksgiving. Sonja Lavallee with a plate of food served to community members on Friday. (Jessica Lee / Winnipeg Free Press) The army handed out 370 takeout turkey dinners at its 324 Logan Ave. location on Thursday, rather than allow anyone to eat inside because of size constraints. "Still had the works," said Lieut. Brian Dueck of the meal doled out to those who needed it. Agape Table gave about 500 people a clamshell of holiday fixings to go on Thursday and Friday, and plans to feed another 500 Monday. "At the end of the day, you take something out of it because you're able to provide the marginalized community with a very nutritious meal... we don't know if they're going to eat over the weekend," said Dave Feniuk, the non-profit's general manager. "We'll top it up again on Monday." erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca Twitter: @erik_pindera OTTAWA The Peoples Party of Canada gained some of its highest nationwide support in the pockets of southern Manitoba struggling with COVID-19 vaccine uptake, according to a Free Press analysis. OTTAWA The Peoples Party of Canada gained some of its highest nationwide support in the pockets of southern Manitoba struggling with COVID-19 vaccine uptake, according to a Free Press analysis. Preliminary data from the 364 regular polling stations in PortageLisgar and Provencher show the right-wing party swept small communities in those ridings, but was rejected in most cities, as well as Winnipeg bedroom communities. "This might be a flash in the pan, but none the less, it does show there are significant pockets within the population that still are anti-vax or have concerns or fears," said Brandon University political scientist Kelly Saunders. The two Manitoba ridings were the only ones in Canada where the Peoples Party gained more than 15 per cent of votes in last months election. Elections Canada reports data by polling area, and separately tabulates those received in advanced and mail-in voting, as well as mobile polls. The polling district results provide a rough picture of voting trends on a local level, but not the full picture since mailed and advanced ballots aren't sorted by neighbourhood. In PortageLisgar, the PPC gained more than 50 per cent of votes cast in the small towns of Hochfeld, Schanzenfeld, Blumenfeld and Gnadenthal, all of which are historically Mennonite communities. Three of those towns are within the Rural Municipality of Stanley, which has the lowest COVID-19 vaccination rate in Manitoba, with less than 25 per cent having their first shot, as of this week. The seven polling stations in Stanley voted 50 per cent for the PPC, compared with 45 per cent for Conservative incumbent Candice Bergen. In the village of Hochfeld, 59 per cent of voters opted for the PPC, the highest among all polling stations. "That's almost two-thirds of everyone in that area; that's quite a shocking number," Saunders said. This might be a flash in the pan, but none the less, it does show there are significant pockets within the population that still are anti-vax or have concerns or fears. Kelly Saunders, Brandon University political scientist "I don't want to target an entire faith-based community with this, but we know there seemed to be more support in the Mennonite community, compared with other faith-based communities or really any other communities, for those sentiments." The PPC candidate for the riding, Solomon Wiebe, argued he got support by hustling around the riding, and for a platform that touched on everything from housing policy to removing incentives and restrictions from vaccine rollouts. "Demographically speaking, this area has Christian roots and I believe they are more keen on their own choice. They will look around to see what parties will represent them, and they won't vote just based on a colour or what their parents voted," Wiebe said. "They take their political responsibility to a higher level than most people, because they do their research and decide: this person is the best to represent me." In Winkler, 54 per cent of votes were cast for the Conservatives, and 28 went per cent to the PPC. The citys vaccine uptake was just under 42 per cent this week. In the city of Portage la Prairie, just nine per cent of voters opted for the PPC, led by Maxime Bernier. Overall, Bergen took 52.5 per cent of votes, while her riding cast 21.6 per cent of its ballots for the PPC. Bergens drop in support nearly aligns with the rise of the Peoples Party, In 2019, it got just 2.6 per cent of the vote, when Bergen won with 70.8 per cent support. In the neighbouring Provencher riding, Conservative incumbent Ted Falk got 48.7 per cent of votes overall, while the PPC earned 16.5 per cent. Thats compared with the 2019 vote, in which Falk earned 65.9 per cent of votes, and the PPC got just 2.2 per cent support. However, in Provencher, the PPC didnt gain a majority of votes at any single polling station. Its strongest support could be found in pockets of the RMs of La Broquerie and Hanover, both of which have low vaccine uptake, such as the small towns of Pansy, Marchand and Sarto. In the seven polling stations within La Broquerie, 27 per cent of votes went to the PPC, compared with 42 per cent support for Falk. The area has just over 65 per cent vaccine uptake. Similarly, the 23 polls within Hanover had 23 per cent of eligible ballots going to the PPC, and 59 per cent for the Tories. As of last week, that area had just above 50 per cent vaccine uptake. In Steinbach, just 17 per cent of votes went to the PPC, compared to 51 per cent for the Tories. Saunders noted the PPC had much lower support in an election just two years prior, and said its clear the PPC got its strength from pushback towards public health messaging around COVID-19 vaccines and restrictions. "That is not getting through to some of these communities; we cannot logic our way out of this issue, it looks like, and that's troubling to me when we're clearly in a fourth wave here in Manitoba." To her, it suggests both Tory incumbents need to reach out to those communities, and it shows a challenge for the ongoing provincial PC leadership race. "Whoever's going to be their new leader really has to find a way to galvanize those divisions, which have always been there within the (PC) party, but I think are deeper than ever, as our politics gets more polarized on every issue." Falk, who was re-elected last month, struck the same tone, telling Steinbach Online he felt pushback against vaccine mandates drove up PPC support, along with wariness of the pandemic in general. "They are frustrated, they are tired, they are angry," he said. Neither Bergen nor Falks office responded to interview requests Friday. Falk apologized during the campaign for peddling misinformation about vaccines, and remains the only MP among Manitoba's 14 to not say whether he's been vaccinated. The analysis is based on preliminary numbers Elections Canada tallied a week after the Sept. 20 election, though the agency will release its official results in a few months. dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca Chinese officials are ordering coal plants to dramatically ramp up production. The European Union is facing a revolt over its ambitious Green Deal on climate. US President Joe Biden is petitioning OPEC nations to boost oil production. So much for the fight against the climate crisis -- it's the energy crisis that's taking precedence. And it couldn't have come at a more crucial time. In just three weeks, leaders and negotiators will meet for the COP26 international climate talks in the Scottish city of Glasgow. Momentum was building for putting an end date on coal and speeding up the global transition from climate-altering fossil fuels to renewables before the crisis hit. But a rush back to fossil fuels is worrying some experts that this moment in time could slow down that transition, particularly on the phaseout of coal, now in closer reach than at any other time in history. "The worry with China's power crunch is that it appears to be strengthening the argument of pro-coal interests there that the transition to renewables is happening too fast," said Christine Shearer, Global Energy Monitor's program director for coal, which tracks the use of fossil fuels around the world. With winter fast approaching and the global economy rebounding from the Covid-19 pandemic faster than the world had prepared for, governments are being forced to reach for sources of energy that are readily available. The infrastructure that exists to harness energy from renewables like wind and solar simply isn't enough to meet demand. "A lot of decision-makers are sort of panicking in some ways about the social response," said Lisa Fischer, program leader at the European climate think tank E3G. Throwing more money at fossil fuels is not a solution, she said, and some short-term solutions are contradictory to longer-term sustainable goals. A better response would be to "turbocharge" funding for deploying renewable and energy efficiency programs, including getting infrastructure projects that were hampered by the pandemic, off the ground. And there entails the dichotomy of the crisis -- the world can either "turbocharge" efforts in renewables, or slow it down, and lean more on fossil fuels, as is happening now. A geopolitical mess There are several reasons for the energy crunch, beyond the rebound from the pandemic. Power from renewables has been below expectations -- in the UK and continental Europe, the summer was less windy than usual, so wind power under-delivered. In China, lower rainfall meant less energy from the country's hydropower plants. On top of that, Russia has been accused of slowing gas supplies to Europe to encourage a faster approval process for its Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline that runs under the Baltic Sea to Germany. Gazprom denied the accusation to CNN last month, but on Thursday, Russia's Deputy Prime Minister Alexander Novak said explicitly that gas prices would cool if Berlin certified the project. Chinese authorities have kept mountains of coal imported from Australia sitting at docks for months, refusing to show Australia it is willing to take its exports as the two countries remain cold over Canberra's calls for an investigation into the origins of Covid-19. That has only added to the power shortage in the country. Chinese officials told companies in the country's industrial heartlands last month to limit energy consumption to reduce demand for power, state media reported. Some provinces experienced blackouts in homes as supplies were cut. But as the crisis grows and global demand for Chinese goods soars, Beijing switched tack, telling coal miners to add a whopping 100 million metric tons to production, state media reported Thursday. China was already powering its economic return with dozens of new coal plants, but the more recent increase in production is a problem for COP26 -- China was just starting to show signs it was ready to play a part in putting an end date on the fossil fuel. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced just two weeks ago that his country would stop financing coal projects abroad, removing the world's biggest financial backer of fossil fuel internationally. It has since come under pressure, however, to do more to wind down coal at home. China has said it plans to peak its emissions sometime before 2030, and hit carbon neutrality by 2060. But its flurry of coal plant building and increased production makes that even harder a goal to imagine. A European split China is not alone. In the face of this crisis, European leaders are signaling that fossil fuels are hard to quit. Last month, the UK fired up an old coal plant to meet electricity demands. And some countries in the European Union are considering keeping coal and oil-burning plants open past their closure dates to avoid similar power cuts. It's a blow to the substantial gains Europe reported last year, when renewables generated more electricity than fossil fuels for the first time. In 2020, 38% of electricity was delivered by renewable energy, compared to 37% by fossil fuels. It has also caused a rift in the EU parliament, where the climate crossroads is clear as day. In the face of an urgent crisis, some leaders say without an effective short-term action plan to counter consumers' ballooning energy bills, the EU's Green Deal will lose support. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban is leading that camp, blaming "bureaucrats in Brussels" for continually raising the price on energy from fossil fuels. Kadri Simson, European commissioner for energy, on the other hand, said the Green Deal would provide the "only lasting solution to Europe's energy challenge" and that more renewables and improved energy efficiency were the answer. "We have to declare the current price hike has little to do with our climate policies, and much to do with our dependence on imported fossil fuels and the relative prices," Simson said Wednesday. "Wind and solar have continued to generate the cheapest electricity in Europe in recent months. They are not exposed to price volatility." A knock-on effect in the US In the US, a crisis is brewing around soaring gasoline prices, a problem that is tied to the wider energy problem. Some countries that are struggling to get enough natural gas are turning to oil to fill the gap in the power supply. In August, Biden petitioned the OPEC+ -- a bloc of major oil-producing nations and their allies -- to ramp up global oil production after gasoline prices soared, as an increase in supply would soften prices at the pump. It hasn't worked -- OPEC+ said Monday it would only gradually add supply to the market. Either way, Biden's calls for more oil sit at odds with his climate agenda, which includes boosting the country's electric vehicles market. According to the International Energy Agency, in order to reach net-zero by 2050 -- where the amount of greenhouse gases emitted is not greater than the removed from the atmosphere -- the world has to stop expanding fossil fuel production. But some experts are hopeful that leaders will choose the harder but more rewarding path at COP26. While the UK has returned to coal in the short term, its department of Business for Business, Energy & Industrial Strategy on Thursday announced plans to fully decarbonize its electricity sector 15 years earlier than it previously planned. "Going into the climate conference, the backdrop is demonstrating the extreme impacts of relying on fossil fuels -- to my mind, I think that could be enough to push some countries on the fence to really double down on renewables," said Charles Moore, director of the European Program at the think tank Ember Climate. "I think UK is a great example. The UK just came out and committed to fully decarbonize the electricity system by 2035," he said. "That's from the host of the climate conference." The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. MARCY, N.Y. -- A 57-year-old Barneveld woman has been charged with sexual abuse after allegedly engaging in a sexual relationship with an incarcerated patient at the Central New York Psychiatric Center in Marcy. New York State Police arrested 57-year-old Linda L. Barr following an investigation into allegations from a former male patient at the psychiatric center who claimed he had a sexual relationship with an employee. Barr was a security hospital treatment assistant at the facility. Investigators say they determined that the two started the sexual relationship in 2019 and Barr gave the patient her phone number so they could keep in contact. She was arrested on Oct. 6 and charged with second-degree sexual abuse and promoting prison contraband, both misdemeanors. Barr was released with an appearance ticket and is scheduled to return to court on Oct. 26. UTICA, N.Y. A Utica native will be the pilot for this years F-16 flyover during the Boilermaker post-race party. Maj. Nicholas Titto Hanna was born at St. Elizabeth Medical Center, attended Proctor High School and went to college locally. He says he remembers watching the events as a child. "The Boilermaker was the main experience I had with seeing fighter jets growing up, so seeing that, I saw them elsewhere too, but that every year was what planted the seed in my head, if you will, and made me get interested in it, said Hanna. Hanna is stationed at Hollman Air Force Base in New Mexico where he teaches new pilots how to fly F-16 jets. He says, "I love what I do back there, but coming home, being able to flyover my hometown is kind of unreal, it's pretty nice. Then-President Donald Trump greets supporters on The Ellipse near the White House on Jan. 6, 2021. Senate Republican leader Mitch McConnell on Friday warned President Joe Biden he should not expect cooperation on raising the debt ceiling again. Opportunity to become a childrens nurse with Wrexham Glyndwr University Degree Those interested in becoming a childrens nurse can now enrol on a new course at Wrexham Glyndwr University. Childrens nursing is a rewarding profession caring for children, young people and their family, from birth to young adulthood. The BN (Hons) Degree will prepare you with the knowledge and skills to become a graduate and NMC registered childrens nurse. The degree, which is Registered Childrens Nurse is a brand new programme developed to meet the Nursing and Midwifery Council (NMC) (2018) Future Nurse standards. The course consists of 50 per cent clinical practice and 50 per cent theory. Wrexham Glyndwr has recently been ranked top in the UK for Adult Nursing for overall student satisfaction in this years National Student Survey (NSS). The University was also successful in gaining Health Education and Improvement Wales (HEIW) commissioning to launch an exciting group of new Nursing and Allied Health Practitioner education including the new Childrens Nursing course. Programme Leader Karen Griffiths said: There is a range of experience amongst the staff here that students will be able to draw upon, and this course opens up a real career pathway to becoming a childrens nurse. The curriculum is very much person-centred and there is a blended learning approach. As part of the course practice placements in a variety of hospital and community settings enable you to experience a range of learning opportunities. Support in placement is by practice supervisors and assessors along with an academic assessor and practice education facilitators. Modules are designed to enable the integration of theory with practice. Family-centred and child-centred care is included throughout. Child field specific learning from the beginning will give you the opportunity to learn about the care needs of children, young people and their families, along with shared learning between child, adult and mental health fields of nursing on common themes relevant for all. The HEIW commission means that bursary funding may be available for eligible students who commit to working in Wales after completion of their studies. This bursary would cover the cost of their studies. Other prospective students may wish to fund their studies through a student loan. For more information about the BN (Hons) Childrens Nursing Course, visit the university website. Members of the armed forces have now been deployed to assist ambulance services across the whole of Britain. It was announced yesterday that 110 personnel will be sent to Wales from October 14, after the local government made a Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) request. Another 97 soldiers have been supporting ambulance services in the east, north-east, south central and south-west of England since August. In Scotland, 114 soldiers have been carrying out non-emergency driving work for the last two weeks. Ambulance's outside Bournemouth hospital's accident and emergency unit. September 2021 (WSWS Media) Britains ambulance services have been under acute strain for months. Figures released by the Office for National Statistics show that, in England, the number of emergency calls answered in August was more than in any other month on record, except for July. Ambulances consistently failed to reach patients in the two most urgent categories within the required times. An analysis by health charity the Nuffield Trust found that, of the 10 percent of incidents which fell under the highest category 1, including cardiac arrest patients who have stopped breathing, fewer than 75 percent were reached within eight minutes, the percentage target laid down in performance standards. The last time this figure was met was in January 2014. The same pattern was repeated, but with even longer waiting times, in less urgent categories. Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the ambulance service is operating at its highest level of escalation. The number of people in Scotland suspected of having a serious condition waiting more than 10 minutes for an ambulance has more than doubled since 2019. In Wales, the number of 999 calls rose by over 25 percent between January and June this year and has only increased further since then. With its second-worst response time on record, the Welsh ambulance service failed to respond within the 8-minute deadline for category red emergency calls in over two out of five cases during August this year. The 57.6 percent response rate is significantly behind the target of 65 percent, which has not been met for over a year. This all translates into potentially fatal delays in reaching patients with life-critical conditions. Some patients in Scotland have waited up to 40 hours for an ambulance. This led to at least one pensioner dying, and another 86-year-old woman lying on her kitchen floor for eight hours with a broken hip awaiting an ambulance. A woman in Grimsby who had suffered a stroke in March had to wait over 10 hours for an ambulance when she collapsed at home in October. Her husband said, She needed to be up at the hospital straight away in case there was another stroke. We are in a mess and it needs sorting. Writing in Pulse magazine, GP trainer Dr Shaba Nabi said she had never been more scared for the health and well-being of my loved ones. Dr Nabi told how, after she had waited three hours for an ambulance to arrive at her surgery to attend two patients who had collapsed with chest pains, she reluctantly advised them to travel to hospital by car. The same week, she witnessed an elderly man lying bleeding on the pavement. Because he was alert, awake and breathing, my immediate thought as I went to help was this mans not getting an ambulance for love nor moneydespite his obvious need for one. I spoke to ambulance control who confirmed my fears and advised me to call 111. When I questioned how a lone GP would have the ability to scoop and dispatch, they had no answer. A COVID patient in Scotland who began to struggle with breathlessness eventually died due to the delay in dispatching an ambulance after calling the NHS 24 hotline. The Scottish Public Service Ombudsman (SPSO) found there was an unreasonable delay in calling the ambulance. Although the call handler had followed the correct protocols, these were clearly not fit for purpose, the SPSO found. The pressures placed on ambulance crews are enormous. A paramedic in Falkirk, Scotland, told the Daily Record that working conditions were so bad it was causing some staff to suffer insomnia and panic attacks. They reported having to work two or even three hours past the end of their shift, and facing 15-hour days with no breaks due to the volume of calls. I have never experienced working conditions like it. Even during the height of the pandemic, it wasnt this bad. The service isnt in crisis, the service is totally broken. And I worry that its beyond fixable. According to the paramedic, Not a day goes by that myself or a colleague breaks down before, during or after a shift. The deployment of hundreds of soldiers marks the severity of the breakdown of Britains emergency medical services, but will do little to solve it. Since the army staff have not had the requisite training, they are unable to drive using the flashing blue lights. This means they can only be sent to non-emergency calls. However, should the patient they are attending develop more serious symptoms the military driver is unable to transport them to hospital at high speed. In such emergency cases, an ambulance with a trained paramedic driver would then need to be dispatched. Army drivers lack of skills and experience resulted in accidents within two days of their introduction in Scotland. Two soldiers out of the Leverndale ambulance station in Glasgow were involved in crashes. Even when patients are safely delivered to the hospital, they face further delays in receiving necessary treatment as overstretched accident and emergency (A&E) departments struggle to find beds for seriously ill patients. A trade union representative commented, If there are 50 more ambulances, it just means 50 extra joining the queue [at hospitals]. Brecon-based ambulance technician, Paul Amphlett, told the ITV News, Bringing the army in isnt going to solve the problem. The patients are going to be coming in to the hospitals because they'll obviously be helping out to pick these patients up, but theyre still going to be stuck in the car parks, were still going to be waiting with them, babysitting them, so it really isnt going to solve the problem overall. A survey by the Royal College for Emergency medicine found that, in August, half of emergency departments were forced to keep patients outside in ambulances every day, up from a quarter in October 2020 and just under a fifth in March 2020. Half said they were required to treat patients in the corridors every day. NHS figures show that nearly a quarter of A&E patients in England were not seen within four hours in August, versus 13.7 percent in August 2019. In Scotland, in the week to September 12, 28.5 percent of patients were not seen within four hours. Dr Katherine Henderson, president of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, commented last month, This is a disaster. This is a system that is on the edge. The crisis in the ambulance service and A&E departments has been exacerbated by the pandemic, allowed to run rampant by the official policy of mass infection, but had been building for years due to government underfunding. A 2017 report by the National Audit Office found that increased funding for urgent and emergency activities had not matched rising demand. NHS Providers and the Association of Ambulance Chief Executives report that England alone faces a recurrent funding shortfall for ambulance services of close to 240 million. For further information visit NHS FightBack Testifying last week before the Brazilian Senates Commission of Inquiry (CPI) into the governments mishandling of the coronavirus pandemic, the lawyer for doctors employed by the health care company Prevent Senior exposed a regime of coercion, intimidation and cover-up surrounding the prescription of so-called COVID kits that resulted in the deaths of hundreds of elderly patients. Lawyer Bruna Morato at the Brazilian Senate (Credit: Roque de Sa/Agencia Senado/FotosPublicas) In August, a complaint signed by 15 Prevent Senior doctors made public that the company, which is an insurance and health care provider for more than 600,000 elderly people, had been functioning as a center of operations for fascistic President Jair Bolsonaro in his campaign for herd immunity through mass infection. Already in April 2020, a pact was made between Prevent Senior and the Bolsonaro administration to promote hydroxychloroquine and ivermectin, both widely endorsed by the president as early treatments against COVID-19 that would facilitate reopening the economy. Prevent Seniors COVID-19 medical protocols were created in consultation with close medical associates of the president. Doctors revealed that company officials ordered the prescription of the scientifically discredited drugs as COVID-19 kits for symptomatic as well as hospitalized elderly patients without their relatives or their own knowledge. The doctors lawyer, Bruna Morato, said that this resulted in the deaths of hundreds. Meanwhile, for an unknown number of COVID-19 patients, the cause of death was changed after 10-14 days of hospitalization to falsely claim a higher rate of recovery by COVID-19 patients taking these medications. Medical staff in hospitals were also ordered to prescribe the ineffective drugs for themselves in case they developed COVID-19 symptoms. During an interview with the whistleblowers on Saturday, the doctors recounted a routine in which they prescribed the COVID-19 kits, while having to tell their patients in secret not to take the medications. They watched who was giving the prescriptions and who wasnt. It was a situation in which they had control, so there was no autonomy, a doctor said. Prevent Seniors CEO Eduardo Parrillo systematically enforced his reign of terror with the selection of guardians loyal to the company, assigned to supervise on-duty doctors and make sure that they were following the companys orders. Dr. Walter Correa de Souza, a former doctor at the company, stated, As someone who worked as a military firefighter for many years, Ive never seen a hierarchy so tightly enforced as the one inside the company. Not even in the Army. Intimidation tactics included hospital coordinators threatening to fire dissenting medical staff who refused to prescribe the quack cures. The lawyer, Morato, said that the company frequently fired personnel who disagreed with their measures. Prevent Seniors protocols were enforced as Bolsonaro pressured the health ministry to officially include chloroquine as a COVID-19 medication. In May 2020, Bolsonaro appointed Army Gen. Eduardo Pazuello as his health minister. The general carried forward the presidents herd immunity campaign, promoting chloroquine. He later transformed Manaus into a death trap, in January 2021, by refusing to send oxygen supplies to the capital of Amazonas, despite several warnings. The CPI session with lawyer Morato also revealed that a hospital director recommended and supervised cutting off oxygen supplies for patients hospitalized for more than 10 to 14 days, stating that death is also a form of discharging [the patients]. In March-April 2020, Prevent Seniors directors coordinated a secret experiment on elderly patients, treating them like human guinea pigs. After they were secretly medicated with hydroxychloroquine and azithromycin, their results were rounded out to match Bolsonaros speech, as ordered by Dr. Rodrigo Esper who was coordinating the macabre experiment. Esper and his bosses published the study in a pre-print version after rounding out the data to falsely show that no one died as a result of taking the drugs. In reality, nine patients died who had taken the drugs, double the number of the group that had received a placebo. Morato further made the connection between the companys barbaric actions and the campaign supported by the ruling elite to reopen the economy, despite the predicted surge in cases and deaths. Referring to Bolsonaros closest medical associates, completely aligned with the economic interests of the Finance Ministry, Morato stated that they referred to an ideological alignment. in which the economy cannot stop, and so what they had to do is to give people hope. That hope had a name: hydroxychloroquine. These macabre experiments could not have been carried out without the support of the companys CEOs, the Parrillo brothers, who implemented a company-wide system of coercion and intimidation to conduct the experiments on the elderly during the pandemic. Morato and Prevent Senior doctors have also revealed that the guardians frequently sang a hymn with their hands on their chests during company events. The Parrillo brothers played their guitars as the guardians were ordered to sing. The lyrics include the following passages: We were born to live, Fighting until we die, ... And together we will win, With swords and cannons, We are the guardians. The ritual is inspired by the Nazi Waffen SS, a paramilitary group selected for their pure blood to protect Hitler. Morato stated that the SS-inspired motto, obedience and loyalty, was instituted in 2015, and is promoted to this day by company officials. The Parrillo brothers are members of the rock band Doctor Pheabes, having opened for major rock bands such as Black Sabbath and The Rolling Stones during music festivals like Lollapaloza and Rock in Rio. The band released its latest album in 2019 called Army of the Sun, a direct reference to the Waffen SS. Such figures could only have felt free to carry out these abominable acts under conditions in which entire governments are ever more openly arguing for the deaths of millions to be treated as the new normal to which people will have to get accustomed during the pandemic. If Bolsonaro and Boris Johnson in the UK could perform their mass experiments on millions to achieve herd immunity, it would appear only natural for such elements to do the same. Since April 2020, when these barbaric acts were directly coordinated by Nazi sympathizers in the companys management, governments throughout the world have defended ever more openly the reopening of schools and the economy, resulting in the deaths of millions globally. On Tuesday, the mayors of Brazils two biggest cities, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, announced the lifting of mask mandates in the coming weeks, justifying it on the grounds that vaccination rates would be high. The mayors criminal measures were declared as the Delta variant is ripping through the US and the UK, showing that even with most of the population having taken double shots, thousands of people will continue to die each week. Following in Bolsonaros footsteps, since April of last year, state governors have given ever more open support to the governments campaign of herd immunity through mass infection. The motto the cure cant be worse than the disease was fully endorsed by the Workers Party (PT), with Governor Camilo Santana of Ceara being one of the first to reopen his states economy after the first wave, followed by his fellow PT governors in Bahia and Rio Grande do Norte. That is the reason why, after the practices at Prevent Senior were made public, efforts were intensified to contain and cover up the episode. The Sao Paulo attorney general declared that we must respond rapidly but judiciously to give a prompt response to the population but also not to harm the company. He concluded by saying that we have to be surgical. The investigations by the CPI in Brazil are an effort to shift the blame for the countrys 600,000 deaths from the entire political establishment, which carried out wholly inadequate mitigation measures while forcing children back into schools and workers back into factories in order to make profits for the rich. Meanwhile, instead of issuing a public apology, the company is doubling down against the doctor whistleblowers, showing how confident company officials are that they will go unpunished. Prevent Senior is currently blaming the doctors for giving the prescriptions themselves, trying to turn reality on its head, and declared in September that the whistleblowers were the criminals for accessing patients records. The fact that such individuals are given power on medical boards is an expression of a diseased social order, that puts profit above all else, including human life. That they are able to maintain political office is a sign that the ruling class is preparing to confront the mass struggles of the working class with openly anti-democratic and violent methods of repression. The answer to these preparations of the ruling class is for workers to organize the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees (IWA-RFC) to prepare a counteroffensive of the working class to carry forward a program of eradication of the pandemic. Such an offensive must be waged as part of the fight to put an end to the capitalist system that puts profits above human life, and build a society based on human need, that is, the fight for socialism. Asia India: Kerala government doctors impose work bans Doctors from the Kerala Government Medical Officers Association imposed work bans on October 4 to protest cuts to pay and allowances. Doctors have banned participation in e-Sanjeevani (an online teleconsulting system) and other online meetings as well as all training, VIP duty and meetings of the Local Self Government Department. The association said a protest was planned outside the state secretariat in Thiruvananthapuram on November 1, followed by mass casual leave on November 16, if their grievances were not addressed. The doctors allege that their salaries remain stagnant and that various allowances have been withdrawn by the government despite working relentlessly to confront the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Uttarakhand power transmission workers strike Engineers and other workers from the Power Transmission Corporation of Uttarakhand, in northern India, began an indefinite strike on Wednesday to demand a pay rise, revision of allowances and permanent jobs for outsourced employees. The strike was called after the government allegedly backed away from written commitments given in July. The Uttarakhand government responded to the strike by implementing the draconian Essential Services Maintenance Act (ESMA) in an attempt to stop the strike at the states three power corporations. Meanwhile, engineers and technicians in the neighbouring state of Haryana who are employed at the Haryana Vidhyut Prasaran Nigam (HVPN) power utility protested in five districts against the state governments decision to send them to Uttarakhand as strike breakers. Demonstrations were held at company offices in Hissar, Rohtak, Bhiwani, Panipat, Kaithal and other locations. Maharashtra resident doctors end strike The Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) called off a state-wide strike by government hospital and medical college members on Monday after the government said some demands would be met. Around 4,000 doctors walked out on October 1 over four demands. These included a waiver of academic fees, payment of a risk incentive during the COVID-19 pandemic, improved hostel accommodation and for TDS (tax deduction at source) not to be imposed on resident doctors in Brihanmumbai Mumbai Corporation hospitals. The state government agreed to improve hostel accommodation and pay a COVID-19 incentive back-dated to the beginning of the pandemic in 2020. It rejected the other demands, however. Jammu and Kashmir contract health workers strike to defend jobs Over 1,500 National Health Mission (NHM) workers recruited by the Jammu and Kashmir state government during the COVID-19 pandemic went on strike on September 30 to protest pending terminations. Workers accused the government of exercising a use and throw policy with NHM employees who began work at the Government Medical College (GMC) during the first wave of COVID-19 last year. NHM contract employees said they had been promised job permanency if they worked hard during the COVID-19 pandemic. They returned to work after two days when the government agreed to extend their job contracts by three months. Andhra Pradesh construction workers demand COVID-19 relief Construction workers in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh marched to the Collectorate on October 1 to demand COVID-19 relief measures. This included resumption of welfare board payments and immediate payment of outstanding compensation. They also demanded payment of 10,000 rupees ($134) per month to workers who lost employment during the pandemic, and a one-million-rupee compensation payment to families of building workers who died of COVID-19. The protest was organised by the Building and Other Construction Workers Union affiliated to the Centre of Indian Trade Unions. It followed protests in Bangalore last month by over 10,000 construction workers with similar demands. Affected workers currently only receive a one-off 3,000-rupee government assistance payment. Pakistan: Islamabad police attack doctors demonstration Police used teargas and batons to disperse a peaceful demonstration of government doctors in Islamabad on Tuesday. About 20 doctors were detained until after the protest was dispersed. The Young Doctors Association called on members from around the country to mobilise in Islamabad against new regulations imposed on medical practices. The doctors denounced the new regulations, which they said prevent many people entering the profession, and the impact of budget cuts to education programs at medical training institutes. The YDA accused the government of attempting to force those institutions to raise their own funds by systematically cutting back funding. In October 2019, the Imran Khan government dissolved the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council and used police to forcefully remove 220 sacked employees from its premises. The government then formed the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC) which brought in a new National Licensing Examination for those seeking to enter medical and dental practices. Young doctors in Balochistan protest against privatisation Last Saturday and Sunday, Young Doctors Association (YDA) members boycotted outpatient departments in Balochistan government hospitals in protest over the governments privatisation policies. The YDA limited its opposition, however, to simply attacking the rundown of free health services, and claiming it is possible to pressure the government to change course. In line with International Monetary Fund and the World Bank demands, the Pakistani government is implementing an extensive privatisation program of government utilities and institutions and drastically cutting public expenditure. Bangladeshi apparel workers demand unpaid wages Nearly 5,000 Opex Group Sinha Garments workers began a protest hunger strike outside the Shromo Bhaban in Dhaka last Sunday, demanding four months of unpaid salaries. Authorities were quick to respond and convinced the workers to end the strike that day after claiming it would grant some demands. The Opex Group Sinha Garments, located in the Kanchpur area in Narayanganj, employs around 12,000 garment workers. A tripartite meeting between the state minister for labour, factory authorities and trade union officials of the Bangladesh Textile Garments Workers Federation agreed that two months salaries would be paid on October 17 and the remaining amounts paid by November. The workers, however, were also demanding allowances for earned leave, maternity leave, service benefits for resigned workers and wage payments made within the first seven working days of each month. Police used teargas to disperse thousands of garment workers demonstrating over these issues on September 23. Sri Lankan power and port workers protest privatisation Petroleum, Port and Electricity Trade Unions members held a series of protests on Monday over the sale of Kerawalapitiya Power Plant to a US power company, along with the sale of port land, services and oil tanks as well as scrapping of the Sri Lankas Petroleum Corporation. Workers demonstrated outside Colombo port, the petroleum distribution complex, and the Colombo Electricity Boards head office. Workers have threatened to strike if the government does not abandon its privatisation of public entities. China: Migrant workers protest in Zhejiang, Sichuan Under surveillance of a large numbers of police, thousands of migrant workers demonstrated outside the government building in the city of Haining, in Zhejiang province, and in Fushun County of Sichuan province on Thursday. According to the ANI news service, the protests erupted after a co-worker who sought 18,000 yuan ($US2,831) in unpaid wages was rebuffed by management, tortured, and set on fire. The worker suffered 95 percent burns and later died of his injuries. Protesters demanded answers for the workers mistreatment. Australia and New Zealand Cadbury chocolate workers strike again in Melbourne For the second time in three weeks, 340 members of the Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU) walked out for 24 hours at two Mondelez (Cadbury) chocolate factory sites in Melbourne on Friday demanding more secure jobs and higher pay in a new enterprise agreement. The union accused management of flooding the place with outside strikebreakers following the last walkout. Over 80 percent of workers have rejected the companys pay offer of 9.75 percent over four years, which is a pay cut when compared against projected cost of living increases. An AMWU spokesman said some workers have been in casual roles for 10 years but Mondelez International is refusing to make them permanent. Boral Cement workers in New South Wales still in dispute About 200 workers from Boral Cement production plants at Marulan, Berrima, and Maldon in southern New South Wales are maintaining overtime bans imposed nine weeks ago to win a better enterprise agreement. The workers are covered by various unions: the Australian Workers Union (AWU), Australian Manufacturing Workers Union (AMWU), Electrical Trades Union (ETU) and the Construction Forestry Maritime Mining and Energy Union (CFMMEU). The company want to impose a four-year agreement that includes a total pay rise of only 3.5 percent plus major cuts to long-established conditions. Boral wants to abolish rostered days off, remove clauses restricting contract labour and job security, reduce annual leave loading and remove a Dispute Settlements Procedure clause. The Combined Unions want a three-year agreement with 4 percent annual pay increases and retention of conditions. Boral is a major supplier of concrete and other materials in the construction and the road building industry. According to an ETU spokesman, the Boral group made $640 million net profit last year. New Zealand bus drivers to strike School and urban bus drivers in New Zealands Canterbury region will hold a rush-hour strike on October 18 after the regional council failed to pay them a living wage. The Amalgamated Workers Union (AWUNZ), which represents 90 percent of the South Islands public transport workers, has given notice to bus operators contracted to Environment Canterbury (ECan) of a four-hour work stoppage starting at 5 a.m. Last year, the Labour-led governments then-transport minister, Phil Twyford, said that the Transport Agency (NZTA) would top up pay packages, ensuring all urban bus drivers were paid the so-called living wage. This moved to $22.75 an hour in September, just above the legal minimum of $20. While most regional authorities agreed that the living wage criteria would be paid in May, an AWUNZ spokesman said ECan had ignored this advice, adding that a history of broken promises had resulted in serious frustration among drivers. New Zealand education psychologists to strike More than 120 New Zealand Ministry of Education (MoE) psychologists will stop accepting new case referrals for a month starting on November 2. The APEX union has also issued a strike notice for the psychologists, who work in schools and early childcare centres (ECEs), after eight months of failed talks. The union says members voted to hold the partial strike in order to draw attention to a recruitment and retention crisis. Last year nearly 3,000 children and young people were on waiting lists for learning support and there are over 50 psychologist vacancies across the country. Psychologists employed by the MoE are paid about $10,000 less than their District Health Board counterparts. The psychologists deal with young people who exhibit complex trauma. They support the most at-risk children, who are experiencing a raft of difficulties, including foetal alcohol spectrum disorder, neurodiversity conditions, such as ADHD and autism spectrum disorder, verbal and physical aggression, and attendance issues. Some are seen by a psychologist every day. The action comes as the Labour government faces a teacher backlash over plans to reopen Aucklands classrooms after the school holidays and during an ongoing COVID outbreak. Teachers interviewed on Radio NZ said they were astonished that they could be back in school on 18 October while businesses such as restaurants and hairdressers remain shut. Despite rising infection levels, schools are systematically dismantling all protective measures against transmission of the coronavirus. These include social distancing rules, quarantine orders and even testing. Over the last two weeks, a number of state governments took another significant step down the road to mass infection of unvaccinated children with the elimination of mandatory mask-wearing in the classroom. This policy, in the interest of securing the profits of big business, endangers the health and lives of hundreds of thousands of students and teachers. School in NRW (Source: www.instagram.com schuelerstreik_nrw) The states of Bremen, Hesse, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Saxony-Anhalt have already abandoned compulsory mask-wearing for all grades since the start of the school term. It has also been lifted for grades one and two in Lower Saxony and up to grade four in Saxony. In Rhineland-Palatinate and Thuringia, mask requirements are controlled by reference values of a corona traffic light, which are set so high that the requirement to wear masks only comes into force when it is already too late. Other German states have followed suit: Brandenburg lifted obligatory mask-wearing on August 23 at elementary schools; Saarland on October 1 for all classes; in Berlin, grades one to six; and in Bavaria on October 4. But the remaining states will follow this trend in the coming days and weeks: In Baden-Wurttemberg, the requirement to wear a mask will be dropped on October 18, in North Rhine-Westphalia on November 2, and in Schleswig-Holstein it will be relaxed in November after the fall vacations. Saxony and Lower Saxonywhere the requirement has already been dropped for the lower gradeshave already announced that they want to relax it even further. This policy of mass infection by all federal and state parliamentary parties deliberately endangers the lives and health of hundreds of thousands of children and young people. Since the end of the summer holidays, a clear increase of case numbers among children and young people is underway. In the 5- to 14-year-old group, the incidence level is currently 178 (per 100,000) and in the 15- to 34-year-old group it is 89. According to the Robert Koch Institute, the number of outbreaks in schools increased again very significantly from the beginning of August to mid-September 2021. The same picture is emerging in the United Kingdom and the United States, where schools have opened fully just as they did after the summer vacation. In the UK, at least one in 20 children has now been infectedan average of one child per classroom. It is also clear how dangerous the consequences of a coronavirus infection can be, even for children and young people. In the UK, around 40 children are hospitalized every day due to the virus. By July, 25 had already died and since the end of the summer vacations, 10 more have succumbed. In Indonesia, about 100 children are currently dying every week, and in Brazil, 1,518 schoolchildren have already fallen victim to COVID-19 this year. Eleven under-18s have already died in Germany. The abolition of the requirement to wear masks is part of a worldwide policy of the ruling class to remove any protective measures against the virus. Here in Germany, it is being pushed by all federal and state parliamentary parties. From the Left Party to the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD), all have supported the reopening of schools and ensured the lifting of the requirement to wear a mask. In the federal election campaign, all the chancellor candidates spoke out against another lockdown to save lives. In particular, the nominally left parties are pushing an aggressive reopening policy. Left Party-led Thuringia has had the highest incidence level of any state for almost the entire pandemic. Just a few weeks ago in a tweet, state Premier Bodo Ramelow defended this policywhich has already led to more than 4,400 deaths in Thuringiaas scientific immediately garnering massive opposition. The removal of all safeguards is a thoroughly anti-scientific policy, designed solely to return to normality to keep production running and profits flowing. Scientists, on the other hand, warned against ending the mask requirement. Virologist Melanie Brinkmann, for example, condemned it as premature, citing the high number of unvaccinated children. Eberhard Bodenschatz of the Max Planck Institute explained, If we now drop the mask requirement after the elimination of mandatory testing in many situations, we will basically be in an undisturbed life as we were before the pandemic ... So why shouldnt the pandemic come back? The trade unions have played a central role in the unsafe reopening of schools and the dismantling of the last protections. Around the world, they have helped support the reopenings and sabotaged any protest against them. On Monday, Education and Science Union (GEW) President Maike Finnern declared, Schools should stay open. Protest is being voiced from many sides against the dangerous measures, which contradict any scientific findings. In Baden-Wurttemberg, the VBE education association warned against ending the mask requirement too soon. Its chairman, Gerhard Brand, declared, We shouldnt rush into anything; the pandemic situation and vaccination rate are unchanged. In Berlin, almost 2,000 people signed a petition against the end of mandatory mask wearing in schools in a short period of time. The growing resistance to dangerous policies is taking on more concrete forms outside the major parties and unions. Lisa Diaz, a mother from the United Kingdom, called for a one-day school strike for October 1, which was supported by thousands of parents, workers and young people worldwide, who tweeted their agreement and sent statements of solidarity. This growing opposition needs to be developed and advanced. The World Socialist Web Site calls for building rank-and-file committees for safe education that network internationally, and are independent of the unions and bourgeois parties. The October 1 strike showed that resistance to the policy of mass infection is an international task that can only be carried out against these parties and unions. To fight the pandemic, workers and youth need a scientific understanding of the pandemic. The WSWS is hosting an online event with leading scientists on the need to eradicate the virus on October 24. Register for the meeting here and sign up to build a rank-and-file committee today! In another sign of an escalating US-backed confrontation with China over Taiwan, former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott made a highly-publicised trip to the island this week, where he accused Beijing of preparing to attack the territory. Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen watches former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott speak during a meeting at the Presidential Office in Taipei, Taiwan, Thursday, Oct. 7, 2021 [Credit: Pool Photo via AP Photo] During a speech and media appearances, Abbott issued a series of inflammatory statements. He not only charged China with aggression toward Taiwan, which Beijing regards as a renegade province of China, but declared that a military assault was possible at any time. Abbott, who led Australias Liberal-National Coalition government for two years from 2013 to 2015, claimed that because of internal problems in China, it was quite possible that Beijing could lash out disastrously very soon. Abbott effectively called for military measures by the US and its allies to counter any alleged Chinese threat. Taiwans friends had to let Beijing know that any attempt at coercion would have incalculable consequences. Officially, the Australian government adheres to the One China policy by which the US and its partners recognised Beijing in 1979 as the sole legitimate government of China as a whole, including Taiwan, primarily in order to open up China as a cheap labour platform for transnational profit-making. However, following the lead of Washington, first under Trump and now Biden, the Australian government is undermining the One China policy and deliberately inflaming tensions with Beijing. Abbott became the first ex-Australian prime minister to hold a meeting and joint media conference with a sitting Taiwanese president. His trip was billed as a private one, but had all the hallmarks of being endorsed by the Australian government, acting in collaboration with the Biden administration. Prime Minister Scott Morrisons government gave Abbott a travel exemption from COVID-19 restrictions to make the journey. In his meeting with President Tsai Ing-wen, Abbott was accompanied by Australias top diplomat in Taiwan, Australian Representative Jenny Bloomfield. Moreover, Morrison defended Abbotts visit, as did Deputy Prime Minister Barnaby Joyce and other senior ministers, along with Malcolm Turnbull, who ousted Abbott as prime minister in 2015. As another indicator, the Murdoch medias Australian published Abbotts speech to a Taipei think tank forum in full. Abbotts intervention also followed last months announcement of the AUKUS alliance between the US, UK and Australia, a military pact directed against China that included the supply of nuclear-powered attack submarines to Australia, and the first-ever in-person meeting of the leaders of the Quadthe Quadrilateral Security Dialoguea quasi-military alliance against China by the US, Japan, India and Australia. Abbott himself placed his visit in the context of the Biden administrations intensification of the US backing for Taiwan. The State Department has just affirmed that the US commitment to Taiwan is rock solid, he said. I dont think America could stand by and watch Taiwan [be] swallowed up. I dont think Australia should be indifferent to the fate of a fellow democracy of almost 25 million people. As prime minister, Abbott became so unpopular that he lost his own parliamentary seat at the 2019 federal election. Nevertheless, he claimed to be speaking on behalf of the people of Australia. In reality, polls indicate that only about one-third of the population would support Australian military intervention in Taiwan, despite an escalating anti-China campaign by the political and media establishment. In his speech to the Yushan Forum, Abbott reeled off the lengthening list of unsubstantiated allegations made against China by the US, including that it had put upwards of a million Uighurs into concentration camps, brutalised Indian soldiers in the Himalayas, coerced other claimants in its eastern seas and flown ever-more intimidatory sorties against Taiwan. Likewise, Abbott accused China of weaponising trade, especially against Australia by citing safety concerns over barley, wine and coal exports and by publishing 14 demands. These demands, Abbott declared, would mean we become a tributary state, thus invoking the spectre of China seeking to reduce Australia to a vassal status. In fact, the 14 grievances documented multiple actions taken by Australia against China, such as banning many Chinese investments, barring Huawei, the technology giant, from 5G telecommunications contracts, and introducing foreign relations laws that give the Australian government power to veto state or local government agreements with China. Abbotts incendiary remarks went beyond what the Biden administration has yet done in terms of semi-official visits to Taipei. In June, a bipartisan contingent of three US senators conspicuously travelled there in a large US military plane for a joint appearance with President Tsai, but that was depicted, however fraudulently, as a humanitarian mission to announce the donation of COVID-19 vaccines to the island. Abbotts trip underscores Canberras function in acting as a spearhead for Washington in the Indo-Pacific against China, a role that Morrison boasted of at the G-7 summit in the UK during June. Morrison claimed credit for the fact that the G7 communique explicitly denounced China, unlike previous G7 statements. The ramping up of tensions over Taiwan was foreshadowed in the communique issued by the annual US-Australian ministerial (AUSMIN) talks. It again undermined the One China policy by extolling Taiwans important role in the Indo-Pacific region and stating the intent of both Washington and Canberra to strengthen ties with Taiwan, which is a leading democracy and a critical partner for both countries. Last week too, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) featured an extraordinary interview by commentator Stan Grant with Taiwanese Foreign Minister Joseph Wu, in which Grant urged Wu to openly ask the Australian government for military support for a possible conflict with Beijing. The Global Times, one of Beijings official outlets, yesterday condemned Abbotts trip and the ABC interview as increasingly worrying signs of further acts of recklessness from Canberra. It noted: On the Taiwan question, Australia has been playing the role of a daring vanguard for the US, helping Washington test the regional waters to gauge Chinas tolerance and test Chinas responses. Another damning feature of Abbotts visit was the contrast with 2014, when the then-prime minister hosted Chinese President Xi Jinping to announce a comprehensive strategic partnership and finalise a free trade agreement. Abbott hailed Xis visit to Australia as a remarkable few days for the life of our country. For three decades, successive Australian governments cynically courted the Chinese regime, seeking to exploit Chinas economic growth to extract super-profits, particularly through the export of iron ore, coal and natural gas. This has made China the biggest export market for Australian capitalism by far. However, as the Obama, Trump and Biden administrations have stepped up US efforts to block China from ever challenging the regional and global hegemony that Washington obtained via World War II, Australian governments have increasingly committed themselves to US war preparations. They are placing the population on the frontline of a potential nuclear war, despite the widespread anti-war sentiment reflected in the opinion polls. On September 29, Jacobin magazine, which is affiliated with the Democratic Socialists of America (DSA), posted an article titled Organizing Amazon Is Do-or-Die for the Labor Movement. The article is a pledge on the part of the DSA to do everything it can to place Amazon workers under the control of the corporatist union apparatus and industrial police force known as the Teamsters. The articles author, Eli Rose, a DSA member in New York City described as a UPS driver and Teamsters member, claims that it is necessary to organize Amazon workers under the Teamsters in order to protect the wages of UPS workers and increase the wages of Amazon workers. UPS package delivery worker in Washington, DC [Source: Flickr] The explosive growth of Amazon and its increasing dominance in the logistics industry, Rose writes, is pressuring UPS to cut costs. Amazon and other nonunion competitors have increasingly penetrated the industry, and the massive cost advantages a company like Amazon has will rapidly put pressure on unionized competitors like UPS, Rose writes. For example, he continues, while a top-paid UPS driver makes around $40 an hour and has full family health care and a pension, most Amazon drivers make less than $20 dollars an hour, with limited (if any) health care and no pension. Amazon warehouse workers likewise lack the health care and pension benefits that Teamsters enjoy, as well as the vacations, holidays, and scheduling perks enshrined in union contracts. How can UPS, whose 260,000 Teamster employees in the United States make up the largest plurality of [International Brotherhood of Teamsters] members, compete with such a low-cost behemoth? In the long run, it cant. The fictional $40 an hour wage at UPS Roses idyllic portrait of the wages and conditions of UPS workers is a deliberate fabrication, aimed at whitewashing the role of the Teamsters bureaucracy, which spent decades helping UPS slash labor costs long before Amazon came onto the scene. Only a declining number of the highest seniority Regular Full-time Package Car Drivers will make $40.51 an hour by next August. Under the terms of the five-year labor agreement with UPS signed by the Teamsters in 2018, a full-time driver starts at $21 an hour, that is, just $1 more than the $20 an Amazon driver makes, according to Rose. Employment site Indeed.com lists the average hourly salary for UPS drivers as $21.41about half the wage cited by Rose. In the last contract, the Teamsters agreed to a new classification of lower-paid drivers, known as Full-Time Combination Driver or 22.4 Combination Driver. These hybrid workers, who sort packages inside the warehouses and deliver them, start out at $20.50 an hour, roughly the same as an Amazon driver. They progress to $21.25 after 12 months, $22.75 after 24 months and $25 after 36 months. If they survive four years, they top out at $30.64, that is, $10 less an hour, or at least $20,000 less a year, than a regular full-time driver. Pay scales for new UPS hybrid driver [Screenshot IBT-UPS 2018 contract] The union claims that only 25 percent of the driver workforce at any given hub can be these second-tier combination workers, and that they are only there to reduce weekend work and excessive overtime hours on regular drivers. The same claims were made by the Teamsters when the union sanctioned the introduction in 1974 of low-paid part-timers, originally limited to 180 per year. Today, part-timers make up two-thirds of the UPS workforce. Part-time pay scales [Screenshot IBT-UPS 2018 contract] It is significant that Rose does not even mention the wages of UPSs part-time inside workers in his false comparison with Amazon. Thats because the 2018 contract set their starting wages at $13 an hour, two dollars less than an Amazon workers $15 wage! Today, three years later, a UPS part-timer makes the princely sum of $15.50. It is noteworthy that more than four decades ago, in 1978, a UPS part-timer earned $7.75 an hour, the equivalent of $32.25 in current dollars. Like Amazon, moreover, UPS already hires personal vehicle package drivers who use their own vehicles to deliver parcels. In mid-September, UPS purchased Roadie, a gig technology same-day delivery service with 200,000 drivers who can deliver perishable items, shopping bags and other packages not traditionally delivered by UPS drivers. Rose takes note of this growing pool of even cheaper labor, but conveniently leaves out that all of this was sanctioned by the Teamsters. Amazon delivery driver [Source: Amazon Media] The role of the Teamsters in enforcing concessions contracts While arguing that competitive pressures from Amazon might lead the Teamsters to reluctantly hand over concessions to UPS at some point in the distant future, Rose is forced to admit UPS already secured some two-tier concessions in its last 2018 contract with the Teamsters, even without Amazon directly eating into its profits yet. In fact, the Teamsters have essentially imposed such massive concessions on UPS workers that they are making essentially the same wages as workers at Amazon. Rose includes a recounting of the industrial restructuring of the 1970s and 1980s, where he speaks about the loss of millions of jobs and the resulting fall in union density, i.e., the proportion of unionized workers in individual industries. His narrative again leaves out the role of the AFL-CIO and unions like the Teamsters. In every industry with high union densityauto, steel, mining, meatpacking, transportation and telecommunicationsthe unions colluded with the employers to break up industry-wide standards and pit workers against each other in a fratricidal race to the bottom. The Teamsters are a case in point. After Democratic President Jimmy Carters deregulation of the trucking industry in 1980, the Teamsters abandoned any semblance of an industry-wide contract, granted trucking firms two-tier wages and other concessions, and collaborated in the destruction of the jobs and pensions of hundreds of thousands of workers. As a result, between 1978 and 1993, the percentage of unionized workers fell by half, to 23 percent, and real weekly earnings of trucking industry workers fell by 28 percent. After a bitter strike in 1974, Local 804 and future Teamsters national President Ron Carey signed a deal allowing UPS to replace full-time workers with part-timers through attrition. This deal with UPSwhose only major competitor at the time was the US Postal Serviceset the precedent for the proliferation of low-paid temporary workers in every industry. Like the United Auto Workers, the United Steelworkers and other unions, the business executives who run the Teamsters enriched themselves throughout the endless series of givebacks. Today, the Teamsters has assets and investments worth over half a billion dollars, according to the unions latest filing with the US Labor Department. It employs 231 staffers who are paid $100,000 or substantially above that figure, including IBT General President James P. Hoffa ($407,689), Secretary Treasurer Richard Hall ($242,968), International Vice President Francois LaPorte ($296,146), Special Assistants to the General President Christine Bailey ($212,134) and Bret Caldwell ($213,253), Trade Division Director David Bourne ($211,833) and Staff Attorney Richard Gibson ($207,231). In his efforts to portray the Teamsters as a bastion of the labor movement, Rose says nothing about the gangster methods employed by the Teamsters as it imposed the 2018 contract over the widespread opposition of rank-and-file workers. After 54 percent voted against it, Hoffa and his cronies unilaterally forced through the five-year deal, using an obscure clause in the union constitution requiring two-thirds of the voters to reject an agreement if less than half the membership participates in the ratification vote. The resulting upheaval was only quashed by the DSA-backed Teamsters for Democratic Union faction, which blocked demands for walkouts. Why the DSA supports the Teamsters Jacobin and the DSA are going all out to bring the Teamsters into Amazon, not despite its role in enforcing concessions at UPS, but because of it. The DSA is a faction of the Democratic Party, which sees the strengthening of the corporatist trade union apparatus over the working class, including one million Amazon workers, as a critical strategic imperative. The Biden administration threw its full weight behind the effort to bring the Retail, Wholesale and Department Store Union (RWDSU) into Amazons Bessemer, Alabama warehouse in the spring. That effort failed spectacularly, with only 13 percent of the total workforce at the facility voting in favor of the RWDSU. In an indication of the high-level support within the state for the union campaign, the National Labor Relations Board announced in early August that it was recommending a re-vote. Bessemer warehouse on eve of unionization vote [Credit: WSWS Media] The vote in Bessemerwhich Rose does not even mentionwas a measure of the alienation of workers from the pro-company unions. In the aftermath of this debacle, the DSA is offering its services to try again with the Teamsters. Ross expresses the concern that if the Teamsters do not come in now, the concessions that they will accept in the next UPS contract in 2023 and beyond will make the organization even more difficult to sell at Amazon. One can only imagine how UPS will dig in its feet in five or ten years from now, when competitive pressures pose an actual threat to profitability, Ross writes. We could see massive layoffs and givebacks, which would severely weaken the IBT and reduce the ability of militant tactics like strikes to win gains for workers. This will have a cascading effect, whereby workers will see less of the benefits of unionism, making new organizing drives harder and letting nonunion competitors expand even further. That is, the inevitable concessions that the Teamsters will agree to in the coming period will make it even more difficult for the corrupt organization to try to convince Amazon workers that it has anything to do with defending their interests. Jacobin sees the role of the DSA as foot soldiers for the union apparatus. Rose writes, Efforts are underway to develop militant, rank-and-file-led unionism at Amazon that left activists can and should support. He points to the efforts of Amazonians United, a group closely associated with the DSA, as well as the Amazon Labor Union, the organization founded by former New York City Amazon worker Chris Smalls, who also is being promoted by various pseudo-left organizations. Roses prime example of a supposed workers-led campaign, however, is the Teamsters operation. He enthusiastically points to the resolution passed by delegates at the Teamsters national convention in June prioritizing Amazon organizing, creating and funding an Amazon organizing division to do so, and adds, the IBT has suggested that this organizing drive will focus on building rank-and-file power at Amazon on the shop floor as opposed to the more top-down, NLRB-vote-focused approach other unions have hitherto taken with the company. Marching in lockstep with the labor bureaucracy, the DSA convention in August passed a resolution pledging expanded support for unionizing Amazon, including by existing organizing drives by various unions and networks. Rose even urges DSA members to hire in at Amazon so they can get jobs as labor movement organizers. For a genuine rank-and-file movement at Amazon Support within powerful sections of the ruling class for strengthening the position of the unions is bound up with the unprecedented crisis produced by the coronavirus pandemic. The impact of mass deathmore than 700,000 killed in the US over the past 18 monthscombined with a massive increase in the exploitation of the working class is having a profoundly radicalizing impact on the consciousness of workers and youth. Recent months have seen a significant growth of working class struggle, including the strike by Volvo workers in Dublin, Virginia, the repudiation of a UAW-backed contract by Dana auto parts workers, the strike by carpenters in Seattle, Washington, the developing strike movement among health care workers and food-processing workers, and the growing anger among educators over the dangerous reopening of schools to in-person learning. Every one of these struggles pits workers in direct conflict with the corporatist unions, which work to suppress opposition and enforce the demands of the ruling class. When it comes to genuine rank-and-file rebellions, like the Volvo strike, Jacobin has nothing to say. All its energy is devoted to supporting the organizations that workers are rebelling against. Jacobin and the DSA speak for a privileged upper-middle class layer that wants to block a rank-and-file movement of workers and prevent it from coming under the influence and leadership of genuine socialists, above all the Socialist Equality Party and the International Committee of the Fourth International. The task of socialists is to encourage and develop the fighting capacity, self-confidence and political understanding the working class requires by building new organizations of struggle--rank-and-file factory and workplace committees that are completely independent of and in opposition to the corporatist unions. That is why the Socialist Equality Party and its sister parties around the world are building the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees to unite Amazon and other workers and coordinate their struggles across national boundaries. This is the third in a series of discussions on Minamata, a new movie by Andrew Levitas, in addition to our original review. The film, featuring Johnny Depp, focuses on the industrial poisoning of Japanese fishing communities by the Chisso Corporation in Minamata and the courageous work by acclaimed photo-essayist W. Eugene Smith (Depp) and his wife Aileen Mioko Smith to expose this crime to global audiences during the early 1970s. This work is memorialised in their book Minamata: A Warning to the World. W. Eugene Smith and Aileen Mioko Smith, 1974 [Photo creditConsuelo Kanaga] The first of these discussions was with photographer Stephen Dupont, a winner of the W. Eugene Smith Grant for Humanistic Photography in 2007; the second with acclaimed Australian documentary photographer Jack Picone. The following interview is with Kevin Eugene Smith, a lawyer, former television producer and journalist, and the manager of the photographic estate of his father, W. Eugene Smith. While Minamata has been successfully released in several countriesNew Zealand, Australia, Russia, Ireland, the UK, Japan, France and, later this month, ItalyMGM, which purchased the rights to distribute the film in North America, has not released it in the US. The company, which is being taken over by Amazon, has refused to give any date when it will be screened in North American cinemas. In July, director Levitas revealed that he had been told by MGMs acquisitions head Sam Wollman that the company was burying Minamata over concerns that the personal issues of Johnny Depp, could reflect negatively on MGM. The companys arrogant and censorious actions constitute an outrageous attack on all those involved in the films production, including Aileen Mioko Smith, who was co-author of the book on which it was based, as well as the victims and families of those poisoned by Chisso. Kevin Eugene Smith and Aileen Mioko Smith at CCP archive in Tucson, Arizona, August 2019 [Source: Kevin Eugene Smith] Kevin Eugene Smith, who lives in Pasadena, California, spoke to the WSWS by phone last week. This is an edited version of the conversation. Richard Phillips: What brings us together is our shared concern about MGMs refusal to announce a date for the release of Minamata in North America, let alone provide any reason for this unprecedented delay. Why do you think the studio is doing this? Kevin Eugene Smith: As you know, Ive been quite active on Twitter and Facebook expressing my feelings about the non-release of the film. These are in line with the feelings of director Andrew Levitas and the Johnny Depp team. Its absolutely shameful that MGM has acquired the rights to this very important film, but has not released it. This is not just because it is about my dad, who was a legendary and heroic photojournalist, but because it is a very serious story about the victims of corporate greed, environmental poisoning. MGM acquired distribution rights in good faith. They scheduled an initial North American release date of February 5, 2021, and then, because of COVID, they postponed it. That was quite justifiablea lot of movie theatres here in the US were closedbut inexplicably theyve now released a slate of films that were made after Minamata. All these movies have been heavily promoted on social media, but theres nothing about Minamata. Director Levitas issued his public and very strongly worded rebuke of MGM back in July, accusing them of burying the film and attributing it to their take on Johnny Depps personal situation. Minami Bages and Johnny Depp in Minamata [Source: Minamata, Larry D. Horricks] What Im seeking now is actual honesty from MGM. Theyve been mum on the subject and thats what upsetting me the most. They issued a kind of corporate, one- or two-sentence response to Levitas, saying that the film is handled by one of their subsidiaries and that its in the pipeline or some garbage like that. This was a non-answer. We deserve answers and so does the viewing public, thats evident in the discussions on social media and in your interview with Stephen Dupont, which Ive repeatedly republished on Facebook and Twitter. Duponts statement encapsulates my thoughts completely. This is not about Johnny Deppwho cares what his personal problems are! The film was licensed to Depps company by Aileen Mioko Smith, a very serious individual and my dads co-creator of the Minamata project. Aileen licensed it because she was determined to get the story out about the Minamata victims and for those still alive and suffering to this day who have not yet received full reparations from the Chisso Corporation. This movie is their story and Aileen licensed the film in good faith. Kevin Eugene Smith and Aileen Mioko Smith at Chisso, near the site of the mercury dumping. [Source: Kevin Eugene Smith] I dont know Mr. Depp personally, but he agreed to star in the film, for which Im truly grateful. I know nothing about his personal problems, but as Stephen Dupont said, we dont know what went on in the marriage. Its between two people. He accuses her and she accuses him, but there are no criminal charges. People seem to forget that the lawsuits have been brought by Depp to clear his name. Nobody is prosecuting him, there arent ten women accusing him. In fact, an ex-wife and other women in his life have come out and defended him. As Dupont says, all this is beside the point. Depp is an actor in a movie role and the story is the film. MGM, whatever its reason, is not just punishing Johnny Depp, there are other actors, a director, a cinematographer and many more people who have done terrific work on this movie. We are owed an explanation from MGM as to what the heck theyre doing and I can assure you that Im pursuing this every day on social media. Im passionate about this. I dont have any evidence, but in my personal opinion its tied up with the acquisition of MGM by Amazon Studios. I think theyre skittish about doing anything controversial or even seemingly controversial that might cause bad publicity until the deal goes through. As you know theres an armyhundreds, maybe thousandsof people on social media onto this, demanding MGM and Amazon release the movie. Maybe thatll tip the scales. RP: Amazon and others have a track record on this. Its used #MeToo-style allegations to bury other films. Woody Allen had to sue Amazon after it refused to release one of his movies, A Rainy Day in New York [2019]. Theres also Jaccuse [An Officer and a Spy, 2019]. Roman Polanskis last film has not been released in the US, Canada or Australia. So-called reputational issues are used to block or censor films. KES: Yes, but then I can only answer your question, with a question. If MGM was concerned about the film, then why did it acquire the distribution rights to the film in the first place? Sometimes media corporations acquire something for the specific purpose of burying it. We had the situation with the National Inquirer and Trump. They paid a six-figure amount to one of his alleged mistresses in order to stop her story from being published and to prevent her from selling it to someone else. But I dont think thats the case here. The allegations against Depp were out there even before they started shooting Minamata. Kevin Eugene Smith with Shinobu Sakamoto who is depicted prominently in the Minamata book. Despite her disability, she has been an environmental activist, attending conferences around the world to explain the ravages of mercury poisoning [Source: Kevin Eugene Smith] Ive compiled a list of the serious journalistsabout a dozen of themwho cover the business of Hollywood. Ive sent my first message to someone in the New York Times, but nobody over here is diving into this. Levitass open letter to MGM was only really publicised in Deadline, a kind of niche online publication, nobody else picked it up. Variety didnt, nor did the Hollywood Reporter or the LA Times. I used to be a television business reporter in Los Angeles covering Hollywood and would have been all over this story. Heres a story involving a superstar, a takeover of MGM, a legendary brand, by one of the most powerful companies in the world. Id compare it in some ways to Citizen Kane, although maybe not on the same scale, but you certainly have powerful interests trying to bury a film. Why arent they covering this? Why arent they demanding answers from MGM and Amazon? Maybe its because the trade publications are too cosy with MGM and too reliant on them for interviews, exclusives and that sort of thing. Whatever the case, theyre stonewalling it. Im the one who started tagging Amazon on social media. Its obviously hard to gain the attention of Jeff Bezos, the richest guy in the world, but he owns the Washington Post and changed its masthead to Democracy dies in darkness, which is a pretty good slogan. Hes supposed to be interested in serious and investigative journalism. Maybe Im Don Quixote and living in fantasy land. Again, I appreciate what youre doing, but I think MGM and Amazon would have a tougher time if the New York Times, Washington Post, Wall Street Journal or LA Times did a big story on this and demanded a comment. Id like to get it distributed this year and could talk for another half-hour about why thats necessary. Why do you like the film? RP: Its an excellent movie on every level. It introduces a new generation to the brilliant contribution your father made to the art of photography and photojournalism. It deals with the problems that he struggled with in the aftermath of World War II, while never losing sight of the essential foundations of the story, the exposure of a corporate crime. The movie also captures your fathers fighting spirit and the fact that he had little patience with editors or publishers who failed to present his work properly. All serious photographers or photojournalists have experienced this on some level. Minamata is worth fighting for. KES: Compared to the garbage movies that are out in cinemas, this is a quality, thoughtful and well-crafted film. The scenes that resonated most with me were those in New York prior to my dad and Aileen arriving in Minamata. I think Bill Nighy as the Life magazine publishera fictitious composite characterdeserves an Oscar nomination for best supporting actor. Even though the movie takes liberties with some details and the timeline, its true to the storys moral core and its mission is honest, thats all I really care about. Depps portrayal of my dad, never having met him, is earnest and honest and I want it to be seen. As you say, its attracting attention to my fathers work and his legacy. Many of the legion of Depp fans fighting to get the film released probably had not even heard of W. Eugene Smith. RP: Under conditions where the mainstream media is so sanitised and politically controlled, Minamatas subject mattera photojournalist determined to expose the mercury poisoning of a whole communityis highly significant. The movie, moreover, does not conclude with some bogus happy ending. It issues a challenge and emphasises that the surviving Minamata victims are still dealing with this. KES: I dont think there ever was anything in my dads life that had a happy ending. You can quote me on that. And, yes, this issue isnt going to go away and as you can see from my social media posts, Im going to keep at it. RP: How old were you when your father was in Minamata and do you have any particular memories from that period and from when he returned. KES: I was in college when he was in Minamata. He and Aileen were there from 1971 to 1974 and the Life magazine photographs were published in 1972. I cant exactly remember when he was beaten up by Chisso thugs, but that was a big event. I was in college at Stanford University here in California and it overlapped closely with the time he and Aileen were in Minamata. I was not in direct communication with himdecades before email and the internetbut in 1973 the New York Times did a very large spread about Minamata and showed him there and with the bandages. It was a very good article. Images of W. Eugene Smith and Kevin Eugene Smith taken at same location on a hill overlooking Minamata but about 45 years apart. Both photos were taken by Takeshi Ishikawa. [Source: Takeshi Ishikawa] My dad came back to the US a couple of times during those years, but I was on the West Coast. He suffered for quite a while from the Chisso beating and was in extreme pain. He couldnt photograph properly and he couldnt see very well at all. A bunch of his friends in the US, I think in the spring of 1974, tried to get him some medical treatment. Paul Fusco, one of the photographers who brought him back, lived in the San Francisco area and so my dad stayed with him for a few days. I visited him there but he wasnt in good shape. I brought a friend and my dad tried to take a picture of us, but his hands were shaking. A year later I graduated from Stanford and in one of those delightful ironies Aileen had been a student there from 196971 and then become my dads assistant. In any case, they both came to my graduation in 1975he had recoveredand my mom came too. That was the last, happiest remembrance of him. In late 1977, he had a massive stroke in Arizona and died later the next year. So that weekend at Stanford was very happy. Aileen and dads book was coming out and we all had a lovely weekend. My dad took about a thousand photographs of my graduation and then somehow, much to my mothers anger, lost the film. On Sunday, October 24, The World Socialist Web Site will host an online event featuring a panel of epidemiologists and other scientists, to explain how COVID-19 can be eradicated and the pandemic finally brought to an end. We urge all those concerned about the situation in Michigan to register today. *** A new report from the state of Michigan released Tuesday shows a steady rise in COVID-19 cases among children, with over 375 children under 12 years old becoming infected each day over the previous week. As of Friday, 35 children are now hospitalized with the virus across the state, more than double the number from one month ago. The report also makes an explicit warning about the dangers of Multisystem Inflammatory Syndrome in Children (MIS-C), stating, Expect cases to rise in future because Higher community transmission is followed by higher incidence of MIS-C cases nationally. Slide from "MI Covid response data and modeling update", October 5, 2021 [Source: State of Michigan] MIS-C is a horrific condition observed in some children infected with COVID-19, in which multiple organ systems become inflamed or dysfunctional, as the report explains. At least 169 children and adolescents in Michigan alone have suffered MIS-C so far, the majority of them younger than 12. Over 70 percent of Michigans MIS-C patients have been sent to the ICU and five have died. Contrary to the claims of the Biden administration, children can catch COVID-19, suffer severe symptoms, and even die from the virus. Last week, 22 children died from COVID-19 in the US, bringing the nationwide pediatric death toll to 520. Michigan is one of several states that do not report the total number of child COVID-19 deaths, but among the victims was an 18-year-old student at Decatur High School, near Kalamazoo. Internationally, COVID-19 is now the leading cause of death among children in Brazil. Recent studies also indicate that roughly one in seven infected children develops Long COVID, suffering debilitating symptoms months after infection. Another study showed an average loss of two to seven IQ points in those who have recovered from COVID-19. For comparison, lead poisoning can cause a loss of two IQ points. In-person learning is not only putting childrens lives and health at risk; it is fueling the spread of the pandemic through communities throughout Michigan and nationally. The daily new case rate in Michigan has increased over 75 percent since schools fully reopened across the state one month ago, with the seven-day average going from 2,360 on September 7 to 4,175 on October 7. The new report shows that school-aged children (5-18 years old) saw a rapid rise in infections and hospitalizations over the same time period, larger than any other age group. With Michigans daily new case rate on the rise, K-12 schools are not only the largest source of the recorded COVID-19 outbreaks across the state. For the third week in a row, schools are the source of the absolute majority of new outbreaks in Michigan. The latest weekly data from the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services shows 167 new recorded outbreaks. Ninety-four of them were at K-12 schools. The next most likely place to catch COVID-19 in Michigan last week was at a nursing home, where 26 outbreaks were recorded. This is in spite of the fact that on September 28, Michigan changed the way it measures outbreaks in schools, now requiring at least three related cases to constitute an outbreak instead of two. Schools were the only type of location which underwent that change, yet even with this handicap they remain the highest recorded source of transmission. The 94 new outbreaks are on top of another 270 ongoing outbreaks at K-12 schools in Michigan that were initially recorded last month but continue to grow. The states largest ongoing outbreak is at St. Charles High School in Saginaw County, where 48 students have tested positive so far in a growing outbreak first recorded on September 20. Next is Cedar Springs High School in Kent County, outside of Grand Rapids, with 44 COVID-positive students. Click here for interactive map of COVID outbreaks in Michigan K-12 schools. Map of COVID-19 outbreaks in K-12 schools in Michigan [map data Copyright 2021 Google Maps] Even these figures underestimate the degree to which schools cause community spread, because only students and teachers are included in the case totals. Family members of children and teachers who become infected in the same chain of transmission are not included in these outbreaks, nor are any other members of their communities who may catch COVID-19 from a child, teacher or school staff member outside of a school. Since the pandemic began, over 140,000 US children have lost a parent or caregiver to COVID-19. This is not the first time that school reopenings have fueled a surge in cases in Michigan. In March, the reopening of schools while the Alpha variant was spreading produced a massive spike in cases throughout the state. The Delta variantwhich is now responsible for 99 percent of COVID-19 cases in Michiganis at least twice as contagious as the original wild type of COVID-19 and can cause breakthrough cases among those who are fully vaccinated. Science shows that although masks and vaccines reduce the spread of COVID-19, these measures cannot stop the spread of the highly contagious Delta variant. However, school districts across the state are touting these inadequate mitigation measures to pretend schools are safe to open when they are not. The mask issue is being used to attack public health and public education from two flanks: on one side, the Michigan state legislature recently passed a reactionary budget that takes away funding from local health departments which enforce mask mandates in schools; on the other side, schools that do have mask mandates are using it as an excuse to flout contact tracing and quarantines. As Evart Public Schools Superintendent Shirley Howard wrote in a letter to parents on September 21, Wearing a mask prevents your child from having to quarantine if they are identified as a close contact to someone who has tested positive for COVID. Since then, outbreaks have been recorded at Evart High School (3 cases), Evart Middle School (9 cases) and Evart Elementary School (5 cases). Masks, vaccines and other mitigation measures are important, but they must be incorporated into a comprehensive program of public health measures aimed at bringing COVID-19 infections down to zero in ever-broader geographic regions and ultimately eradicating the virus worldwide. These necessary measures include the temporary closure of schools and nonessential workplaces, mass testing, contact tracing, the safe isolation of infected patients, travel restrictions, and more. If implemented in a combined manner and coordinated globally, the pandemic could be brought to an end within months. On Sunday, October 24, the WSWS and the International Workers Alliance of Rank-and-File Committees are hosting a webinar with scientists and workers to discuss the present state of the pandemic and what must be done to eradicate COVID-19 worldwide. All parents, educators and workers in Michigan and globally should register to attend today and invite your coworkers and build this event as widely as possible. In his first act as premier of New South Wales (NSW), the countrys most-populous state, Dominic Perrottet on Thursday unveiled a dramatic acceleration of plans to reopen the economy, even as the highly-infectious Delta variant continues to circulate widely. Dominic Perrottet (right) being sworn in as NSW premier [Source: Twitter, @Dom_Perrottet] The announcement underscores the motives behind Perrottets rapid installation. His predecessor, Gladys Berejiklian, suddenly resigned on October 1, as it was revealed she was the subject of an Independent Commission against Corruption (ICAC) investigation. Allegations that appear to fall far short of criminal conduct and have long been on the public record were effectively used to engineer her removal. Berejiklian had outlined a roadmap for lifting restrictions beginning on October 11. But there had been persistent frustration in the corporate and financial elite that her government, and other state administrations, were not proceeding rapidly enough with a profit-driven campaign to force the population to live with the virus and dispense with safety measures for all time. Perrottet, who has received widespread support in the financial press, immediately moved to allay those frustrations. In his Thursday announcement, he doubled many of the caps on attendance and gatherings, and lifted restrictions that were previously to remain in place until the end of the year. No less significant was the form in which the changes were announced. Perrottet said the governments crisis cabinet, ostensibly established to focus on the health emergency, would be abolished. In its place would be a COVID and economic recovery committee. The premier emphasised that the new body would be advised by the states chief economist and other financial policy specialists. Daily press conferences, focusing on infections, hospitalisations and deaths, would end immediately. In a clear signal of a less prominent role for medical experts, Dr Kerry Chant, the states chief health officer, was not present as Perrottet unveiled some of the most significant changes to public health policy since the pandemic began. A journalist asked Perrottet whether it was a bit disrespectful not to have invited Chant to one of his first press conferences. The premier rejected this, describing the chief health officer as one of his favourite constituents in his Sydney electorate. When the reporter replied: If its a health crisis, the chief health officer should be here, Perrottet snapped back: Its also an economic crisis. The same theme was repeatedly emphasised. We must have a sharp focus on how we support businesses and ensure people return to work and give the NSW economy the best chance of bouncing back, Perrottet declared. His altered roadmap provides the most certainty to industry and the business community. Perrottet said nothing about the new roadmaps implications for the healthcare system. Previous modelling, commissioned by the Berejiklian government, found that without any sort of reopening, the states hospitals were still likely to be overwhelmed by COVID patients in late October. An independent study by the OzSAGE group of epidemiologists predicted that Berejiklians roadmap would result in patient demand exceeding maximum hospital capacity for five weeks in DecemberJanuary. This demonstrates the potentially catastrophic consequences of the new roadmap, which will lift restrictions more rapidly. Under both plans, the lifting of the already partial lockdown was to occur next Monday, October 11, based on 70 percent of the states adult population having received two doses of vaccine. Compared with Berejiklians roadmap, Perrottet has increased the number of adults permitted to gather in homes from five to ten and in public from twenty to thirty. As some commentators have noticed, while five adults may constitute a small gathering, ten is effectively a party. The change is notable, given that the Delta strain has spread rapidly throughout entire households during the current outbreak. Indoor pools will reopen from Monday, caps on weddings and funerals will rise from 50 to 100 people, with a ban on singing at religious services lifted. Perrottet has accelerated the reopening of the schools, the start day of which was brought forward under Berejiklian from October 25 to October 18. Now the supposed staggered return will be completed in just one week. This is under conditions in which a third of all infections in the current outbreak have been among teenagers and children, while learning has primarily been online. An even greater easing will occur on October 25, once 80 percent of adults are vaccinated. Similar rates of inoculation, such as in Singapore and Israel, have failed to halt major outbreaks of the virus. Perrottet nevertheless announced that once the arbitrary figure is reached, nightclubs could open, without dancing, 3,000 people could attend ticketed events, and home gathering caps will rise from 10 to 20 and in outdoor areas from 20 to 50. The wearing of face masks will become optional in offices. Previously, Chant and other officials had suggested that some mask mandates would remain in place for months or even years. The reversal is aimed at creating the conditions for the largest number of workers to be herded back to their places of employment. Similar measures in Britain and the US have contributed to a dramatic spread of the virus. While much of the corporate press has hailed the announcement, and begun promoting freedom day on Monday, epidemiologists and health experts have condemned the changes. The Australian Medical Association (AMA) stated that it was very concerned by the changes and the potential sidelining of health advice. AMA president Omar Khorshid said: The changes to the roadmap have occurred at the 11th hour without the presence of the Chief Health Officer Dr Kerry Chant at the announcement. The association said it was critical to observe the impact of each step on transmission and case numbers. Otherwise NSW may still see hospitals become completely overwhelmed despite high vaccination rates. Cases would likely skyrocket. The NSW government is able to proceed, despite widespread opposition, because its profit-driven program is supported by the entire political establishment. The state Labor opposition has maintained complete bipartisanship, working with the trade unions to suppress resistance. Conscious of his reliance on Labors role, Perrottet named Michael Coutts-Trotter, husband of federal Labor frontbencher Tanya Plibersek, as secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet, the top position in the states public service. Commenting on the appointment, the Australian today noted that while Perrottet hails from the far-right faction of the Liberal Party, former Labor Prime Minister Paul Keating is one of his most trusted mentors. More broadly, the same reopening program is being implemented by Labor governments, especially in the neighbouring state of Victoria. Today, 1,965 new infections were reported there, the highest of any Australian jurisdiction since the pandemic began. The Victorian Labor government marked the grim milestone by announcing that secondary close contacts of infected individuals would no longer be required to self-isolate. The measure is connected to a winding-back of contact-tracing. Deputy Health Secretary Kate Matson commented: We are no longer chasing Covid zero in Victoria, and we have 17,000 active cases in Victoria at this point in time. Under that Labor administrations own roadmap, a phased reopening of the schools began this week, and the state lockdown is scheduled to end on October 25. Professor Mary Baxter from the University of Melbourne told news.com.au that people will die under Labors plan. Baxter said it was a terrible time to lift restrictions, when cases were soaring and hospital admissions increasing. Baxter warned that hospitals could be overwhelmed and we could potentially see some shocking things. The Labor government, however, has insisted that it will press ahead. The open adoption by Australian governments, Labor and Liberal-National, of policies of allowing the virus to circulate demonstrates that the fight against the pandemic requires an independent movement of the working class. It must reject the subordination of health and lives to private profit, and fight for a scientifically-grounded program to eradicate COVID-19. The United States is systematically working to provoke an escalation of tensions with China over Taiwan. Multiple aircraft fly in formation over the USS Ronald Reagan, a U.S. Navy aircraft carrier [Credit: Kaila V. Peters/U.S. Navy] On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that US troops have been stationed in Taiwan, which China considers part of its territory, for over one year. The Journals revelations, which Chinese officials saw as a semi-official announcement by the US government, came amid the most dangerous standoff between the US and China since the 1958 Taiwan Strait Crisis. The US Navy has been carrying out major war games near Taiwan, following the announcement of the alliance between Australia, the UK and the US (AUKUS), which includes providing Australia with nuclear-powered submarines. These developments followed the revelation in March that the United States is in active discussions to station offensive missiles on the first island chain off the Chinese mainland, including Okinawa and Taiwan. In 1962, when the Soviet Union stationed missiles in Cuba, a sovereign country nearly 100 miles from Florida, the United States declared that the USSR must either remove the missiles or face war. Today, Washington is stationing troops, and possibly offensive weapons, on territory claimed by China just minutes of flight time from Chinas most populous cities. The response in China gives a sense of the potentially massive consequences of the United States actions. The Global Times, which speaks for significant sections of the Chinese political establishment, called Americas actions tantamount to an invasion in an editorial Friday. It is clear that the Biden administration is trying to goad China into some sort of response, provoking an incident that can be seized on to create a de facto state of war. The US may not want a full-scale conflict involving nuclear weapons, but war has a logic of its own once provocation turns into an exchange of arms. What is behind these extraordinarily reckless actions? There are certainly the geopolitical imperatives of American imperialism, and China has become a central target of US war planning over the past decade. The military considerations, however, are not the only ones dictating the situation. A major factor is the US domestic political crisis. Twenty months into the global COVID-19 pandemic, the United States is a social powder keg. More than 725,000 Americans have lost their lives to the pandemic, or one out of 500 people. Prices are rapidly rising amid a widespread labor shortage. Workers in industries throughout the country are beginning to demand pay and benefits commensurate with the increased cost of living. These demands are coalescing into a nationwide strike movement. Despite the efforts of the corporatist unions to suppress all opposition in the working class, there have been strikes in recent weeks of Kelloggs cereal workers, nurses in New York, distillery workers in Kentucky, and carpenters in Seattle. There is seething anger among auto and auto parts workers, who are rejecting contract after contract brought back to them by the unions. Over the past year and a half, the American ruling class, as it implemented a policy of mass death, has handed itself trillions of dollars, inflating an immense stock market bubble that can be sustained only through a relentless increase in the exploitation of the working class. Throughout history, and particularly in the 20th century, governments have seen war as a means of enforcing national unity in the face of mounting political opposition. In 1967, historian Arno J. Mayer noted, in an article titled Domestic Causes of the First World War: During the decade, including the weeks immediately preceding July-August 1914, the European nations experienced more than routine political and social disturbances. Even Britain, that paradigm of ordered change and constitutionalism, was approaching the threshold of civil war. This growth of social tensions, Mayer noted, inclined the governments to push [military] preparedness and diplomatic obduracy as part of their efforts to maintain a precarious domestic status quo. So, today, under conditions of deepening social, political and economic crisis, dominant sections of the American ruling class see a conflict with China as a mechanism for enforcing national unity, which means, in practice, suppressing and criminalizing domestic opposition. This view is spelled out by Financial Times columnist Janan Ganesh in a February 2021 column titled, Americas best hope of hanging together is China. Ganesh concluded, Without an external foe to rail against, the nation turns on itself, adding, only an external foe can end the age of discord. In June 2019, the former intelligence officer and current transportation secretary Pete Buttigieg made clear that a common external enemy would serve as the basis for national unity and the battle at home. The new China challenge provides us with an opportunity to come together across the political divide, he said. At least half the battle is at home. The First and Second World Wars were accompanied by systematic censorship in the United States and the imprisonment of left-wing opponents of capitalism. In 1918, socialist Eugene Debs was sentenced to 10 years in prison for his opposition to World War I. In 1941, 18 members of the Trotskyist Socialist Workers Party were sentenced under the Smith Act to between 12 and 16 months in prison. More recently, the attacks of September 11, 2001 were utilized to implement far-reaching attacks on democratic rights under the framework of the war on terror: the Patriot Act, Guantanamo Bay, domestic spying and other measures aimed at erecting the apparatus of a police state. As the WSWS noted at the time, the ruling elite seized on the tragic events of September 11 to realize their political agenda at home, just as they are using them to launch a US military intervention in oil-rich Central Asia. And what has happened over the past 20 years? Social inequality has grown to new heights. The American ruling class, in the form of the plots of Trump, has raised the prospect of a fascistic dictatorship. The criminality of the oligarchy, under both the Democrats and Republicans, has led to a level of death from the pandemic that is staggering. The working class must be on alert. The pandemic has made clear that the American ruling class is capable of sacrificing hundreds of thousands of lives to achieve its goals. If the deaths of millions of people in war is the least bad of several unfavorable options for the ruling class, these deaths will be tolerated. All over the world, workers are entering into struggle to demand the end of decades of falling or stagnant wages, horrendous and worsening working conditions, and an end to the pandemic. These struggles must be connected to the fight against imperialist war, the plots against democratic rights, and opposition to the entire capitalist system. Southeast Asia, home to more than 650 million people, has reportedly experienced the worst COVID-19 outbreak in the world in recent months. The Delta variant has devastated countries which have failed to contain the more contagious strain, amid delayed and chaotic vaccination rollouts. The regions disaster has been compounded by the near-collapse of chronically underfunded healthcare systems and widespread losses of jobs and incomes. Popular disaffection is rising as millions of people, mostly impoverished, suffer the worsening impact on lives and livelihoods of the failure of capitalist governments, locally and around the globe, to protect them from COVID-19. Bloombergs Covid Resilience Ranking for September listed Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia and Vietnam in the bottom five countries worst hit. The Philippines fell to last place following a sharp decline over the course of 2021. The monthly snapshota pointer to where finance capital sees the virus being handled the most effectively and with the least social and economic upheavalranks 53 major economies on 12 data points related to virus containment, the economy and opening up. On October 6 the Philippines recorded 9,847 new cases with a 7-day average running at 12,455. Total cases have risen to over 2.6 million, with 115,328 active cases and a death toll of 38,937. Most of the deaths occurred during a spike in MarchApril, followed by the latest surge beginning in July. Vendors sell food and water to waiting residents at a vaccination center in Quezon city, Philippines on Monday, Sept. 13, 2021 [Credit: AP Photo/Aaron Favila] At its peak in mid-September, the 7-day average was running at 21,000 cases and 400 deaths. The death total is second-worst in Southeast Asia after Indonesia, which has registered 142,600 dead among a population of 273.5 million. The Philippines last month had the second-worst positive test rate in Bloombergs rankings, at 27 percentonly above Mexico. The government is however only testing the sickest patients for COVID and there are likely high levels of undetected community infections. According to the Philippine News Agency on October 5, the country has a total of just 77,410,640 doses. Fewer than 22 million people are fully vaccinated, in a population of 110 million. Spokesman Harry Roque stated the government was not surprised that the Philippines and other Southeast Asian nations landed at the bottom the Bloomberg list, as richer countries get more vaccines. Attempting to shift blame from his own government, authoritarian President Rodrigo Duterte previously threatened to arrest people who do not get a vaccine. Limited access to vaccines, however, has been compounded by official inefficiency, callousness and neglect. Chaos overtook vaccination sites in Manila in August as thousands of people tried to receive a shot before a partial two-week lockdown. Rumours had spread that unvaccinated people would not be allowed to claim government aid or go outside. The WSWS last April characterised Dutertes response from the outset as a militarized police operation, aimed not at ending the transmission of the virus, but at suppressing social opposition. The government channelled over $US19 billion in public funds towards paying off state debt to major investors instead of implementing proper public health measures. In spite of a long running lockdown in MarchApril 2020, workers were kept on the job in unsafe factories and offices, continuing to pump out profits for capitalist corporations. Workers in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO) industries, export processing zones, banking, financing, and mining were exempted from lockdowns and forced to work throughout the pandemic. Duterte has used the pandemic to boost the role of the military in line with his brutal authoritarian agenda. In April last year, he declared he would order the police and military to shoot dead anyone who creates trouble during lockdowns. The warning came after residents in Quezon City staged a protest along a highway near their shanty houses, declaring they had not received any food packs and other relief supplies since the lockdown began two weeks earlier. After they refused to disperse, police broke up the protest and made arrests. Government handling of the pandemic has further been hampered by a 1991 law that made city, town and village leaders responsible for the health system. Village-level health teams often follow rules set by mayors or chieftains, resulting in a fragmented response. Tracing and testing remain slow with local officials in charge. The goal of inoculating all adults, or 70 percent of the population, this year is unlikely to be met. The pandemic has exposed the under-staffing and dire working conditions in the health sector, particularly for nurses. Hospitals are understaffed and low on beds, forcing patients to queue. Nurse-to-patient ratios are at a low of 12.6 nurses per 10,000 people. Al Jazeera reported that in April 2020, just a month into the first outbreak, nurses and hospital staff were resorting to using rubbish bags and motorcycle helmets as protective gear. A video went viral on social media, prompting an outpouring of donations from citizens. The health departments 2020 budget was cut by 10 billion Philippine pesos ($US197m), with Duterte calling health workers heroes who would be lucky to die for their country. Before the pandemic, one in five was living in extreme poverty. Government policies have worsened inequality. As of last February, 4.2 million people over the age of fifteen were unemployed, while 7.9 million were underemployed or worked reduced hours. Many are unable to buy food and other essential items to survive, but the government has offered only paltry support payments of $US20 to $80 per fortnight to low-income households. A grass-roots movement of community pantries has sprung up on the streets to provide food and other assistance. Some marginally better off sections of the population have spontaneously organised to provide aid to those who are enduring harsh food shortages. Meanwhile, according to Forbes, 17 billionaires have increased their combined wealth to over $US45.6 billion. The crisis has developed into a widespread social disaster in densely populated, impoverished communities such as San Roque, where families live in one or two-room dwellings and share bathrooms with neighbours. The lack of running water, access to nutritious food and dilapidated housing in poor communities makes hand washing, maintaining good nutrition, and self-quarantine virtually impossible. Short-lived lockdowns were re-imposed in March and again in August on Manilas National Capital Region and surrounding provinces, home to 14 million people. While curfews and checkpoints on working-class and poor neighbourhoods were set up, workers were again kept working in BPO industries, export processing, banking, factories and offices. This did not stop Philippine shares falling by 3.5 percent on the stock exchange in early August. Under a new localised lockdown introduced in Manila on September 13, the government eased movement restrictions and allowed fully-vaccinated people more public access. Restaurants and beauty salons have been reopened, public transport is operational, and limited in-person classes will soon resume, though with vaccination so low that raises the risk of further transmission. Although borders are closed to most foreigners, migrant workers can return, straining inadequate quarantine facilities. Like other countries throughout Southeast Asia, the Philippines is under enormous pressure to open up its economy and force the impoverished masses to learn to live with the virus. Bloomberg commends the action taken by European countries now leading its Resilience Ranking, linking improved vaccination rates to a program of normalisation, that is, the homicidal policy of herd immunity. If you're planning to travel to Singapore, here's what you'll need to know and expect if you want to visit during the Covid-19 pandemic. The basics In June 2021, three government ministers who are members of the country's Covid-19 called for Singapore to abandon the "zero Covid" strategy in favor of a more progressive approach. "The bad news is that Covid-19 may never go away. The good news is that it is possible to live normally with it in our midst," Singapore's Trade Minister Gan Kim Yong, Finance Minister Lawrence Wong and Health Minister Ong Ye Kung, wrote in an op-ed. Under this plan, the government would continue to track and log Covid cases the same way it does with other diseases like influenza, with some people being allowed to recuperate from mild cases at home. The key? Widespread vaccination. The country's rollout program has been successful, with about two-thirds of citizens expected to have gotten at least one shot by the end of July. Be aware that Singapore takes its pandemic-control regulations very seriously and is not afraid to enforce them. Quarantine violations carry a penalty of a fine of up to S$10,000 ($7,565), up to six months in jail, or both. Current local lockdown measures will be extended through November 21 due to a small uptick in cases and deaths. A single day in October marked 18 deaths, the highest one-day total since the beginning of the pandemic. These measures include capping the number of people who can dine or gather together at two and mandatory mask wearing. The measures will be up for review in early November if there is a significant decline in cases. However, the travel reopening will continue as planned. What's on offer The quintessential modern Asian city, Singapore's glittering skyscrapers and waterside setting make it easy to love. Throw in some of the world's best street food, served in its ubiquitous hawker centers, and the lush rainforest of Bukit Timah Nature Reserve, and the city-state has more than enough to satisfy fascinated tourists. Who can go Currently, entry is largely limited to Singapore citizens and permanent residents, but that is slowly changing. But under its Vaccinated Travel Lanes (VTL) scheme, visitors from a handful of countries will soon be able to enter Singapore without having to quarantine. Singapore already opened up four "green lanes" for fully vaccinated travelers from Hong Kong, Macao, Brunei and Germany, beginning September 8. And as of October 19, fully vaccinated travelers from Canada, Denmark, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Spain, United Kingdom, and the United States have also been able to enter Singapore. On November 8, this will be extended to Australia and Switzerland. South Korea and Singapore will launch mutual "vaccinated travel lanes" on November 15. Fully vaccinated travelers between the two countries will be required to show proof of a negative PCR test but will not have to quarantine. Children under age 12 who cannot be vaccinated yet are permitted to enter as long as they are accompanied by an adult. Travelers from these places must apply for an Air Travel Pass online before flying to Singapore. Eligible visitors will need to show proof of a negative PCR test taken within 48 hours of the scheduled flight and will have to take another one upon arriving at Changi Airport. On days three and seven of their stay, they will need to test again at a designated clinic in Singapore. What that means, though, is no quarantine or stay-at-home order. This is a significant step in Singapore's long-term strategy to live with Covid and re-open its borders. A list of government-approved clinics for Covid-19 tests is here. What are the restrictions? Singapore nationals and permanent residents are allowed to enter, but must have proof of a negative PCR test taken within 72 hours of departure and spend 14 days in quarantine after being served a stay-home notice (SHN) on arrival. This can be undertaken in a dedicated SHN facility, or at their place of residence. The city-state has announced that it will accept the IATA digital travel pass, colloquially called a vaccine passport, from May 2021. This pass will store data confirming that a traveler has received the Covid-19 vaccination from an accredited laboratory. As the pass is still in the planning stages, Singapore has not released more details about whether holders will be able to skip or shorten quarantine or have other benefits. Those traveling from countries with an Air Travel Pass agreement must apply for entry here between seven and 30 days before departure and submit health details and all travel movements over the previous 14 days via a SGArrivalCard. They must also download the Trace Together app to their mobile device and pay for an on-arrival PCR test, at a cost of SGD$196 (US $148). This applies to all travelers aged six and over. As of January 24, anyone entering Singapore for any reason will get a rapid Covid-19 test upon arriving at the airport. And as of January 31, all travelers will have to prove they have travel insurance that can cover at least $30,000 in expenses if necessary. Layover passengers are permitted in specific areas of the airport. They are not allowed to leave these designated areas unless they have a confirmed booking for one of Changi's two airport hotels, and if going there they must be accompanied by an airport staff member. What's the Covid situation? On June 9, the country notched its 34th death from the virus, which marked a grim milestone: the number of Covid deaths in Singapore officially passed those of the SARS epidemic in 2003. Singapore is slowly coming out of a phase 2 "heightened alert" period from August 10. During this period, groups can consist of up to five people, although the unvaccinated are urged to remain in groups of two only. Households can have up to five outside visitors per day, social gatherings are permitted, funerals may have a maximum of 30 attendees and up to 50 percent of employees can work from the office. As of October 27, Singapore has recorded 175,818 confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 329 deaths. About 85% of eligible residents are fully vaccinated. What can visitors expect? All visits must be registered either through the Singapore government's Safe Entry and Trace Together apps or by using a Trace Together token, which are available from community centers. Alcohol is not available in restaurants after 10.30 p.m. Masks must be worn at all times when in public, except by those under six. There are exemptions for eating and exercising. Useful links Air Travel Pass SGArrivalCard SafeTravel.ica.gov.sg Trace Together app Our recent coverage The travel bubble with Hong Kong may have been delayed, but Singapore residents have been enjoying "cruises to nowhere." The city-state is of course known for its food, and has featured in our lists of the world's 50 best dishes and 50 best desserts. The-CNN-Wire & 2021 Cable News Network, Inc., a WarnerMedia Company. All rights reserved. PUTNAM COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - Court documents on the man arrested for murder in Greencastle detail a gruesome scene. Police arrested John Gonzalez of Terre Haute. He's charged with the murder of Melissa Attkisson in Putnam County. He was also charged with auto theft, and theft of a handgun. On January 28, Attkisson's son found her body in the upstairs bedroom of her home. Police say the body had a gunshot wound to the abdomen as well as some head injuries. LINK | TERRE HAUTE MAN CHARGED FOR GREENCASTLE MURDER Her son also told police her black SUV was missing. Police also learned her credit and debit cards, as well as her cell phone, and a pink and silver handgun, were also missing. Autopsy results showed Attkisson died from blunt force trauma to the head. On Monday, police in Rock Island, Illinois contacted the Greencastle Police Department. They arrested Gonzalez not far from the scene where he allegedly wrecked Attkisson's SUV. Rock Island Police located Attkisson's missing credit and debit cards. LINK | PUTNAM COUNTY DEATH BEING INVESTIGATED AS HOMICIDE The Putnam County Sheriff's Office also identified Gonzalez as the person who sold Attkisson's cell phone at the south Walmart in Terre Haute. That cell phone had a video clip of Attkisson shortly before her death. Police say she could be heard calling out 'John' and pleading for help. She also appeared to have a gunshot wound to her side and a severely battered face. The pink and silver handgun was on the bed. Police were able to identify Gonzalez as the person who took the images. His court date in Putnam County is unknown. We do know he's set for a hearing in Vigo County on a probation violation on February 10. Gonzalez was convicted in a 2010 sexual battery case. He currently faces charges here on battery resulting in serious bodily injury. SULLIVAN COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - Did you know more than 1,000 years ago, a sophisticated civilization lived and thrived right here in the Wabash Valley. The Waapaahsiki Mounds Historical Park is located near the town of Fairbanks in Sullivan County. The park is centered around two very old Native American mounds constructed well before European settlers moved into the Wabash Valley. Storm Team 10's Kevin Orpurt Chief Photojournalist Mike Latta tell you how their legacy is being preserved. Click play on the video to watch. VIGO COUNTY, Ind. (WTHI) - People in Vigo Count had the chance to get their COVID-19 vaccine on Friday as the health department hosts another Vaccinate the Valley event. This time, health officials were in the parking lot of McDonald's at 3rd and Poplar Streets in Terre Haute. Several people stopped in for their vaccine. If you missed Friday's event, you can always schedule a shot at the following links: In Indiana, click here. In Illinois, click here. Official recognition of World Cotton Day The 2021 celebrations have a special importance following the United Nations General Assembly decision, on 30 August, to officially recognize 7 October as World Cotton Day as submitted by Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad, Cote dIvoire and Mali. The UN resolution (A/RES/75/318) proclaiming World Cotton Day acknowledges the vital role cotton plays by providing livelihoods and subsistence for millions of people and recognizes its broader economic and social impact around the world. World Cotton Day 2021 The day of celebrations on 7 October 2021 provides an opportunity for WTO members, observers, partner organizations, national cotton producers, textile associations, cotton-processing industries, universities and research institutions to organise events at the local level to promote their work and activities. Events organized by the global cotton community range from lectures, panels and roundtables to photo contests and activities that showcase products, results, sustainable and social responsibility activities, and innovation in the cotton value chain. The day is also a chance for the cotton community to arrange field visits, to organise award ceremonies, to share knowledge on cotton through social media campaigns using #WorldCottonDay and to participate in media events. WTO-ITC webinar The WTO and the International Trade Centre (ITC) are organizing a webinar on 6 October 2021 on how to develop a sustainable cotton to clothing value chain in Africa. The event focuses on further developing cotton and textile value chains in Africa and on ways to develop a green regional cotton to clothing supply chain to stimulate regional and intercontinental trade. Origins of World Cotton Day The WTO hosted the launch of World Cotton Day on 7 October 2019 following an initiative of the Cotton-4 countries: Benin, Burkina Faso, Chad and Mali. The event was organized by the WTO Secretariat in collaboration with the secretariats of the United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), the ITC and the International Cotton Advisory Committee (ICAC). The launch was attended by over 800 participants at the WTO headquarters, including ministers, heads of international organizations, high-level officials, Geneva-based delegates and the global cotton community national growers associations, traders, inspection service providers, cotton promoters, development assistance partners, scientists, scholars, retailers, brand representatives and the private sector. It served as a key opportunity for participants to share knowledge and showcase cotton-related activities and products. Discussions on cotton at the WTO At the WTO, cotton is the sole commodity discussed separately following an initiative launched by the Cotton-4 in 2003. The initiative aims to make international trade in cotton fairer and to shed light on the linkages between trade, cotton and development. Discussions on cotton at the WTO focus on: achieving reforms needed to address trade-distorting subsidies and to provide improved market access for cotton and cotton-related products from LDCs monitoring and encouraging development assistance to the cotton sector in developing countries through cooperation projects and dissemination of information. For more information, please visit: www.wto.org/cotton ABERDEEN, Miss. (WTVA) - The Aberdeen Police Department shares a good time with the community by hosting their Faith and Fun Drive Thru Fall Fest. They handed out juices, candy bags, popcorn and cupcakes to kids. Kids also had the chance to play fun games. With this event, law enforcement is hoping to better bond with members of the community. Police Chief Quinell Shumpert wants to let the community know the department is there for them. The night continued with a movie event in Newberger Park. The department will be participating in the Law Enforcement Torch Run this year for the Special Olympics. The event is October 19th. For more information, contact the police department. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) Home health aides who refuse to get a COVID-19 vaccination are barred from working with patients in New York as of Friday under a new state mandate that one industry group warned could lead to thousands of caregivers losing their jobs. The mandate, put in place by Gov. Kathy Hochul, also applies to workers at assisted living homes, hospice care, treatment centers and AIDS home care programs. It comes on top of another mandate, implemented last month, that covered hospital and nursing home workers. The states vaccine mandate says health care employers can fire unvaccinated workers when its impossible to prevent them from exposing patients or colleagues. About 86% of 244,750 home health aides who provide direct care in New York have received at least one dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, according to state Department of Health self-reported data provided to The Associated Press on Friday. Of those aides, 71.3% are fully vaccinated. Joe Pecora, vice president of the Home Healthcare Workers of America, recently estimated that nearly 70% of the group's 32,000 members had received the COVID-19 shot. It was unclear early Friday whether home health agencies were having to suspend or lay off large numbers of workers. Hospitals across the state did have to lay off staffers who refused the shots, but a last-minute rush of reluctant workers to get vaccinated prevented large-scale staff shortages. The Home Care Association of New York State is urging home health agencies to notify the state Department of Health of any emergency capacity concerns due to the mandate. The health department didn't immediately provide data on vaccination rates or staffing shortages for home care agencies. As of Friday, 97% of staffers at the not-for-profit Visiting Nurse Service of New York were vaccinated or received an exemption, according to spokesperson Caren Browning. The home care agency has 8,800 home health aides and served 75,000 patients last year. Browning said it was one of the few home care agencies to set up a vaccine clinic to vaccinate staff and community members. Representatives of leading home care associations have met with Hochul and state health department officials to push the state to phase-in vaccinations and provide emergency funding for home care providers. Home Care Association of New York State President and CEO Al Cardillo warned foreign and out-of-state workers alone won't be able to fill staffing holes. Hochul, a Democrat, has said the mandates for health care workers are needed to protect vulnerable New Yorkers from being infected by unvaccinated caregivers. Many of the deaths in the state's nursing homes during the worst months of the pandemic in 2020 have been blamed on infected staff unknowingly spreading the virus to already fragile patients. Health department spokesperson Jill Montag said individuals have a right to request that individuals who enter their homes are vaccinated. The state's mandate is set to expand again on Nov. 1 to cover workers who work in state-run facilities offering health care to individuals living with developmental disabilities or mental health needs. Court challenges aimed at overturning the mandates have, so far, failed, but a federal judge has temporarily allowed health care workers to request a religious exemption from vaccination while the legal fights play out. HOUSTON, Miss. (WTVA) - The Chickasaw County School District is going through a food shortage. Cafeteria workers at Houston High School are continuously working to fill bellies of students without all their needed supplies. Superintendent John Ellison said since the beginning of the school year, he and the food service staff have struggled with getting full deliveries on time. "There have been instances where we didn't get a supply truck until the day before and then of course, it may not match the menu." Ellison said they have to be creative to feed around 2,200 students every day. This is because manufacturers are struggling with their supply chain due to the pandemic. "It has become an issue that we deal with on a daily basis," he said. Chickasaw County Nutrition Director Lisa Voyles said the students are required to have 5 components-- including meat, bread vegetables, fruit and milk. She said if they are out of one item, they'll add something else to the menu. For example, today students chose from a slice of pizza or chees sticks and corn or carrots. "We do have plenty of options for our children and we do encourage them to pick out the things that they like and the things they are required to have for a meal to make a full tray," she said. Ellison also said he is asking parents to be patient with the school district during this time. The are going to make sure all students get a meal. Kirsten Dunst and Benedict Cumberbatch were so deep in character for Jane Campions upcoming Netflix thriller The Power Of The Dog that they didnt speak to each other on set. Speaking at todays Deadline Contenders London, Dunst described the on-set dynamics as interesting, with Cumberbatch relishing the role of Montana rancher Phil Burbank, who takes an immediate dislike to his brothers (Jesse Plemons) new fiancee Rose (Dunst). More from Deadline Benedicts character is a looming figure who slowly infiltrates Roses brain and gaslights her, said Dunst. She starts strong but he does so much to intimidate her until eventually she becomes an alcoholic. The film sees Dunst re-team with real-life partner Jesse Plemons, who she last worked with on FX series Fargo. I grabbed his arm in one scene and was told that was too familiar. I had to remind myself this is not my [real-life] husband. Producer Tanya Seghatchian described The Power Of The Dog as an unfamiliar depiction of the American West. Venice Review: Jane Campions The Power Of The Dog The Power of the Dog - Credit: Netflix Netflix Netflix acquired near-global rights to the film in May 2019, when it was one of the buzz titles at the Cannes market. You can watch a trailer here. Check back Monday for the panel video. The Power Of The Dog Stars Benedict Cumberbatch & Kodi Smit-McPhee Credit Director Jane Campion For Bringing The Most Out Of Their Performances Toronto Studio Best of Deadline Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. Wendy Osefo is showing off her glamorous wedding guest style. The Real Housewives of Potomacs cast member looked gorgeous while attending a friends nuptials in a black-and-white feathered dress and a matching fascinator, as captured in a recent Instagram post. On October 6, Wendy took to Instagram to put her stunning wedding attire on display. The professor traveled to Texas for the occasion, looking gorgeous in a flirty long-sleeved minidress from Signature Dresses. As captured in the snapshot below, the black dress featured a body-hugging silhouette and a short white feather skirt. Wendy topped off the dress with a pair of pointy black Louboutin pumps, a black quilted Chanel handbag, and some dazzling open circle earrings. For the finishing touch, she styled her caramel-hued tresses in long, loose curls accented by a white embroidered headpiece, also from Signature Dresses. H-town hottie, Wendy wrote in the caption of the post, also adding hashtags that read RHOP and wedding guest. Want more RHOP? New episodes air every Sunday at 8/7c. My dad was planning a trip to Cannon Beach, a small coastal town in Oregon that I love. Yet when I sat down to email him some recommendations, I drew a blank. I couldn't remember the name of the state park we visited or the breakfast spot we adored. Even the name of the hotel we stayed at eluded me. Since giving birth to my year-old daughter, I've had countless moments like this. I have trouble recalling words, forget to respond to text messages, and even missed an appointment. What I'm experiencing is often called "mommy brain" - the forgetful, foggy and scatterbrained feeling many pregnant women and new mothers experience. Subscribe to The Post Most newsletter for the most important and interesting stories from The Washington Post. But is mommy brain real? Anecdotally, yes. Ask any new mom if she has felt the above, and she'll likely say she has - as many as 80% of new moms report feelings of mommy brain. Scientifically, it also appears the answer is yes: A growing body of researchsupports the argument that moms' brains change during pregnancy and after giving birth. A clear explanation for the phenomenon still remains somewhat elusive, however. There are countless variables that experts say contribute to mommy brain, such as fluctuating hormones postpartum, sleep deprivation in dealing with a new baby, anxiety over new parenthood, elevated stress levels, and a general reprioritization of lives that having a baby forces. Put together, it's only natural that changes in mental processing would occur, says Moriah Thomason, Barakett associate professor of child and adolescent psychiatry at New York University School of Medicine. When our brain needs to make space for a new priority - keeping a baby alive - remembering a grocery list takes a back seat. Related video: How the child care crisis is keeping moms out of work "Does it mean that you literally cannot do those things that you used to do as well? Probably not," she says. "It's just not the most important thing for you to be accessing." Story continues Several small studies have come out in the past few years that support the existence of mommy brain. Abigail Tucker, author of "Mom Genes: Inside the New Science of Our Ancient Maternal Instinct," says that a meta analysis of all these studies concluded that women experience cognitive changes like forgetfulness and trouble with verbal recall in the immediate months and years after giving birth. Many Americans expect women to be on the ball again just six weeks after giving birth, Tucker says. They chalk mommy brain up to sleep deprivation when that's really just the tip of the iceberg. In reality, our brains are undergoing changes that extend well beyond six weeks. "When women talk about this idea of mommy brain or mommy fog, maybe we ought to believe them and not say, 'Oh, you're just making this up,' " Tucker says. "There really is something there." Some neuroscience research also supports the idea that women's brains physically change after giving birth. A 2017 study published in Nature Neuroscience found there is a decrease in gray matter in the area of moms' brains that is responsible for social cognition. This shrinkage was still present two years after childbirth, suggesting that having a baby may lead to permanent structural changes in the brain. But experts aren't sure what this reduction in gray matter means. The study subjects with the largest gray matter shrinkage also tended to have the highest levels of maternal bonding. Some experts believe the gray matter shrinkage is part of a neural pruning effect in which moms' brains are essentially rewiring to adapt to their new role as parents, a process that is also seen during adolescence - a time of significant brain development and maturation. "Brain shrinkage sounds sad and depressing, but people have argued that this drop in volume in certain parts of the mom brain might not actually mean these brain parts are getting worse," Tucker says. "There could be a neural pruning effect that goes on where these circuits are getting weeded out and being made leaner and leaner." Alternatively, some research suggests new mothers' brains don't shrink but rather grow. Pilyoung Kim, a developmental psychologist at the University of Denver who studies how mothers' brains change during the postpartum period, says her research has shown increases in some brain areas including the prefrontal cortex, which controls planning, learning and emotional regulation, in the parietal lobe, which is related to empathy, and in the temporal lobe, which helps moms understand babies' cues. That research squares with some of what I have encountered as a new mom. Although I've struggled to recall simple words or remember to reply to text messages, I've also noticed that I can easily distinguish between my daughter's four different cries. I also feel incredibly alert and hypervigilant at all times - even when I'm sleep deprived. "You're more focused on subtle things that you might not have noticed before," Tucker says, adding that research has shown pregnant women and new moms often are better than nonpregnant women at everything from distinguishing between subtle color differences to riding out stressful events like earthquakes. "The cognitive advantages [new moms] have are something like a super power." One small 2020 study suggests that brain fog is overstated. Study co-author Valerie Tucker Miller, an anthropology doctoral candidate at Purdue University, looked at 60 moms who were at least one year postpartum vs. 70 non-mothers, and found that the new moms' reaction times (a stand-in for attention) were as good if not better than the non-mothers' - despite the new mothers being on average 10 years older. "Moms were not as distracted by those outside, incongruent items," Miller says in a news release about the study. "It makes perfect sense that moms who have brought children into this world have more stimuli that needs to be processed to keep themselves and other humans alive, and then to continue with all the other tasks that were required before the children." When my daughter was just a few months old, I told my husband about my newfound absent-mindedness. He said he often felt the same. He chalked it up to sleep deprivation, both from countless night wakings and his long hours as a medical resident. But was it all just sleep deprivation, or is there a daddy brain, too? Dads' brains were also looked at in the 2017 gray matter study, and the authors found they did not have the same changes as new mothers. Kim has also studied dads' brains, and she says that although dads experience structural changes in the brain during the first few months postpartum, their changes are not as significant as the ones moms experience. Still, dads do undergo a transformation of sorts. One 2014 study looked at first-time mothers, heterosexual fathers and homosexual fathers, all of whom were the primary caregivers. The researchers found that brain activity in areas of vigilance, reward, social understanding, cognitive empathy and motivation were consistent across all three parent types. There's still no "slam dunk" when it comes to understanding the mommy brain, Tucker says, since there's not enough science yet on the topic. "What is clear is that there is measurable change and that mothers are organisms in flux," she says. "I think that insight is enough to startle people and strongly imply that we structure social policies and create a set of cues for moms that will allow their brains to go through this metamorphosis." Related Content One state has never taken in refugees. Will it welcome Afghans? Can the new 'Fauci' documentary find an audience after so much pandemic fatigue? Covid cases in kids are soaring. In Tennessee, most remain unmasked and unvaccinated. The crew stands atop the Seawolf-class fast-attack submarine USS Connecticut in this 2018 photo. Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images A US Navy submarine collided with an object in the Indo-Pacific, the Navy revealed Thursday. A former Navy submariner told Insider reports suggest the submarine was operating along the sea floor. The collision, which took place in the South China Sea, is currently under investigation. The US Navy Seawolf-class submarine USS Connecticut collided with an unknown object in the South China Sea recently, damaging the powerful fast-attack boat and injuring nearly a dozen crew members. The US Navy statement on the collision said specifically the Connecticut collided with an "object," and service officials talking with Navy Times indicated it was not another vessel and not likely to have been a land mass. Navy officials told the Associated Press that the object the submarine hit might have been a sunken ship, a shipping container, or some other uncharted object. Public details on the incident are still very limited, but a former US Navy submariner and defense expert told Insider reports on the collision indicate the submarine was probably operating close to the bottom, possibly on a surveillance mission. The South China Sea is already a challenging operating environment for submarines because it is, for the most part, actually quite shallow, especially compared to the waters of the nearby Pacific Ocean, with depths of thousands of feet. Comments from Navy officials speculating that the nuclear-powered submarine may have collided with a container or shipwreck suggests that the ship was not only in shallow waters but likely close to the sea floor, said Bryan Clark, a senior fellow at the Hudson Institute. And reports that only about a dozen crew members suffered only minor injuries suggest the submarine may have been moving slowly, possibly because it was near the bottom or possibly to remain undetected or both. "The things you might do near the sea floor are hide, if you are just trying to surveil Chinese submarine operations, or try to put something on the sea floor or pick something up, which might be a sensor," explained Clark, who is a retired submarine officer and former special assistant to the chief of naval operations. Story continues A potential point of interest for surveillance would be Yulin Naval Base on Hainan Island, from which China operates an unknown number of submarines. Beyond surveillance, other possible operations could include activities like sea floor mapping. Clark told Insider he "would not be surprised if the Connecticut was up there doing some kind of surveillance operation on Chinese submarine operations out of Hainan Island and it was close to the bottom because it was trying to hide and it ran into something while it was doing that." It is unclear what kind of operations the Connecticut was conducting at the time of the collision, but a Navy official characterized them to the AP as routine. The challenge with operating near the sea floor is that there is debris down there that can pose a threat to the submarine. For instance, the South China Sea is an important strategic waterway through which trillions of dollars in global trade pass each year, and shipping containers are frequently lost at sea. Submarines have a rudder and use water and compressed air in ballast tanks to control its depth. And "you can operate fairly closely to the sea floor pretty competently because you have good maps and you've got a bathometer that's measuring the distance between you and the sea bottom," Clark said, explaining that topography charts, depth senors, and passive sonar allow a submarine to steer clear of most obstacles. But if there is a big uncharted object, like a massive shipping container possibly standing on end, the submarine may not be able to detect it until it is right on top of it. "That's the problem you run into with operating near the sea floor in an area like that, where there's lots of objects on the sea floor," Clark said. The Navy is conducting an investigation into the submarine collision, an uncommon occurrence that happened on October 2 but was not reported until five days later due to concerns about operational security, according to the Associated Press. Read the original article on Business Insider Aaron Ramsey absolved Danny Ward of blame for his World Cup howler in Wales 2-2 draw with the Czech Republic. With the score 1-1 four minutes into the second half of a thrilling Prague qualifier, Ward miscontrolled a Ramsey back pass in front of his own goal. The Leicester goalkeeper tried to remedy the situation but he touched the ball onto a post and it went in off him for a bizarre own goal. Wards blushes were spared slightly when Daniel James accepted Harry Wilsons pass to superbly equalise after 69 minutes. The draw leaves Wales hopes of securing second spot behind runaway group leaders Belgium and a World Cup play-off place in March intact. Danny has been absolutely terrific for us, said Ramsey, who had opened the first-half scoring after 36 minutes before it was almost instantly wiped out by Czech Republic striker Jakub Pesek. He has made some really big saves throughout. Aaron Ramsey (right) celebrates after giving Wales a first-half lead against the Czech Republic (Petr David Josek/AP) These things happen from time to time but I am sure there is nothing to be worried about there. It is one of those things and we are glad he is in goal for us. Ramsey had played just 105 minutes for Juventus during a frustrating injury-hit campaign. But the 30-year-old midfielder, who was wearing the Wales armband in Gareth Bales absence, played the full game and impressed throughout as Robert Pages side created numerous chances at the Sinobo Stadium. OWN GOAL Czech Republic 2-1 Wales (Ramsey OG, 49) Watch live on Sky Sports Football pic.twitter.com/Wa3ZQGyZUY Sky Sports Football (@SkyFootball) October 8, 2021 The last 20 the legs were going a bit but we gave everything again, Ramsey told Sky Sports. Story continues Full credit to the lads we dug in and got a result. We started off brilliantly and created a few opportunities. It was just an end-to-end game and I expect it was an entertaining game to watch. We played exactly the way we wanted to. We were brave on the ball, played compact and looked to create a few opportunities on the counter-attack. We could have taken a few more but full credit to the lads playing away in front of this hostile crowd. It was difficult but we showed what a resilient team we are. Boss Page expressed disappointment that Wales did not get the win that would have taken them into second place the Czechs currently edging them out on goal difference. Page said: I thought the performance was excellent. Were disappointed we didnt get the win but we thoroughly controlled the game. Daniel James (left) fires home Wales second goal against the Czech Republic (Petr David Josek/AP) We created some good chances and couldnt have thrown any more at it. Ward, who displaced Wayne Hennessey as Wales number one before Euro 2020 in the summer, was saluted by Dragons fans at the final whistle. Danny will be disappointed with it (own goal) and rightly so, Page said. But hell bounce back and I thought that was a really nice touch by the supporters at the end for them to do what they did. The lads will rally around him and, knowing him as a character, it wont be an issue for him. CHICAGO They include a retired nurse from Chicagos South Side, a former teacher from Mount Vernon and a lawyer in Carbondale. They joined others from all races and ethnicities, from deeply Republican to deeply Democratic parts of the state, more old than young, but all adding up, day after day, to propel Illinois to reach one more grim milestone for the pandemic this month: 25,000 official COVID-19 deaths, and counting. Illinois crossed that threshold Oct. 1, after closing out its deadliest month since last winter, tallying more than 1,000 deaths in September alone. And the 25,000 doesnt count about 2,700 additional deaths deemed as probable COVID-19 cases. As the known death toll has grown over 18 months, a Tribune analysis of state and federal data shows how the pandemics deadly waves have evolved since March 2020 amid starkly different mask-wearing and vaccination habits across the state. Deaths were originally clustered in Chicagos more Black and Latino neighborhoods, but then spread beyond the Chicago area, to the point the virus has killed a greater proportionate share of residents in rural southern Illinois than dense Chicago. Those trends were accentuated by the fourth and most recent of the pandemics surges, which began after vaccines were widely available. The Tribune found residents near Illinois southern tip the least vaccinated were nearly eight times as likely to have died in the latest surge than those living in the most vaccinated region, covering DuPage and Kane counties. Weve had a pandemic now thats among the unvaccinated, said Dr. Ngozi Ezike, the director of Illinois Department of Public Health. And that just makes it more sad that we havent been able to get that same message across to everyone: that vaccines are one of the key strategies to preserving life and wellness in the midst of this ongoing pandemic, she said. As Illinoisans approach another winter battling the pandemic, the latest data may offer some comfort: The last two surges havent been nearly as deadly as the first two, and the latest one appears to be waning. Story continues But in other ways, the latest data may fuel even more frustration, particularly Downstate: Deaths surged while huge swaths of residents didnt take vaccines widely deemed safe and effective, and shunned masking rules meant to contain the virus spread. Weve had a rough ride, and a lot of people died, said southern Illinoisan Robert Hughes, whose mother was among the victims. Those kind of behaviors have caught up with us. Left to try to make sense of the last 18 months are Hughes and others whose loved ones died from the virus. Among them is Robert Chapman, a Lincoln Square resident whose vaccinated father, Jim, died in mid-August. You still have the feeling that someone was taken from you before they should have been, he said. And Im sure there are hundreds of thousands of families who had the same feeling. For them, the tragedy can be traced to the first news of a new, unusually deadly virus from a city halfway across the world, and the first indications it had crossed the ocean and entered Chicago. First wave: Chicago hit hard In early March 2020, Patricia Frieson hosted a family birthday party in her three-flat in Auburn Gresham. There was singing and hugging. Over the coming days, they got together twice more. Then the retired nurse began having trouble breathing. This was in an era of confusion and mixed signals over what was being called the novel coronavirus. In just a few months, this strange new virus had hitched a ride in travelers from China and other infected countries, then began spreading here. Public health officials werent yet telling people to mask up or stay apart. Then-President Donald Trump had declared the infection was totally under control and complained his enemies were exaggerating the viruss danger to help him lose reelection that fall. Frieson, 61, wouldnt live to the election. She died March 16, 2020 marking Illinois first officially recorded death from COVID-19. Experts now believe other Illinoisans likely had died sooner of undiagnosed cases, in a time when few people were being tested and symptoms could be confused for another respiratory disease. But, with Friesons death and more consistent testing, the official death figures quickly grew. And what developed was a pandemic that, initially, left a devastating toll in the Black and Latino neighborhoods of Chicago, like Friesons. Epidemiologists have blamed that in part on the long-standing health inequities. Even before the pandemic, Black and Latino residents suffered from more underlying medical conditions and typically died younger than white residents. On top of that, Black and Latino residents have been more likely to work essential jobs, such as bus drivers and grocery store clerks, that require they interact with others outside their homes, making it easier for the virus to infect them and their families. By late July 2020, Latino Chicagoans were nearly twice as likely to have died as white Chicagoans. For Black Chicagoans, the rate was even higher: about 2 times as likely as whites. And that helped fuel trends that have lingered since. Killing the vulnerable Dr. Allison Arwady, Chicagos public health commissioner, said another key reason COVID-19 killed a greater share of Black Chicagoans in the first wave was that Black residents make up a larger share of long-term care residents. The state had barred visitors from facilities and required that workers be screened for symptoms. But the virus often got in anyway. It was able to infect and spread from people not showing symptoms, entering often-understaffed facilities that struggled early on to get adequate testing or protective gear for workers, while the state cut back on health and safety inspections. By late April 2020, the majority of COVID-19 deaths each week were tied to those living or working in long-term care. That spring, the virus had inundated long-term care facilities in dense urban neighborhoods as well as the Chicago regions farthest edges, killing not only residents but workers, too. In one Kane County facility, the virus killed nearly a fourth of the residents in less than a month. In a Niles facility, the death toll approached 50 by the fall, as one nursing assistant recalled to the Tribune that nobody knew how to handle this situation. The virus also had infiltrated some Downstate facilities too. Jacey House, a funeral director at the Hughey Funeral Home in Mount Vernon, recalled times when her home would get two or three calls a night from one long-term care facility alone, because everyone there had it. Deaths shift Downstate Early in the pandemic, most COVID-19 deaths were concentrated in the Chicago area. And that was true even after adjusting for population differences in the 11 health regions set up by the state. One glaring statistic: By August 2020, a Chicago resident was six times as likely to have died from COVID-19 as a resident in the states South region, which covers 20 counties spread from roughly Mount Vernon to Illinois southern tip and east to the Indiana line. But as fall 2020 approached, experts warned that rural Illinois was ripe to be hit hard by a second infection wave. Then came the second surge, the deadliest of them all. When adjusting for population difference, the Tribune found the hardest hit was the states South region. By New Years Day, the South regions death rate had caught up to and surpassed Chicagos. And the gap widened still through the spring and summer. Even as deaths skyrocketed Downstate, state surveys showed rural residents were less likely to wear masks than those in the suburbs or cities. In September 2020, only about half of rural residents said they always wore a mask in public. Masking did grow in rural areas during the second surge, but still remained well behind rates in suburban and urban areas. With the virus infiltrating all parts of the state, the death toll rose faster and faster. By late October 2020, while updating reporters to the increasing pace of deaths, Ezike turned away from TV cameras to wipe tears, after noting the roughly 9,400 dead, by then, were people who started with us in 2020 and wont be with us at the Thanksgiving table. Two weeks later, Illinois crossed the 10,000 threshold. By mid-February, the state had crossed the 20,000 threshold. Among the victims: Jane Marlene Hughes of Mount Vernon. She grew up during the Great Depression on a hardscrabble farm in Missouri. She went on to become a schoolteacher in southern Illinois and raise five children, while bringing food and clothing to students who would have otherwise gone without. She hoped to make 100, but died of COVID-19 at 98, in early January, before she had access to the COVID-19 vaccine, said her son, Robert Hughes, also of Mount Vernon. Roberts wife, Elizabeth Hughes, said she hears from people who still believe COVID-19 doesnt exist or that its just like the flu and not meant to be taken seriously. Others will minimize the death count, saying that its mainly the elderly who have been killed by the virus. Its very hurtful, Robert Hughes said. Every moment is precious. I never thought Id see people in Illinois southern Illinois become so hardhearted. Vaccination gap The most recent surge offered the first time that the vast majority of Illinoisans could arm themselves with free, effective and easy-to-get vaccinations. And, with a heavy push to vaccinate those in long-term care, that could help explain why that group makes up a far smaller share of those dying in more recent surges. But other groups have been less likely to seek the shots. Their hesitancy has been fueled by massive disinformation campaigns that fed misleading and false information on social media. That disinformation came on top of already-deep distrust of the medical community by some Black and Latino residents, mindful of past racism in health care. In that atmosphere, Black and Latino Chicagoans have continued to lag behind white and Asian neighbors in the rate of vaccination. A Tribune analysis of city and census data found roughly 41% of Black Chicagoans were fully vaccinated, compared with nearly 65% of white Chicagoans. Arwady told the Tribune that the racial and ethnic gap in vaccinations has fueled the racial and ethnic gap in deaths. During the first wave, Black and Latino Chicagoans were two to three times as likely to die than white Chicagoans. From mid-March through late July, when vaccination became plentiful, the lower vaccination rates meant Black and Latino men were five to six times as likely to die than white men in Chicago. Now, the disparity is simply because of vaccine uptake, she said. Black Chicagoans and, to a lesser extent, Latino Chicagoans are joined by another group that has been far less likely to get vaccinated: residents of rural, mostly white, parts of the state. Its a trend tied to Republicans being far less likely than Democrats to get the vaccine, with some conservatives stoking distrust in vaccines, downplaying the virus severity or painting vaccine refusal as patriotic pushback of government overreach. Its hardened vaccine resistance in Illinois more rural areas, particularly in the struggling South region, where several residents told the Tribune this summer they were shunning the shots. Ten months into the mass vaccination campaign, the South region continues to have barely 4 in 10 of its residents fully vaccinated. And, as experts feared, simple math became a key predictor of what areas would be hit the hardest, with less vaccinated areas seeing higher death rates in the latest surge. For example, the South region saw a death rate of nearly 46 per 100,000 residents in the past two months. During the same period, in the states most vaccinated region of DuPage and Kane counties, the death rate was less than 6 or just one-eighth of South regions rate. The troubling gap can be found in other state and federal data analyzed by the Tribune. When looking at weekly data that compares statewide death figures for vaccinated Illinoisans compared with unvaccinated ones, the Tribune found the rate of death was more than triple for those yet to be fully vaccinated, compared with those who have been. Risk to vaccinated, too The analysis also highlights how the infection surge raised the risk even for those vaccinated. No vaccine works perfectly for everyone, meaning the vaccine can dramatically lower the odds of death, but not eliminate them. So in areas where the virus is spreading rapidly, its floating droplets are more likely to be inhaled by the vaccinated, some of whose immune systems still may not be up to the fight. That creates so-called breakthrough cases, some of which can still be deadly, such as Jim Chapmans. Chapman grew up in the Hyde Park neighborhood, graduated from Harvard Law School and dedicated much of his life helping the incarcerated and impoverished. He spent about two decades as president of the Uptown Peoples Law Center in Chicago, then moved near the states southern tip and started a Carbondale nonprofit to support those in need. He got vaccinated and continued working, at age 91, until he got sick with COVID-19. His two sons, Robert and Richard, could visit their dad only briefly in the hospital, and to do so, they had to don a gown, N95 mask, plastic shield and gloves. Robert Chapman said he wishes those avoiding COVID-19 shots could see the pandemics toll on families like his. If they could think more about others, or if they themselves had to go through that experience, they might view their decision about not getting vaccinated differently, he said. And there could be other deaths tied to the pandemic, even if not directly to COVID-19. Researchers study so-called excess deaths, which are how many more deaths are occurring than typically have in the past. While many recent ones are attributed to the virus itself, there also has been a rise in other deaths, according to data kept by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Not counting the approximately 25,000 known COVID-19 deaths during the pandemic, or another roughly 2,700 the state deems probable COVID-19 deaths, the Tribune found the state had at least 5,000 additional deaths beyond the average for the past 1 years. Researchers blame these additional, non-COVID deaths on a host of factors, from sick people more leery of seeking care, to an overwhelmed hospital system that has to delay surgeries for the chronically ill to treat surges of COVID-19 patients. And, nationally, theyve hit Black and Latino communities disproportionately. How many more will die? If there is positive news in the fourth surge, its that it has been nowhere near as deadly as last falls, and it appears to be waning. Illinois deaths from COVID-19 now average a little more than 30 a day, after topping out near 40 in the most recent surge, which in turn was far less than last falls peak average of more than 150 deaths a day. Deaths are expected to drop even more in the coming weeks because cases and hospitalizations generally have been dropping too in Illinois, with an increase in vaccinations and more natural immunity built up in survivors. Plus, new treatments continue to be developed, the latest being a pill that its drugmaker said halves the chance of hospitalization and death in those recently infected. (It could be approved by regulators later this year.) And regulators are now weighing a request from Pfizer to OK their vaccine for kids 5 to 11, which if approved could limit spread in schools and lessen the chance adults catch COVID-19 from kids. That said, epidemiologists have warned that Illinois could still see another surge. The virus could mutate into something more contagious or vaccine-resistant. As the weather turns colder, people may mingle more indoors without wearing masks, giving the virus an easier time spreading. And immunity, from vaccination or a prior infection, can lessen over time. Health officials say booster shots are needed for Pfizer recipients who are six months past their second shot, if they live in long-term care facilities, are seniors, or are at least 50 with underlying health conditions. Other Pfizer recipients can get booster shots too, and regulators are considering OKing them for Moderna and Johnson & Johnson recipients. As the infection rate ebbs and flows, one near constant may be the grief over the dead, and frustration the toll continues rising 18-plus months after the first COVID-19 death. Somehow were able to normalize the fact that ... 700,000 American people died in the last year and a half, Robert Chapman said. Thousands of people are dying every day from this. Somehow, we act as though this is normal. _____ Texas A&M is pulling out the big guns in its recruitment of top prospect Walter Nolen. The Powell (Tenn.) High School defensive lineman, ranked the No. 1 recruit in the 2022 class on the 247Sports Composite, is in College Station for the Aggies matchup against the Alabama Crimson Tide. Nolen listed Texas A&M in his top three in August along with Georgia and Tennessee. From some reports, including from On3 Director of Recruiting Chad Simmons, the Aggies are the favorite. Based on the info Im getting right now, the Aggies are likely the school everyone else is chasing, Simmons said. Nolen tweeted Lets go #Gigem this week on Thursday ahead of the tip. Through six games, Nolen has 42 total tackles, 15 tackles for loss and four sacks this season, according to MaxPreps. Texas A&M is hoping the 6-foot-4, 325-point big will bring his dominance to their university. But this weekend may be high-risk, high-reward as electric as the atmosphere will be in the game against Alabama, the Crimson Tide has been several levels above every team except Georgia. Can the Aggies play them well enough to impress Nolen and show him the potential of the team moving forward? Its as big a weekend as Texas A&M football will have this season, for multiple reasons. Our directory features more than 18 million business listings from across the entire US. However, if we're missing your business, add your business by clicking on Add Your Business. New Delhi: Tata Sons is finally buying Air India for a whopping Rs 18,000 crore from the Indian government, bringing back the airline started by Tata Groups chairman JRD Tata in 1932, under its portfolio. The airline, once a revenue source for the government, was catapulted into debt by nonsensical decisions of the UPA government coupled with abuse by its ministers such as Praful Patel and AK Antony, among others. Praful Patel became the Civil Aviation Minister in May 2004, when Air India was the market leader with a 42 per cent market share. The dawn of his tenure as aviation minister proved to be the dusk of Air Indias golden days. Patel was allegedly involved in a fleet acquisition scam wherein the ministry decided to buy 68 planes for more than Rs 50,000 crore without any revenue plan or even a route map to deploy so many additional aircraft. The NDA government had earlier proposed to add 28 aircraft to Air Indias fleet. Out of 68 planes, the Ministry had proposed to buy 27 Dreamliners from Boeing, a deal that would have benefited the American planemaker. While additional secretary and financial adviser in the civil aviation ministry V Subramanian opposed the decision, he was later shunted off. Further, government analysts also questioned why an airline with a turnover of Rs 7,000 crore should place orders of Rs 50,000 crore. CAG, which looked at the deal later, reported: The acquisition appears to be supply driven the increase in number does not withstand audit scrutiny, considering the market requirement or forecast of the future, also the commercial viability projected to justify the acquisition "The airline is in a crisis situation. Salary payments and ATF obligations are becoming difficult. If the airline has to survive, the management and employees will have to set personal interests aside and undertake some harsh decisions, till the health of the airline improves" Moreover, Patel was also alleged to benefit his close friend Vijay Mallyas Kingfisher airlines by ordering managers at Indian Airlines to withdraw flights from specific sectors or change the timings of existing flights. He was nicknamed Minister for KingFisher by sections within Indian Airlines for his acts. Praful Patels daughter Poorna Patel also allegedly abused Air India during her tenure as hospitality manager with the Indian Premier League (IPL). In one instance, she allegedly aborted a Delhi-Coimbatore Air India flight to fly her and some IPL players from Chandigarh to Chennai. Also Read: Coal crisis: Power cuts imposed in Punjab as plants run at reduced capacity Coming to another UPA minister, AK Antony, he reportedly misused Air Indias funds to please his wife, Elizabeth Antony. Notably, Air India had bought two paintings of Elizabeth Antony for Thiruvananthapuram International Airport's Terminal 3. She, in fact, didnt have put an exhibition of her paintings till that time. Air India probably didnt have any other option. Also Read: Air India sale: Heres how UPAs years of mismanagement dethroned Maharaja Live TV #mute New Delhi: Its no secret that Tata Sons is now finally acquiring the debt-laden Air India, which was once a crown jewel of the Indian government. But how did Air India ended up in a pile of debt after ruling the skies for decades in the second of the 20th Century like a true Maharaja? For those uninitiated, most of the credit for dethroning Air India goes to Congress-led UPA. However, Before we dive deeper into what went wrong, its important to know that Air India continuously gave decent profits to the government. For instance, the carriers profit in 1991-92 stood at Rs 333 crore, with a loan from ITC. However, with the entry of low-cost private carriers, the market share of Air India and other state-owned domestic carriers such as Indian Airlines declined. The impact of rising competition was clearly visible as Indian Airlines slipped from the first to the fourth position. To give private carriers a run for their money, the UPA-led government decided to merge the state-run domestic and international airlines Air India and Indian Airlines into one entity - National Aviation Company of India Ltd (NACIL) - in 2006. NACIL was later renamed Air India in 2007. The merger was finally completed four years. The idea behind the merger was to efficiently leverage combined assets and capital. However, it only added to the ongoing turbulence inside Air India. For starters, the combined losses of the entities grew manifold from just Rs 770 crore in 2007 to Rs 7200 crore in 2009. The borrowings also jumped from Rs 6550 crore in 2017 to Rs 15,241 crore. Moreover, the merged company employed more than 30,000 employees, roughly around 256 per planes -- twice than the global standard. As a result, Air India spent neary one-fifth of its revenue on the salary of employees while private players were spending about one-tenth. All the attempts to reduce costs by streamlining employee base led to repeated stirs from eleven of its twelve unions, leading to temporary halts in operations and more losses. Also, the Civil Aviation Ministry had decided to purchase 111 new narrow and wide-body aircraft before the merger for a whopping Rs 67,000 crore. The decision proved to be a disaster in the years to come and even attracted a CBI enquiry on Supreme Courts order. Overall, the merger led to a total loss of more than Rs 10,000 crore. The merged Air India was facing a monthly loss of Rs 400 crore every month between October 2012 and March 2013. With not many options left, the government decided to infuse regular cash to run the national carrier while IndiGo, Jet Airways and SpiceJet captured 70 per cent of the Indian civil aviation market. Moreover, former civil aviation secretary M.K. Kaw, in his autobiographical account, expressed regret that the history of civil aviation in India had been a story of shameless exploitation and ruthless corruption. Also Read: DARK days ahead for India? Acute coal shortage can lead to massive power cuts - in pics He called it a fascinating saga of benami ownership of airlines, demands for bribes, destruction of rival airlines one-by-one, unwarranted purchase of aircraft, mismanagement of bureaucrats and politicians, free jaunts on inaugural flights, subsidized travel for many categories of travellers, VVIP flights, Haj flights and so on. Also Read: Coal crisis: Power cuts imposed in Punjab as plants run at reduced capacity Live TV #mute New Delhi: Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (DDL), on Saturday (October 9), sent phone messages to its customers in Delhi, requesting them to use electricity judiciously in the afternoon referring to the ongoing issue. Tata Power DDL majorly operates in the northwest Delhi region of the capital city. Coal shortage across the country has led to reduced power generation and Delhi might go through intermittent rotational load shedding in coming days, power discom Tata Power DDL CEO Ganesh Srinivasan said. In a statement, he said that coal-based power stations supplying electricity to Delhi discoms have coal stocks to meet generation requirements for one-two days against 20 days as per applicable regulations. "As a result, Delhi might go through intermittent rotational load shedding. However, proactive steps by both Delhi as well as the central government for handling the grim situation are under consideration to arrange or divert coal for power generation," Srinivasan said. Tata Power had started sending messages to its customers on Saturday (October 9). "Due to limited coal availability in generation plants across the north, power supply scenario between 2 pm to 6 pm is at the critical level. Kindly use electricity judiciously. Be a responsible citizen. Inconvenience caused is regretted, read an SMS received by a TPDDL consumer in Burari. Also Read: UP woman duped of Rs 32 lakh by Instagram friend from UK Other companies that supply electricity to Delhi include Reliance infrastructure led - BSES discoms - BRPL and BYPL. As of now, these companies are yet to release an update about the speculated electricity crisis that could soon impact Delhi residents and people living in other parts of the country. Also Read: Amazon Prime Rs 129 monthly subscription returns back: Heres how to avail it Live TV #mute New Delhi: After an almost two-decade delay, the government's CPSE privatisation initiative got off to a flying start with Tata Group's purchase of the debt-ridden national carrier Air India. With the new owner paying Rs 18,000 crore for the purchase of 'Maharaja,' it will be the highest amount ever obtained through privatisation or even the total amount obtained through strategic sale from 1999-00 to 2003-04. During the five-year period, the government received around Rs 5,000 crore from the privatisation of ten CPSEs. In addition, three Hotel Corporation of India assets and 18 ITDC buildings were sold in a slump sale. Also Read: Tata buys Air India: What will happen to AI employees after acquisition? Check here Here is a timeline of strategic sale of central public sector enterprises (CPSEs) to private entities between 1999-00 to 2003-04. 1999-00: Modern Food Industries Ltd Rs 105 cr 2000-01: BALCO , Lagan Jute Machinery Co Ltd Rs 554 cr 2001-02: VSNL, Computer Maintenance Corporation (CMC), Hindustan Teleprinters Ltd (HTL), Paradeep Phosphate Ltd (PPL), some hotel properties of HCI and ITDC ? Rs 2,089 crore 2002-03: Hindustan Zinc Ltd (HZL), Indian Petrochemicals Corporation (IPCL), some ITDC hotel properties Rs 2,335 cr 2003-04: HZL, Jessop & Co Rs 342 cr The government has also sold majority ownership in a number of CPSEs to other public sector enterprises in the same industry. Live TV #mute New Delhi: India is currently faced with a coal shortage that has left state leaders across the country worried. From Delhi to Punjab to Uttar Pradesh, most states in India could face temporary power cuts in the coming days that could push the country into a few dark days until the issue is resolved. However, the situation appears to be improving a bit. On October 7, the total dispatch of coal by Coal India touched 1.501 MT, reducing the gap between consumption and actual supply. Moreover, the Ministry of Coal and Coal India are making efforts to increase dispatch to the power sector to 1.6 MT per day in the next three days and thereafter try to touch 1.7 MT per day. The coal supply and the ongoing power crisis is likely to improve. The Ministry of Power has also issued guidelines for Operationalising optimum utilization of generating stations as per the requirement in the Electricity Grid. Heres the latest update in Indian states: Delhi electricity crisis Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal has written a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi related to the situation. He said that in the coming time in the capital Delhi, people may have to face a power crisis. The Chief Minister of Delhi says that he is personally monitoring it. His intention is that in the coming time's people do not have to face the problem of power cuts. Moreover, Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (DDL) sent phone messages to its customers in Delhi, requesting them to use electricity judiciously in the afternoon referring to the ongoing issue. Uttar Pradesh electricity crisis A total of 14 power plants have temporarily stopped functioning in Uttar Pradesh. Eight power stations stopped functioning due to the coal shortage while six other power plants have been shut in the state due to other reasons. Currently, the power demand stands at about 20,000 to 21,000 MW. However, the supply remains at only 17,000 MW. To tackle the shortage, authorities have announced a power cut of four to five hours in a few rural areas. Punjab electricity crisis Severe coal shortage at thermal power plants in Punjab has forced power utility PSPCL to cut down power generation and impose rotational load shedding at several places in the state. Coal-fired power plants are running at a reduced capacity because of the shortage of coal, said an official of Punjab State Power Corporation Ltd (PSPCL) on Saturday. With the power situation turning grim, power plants in the state are left with coal stock of up to five days, a PSPCL official said. Also Read: Air India sale: Heres how UPAs Praful Patel, AK Antony, others catapulted national carrier into debt Bihar, Rajasthan and Jharkhand electricity crisis A crippling coal shortage has caused a supply shortage in states such as Bihar, Rajasthan and Jharkhand, with residents in the regions experiencing power cuts stretching to up to 14 hours a day, according to a Reuters report. Also Read: Air India sale: Heres how UPAs years of mismanagement dethroned Maharaja Live TV #mute New Delhi: Television actress Shweta Tiwari fans were all worried after reports of her being hospitalised hit the internet a few days back. She was rushed to a hospital due to weakness and low blood pressure, reportedly. But now she is all hale and hearty, back to her social media game. Days after being hospitalised, Shweta Tiwari dropped a glamourous photoshoot on Instagram sending her fans into a tizzy. She captioned it: You were born to be real, not to be perfect! What say jumpsuit @rsbyrippiisethi Earrings @dishisjewels Styled by @stylingbyvictor @sohail__mughal___ Makeup @durgedeepak76 Clicked by @amitkhannaphotography Shweta Tiwari's Team issued a statement on her health reading: "The actor had not managed enough rest with immense travel and adding to it the weather change." It also stated that she is on road to recovery and will be back home soon. On the personal front, recently, the Bombay High Court granted her the custody of her 5-year-old son, Reyansh. The court has allowed her estranged husband Abhinav Kohli to speak to his son for 30 minutes on weekdays through video conference and meet on weekends for two hours. Shweta and Abhinav tied the knot in 2013. The couple has a son named Reyansh Kohli. Before Abhinav, Shweta was married to actor Raja Chaudhary. They got divorced in 2007 after nine years of marriage. Shweta has a daughter Palak Tiwari with him. Shweta Tiwari was last seen as a contestant on the adventure-reality show 'Khatron Ke Khiladi 11', hosted by Rohit Shetty. New Delhi: Ambedkar University is all set to release its 2nd Cutoff List 2021 for Undergraduate (UG) admissions today (October 8, 2021). Once released, the students will be able to check the list on the official website of the university- aud.ac.in. After the second list is released the university will commence its admission process. The aspirants should note that that the process would commence right after the list is released and would continue till October 11, 2021. The process will include various steps including payment of fees and document verification by the veracity. Earlier, the university had released its first cutoff list on October 5, 2021. ALSO READ | DU 2nd cutoff list 2021 releasing today, admission process to begin on du.ac.in from October 11 AUD admissions 2021: Steps to check cutoff list Step 1. Students need to visit the official website aud.ac.in. Step 2. On the Homepage, click on '2nd Cut off List 2021' link Step 3. New page will open with a .pdf file Step 4. Check the cut-off for all courses and then proceed with the admissions process according to your preferences Meanwhile, the first cutoff of Ambedkar University was as high as 99.50 percent for the Psychology course, followed by 98.50 percent for History. It may be noted that AUD 2nd cutoff list will be released separately for Delhi NCT and non-Delhi NCT. Live TV New Delhi: India is staring at a coal crisis and things are starting to look grim in the capital and the rest of the country. Coal shortage crisis seems to be deepening as a Tata Power arm operating in Delhi has sent phone messages to its customers to use electricity judiciously in the afternoon referring to the ongoing issue. Tata Power arm Tata Power Delhi Distribution Ltd (DDL), which operates mainly in northwest Delhi, has sent the SMS (message) to its customers, a source said, as reported by PTI. The SMS sent on Saturday stated, "Due to limited coal availability in generation plants across north, power supply scenario between 2 pm to 6 pm is at critical level. Kindly use electricity judiciously. Be a responsible citizen. Inconvenience caused is regretted - Tata Power-DDL." Meanwhile, BSES Rajdhani and BSES Yamuna, capital's other power distributors, reportedly have sufficient amount of fuel and will ensure smooth electricity supply. So no message has been sent from their side till now. But Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal has written to PM Modi. Coal shortage | Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal writes to PM Narendra Modi, requesting the intervention of the latter's office for diversion of adequate coal & gas to power plants supplying electricity to the national capital pic.twitter.com/9BaJXvp7q4 ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2021 Earlier last week, Power Minister RK Singh had admitted to the coal shortage at thermal power plants in the country and termed it beyond usual. However, later he had also said that the power demand would be moderated in the second half of October and coal supplies will also improve at plants. Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. Jagan Mohan Reddy has sought Prime Minister Narendra Modi's urgent intervention in view of the alarming situation in the state due to unfolding energy crisis. Voicing his concern over the coal shortage and poor finances of power distribution companies, he urged the PM to initiate remedial measures and monitor the power generation scenario on daily basis. Also read: DNA Exclusive: After coronavirus crisis, will coal shortage now plunge India into darkness? In a letter to Narendra Modi, the chief minister said it has become increasingly difficult for the state to meet the energy demand and the situation was pushing it towards load shedding. He stated that given the state's precarious financial situation, it was not able to purchase required power from the open market as the purchase prices have also shot up with growing demand. Jagan Mohan Reddy urged Modi to direct the Coal Ministry and the Railways to allot 20 coal rakes to thermal power stations in Andhra Pradesh. In Odisha, the Utkal Chamber Of Commerce & Industry Ltd (UCCI), an association of industries, has urged the Odisha government to ensure adequate supply of coal to state-based industries which are facing an acute shortage of dry fuel to run their units. There are 135 power plants in India which run on coal and of these, reportedly, 107 power plants have coal reserves for the next five days or less. These are the figures uptil Wednesday, taken from the website of Ministry of Power. (With Agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Poll strategist Prashant Kishor irked the grand old party on Friday (October 8) after he pointed out deep-rooted problems in the Congress. Taking to Twitter, Kishor said those expecting a quick revival of Congress in the wake of Lakhimpur Kheri violence are setting themselves for big disappointment. People looking for a quick, spontaneous revival of GOP led opposition based on the Lakhimpur Kheri incident are setting themselves up for a big disappointment," he tweeted. Unleashing a war of words on Twitter with his tweet, he added, "Unfortunately there are no quick fix solutions to the deep-rooted problems and structural weakness of the GOP. People looking for a quick, spontaneous revival of GOP led opposition based on #LakhimpurKheri incident are setting themselves up for a big disappoinment. Unfortunately there are no quick fix solutions to the deep-rooted problems and structural weakness of GOP. Prashant Kishor (@PrashantKishor) October 8, 2021 Congress did not take the criticism hands down and hit back at the popular poll strategist. Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel, without naming Kishor, said, "People looking for a 'national' alternative based on poaching INC functionaries who can't win even their own seats is in for a big disappointment." Slamming Baghel over his poaching tweet, a likely reference to the recent defections of former Congress MP and its women's wing chief Susmita Dev and former Goa Chief Minister Luizinho Faleiro into Mamata Banerjees party, All India Trinamool Congress (AITC) tweeted, "Rich words coming from a first-time CM. Punching above your weight doesn't bring honour to you, Mr Bhupesh Baghel. What a shoddy attempt to please the high command!" Rich words coming from a first-time CM. Punching above your weight doesnt bring honour to you, Mr. @bhupeshbaghel. What a shoddy attempt to please the high command! By the way, is @INCIndia going to try to erase the historical defeat at Amethi through yet another Twitter Trend? https://t.co/UiI1Zvcudl All India Trinamool Congress (@AITCofficial) October 8, 2021 "By the way, is the Congress going to try to erase the historical defeat at Amethi through yet another Twitter Trend (sic)?" the TMC questioned. During the March-April assembly polls, Kishor had worked for the TMC and is known to share a good relationship with the party's top brass. On being asked about Kishor's remarks at a party briefing, Congress general secretary and chief spokesperson Randeep Surjewala refused to comment, saying "I do not comment on some consultant's remarks. Kishor's criticism of the Congress comes amid talks of him joining the grand old party. He had also met former Congress chief Rahul Gandhi and speculations were rife of his induction into the party. However, his recent tweet seems an indication that all might not be well. (With PTI inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Indias Defence Minister Rajnath Singh conferred gallantry and meritorious service medals on the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) personnel at an investiture ceremony held in New Delhi, on Saturday (October 9). A total of 21 awards, including three Presidents Tatrakshak (Coast Guard)Medals (Distinguished Service), eight Tatrakshak Medals (Gallantry) and 10 Tatrakshak Medals (Meritorious Service) were presented during the ceremony. The medals were in recognition of the selfless devotion, exemplary courage and acts of valour of the ICG personnel under extreme conditions. Director General ICG, K Natarajan and senior officers of Ministry of Defence and Indian Coast Guard were present on the occasion. Commending the forces that are known as the Sentinels of the sea, the Minister said that, ICG which began their service to the nation with just 4-6 boats, is now one of the best maritime forces in the world with over 150 ships and 66 aircraft. This ever-growing stature, he added, instills confidence among the people that the national maritime interests are under safe supervision. He also touched upon how India is a rising maritime power and its prosperity is largely dependent on the sea. Referring to Prime Minister Narendra Modis vision of 'Security and Growth for All in the Region', (SAGAR) he lauded the ICG for being at the forefront in achieving that goal by promoting regional cooperation, maintaining maritime peace in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) and working closely with international maritime agencies. ALSO READ: Eastern Ladakh stand-off: Military talks between India, China on Sunday Special mentions were made of the the ICGs effort in fire-fighting and pollution response operations - Sagar Raksha-I and Sagar Raksha-II, which played a significant role in dousing the blaze onboard large crude oil carrier 'New Diamond' and container vessel 'Express Pearl' off the Sri Lankan Coast, in late 2020. These operations not only showcases Indias stature as a responsible and capable maritime power, but also averted a major disaster in the IOR, he added. Besides the role played in search and rescue operations and saving lives during the recent cyclones Tauktae and Yaas, the Minister also commended the ICGs operations against illegal weapons and narcotics trafficking. It is notable that ICG had carried out 70 medical evacuations, conducted 555 search and rescue operations and saved the lives of more than 1,090 people, last year. Following the Investiture ceremony, the Minister also addressed the 38th Coast Guard Commanders Conference. This Conference is an annual meet which is attended by all the senior officers of the ICG and Ministry of Defence. A brief on recent operational and administrative developments in Indian Coast Guard was presented to the Raksha Mantri. A wide range of issues pertaining to strengthening of the ICG as well as legitimate, legal use of oceans will be discussed during the three-day Conference. ALSO READ: Afghan-origin terrorists may try to enter J&K once situation stabilises in Afghanistan: Army Chief Live TV New Delhi: Delhi International Airport Limited on Friday (October 8, 2021) announced that the Delhi airport will resume flight operations at its T1 terminal from October 31 onwards after almost 18 months of closure. The GMR group-led DIAL mentioned that the T3 terminal and the T2 terminal of the Delhi airport resumed handling flight operations from May 25, 2020, and July 22, 2021, respectively. It also added that with the resumption of operations at the third terminal, Delhi Airport will be functional completely. "After almost 18 months of closure, the operations at T1 terminal will resume with pre-Covid operators, i.e. IndiGo and SpiceJet," said the statement by Delhi International Airport Limited (DIAL). Dial also mentioned that the first flight scheduled from T1 after its reopening would be an Indigo flight which will depart for Mumbai at 0105 hours. ALSO READ | Hyderabad airport to receive huge investment, passenger capacity to increase to 34 million "With the resumption of the third terminal, Delhi Airport will be functional completely. We would like to assure passengers that at Delhi airport, they would be in a safe and healthy environment, said Videh Kumar Jaipuriar, CEO, DIAL. According to aviation industry sources, carriers are currently operating around 70 per cent of their pre-Covid domestic passenger flights within India and approximately 20 per cent of pre-Covid international passenger flights from India. (With PTI inputs) Live TV New Delhi: The Delhi University will release the DU 2nd Cut off List 2021 on Saturday (October 9, 2021). Once released, the students will be able to check the list on the official site of DU on du.ac.in and also on admission.uod.ac.in. Students must note that the admission process under the second cut will begin on Monday (October 11, 2021) at 10 am and will end on Wednesday (October 13, 2021) at 11.59 pm. Following this, the colleges will complete the approvals for admission under the second list by Thursday (October 14, 2021). The candidates must note that the last date for payment of application fees by candidates is till Friday (October 15, 2021). ALSO READ | AUD admissions 2021: Ambedkar University 2nd cutoff list releasing today on aud.ac.in Additionally, the colleges affiliated with the varsity will also release their respective second cutoff list before the varsity releases the list on their respective websites. Click here to read complete admission procedure Meanwhile, with 36,130 students completing their admission process under the first cut-off list, a little over half of the seats at Delhi University colleges have been filled. The university had received a total of 60,904 applications under the first cut-off list. Eight colleges had pegged their cut-offs at 100 percent for 10 courses in the first list. Live TV New Delhi: In a recent interview, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he missed critics and lamented that the number of critics is very few and that most people only level allegations and play perception games. The very next day, Lakhimpur Kheri violence happened. A union ministers son was accused of mowing down unarmed protesting farmers with his SUV. Eight people were killed including four farmers. Some were reportedly killed by the protesters. A spine-chilling video of the incident surfaced that stirred the conscience of the entire nation. The opposition even compared it to the Jallianwala Bagh massacre. It does not matter whether the comparison was legitimate, but it certainly left an impression on the minds of the people. It has been six days since the incident and people are yet to hear from the Prime Minister. The opposition hit the streets and the leaders of the largest opposition party, Rahul Gandhi, Priyanka Gandhi along with two sitting chief ministers, Bhupesh Baghel and Charanjit Singh Channi, attempted to meet the families of the victims, only to be ridiculed by UP CM Yogi Adityanath. It was bad enough how the incident played out, what made it worse was the states high-handed response. The state police deployed all their resources at restricting the political leaders in the name of controlling law and order. What did happen though in the meantime was that the prime accused Ashish Mishra, son of union minister Ajay Mishra Teni, continued to roam free. The UP police said they were too busy dealing with the opposition leaders. Yes, the son of the home minister of India, who is facing a murder charge, has not been arrested yet. That is not all. The minister, who is in charge of internal security in the country, has so far refused to step down. How is this not impropriety? A section of media has expressed serious concerns on this issue. They asserted that for the probe to be credible, MoS Ajay Mishra must step down. The popular perception is that the BJPs top leadership must step in to resolve this issue. The Supreme Court appeared to be a bit more impatient, as it rapped the UP government and expressed that it was "not satisfied with the steps taken so far by the state government. The top court minced no words in saying that the UP government is not proceeding the way it should. It appears only in words and not in action. Although CM Yogi Adityanath, while calling the incident sad and tragic, has vowed to punish the guilty, the fact that a person facing charges under IPC 302 among several others including criminal conspiracy and rioting has evaded arrest even days after the incident tells a different tale. Do the opposition attacks, media appeals and the observations made by the apex court on the matter not qualify as legitimate criticism? Does an incident of this magnitude that involves a member of the union cabinet not deserve a comment from the Prime Minister? (Views are personal) Live TV New Delhi: The Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) called for all farmers to convene at Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh in protest of the violence that took place on October 3 in which eight people were killed including four farmers. SKM, the umbrella body of several farmer unions, said that October 12 will be celebrated as 'Shaheed Kisan Diwas' across the country. The organisational body also urged farmer organisations to organise special prayer meetings or tribute meetings for the farmers. "Farmers from across the country will reach Lakhimpur Kheri on October 12... what happened there was no less than the Jallianwala Bagh and we request all civic organisations to take out candle marches in their cities at 8 pm (on October 12)," Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav said. Yadav confirmed that on October 18 there will be a 'rail roko' and on October 26 there will be a huge 'mahapanchayat' in Lucknow. The farmers have been demanding that the Union Home Minister Ajay Mishra be sacked and his son Ashish, who has been named as an accused, been arrested. Meanwhile, Ashish appeared for questioning before the Uttar Pradesh Police for questioning in answer to summons that lists him as a witness in the case. Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath said his government will not 'bow to pressure'. Everyone is equal before the law and according to the Supreme Court, no one can be arrested without evidence, and investigation is underway. FIR has been lodged against a written complaint and no one will be spared, news agency PTI quoted him as saying. The CM at a conclave organised by a private news channel, said that no arrest will be made without evidence in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. Live TV New Delhi: Haryana Chief Minister Manohar Lal Khattar met Union Home Minister Amit Shah, on Saturday (October 9), here in the national capital to discuss the issue of reopening of Singhu and Tekri border. CM Khattar also briefed the Home Minister on the farmers` protest going on in various parts of the state."I met with Amit Shah Ji today, we briefed him on the issue of opening of Singhu & Tikri borders. I have also told him about farmers` protests being held at several locations in the state. I am hopeful that borders will be opened soon," said CM Khattar. Khattar also said a delegation of people from different villages met him and demanded that the road to the Singhu border should be opened. "A delegation of people from the villages around the Singhu border of Sonipat dist came to meet me and demanded the road to the Singhu border be opened. SC has also taken cognizance of it and we`re hopeful that the problem will be solved soon," said Khattar. "We have appealed those people (farmers) should conduct the agitation peacefully, the Home Minister has said that this appeal should be kept that they should protest peacefully, we have no objection," Khattar added. Earlier in September, the Haryana government formed a special committee to talk with the farmers, who are protesting against the three farm laws, for removing the blockade at National Highway-44 at the Singhu border. The Supreme Court on September 6 refused to hear a plea filed by residents of Sonipat in Haryana, facing difficulties due to the Singhu border being blocked by farmers and asked them to approach the Punjab and Haryana High Court for relief. "There is no need for us to intervene when High Courts are well versed with the local conditions and what is happening. We should trust High Court," said Justice DY Chandrachud. Live TV Hyderabad: Hyderabad airport will receive Rs 6,300 crores to increase its capacity to 34 million passengers, announced Antoine Crombez, Deputy CEO, GMR Airports Ltd at the Indo-French Investment Conclave 2021 in Hyderabad on Friday. "Rs 6,300 crores are getting invested in the Hyderabad airport to increase the Airport`s capacity to 34 million passengers," said Crombez. The conclave on Friday started with site visits to French companies that are successfully operating in the state such as Safran Aircraft Engines, Mane India and Sanofi Shantha Biotech. The conclave included several panel discussions focusing on key industries and the official session was attended by Emmanuel Lenain, Ambassador of France to India, KT Rama Rao, State Minister for IT, E&C, Municipal Administration and Urban Development and Industries & Commerce Departments, Jayesh Ranjan, Principal Secretary of Industries and Commerce and IT Departments of the Telangana Government, Sumeet Anand, Indo-French Chamber of Commerce & Industry (IFCCI) President. The event was supported by the French Embassy in India, Government of Telangana, CCEF - French Foreign Trade Advisors, CII, French Tech, Business France and brought together more than 100 Chief Experience Officers (CXOs) of French and Indian businesses, State authorities, diplomats, policymakers, top private sector players from India and France, multilateral agencies and eminent industry experts. ALSO READ | Air India plane gets stuck under foot over bridge near airport - WATCH On this occasion, the Ambassador of France to India, Emmanuel Lenain said: "France and French companies are fully committed to increasing their presence in Telangana and seizing the many opportunities of this thriving, innovation-oriented state. Many French groups have already invested in Telangana, particularly in biotech, IT and aeronautics. These Indo-French business endeavours in key sectors in Telangana also help to strengthen the strategic partnership between our two countries." He added, "In this respect, I am proud that French companies demonstrated exceptional solidarity with Telangana during the second wave of Covid-19 by contributing to a French-made world-class oxygen generator plant to the Telangana Institute of Medical Sciences." KT Rama Rao, Minister for IT, E&C, MA&UD and Industries & Commerce Departments said, "Telangana is one of the fastest-growing states in the country. Since the formation of the State, the Telangana Government has been introducing innovative policies to attract global firms and investments." ALSO READ | DELUGE in Delhi: Water everywhere, airport flooded in record rainfall - Watch Highlighting the TSiPASS policy, the Minister stated that the Telangana government has been giving approvals for various investment proposals within fifteen days. He added that through this policy, the government has attracted crores of investment to the state and has created lakhs of employment opportunities in the region. Rao also mentioned that Telangana has been a favourite destination for IT, Aerospace, Life Sciences, and Pharma companies. He said that Telangana is home to many French companies. He added that many more companies from France are showing interest in investing in Telangana. Live TV Kabul: Distressed stranded Indians and Afghan minorities made a fervent appeal to the government of India for an immediate evacuation from Kabul. After the Friday Kunduz Mosque blast, the council of Afghan Hindus and Sikhs met at Gurdwara Karte Parwan in Kabul on Saturday (October 9) to discuss the safety of the community living in the Islamic nation in the aftermath of unidentified forces vandalising the gurdwara and the nefarious attack on the Shiite mosque in Northern City of Kunduz in which many innocent Afghans belonging to Hazara community were killed. Satvir Singh, Head Granthi of Gurdwara Karte Parwan, Kabul in a video message requested government of India that the Afghan Sikhs also want to visit India for pilgrimage to celebrate religious events. The stranded Indian citizens in Afghanistan were also present in the meeting. It is pertinent to mention that after the Taliban came into power in Afghanistan the minority in Afghanistan have been feeling unsafe. The council demanded a foolproof investigation and accountability from the Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan on vandalisation of the Gurdwara and also condemned the brutal killing of Shiite worshipers on Friday in Kunduz. The council also appealed to the Government of India to consider and facilitate the evacuation of all from the violence-hit Islamic nation at the earliest. According to available information, there are about 300 Indians-- Afghan Hindu and Sikhs-- who urged the government to make efforts to bring them to India. The meeting was chaired by Ram Sharan Singh, President of Management Committee for Aasamai Mandir, Kabul and co-chaired by Gurnam Singh, President of Management Committee for Gurdwara Karte Parwan, Kabul and moderated by Satvir Singh, Head Granthi of Gurdwara Karte Parwan, Kabul. While talking to Zee News, Puneet Singh Chandhok, President, Indian World Forum informed that Iranian Airline Mahan Air is operating flights to Kabul for a month now and considering our bilateral ties with Iran, Government of India may kindly explore and seek assistance from them in the issuance of transit visas to the stranded Indians and Afghan Hindu and Sikhs and use their carrier for smooth evacuation. Puneet said, "I once again appeal the leadership of PM Modi to consider and facilitate the immediate evacuation of all the stranded Indians and Afghan Hindu and Sikhs at earliest". Live TV New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday said it was "not satisfied" with the steps taken by the Uttar Pradesh government in the "brutal" killing of eight people in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence, and pulled up the state police asking whether sending summons and telling "please come" was the way the accused are treated in other murder cases. "The proof of the pudding is in the eating," a bench headed by Chief Justice N V Ramana told the UP government, and sharply questioned why Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra, an accused in the case, has not been arrested yet. Any investigations by CBI may not be the solution As the court mulled transferring the probe into the violence on October 3 in which four farmers were among the killed to another agency, it also said any investigations by the CBI "may not be the solution" because of the persons who have been named in the FIR lodged by the UP police, in a veiled reference to the fact that Ashish Mishra is the son of a union minister. Is it the same way we treat other accused in other cases? The top court questioned the soft approach of the police towards the accused (Ashish Mishra) named in the FIR. The apex court told Harish Salve, appearing for the UP government, "Mr Salve, these are very serious charges. We are not on the merits of whatever it is... If you see the FIR which is filed by the counsel (of UP), this is an offence under Section 302 (murder) of the IPC apart from other sections. "Is it the same way we treat other accused in other cases also? We send notice and say please come, please stay..?" the bench quipped. Salve said he asked the same thing to them and they said the post mortem report did not show any bullet wound that is why, they gave him a notice for appearance under the CrPC and if the bullet wound have been there, then the course would have been different. The CJI said, "This is the opinion of the bench. We expect that there is a responsible government and responsible police officers and the system and when there is a serious allegation of death (IPC section 302), gunshot injuries, then the question is can the other accused in the country be treated the same way. Please come. Please tell us..." Salve urged the bench to take up the case again on October 18 and assured that by that time, the actions would be taken. "It appears that is only in words and not in action," the bench said, adding, "Mr Salve there is a saying that the proof of the pudding is in the eating." "What is the message we are sending," the bench asked, adding that an accused is apprehended immediately after registration of a murder case. "I agree and I couldn't agree more," said Salve. Without mincing words, the court said, "the law must take its course against all accused" and "the government has to take all remedial steps in this regard to inspire confidence" in the investigation of "brutal murder of eight persons". Responding to the court's "the proof of the pudding is in the eating" remark, Salve said the UP government will have "to make another pudding and make it palatable", adding that whatever is done so far is not satisfactory. In its order, the bench noted that the counsel for the UP government explained various steps which have been taken by the state government and the status report has also been filed to that effect. "But we are not satisfied with the actions of the state." "...Counsel assures us that he will take all necessary steps to satisfy this court on the next date of hearing and he will also consider alternatives of conducting the investigation by any other agency. In view of that, we are not inclined to go into details of this aspect. List this matter immediately after the vacation. "Meanwhile, the learned counsel assured us that he will communicate to the concerned highest police officer in the state to take all necessary steps to protect the evidence and other materials related to the incident". The bench, also comprising Justices Surya Kant and Hima Kohli, hoped that the state government will take "necessary steps because of the sensitivity of the issue". "We are not making any comments. Secondly, CBI is also not a solution for the reasons, you know the reasons...We are also not interested in CBI because of the persons who are...So it's better you find out some other mode. We will take it up immediately after the vacation. But that does not mean that they should keep their handoff. They have to do. They must act..," it said. Salve said if allegations and evidence are true and the manner in which the car was driven leaves no manner of doubt that possibly it is a murder case. "See there is a straight statement made by the eyewitness, the person who has seen the incident," the bench said, adding, "Postmortem report does not show the gunshot injury, is that a ground for not taking the custody of the accused". Police have found two cartridges and it might be a case that the accused had a bad aim and he missed it and this is "extremely serious," Salve said. The bench retorted,"If it is extremely serious then the way it's proceeding it seems it is not serious." The bench then dealt with the SIT set up by the state police to probe the sensational killings and said, "We have seen your details of the SIT, which you have constituted... Who are the people in the SIT, you have your DIG, Superintendent of police, circle officers, all local people and this is what happens when all the local people are there." The bench then inquired whether any request had been made by the state government to hand over the case to the CBI. Salve said no such request has been made and this aspect can be dealt with by the court. "Please have this on reopening. If you are not satisfied with the progress, hand it over to CBI". The bench, however, again said a CBI probe was not the solution. It also raised objections to the continuance of the present lot of officers with the probe and said that "because of their conduct we do not see that good investigation will take place". Second thing is that they should not "completely destroy" the evidence available, the bench orally observed, adding that "by the time some investigative agency takes the case, please tell the DGP to take care of all necessary steps to protect the evidence". The top court then posted the matter for further hearing on October 20. Live TV Kanpur: The Uttar Pradesh police on Saturday raised the cash reward for information on each of the six policemen booked in the murder case of a Kanpur business to Rs 1 lakh. Police had earlier announced a reward of Rs 25,000 for information leading to the arrest of the each of them. A communique issued by the Kanpur police commissionerate said the reward has been increased to Rs 1 lakh. Manish Gupta, a property dealer, was allegedly thrashed by the policemen in a Gorkahpur hotel last month, he later succumbed to his death. Police Commissioner Asim Arun said the cash reward of Rs 1 lakh each has been announced for the now suspended and absconding police personnel. 1- Inspector Jagat Narayan Singh, resident of Musafirkhana, Amethi district 2- SI Akshay Kumar Mishra, resident of Narhi, Ballia district 3-Sub Inspector Vijay Yadav, resident of Baksa, Jaunpur district 4-Sub-Inspector Rahul Dubey, resident of Kotwali Countryside, Mirzapur district 5- Chief constable Kamlesh Singh Yadav resident of police station premises, Ghazipur district 6- Constable Civil Police Prashant Kumar resident of Saidpur, Ghazipur District ''If any person is having any kind of information about the police personnel named in the death case of Kanpur property dealer Manish Gupta, he may kindly inform the SIT and a cash reward of Rs 1 lakh for each arrest will be given to him," the press statement read. Arun assured the names of the informants will be kept secret will take responsibility to ensure safety and security of the informant. He said the SIT is carrying out raids across UP and all possible places to nab the absconding policemen at the earliest. As many as eight police teams have already been pressed into the task to nab the absconding police personnel, he said. Live TV New Delhi: Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Mishra's son Ashish Mishra has been arrested in connection with Lakhimpur Kheri violence where eight people lost their lives. The nine-member SIT headed by Deputy Inspector General of Police Upendra Agarwal, arrested Mishra after quizzing him for more than 11 hours. Ashish was summoned by the UP Police to appear before the SIT probing the incident, he had previously failed to appear for questioning. Uttar Pradesh Police had summoned MoS Teni's son 11 AM. DIG Upendra Agarwal, Saharanpur told reporters that Ashish was not co-operating and failed to answer a few questions. "Ashish Mishra, son of MoS Home Ajay Mishra Teni, has been arrested as he was not cooperating during the interrogation and didn't answer few questions. He will be produced before the court," he was quoted as saying by ANI. Ashish Mishra, son of MoS Home Ajay Mishra Teni, has been arrested as he was not cooperating during the interrogation and didn't answer few questions. He will be produced before the court: DIG Upendra Agarwal, Saharanpur pic.twitter.com/nLG3HcmNME ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 9, 2021 A nine-member team led by DIG Upendra Agarwal is investigating the case against the minister's son and others. Meanwhile, two of the seven people mentioned in an FIR were arrested on Thursday. The arrested have been identified as Luvkush and Ashish Pandey. A total of eight people including four farmers died in the violence that took place in Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday. On the other hand, the Samyukt Kisan Morcha (SKM) called for all farmers to convene at Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh in protest of the violence. It said that October 12 will be celebrated as 'Shaheed Kisan Diwas' across the country. The organisational body also urged farmer organisations to organise special prayer meetings or tribute meetings for the farmers. "Farmers from across the country will reach Lakhimpur Kheri on October 12... what happened there was no less than the Jallianwala Bagh and we request all civic organisations to take out candle marches in their cities at 8 pm (on October 12)," Swaraj India chief Yogendra Yadav said. Yadav confirmed that on October 18 there will be a 'rail roko' and on October 26 there will be a huge 'mahapanchayat' in Lucknow. Live TV New Delhi: Union Minister of State (MoS) for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Tenis son, Ashish Mishra appeared before Uttar Pradesh Police for questioning on Saturday (October 9, 2021). The MoS Tenis son was summoned by the UP police in connection with Lakhimpur Kheri violence where eight people lost their lives. #WATCH Son of MoS Home Ajay Mishra Teni, Ashish Mishra arrives at Crime Branch office, Lakhimpur He was summoned by UP Police in connection with Lakhimpur violence. pic.twitter.com/g6wMpHYOKr ANI UP (@ANINewsUP) October 9, 2021 MoS Ajay Mishra Teni, who reached his residence in Lakhimpur Kheri on Friday, said that his son was unable to report to police on Friday due to health reasons. Following this, the Uttar Pradesh Police on Friday pasted another notice outside the residence of Union Minister Ajay Kumar Mishra in Lakhimpur Kheri asking his son Ashish Mishra to appear before it on October 9. A total of eight people including four farmers died in the violence that took place in Lakhimpur Kheri on Sunday (October 3). Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of several farmer unions, alleged that Ashish Mishra Teni, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni arrived with three vehicles around the time that farmers were dispersing from their protest at the helipad and mowed down farmers and towards the end also attacked SKM leader Tajinder Singh Virk directly, by trying to run a vehicle over him. However, Ashish Mishra refuted SKM`s allegations and said he was not present at the spot where the incident took place. Two accused identified as Luvkush and Ashish Pandey have been arrested so far in connection with the incident. (With ANI inputs) Live TV Punjab Congress leader Navjot Singh Sidhu has ended his hunger protest, after the son of MoS Home Ajay Mishra Teni, Ashish Mishra appeared before Crime Branch in Lakhimpur Kheri deaths case. Yesterday (October 8), demanding the arrest of Ashish Mishra, Sidhu begun a hunger strike at late journalist Raman Kashyap`s house in Lakhimpur who died in the violence on October 3. "Punjab Pradesh Congress Committee President Navjot Singh Sidhu is sitting on a hunger strike and demanding that the son of Union Minister Ajay Mishra is made part of the investigation in the Lakhimpur massacre," tweeted Punjab unit of Congress. After meeting Kashyap's family, Sidhu also slammed the BJP-led Uttar Pradesh government, and said, "Nothing is greater than law and justice. But no action is being taken by the state government because the accused is the minister`s son. Now the law is different for both, people in power and poor people. Police can do anything as they are highly efficient, but nothing is being done in this case." "When I met deceased farmer Lovepreet's father, he said that he does not want money, he only wants justice. All the evidence are there, videos, eyewitnesses and even FIR, then also nothing is happening. We are losing moral authority on the law," he added. He further said that human life cannot be compared to money and asked from whom the poor should seek o for justice now if the authorities do not respond. Also read: Lakhimpur Kheri violence: Navjot Singh Sidhu on hunger strike, Anurag Thakur says 'political tourism' Referring to Congress' demand for Union Minister Teni's resignation, Sidhu called for "ahuti" (sacrifice) of a minister to restore farmers' faith in the judicial system. "Farmers have been protesting for the last one year, but still have not given justice. Farmers and I both have lost faith in the law. In this protest, a leader also has to be sacrificed to restore our faith in the law and order. The image of an ugly politician has to be erased," he said. Earlier on Thursday (October 7), Sidhu led a march to Lakhimpur in Uttar Pradesh and threatened to go on a hunger strike from today. As many as eight people died in the Lakhimpur Kheri incident on Sunday, said Uttar Pradesh police .Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Charanjit Singh Channi and Chhattisgarh Chief Minister Bhupesh Baghel have announced ex-gratia of Rs 50 lakh separately to the kin of four farmers who died in the Lakhimpur incident. Samyukta Kisan Morcha, an umbrella body of several farmer unions, alleged that Ashish Mishra Teni, son of Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Ajay Mishra Teni arrived with three vehicles around the time that farmers were dispersing from their protest at the helipad and mowed down farmers and towards the end also attacked SKM leader Tajinder Singh Virk directly, by trying to run a vehicle over him. However, Ashish Mishra refuted SKM's allegations and said he was not present at the spot where the incident took place. MoS Teni also said that his son was not present at the spot, adding that some miscreants mingled with protesting farmers and pelted the stones at the car which lead to the 'unfortunate incident'. (With ANI inputs) Live TV New Delhi: Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Friday (October 8) said his government will not 'bow to pressure', adding that no arrest will be made without evidence in the Lakhimpur Kheri violence. The remarks were made at a conclave organised by a private news channel. Everyone is equal before the law and according to the Supreme Court, no one can be arrested without evidence, and investigation is underway. FIR has been lodged against a written complaint and no one will be spared, news agency PTI quoted him as saying. "We will not arrest anyone on allegations. But yes, if someone is guilty, he will also not be spared irrespective of who he is, he added. On being asked about the Oppositions claims that the ruling BJP is trying to shield Union Minister Ajay Mishra Tenis son, Ashish Mishra who is accused of mowing down farmers during the Lakhimpur Kheri protest on October 3, the UP CM replied, "There is no such video. We have issued numbers, and if anyone has evidence, they can upload it. All will be crystal clear. There will be no injustice with anyone. No one will be allowed to take the law in his hand but no action will be taken under any pressure." Attacking the opposition, Adityanath said, The priority of the government is to maintain peace and harmony. Many faces among those who wanted to go to Kheri are behind the incident. However, things will become clear after investigation. As per the latest update in the case, Ashish Mishra appeared before Uttar Pradesh Police for questioning on Saturday (October 9). MoS Ajay Mishra Teni, who reached his residence in Lakhimpur Kheri on Friday, claimed that his son could not report to the police on October 8 due to health reasons. In the violence that erupted during a farmers protest in the state, eight people lost their lives, including four farmers in Lakhimpur Kheri. The others who died were present in the cars, apparently a part of a convoy of BJP workers who came to welcome Uttar Pradesh Deputy CM Keshav Prasad Maurya. Farmer leaders have claimed that Union Minister of State for Home Ajay Kumar Mishra's son Ashish was in one of the cars which allegedly knocked down some farmers who were protesting against the deputy CM's visit. An FIR has been filed against Ashish Mishra and others in connection with the violence in Lakhimpur Kheri. (With agency inputs) Live TV New Delhi: National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBE) will release NEET PG Score Card 2021 today (October 9, 2021). The candidates need to note that the scorecard will be available on the official site of NBE- nbe.edu.in. Earlier, on September 28, NBE released NEET PG results. It may be noted that the scorecard will not be sent to individual candidates. According to the official notice, the result-cum-score card is intended to provide the total score obtained by the candidate and NEET-PG 2021 Rank. This rank is the overall merit position of the candidate amongst all the candidates who have appeared in NEET-PG 2021. ALSO READ | DU 2nd cutoff list 2021 releasing today, admission process to begin on du.ac.in from October 11 The scorecard will also provide detailed information about the total number of correct and incorrect responses of the particular candidate. NEET PG Score Card 2021: How to download Step 1. Visit the official site of NBE- nbe.edu.in Step 2. On the homepage, Click on NEET PG Score Card 2021 link ALSO READ | AUD admissions 2021: Ambedkar University 2nd cutoff list releasing today on aud.ac.in Step 3. Enter the login details and click on submit Step 4. Your scorecard will open on the screen Step 5. Check and download it Step 6. Take a print out further reference Live TV New Delhi: Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen on Saturday said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has set an ambitious climate target for renewable energy, is an inspirational figure for the rest of the world. "You (PM Modi) are an inspiration for the rest of the world as you have set some very ambitious targets when it comes to clean water for over one million households and renewable energy...I`m proud that you have accepted my invitation to visit Denmark," said the Danish PM after holding a bilateral meeting with PM Modi. | Confirming our close partnership, translating intent into action! Turning a new page in the relationship,the two sides led by PM @narendramodi and Danish PM @Statsmin H.E. Ms. Mette Frederiksen held a productive meeting taking our Green Strategic Partnership forward. pic.twitter.com/Uxj2vLe3sS Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) October 9, 2021 PM Modi's target of 450 gigawatts by 2030 of renewable energy is regarded as a challenging goal. Frederiksen noted that both democratic nations believe in an international system based on rules. "Cooperation between India and Denmark is a great example of how green growth and green transition can go hand in hand," she added. The Danish Prime Minister made these remarks after the two countries exchanged four agreements. At the Hyderabad House. pic.twitter.com/WfWXAz3chW Arindam Bagchi (@MEAIndia) October 9, 2021 PM Modi said that the Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark is a symbol of the far-reaching thinking in both nations. "A year ago today, we took the historic decision to establish a Green Strategic Partnership between India and Denmark in our virtual summit. This is a sign of far-reaching thinking and respect for the environment in both our countries," said PM Modi. "During our virtual summit, we had decided to establish a Green Strategic Partnership between our two countries. Today, we reviewed and reiterated our commitment on this," he added. Addressing a joint press meet with Prime Minister of Denmark @Statsmin Mette Frederiksen. https://t.co/rIRzOngzhq Narendra Modi (@narendramodi) October 9, 2021 The four agreements signed between India and Denmark include the memorandum of understanding (MOU) between the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research- National Geophysical Research Institute, Hyderabad, Aarhus University, Denmark and Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland on mapping of groundwater resources and aquifers. The second agreement was signed on the Traditional Knowledge Digital Library Access Agreement between the Council of Scientific & Industrial Research and the Danish Patent and Trademark Office. The third MoU was signed between the Indian Institute of Science, Bengaluru and Danfoss Industries Private Limited to establish a Centre of Excellence towards natural refrigerants for tropical climates with potential applications. The fourth agreement was a Joint Letter of Intent between the Ministry of Skill Development & Entrepreneurship, Government of the Republic of India and The Government of the Kingdom of Denmark. Live TV Washington: A fortnight after the first in-person meeting between Prime Minister Narendra Modi and US President Joe Biden, the White House has said that the focus of the Indo-US bilateral relations is now on continuing to move forward on a range of issues, including economy, national security and getting the pandemic under control. Since the September 24 meeting between Modi and Biden at the White House, there has been a flurry of high-level visits between the two countries and several Cabinet-level visits are in the pipeline in the next few weeks. White House Press Secretary Jen Psaki, addressing reporters at her daily news conference on Friday, said that the Quad and bilateral meetings here in September were an opportunity "to discuss the importance of the relationship and the partnership, the work that can be done moving forward as well as of course the bilateral meeting". "At this point, the focus is going to be on continuing to work through high-level interlocutors, whether it's the Secretary of State and the leaders at the State Department, or leaders from our national security team about how we can continue to move forward on a range of issues, whether it's economic security, physical national security, addressing Covid, and getting the pandemic under control. "So, that work will continue at lower than the leader level, but still high levels in the weeks and months ahead," Psaki said on India-US relationship. At President Biden's invitation, Modi and his counterparts Scott Morrison from Australia and Yoshihide Suga from Japan also attended the first in-person Quad summit during which they announced a slew of new initiatives to take on common challenges, amidst muscle flexing by an assertive China in the strategic region. Meanwhile, some important bilateral visits have taken place and some are going to happen in the coming weeks, including on some key areas like climate change, defence, Indo-Pacific and Afghanistan. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat was in Washington last week and the Deputy Secretary of State Windy Sherman has just concluded a visit to India. On Friday, the two countries held their 16th Defence Policy Group meeting and the Pentagon announced the visit of the US Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Mike Gilday to India next week. A senior-level Biden Administration official from the US Trade Representative's office visited India this week for trade talks. Union Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is scheduled to travel to the US, possibly next week. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh, along with External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar, is likely to travel to Washington DC in November for the next round of 2+2 meeting to be hosted by their American counterparts Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin and Secretary of State Tony Blinken. NEW DELHI: After strict measures were taken by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal last week regarding the pendency in implementation of 'Mukhyamantri COVID-19 Parivaar Arthik Sahayata Yojana', the families of most of the people who lost their lives from Corona have received financial help. Following the reprimand of Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, the officials worked on a war footing to complete the task. Out of the verified applications so far, 89 per cent of the victims' families have received an ex-gratia of Rs 50,000. The remaining set of victims' families will also get this amount by Wednesday. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had again held a high level review meeting of the scheme today. He commended the officers for working round the clock to help the bereaved families. During this meeting, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal also directed the officials to complete the disbursal of the monthly pension of all the beneficiaries within a week. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal gave strict instructions that all those who have not yet registered for the pension, be made to register no matter what it takes for the officials to reach out to them and the pension of all the victims' families should be started within a week. The officials informed Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal that the monthly pension of 86 per cent of the applicants registered so far has been started. In this meeting, along with Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal, dignitaries including Deputy CM Manish Sisodia, Cabinet Ministers Kailash Gahlot and Rajendra Pal Gautam were present along with the Chief Secretary and DMs of Delhi. It is noteworthy that on October 1, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had expressed strong displeasure over the pendency in implementation of the Mukhyamantri COVID-19 Parivar Aarthik Sahayata Yojana in the high-level review meeting over the scheme. Back then he directed the officers to disburse the amount to the families of COVID-19 victims at the earliest. The CM had ordered that there will no longer be a need for Death Certificates and Surviving Member Certificates from families. He had said that the officials should instead verify applications from the MHA list or official records and immediately disburse money. The CM had then stressed upon the fact that the governments duty is to console and support grieving families and not create problems for them. The CM had further stated back then that there should be no delay in disbursal of the amount over frivolous reasons. He had directed the officials to not pile up paperwork and expedite the process of clearing applications urgently. In this prospect, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal held a high level review meeting on the scheme again at the Delhi Secretariat today. In the meeting, the officials presented the progress report of the scheme for the last one week in front of CM Arvind Kejriwal and said that out of the applications received for one-time assistance, 14,605 applications have been verified online and by visiting homes. Out of these verified applications, a one-time assistance amount of Rs 50 thousand has been transferred to the bank account of 13,005 people. Officials said that there are 2,196 families which have voluntarily backed out of the scheme. At the same time, the officials said that the work of providing a monthly pension to the victims is going on rapidly. So far, out of the number of applications registered for the monthly pension, 86 percent people have started getting pension after verification. During the meeting, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal gave firm instructions to the officials to increase the registration for the monthly pension. Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said that all those who have not yet registered for the monthly pension should be contacted and registered at the earliest. He said that the pension should be disbursed to everyone by next week. The CM had given a reality check to the officials; had brought along a citizen who faced problems in the application process to the meeting On October 1, the Chief Minister had brought forth to the meeting a citizen who had reached out to him with his grievances related to the scheme. The citizen narrated his ordeal and discussed how he had to run from pillar to post in order to get his application approved because of the officials not expediting the process as per Delhi Governments directions. On being given a reality check by the CM, the officers had been left red faced. On hearing the grievance of the person, the CM had instructed the officials to get over with their lazy attitude and had asked them to be more sensitive in dealing with the applicants. CM had ordered officials to go to victims homes and complete the process The Chief Minister had issued directions to the officials to expedite the process and disburse the amount to all the victims in the verified list immediately. Back then, the CM had said, There is no need to pester families over certificates and papers. If we have their names on our lists, the officials must go to the homes of these families and hand them over their rightful amount. We must understand that we have to look after these families like our own and support them in the same manner we would support someone mourning a loss in our families. The spirit of the two crore people of Delhi being a family must not die. We dont want any certificates from the mourning families. The officers will go to their homes, get the process completed, and transfer the money. This scheme has been started to provide financial help to the families who lost their loved ones to coronavirus Presenting the example of a responsible and sensitive government, the Kejriwal government has decided to provide financial help to the families who lost their loved ones due to Corona. For this, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal launched the 'Mukhyamantri COVID-19 Parivar Aarthik Sahayata Yojana'. Under this scheme, financial help is being provided in two ways to the families. First, one-time financial help and second, monthly pension. Under one-time financial assistance, a lump sum amount of Rs 50,000 is being given to the family of every person who lost their life due to corona. Whereas under monthly pension, Rs 2,500 pension is being given to the dependents of the deceased every month. Apart from this, children whose parents have died due to corona or one of the parents had died earlier and the other has died of corona and the children have become orphans, will be looked after by the Kejriwal government. They will be given 2500 per month till the age of 25 years. The government aims to provide financial help to the family of every person who lost their life due to Corona. Kejriwal government stands in solidarity with the families of all the victims Corona has killed millions of people not only in India or Delhi, but all over the world, many people have lost their loved ones. In Delhi too many people have lost their loved ones. The Kejriwal government stands with all the families who have lost their loved ones to Corona. The Delhi government stands with these families in this hour of grief and has started the Mukhyamantri COVID-19 Parivar Aarthik Sahayata Yojana to provide them financial help. You can also apply online to benefit from the scheme Families of people who have died due to corona in their house can apply in two ways to take benefit from the scheme. One, they can apply on the portal themselves or second, where Delhi government officials themselves will visit the victim's home and get the registration done. New Delhi: Delhi University's Deen Dayal Upadhyaya College on Saturday (October 9) released its second cut-off list with the marks required for BSc(Honours) Computer Science going down by 1.5 per cent. The cut-off for the course in the first list was pegged at 100 per cent but there were no applications received for the course in the first list. The cut-off for the course is pegged at 98.5 per cent in the second list but it is closed for admissions in SC, ST, PwD and EWS categories. The other colleges that had pegged the cut-off at 100 per cent for the course were Shaheed Sukhdev College of Business Studies and Hansraj College with the former also drawing a blank for the course. The admissions to BSc (Honours) Mathematics, BSc (Honours) Zoology, BSc (Life Science) have been closed while BA programme combinations of Economics and Political Science and History and Political Science are also closed. Some courses like BSc (Honours) Chemistry, BA (Honours) English, BSc Physical Science with Chemistry are closed for admissions in the reserved categories. Female students will get a one per cent relaxation in the asking marks for all courses. Aryabhatta College also released its second cut-off list with the decline ranging between 0.25 to one per cent. The college had kept the highest cut-off for BA (Honours) Psychology among all the courses at 98.5 per cent in the first list which came down to 98.25 per cent in the second list. The cut-offs for BA (Honours) Economics, BA (Honours) Hindi, BSc (Honours) Mathematics saw a one per cent decline to 97, 85 and 96 per cent, respectively. The cut-off for BA (Honours) English and BA (Honours) History, BCom (Honours) have come down to 95.5 per cent, 94.5 per cent and 97.5 per cent, a decline of 0.5 per cent from the list. The courses that are closed are BA (Honours) Political Science, BCom Programme and BA Programme combination of History and Political Science. Apart from BA (Honours) Political Science, BA (Honours) English, BA (Honours) Psychology and BCom (Honours), all other courses have a one per cent relaxation for female students. Apart from Hindi (Honours), the cut-off for which has been pegged at 68 per cent, BVoc Retail Management and IT and BVoc Healthcare Management, Jesus and Mary College has said there won't be any second list for other courses, which means their seats have been filled. The college had pegged the cut-off for BA (Honours) Psychology at 100 per cent for those who do not include the subject while calculating their best of four percentage. The cut-off for students who were to include the subject in their best of four subjects (BFS) marks was 99 per cent. Delhi University will release the second list later in the day. Nearly half of the seats have been filled after admission under the first list. Live TV New Delhi: The India Meteorological Department (IMD) on Friday (October 8, 2021) said that a cyclonic circulation lies over the East-central Arabian Sea and extends up to mid-tropospheric level tilting southwestwards with height and is very likely to persist for the next 4-5 days with slight northward movement. Under its influence, according to the weather department, fairly widespread to widespread light to moderate rain is very likely over several states in the next few days. The IMD said that isolated heavy falls are likely over Goa, Maharashtra, Karnataka and Kerala for the next 4-5 days. Coastal Karnataka, coastal Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu and Puducherry may witness rains between October 10 to October 12. The IMD has also predicted light to moderate rainfall at most places with isolated thundersquall (wind speed 50-60 kmph) over Andaman & Nicobar Islands. over Coastal Karnataka, Coastal Andhra Pradesh & Yanam and Tamilnadu, Puducherry & Karaikal during 10th-12th; over Rayalaseema during 08th-09th and over Marathawada on 08th October, 2021. India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 8, 2021 Daily Weather Warning Video for next 5 days Dated 08.10.2021 (English) Facebook Link: https://t.co/Y6iYpbRp12 You Tube Link: https://t.co/in2XxbTACX India Meteorological Department (@Indiametdept) October 8, 2021 According to the met department, the southwest monsoon has further withdrawn from some more parts of Gujarat, some parts of Madhya Pradesh, most parts of Rajasthan, entire Punjab, Haryana, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jammu and Kashmir, Ladakh, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and some parts of Uttar Pradesh on Friday. It also stated that a Low-Pressure Area is very likely to form over the north Andaman Sea around October 10 and may become more marked and move west-northwestwards towards south Odisha and north coastal Andhra Pradesh coast during subsequent 4-5 days. Live TV New Delhi: Shillongs Harijan Panchayat Committee (HPC) has rejected the Meghalaya governments High-Level Committee (HLC) report on the land dispute and has instead vowed to continue their struggle. While talking to Zee News on Saturday (October 9) Gurjit Singh, secretary, HPC, alleged "We will fight tooth and nail and stop all illegal acts of the Meghalaya government." On the recommendations of the HLC constituted on the issue of land dispute, the Meghalaya cabinet had on Thursday (October 7) the Sikhs of Punjabi Lane as illegal settlers and gave its nod to relocate them. At the same time, the cabinet also recommended the urban affairs department find a suitable location for the relocation of the nearly 350 Sikh families. The state government had also announced that the process of taking over the land of Sweepers Colony would be completed in a weeks time. Reacting to this, the secretary said We will give our lives for our land and will not allow any illegal, unlawful, unethical, and unjust action against us. ALSO READ: Eastern Ladakh stand-off: Military talks between India, China on Sunday In May 2018, a scuffle had broken out between local Khasi tribal people and the Punjabi settlers of Punjabi Lane area after a few local bus conductors had misbehaved with some Punjabi girls. The incident snowballed into a major controversy with Khasis attacked the Punjabi settlers colony. The Sikh community of Shillong had appealed to Sikh bodies including Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee and Delhi Sikh Gurdwara Management Committee to help them after they claimed to have received threats by a local militia group to evacuate the Punjabi Lane, Bara Bazar, the colony where around 350 families, majority of Sikhs, are settled. The Sikh families living in Punjabi Lane have been fighting against their eviction from the land which they claimed was donated to them by Khasi tribal chieftain before 1863. Since the attack in 2018, the National Commission for minorities, the National Human Rights Commission, and the National Commission for Safai Karamcharis had ordered status quo and no relocation of anyone from that area, said Gurjit Singh. ALSO READ: Afghan-origin terrorists may try to enter J&K once situation stabilises in Afghanistan: Army Chief Live TV New Delhi: Four persons were arrested for allegedly raping a woman in Mumbai-bound Pushpak Express, said the police on Saturday (October 9, 2021). The police also said that a search is underway for four other accused. The hideous crime took place inside Lucknow-Mumbai bound Pushpak Express when it left the Igatpuri station, which is said to be a technical halt station. Maharashtra | Four persons arrested for alleged gangrape with a woman onboard Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express, search underway for four other accused; further investigation underway ANI (@ANI) October 9, 2021 Quaiser Khalid, Mumbai GRP's Police Commissioner, said the alleged crime was committed when the express train was traversing the ghat section. Reports suggest that eight people entered a compartment of the Pushpak train forcefully and started looting the passengers. The eight accused were allegedly carrying knives with them and looted over 20 passengers. At least five of the passengers sustained minor injuries in the process as well. After this, the eight accused attacked a woman in her twenties and forced her for oral penetration. According to the Government Railway Police (GRP), the accused raped the woman for over half an hour, till the time the train reached Kasara station, where the passengers raised an alarm. Giving information about the incident and the action taken by the police, Khalid said in a tweet, "The accused boarded Lucknow-Mumbai Pushpak Express at Igatpuri (Aurangabad Railway district) in sleeper bogie D-2 and started committing the crime through the Ghat area during the night." "The victim is twenty years old and she has been taken for medical examination by our lady officer. She is fine. We are collecting all evidences. The accused are being questioned by our team. We are checking their previous records," he said in another tweet. GRP arrested two of the accused at Kasara and the other two were arrested later in the night. The officials also revealed that they are investigating the background of the accused to figure out if the group had committed a similar crime earlier. Live TV New Delhi: Supreme Sikh Council UK condemn the killing of a Sikh doctor in Peshawar in Pakistan last week and further five targeted killings of civilians by terrorists including a female Sikh head teacher, prominent Hindu pharmacist and a Hindu male teacher with an intention to create fear and panic amongst minority community of Jammu and Kashmir. "We have also had disturbing reports of Taliban entering a Gurdwara Sahib in Kabul, destroying CCTV cameras, threatening the Sangat and apprehending some of community members, said Supreme Sikh Council United Kingdom in a statement. A statement issued by the council said it is concerned with frequent reports of persecution of minority communities in Pakistan including kidnapping, rape, forced conversion and marriages of girls from Sikh and Hindu communities in Pakistan.Such murders and targeted persecution are designed to create fear and ethnically cleanse areas as was the case leading up and during partition. We call upon Pakistan government to protect rights of minorities in Pakistan and to use its influence on Taliban regime in Afghanistan to uphold rights of minorities in Afghanistan, the council said. Adding to the statement, Sikh Council asked Pakistan Government to control extremist groups operating from Pakistan targeting civilians of J&K and to hold those responsible for killing dozens of civilians each year in J&K and urge the Indian Government to do much more to protect the lives of minorities in J&K who are being mercilessly killed and driven from their own homes.These are ancestral homelands of people from different faiths including Sikhs and Hindus and we all need to coexist peacefully.The world is changing and the idea of single faith land no longer fits the ethos of a modern world where diversity is celebrated and pluralism welcomed, the statement added. Live TV New Delhi: Amid spurt in targeted killings in the union territory in the past few days, Jammu and Kashmir Lieutenant Governor Manoj Sinha is expected to meet Union Home Minister Amit Shah on Saturday (October 9) to discuss the situation. Citing government sources news agency ANI reported that the meeting is scheduled to be held in the second half of the day in which the Home Minister and the J&K LG will discuss security scenario and other issues in the wake of increase in targeted killings in Kashmir valley. The meeting is likely to be held after Amit Shah returns to Delhi from his one-day Gujarat trip. Top officials of the Union home ministry, intelligence agencies and the Jammu and Kashmir administration are expected to be present at the meeting, PTI reported. Earlier this week, the Home Minister had chaired a high-level meeting at his North Block office to discuss the recent attacks in Kashmir. The Centre has dispatched a top official of the Intelligence Bureau to Srinagar to coordinate operations against terrorists. Supinder Kaur, principal of Government Boys Higher Secondary School in Sangam Eidgah area of Srinagar district, and Deepak Chand, a teacher of the same school, were gunned down on Thursday. As per government sources, at least seven civilians have been killed by terrorists over the past five days. J&K LG took to Twitter to condemn the killings. He wrote, "the terrorists and their patrons will not succeed in disturbing peace, progress and prosperity of J&K UT. My deepest condolences to the bereaved family, friends and colleagues. In an official statement, Sinha vowed to avenge the killings and said, I assure you that we have given a free hand to the security agencies to eliminate the enemies of humanity, and soon the terrorists and those aiding and abetting them will pay for their heinous crimes. Every drop of innocent civilians blood will be avenged. (With PTI, ANI inputs) Live TV Mumbai: The Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) has recovered 25.45 kg of heroin from a container at Nhava Sheva Port in Navi Mumbai and arrested three persons, the agency informed on Saturday. As in the case of nearly 3,000 kg of heroin seized at Mundra Port in Gujarat last month, this consignment too had originated in Afghanistan, the DRI statement said in a statement. The DRI Mumbai Zonal Unit had received a specific intelligence that contraband had been smuggled in cans of sesame seed oil and mustard oil. Probably the first time heroin was found concealed in oil cans as it makes nearly impossible to detect the drug during usual examination, the statement read. The DRI officials examined the container at Nhava Sheva Port and found off-white material concealed at the bottom of five cans of mustard oil. Upon further examination, 25.45 kg of heroin was recovered, the statement said. The DRI said, the container arrived via Chabahar port in Iran, it was imported from Kandahar in the name of an importer firm with address from South Mumbai. During interrogation, the importer - who had lived in Iran for long, revealed details about his Afghanistan connections, the DRI said. The person was arrest under the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances (NDPS) Act. His questioning led to the arrest two more persons from Delhi for their alleged involved in `Hawala' transactions for smooth import of the consignment, the DRI statement said. Earlier, the DRI had seized 294 kg of heroin in July at Nhava Sheva Port. The consignment had originated in Afghanistan and was shipped through an Iranian port. Live TV New Delhi: In a fresh development to the cruise party drugs case, the Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) has conducted raids at the residence and office of Mumbai-based builder Imtiaz Khatri. After interrogating one Achit Kumar, Imtiaz Khatri's name surfaced. The raids began last night and continued till morning (October 9, 2021) at his Bandra property in Mumbai. It has been learnt that during the raids, no drugs were found at Khatri's residence and office properties. However, after getting a tip-off from indirect links, the raid was conducted. Summons have been sent to Khatri asking him to visit the NCB office soon, reportedly. Coincidentally, Khatri's name had popped up once last year during Sushant Singh Rajput's death case. However, no investigation was pursued back then. Meanwhile, Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan's bail application was rejected by a Magistrate court on Friday, October 8, 2021. The star kid has been sent to 14-day judicial custody in the drugs seizure case. Along with Aryan Khan, five other men arrested in the case too were sent to the Arthur Road jail, while two women accused including Munmun Dhamecha were sent to Byculla women's prison, a police official told PTI. The Narcotics Control Bureau has arrested 18 persons so far after raiding a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast and allegedly recovering narcotic drugs. New Delhi: The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) on Saturday questioned the driver of actor Shah Rukh Khan`s son Aryan Khan who was arrested in connection with a drug seizure on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast. A Mumbai Magistrate court had on Thursday sent Aryan Khan and seven others to judicial custody for 14 days. The bail plea of Aryan Khan who was arrested on October 3 was denied by the court yesterday. An NCB team busted an alleged drugs party on the Cordelia Cruise ship which was on its way to Goa at mid-sea on October 2. New Delhi: Bollywood actress Taapsee Pannu has reacted to Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan's arrest in a drug seizure case, expressing that there are pros and cons of being an influential, public figure. Commenting on the star kid's arrest, she said that as long as public figures are prepared to face the consequences of the trial, one doesn't have to bother about opinions. She also expressed that with their level of stardom, the person is usually aware of the perks and disadvantages that come with it. She told ETimes, "Thats a part and parcel of being a public figure. And, thats a baggage every public figures family also carries, whether they like it or not. You have the positives of enjoying a star status and this is the kind of negative that also comes with it. If its a family of a big star, you also enjoy the perks of that, right? So, theres a negative side also that you end up facing. As far as youre prepared to face the consequences after going through the trial officially, you know you dont really have to bother. I think with that kind of stardom level, youre aware of the scrutiny thats going to happen. Its not like ki kahan se aagaya pata nahi chala. Im sure they know the kind of repercussions of things that are going to happen. With that kind of star status, that person is very well aware of what can happen." The 'Haseen Dillruba' actress said that they shouldn't worry about what people are saying and focus more on the legal proceedings. "Today theyre saying something, tomorrow theyll say something else, and day after something else will come; so thats not important. Whats really important are the legal proceedings and as far as youre ready for that, nothing else really matters," she added. For the unversed, superstar Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan was arrested in a cruise party drugs scandal on October 3, 2021. Mumbai's Esplanade court on Friday (October 8) rejected the bail plea of Shah Rukh Khan's son Aryan Khan, Arbaaz Merchant and Munmun Dhamecha, in a case related to the seizure of drugs following a raid at a party on a cruise ship off the Mumbai coast, as per an ANI report. On the work front, Taapsee was last seen in Haseen Dillruba alongside Vikrant Massey and Harshvardhan Rane in pivotal roles. The film was purportedly filmed during the pandemic and was released on July 2, on Netflix. Other than that, she also has Looop Lapeta, Rashmi Rocket, and Shabaash Mithu in the pipeline. (With ANI inputs) New Delhi: Actor Vidyut Jammwal and fashion designer Nandita Mahtani made their engagement Instagram official on September 13. Recently, their picture from Agras Taj Mahal went viral, leaving his fans amazed. The actor who is basking high after the successful release of the trailer of his upcoming film Sanak, has now opened up about his marriage plans which is surely not going to be a regular affair. Sharing more deets about his marriage plans, he told Indian Express that the wedding will be spectacularly different as he dont want to do anything thats regular. Elaborating further about it, he said, Wedding is going to be happening exactly like this. It cant be just regular. Im not regular. I dont want to do anything thats regular. So I dont have a date. I dont know when it is going to happen, but I have an idea. It will be spectacularly different. Yeah, maybe we try skydiving with 100 guests, all in those skydiving gear and theyll all jump with me. That would be so cool. He also shared the proposal for his ladylove was also impromptu. Elaborating further about his proposal day, he shared, I never planned to be who I am today. I was working towards it. Similarly, with the engagement, it was just impromptu. I had two days off after a long time so I was like, lets just do it. Nandita also shared three photos on Instagram to announce the engagement and wrote, Couldnt keep him hanging any longersaid yes!!1-9-21. Meanwhile, on the work front, Vidyut is currently shooting for his much-anticipated project 'Khuda Haafiz 2'. The film directed by Faruk Kabir is a sequel to 'Khuda Haafiz', which was released digitally last year. The thriller drama revolved around Sameer Choudhary (Vidyut) and his mission to save his wife Nargis (Shivaleeka Oberoi), who gets trapped in the flesh trade upon her arrival in the Middle East. Shivaleeka will also star in the second part of the movie. New Delhi: There will be various festivals in October 2021, including Navratri and Dussehra. From today, banks in various cities will be closed for a total of 13 days (Bank Holidays October) in this sequence. If you're in this circumstance and also have essential tasks to do, read this news first. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has published a list of official bank holidays for the month of October, with a total of 21 holidays in the month. Many Indian cities' banks would be closed indefinitely at this time. Banks are closed on Sundays, as well as the second and fourth Saturdays of each month, according to RBI regulation. The list of holidays provided by the RBI is divided into three categories: state-specific festivities, religious holidays, and festival celebrations. The list of RBI required holidays is divided into three categories: 'Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act,' 'Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act and Real Time Gross Settlement Holiday,' and 'Banks' Closing of Accounts,' according to official classifications. It's worth noting that the majority of the October holidays go under the heading of 'Holiday under Negotiable Instruments Act,' with just the first day of the month being under the heading of 'Banks' Closing of Accounts.' Also Read: LIC Jeevan Labh Policy: Now invest Rs 233 per month to get Rs 17 lakh. Details here Banks will be closed for 13 days in various cities around the country starting today. However, please be aware that not all banks in the country will be closed for the entire 21-day period, as the RBI's holidays are also influenced by regional festivals. In that instance, some holidays are only observed in some states; in other states, banking operations will continue as usual. Not only that, but certain banks will remain open for five days in a row in the coming month in specific locations. Also Read: Fact Check: Rs 5 lakh subsidy news under the PM Kisan Tractor Yojana is FAKE Banks across the country are closed today, the second Saturday of the month. Tomorrow is a holiday as a result of this. Following that, bank personnel will be on leave for Mahasaptami, Mahaashtami, and Dussehra. The 31st of October will be the last holiday of the month. List of holidays: October 1 - Work will be affected due to half-annual bank closing account in Gangtok. October 2 - Mahatma Gandhi Jayanti (banks closed in all states) October 3 - Sunday (weekly holiday) October 6 - Mahalaya Amavasya - Banks closed in Agartala, Bangalore and Kolkata October 7 - Mira Chorel Houba - Imphal bank closed October 9 - Saturday (Second Saturday of the month) 10 October - Sunday (weekly holiday) 12 October - Durga Puja (Maha Saptami) - Banks closed in Agartala, Kolkata 13 October - Durga Puja (Maha Ashtami) - Agartala, Bhubaneswar, Gangtok, Guwahati, Imphal, Banks closed in Kolkata, Patna and Ranchi October 14 - Durga Puja / Dussehra (Maha Navami) / Ayuth Puja - Banks closed in Agartala, Bangalore, Chennai, Gangtok, Guwahati, Kanpur, Kochi, Kolkata, Lucknow, Patna, Ranchi, Shillong and Thiruvananthapuram October 15 - Durga Puja / Dasara / Vijayadashmi - Bank closed in Imphal and Shimla other than 16 October - Durga Puja (Dashain) - Gangtok bank closed 17 October - Sunday (weekly holiday) 18 October - Kati Bihu - Guwahati Bank closed 19 October - Eid-e Milad / Eid-e-Miladunnabi / Milad-e-Sharif / Barawafat- Ahmedabad, Belapur, Bhopal, Chennai, Dehradun, Hyderabad, Imphal, Jammu, Kanpur, Kochi, Lucknow, Mumbai, Nagpur, New Delhi, Raipur, Ranchi, Banks closed in Srinagar and Thiruvananthapuram October 20 - Birthday of Maharishi Valmiki / Lakshmi Puja / Eid-e-Milad - Banks closed in Agartala, Bangalore, Chandigarh, Kolkata and Shimla 22 October Friday after Eid-e-Milad-ul-Nabi Bank closed in Jammu and Srinagar 23 October Saturday (fourth Saturday of the month) 24 October Sunday (weekly holiday) 26 October Merger Day Jammu and Srinagar Bank closed in 31 October- Sunday (Weekly Holiday) Live TV #mute New Delhi: Amazon has reinstated its one-month Prime membership. The Amazon Prime monthly subscription was discontinued earlier this year when the Reserve Bank of India issued new guidelines requiring the adoption of an additional factor of authentication (AFA) for recurring online payments. Until now, Amazon only offered three-month and annual Prime memberships. The Amazon Prime monthly subscription is Rs 129. It does, however, come with a few restrictions and cannot be purchased entirely through electronic means. Only three month and annual plans were offered by Amazon until now. Rs 129 monthly plan of Amazon prime can't be purchased through all electronic methods. The e-commerce behemoth has now announced three subscription choices for Prime membership: an annual plan for Rs 999, a three-month plan for Rs 329, and a monthly plan for Rs 129. While all electronic payment methods are accepted for the yearly and three-month plans, credit cards and chosen debit cards are the sole options for the Rs 129 plan. The Rs 129 monthly Prime subscription can be bought through banks that have followed RBI's e-mandate requirements, according to Amazon's terms and conditions page. Banks that have not followed the RBI's standards may be unable to process any automated payment requests. Amazon has suspended new member sign-ups for the Amazon Prime free trial until further notice owing to these limitations. (Also Read: Airtel Offer: Get Rs 6000 cashback if you buy a phone) Banks are asked to deploy one time AFA for recurring payments up to Rs 5,000 under the new RBI guidelines. New guidelines which came into place on October 1 were first introduced in 2019. (Also Read: Buying smartphone for elderly parents? Heres how to make it user friendly) New Delhi: Dream11, one of India`s most popular gaming apps backed by Tiger Global, is facing a police case in the state of Karnataka for alleged violation of a new local law that prohibits online gaming. The state law, which came into effect this week, bans online games involving betting and wagering and "any act or risking money, or otherwise on the unknown result of an event including on a game of skill". Many gaming apps, including Sequoia Capital-funded Mobile Premier League, have stopped offering services to users in the state, but Dream11 had continued. Police records on Saturday showed a case has been registered in Bengaluru, in Karnataka, against Dream11`s founders following a complaint by a 42-year old cab driver who reported the gaming app as being operational after the ban came into force. Dream11 told Reuters it believes "the complaint is motivated," but did not elaborate. The company is examining its legal remedies and "we are a responsible, law abiding company and will extend our full cooperation to any authorities," a spokesperson said. The Dream11 app was still allowing users in Karnataka, home to India`s Silicon Valley, to play fantasy games on Saturday. The Karnataka ban has intensified concerns that growing state regulations could hit the nascent but booming gaming sector in India, where foreign investors have pumped in millions of dollars in recent months. The Dream11 and MPL platforms, offering paid contests with cash prize for players, have expanded rapidly in recent months with extensive marketing and hires. Dream11 is seeking a U.S. listing by early 2022, local media has said. The Karnataka law imposes hefty fines and prison terms on violators and has been implemented amid growing concerns that online gaming platforms, like gambling, are addictive and can cause financial harm. New Delhi: In May, the Uttar Pradesh police department launched a dedicated helpline number 155260 to report online frauds and cybercrimes as part of a national initiative. According to police, a woman from Uttar Pradesh was defrauded of almost Rs 32 lakh by a person she befriended on Instagram and who described himself as a UK citizen. The woman, who lives in the state's Raebareli district, claims she was caught after learning that a "present" and some "foreign currency" worth Rs 45 lakh had arrived in Delhi for her from the UK and that she would have to pay a charge to receive them, according to officials. Also Read: Airtel Offer: Get Rs 6000 cashback if you buy a phone According to Raebareli Superintendent of Police Shlok Kumar, the situation has been reported to the police, and the case is being investigated by the cyber cell. "Efforts are on to trace the culprits and bring back the money duped online from the victim," Kumar told PTI. Also Read: Buying smartphone for elderly parents? Heres how to make it user friendly Officials say the woman met the man on Instagram in September, where he represented himself as "Harry," a UK resident, and swapped phone numbers, sparking a series of regular talks over social media. "Recently, she got a call over Whatsapp from a woman, who informed her that a gift box and some UK currency which amounts to Rs 45 lakh have arrived for her in Delhi. In order to collect it, she would have to pay a processing fee," an official said. "She was asked to make the payments online and in several installments. Eventually, she ended up transferring around Rs 32 lakh after which there was no communication from the other side," the official said. The woman then travelled to Delhi to check about the "present" that had been given to her from the United Kingdom, only to discover that she had been duped. On Tuesday, she returned to Raebareli and sought the district police head. Meanwhile, Kumar warned people against falling for tempting online offers and schemes, and advised them to verify the validity of the people they are working with in order to avoid falling victim to cyber crooks. In May, the Uttar Pradesh police department launched a dedicated helpline number 155260 to report online scams and cyber crimes as part of a national initiative. People can also phone 112 to report any online fraud, according to UP Cyber Police chief Triveni Singh, who said that early reporting of frauds helps the police begin the process of blocking the stolen funds. UP police had recovered about Rs 2 crore from state residents who had been tricked by cyber criminals, and another Rs 5 crore had been blocked in bank accounts that had been duped by thugs, as of September. Live TV #mute New Delhi: Ranveer Singh is all set to make his debut on television with The Big Picture. After Salman Khan, Akshay Kumar, Aamir Khan, and Shah Rukh Khan, he is also ready to don the hat of a host. During the grand launch of The Big Picture, Ranveer opened up about how his wife Deepika Padukone has been pivotal in helping him become a part of the show. The actor spoke in detail about how he has been preparing to host this exciting show and how his lady love Deepika has been his biggest confidant in the process. When asked what was his family especially Deepikas reaction on him hosting The Big Picture, Ranveer credited the actcress for pushing him to do better. Deepika has given me a lot of tips to do a better job as the host. She has always been my biggest confidant and shares constructive criticism with me. I'm really grateful that I have such a sharp mind as my partner. With her love and support, I'll surely be able to give my best!, Ranveer said. Brace yourself for this amazing ride, as Ranveer is about to set your television screens on fire! Watch The Big Picture grand premiere on October 16, 2021 at 8 pm, only on COLORS, Voot & JIO TV! New Delhi: Vicky Kaushal who is all set with his upcoming film Sardar Udham' made a special appearance with the director Shoojit Sircar to promote his upcoming film on The Kapil Sharma Show. On the show, Vicky will be seen hiding his face with his palm as he was constantly blushing whenever his name was linked with his rumoured ladylove Katrina Kaif. Teasing him a lot more over the media reports regarding their rumoured link-up, Kapil shared few headlines which reported him sneakily meeting Katrina Kaif as informed by the neighbours. When Archana asked Kapil why is he making things difficult for him, Kapil was quick to respond, Mai toh bus bata raha pajji ko, mera bhai hai.. to which Vicky reacted aisa bhai kisi ko na mile. And the whole crowd starts laughing and applauding wholeheartedly. For the unversed, the rumours regarding the couple dating have been doing the rounds for quite some time now. Recently, there were also rumours of a couple getting engaged which was later denied by the actors team. Although none of them have officially confirmed their relationship yet. On the work front, Sardar Udham' is a chronicling of the lesser-known story of the legendary Indian revolutionary, as the film delves deep into his boundless courage to avenge the death of his countrymen, in an event that shook the British Empire. Directed by Shoojit Sircar, the Amazon Original Movie is produced by Ronnie Lahiri and Sheel Kumar and is set to release on Amazon Prime Video during Dussehra on October 16, 2021. New Delhi: An inspiring tale came to limelight recently after Indian Oil Corporation (IOC) Chairman Shrikant Madhav Vaidya shared a picture of his employee along with his daughter who bagged a seat in IIT Kanpur for higher studies. Arya, who hails from Kerala, is the daughter of IOC customer attendant S Rajagopalan. Citing Mathrubhumi, the Indian Express reported that Rajagopalan has been employed at the IOC fuel station at Payyanur in Kannur district for the last twenty years, while her mother KK Sobhana works at Bajaj motors. Arya will pursue M.Tech in Petrochemical Engineering at IIT Kanpur, the report added. Sharing the news, Vaidya tweeted, Let me share an inspiring story of Arya, daughter of Indian Oils customer attendant Mr. Rajagopalan. Arya has made us proud by securing entry in IIT Kanpur. All the best and way to go Arya. Let me share an inspiring story of Arya, daughter of #IndianOil's customer attendant Mr. Rajagopalan. Arya has made us proud by securing entry in IIT Kanpur. All the best and way to go Arya! pic.twitter.com/GySWfoXmQJ ChairmanIOC (@ChairmanIOCL) October 6, 2021 The post has received 14, 000 likes and 1,574 retweets. Soon enough, the tweet went viral with netizens applauding and congratulating Arya on her admission. Union Minister for Petroleum and Natural Gas Hardeep Singh Puri too took the opportunity to praise Aryas hard work. Puri wrote, Arya Rajagopal has done her father Sh Rajagopal Ji & indeed all of us associated with the countrys energy sector immensely proud. Heartwarming indeed. Arya Rajagopal has done her father Sh Rajagopal Ji & indeed all of us associated with the countrys energy sector immensely proud. This exemplary father-daughter duo are an inspiration & role models for Aspirational New India. My best wishes.@IndianOilcl https://t.co/eiU3U5q5Mj pic.twitter.com/eDTGFhFTcS Hardeep Singh Puri (@HardeepSPuri) October 6, 2021 Have a look at some of the reactions here: Stupendous achievement of a humble daughter of a hard-working father. Heartiest congratulations! Sharad Tonp (@SharadTonpe) October 8, 2021 The fuel inside fir https://t.co/jqzqXbRR5f Manikantan T (@ManikantanT4) October 8, 2021 Not only the energy sector, she made the country proud. No dream is too distant if a will is there. https://t.co/zERyzTjRdM SS (@soumyasarkar007) October 8, 2021 Even though Aryas academic prowess went viral recently, as per Mathrubhumi, she has been a stellar performer throughout her school. Live TV In a bizarre case of a couple of castaways enjoying a break 'from reality, two men from Solomon Islands were rescued off the coast of Papua New Guinea 400 kilometres away from where their journey began. Livae Nanjikana and Junior Qoloni of Mono Island, in Western province of Solomon Islands set out on the morning of the September 3 in a small, single 60 horsepower motorboat. They got stranded after their GPS tracker stopped working and survived around 29 days lost at sea. Nanjikana took a positive look at the situation calling it a forced break from the chaos of a global pandemic. I had no idea what was going on while I was out there. I didnt hear about Covid or anything else, he said. I look forward to going back home but I guess it was a nice break from everything. They had planned to travel 200km south to the town of Noro on New Georgia Island, using the west coast of Vella Lavella Island and Gizo Island to their left as a guide. The Solomon Sea is notoriously rough and unpredictable. They realised the same just a few hours into their journey, they encountered heavy rain and strong winds, which made it hard to see the coastline they were supposed to be following. The duo managed to survive on oranges they had packed for the trip, some coconuts they collected from the sea and drank rainwater they trapped using a piece of canvas. They floated about 400km northwest for 29 days, eventually spotting a fisher off the coast of New Britain, Papua New Guinea. We have done the trip before and it should have been OK, Nanjikana said. New Delhi: Facebook and Instagram on Saturday (October 9, 2021) apologized to users after their services were hit for the second time in a week. "Were aware that some people are having trouble accessing our apps and products. Were working to get things back to normal as quickly as possible and we apologize for any inconvenience," Facebook said in a tweet at 12:52 AM. The issue was fixed after almost two hours and the social media giant said, "Were so sorry if you werent able to access our products during the last couple of hours. We know how much you depend on us to communicate with one another. We fixed the issue thanks again for your patience this week." Were so sorry if you werent able to access our products during the last couple of hours. We know how much you depend on us to communicate with one another. We fixed the issue thanks again for your patience this week. Facebook (@Facebook) October 8, 2021 Instagram also confirmed around 1 AM that some of the users were having issues using their photo and video sharing social networking service and informed around 2:30 AM that the things have been fixed. "Everything should be back to normal now. Thank you for bearing with us (and for all the memes this)," Instagram tweeted. things have been fixed, and everything should be back to normal now. thank you for bearing with us (and for all the memes this week ) Instagram Comms (@InstagramComms) October 8, 2021 During the latest outage, some users were unable to load their Instagram feeds, while others were not able to send messages on Facebook Messenger. Earlier on Monday, the social media giant blamed a "faulty configuration change" for a nearly six-hour outage that prevented the company's 3.5 billion users from accessing its social media and messaging services such as WhatsApp, Instagram and Messenger. The outage on Monday was the largest that web monitoring group Downdetector had ever seen and blocked access to the apps for billions of users, leading to a surge in usage of rival social media and messaging apps. Meanwhile, people again took to Twitter to share memes and jokes about the second service disruption this week. Looks like Facebook went to a 3-day work week. Monday and Friday shutdowns? https://t.co/7Ju61jmcHH RAPH (@MyNameIsRaph) October 8, 2021 They both are never disappointed me#instadown pic.twitter.com/GaMFXcH8gu Roshni Dewangan (@RoshniDewangan6) October 8, 2021 People coming to Twitter again to check whether insta is down again #instagram #instadown pic.twitter.com/d9U75ETwqp Khizer (@khiz_7) October 8, 2021 Live TV Washington: US officials will meet with senior Taliban officials on Saturday and Sunday for talks aimed at easing the evacuations of foreign citizens and at-risk Afghans from Afghanistan, a US official has said. The focus of talks in Doha, Qatar, would be holding Afghanistan's Taliban leaders to commitments that they would allow Americans and other foreign nationals to leave Afghanistan, along with Afghans who once worked for the US military or government and other Afghan allies, the official said on Friday. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the person was not authorised to speak by name about the meetings. The Biden administration has fielded questions and complaints about the slow pace of US-facilitated evacuations from Taliban-ruled Afghanistan since the last US forces and diplomats left there at the end of August. State Department spokesman Ned Price said on Thursday that 105 US citizens and 95 green-card holders had left since then on flights facilitated by the US. That number had not changed for more than a week. US veterans and other individuals have helped others leave the country on charter flights, and some Americans and others have gotten out across land borders. That leaves dozens of American citizens still seeking to get out, according to the State Department, along with thousands of green-card holders and Afghans and family members believed eligible for US visas. US officials have cited the difficulty of verifying flight manifests without any American officials on the ground in Afghanistan to help, along with other hold-ups. Americans also intend to press the Taliban to observe the rights of women and girls, many of whom the Taliban are reportedly blocking from returning to jobs and classrooms, and of Afghans at large, and to form an inclusive government, the official said. US officials will also encourage Taliban officials to give humanitarian agencies free access to areas in need amid the economic upheaval following the US departure and Taliban takeover. The official stressed the session did not imply the US was recognising the Taliban as legitimate governors of the country. Live TV Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping vowed on Saturday (October 9) to achieve "peaceful reunification" with Taiwan, and did not directly mention the use of force after a week of tensions with the Chinese-claimed island that sparked international concern. Taiwan responded shortly after by calling on Beijing to abandon its coercion, reiterating that only Taiwan`s people could decide their future. Democratically ruled Taiwan has come under increased military and political pressure from Beijing to accept its sovereignty, but Taipei has pledged to defend its freedom. Speaking at Beijing`s Great Hall of the People, Xi said the Chinese people have a "glorious tradition" of opposing separatism. "Taiwan independence separatism is the biggest obstacle to achieving the reunification of the motherland, and the most serious hidden danger to national rejuvenation," he said on the anniversary of the revolution that overthrew the last imperial dynasty in 1911. Peaceful "reunification" best meets the overall interests of the Taiwanese people, but China will protect its sovereignty and unity, he added. "No one should underestimate the Chinese people`s staunch determination, firm will, and strong ability to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity," Xi said. "The historical task of the complete reunification of the motherland must be fulfilled, and will definitely be fulfilled." He struck a slightly softer tone than in July, his last major speech mentioning Taiwan, in which he vowed to "smash" any attempts at formal independence. In 2019, he directly threatened to use force to bring the island under Beijing`s control. `PROVOCATIVE STEPS` Still, the speech was poorly received in Taiwan. The presidential office said they were a sovereign independent country, not part of the People`s Republic of China, and had clearly rejected China`s offer of "one country, two systems" to rule the island. "The nation`s future rests in the hands of Taiwan`s people," the office said. In a separate statement, Taiwan`s China-policy making Mainland Affairs Council called on Beijing to "abandon its provocative steps of intrusion, harassment and destruction" and return to talks. China`s air force mounted four straight days of incursions into Taiwan`s air defence identification zone from Oct. 1, involving close to 150 aircraft, though those missions have since ended. Xi made no mention of those flights. Taiwan officially calls itself the Republic of China, the name of the country established in 1912 after the fall of the Qing dynasty. That government fled to Taiwan in 1949 after losing a civil war with the Communists, who set up today`s People`s Republic. Taiwan marks Oct. 10, the date when the anti-imperial revolution began in China, as its national day, and President Tsai Ing-wen will give a keynote address in Taipei on Sunday. Tsai, speaking at a pre-national day reception at an air base in northern Taiwan`s Hsinchu on Saturday night, thanked the armed forces for protecting Taiwan, though did not mention the tensions with China. "We will continue to work hard to hold fast the front lines of democracy and freedom," she said. China commemorates the revolution by harking back to republican leader Sun Yat-sen`s calls for patriotism, national rejuvenation and good governance. Xi used the speech to underscore the need for "a strong force to lead the country, and this strong force is the Chinese Communist Party". "Without the Chinese Communist Party, there would not be a New China, and therefore no rejuvenation of the Chinese people," he said. Xi has tightened party control in all aspects of life and is almost certain to break protocol and stay on as Communist Party boss for a third term late next year, when a congress will elect a new leadership for the following five years. Live TV