RTHK: New Japan PM sends offering to controversial shrine Japan's new prime minister on Sunday sent a ritual offering to the controversial Yasukuni shrine that honours war dead and is seen by neighbouring countries as a symbol of Tokyo's past militarism. Fumio Kishida sent the "masakaki" tree offering under his name as prime minister to celebrate the shrine's biannual festival held in the spring and autumn, said a spokeswoman for the shrine. The shrine in central Tokyo honours 2.5 million war dead, mostly Japanese, who have perished since the late 19th century. But it also enshrines senior military and political figures convicted of war crimes by an international tribunal. Two of Kishida's ministers - health and labour minister Shigeyuki Goto and Kenji Wakamiya, minister in charge of the 2025 World Exposition in Osaka - also offered sacred trees. Earlier this year, three top ministers paid their respects at the shrine on the anniversary of Japan's World War II surrender. But a Japanese prime minister has not appeared there since 2013, when Shinzo Abe sparked fury in Beijing and Seoul and earned a rare diplomatic rebuke from close ally the United States. Visits to the shrine by government officials have angered countries that suffered at the hands of the Japanese military during World War II, particularly South Korea and China. Kishida, who became Japan's prime minister on October 4, does not plan to visit the shrine during the two-day autumn festival that runs through Monday, Kyodo News reported, citing unnamed people close to him. (AFP) This story has been published on: 2021-10-17. To contact the author, please use the contact details within the article. Poor couple in Phu Yen in dire need of support for ailing son A poor couple in the southern central province of Phu Yen is in desperate need of support to cover the treatment for their son who is facing schizophrenia. The couple Ho Nhat Tuyen and Truong Thi Thanh Lien, both 41 years old, in Tay Hoa Districts Hoa Binh 1 Commune are living in a temporary small tent after they had to sell their house to pay the hospital fees for their son. The family is living in a temporary tent At this time of the year, the central region of Vietnam is facing rains and storms, so it is quite dangerous for the four-member family to live in such a tent. Lien said that the heavy rain over recent days had caused leaks in her tent. However, there was no choice for them as they were unemployed due to the Covid-19 pandemic. Lien said the couple have two children Ho Thanh Tien, 20, and Ho Thanh Phuong, 17. Every day, Lien does farm work and Tien acts as a builder. But, since 2016, Tuyens left eye has become purblind. Meanwhile, Tien started suffering from schizophrenia from 2016. The couple had to borrow from different sources for Tiens treatment. Then they had to sell their house for VND270 million (USD11,739) to pay the loans. After paying the loans, only VND5 million were left, so they had to set up a tent in the area which was their cowshed to live. Luong Tan Ngai, chairman of Hoa Binh 1 Commune, said that Liens family receives a monthly subsidy of VND1.1 million from the government. Local authorities have sometimes supported them with gifts. If you can help please donate through: 1. Code 4256: Truong Thi Thanh Lien Address: Phuoc My Village, Hoa Binh 1 Commune, Tay Hoa District, Phu Yen Province Mobile phone: : 0522.031.246 2. Vietnam Study Promotion Fund Address: Room 401, 402, Building 25, Ta Quang Buu Street, Hai Ba Trung District, Hanoi Tel: 0243 9448503 Bank account: Vietcombank; account number 1020856912 At Vietcombanks Ha Thanh branch 3. Dantri/DTiNews No. 2/48 Giang Vo Str., Dong Da Dist., Hanoi Tel: 024. 3. 7366.491/ Fax: 024. 3. 7366.490 Email: nhanai@dantri.com.vn * Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietcombank: Account holder: Bao Dien tu Dan tri Account number: 1017378606 With Bank: THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM Thanh Cong Branch * US Dollar Account information at Vietcombank: Account holder: Bao Dien tu Dan tri Account number: 1017780241 SWIFT Code: BFTV VNVX 045 With Bank: THE BANK FOR FOREIGN TRADE OF VIETNAM * Vietnam Dong Account information at Vietinbank: Account holder: Bao Dien tu Dan tri Account number: 126000081304 With Bank: Vietnam Joint Stock Commercial Bank for Industry and Trade Hoan Kiem Branch * Vietnam Dong Account information at BIDV Account holder: Bao Dien tu Dan tri Account number: 26110002631994 At: Bank for Investment and Development of Vietnam, Trang An Branch Address: No. 11, Cua Bac Street, Ba Dinh District, Hanoi; Tel: 0436869656. * Vietnam Dong Account information at MB Bank: Account holder: Bao Dien tu Dan tri Account number: 0231195149383 With Bank: MILITARY COMMERCIAL JOINT STOCK BANK - Thai Thinh Branch, Hanoi * Vietnam Dong Account information at Agribank: - Account holder: Bao Dien tu Dan tri - Account number: 1400206035022 - At Agribank, Lang Ha Branch, Hanoi * Vietnam Dong Account information at SHB: - Account holder: Bao Dien tu Dan tri - Account number: 1017589681 - At SHB, Hanoi branch 4. Dantri/DTiNews' representative offices Da Nang office: 25 Nguyen Tri Phuong, Thanh Khe District, Da Nang City, Tel: 0236. 3653 725 HCM City: No. 294 - 296, Truong Sa Street, Ward 2, Phu Nhuan District, HCM City; Tel: 028. 3517 6331 (during working hours) or hotline 0974567567 Can Tho Office: 53/13 Ly Tu Trong, Ninh Kieu District, Can Tho City, Tel: 0292.3.733.269 Vietnamese shrimp remains competitive in Germany due to price advantage Local shrimp enjoys a competitive advantage over other rivals such as Greenland, Bangladesh, India, and Ecuador in the German market thanks to its lower price amid challenges caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, according to statistics released by the General Department of Vietnam Customs. Vietnamese shrimp remains competitive in Germany due to price advantage. Illustrative photo Germany represents the largest import market for Vietnamese shrimp in the EU, thereby accounting for 26% of the total value of local shrimp exports to the EU. The nations shrimp exports to Germany during the opening seven months of the year saw an increase of 40% to US$83.6 million. However, shrimp exports in August and the first half of September to the demanding market endured a decline due to social distancing measures serving to disrupt production activities. Thanks to robust growth seen over the previous months, shrimp exports to the Central European country by mid-September enjoyed an increase of 24.5% to US$97.2 million. Kim Thu, an expert of the Vietnam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP), revealed that Vietnamese shrimp exports to Germany have sufficiently taken full advantage of the EU-Vietnam Trade Agreement (EVFTA), largely due to the tax reduction placed on several products coded HS03061792, HS 03061799, HS 16052110, HS 16052190, and HS 16052900. Amid the ongoing complex nature of the COVID-19 pandemic, Germany has moved to increase its import demand for convenient, instant, and easy-to-cook products both at home and canned products, with certified sustainable shrimp products consistently being favoured by German consumers. These factors represent advantages for Vietnamese shrimp enterprises as they strive to increase exports to the fastidious market moving forward. Xi Story: The weight of Chinese "rice bowl" Xinhua) 09:28, October 17, 2021 Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, inspects the Qixing farm, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 25, 2018. (Xinhua/Xie Huanchi) BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- A bowl of rice might not sound like a heavy burden, but for the leader of the world's most populous country, a man who has known real hunger, it is a great weight to carry. In 1969, Chinese President Xi Jinping, a teenager at the time, left Beijing for the rugged, rural village of Liangjiahe in northwest China. He would spend the next seven years living and working alongside the community; he would see people struggling to put food on the table. File photo taken in 1973 shows Xi Jinping (2nd L) poses for photo during the period when he is an educated youth in Yanchuan County of northwest China's Shaanxi Province. (Xinhua) When the annual spring plowing began, the women and children would beg for food in other villages, leaving what little sustenance they had at home for the men, who had to fill their stomachs to work the land. The community lived hard lives year-round. There was always hoeing, herding, and hauling to do, and at the end of a long day, the dimly lit, flea-infested caves barely offered any "home comfort." President Xi Jinping (C) visits people in Liangjiahe Village, Wen'anyi Township of Yanchuan County, Yan'an, northwest China's Shaanxi Province, Feb. 13, 2015. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang) Xi once asked villagers what would be their goals for an ideal life. Their replies would stay with him long after he left the village. First, they said, was enough chaff to feed themselves so they wouldn't have to beg. Second, they craved grains such as sorghum rice and corn meal, and third -- a seemingly unattainable dream at that time -- was to have rice and flour on the table at any time, with a meal of meat regularly: Their happiness was a full "rice bowl." This story is why, throughout his career, Xi has visited the kitchens of China's underprivileged communities, lifting a pot lid or opening a fridge, or taken time to venture out into the fields to check the crops and chat with farmers. In 2018, during once such inspection, of a paddy field in Heilongjiang Province, northeast China, Xi picked some ears of rice and said, "Chinese people should hold their rice bowls firmly in their own hands, with grains mainly produced by themselves." President Xi Jinping (C) visits the farms and land reclamation administrative bureau of Jiansanjiang, northeast China's Heilongjiang Province, Sept. 25, 2018. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Less than two years later, a global health emergency would make the significance of this statement more critical than ever. In February 2020, at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, the world food market was beginning to struggle, yet, under Xi's direction, China held its rice bowl securely. That year it celebrated a bumper harvest for the 17th year in a row. President Xi Jinping learns about grain production, the protection and use of black soil at a demonstration zone for green food production in Lishu County of Siping City, northeast China's Jilin Province, July 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Wang Ye) Hunger is now a distant memory for the villagers of Liangjiahe and hundreds of millions of others across the country. One extreme, however, should not be replaced by another, and Xi has rolled out policies to address reckless food waste. Many people of Xi's generation remember hunger, as the president once said. The experience in his youth influences his attitude to food. "When I was young, I was strictly taught by my family not to waste any food, even a single grain of rice," he has said. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) Bullet train for China-Laos railway arrives in Vientiane Xinhua) 09:40, October 17, 2021 The Lane Xang EMU train passes by the China-Laos borderline inside a tunnel, Oct 15, 2021. [Photo/Xinhua] VIENTIANE -- The streamlined "China-standard" bullet train, or electric multiple unit (EMU) train, for the China-Laos railway arrived at the newly built China-Laos Railway Vientiane Station on Saturday. The EMU train was officially delivered to the Laos-China Railway Co., Ltd., a joint venture based in the Lao capital Vientiane in charge of the railway's construction and operation, at a handover ceremony held in the station with the attendance of Chinese Ambassador to Laos Jiang Zaidong and Lao Minister of Public Works and Transport Viengsavath Siphandone. The EMU, named Lane Xang, is to be put into the upcoming railway trial run. Laos was once called the Lane Xang (million elephants) Kingdom. Lane Xang, also known as Lancang, the name of the upper section of the Mekong River in China, symbolizes the China-Laos relationship as good neighbors, good friends, good comrades and good partners. (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) China's longest-ever crewed space mission "impressive," experts say Xinhua) 10:40, October 17, 2021 BEIJING, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- China's Shenzhou-13 crewed spaceship successfully docked with the radial port of the space station core module Tianhe on Saturday, impressing experts from several countries who have called it another "key step" forward in China's exploration in space. Three Chinese astronauts aboard the Shenzhou-13 spaceship will stay in orbit for six months during the country's longest-ever crewed mission for space station construction. "China's success in the field of space continues to be impressive," Denis Simon, executive director of the Center for Innovation Policy at Duke Law, told Xinhua. "It is now well on its way to being a leader in space exploration." With the current mission, China has taken another key step towards constructing a Chinese space station, he said. "That station will become steadily more important as the existing ISS (The International Space Station) heads towards the retirement," said Simon, who is also the former executive vice chancellor of Duke Kunshan University. "The mission is yet another major milestone as China expands the scope, duration and complexity of its crewed and robotic space endeavors," said an article carried Friday by SpaceNews. Dean Cheng, senior research fellow at the Davis Institute for National Security and Foreign Policy, said China's longest mission is "quite impressive when you consider how early it is in their human spaceflight regimen," according to a CNN report on Saturday. "In the past, the Chinese put up a crewed flight only once every two to three years. Now, they're sending them up every few months," Cheng said, adding that "if the Chinese maintain this pace ... it reflects a major shift in the mission tempo for their human spaceflight efforts." Pui Jeng Leong, a media veteran in Brunei, told Xinhua that the successive successful launches of Shenzhou-12 and -13 in four months symbolized that China's aerospace industry has entered an age with Chinese astronauts' long-term stay in a space station, which once again demonstrated that China's aerospace technology has reached a leading level in the world. This mission will continue to testify the key technologies of space station building and lay a solid foundation for more launches of crewed spaceship and other space activities, he said. "China's capabilities in space launch and exploration promise to grow in the future," U.S. expert Simon noted, saying that "this could be an area for fertile cooperation." (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) Xinjiang officials, cotton farmers refute "forced labor" myth Xinhua) 10:56, October 17, 2021 URUMQI, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- Xayar County in northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region on Friday held a press conference at which cotton farmers and local officials refuted the myth of "forced labor" in Xinjiang fabricated by Western anti-China forces. According to Aksu Prefecture official Niyaz Axim, Aksu is one of the largest cotton-producing areas in Xinjiang, with a cotton planting area of 500,000 hectares. Its output of long-staple cotton accounts for more than 90 percent of China's total. In 2020, the textile and garment industry in Aksu created 102,000 jobs, bringing workers an average monthly income of 3,600 to 5,000 yuan (about 559 to 777 U.S. dollars). Local government departments fully protect the rights of workers in the cotton industry, and textile and garment enterprises sign labor contracts with employees according to the law, Niyaz Axim noted. All ethnic groups receive equal pay for equal work, they also enjoy social insurance, training, vacation time and other legitimate labor rights. The enterprises fully respect the religious beliefs, customs, languages and other rights of ethnic minority employees, Niyaz Axim added. Muhtar Rohman, a local cotton farmer, became a cotton-picking machine driver two years ago. He said he can earn more than 100,000 yuan every year. He is now teaching his brother and apprentices maintenance techniques and how to drive cotton pickers and tractors. "I believe that when they master the skills, they will earn more money like me," he said. "I saw online that some anti-China forces made up the 'forced labor' accusations against Xinjiang, which are pure slander," said Muhtar Rohman. "I rely on technology and diligence to make a living, how can it be 'forced labor'?" (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) Origins of coronavirus in laboratory unlikely: German biologist Xinhua) 10:59, October 17, 2021 NICOSIA, Oct. 16 (Xinhua) -- The coronavirus is unlikely to originate from a laboratory, German biologist and veterinarian Fabian Leendertz was quoted by local media Famagusta Gazette as saying recently. In an interview on Sunday with German newspaper Welt, Leendertz said the coronavirus would spread "unnoticed and quickly," adding that it "may well be that Wuhan is just the place where it was first detected -- since there are good hospitals and diagnostics there -- and not the place where patient zero lives or has lived." He also noted that the laboratories at the Wuhan Institute of Virology were characterized by "high safety standards to avoid infecting employees." (Web editor: Liang Jun, Bianji) 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. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. The rate at which Hoosiers are getting vaccine booster shots has outweighed the rate of newly recorded vaccinated residents, data from state health officials recently has revealed. As booster shots became available in September for senior citizens and at-risk populations, the Indiana Department of Health began recording booster shot data on its site, which tracks coronavirus infection rates, deaths and vaccinations. In the past few weeks, almost 60% of shots given were booster shots, The Associated Press reported. As of Friday, a total of 3,329,239 people in Indiana have been fully vaccinated, making up a total of 56.7% of Indiana's total population, ages 12 and older. Indiana currently has the 14th-lowest standing for the amount of fully vaccinated individuals in a population out of all the states. The total amount of Hoosiers to receive the booster shots currently totals to 220,275, however numbers are growing. For example, in a 24-hour period, 9,968 booster doses were administered in Indiana, compared to 3,884 people who received their second dose, thus becoming fully vaccinated, according to data updated Friday. The number of those who received a one-dose vaccine were 388 within that period. More locally, data on booster shots for specific counties is not yet available on the state website. State data showed county vaccination rates for those ages 12 and older in the Region were 55.5% in Lake County; 61.2% in Porter County; 55.5% in LaPorte County; 45.5% in Jasper County; and 40.1% in Newton County. Currently, the booster shot is available to fully vaccinated individuals who are either 65 or older, or are 18 or older and have underlying medical conditions or live or work in high-risk settings, such as health care, public safety or grocery store employees. Currently, the Pfizer booster shot only can be given to someone who received the Pfizer vaccine. More data on the effectiveness of the Moderna and Johnson & Johnson booster shots are expected soon, at which time their release will be announced. Officials said that after someone is vaccinated against coronavirus, protection against the virus may decrease over time and be less effective against the Delta variant. Infection and death data Another 29 people in the Region were reported dead from COVID-19 over the past seven days, according to updated statistics Friday from the Indiana Department of Health. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute In the past week, Lake County saw 14 additional deaths; Porter County recorded six more deaths; LaPorte County had three more deaths; and six more people died from the illness in Jasper County, since data reported on Oct. 8. A total of 15,713 Hoosiers have died from the respiratory disease since the start of the pandemic, including 1,151 in Lake County; 362 in Porter County; 249 in LaPorte County; 69 in Jasper County; and 48 in Newton County, according to ISDH data updated Friday afternoon. Statewide, 2,303 new positive cases were reported Friday, compared to the 3,595 recorded a week ago. This brings the state's total number of positive tests to 996,341. The statewide seven-day positivity rate for all tests decreased from 17.9% to 17.4% in the last week. All data was provisional and subject to change as more data is reported to the state. Across the state line, Calumet City reported 4,634 cases, and Lansing reported 4,049 cases on Friday, according to the Illinois Department of Public Health. Seven-day positivity rates in Northwest Indiana were 8.4% in Lake County; 9.5% in Porter County; 6.5% in LaPorte County; 10.2% in Jasper County; and 7% in Newton County. Currently Lake, Porter and LaPorte counties are in the moderate yellow designation, on the state's COVID-19 advisory map, which is updated every Wednesday. Jasper County is in the orange category on the state's COVID-19 advisory map, which means the community's spread is approaching high levels of COVID-19 as measured by weekly cases per 100,000 residents and the testing positivity rate. In the past week, Newton County moved from the highest red designation, which indicates a very high positivity and community spread, to the moderate yellow designation. No counties are in the best possible blue rating, with the majority of the counties being in the orange zone. Vaccination appointments can be scheduled at any of 55 hospitals and 91 local health departments across the state, with each site setting its own hours and days of service. All 92 Indiana counties have at least one vaccination site. Motorists in Lake and Porter counties whose vehicles are due for an emissions check next year don't have to wait until January to visit a Clean Air Car Check station. Emissions tests for 2022 can be completed during the final three months of 2021, and the result will be valid until the vehicle is next required to be tested in 2024, according to the program rules. All passenger and light duty gasoline-powered vehicles with an even-number model year between 1976 and 2018 are required by federal regulations to pass an emissions test next year as a condition of renewing the vehicle's state registration. The emissions testing requirement applies only to vehicles registered in Lake and Porter counties and none of Indiana's 90 other counties because Northwest Indiana is classified by the federal government as part of the the Chicago region for purposes of air pollution mitigation. The testing company particularly recommends early emissions testing for college students and military personnel whose vehicles may only be back in the Region during the holidays, as well as for snowbirds whose license plates may be due to expire while they're out of state over the winter. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute Early testing also gives motorists more time to address any emissions issues if their vehicles fail the test. The test is provided at no cost and no appointment is needed for testing. No paperwork is required to test early, and there's no need to wait for a registration renewal notice from the Indiana Bureau of Motor Vehicles. Motorists simply need to show up between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. Tuesdays through Saturdays at any of the Clean Air Car Check stations located in Crown Point, Gary, Griffith, Hammond, Hobart, Portage or Valparaiso to complete the emissions test. More information about the emissions testing requirement is available by calling 888-240-1684, or by visiting the cleanaircarcheck.com website. Gallery: Indiana historical markers in the Region RENSSELAER The longtime leader of the Jasper County Board of Commissioners is hoping next year to take his commitment to community service and good government a little further south down Interstate 65. Kendell Culp, a Rensselaer Republican, recently announced he's running in the open-seat race to represent the new District 16 in the Indiana House. Culp, a farmer, has served for the past 15 years as leader of the executive branch of Jasper County, which is located immediately south of Porter County. He's also vice president of the Indiana Farm Bureau, director of the Indiana Soybean Alliance, and a former Rensselaer school board member. If elected to the House, Culp said his goals would include taking steps to reverse the population declines seen in most rural Indiana counties by advancing policies that attract and retain families, along with a productive local work force. "One of my priorities is to ensure that each rural community, and county, is positioned to grow and be sustainable," Culp said. Support Local Journalism Now, more than ever, the world needs trustworthy reportingbut good journalism isnt free. Please support us by making a contribution. Contribute Culp also touted his experience as a local elected official and a former school board member as an advantage when it comes to working at the Statehouse with Indiana's balanced budget and its largest spending category: education. "With the number of legislators who have chosen to retire, Indiana needs proven leaders who can step into those roles and continue moving Indiana forward on its progressive path," Culp said. "I firmly believe that the most effective and responsive form of government is the government that is closest to the people. We need to elect leaders who will make the best decisions for the people of Indiana." The Republican-controlled General Assembly recently redrew House District 16, as part of the once-a-decade redistricting process, to contain parts of Jasper, Starke, Pulaski and White counties, including the county seats of Rensselaer, Knox, Winamac, and Monticello. The homes of current state Reps. Doug Gutwein, R-Francesville, and Don Lehe, R-Brookston, both were drawn into the new district. But rather than run against each other, Gutwein and Lehe each have said they plan to retire after the 2022 General Assembly creating an open House District 16 seat with no incumbent legislator on the ballot. Meet the 2021 Northwest Indiana legislative delegation Press Release October 17, 2021 De Lima urges Congress to assert Constitutional powers, condemn Duterte Memo telling officials to skip Senate hearings Opposition Senator Leila M. de Lima urged the Congress to asserts its Constitutional power and condemn the Oct. 4 Memorandum issued by the Office of the President, directing all officials and employees of the Executive Department to ignore the Blue Ribbon Committee's hearings on the irregularities in the COVID 19-related purchases. De Lima, Chairperson of the Senate Committee on Social Justice, Welfare and Rural Development, filed Proposed Senate Resolution (SR) No. 931 expressing the sense of the Senate condemning the said Memorandum for being violative of the Senate's power of legislative inquiry and the people's right to information. "It is imperative that this Senate assert its constitutional powers and condemn the practices that disrespect and weaken our institution, lest we establish a precedent that would diminish this chamber's very role in our democracy," she said. In his public address last Sept. 14, Duterte claimed that some resource persons, especially those coming from the Executive Department, attended the hearings for hours but were not given a chance to give their testimonies. In the same address, he said, "this time, I will require every Cabinet member to clear with me any invitation and if I think, that he will be called for walang silbi [no purpose] except to harass, to be berated in front of the republic, eh hintuin ko na yan at pagbawalan ko na [I will bar them from attending]." Less than a month after, on Oct. 4, Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea issued a Memorandum providing that "the President has DIRECTED all officials and employees of the Executive Department to no longer appear before or attend the Senate Blue Ribbon Committee hearings effective immediately." As a result of the said Memorandum, it was noted that officials from the Executive Department, such as Health Secretary Francisco Duque III and DBM officer-in-charge Jasonmer Uayan, did not attend the Blue Ribbon Committee hearing on Oct. 5. "The absence of those executive officials appeared to have encouraged Atty. Christopher Lloyd Lao to likewise skip the same hearing, even though he is no longer part of the Executive Department," De Lima noted. The lady Senator from Bicol lamented how the Oct. 4 Memorandum is replete with what she called as "constitutional infirmities." "Foremost of which is the violation of the authority of the Senate to conduct inquiries in aid of legislation," she said. While the executive branch is a co-equal branch of the legislature, De Lima noted that it cannot frustrate the power of Congress to legislate by refusing to comply with its demands for information. "The interplay between the Department of Health (DOH) and the Department of Budget and Management (DBM) in the procurement of apparently overpriced goods under the Bayanihan Act is a clear and legitimate issue that necessitates legislative intervention: from investigation to corrective legislation," she said. "From the national budget to private bills, public interests are not served if Congress is denied access to information from the very government that is mandated to enforce the laws," she added. Press Release October 17, 2021 Bong Go vows to pursue PRRD's commitment of long-lasting peace across the country as they visit Marawi City to commemorate its 4th Liberation Anniversary Senator Christopher "Bong" Go, together with President Rodrigo Duterte, honored the state security forces and the people of Marawi City for their sacrifice and courage as the nation commemorates the fourth anniversary of the liberation of Marawi from the Islamic State-linked terrorists who attacked the city in 2017. On Saturday, October 16, President Duterte and Senator Go attended the commemoration activity held at Rizal Park in the Islamic City of Marawi in Lanao del Sur. The senator reaffirmed that the government remains dedicated to sustaining President Duterte's vision of long-lasting peace and development in the country. "Importante sa amin ni Pangulong Duterte ang kapayapaan, lalo na sa Mindanao. Wala na po dapat na patayan. Sino ba namang gustong magpatayan Pilipino laban sa kapwa Pilipino? Masakit 'yon," said Go earlier. "The government's efforts in achieving sustainable peace and development across the country must be continuously pursued," he added. In his speech, President Duterte commended the Task Force Bangon Marawi for their service and sacrifice. He then assured that his administration will continue to exert all efforts to fully rehabilitate Marawi City and help the community build back better. "The continued hard work of Task Force Bangon Marawi to accomplish the programs, projects, and activities under the Bangon Marawi Comprehensive Rehabilitation and Recovery Program is truly commendable," Duterte said. "By rebuilding the lives of the displaced --- iyon ang pinakaimportante --- families, restoring damaged properties, and revitalizing disrupted socio-economic activities, you have stayed true to your commitment as agents of progress and catalysts for real change," he continued. The President also lauded the rehabilitation team, local leaders, and other stakeholders for their efforts to rehabilitate the Grand Mosque of Marawi. "This place holds a historical and cultural significance in the lives of the Maranaws. We rejoice as a nation as the Grand Mosque of Marawi brings hope anew for our Muslim brothers and sisters," said Duterte. He also witnessed the distribution of certificates of titles for permanent housing units to internally displaced person by the National Housing Authority and the turnover of PhP76-million assistance from the Cooperative Development Authority. Go, as a member of Senate Special Committee on Marawi Rehabilitation, also asked for cooperation among community members for the continuous bayanihan efforts in ensuring that Marawi City remains supported even in the height of the pandemic. Senator Go also highlighted that the government will continue its efforts to address threats of terrorism. He assured that efforts are being exerted in providing economic opportunities especially in regions in Mindanao to address poverty which becomes a root cause for conflicts. "Talaga pong magulo noon. Pero nakita naman natin matapos maresolba ni dating Davao Mayor Duterte ang kriminalidad, naging mapayapa na ang lugar at malaki na ang pag-asenso ng negosyo at kabuhayan ng mga mamamayan," Go previously said. "Patuloy po akong magseserbisyo sa mga kapatid natin sa Mindanao upang tuluyang makamit ang inaasam na kapayapaan at kaunlaran hindi lamang para sa mga kababayan nating Muslim kundi para sa buong Pilipinas," he continued. According to information published by the "Tehran Times" on October 16, 2021, the naval force of the Iranian Islamic Revolution Guard Corps (IRGC) will be equipped with anti-ship cruise missiles with a range of 2,000 kilometers in the near future Follow Navy Recognition on Google News at this link Irans Revolutionary Guards fired long-range ballistic missiles into the Indian Ocean during a military exercise in January 2021. (Picture source Egypt Independent) The Iranian IRGC (Islamic Revolution Guard Corps) Commander Hossein Salami said, Such missiles will be capable of targeting mobile vessels. Currently, the Iranian naval forces have missiles able to range 35, 90, 300, and 700 kilometers. Commander Hossein Salami also said the IRGC navy has made significant progress in areas of navigation in recent years. For example, he said, now the speed of boats has reached about 100 knots, which is important in terms of speed in the navigation industry. The senior general went on to say that the IRGC navy now has hundreds of different kinds of drones for different purposes, such as reconnaissance, surveillance, combat, and suicide. Now the UAVs used by the force have the capability to fly 1,200 kilometers, he said, adding the range of these drones is being increased. The major general also said in the field of electronic warfare systems, data collection systems, jammers, and offensive and defensive systems, good steps have been taken by the IRGC navy. Over the past decade, Iran has expanded its inventory by developing a domestic production capability for the Chinese C802 and C700 series cruise missiles. The C802 derivatives are known as Noor, Ghader, and Ghadir, with ranges reportedly of 120 km, 200 km and 300 km, respectively. In addition to the development and deployment of these systems, Iranian CDCMs continue to evolve in all categories including, range, speed, flight profile, autonomy, seeker, and destructiveness. The Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps Aerospace Forces (IRGC ASF) controls Irans ballistic missile forces. The IRGC ASF has advertised several ballistic missile variants with the capability to target ships. The variants include the Khalij-e Fars, Hormuz-1 and Hormuz-2 missiles, which reportedly have a range of 300 km and are equipped with terminal seekers, one of which is anti-radiation homing (ARH). Your browser does not support the video tag. Mobilisation of large number of farmers to protest sites on Nov 26 to mark 1st anniversary of anti-farm law agitation being intensified: SKM. With the Guadalupe County Elections Administration Office gearing up for Election Day, now is as good a time as any to talk about the politica The Soyuz MS-18 crew ship with three Russian crew mates is pictured just moments from landing in the steppe of Kazakhstan.. Russian cosmonaut Oleg Novitskiy of Roscosmos and Russian actress Yulia Peresild and Russian producer-director Klim Shipenko landed on Earth at 12:35 a.m. EDT Sunday, October 17 in Kazakhstan (10:35 a.m. Kazakhstan time), southeast of the remote town of Dzhezkazgan. The trio departed the International Space Station in their Soyuz MS-18 spacecraft at 9:14 p.m. Novitskiy arrived to the space station April 9 and returns to Earth after 191 days in space on his third mission that spanned 3,056 orbits of Earth and 80.9 million miles. During the mission, he completed three spacewalks totaling 22 hours, 38 minutes. He has now logged 531 days in space on his three flights. Peresild and Shipenko arrived at the station Oct. 5 as spaceflight participants for 12 days of filming their movie, "Challenge," under a commercial agreement between Roscosmos and Moscow-based media entities. The trio will return by Russian helicopters to the recovery staging city in Karaganda, Kazakhstan, before boarding a Gagarin Cosmonaut Training Center aircraft to return to their training base in Star City, Russia. Remaining aboard the station is the seven-person crew of Expedition 66 with station commander Thomas Pesquet of ESA (European Space Agency), NASA astronauts Shane Kimbrough, Megan McArthur, and Mark Vande Hei, JAXA (Japanese Aerospace Exploration Agency) astronaut Akihiko Hoshide, and Roscosmos cosmonauts Anton Shkaplerov and Pyotr Dubrov. Later this month, NASA's SpaceX Crew-3 members - NASA astronauts Raja Chari, Tom Marshburn, and Kayla Barron as well as ESA (European Space Agency) astronaut Matthias Maurer - will join the Expedition 66 members aboard the station. Crew-3 will be the third long-duration mission to fly as part of NASA's Commercial Crew Program, continuing to provide the capability of regularly launching humans from American soil. In November 2020, the International Space Station surpassed a 20-year milestone of continuous human presence, providing opportunities for unique technological demonstrations and research that help prepare for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars while also improving life on Earth. To date, 246 people from 19 countries have visited the orbiting laboratory that has hosted nearly 3,000 research investigations from researchers in 108 countries and areas. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. SpaceCast Weekly is a NASA Television broadcast from the Johnson Space Center in Houston featuring stories about NASA's work in human spaceflight. They include the International Space Station and its crews and scientific research activities, and the development of Orion and the Space Launch System, the next generation American spacecraft being built to take humans farther into space than they've ever gone before. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. "About time, Bob!" called track announcer Ken Middleton as his trainee Bob Loblaw caught the popular divisional leader at the finish line for a 37-1 upset in the $225,000 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final for two-year-old pacing colts and geldings on Saturday night at Woodbine Mohawk Park. After breaks marred his last few stakes races, Bob Loblaw was on his best behaviour to land his richest win to date with Sylvain Filion in the bike. After a series of early lead changes, the top ranked John Pentland trainee Stonebridge Helios (Bob McClure) cleared to command just past the :55.3 midway mark and raced by three-quarters in 1:24 with pressure mounting from a first-over Erinwood Yves (Louis-Philippe Roy). However, Bob Loblaw, who was still back in seventh at the pylons on the final turn, angled outside and staged a huge late rally to steal the glory in the final stride for the 1:53 triumph. Magical Arthur (Scott Zeron), who was shuffled to midpack after making the lead early from the outside post 10, was nosed out for the win after closing in between. Stonebridge Helios settled for third, a half-length back, while Erinwood Yves finished fourth. "My only concern was the last turn," said Filion, referring to the point in the race where Bob Loblaw broke in the Champlain Stakes, Metro Pace and final Gold Series leg. "I was just hoping to get through the last turn still pacing and when I hit the top of the stretch, I know he's a very good and very fast horse, and I knew there was a possibility I could beat them even though I was so far back. But he's got so much speed and so much guts and you've got to give credit to Ken, he's done a great job with him." Middleton, who bred the Sunshine Beach-Lady Marina gelding with the late Bill Galvin, also shares ownership with David Walls and James Grant of Sarnia, Ont., and Starting Centre Stables of Cambridge, Ont. "There was only one start this year where I really had a little trepidation going into a race and that was after the Battle of Waterloo, he got a little bit sick," said Middleton. "It's really been frustrating. I haven't been able to pinpoint why exactly he was making breaks. You don't want to go out and make a bunch of changes. In all honesty, I thought he made breaks for three different reasons in those three difference races: in the Champlain, I thought he was pinching somewhere; the next start was the Metro, I think he just got claustrophobic in behind all those horses -- there was just an army of horses on the track that night and he was in a bad spot for the kind of horse he is; and the Flamboro race on the sloppy track there, it was hard as a rock that night, it was just a bad track. So not to make excuses, but I've been busting my hump to get him back and here he is." Middleton was quick to credit the team behind his success and spoke about a few individuals near and dear to his heart. "We were great friends, great partners and I miss him dearly," said Middleton of Galvin. "This is a race for him. I miss my dad too, he'd be proud of me. My mom's at home, she's one of the backbones of my success. I love her dearly and I thank her for all her help." Bob Loblaw nearly doubled his bankroll, which stands at $233,657, while earning his third win to go along with three thirds from 12 starts. He returned $77.20 for the upset. Be sure to check out the rest of the recaps in the 2021 Ontario Sires Stakes Super Final News Centre. Moodys Investor Service has changed the outlook on Omans credit rating to stable from negative and affirmed its rating at Ba3 in a new announcement. The change in outlook reflects the significant easing of pressures on government liquidity and external financing, reported Oman News Agency (ONA), citing Moodys statement. This came as a result of the ongoing implementation of the Medium Term Fiscal Plan and a relative rise in oil prices since the middle of 2020, which led to steady decline in the direct government debt burden to around 60% of GDP by 2024. Moodys expects that oil prices will average above $60/barrel during the coming years, increasing the likelihood that these pressures will remain under control. According to Moodys, the bounce back to Ba3 ratings reflects the agencys view that despite narrower fiscal and current account deficits, Omans structural vulnerability to potential future declines in oil demand and prices will remain high. Moodys estimates that higher oil prices will account for around half of the expected reduction in the fiscal deficit to less than 2% of GDP in 2021 from 18% of GDP in 2020. Based on Moodys assumption that prices continue to average above $60-65/barrel in 2022-2023, the fiscal deficit will likely remain small in the medium term, pointing to a large and likely durable reduction in the governments gross financing needs to less than 10% of GDP per annum during the mentioned time-period from more than 22% of GDP in 2020. Moodys expects Omans current account deficit to decline below 4% of GDP in 2021-23 from more than 13% of GDP in 2020. Moodys indicated that sustained progress in the governments steady and consistent implementation of its fiscal and economic reform agenda over the next few years would support an upgrade if improved policy effectiveness and better institutional capacity continue to absorb future shocks. Additionally, improving medium-term growth prospects as a result of progress in economic diversification would also support a higher rating level. S&P Global Ratings has recently revised its outlook on Oman from stable to positive. This is due to the policies and procedures undertaken by the Sultanate to address economic and health challenges, coupled with improved oil prices leading to a decline in fiscal deficits and net government debt over the next three years. Cura, Saudi-based leading telehealth startup, has announced closing SR15 million ($4 million) Series-A investment from ELM and Wa'ed (the entrepreneurship arm of Saudi Aramco). Established in 2016 by software engineers Wael Kabli and Mohammad Zekrallah, Cura, that works to revolutionise public access to professional digital healthcare services in Saudi Arabia, became the first Saudi-based platform to launch on-demand online health and wellness services. Empowering its users with real-time messaging, voice and video technologies, instant consultations with a doctor 24/7, online e-prescriptions, and extended 6-8 weeks wellness programs to advise on depression, stress, chronic illnesses, nutrition, and other lifestyle-related issues. Cura plans to use the funds to improve the entire patient journey and introduce further services for both individual users and partnering clients, like collecting blood samples from homes, and providing integrable employee health benefits with insurance companies. We aim to help redefine the model of care in which patients access health care services in Saudi and move towards digital-first approach where seeing a doctor online becomes peoples first choice and to move as many health services as possible to be at patients hands, said Kabli. Last year, public demand for easily accessible online healthcare services grew tremendously as the region was forced to adopt to the social and health restraints during the Covid-19 pandemic. This accelerated the rate of both local investments and entrepreneurial innovation in the healthcare sector, further launching Curas technologies to the forefront. Its definitely exciting times for the digital health industry in the region nowadays, specially post Covid-19 pandemic. We have seen tremendous month over month growth during the lockdown and we cant wait to keep innovating our technology and services to help people in-need live their healthiest and most convenient life-style we can possibly offer them, said Zekrallah. With more than 4,500 doctors registered in the platform, Cura was able to assist around 350,000 users since 2016, of whom the majority reside in the kingdom. Meanwhile, the startups popularity has been growing worldwide to represent 5% of its overall customers, as the founders plan to undertake an international expansion in the next 3-5 years. "Today, we are pleased to announce our investment in Cura. This investment match Elms vision in designing appropriate digital solutions for healthcare sector, which contributes to raising the quality of life of the community. We are looking forward to more investments in pioneering and emerging companies during the coming period. We wish success to the creative team at Cura," said Majid Saad Alarifi, Marketing Vice President and Elm spokesperson. Our investment in Cura comes as recognition to acknowledge the incredible milestones that the founding team was able to achieve as the pioneering leaders of telemedicine in Saudi Arabia, said Fahad Alidi, Managing Director at Waed. Beyond its pioneering position as the first licensed telemedicine company in Saudi Arabia, Cura had close collaboration with the Saudi Ministry of Health to work on digitising the health sector as a whole and to develop the foundational structure for telemedicine further boosting its adoption and reach among Saudi citizens. This helped create the ministrys national telemedicine mobile application, Sehha, through which Curas licensed technology was able to deliver over 2.8 million consultations to Saudi citizens in need. Also, Cura stands as the first telemedicine provider to integrate with Bupa and MedGulf Insurance providers to enable its users to use their insurance plans to co-pay for teleconsultation services unlocking further barriers to telemedicine adoption and growth. This is the third investment round after two rounds of SR6.5 million investment made by Enmaa Saudi Business Information Technology ESBIT from 2016 to 2018. ESBIT is owned by Enmaa Saudi Business Holding Co. with a mandate to increase local content in the kingdom by investing in localising technologies.-- TradeArabia News Service Seizing the new normal opportunities through Responsible Care is the theme of the upcoming 4th GPCA Responsible Care Conference which will take place on October 31 to November 2 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, the Gulf Petrochemicals and Chemicals Association (GPCA) announced today (October 11). The event will return to the Kingdom as a physical gathering in compliance with government regulations after a two-year pause, as a result of the coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic. GPCA reiterates that the safety and health of attendees, speakers and employees will be of paramount importance in the organization of this long-awaited event and every necessary step will be taken to safeguard the well-being of its participants. This year the event arrives with a must-see conference programme jam packed with insightful presentations, leadership insights, masterclasses and workshops. Leading industry speakers from the GCC and globally will look back on the essential role of Responsible Care in equipping member companies with the tools they need to address the challenges from the pandemic and explore how the program will help companies adapt to and thrive in the New Normal. Day ones welcome address will be delivered by Yousef Al-Benyan, Vice Chairman and CEO, Sabic, and Chairman, GPCA. Other senior regional and global industry leaders headlining the conference this year include: Abdel Hadi Al Suhaimi, Executive President, Saudi Chevron Phillips, Board Member, GPCA and Chairman, GPCA Responsible Care Committee; Baudouin Kelecom, Regional Environmental and Regulatory Manager, ExxonMobil, and Chairman, ICCA Responsible Care Leadership Group; Dorothee Arns, Director General, European Association of Chemical Distributors; Shakeel Kadri, Executive Director and CEO, Chemical Process Safety Center (CCPS); Mohamed Shindy, Managing Director, Methanex Egypt; Daniel Roczniak, Senior Director, American Chemistry Council; Mohammad Al-Shamary, Global EH&S Director, Equate Petrochemical Company and Vice-Chair, GPCA Responsible Care Committee; and Salamah Al Dhafiri, Environment, Health and Safety Corporate Director, Sadara Chemical Company. The coronavirus (Covid-19) pandemic of the last 18 months has been a health and safety challenge. Post the pandemic, environmental protection and sustainability will be the single most important issue impacting on businesses now and in the future. The Responsible Care program is a key enabler to drive the evolution of the EHS&S domain to help companies meet their sustainability objectives and targets. While 2020 brought along a myriad of challenges for the chemical industry, it saw a significant improvement in companies sustainability performance. As highlighted in a new report by GPCA, non-hazardous waste at GPCA member companies dropped by 27% in 2020 from the year before. Despite a 54% increase in production, non-hazardous disposal at GPCA member companies dropped by 50%, when compared to the seven-year average from 2013 to 2019. Wastewater discharges registered a substantial decrease against the same period (2013 to 2019), with a drop of 76%. Dr. Abdulwahab Al-Sadoun, Secretary General, GPCA, commented: GPCA is proud to see that our members continue to demonstrate their utmost commitment to the principles of Responsible Care and invest in a series of projects that have helped drive improvements in their sustainability performance. As we look forward to the 4th GPCA RC Conference in Riyadh, we, at GPCA, are excited to see our regional chemical community come together, and exchange lessons learned from the pandemic and ways in which this hugely important initiative can help them grow and advance their sustainability progression. He added: While the last year and a half has been far from easy, EHS&S leaders from the regional chemical industry have met the challenges head on and successfully leveraged Responsible Care to support their operations, safeguard the safety of their employees, stay resilient and support the industry and the communities in which they operate. As we gear up for a future defined by ever more stringent environmental regulations and social imperatives, it is incumbent on industry leaders to empower their teams to transform and foster a culture of sustainability excellence. The Special Economic Zone at Duqm (Sezad) has kicked off the second phase of conducting the unmanned aerial vehicles (drones) experiments which includes delivery of postal and food parcels. Such experiments are part of the efforts of the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (OPAZ) to benefit from the technologies of these drones to improve the services provided in the Zone. The US-based company, UVL Robotics, which is specialised in advanced technologies such as artificial intelligence and drones, carried out two experiments in cooperation with Azim Technology Company, one of the local companies providing artificial intelligence services and autonomous systems. In the first experiment, a number of parcels and postal mails were delivered from the Oman Post office in Duqm to the Headquarter of the Special Economic Zone at Duqm. The experiment succeeded in delivering the goods within only a few minutes, during which the drone travelled an estimated distance of around 11 kilometres. In the second experiment, a basket of food and beverages was delivered from the "911 Restaurant" in Say commercial district to Renaissance Village buildings, flying for about 6 kilometres. The experiment marked a success in delivering food parcels in a record time. During the two experiments, the team employed an electric drone that can fly 25 kilometres and carry a payload of up to 5 kg. UVL Robotics provides infrastructure solutions for delivery services by offering drone landing station, which comes as a smart box that can accommodate over thirty parcels. Thus, the drones land on the box to drop and save the postal parcels inside this box. Being built with the latest technologies in this field, the box includes an electronic screen that makes it easier for the user to make payments and get the postal parcel post putting his interactive code. Issa Al Sumri, from the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones, noted that this week's experiment is part of a series of drone experiments, which kicked off last month in Sezad, reflected OPAZ efforts to encourage artificial intelligence technologies. Al Sumri explained that OPAZ has designated a dedicated zone for artificial intelligence and drone experiments in Sezad, covering 18 square kilometres of area. Hence, all companies and individuals interested to conduct their experiments in the zone are obliged to register through OPAZ website. Sultan Al Hatali from Azim Technology Company expressed his appreciation to the Public Authority for Special Economic Zones and Free Zones (Opaz) for inviting companies to conduct drone experiments in the Special Economic Zone at Duqm (Sezad). He also noted that the Zone has many advantages that contribute to the success of these experiments. On the other hand, Moosa Al Balushi, the Regional Director of UVL Robotics, commented: The experiment implemented by the Company in Duqm served to confirm the Companys capabilities in implementing such experiments that contribute to accelerating the transportation of postal and food, parcels and other services that are positively reflected on daily life. TradeArabia News Service Sabic has entered an agreement with the World Economic Forum (WEF) and other global chemical sector companies targeted at formalizing the low-carbon emitting technologies (LCET) initiative into a stand-alone entity by 2023. In collaboration, LCET members will share early-stage risks and co-invest in developing and upscaling low-carbon-emitting technologies. The project development company (PDC) will be designed and developed by an inclusive stakeholder primacy collaboration between Sabic, Air Liquide, BASF, Clariant, Covestro, Dow, Mitsubishi Chemical Corp., Royal DSM, SIBUR, Solvay and World Economic Forum, and is supported by The Mission Possible Partnership. The joint undertaking represents the LCET initiatives seminal transition from a knowledge sharing platform to the implementation vehicle as envisioned at its 2019 founding, and on course with its original mandate to accelerate greenhouse gas (GHG) reduction in the chemical production value chain. The Forum-hosted collaboration is designed to foster creative public/private partnerships, partnerships and to enable pre-competitive cooperation especially on common challenges to the industry to drive sustainable solutions and collectively solve challenges on the path to carbon neutrality. As the LCET initiative moves into the critical implementation stage, it will demonstrate the groundbreaking innovation that our industry can achieve through collaboration, said Yousef Al-Benyan, Vice Chairman and CEO of Sabic, and LCET Co-Chair. By working together to co-develop and upscale low carbon-emitting technologies, we will accelerate circular carbon economy journey to carbon neutrality. Chemicals are essential for more than 95% of the worlds manufactured goods and, consequently, the sector is currently responsible for around 5% of total GHG emissions. Worldwide product demand is expected to quadruple by 2050. LCET technology teams have identified technical principles and specific measures that can convert traditional operating models into net-zero production methodologies. Through the PDC, these LCET pioneers will be embarking along two value chains that are the largest sources of chemical GHG emissions: olefin production via steam cracking, and ammonia production based on dedicated hydrogen generation from methane or water. The first joint programs are on the way with an emerging R&D Hub for plastic waste processing, and a collaborative project between Sabic and BASF together with technology provider Linde on the worlds first electrically heated steam cracker furnace. Further efforts such as hydrogen generation in low carbon processes, the use of CO2 and biomass as feedstock, and the overall electrification of chemical operations will be addressed in the PDC pipeline. The transformation toward climate neutrality is a must. Therefore, we need to translate climate targets now into concrete measures. We collaborate in the LCET initiative to jointly accelerate breakthrough technologies. We join forces to tackle critical technology challenges that cannot be tackled by a single company alone, said Dr. Martin Brudermuller, BASF Chairman of the Board of Executive Directors and LCET Chair. Sharing technology and business risks in innovative ways is key to mastering this challenge successfully. Though technological challenges common to the sector can be addressed in intra-industry collaboration, deploying these new technologies on a commercial scale bears significant economic risk. Chemical companies continue advancing individual efforts; however, in order to transform the entire sector, it will require massive capital investment, regulatory support, and further coordination between financial partners, innovators, academic institutions, governments, and civil society. The LCET initiative aims to foster alliances, potentially structured as joint ventures or start-up companies, to prioritize and innovate to share knowledge and reduce investment risks. For example, co-investment into large projects that couldnt be financed by one party; joint IP schemes and complementary engagement with policy makers, regulators, and financial players; and co-marketing opportunities and demand creation for low-carbon products all can work together to encourage infrastructure development that enables low-carbon solutions in large systems such as electrical grids and pipelines. This effort calls for new ways to finance net-zero solutions, creative sharing of expertise, and for more producers, technology providers and value chain partners to join the LCET initiative in meeting the Paris agreement and UN 2050 sustainability goals. LCET members are to embark together on the journey to net-zero emissions in the chemical industry by 2050, said Roberto Bocca, Head of Shaping the Future of Energy and Materials; Head of Partner Engagement, Europe and North America; Member of the Executive Committee, World Economic Forum. This will require extraordinary business transformation and unprecedented partnerships both within the private sector and with governments. TradeArabia News Service Jumbo Group has announced the appointment of Vikas Chadha as the new CEO of the company. With over 25 years of experience working among leading global technology companies, Chadhas role will focus on leading Jumbo through a transition of growth across the UAE and GCC supporting Jumbos Brands, Customers, Partners and Employees. Vidya Chhabria, Chairperson for Jumbo Group, said: We are pleased to welcome Vikas as our new CEO of Jumbo Group. Vikas proven track record of leadership in managing and growing multiple businesses across various sectors and geographies will provide the necessary fillip to fulfill our ambitions. Prior to joining Jumbo, Chadha held several leadership roles across large, reputed multinationals such as L&T, Sharp Corporation, and McKinsey & Co and Honeywell International. Commenting on his appointment, Chadha said: I feel fortunate to join the Jumbo Group, which has a long and successful history of being a leading business entity in the region. As a corporate brand, they are not only committed to maintaining their leadership position but are also championing endeavours in line with the UAE Vision 2030 entry into newer technology areas as we step into the future. I look forward to working closely with our partners, associates and other stakeholders while leading the excellent Jumbo team to continue to serve our customers. Chadha is an Electronics and Communications Engineer who graduated from Delhi College of Engineering and has an MBA (Strategic Marketing and Finance) from the Indian School of Business. -- TradeArabia News Service Saudi Arabias Ministry of Communications and Information Technology has announced four new cooperative initiatives to build and develop hyperscale data centers across the Kingdom. The move aims to leverage environmentally friendly and renewable energy generation projects currently underway across the country, reported Saudi Press Agency (SPA). The announcement comes as an extension of the Ministrys Saudi Vision 2030 multi-phase plan to transform the Kingdom from a factor-based to innovation-driven digital economy. This transformation is facilitated by the buildout and development of hyperscale data centers needed to accelerate digital transformation, increase the adoption of emerging technologies, boost technology and digital investments and drive the emergence of Saudi Arabia as a leading cloud services hub. The Ministry worked closely with a group of local and international companies to structure the right business principles for the buildout and operation, in line with the ambition of this multi-phased plan to accelerate the development of hyperscale data centers. The estimated capacity will be 1300 Megawatts and will leverage sustainable renewable energy generation and an expected investment of around $18 Billion, The four new initiatives structured in cooperation with Malaz Financial Company, Dawiyat Integrated Telecommunications and Information Technology Company, Quantum Switch Tamasuk and Alfanar Group, and follow an earlier announcement made by the Ministry and bring the total number of companies adopting the business principles up to seven. Deputy Minister for Infrastructure Bassam Al Bassam said: Today, we drive the buildout and development of hyperscale centers needed to increase the adoption and maturity of cloud services. This is a foundational component for digital services, and enables video game publishers, e-sports tournament organizers, online broadcasters, content service operators and other digital platforms localize their services in Saudi Arabia The Kingdom is rapidly progressing towards consolidating its position as a leading digital hub in the region by partnering with companies that can accelerate the pace of economic growth and ensure readiness to digitally empower this ambitious nation. Abdulsalam M Al Mutlaq, Chairman of Alfanar Group, said: Our group, building on its international expertise in advanced renewable technologies, manufacturing and integration of digital solutions and digital infrastructure projects, is keen to deliver on the initiative of the collaboration with the Ministry that will transform the Kingdom into a leading cloud services hub. Abdulaziz Jazzar, Managing Director of Malaz Capital, which is backing Orjwan Consulting Group, said: Hyperscale data centers are at the heart of the Kingdoms ambitious digital transformation plan to increase the welfare of people and the prosperity of our nation. Dawiyat Integrated Telecommunications and Information Technology Company CEO, Ahmad Sindi, said: Hyperscale data centers are one of the important components of enabling Saudi Vision 2030s digital transformation goals for the Kingdom. Such data centers are also a core component of enabling the 4th Industrial Revolution usage cases, and contribute to increasing local content across the ICT sector at the highest standards. Quantum Switch Tamasuk CEO and Managing Director Mathew Nathan, said: We are proud of our partnership with the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology on hyperscale data centers, and are ready to support the Ministrys digital transformation drive in the Kingdom with our financial position and expertise. The government of Saudi Arabia has made great efforts to stimulate the development of the countrys digital infrastructure and enhance its role in connecting the globe. The government launched a nationwide initiative to connect 3.5 million households via fiber to the home (FTTH), covered 70% of the rural households in remote areas with wireless broadband networks, covered more than 74 cities with 5G technology and launched the first neutral Internet Exchange Point in Saudi Arabia (SAIX). The Kingdom is home to three of the largest telecom operators in the region and is the largest ICT and emerging technology market in the Mena region with a value exceeding $35 billion as of 2020. The Bahraini national pavilion at Gitex Technology Week 2021 will be launched today (October 17) at the World Trade Center in Dubai, with the participation of government and private sector organisations working in the ICT sector in Bahrain. The pavilion will comprise Bahrains Economic Development Board, 20 start-up companies, three universities, Benefit company and major sponsorship from Alba and Batelco, a statement said. For the fifteenth year in a row, the pavilion is organized by the Bahrain Society for Technology Companies BTECH and WorkSmart for event management, with the support of Labour Fund Tamkeen. The Bahraini National Pavilion launches its activities this year, together with over 1,200 firms from across the world representing almost a hundred nations, with Gitex attendees projected to surpass 100,000, including international investors. Many activities related to the newest breakthroughs in technology and applications are being held during the expo. Bahraini companies participating in Gitex focus on contemporary ICT breakthroughs such as 5G technology, artificial intelligence, cyber security, cloud computing, digital economies, and blockchain. Gitex also helps innovators by introducing new projects that are of interest to entrepreneurs and technology developers. The presence of Bahraini companies at Gitex reflects the advanced level of the Kingdom of Bahrain's ICT sector, as well as its ability to participate in various regional and international events and exhibitions, which reflects positively on supporting investment in this sector and showcases Bahraini expertise. This participation would emphasize the significance of the Bahraini ICT sector as a key supporter of the national economy, particularly since Bahraini technology companies demonstrated high capabilities during the Corona pandemic, whether in terms of assisting in the fight against the epidemic or facilitating the work of economic sectors and citizens' lives. Gitex Technology Week runs from October 17 to 21. TradeArabia News Service The Abu Dhabi Government is showcasing 100 innovative digital initiatives and projects during its 10th participation at Gitex Technology Week 2021 with 31 government and academic entities at the Abu Dhabi Government Pavilion. The event opens today (October 17) to run until October 21 at Dubai World Trade Centre. The Abu Dhabi Government participation under the theme Government of The Future comes under the supervision of the Higher Committee of Digital Government as part of its efforts to implement a governance framework across the Abu Dhabi Government and make a fundamental change in the concept of government services, moving towards a digital future. Ali Rashid Al Ketbi, Chairman of the Department of Government Support Abu Dhabi, said: "Gitex Technology Week 2021 is a global platform for innovation, cooperation and future foresight, and we in Abu Dhabi view this international event as an opportunity to inspire digital solutions to the challenges facing the world, as well as an ideal platform for exchanging experiences and sharing knowledge about emerging technologies and distinguished global initiatives, thus contributing to accelerating digital transformation in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. This participation reflects the cooperation and joint efforts of 31 government and academic entities, showcasing the digital solutions that have been developed to enhance the quality of life in the Abu Dhabi emirate, Al Ketbi added. The Abu Dhabi Government seeks to offer a unique and innovative experience for the Pavilions visitors through a unified and innovative digital platform for all government entities by showcasing a series of projects and digital services across many sectors. Dr Mohamed Abdelhameed Al Askar, Director-General, Abu Dhabi Digital Authority, said: "We continuously support and promote the digital agenda of the Abu Dhabi Government by introducing initiatives and projects that serve its four pillars, which are Government Services, Government Solutions, Data &Artificial Intelligence, and Ecosystem Enablement, enabling, supporting and delivering a digital government that is proactive, personalized, collaborative and secure. "The Abu Dhabi Government, through its participation in Gitex Technology Week 2021, aims to enhance strategic public-private partnerships, explore new avenues for constructive cooperation, and leverage the potential and prospect of major technology companies that have the capacity and calibre to support Abu Dhabi's digital agenda, Dr Al Askar continued. The Abu Dhabi Government is also introducing the Virtual Pavilion experience, which allows visitors to make virtual visits to the Pavilion from anywhere in the world. This in addition to the Virtual Assistant feature, enabling users to interact with representatives from the participating entities and academic institutions and obtain details of events taking place at the Abu Dhabi Government Pavilion. Throughout Gitex Technology Week 2021, the Abu Dhabi Government Pavilion will host a series of events, including the launch of innovative digital initiatives as well as the signing of agreements and MoUs to strengthen strategic public-private partnerships, facilitate the digital transformation process and secure important investment opportunities for private sector companies. TradeArabia News Service Microsoft has mapped out its vision for a more sustainable future and what it means for the UAE governments National Agenda 2030, when the company made its annual appearance at the ongoing Gitex Global in Dubai. Exhibiting under the theme Creating a Bolder Digital Future Together, the company met with customers and partners, while reaffirming its steadfast commitment to the UAE, its government, and its people. Microsoft this year put a spotlight on the next generation smart city solutions, which will enable the country to reach its sustainable development goals. Gitex is the home of innovation in the region, said Sayed Hashish, General Manager, Microsoft UAE. This is where everyone comes together to be inspired and hear about the next big technological breakthroughs. At Microsoft, we constantly strive to find solutions to the most pressing challenges of our time, and few things are more pressing today than solving the issue of climate change. This year, Microsoft is challenging everyone to imagine a more sustainable future, by experiencing how smart cities can become part of the climate solution. In partnership with Schneider Electric and Aveva, Microsofts flagship Gitex showcase this year will be a smart city solution to bring Dubais sustainability vision to life. The platform unites IoT, advanced analytics and AI to create a smart city console that can provide real-time insights into the vital aspects of city resources and services, such as water and electricity consumption, traffic management, and public safety. Based on these insights, the solution will enable decision makers to forecast energy needs and make strategic decisions that will play a major part in Dubais attainment of targets set out in its Clean Energy Strategy 2050. In addition to sustainable cities, Microsoft will continue looking towards what the future of work, introducing Gitex delegates to a range of products and solutions that allow employees to work, learn, and play under new flexible relationships with employers, all fuelled by the intelligent cloud and its attendant technologies. From the new Windows 11 to Surface 4 laptops, the company will show how a balance can be struck between in-person and digital collaboration. Also on display will be the latest Microsoft Teams features and Viva Connections, which is Microsofts suite of solutions designed to promote employee wellbeing. Gitex has been a major fixture in the regional technology industrys calendar for 40 years, and this edition has all the latest breakthroughs, from AI, 5G, and cloud to big data, blockchain, and quantum computing. Microsoft will participate at Gitex Global 2021 as a Silver Sponsor. TradeArabia News Service DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah Waterfront Hotel and Residences has announced its leadership team as it gears up for its hotly anticipated opening later in October 2021. The multi-national team, led by General Manager Vikram Jamwal, features a broad range of industry talent with strong female representation, from countries spanning Ukraine, Germany, Switzerland, South Africa, and Russia. With women accounting for 60% of the leadership team, some noteworthy appointments include Fatuma Abdul as the first female Head of Security at Hilton in the UAE, Amna Alraeesi as the first Emirati Sales Lead at Hilton in the UAE, and Nadia Kaser heading up a 100% female Commercial Team. Jamwal, a German national of Indian origin has a wealth of industry experience across the European, African, Asian and Middle Eastern markets most recently he served as General Manager at Hilton Durban, South Africa. Katia Kosynska, Front Office Manager, previously worked at Waldorf Astoria Ras Al Khaimah and Hilton Doha before joining Hilton Seychelles Northolme Resort & Spa. Kaser has worked across three continents for various brands over the last decade. Liana Julius, Executive Housekeeper, previously worked at Hilton Durban, South Africaand Natalia Krutova, F&B Manager, has over 11 years of experience in the food and beverage sector. Collectively, the leadership team brings more than 65 years of hospitality experience. The DoubleTree by Hilton Sharjah Waterfront Hotel and Residences team is truly multi-national, with the wider hotel team hailing from over 30 countries and speaking an impressive 20 languages. With the opening just a few weeks away, excitement is building amongst the team who are looking forward to welcoming their first guests to the stylish property. -- TradeArabia News Service Help India! Nearly 350 residents from the villages of central Chhattisgarh are on a 300-km long march that started on October 2 to reach the capital of Chhattisgarh, Raipur and meet with the state authorities. The TCN Ground Report looks at what is going on at Hasdeo Arand and why Adivasis are marching to protect it. Nikita D | TwoCircles.net Support TwoCircles CHATTISGARH Hasdeo Arand is a large forest corridor that spans across north Chhattisgarhs Korba and Sarguja districts and covers an area of 1500 km approximately. One of the largest areas of intact forest in the country, the location is a vivacious natural spot for perennial rivers, rare plant life, and animals including leopards and elephants. According to the mapping done by the Ministry of Coal, the area holds the potential of a billion metric tonnes of coal across an area of 1878 square kilometres, out of which 1502 square kilometres is a forested cover. The forests have been home to several Adivasi communities including the Gond, Oraon, Lohar, and Kunwar. Due to the topography of the region, these communities have centred their livelihoods and culture around the forest that includes living off agriculture and forest produce. Given the large possibilities of coal extraction and the growing demands for cheap fossil fuel, of which India is the second-largest producer in the world, the region has been a seat of contestation between people and parties alike, for over a decade. A history of the dispute Several scientific field research commissioned by the state as well as people-centric advocacy have suggested against mining in the area that will cause irreparable damage to the pristine location, ecological equilibrium possible due to its preservation, and to the communities living there for many generations. In 2010, the then Environment Minister Jairam Ramesh had declared Hasdeo Arand a no-go area, meaning that the area was off-limits for mining or any kind of infrastructural projects that would cause altercations to the landscape. However, one year later in 2011, the same minister bypassed the mandate and granted a stage-1 forest clearance to three blocks in the region: Tara, Parsa East, and Kante Basan. Justifying his decision to open mines in the densely forested region, he said that the locations chosen were on the fringes of the forest and were outside the central biodiverse region. He vowed that these three would be the first and the last time that clearance would be given to projects in Hasdeo Arand. This was despite the recommendations of the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) that had reported against mining activity in the area given the ecological value and the high number of trees that would need to be felled to make open cast mines (OCMs). A National Green Tribunal (NGT) in 2014 ordered probing into the matter and the Indian Council of Forestry Research and Education (ICFRE) was set up for that purpose. This response came after lawyer-activist Sudiep Shrivastava petitioned to the tribunal challenging the clearance given to the Rajasthan Rajya Vidyut Utpadan Nigam Limited (RRVUNL), Rajasthans state power company, for opening mines in the forest area. The ICFRE did not begin work till 2019 and submitted its report in February 2021. The report noted that forest fragmentation will contribute to decreased patch/corridor connectivity, increased edge effect, change in micro-climate and promote invasive species if not taken adequate mitigation measures. However, while admitting the irrevocable damage that mining would do to the biodiversity of the area and subsequently to the livelihood of the residents, the report said that four contiguous coal blocks, Tara, Parsa, PEKB, and Kente Extension, that are either already opened or in advance stage of getting the statutory clearances/Terms of Reference approved, can be considered for mining with strict environmental safeguards including appropriate conservation measures for the management of surface water and biodiversity. This was challenged by activists in the region who questioned the authority of the ICFRE to make such recommendations. Commenting on the contradictory nature of the report, Convenor of Chhattisgarh Bachao Andolan, Alok Shukla said, It is evident that the report was made under pressure from Adani Group. Governmental oversights and bypassing protective laws Hasdeo Arand region comes under Schedule 5 Areas of the Indian Constitution. Schedule 5 Areas are regions with high Adivasi populations who have a history of sustaining the land and the environment through independent and self-sufficient means of sustenance different from modern economic systems. The Constitution guarantees safeguarding the plurality of existences despite the growth of modern infrastructural development schemes. Acts such as Panchayats (Extension to Scheduled Areas) Act 1996, PESA, that apply to Schedule 5 Areas guarantee that any decision to open up infrastructural projects in Schedule 5 Areas have to be sanctioned by the gram sabhas of the region, which are comprised of all the residents of each village. However, the state has chosen to manoeuvre and bend these protective laws in favour of mining by evoking the Coal Bearing Areas Act 1957, which allegedly overrides laws like PESA in coal-rich regions. The land acquisition of Parsa coal block happened through Coal Bearing Areas Act. The government says that PESA does not apply when acquiring land through that Act. But no law can override the separate laws for Scheduled areas. Moreover, they should use Land Acquisition Act of 2013 instead of using a law from 1957, Alok Shukla told TwoCorcles.net. Shukla said that in 2019, a 75-day strike was held in Hasdeo Arand to contest the alleged permission given by the gram sabhas as part of the second stage of forest clearance. The villagers had said that either permission was forged or was taken by coercing the sarpanch to sign. The people had appealed to the government to investigate the matter. But no such investigation happened, Shukla said. The monopoly of coal mines is single-handedly enjoyed by Adani Group, whose owner, Gautam Adani, is the second richest person in India. Adani Mining Pvt. Ltd. holds 74% of the stakes in RRVUNL, making it the biggest stakeholder in the company. By 2013, the Adani group had begun construction in the Parsa East-Kente Basan (PEKB) mine in Hasdeo. In fact, out of the four sanctioned blocks, three of them, under state-owned corporations, have awarded MDO (mine developer and operator) contracts to Gautam Adanis private company Adani Enterprises Limited (AEL). Adani group, one of the largest companies in India, was reported to have an increased net worth of 230% since the Modi government came to power. The coal empire had recently come under scrutiny when a campaign was launched in Queensland, Australia by indigenous and environmental activists against its Carmichael coal mine. Global criticism has followed the decision of the Modi government to ramp up coal production in India after it promised to invest in renewable sources of energy at the 2015 Paris Climate Summit. The Centre estimated 175 GW of power generation through renewable energy by 2022, but nearly 70% of Indias electricity is still powered by coal, a non-renewable fossil fuel. Talking to TwoCircles.net, Jo Woodman of Survival International, a UK-based international human rights organization, said, India has a growing economy and population, it needs energy and currently the majority of that energy comes from coal. But that cannot be Indias future. As the UN Secretary-General has said, all nations need to urgently end their deadly addiction to coal. Coal mining, especially at the expense of indigenous lives and lands and rich forests, is a clear and obvious disaster for all our futures. It is not in the interests of the citizens of India for their Prime Minister to be pushing to mine one billion tonnes of coal a year. Peoples struggle Most recently, land acquisition of Parsa coal block took place through the Coal Bearing Areas Act (CBA), 1957. Shukla informs that construction for mining began after the Consent to Establish Certificate was issued to the company post the Environment Clearance in 2019. The people of Hasdeo Arand have been objecting, for the past one month, after construction activities started without the gram sabha permission. In three villages where there is opposition against the construction, the company has settled 10 families and have compensated them. They started construction on those lands. But you cannot start a project without taking the permission of the entire village first, Shukla said. Nearly, 350 residents from the villages of central Chhattisgarh are on a 300-km long march that started on October 2 to reach the capital of Chhattisgarh, Raipur and meet with the state authorities. The operational OCMs in Chhattisgarh stretch across gigantic areas where one can only see coal mines as far as the sight goes. They have significantly debilitated the lives of those whose land it took over for construction. To understand what is at stake for the people, TwoCircles.net asked Shukla, who has been working closely with the communities for a decade and was on the march when the conversation took place. I will tell you an anecdote to explain the intensity of the situation. During the yatra (march), the people were feeling tired after walking 1 km on the open road. They can walk miles in the forest and feel nothing. This is because they are so used to the forest cover, he said, adding, A woman from the village was saying that eight generations of her family have lived in the forest. She is now worried about her children. People outside do not understand the generational security we are talking about. Shukla further said that even after rehabilitation happened in KP Extension, more than 50% people are landless and no longer have the settled money. The government thinks that giving people a 10x10sq ft. 2-bedroom flat and a job with 7000 rupees monthly salary is fair compensation, he said, and added, But this is an estranged life for them. Living off forest produce and agriculture, the people have big houses, they consume 1.5 litres of milk every day and get their vegetables from the forest. Purchasing that kind of produce from the market will cost them at least 5000 rupees per month. With no formal education, there is no chance of them getting high-salaried jobs. Commenting on global reverberations of the struggle against extractive policies, Woodman informed TwoCircles.net, If we look across the world right now, it is the indigenous peoples who are keeping the forests standing and the coal and oil in the ground. Right now, while the Adivasi resistance from Hasdeo Forest is arriving in Raipur, in Washington DC, indigenous land defenders are standing in front of the White House demanding an urgent end to fossil fuel extraction and burning. Indigenous peoples are the worst affected by climate change, from the Arctic to the Amazon, and are at the frontlines of protecting the biodiversity and climate on this planet. We should be seeking their leadership at this time, not trampling on their rights, imprisoning their leaders, and grabbing their lands. According to the notice issued by Hasdeo Aranya Bachao Sangharsh Samiti, the demands of those marching to the capital include cancelling all coal mining projects in Hasdeo Aranya, implementation of mandatory consent required from gram sabha in Schedule 5 Areas, and recognition of community forest resources and individual forest rights in each village. The quest for personal prestige can become a spiritual malady, masquerading itself even behind good intentions: for example, when behind the good we do and preach, we actually seek ourselves alone and our own affirmation, that is, that we get ahead and climb up, we see it even in the Church. Vatican City (AsiaNews) For Pope Francis, true greatness lies in service and this is the way in which to live tasks and responsibilities. This is also what Jesus says in today's Gospel (Mk 10:35-45), which the pontiff talked about before the Angelus and in his homily. During the Mass, Francis consecrated Mgr Guido Marini, as the new bishop of Tortona (Italy), and Mgr Andres Gabriel Ferrada Moreira as titular archbishop of Tiburnia. The latter was recently named secretary of the Congregation for the Clergy. In his address to the more than 20,000 people present in St Peter's Square for the recitation of the Angelus, Francis spoke of today's Gospel in which two disciples, James and John, ask the Lord one day to sit beside to him in glory, as if they were prime ministers, or something like that." Instead, Jesus spoke to them about the greatness that lies in service. We are in front of two different types of logic: the disciples want to rise up and Jesus wants to immerse Himself. Let us spend a few moments on these two verbs. The first is to rise up. It expresses that worldly mentality to which we are always tempted: to experience everything, including relationships, in order to feed our ambition, to climb the ladder of success, to reach important positions. However, The quest for personal prestige can become a spiritual malady, masquerading itself even behind good intentions: for example, when behind the good we do and preach, we actually seek ourselves alone and our own affirmation, that is, that we get ahead and climb up, we see it even in the Church. We therefore always need to evaluate our hearts real intentions, to ask ourselves: Why am I carrying out this work, this responsibility? To offer service or rather to be recognised, praised and to receive compliments? Jesus contrasts this worldly logic with his own: instead of exalting yourself over others, get off your pedestal to serve them; instead of rising above others, be immersed in others lives. What matters is being concerned about others hunger, being concerned about others needs. There are so, so many in need, and after the pandemic there are many more. Francis also spoke to the new bishops about serving. You will guard your vocation and you will be authentic pastors in serving, not in honours, authority, power. No, serve, always serve. Proclaim the Word at every occasion: whether it is opportune or not. Admonish, rebuke, exhort with magnanimity and doctrine, continue to study. And through prayer and offering sacrifices for your people, draw from the fullness of Christ's holiness the varied riches of divine grace. You shall be the guardians of faith, service, and charity in the Church". For the pontiff, the first task of the bishop is to pray not like a parrot; pray by heart, pray. I don't have time.' No! Drop other things; praying is the bishops first task. Closeness to God in prayer. Then [comes the] second closeness, closeness to the other bishops. No, because those are from that party, I am from this party .... "Be bishops! There will be discussions among you, but as brothers, close. Never talk badly about fellow bishops, never. Closeness to the bishops: second closeness, to the episcopal body. Third closeness, closeness to priests. Please do not forget that priests are your closest fellows. How many times do we hear complaints, that a priest says: I called the bishop but the secretary told me that he has a full agenda, that perhaps in thirty days he could receive me ... . This is no good. If you hear that a priest has called you, call him the same day or the next day. Thus, he will know that he has a father. Closeness to the priests, and if they do not come, go to them: Be close. The fourth closeness, closeness to the holy faithful people of God. As Paul said to Timothy: Remember your mother, your grandmother (cf. 2 Tim 1:5). Do not forget that you have been 'taken from the flock', not by an elite that has studied, that has many titles and is destined to be bishop. No, from the flock. Please, do not forget these four forms of closeness: closeness to God in prayer, closeness to the bishops in the episcopal body, closeness to priests and closeness to the flock. After the recitation of the Marian prayer, Francis expressed his closeness to the families of the victims of recent attacks in Norway, Afghanistan and the United Kingdom. Please, abandon the path of violence, he said, which is always a losing strategy that generates violence. Bill 81-21 was introduced Sept. 20. It would define discrimination as the belief that someone from a given race, ethnicity, sex, religion, color or national origin is inherently inferior or superior, deserves adverse treatment or is responsible for actions committed by other members of a group. Volke said the idea of treating people equally is central to the bill. For Piscataway Creek, a Potomac River tributary, the Maryland Department of the Environment is recommending that adults and children eat no more than one meal per month of redbreast sunfish. Adults should have no more than three meals per month of largemouth bass from the creek, and children should eat no more than two meals per month with the fish. Finally, children should eat no more than seven meals per month of yellow bullhead catfish from the creek. It is understandable that our members have questions about a policy with so little information being provided by the city. Until the city responds to our right to bargain these issues, or the courts intervene, I suggest you do nothing in regard to revealing your vaccination status as it is outlined in the citys policy, wrote Sgt. Mike Mancuso, president of the Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 3, in a letter to union members Friday. I know this request is limited to those who most likely already subscribe to The Capital but perhaps it may at least reach one or two that dont and it would be worth it. We must support the efforts of The Capital staff under its new ownership structure. I say that because it was very alarming to me door knocking in Ward One that in spite of my communication tools, how many residents were not current on the latest city issues, specifically the next several years of construction planned for downtown. So please spread the word about the merits of a local newspaper especially with forthcoming elections and all the daily challenges facing our city. As has been quoted many times, information is power and it is available in the free press. Many of the people who supported Gavin in his first term, including hard-core Democrats, have told me they wont vote for him this time, said Bill Kardash, a vocal critic of Buckleys who chairs Annapolitans for A Better Community, an advocacy group focused on city budgetary and governance matters. They mention everything from broken campaign promises, like not raising taxes and support for nonpartisan elections, among others. For me, it comes down to good governance, reigning in wasteful expenses and helping more local businesses than just bars and restaurants. I havent seen any of that. Abrogation of Article 370 has paved the path to a Naya (new) Jammu and Kashmir, said former Deputy Chief Minister of Jammu and Kashmir Kavinder Gupta on Sunday. Speaking to ANI, Gupta said, "Mohan Bhagwat had visited Jammu and Kashmir this October. It is true that after the abrogation of Article 370, terrorism, corruption and separatism have been curbed today. The efforts made by our security forces, administration, and central government show that a 'Naya Jammu and Kashmir' is moving forward. "Discrimination against Ladakh and Jammu was going on continuously and no rights were given to Valmiki Samaj, Pakistani refugees and Gorkha Samaj for 70 years. They were deprived of their rights while living in their own country. Today a new era of government has started where Kashmir and Jammu are being treated equally. Terrorism is being curbed...Those who used to openly support terrorism, are also being restrained," he stated. He said the terrorists have given proof of their cowardice with the targeted killings of civilians. "They are nervous because they know that their time will end in the coming days," he said On Mehbooba Mufti, Gupta said, "She has said that she will do constructive dialogue with the local people. What does she want? The relations among people are becoming better than before. The reason for conducting district development council and block development council elections was that the local people can be vocal about their issues. I do not know why she repeatedly supports Pakistan. The only connection we should have from Pakistan is that we will take back our Kashmir (PoK). So stop advocating their issues." Asked about the removal of late Hurriyat leader Ali Shah Geelani's son from the administration, the BJP leader said, "He used to constantly support the activities of terrorism. One of his brothers is already a terrorist." (ANI) Also Read: PM Modi to inaugurate Kushinagar International Airport on October 20 India is all set to soon host a national security advisor (NSA) level regional conference in New Delhi on Afghanistan. This will be the first-of-its-kind dialogue to be hosted by India. The tentative dates of the proposed in-person dialogue are November 10-11. ANI has learnt that the conference will be in a format similar to the regional security conference held earlier in Iran in 2019. Those invited to the NSA-level meeting include countries in the neighbourhood of Afghanistan- Russia, China, Tajikistan and Uzbekistan. It is learnt that that invite has also been extended to Pakistan's NSA Moeed Yusuf, although there is no official confirmation on the conference and invitation yet, it is learnt that preparations are underway. India, a big player in the region, has been planning to hold a conference on Afghanistan earlier but the move was first derailed due to the COVID-19 pandemic and later due to the unceremonious takeover of Kabul by the Taliban in August 2021. Meanwhile, India will also be sending high ranking officials to the Moscow Format dialogue scheduled on October 20, where representatives of the Taliban will also be sitting across the table. Terrorism, humanitarian assistance to Afghans and recognition of the Taliban-led regime are key issues India will likely to add to the agenda of the talks. India has also expressed its willingness to extend humanitarian assistance to Afghans, who are staring at a food and economic crisis coupled with harsh winters ahead. If Pakistan agrees to attend the NSA-level conference, it would mark the first visit by incumbent NSA Yusuf to India. New Delhi has been accusing Pakistan of aiding and abetting anti-India terror forces in Afghanistan. (ANI) Also Read: Punjab BJP in-charge Dushyant Gautam meets JP Nadda over Singhu border killing Unable to reconcile and evolve consensus on the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP), the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan have so far failed to strike a staff-level agreement under USD 6 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF), reported local media. Islamabad expects the finance secretary to prolong his stay in Washington DC for the next few days for making last-ditch efforts to reconcile and evolve consensus on the MEFP and completion of 6th and 7th reviews to pave way for the approval of USD 1 billion tranche under the EFF programme. The IMF staff is still dissatisfied with Pakistan's macroeconomic framework under the MEFP and without agreement over it, despite the government raising electricity tariff by Rs 1.39 per unit on average for baseline tariff, raising POL prices by Rs 10.49 for petrol and Rs 12.44 for diesel. Calling it a worrisome development, sources have said that the IMF staff was so far busy in number-crunching mainly on fiscal framework, external front and power sector. On Friday, the country's government had increased the base power tariff by Pakistani Rs 1.39 per unit to fulfil IMF demand to stay in its programme. The increase will become effective from November and continue till the end of the financial year, June 2022, according to The News International. (ANI) Also Read: Mosque Attack in Afghanistan: Islamic State group claims responsibility No one was injured Wednesday night when a group under surveillance by Chicago police opened fire on the officers on the South Side, prompting at least one officer to shoot toward the group, police said. Heidi Kettenring (who plays Phoebe, et al), Lachrisa Grandberry (Audrey) and Melanie Brezill (Celia) also keep the laughs coming, as does the band, posing on and off their podium to do their stuff. The milieu, as gorgeously rendered in Carmen Alatorres costumes) is one of wacky 1960s pageantry, replete with a psychedelic set from Pam Johnson. Much of the singing is a blast. Liam Quealy, who plays Orlando, drives his way through songs like Do You Want to Know a Secret? and Cant Buy Me Love. He is also a very generous performance, since he helps Lakeisha Renee (Rosalind), a less confident vocalist but charming actor, find her way into the shows musical demands. The 11-year-old had been in the living room of a residence in the 4000 block of South King Drive in Bronzeville with two other children when one of them, an 8-year-old, accidentally fired a handgun around 2 a.m. Sunday, police said in a statement. The 11-year-old was struck in the thigh and taken to Comer Childrens Hospital in Chicago, where he had been listed in fair condition. You are here: Business China's postal industry registered rapid growth in business revenue in the first three quarters of the year, official data showed. The sector raked in a total of 927.93 billion yuan (about $144.1 billion) during the period, up 18.7% year on year, according to the State Post Bureau. In September alone, the sector's total business revenue rose 9.2% year on year to 111.39 billion yuan. China's express delivery companies handled 76.77 billion parcels from January to September, surging 36.7% from a year earlier. Their business revenues amounted to 743.08 billion yuan during the period, a yearly increase of 21.8%. The human race shares this planet with millions of other species and forms of life. In recognizing that, it is always important to remember that our rapid rise to industrial, urban civilization has unavoidably impacted the planet and life on it. In the long run, however, the current trajectory risks destroying delicately balanced ecosystems which could potentially have serious consequences for humanity itself. As such, we must ultimately find a balance between development and nature which can uphold the ecology, beauty and harmony of the Earth. The word "harmony" is an important concept in China. Chinese society and culture are built on the idea that relationships between people should be harmonious, which means avoiding conflict, emphasizing a common good and balancing unruly desires with the needs of society as a whole. However, this idea does not just apply to people, it also applies to our relationships with the world and nature. Never has this been more relevant than in the view of how China handles its rapid development, which has permanently changed the country's landscape and created new challenges regarding nature and the environment. At the recent 15th meeting of the Conference of the Parties to the Convention on Biological Diversity (COP15) in Kunming, southwest China's Yunnan province, China talked about its resolve to "build a community of all life on Earth" and the concept of "ecological civilization." This reflects the reality that unfettered market forces, championed by the West, will not solve China's problems, and the environmental degradation it brings will eventually lead to de-development, as the ecological base is essentially the foundation of long-term development and humanity. In short, now is the time for change. Actually, China has made great efforts in this regard to ensure the harmonious co-existence between mankind and nature. Over the past few years, the country has been working hard to expand legislation to protect biodiversity and has drawn "red lines" for ecological protection, established a national park system, undertaken major projects for biodiversity protection, as well as coordinated and advanced biodiversity management. One example of China's success in this area is in its reversing of the decline of its giant panda population to the point that it is no longer endangered. This effort included creating a giant panda national park in 2016 and doubling the number of births in captive programs. As National Geographic said, pandas have become "a global symbol of conservation success" something in which China has played an integral part. Likewise, China is also taking its efforts overseas. It recently announced a $232 million fund to promote biodiversity protection in developing countries. The effort is a part of its "community of shared future for mankind" the premise being that we share one world, one planet and one future, and so must work together. China is subsequently stepping up its efforts to protect wildlife, the environment and thus to preserving the delicate balance between humanity and nature in a world marred by centuries of spiraling development. Now is the time to act. Tom Fowdy is a British political and international relations analyst and a graduate of Durham and Oxford universities. He writes on topics pertaining to China, the DPRK, Britain and the U.S. For more information please visit: http://www.china.org.cn/opinion/TomFowdy.htm Opinion articles reflect the views of their authors, not necessarily those of China.org.cn. If you would like to contribute, please contact us at opinion@china.org.cn. Flash The murder of British lawmaker David Amess was declared a terrorist incident by London's metropolitan police on Saturday. Britain's ruling Conservative Party's member of the parliament (MP) David Amess has died after being stabbed on Friday at a constituency meeting in Essex, a county in southeastern England. As tributes continued to pour in for the 69-years-old lawmaker, a statement released early Saturday by the metropolitan's counterterrorism unit confirmed the crime as an act of terrorism. "The early investigation has revealed a potential motivation linked to Islamist extremism," said a statement released by the counterterrorism unit. The suspect, a 25-years-old male, was arrested at the scene of the crime and questioned by detectives. He is being held in custody at a police station in Essex. As part of the investigation, police are currently carrying out searches at two addresses in the London area. It is believed the suspect acted alone, police say. Meanwhile, flags are flying at half-mast at 10 Downing Street and at the Houses of Parliament where Amess served as MP for Southend West in Essex. Amess was the second MP in Britain to be murdered within five years. Yorkshire MP Jo Cox was murdered by a far-right extremist in 2016. The latest killing has reopened a debate about the safety of politicians as they conduct meetings with their constituents. Many MPs insist on face-to-face meetings with constituents to discuss their problems and issues, known as a surgery, which is one of the hallmarks of political life in Britain. "In the coming days we will need to discuss and examine MPs' security and any measures to be taken," Speaker of the House of Commons Lindsay Hoyle said in a statement. He said he was shocked and deeply distressed by the killing. "This is an incident that will send shockwaves across the parliamentary community and the whole country," said Hoyle. British Home Secretary Priti Patel has told all police forces in Britain to review security arrangements for MPs with immediate effect following the attack. British Prime Minister Boris Johnson also paid tribute to Amess, describing him as one of the kindest, nicest, most gentle people in politics. Politicians will return Monday to the House of Commons following a recess, and the slaying of one of their own is expected to dominate proceedings in the chamber. Flash Outgoing German Chancellor Angela Merkel's departure from the European political scene may cast a shadow over the difficult relationship between Turkey and the European Union (EU), experts said. Merkel and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan on Saturday held talks in Turkey's largest city of Istanbul. Under a "cordial atmosphere" described by the local media, the two leaders discussed ties between Turkey and Germany, Turkey's membership bid to the EU, irregular migration, and a series of regional issues. On one hand, it is no secret that the long-serving chancellor was opposed to Turkey's accession to the European bloc. Turkey's EU membership talks are currently blocked as a result of tensions with Greece and Cyprus. On the other hand, Merkel used conciliatory rhetoric toward Ankara despite divergent interests on many issues. Merkel is set to leave power once a new government is in place in Berlin following general elections, and this could mean a new approach to Turkey, according to analysts. "We need to be realistic. Merkel's absence will be a significant loss for Turkey. Her well-balanced approach toward Turkey was instrumental in reducing tensions between the EU and Turkey, and also in bilateral ties," former Turkish ambassador Uluc Ozulker said. "Without the stability that Merkel incarnated, bilateral relations and Turkey's ties with the EU are poised to face snags and uncertainty," Ozulker said on private broadcaster NTV. In 2016, Merkel clinched a deal between the EU and Turkey, which successfully decreased the number of migrants crossing the Aegean Sea toward Europe. As part of the deal, Turkey received financial support. Turkey, a key transit point for asylum seekers on their way to Europe, hosts more than 4 million refugees, including over 3.6 million Syrians, within its borders. According to a source close to the Ankara government, Turkey needs the EU, its biggest trade partner, while Germany and the EU need Ankara to pursue a "balanced and mutually satisfactory migration policy." Afghanistan is another issue where the parties need each other following the Taliban's takeover, it said. The Taliban has engaged in diplomatic dialogue with both Berlin and Ankara. This source also remarked that the new German government is expected to be more sensitive on human rights, rule of law and personal freedoms issues. This scenario might irritate Erdogan who has frequently accused the EU of failing to support his country's struggle against "terrorists" after a botched coup in 2016. According to independent foreign policy analyst Tulin Daloglu, current disagreements inside the EU may also have an impact on the future of Turkey-EU relations after Merkel leaves office. "Europe is entering an area of uncertainties," she told Xinhua, adding that "the United States has shifted its security pact from Europe to East Asia." Given the uncertainties facing the bloc, the expert said that Turkey may also have additional troubles concerning its decades-long strategy to be a member of the union. We have been studying Mark in our small group lately. In the past weeks, we were reviewing chapter 8 to chapter 10, which focuses on Jesus three prophesies of His own death and resurrection. After various teachings, healings and miracles, Jesus professed His crucifixion and pointed out that the way to gain life is to lose life. Example of Jesus Unlike any other commanding masters, Jesus didnt just give the instruction and ask disciples to figure it out by themselves. On the contrary, He exemplified it in perfect obedience by dying on the cross. With His suffering and resurrection, He showed that the way to be great is to be a servant. For even the Son of man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many. (Mark Chapter 10, Versus 45) But the disciples couldnt comprehend it when they first heard about it. Peter even rebuked Jesus when He said so. Although Jesus repeated the same point twice again, they didnt seem to understand but started arguing about who would be the greatest if Jesus overthrew the Roman government. However, Jesus kingdom is not on earth. He is a king indeed but His way to be exalted is to sacrifice His life for others. With His death, Jesus became the first person who lived out such truth. Through His resurrection, the skeptical disciples gained strength and eventually followed His path, which became a worthwhile path proved by many believers now. Blessing for the recipient Inspired Jesus example, I embarked on this exciting journey as well recently. My first experiment turned out to be a fantastic experience. Two weeks ago, I learned that one of the boys is not used to adults Sunday service, compared with interactive Sunday school he attended before. I understood that it takes some time for him to adjust to it, so I talked with his mother and proposed to offer an individual class for his son on Friday night, aiming to prepare him for adults worship service. Last Friday night was our first class and it went quite well. The boy was happy with personal engagement and we surprisingly completed four chapters within two and half hours, during which we read the scripture, discussed certain key topics and went through some interesting details. The mother prayed for us at the end of the class. In her prayer, she thanked God for being served by my presence and the class. Blessing for the initiator It was a great blessing for me as well! I couldnt tell you how fulfilled I was on my way back. I was encouraged by the boys thirst for Bible knowledge, his mothers hospitality and the scriptures we studied together. If you knew my status before the class, you would recognize me as two different people. I was concerned about my career development during the day and felt exhausted after a whole-day meeting. I honestly didnt feel like talking after work. I prayed for Gods help before I left for the boys home, as I definitely didnt want my negativity spoil the first class. Thanks to Gods grace that the class turned out rewarding for both of us! The boys eagerness for interactive bible class was satisfied, and I was detached from my worry and found out that my anxiety was unnecessary. The class enabled me to jump out of self-centeredness and view my needs with fresh eyes. It dawned upon me that the way to serve others is indeed the way to obtain new life, which was personal achievement and recognition in my case. Moreover, the mystery of serving others was further revealed through this practice. By active action, I walked on the path Jesus recommended, brought blessing to others and was blessed in the process, which in return helped me understand more of this truth. To serve is to gain Christ-like life, the question is: in order to gain so many blessings, are you willing to lose yourself first? My son is a tween (1013-year-old), I love him dearly, but can I tell you we butt heads often. Many of our intense moments involve him declaring emphatically, "You don't care at all!" "You never listen to me!" "All you want me to do is work and never have any fun!" My son completely overlooks all that I've ever done and provided for him simply because he isn't allowed to do what he wishes, or I don't give the response he was expecting. Reflecting on this I can quickly conclude that he is simply a victim of the foolishness that is bound in his juvenile heart. As his mother my experience and knowledge are far superior, and I of course would never make such rash declarations. Its not just because he is a boy Anyone who knows me knows that my favourite colour is purple, I however hate grape flavoured foods. One morning a few years ago I woke up and really wasn't feeling well at all. My husband got out of bed and headed to the pharmacy to get me some vitamin C. He returned a short while later with grape flavoured soluble tablets and took the time to explain that he chose the purple ones for me. All that was coursing through my mind however was "If this man really cared or REALLY loved me, he would know to NOT bring me the grape flavour!" In the same way that my son completely overlooks the things I do for him and concludes that I don't love him, and I don't care, I completely disregarded my husband's crack of dawn act of service and came to the same conclusion; he didn't really love me, he didn't care at all. It's the foolishness of man How many times over the course of our lives have we been displeased with the turn of the events and concluded that God simply doesn't care? We've mentally re-enacted scenarios and replayed conversations and just cannot believe that God truly loves us yet allowed everything to go down the way it did. The primary purpose of loving and being loved is not to ensure the happiness of ourselves or those around us but sadly that is what many persons have condensed love to be; how good we make each other feel. We are constantly chasing various iterations of love that will not last. Feelings are not facts The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked. Who can know it? (Jeremiah chapter 17 verse 9) God gave us every single emotion that we possess, those that are considered good and those that bad. It is important to acknowledge that they exist and do have an impact on us. We cannot however allow how we feel about a particular person or issue to be the main driving force behind our decisions and actions. Many times, the very things that do make us happy are the most harmful. Having several conversations late into the night with that special friend makes you happy but it's creating distance between you and your spouse. Buying that pint of ice cream to curl up with Netflix every weekend makes you happy but its packing on the pounds which pressures your joints which causes unending pain. Being your child's friend makes you happy so you ignore their disobedience but that is setting them up to be a complete rebel in adulthood with no respect for authority. Do you see the pattern? No! Does not feel loving My son tells me often that I treat him as if he is not my son. When does he say this? Usually right after he has been disciplined for one thing or the other. When we don't feel good about something our hearts (desperately wicked) will fill our minds with all kinds of wrong thoughts and conclusions. The Bible correctly informs us about discipline, telling us: "For the LORD corrects those he loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights." (Proverbs chapter 3 verse 12) My son doesn't like to be disciplined and receives it as me being unloving towards him when in fact the Bible says the exact opposite. As humans we are natural pleasure seekers and want the people in our lives to always make us feel good and happy. We do not like God's discipline and just like my son, consider it in the moment to be unloving. True love Love that constantly has us feeling butterflies, with a permanent smile plastered on our faces having no issues because we are never told no and never feel frustrated mentally, physically, spiritually, financially or sexually is simply a simulacrum (unsatisfactory imitation) of the true love God intended for us to express towards each other as that does not describe the love God has for us. We are all familiar with the characteristics outlined in 1 Corinthians chapter 13, right off the bat we are told that love is patient and kind; boundaries. Further down we see that love is not self-seeking, sacrifice. Love rejoices with the truth, hard conversations. Love keeps no record of wrongs; acknowledge that the people we love are not perfect. How we love is the key identifier of our Christianity. If we do not view God's love, all aspects of it, through the correct lens we will be incapable of truly loving and being loved by others. The Episcopal Church lost a little over 61,000 members in 2020 and saw a decline in worship attendance even before the pandemic lockdowns occurred, according to data released by the denomination. The Episcopal Church's General Convention posted reports this week on the liberal mainline denomination's 2020 statistics and how they compared to previous years. Baptized Episcopal Church membership declined from approximately 1.798 million in 2019 to approximately 1.736 million in 2020 a loss of about 61,760 people. The total for 2020 is approximately 350,000 less than the 2.096 million members reported in 2011 and is less than half of the 3.6 million members reported in 1966. Another report shows that the total of "active baptized members" is even lower. In 2020, there were just over 1.5 million active baptized members of the Episcopal Church, compared to over 1.6 million in 2019. Unlike past years, the denomination calculated average Sunday attendance by using the numbers reported from Jan. 1 to Mar. 1, 2020, as COVID-19 pandemic-related cancellations of worship began in March. Even before government lockdowns compelled Episcopal congregations to suspend worship for months on end, the average Sunday attendance in 2020 dropped considerably compared to past years. Sunday attendance declined from approximately 547,000 in 2019 to 483,000 in 2020, about 210,000 fewer average Sunday attendees than the roughly 698,000 reported in 2011. Jeff Walton of the theologically conservative think tank Institute on Religion & Democracy, an expert on Anglican and Episcopal church politics, wrote Wednesday that the Episcopal Church "took a major hit in the year 2020." "These numbers indicate a doubling in the rate of membership decline and a tripling in the rate of attendance decline over the previous year," wrote Walton. "From 20192020, weddings across the denomination dropped from 6,484 to 3,530, down 46% (an additional 309 weddings were reported conducted online in virtual services). Children's baptisms dropped from 19,716 to 7,286, down 67%. Adult baptisms dropped from 3,866 to 1,649, down 57%." Multiple factors have often been attributed to the decline in membership and attendance in Episcopal Church, which traces its origins back to the 18th century and is a member of the worldwide Anglican Communion. These include an aging demographic and the overall decline in religious affiliation in the United States. Additionally, the increasing theologically liberal direction of the Episcopal Church has prompted considerable numbers of conservatives to leave. In February 2020, Kristine Stache, interim president of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America-affiliated Wartburg Theological Seminary, told the Episcopal Church's Executive Council that, at the current rate of decline, worship attendance may effectively cease to exist by the year 2050. "[Data] depicts a church that appears to be dying," said Stache, according to the Episcopal News Service. Last November, similar thoughts were echoed by Episcopal priest Rev. Dwight Zscheile, an associate professor of congregational mission and leadership at Luther Seminary in St. Paul, Minnesota. "The overall picture is dire," Zscheile was quoted as saying, according to ChurchLeaders. "Not one of decline as much as demise within the next generation unless trends change significantly." Courtesy of The Christian Post LONDON, Oct. 17, 2021 /PRNewswire/ -- The Premier of Nevis and the Minister of Foreign Affairs of St Kitts and Nevis, Hon. Mark Brantley has been actively building international relations over the last month. During the commemoration of the 60thA anniversary of the Non-Aligned Movement in Serbia this week, Minister Brantley signed a visa-free waiver agreement with Palestine. Palestine is the fourth nation to formalise diplomatic relations with St Kitts and Nevis after Burkina Faso, Gabon, and Egypt in the last four weeks. "A historic day forA St Kitts and NevisA as we sign [a] reciprocal visa waiver agreement with HE Riad Maliki Foreign Minister [of] the State ofA PalestineA allowing visa-free travel between our two peoples.A St Kitts and NevisA continues to expand its diplomatic footprint globally," wrote Minis! ter Brant ley on Instagram. Visa-free waivers allow restriction-free travel to citizens of the nations that sign the agreement. This means that an entry visa is not needed for nationals of either country before entering the country the deal is signed.A This privilege also extends to individuals who have received citizenship through economic means, like St Kitts and Nevis' Citizenship by Investment (CBI) Programme. Since 1984, the Programme has invited foreign nationals worldwide to become St Kitts and Nevis citizens after passing due diligence checks and investing in the country's economy. The State of Palestine, the newest addition to St Kitts and Nevis' growing list of visa-free travel offerings, allows its citizens to enter close to 35 destinations. However, with millions of Palestinians living aboard due to political instability, many face difficulty travelling internationally or even back to their homeland. Through this "historic" agreement, Palestinian diaspora and entrepreneurs who chose to partake in St Kitts and Nevis' CBI Programme can generally travel visa-free not only to Palestine but to nearly 160 countries and territories, including central education and business hubs. St Kitts and Nevis' CBI Programme is one of the most popular options for second citizenship in the Middle East due to its expansive allowance of dependants which promotes family reunification. It also holds reputation as the "Platinum Standard" programme in the investment immigration realm. Successful applicants of St Kitts and Nevis' CBI Programme usually gain the opportunity to grow their commercial network and secure their future, knowing that their new citizenship can enable a legacy by being passed down to generations. Investors can now take advantage of a limited-time offer extended toA December 31st 2021. Under the offer, families of up to four can obtain citizenship by contributingA US$150,000A to the Programme's Sustainable Growth Fund instead of theA US$195,000A contribution that previously applied to a typical family of four. pr@csglobalpartners.com, www.csglobalpartners.com Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/1661904/Dominica_Palestine.jpg A A Brown, who lives in the building, then barricaded himself inside an apartment on his floor of the building with a woman in tow against her will, Litwin said. They both stayed in the apartment as the departments tactical team and negotiators responded to the scene. Unless you have a place to go, whether its the in-laws or a second home or something like that, youre just not going to put your house on the market, said John M. Zubretsky, president of Weichert Realtors The Zubretsky Group in Wethersfield. They are basically resigned to fact that until this thing blows over and who knows when that is going to be they are just going to wait it out. According to court records in the case, On the same day, the Town issued a press release stating that the decision to close the Reiman Drive residence was made by Gilead after much discussion and meetings with Town Officials and residents of the Town who were concerned with the location of the Group Home because of the makeup of the neighborhood and the proximity to our schools. ... Town Manager Anthony Salvatore and Mayor Enzo Faienza applaud Gileads decision to relocate the Group Home and thank them for listening to the concerns of Town Officials and the residents of Reiman Drive, that this was not the most favorable neighborhood for them to establish a community residence. Eccles would like to see more financial support for women in her position. She said foster parents get much more money from the government to take in children than do grandparents, and she would like to see that changed. In the early 1990s, the younger Dodd came across a trove of letters his father wrote from Nuremberg. In the correspondence with his wife, Grace Dodd, Thomas Dodd expressed three hopes: that someday the world would recognize how important the trial was, that he would never do anything as important and that my children will be proud of what I did and will cite the law and the precedent we set here, Chris Dodd recalled. Lincoln, NE (68508) Today Windy and becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 53F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Some clouds. Low 32F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Philipps critical eye and attention to the personal is evident throughout Alpha, where no one person is blamed and no one organization is spared. ... Philipps is also highly critical of how the media covered the trial and how it directly influenced Trump to intervene. (President Trump overturned the recommended sentence, letting Gallagher keep his rank, anchors and chiefs pension on retiring; he also kept his trident.) There isnt much anyone in the book business can do to fix any of this. Retailers, authors and distributors are pleading with readers and customers to shop or order early. Publishers are planning further out in advance and sometimes even putting shipments of books on planes. One publisher said it costs roughly 35 to 50 cents per book to send titles across the water, and $5 to $8 by air. No one knows when things will go back to normal, but it wont be until long after this holiday season. You never know where your life is going to take you, she said. So I hope that you all will say yes to opportunities that come your way moving forward. And just know that your community is so proud of you ... and proud of your perseverance. The historical marker, approved by the Department of Historic Resources in December, will be placed near the main NASA Langley gate at Commander Shepard Boulevard. The marker will be next to two others including one that commemorates the founding of the National Advisory Committee for Aeronautics, or NACA, a predecessor to NASA. It suggests to students that there are some ideas that are too dangerous to even discuss, and that there are some stories that dont deserve to be told, Pelizzari said. Additionally, when instructional materials are pulled from the curriculum it forces teachers to find alternatives to continue teaching students, sometimes at the last minute. Josh Cruz, director of the Texas Tech Capoeira club, performs a traditional Brazilian song and engages the crowd by teaching them the lyrics and tunes on Oct. 16, 2021, at the culture festival held at the International Culture Center. Yadav urged people to watch movies only in theatres because cinema gives both direct and indirect employment to innumerable families. (DC Image) Hyderabad: Cinematography minister Talasani Srinivas Yadav on Saturday assured that the state government would extend complete support to Movie Artists Association (MAA). He said that Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao is keen on making Hyderabad the hub for Indian cinema. The minister was speaking at the installation ceremony of MAAs new body, under president Manchu Vishnu, who assured that the new brigade would resolve all issues related to artistes and MAA members. He heads the panel that won the 14th elections in the Associations 28 years since inception. Yadav urged people to watch movies only in theatres because cinema gives both direct and indirect employment to innumerable families. Soon after assuming charge Vishnu took the blessings of his father thespian Mohan Babu, who chaired the programme. Mohan Babu said success and failure are part of life. I was surprised to see heavy politics being played out before and during this election. I am grateful to the voters for having chosen my son to head the panel. The veteran actor spoke about his role-model N T Rama Raos straight-forwardness and honesty. The run-up to this years MAA election was marred by personal attacks and unprecedented mudslinging. The Nalgonda police opened fire on a gang of ganja smugglers who tried to attack them by hurling stones. (Photo: Pixabay) VISAKHAPATNAM: The Nalgonda police opened fire on a gang of ganja smugglers who tried to attack them by hurling stones. Two smugglers sustained injuries and were admitted into Narsipatnam hospital. The incident took place on the ghat road of Lambasingi in Visakhapatnam agency on Sunday. The Nalgonda police were in Vizag Agency in search of some ganja smugglers and kingpins. Acting on a tipoff, the Nalgonda Task Force recently seized over 300 kg of dry ganja and investigations revealed that some people from the Lammasingi area in Vizag Agency supplied ganja to traders in Nalgonda. The Nalgonda police went to Lammasingi on Friday to arrest them. They nabbed a small-time smuggler K. Bhima Raju of Annavaram and were planning to trap a major ganja smuggler, Balakrishna, through him. But Balakrishna gave them the slip and disappeared. Family members of Bhima Raju had been searching for him and came to know that police personnel from Nalgonda got him in their custody. On Sunday, the Nalgonda police decided to hand over Bhima Raju to his family and were heading towards Annavaram when a large number of villagers, including some ganja smugglers lay in wait for them. Suspecting that the locals might attack them, the Nalgonda police turned around, but their vehicles got stuck near Lambasingi due to a traffic jam on the ghat road. The angry villagers and ganja smugglers hurled stones at the police, causing injuries to some police personnel and damaging their vehicles. In an attempt to scare away the mob, the Nalgonda police fired a few rounds. Two people Kamaraju and Rambabu suffered bullet injuries in the fire. They were shifted to the hospital, where their condition is said to be stable. Visakha Range DIG L.K.V. Ranga Rao and Vizag rural police chief B. Krishna Rao confirmed the firing. A red alert has been issued for Chulliyar in Palakkad and Peechi in Thrissur district at 11 am on the watch list of dams under the Irrigation Department, the official release by the Kerala CMO read. (AFP Photo) Thiruvananthapuram: Following heavy rains in Kerala, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan has issued guidelines to prevent damage and upscale relief and rescue operations in the state. Four people have died in landslides at Koottikkal in Kottayam and Kokkayar in Idukki districts as heavy rain is continuing in Kerala, with six districts put on red alert. Considering the seriousness of the situation, the State Emergency Management Centre has been made more active and representatives from KSEB and Irrigation Departments have been deployed to assess the condition of the dams. All concerned department heads have been directed to be prepared to deal with any emergency. The official release by the Chief Minister's office informed that one team of NDRF each has already been deployed in Pathanamthitta, , Thrissur and Malappuram districts. Chief Minister also requested that one of the two Army teams be deployed in Thiruvananthapuram and the other in Kottayam. In addition, a team of DSC was directed to deploy one in Kannur and one in Kozhikode. The Air Force was also directed to be ready for emergencies. The Air Force has been requested to assist in the rescue operation in Kottayam. The Volunteer Force and Civil Defense are ready to deal with emergencies. Among the dams under the Kerala State Electricity Board, a red alert has been issued for Kaki in Pathanamthitta district, Sholayar in Thrissur district, Kundala and Kallarkutty in Idukki district at 11 am. An orange alert has been issued in Mattupetty in Idukki district and Peringalkuthu in Thrissur district. A red alert has been issued for Chulliyar in Palakkad and Peechi in Thrissur district at 11 am on the watch list of dams under the Irrigation Department, the official release by the Kerala CMO read. The Chief Minister directed that the police force be fully equipped for rescue operations in case of emergencies. District police chiefs have been directed to open special control rooms in the districts. The police system will work with the District Collector and the District Disaster Management Authority. Necessary precautions will be taken in areas prone to landslides and floods. He also directed the district police chiefs to provide special police security at the relief centres. "In case of heavy rains, people should be vigilant and follow the instructions given by the government without compromise. In case of emergency, the public can call 112 at any time," the official statement said. The state is getting heavy rains as a low-pressure area formed in the Arabian Sea. The India Meteorological Department has issued red alert in Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Idukki and Thrissur districts. An orange alert has been declared in Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode and Wayanad districts and yellow alert in Kannur and Kasaragod districts. The central weather agency has warned of possible thundershowers and strong winds throughout Kerala in the coming days. 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 Get 25% off of the regular $65 annual All Access rate. With this subscription you will get: Digital access to ElPasoInc.com and archives (value $45) Print subscription home or business delivered (value $65) Book of Lists (annual rate only, value $50) El Paso Inc. Magazine (value $20) El Paso Kids Inc. Special sections - OR - Get 15% off of the regular $45 annual Digital-only rate. With this subscription you will get: Complete digital access to ElPasoInc.com. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form Emporia, KS (66801) Today Windy and becoming cloudy during the afternoon. High 56F. Winds S at 20 to 30 mph. Higher wind gusts possible.. Tonight Cloudy early with some clearing expected late. Low 38F. Winds S at 10 to 20 mph. Republican Glenn Youngkin may have just found himself in a tough spot. After earning Donald Trump's endorsement in the upcoming gubernatorial election, Youngkin was forced to weigh in on the Jan. 6 Capitol riot because of the former president's supporters. During a recent interview, Youngkin was asked to comment on the "Take Back Virginia Rally" that took place on Wednesday. Reports revealed that attendees pledged allegiance to a flag that organizers said was present at the Capitol riot earlier this year. Youngkin said that he didn't have any knowledge of the rally. But he also said that no one should pledge allegiance to the flag present at the Capitol riot that killed several Americans. "I wasn't involved, so I don't know. But if that was the case, then we shouldn't pledge allegiance to that flag. And by the way, I've been so clear there is no place for violence - none, none - in America today. We have our rights to assemble and protest protected ... but there is no room for violence," he said via CBS News. In a follow-up statement, Youngkin said that it's weird and wrong to pledge allegiance to the controversial flag. He also called the riot sickening. Donald Trump endorsed Glenn Youngkin for governor Despite his stand on the Capitol riot, Youngkin continues to maintain his ties with Trump. During Wednesday's rally, the ex-POTUS called the GOP candidate a great gentleman before reiterating his stance regarding alleged election fraud. Trump has also endorsed Younkin as his gubernatorial bet in the state of Virginia. Despite the former president's support, Youngkin has also been very vocal about his thoughts on the 2020 election. He said that he didn't think there was election fraud at the time. And Youngkin added that he believes Joe Biden won fair and square. Read Also: Biden Slams Trump During Campaign Rally In Virginia, POTUS Endorses McAuliffe Democrat Terry McAuliffe slams Glenn Youngkin According to CNN, Wednesday's rally was designed to support the entire Republican ticket in Virginia, where Youngkin is leading. White House political adviser Steve Bannon hosted it. Youngkin's biggest competition, Democrat Terry McAuliffe, targeted the Republican GOP by releasing his campaign ad. The clip features Trump telling Republicans that he hopes Youngkin wins because he'll do everything they want him to do as a governor. McAuliffe has been endorsed by former President Barack Obama, current President Joe Biden, First Lady Jill Biden, and former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams. As of late, the votes for governor in the state of Georgia could still go either way. Will Glenn Youngkin be in this year's gubernatorial race? Youngkin needs to win over moderate suburbanites and turn out the conservative base if he wants to become the first Republican to win statewide since 2009, according to NBC News. Meanwhile, Bannon also spoke at Wednesday's rally. A day later, the House select committee investigating the Capitol riot said they would try to hold him in criminal contempt for not complying with a subpoena. Bannon reportedly failed to show up for a deposition this week. Related Article: Joe Biden Heckled at Virginia Rally, Says 'It's Not a Trump Rally' @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Joe Biden's flagging leadership makes most US allies reconsider opening channels to China as an emerging global influence. It seems more reliable than US assurances of security and stability, which is in doubt due to many precedents. Despite the tough talk of the White House that it can handle China and even Russia, nothing is going well with the Afghan debacle, defense of Taiwan passed to Japan and Australia, with the UK getting more involved. Beijing says that countries willing to be cannon fodder are of no consequence, except for the US. Biden, Xi agree regarding Taiwan Last week, Joe Biden sent a message to Xi Jinping about Taiwan, which ended in an understanding to follow the 'Taiwan Agreement,' reported the Express UK. The Chinese president even asked other nations to pull back because the US is using them as shields, like passing the job to regional allies. Instead of Taiwan's Foreign Ministry taking the US leader's words as it is, they asked for a clarification. Predictably, the US said it would stand by the island without a doubt. A statement from the agency said Beijing's military taunt, consular and economic threats, the US and Taipei will have close communications, cited the CNA. China is confident the US can't stop them According to Dr. Lily Hamourtziadou, senior lecturer in several disciplines at the University of Birmingham, China is more confident that America is getting feeble. Joe Biden's flagging leadership is the start of emerging Chinese influence. Read Also: China, the EU Takes the Next Step in Normalizing Ties Opposite to Joe Biden's Confused Rambling Stance A power shift allows Beijing more strength and new allies like Afghanistan and more into their fold. But, US allies like Seoul and Tokyo see the rise of China in all aspects. While the White House fails to recover confidence instability and security all over the globe. US allies will be affected if Taipei surrenders to Beijing When communists won, Taiwan was established by the followers of Chiang Kai Shek after 1949, when they to what is the Republic of China. The island is a key piece for western nations against China. Despite assurance from Washington over several months, President Xi Jinping said several times an invasion is imminent as mainland forces practice, reports ANI News. Dr. Hamourtziadou caution if Taiwan capitulates by force or surrenders unconditionally, the next US administration will be diminished, and US hegemony will fold in the Indo-Pacific. Next will be an abandonment of the US by its traditional allies as they acknowledge China as the victor with the fall of America. It will be a nightmare scenario. The UK will transition as it thinks the US is still a worthwhile ally, affected by a power shift. She noted a key point that the fall of Afghanistan militarily and politically has allowed Beijing wiggle room to adjust its thrust while knocking the White House into a death spiral. Dr. Hamourtziadou added that China declaring war is well poised; winning is possible. With a victory over Taipei, it will be a big win for the motherland too. All US allies, including Japan, the Philippines, and South Korea, cover China's maritime border. Once Taiwan is under control, the US will be less capable. Joe Biden's flagging leadership will start the shift when emerging Chinese influence in political and economic concerns make significant changes in the east and the west. Related Article: China's Military Airbases Upgrades Hint War Plans Against Taiwan, Satellite Images Suggest @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Democrats are pressuring President Biden to act on student debt forgiveness once again, putting further pressure on the White House to do so even as it battles to unite a fractured party behind the president's agenda. Democratic Leaders Urge Biden To Act on Student Forgiveness Loan In a recently published article in The Hill, Senate Majority Leader Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.) tweeted on Thursday that it would be a great day for Pres. Joe Biden and Vice-President Harris to cancel student debt. It has been known that Schumer always hit the administration to act on it through his social media account. Additionally, the head of the Congressional Progressive Caucus, Rep. Pramila Jayapal, also tweeted on Thursday that student debt reduction is beneficial for individuals and the economy. President Biden has the ability and responsibility to relieve 43 million Americans of their student loan burden. Biden is expected to cancel up to $50,000 in federally held college debt per borrower, according to progressives. This would wipe away all federal student debt for approximately 80 percent of the roughly 44 million Americans who owe the federal government more than $1.5 trillion in total, according to a published article in NBC News. Read Also: Student Loan Crisis: What Will Happen If Biden Doesn't Cancel Debt? Biden's Authority To Cancel Student Loan Remains Questionable Advocates believe that the Higher Education Act of 1965, which granted the Education Secretary power to back student loans, gives Biden the ability to cancel student loan debt. According to experts, any presidential action may face litigation or legal scrutiny, putting the fate of a forgiveness order in the hands of the Supreme Court. On January 8, Biden's transition team reiterated his support for Congressional action to provide $10,000 in forgiveness to each federal student loan borrower. As a result, executive action by the President-elect seems to be a long shot, according to a published article in Nerd Wallet. However, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-Calif.) has voiced reservations about Biden's ability to eliminate student debt on his own, as well as the political wisdom of doing so. She insisted that there is a need for Congressional action before Student Loan Forgiveness can happen. Department of Education Temporarily Allowed Student Borrowers To Claim Credit on All Federal Loan In a published article in USA Today, The Department of Education announced recently that student borrowers would be able to claim credit for all federal loan and repayment programs toward forgiveness for a limited time, claiming that the move will "restore the promise" of the Public Service Loan Forgiveness program. The program cancels student debts for those who have worked in eligible public service for ten years and paid off federal loans for ten years, but it excludes hundreds of thousands of borrowers who qualified under past administrations. Meanwhile, Richard Cordray, the former head of the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), has been named to run the Office of Federal Student Aid (FSA), which supervises businesses hired to collect student loan payments. Cordray recently announced the establishment of a new enforcement unit inside the FSA, patterned after the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's strong approach to student loan servicers that have allegedly harmed borrowers. Related Article: Biden Administration Relaxes Requirements for Student Loan Forgiveness; More Than 550,000 To Become Eligible for Cancelation @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Louisiana State Trooper Carl Cavalier claimed that he is being terminated from his job after he accused two of his colleagues of murdering Ronald Greene. A spokesperson for the Louisiana State Police recently explained their decision to let Cavalier. "Trooper Cavalier received the decision of the appointing authority to move forward with termination based on an administrative investigation which revealed he violated several departmental policies. It should be noted that our disciplinary administrative process is not finalized and Cavalier remains an employee at this time," Melissa Matey said via CNN. Carl Cavalier hopes to get his job back Prior to the statement, Cavalier already shared the termination letter that he received from the local department saying that he violated policies on public statement, lawful orders, loyalty to the department, dissemination of information, seeking publicity, and conduct unbecoming of an officer. However, Cavalier is convinced that he is being terminated because he retaliated against those the troopers involved in the murder, as well as the department. He also believes that he's being punished for writing a book on the incident even though it is fictional and under his pseudonym. In a statement, he said that he believes he will get his job back if the justice system works like it's supposed to, according to NBC News. Last month, Cavalier filed a lawsuit against the Louisiana State Police after accusing them of racism and discrimination. Read Also: Louisiana Groom Arrested on Wedding Night After Shooting a Friend He Accuses of Having Affair With the Bride What happened to Ronald Greene? In 2019, Greene died following a police chase. The police officers who tracked Greene told his family that he died following a car crash. However, police body camera showed Greene being tased, kicked, and punched by police officers. The victim died in the custody of the police. Years after the incident, Cavalier said that he thinks there was an internal coverup to protect those that were involved in Greene's death. He also filed several complaints to the department but never got a response from them. Following the incident, the troopers involved in the incident were just reprimanded for their actions. A third trooper was to be terminated for using force on someone, as well as on the grounds of his conduct that was unbecoming of an officer, among many others. However, the third trooper passed away following a car crash before he could even be charged. Ronald Greene's family still seeking justice Two years after Greene's death, his family said that they want the troopers that chased their loved one to be charged with homicide. They also want those that may have participated in the cover-up to be charged. Louisiana Gov. John Bel Edwards met with Greene's family to discuss the case for the second time in May of this year. Edwards said that he told Greene's mom, Mona Hardin that the Louisiana State Police is cooperating with the Union Parish District Attorney and the United States Department of Justice in their investigations. Since the department is already under the leadership of a new state police superintendent, the governor is confident that changes are already been made at the agency, stated his official statement via Edwards' website. Related Article: Louisiana Man Hires 2 Men to Kidnap Wife But They Drowned Instead @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The Russian Government has no plans to impose a state-wide lockdown anytime soon, even though the death toll due to COVID-19 continues to rise. According to reports, one of its highest death tolls to date with 1,002 dying from COVID-19 within 24 hours. Last Friday, Russia reported 999 new COVID-related deaths within 24 hours as well. During the last three days, Russia recorded a new record of daily coronavirus virus cases. On Saturday alone, 33 208 new cases were reported. But despite the increasing number of cases and deaths, a spokesperson for Russia's Federal Council said that going into a state-wide lockdown is unreasonable. Instead, Russians are encouraged to get inoculated since vaccines are readily available in the country. Russians urged to get the COVID-19 vaccine Russian President Vladimir Putin urged his fellow lawmakers to encourage the residents to get vaccinated. "You know that the number of infections is growing in many regions and medical specialists are working in difficult conditions. We all know well that vaccination can save us from the virus and from a severe course of the disease. It is necessary to step up the vaccination pace," Putin said via CNN. Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said that it's irresponsible not to get the COVID-19 vaccine. He also said that Putin would adhere to a booster shot once doctors deem it's necessary. Read Also: Russian President Putin Experiences Minor Side Effects After COVID-19 Vaccine Shot As of press writing, the total number of deaths in Russia has already reached 222,315. The total number of COVID-19 cases in Russia has reached 7,958,384. According to Al Jazeera, only 31 percent of Russia's total population has been vaccinated against the deadly virus. And the lack of restrictions in the country has allowed coronavirus to spread. But despite the increasing number of COVID-19-related cases and deaths, a huge chunk of Russia's population still refused to get inoculated. Why Russians refuse to get the COVID-19 vaccine Natalia Mukhina, a Russian language researcher, previously explained why Russians are hesitant to get the jab even though the country was the first in the world to approve a COVID-19 vaccine. She said that Russians are simply exercising their right to consent to any medical procedure. After all, this was something that they couldn't do decades ago. Citizens in the now post-Soviet Russia used to be passive recipients of medical treatments. Still, they are now considered responsible citizens who can make choices and decisions on how to protect their health. Vaccine skepticism in Russia and across the globe reportedly intensified during the 1990s. And it served as one of the ways to express resistance to lingering Soviet ideology. Mistrust was also rampant across the political spectrum, and vaccine decision-making served as a venue to enact the people's resistance to the state, according to The Conversation. Russians are worried about the side effects Besides these historical and political reasons, Russians are also reportedly scared of the vaccine's possible side effects. Some Russians also believe conspiracy theories about the pandemic. And some credentialed medical professionals continue to push their pseudo-scientific anti-vaccine messaging propaganda, according to Think Global Health. Related Article: Russia Plans to Vaccinate Citizens Yearly Despite Guatemala's Plea to Return Money Over COVID-19 Vaccine Delivery Failure @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. As the Islamic State terrorist organization (ISIS) claimed yet another attack, the Iranian Foreign Ministry issued a warning about plans to destabilize Afghanistan. ISIS-K Claimed Another Suicide Attack In a recently published article in Newsweek, on Friday, ISIS-K claimed responsibility for a suicide attack at a Shiite Muslim mosque in Kandahar that killed more than 50 people. Anas al-Khorasani and Abu Ali al-Balochi were the attackers' names, likely monikers for the two ancient areas of Khorasan and Balochistan, including portions of Afghanistan, Iran, and Pakistan. The action occurred a week after jihadists attacked another gathering of Shiite Muslims in the Afghan city of Kunduz, killing up to 100 people and wounding dozens more. ISIS-K later named the attacker Mohammed al-Uyghuri, indicating a link to Central Asia's Uyghur minority. A Sunni Muslim mosque in Kabul had been attacked a week before, and as Afghanistan's now-ruling Taliban tries to bring order to the country, Iran, the world's top Shiite Muslim power, has issued a statement blaming takifiris, those who consider other forms of Islam to be apostates and will not tolerate their existence, according to a report published in Daily Advent. Read Also: Afghanistan Suicide Bombing Leaves 19 Dead In Northern Faryab Province Iranian Foreign Ministry Condemned the Attack The ministry condemned the Takfiri terrorist assault on the Fatemieh Mosque in Kandahar, which killed and injured a significant number of worshipers. The ministry also expresses its condolences to the victims' families and the Afghan people and prays for patience and divine compensation for the bereaved families, as well as speedy recovery for those wounded in this cruel act. The Foreign Ministry also warns of attempts by the enemies of the Islamic ummah to create divides, emphasizing the need for unity and solidarity among Shias and Sunnis, as well as the rejection of violence and extremism in the name of Islam, according to a report published in Washington Newsday. In the aftermath of the unrest, Iranian authorities have advocated for strengthening the fortifications of sacred sites, which they think the Afghans would eventually overcome. Invoking the ummah, or worldwide family of Muslims, Tehran issued a warning as well. Brief Background of ISIS Unlike the Taliban and Al-Qaeda, which arose from the United States and Pakistan's support for mujahideen resistance to the Soviet Union in Afghanistan in the 1980s, ISIS arose from Al-Qaeda's Iraq affiliate in the aftermath of the US invasion toppled Saddam Hussein, the country's longtime leader. Furthermore, the United States had invaded Afghanistan two years before to take on a Taliban-led government that had harbored Al-Qaeda in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks, according to a published article in Fry Electronics. On the other hand, the Taliban, mainly made up of Pashtuns, has promised to defend Afghans of all ethnic origins, including Tajiks, Hazaras, and Uzbeks. Hazaras are the only ones among the groups that follow the Shiite branch of Islam, which ISIS ultraconservatives see as apostasy in their strict Sunni Islam. Many Hazaras have also accused the Taliban of persecution, and many have migrated to neighboring Iran in recent decades. Related Article: Afghanistan Bombing Kills At Least 55 Worshippers Inside Afghan Mosque In Deadliest Attack Since US Withdrawal @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Joe Biden honored the law enforcement officers that risked their lives during the Jan. 6 Capitol riot during an event this weekend. On Saturday, the POTUS also paid tribute to the fallen law enforcement officers at the 40th Annual National Peace Officers' Memorial Service. According to reports, Biden stood on a podium positioned precisely where the violent mob tried to block his ascension to the presidency. "Nine months ago, your brothers and sisters thwarted an unconstitutional and fundamentally un-American attack on our nation's values and our votes. Because of you, democracy survived. Because of these men and women, we avoided a catastrophe, but their heroism came at a cost to you and your families," Biden said via WHYY. Biden also mentioned the deaths of his first wife and two children, which made his speech more relatable to those in attendance. Joe Biden vows to provide resources to law enforcement officers In his speech, the POTUS also vowed to provide law enforcement officers with more resources amid the ongoing defunding of the police political movement. Biden touted provisions in the American Rescue Plan to fund various police departments. He also vowed his support for funding for community policing and mental health services, according to Police1. Months ago, Biden tried to pass a police overhaul bill to tighten practices following the death of George Floyd. However, the talks ended in September without reaching an agreement. But the POTUS continues to push for his police overhaul bill while exploring more executive actions to make police officers more accountable if they break the law. Read Also: House Select Committee Issues 11 New Subpoenas Amid Capitol Riot Investigation; Trump Files Lawsuit to Protect Potential Evidence Those involved in the riot will be held accountable In recent months, Biden has also been holding those involved in the Jan. 6 Capitol riot accountable. Two weeks ago, reports claimed that the president approved the release of all documents relating to the insurrection that killed over 400 law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty in 2019 and 2020. The documents that will be released could include Donald Trump's conversations about the Capitol riot before, during, and after it took place. To date, Trump continues to spread false claims about the 2020 election. Even though he lost to Biden via a considerable margin, the former POTUS continues to say that he should've won. Trump has also asked select states to conduct an audit because he believes that the election was rigged. However, Trump is still unable to provide any concrete proof that he won over Biden. And his stance on the matter has become even more controversial because it was his supporters that flocked to the Capitol to prevent the Senate from declaring Biden the winner in last year's election. To make things worse, Trump seemingly justified the harrowing events that took place on Jan. 6, saying that the real insurrection happened on Nov. 3, which was the date of the presidential election, and not during the Capitol riot. Despite his unfounded claims, Biden and his administration are slowly but surely making arrests to ensure that perpetrators will be punished. Veteran officer arrested On Friday, a veteran officer working for the US Capitol Police was arrested after he was accused of encouraging one suspect to hide evidence of their involvement during the Jan. 6 attack. According to NPR, the officer, who worked for the Capitol Police for nearly 25 years, faces two counts of obstruction of justice and is also placed on administrative leave. Related Article: Joe Biden Approves Release of Documents Relating to Jan. 6 Capitol Riot; POTUS Could Remove Donald Trump's Executive Privilege @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Former President Bill Clinton was hospitalized in the intensive care unit of the University of California Irvine Medical Center with a urinary tract infection that had spread to his bloodstream. Former Pres. Clinton is in ICU for Privacy and Safety In a recently published article in MSN News, Dr. Alpesh Amin, chair of medicine at UC Irvine Medical Center, and Dr. Lisa Bardack, Clinton's primary physician, said in a joint statement that Clinton remains at the hospital for continuous monitoring. They also said that he was taken to the intensive care unit (ICU) and given IV antibiotics and fluids. They also emphasized that Clinton was in the ICU for privacy and safety reasons rather than because he required critical care and to assure the public that Clinton is doing well. According to both his physicians and his team, Clinton has been in excellent spirits, chatting to family and staff, and has been up and walking. According to a spokeswoman, Angel Urena, the 42nd President is unhappy that he needs to be in the hospital, but he is talking and laughing, per CNN News reports. Read Also: Top Democratic Leaders Urge Biden To Act in Student Forgiveness Loan; Cancellation Through an Executive Order is Still Questionable What is Sepsis? Robert Glatter, MD, a physician in the department of emergency medicine at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City, said that if sepsis is not identified and quickly treated with enough intravenous fluids and broad-spectrum antibiotics, it may be fatal. Sepsis is the body's response to an infection, resulting in the creation of inflammatory chemicals that, although aiding in the isolation of the invader, may cause harm to organs such as the kidneys, lungs, and heart. It may spread to the brain, resulting in meningitis or encephalitis, according to an article published in EVERYDAY HEALTH. Dr. Glatter also said that according to early media reports, President Clinton's vital signs have improved, and his white blood count has decreased, indicating that he is clinically improving. His previous history of coronary artery disease and coronary artery bypass grafting operation is a risk that may slow down his recovery time. Clinton's Body is Responding Well Clinton's physicians stated that his white blood cell count is going down after two days of therapy and that he is responding well to medicines, and that he should be able to return home shortly. In a statement, Urena stated that as of Friday, all of his health indicators were improving, including his white blood count, which had dropped substantially, and that he would stay in the hospital overnight to get more IV antibiotics. According to a person acquainted with the issue, the medication required to treat Clinton's illness must be given through IV rather than orally, which is why he is still in the hospital. Urologic infections are extremely frequent in elderly individuals, according to the former President's physicians, and they are readily treated, but they may rapidly spread to the bloodstream. His vital signs are all steady, according to the physicians. Clinton, 75, had quadruple bypass surgery in 2004 and had two stents placed in 2010 to open one artery. His physicians, however, emphasized that his stay had nothing to do with his heart or COVID-19. Related Article: Bill Clinton Rushed to Los Angeles Hospital After Suffering Infection; Spokesperson Says Ex-POTUS is in Good Spirits @ 2021 HNGN, All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A union that represents about 60,000 behind-the-scenes workers in film and television reached a tentative deal with producers on Saturday, averting a strike that threatened to cause widespread disruption in Hollywood, negotiators said. The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), which includes camera operators, make-up artists, sound technicians and others, said negotiators agreed to a new three-year contract. "This is a Hollywood ending," Matthew Loeb, president of the union, said in an emailed statement. "Our members stood firm. They're tough and united." Shutdowns from the COVID-19 pandemic had caused a production backlog that led to crews working up to 14 hours a day to feed programming to streaming services. The union had threatened to strike starting Monday if it was unable to reach an agreement with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). A strike would have shut down film and television production around the United States in the biggest stoppage since the 2007-2008 strike by Hollywood screenwriters. It would have hit a wide range of media companies including Netflix, Walt Disney and Comcast Corp. IATSE was seeking to reduce working hours and raise the pay of members who work on shows for streaming platforms, where lower rates were set 10 years ago when online video was in its infancy. IATSE, in its statement, said the proposed contract addresses those issues, including rest periods, meal breaks, a living wage for those on the bottom of the pay scale, and significant increases in compensation to be paid by new-media companies. The new labor agreement is subject to approval by IATSE's membership. (Reuters) Bank of Korea Governor Lee Ju-yeol speaks during an audit of the central bank at the National Assembly, Oct. 15. Yonhap gettyimages By Lee Hae-rin It is wrong to deprive a foreign parent of child custody in a divorce settlement based only on the parent's lack of fluency in Korean, the nation's top court said, Sunday. The ruling states that language limitations cannot be a fair cause to take child custody rights away from a foreign parent who had been fully raising and economically supporting their child, and what matters more is which parent the child has lived with for longer and more stably. The Supreme Court recently overturned a lower court decision that granted parental rights and child custody to a Korean man in a divorce suit with his wife of Vietnamese nationality. The couple married in 2015 and had two children, but their relationship soured and they separated in August 2018, after which the daughter lived with the mother. After a year, they both filed for divorce, according to the court. The woman sought custody of her daughter after the divorce, saying although she is not fluent in Korean, she has had a job since the separation and has been taking care of the girl with help from the child's grandmother. The Korean husband claimed himself to be the proper custodian and said he would refuse to provide any child support payments if the wife were to be given custody. The woman, on the other hand, asserted that he doesn't have a job and thus lacks the financial capacity to take full responsibility for the child. Both local and high courts gave the father parental rights and child custody, saying the mother did not have the Korean language ability necessary for childrearing. The courts also said the daughter's grandmother, who would take care of the girl while the mother was working, also doesn't speak Korean and this may negatively affect the child's education and language learning. However, the Supreme Court ruled otherwise, saying the mother had fully raised the daughter during the separation and that she is as fit as her Korean husband as a parent when considering the nurturing environment, financial capability and emotional bonding she provides to her child. Regarding the mother's low Korean language skills, it said in the ruling, "The state provides enough learning opportunities in its public and other education systems. A parent's Korean communication skills hardly affect the well-being and healthy development of a child." It said the lower courts should note that evaluating a parent's Korean language skills in child custody cases may have stemmed from or may result in discrimination. "It is also important for a child to understand the native language and culture of a foreign parent because that helps the child develop self-esteem," the court said. President Moon Jae-in has a phone call with Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida at Cheong Wa Dae, Friday, in the left photo. Kishida, right, briefs his phone call with Moon to Japanese media, Friday. Yonhap Japanese PM Kishida sends offering to war-linked Yasukuni Shrine By Kwon Mee-yoo President Moon Jae-in and Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida have reaffirmed that the two nations are far from narrowing the differences in their views on historical issues such as Japan's wartime forced labor and sex slavery. The leaders had their first phone call Friday, which was made 11 days after Kishida took office. During the 30-minute call, the two agreed to develop bilateral ties in a future-oriented manner, according to Cheong Wa Dae and Japanese media report. They also discussed other issues such as concerns over North Korea, denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula and COVID-19 response. Although the two U.S. allies share similar security concerns over North Korea and China, their talks again showed disagreement over lingering colonial and wartime issues, signaling these are likely to remain as obstacles for bilateral relations for a while. Japan insists that the 1965 treaty normalizing bilateral ties settled all war-related compensation, but President Moon explained during the phone call how the two countries have different legal interpretation over the 1965 treaty, saying the two nations must find solutions through diplomacy. Regarding the wartime sex slavery issue, he also called for an urgent solution, saying there are only 13 known survivors still alive. But according to Japanese media, Kishida said he told the Korean President that Korea needs to come up with a solution over the historical disputes, indicating that Japan will keep its earlier stance over the matters despite the leadership change. Relations between the two nations have been at an all-time low, after Japan imposed exports curbs against Korea in 2019 in an apparent retaliation against a Korean top court ruling that ordered Japanese companies to compensate South Korean survivors of wartime forced labor. Even before they confirmed the disagreement through the phone call, it had been widely said that Tokyo was deprioritizing diplomatic ties with Korea even further than the previous Yoshihide Suga administration, as it took 11 days for the new Japanese prime minister to talk with Moon after his inauguration, while it took eight days for Suga. The call with Moon was Kishida's seventh phone call with a head of state. Kishida already spoke with his counterparts in the U.S. and Australia the day after he took office, followed by Russia, India, China and the U.K. A tree offering to the Yasukuni Shrine by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida is seen in the war-linked shrine, Tokyo, Sunday. AFP-Yonhap